Case Analysis Research Articles

An Analysis of the Efficacy of Multilayered Repair and Reconstruction Using Combined Tissue Pedicle Flaps for Abdominal Wall Defects in Adult Bladder Exstrophy Patients.

In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis of cases involving adult classic bladder exstrophy (CBE) accompanied by the absence of the abdominal wall. Specifically, we focused on the utilization of multilayer flaps for reconstructive purposes. In addition, we aimed to share our clinical treatment experience pertaining to similar challenges, thereby providing valuable insights to complement the surgical management of this rare disease. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 12 adult patients diagnosed with CBE who underwent initial treatment between June 2013 and January 2020. All patients underwent multilayer reconstruction to address their abdominal wall defects. This involved utilizing shallow flaps derived from the superficial fascia of the abdomen and incorporating myofascial flaps composed of the anterior sheath of the rectus abdominis and aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle. The flap sizes ranged from 9 × 11 cm to 13 × 15 cm. Abdominal wall reconstruction in the 12 patients with CBE resulted in an absence of wound dehiscence recurrence, urinary obstruction, or urinary tract infection. All patients expressed satisfaction with the aesthetic outcome of their abdominal wall based on self-evaluation. They reported a successful resumption of normal life and work activities without experiencing any restrictions. The married patients expressed contentment with their sexual function. The utilization of a multilayered reconstruction technique involving multiple flaps in adults with congenital CBE allows for successful restoration of urinary function, as well as the attainment of sufficient abdominal wall strength to support daily life and work activities, while preserving sexual function. However, it is important to approach the evaluation of surgical outcomes with caution because of the rarity of this condition and the lack of objective assessment measures.

Preservice Teachers’ Assessment Literacy Within Models-Based Practice

Purpose: Using the assessment literacy framework, the purpose of this study was to explore preservice teachers understanding and enactment of the message system during an early field experience. Method: Six PTs employed SE seasons totaling 540 min. Seven qualitative data methods were utilized. Data analysis included deductive and inductive analysis using a thematic approach. Trustworthiness included data triangulation, peer debriefing, negative case analysis, and the maintenance of an audit trail. Results: Three main themes derived from the data included: instructional decisions were driven by the SE model and informal assessment; formal assessment was driven by the structure of SE; and high assessment value but low assessment literacy. Discussion/Conclusion: The SE model drove PTs to use formal assessment, but primarily in an evaluative manner. The PTs lacked assessment literacy, felt pressure to follow the model, did not use assessment to inform teaching, and had concerns for future assessment use.

696 Optimal Management Strategy for Carotid Cavernous Aneurysm From Cost-effectiveness Perspective

INTRODUCTION: Most cavernous carotid aneurysms (CCAs) are asymptomatic benign lesions; therefore, they are frequently detected during routine clinical diagnostic processes. Most providers recommend routine surveillance instead of immediate management for CCAs given a natural history with a low risk of life-threatening complications. However, the cost-effectiveness of such care and the optimal follow-up interval remains unknown. METHODS: A decision analysis study was performed utilizing a Markov model with Monte Carlo simulations to simulate patients undergoing treatment or routine surveillance at different time intervals (half, 1-,2-,3-, 5-and 7-year intervals) for different size of CCAs (=<12 mm, 13- 24 mm, >=25 mm ). Input data for the model was extracted from the current literature. Probabilistic and deterministic sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the robustness of the Model. RESULTS: On base case analysis, following-up every 2 years with noninvasive imaging is the most cost-effective strategy for CCAs =< 12 mm, while annual follow up is cost-effective for large/giant (13-24 mm, >=25 mm) CCAs. The conclusions remain robust in probabilistic sensitivity and deterministic sensitivity analyses. As the risk of thrombo-embolic event gets higher and annual growth risk and annual rupture risk of CCAs increases, immediate treatment for large/giant (13- 24 mm, >=25 mm ) CCAs and annual follow up even prompt treatment for CCAs =< 12 mm is optimal. CONCLUSIONS: The most cost-effective management strategy for CCAs=< 12 mm and large/giant CCAs are following up every 2 years and following up every year, respectively. More frequent follow-up strategies or prompt preventive treatment for CCAs =< 12 mm and immediate treatment for large/giant CCAs would be more appropriate in patients with higher risk factors for cerebral ischemia, aneurysm growth and aneurysm rupture.

Automating financial reporting with natural language processing: A review and case analysis

In the evolving landscape of financial reporting, the integration of Natural Language Processing (NLP) emerges as a beacon of innovation, promising to redefine the paradigms of accuracy, efficiency, and compliance. This paper embarks on a scholarly expedition to explore the transformative potential of NLP within the realm of financial disclosures, navigating through the intricate interplay of technological advancements and regulatory frameworks. The study meticulously analyzes the application of NLP techniques in automating financial reporting, unraveling the complexities of implementation and the multifaceted challenges therein through a qualitative research design. Through a comprehensive review of the literature and empirical data, the paper illuminates the efficacy of NLP in enhancing the precision and reliability of financial reports while also delving into stakeholders' perceptions regarding its adoption. The findings reveal a significant improvement in reporting efficiency and accuracy, underscored by the strategic importance of addressing implementation hurdles and regulatory considerations. The study culminates in a set of cogent recommendations, advocating for the development of a robust framework for NLP applications in financial reporting, alongside a clarion call for ongoing research into sophisticated NLP models and scalable solutions. In essence, this paper not only charts a course for the future integration of NLP in financial reporting but also stands as a testament to the indelible impact of technological innovation on the financial industry. It beckons the academic and professional communities to forge a collaborative path towards realizing the full potential of NLP, thereby ushering in a new era of transparency and insight in financial disclosures.

A combination prediction model based on Theil coefficient and induced continuous aggregation operator for the prediction of Shanghai composite index

This paper proposes an interval combination prediction model for Shanghai composite index, utilizing the Theil coefficient and the induced continuous generalized ordered weighted logarithmic harmonic averaging (ICGOWLHA) operator. The effectiveness of the proposed model under specific weight conditions and the existence of its analytical solution are demonstrated. Shanghai composite index's case analysis demonstrates that, in terms of interval root mean squared error (IRMSE), interval mean absolute error (IMAE), interval mean absolute percentage error (IMAPE), and interval mean squared percentage error (IMSPE), the proposed model's predictive performance improvements over the best-performing single prediction model are 29.33%, 25.72%, 26.10%, and 28.86%, respectively. At the same time, the theoretical properties of the model are verified in the results of the case analysis, and the model's convergence is reflected in sensitivity analysis. Through extensive model comparisons, it is observed that the model proposed in this paper exhibits strong generalization, without specific limitations on data size or feature count. It demonstrates good aggregation prediction performance for interval data. Moreover, it is applicable to various fields, including finance, environment, and others.

Przepadek zwierzęcia w świetle orzecznictwa sądowego – analiza przypadku i postulaty de lege ferenda w celu podniesienia ochrony prawnej zwierząt

The article aims to present the functioning of the institution of animal forfeiture under the Act of August 21, 1997 on animal protection. It is a repressive-preventive institution, which is closely related to the property rights of every citizen under the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. At the beginning of the considerations, an attempt was made to define the concept of “animal forfeiture” and to indicate the legal basis for ruling on this legal measure. The types of animal forfeiture occurring under the Act are presented and the circumstances determining their ruling identified. The analysis is extended to include the presentation of cases of application of this institution taken from court rulings and supported by statistical data regarding their adjudication. An interesting aspect of the article is the presentation of resolutions of City Councils, which were declared invalid by the Provincial Administrative Court to the extent that they were inconsistent with the Animal Protection Act. Extensive legal considerations, reinforced by case law and analysis of statistics, have made it possible to present de lege ferenda postulates with regard to raising the level of protection of animal rights. One of the proposals is to combine the institution of forfeiture with a total ban on animal ownership, as well as to articulate in the law the justification for ordering the forfeiture of an animal’s carcass. The article is an attempt to present legal solutions that will enhance the legal protection of animals. As shown in the article, this measure is used relatively rarely. Statistics show that it was applied in only 21.5% of the cases analyzed. Such results may raise legitimate doubts, since most animals against which crimes have been committed are still under the care of their perpetrators, which should undoubtedly change.

Out-of-set association analysis of lung cancer drugs and symptoms based on clinical case data mining.

There are 1.8 million lung cancer deaths worldwide, accounting for 18% of global cancer deaths, including 710,000 in China, accounting for 23.8% of all cancer deaths in China. To explore the out-of-set association rules of lung cancer symptoms and drugs through text mining of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment of lung cancer, and form medical case analysis to analyze the experience of TCM syndrome differentiation in its treatment. The medical records of all patients diagnosed with lung cancer in Nanjing Chest Hospital from January to December 2018 were collected, and the out-of-set association analysis was performed using the MedCase v5.2 TCM clinical scientific research auxiliary platform based on the frequent pattern growth enhanced association analysis algorithm. In terms of TCM treatment of lung cancer, the clinical symptoms with high correlation included cough, expectoration, chest distress, and white phlegm; and the drugs with high correlation included Pinellia ternata, licorice root, white Atractylodes rhizome, and Radix Ophiopogonis; with the prescriptions based on Erchen and Maimendong decoctions. This analytical study of the medical cases of TCM treatment for lung cancer was performed using data mining techniques, and the out-of-set association rules between clinical symptoms and drugs were analyzed, including the understanding of lung cancer in TCM. Moreover, the essence of experience in drug use was gathered, providing significant scientific guidance for the clinical treatment of lung cancer.

A Study of the Subtitle Translation of Coco from the Perspective of Skopos Theory

In the context of the continuous advancement of globalization, intercultural communication is increasingly frequent. Films, as an art form, play a crucial role in promoting cultural exchange. With skopos theory as the theoretical framework, this article analyzes the subtitle translation of the film Coco. Through the analysis of specific cases, it is observed that translators adhere to the skopos rule, the coherence rule and the fidelity rule of skopos theory during the subtitle translation of Coco, and effectively address the problem of differences between target language culture and source language culture by adopting translation methods and strategies such as free translation and domestication so as to facilitate effective movie-watching experience, foster communication, and achieve cross-cultural communication.

Comparative Analysis of Pediatric Brucellosis Cases With and Without Bacteremia.

Introduction: Brucellosis, which is among the endemic regions of Turkey, is a common zoonotic disease. The gold standard in diagnosing brucellosis is culture. We aimed to compare demographic characteristics, risk factors, and clinical and laboratory variables between cases with culture positivity and undetected in culture. Materials and Methods: This single-center study was conducted between January 2007 and April 2022. Clinical and laboratory data of patients with brucella growth in blood culture and patients without growth were compared. Results: A total of 150 patients were included in the study. The median age was 10 (1-18 years). Of the patients, 66 (44%) were female and 84 (56%) were male. Forty (26.7%) of the patients were bacteremic and 110 (73.3%) were nonbacteremic. In the bacteremic group, white blood cell count, platelet, and hemoglobin counts were lower, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values were higher. In clinical evaluation, fever, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and abdominal pain were more common in the bacteremic group. Conclusion: The distinction between bacteremic and nonbacteremic brucellosis can be predicted using laboratory values such as white blood cells, hemoglobin counts, platelet, ALT, and AST, and clinical findings such as fever, abdominal pain, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly.

Development and spatial characteristics of housing support services for individuals with psychiatric disabilities in South Korea

ABSTRACT This study aims to explore the evolution of mental health housing policies and spatial characteristics for individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities (IWPDs) in South Korea. This study utilised qualitative methods, including literature review and case analysis, to investigate changes of housing policies and spatial characteristics of residential facilities and independent housing for IWPDs in South Korea. The findings indicate that current housing services limit privacy, autonomy for IWPDs and have regional differences in resource allocation. Based on the circumstance of less radical deinstitutionalisation, the Korean mental health housing policy needs a gradual approach addressing regional disparities and enhancing the residential conditions.

[Analysis methods and case analysis of effect modification (3): effect modification in individual patient data Meta-analysis].

This paper briefly introduces the unique advantages, overall analysis ideas and existing analysis methods of individual patient data Meta-analysis in terms of effect modification. In addition to Meta-regression and subgroup analysis, this paper also introduces the analysis methods based on part of individual patient data integrated with aggregated data and summarizes the current reporting of the above mentioned methods. In addition, the application and results interpretation of the above mentioned methods in individual patient data Meta-analysis are presented in this paper by taking "Effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors on SBP in patients with type 2 diabetes" as an example and by introducing their advantages and limitations.

Research on Coordinated Optimization of Source-Load-Storage Considering Renewable Energy and Load Similarity

Currently, the global energy revolution in the direction of green and low-carbon technologies is flourishing. The large-scale integration of renewable energy into the grid has led to significant fluctuations in the net load of the power system. To meet the energy balance requirements of the power system, the pressure on conventional power generation units to adjust and regulate has increased. The efficient utilization of the regulation capability of controllable industrial loads and energy storage can achieve the similarity between renewable energy curves and load curves, thereby reducing the peak-to-valley difference and volatility of the net load. This approach also decreases the adjustment pressure on conventional generating units. Therefore, this paper proposes a two-stage optimization scheduling strategy considering the similarity between renewable energy and load, including energy storage and industrial load participation. The combination of the Euclidean distance, which measures the similarity between the magnitude of renewable energy–load curves, and the load tracking coefficient, which measures the similarity in curve shape, is used to measure the similarity between renewable energy and load profiles. This measurement method is introduced into the source-load-storage optimal scheduling to establish a two-stage optimization model. In the first stage, the model is set up to maximize the similarity between renewable energy and the load profile and minimize the cost of energy storage and industrial load regulation to obtain the desired load curve and new energy output curve. In the second stage, the model is set up to minimize the overall operation cost by considering the costs associated with abandoning the new energy sources and shedding loads to optimize the output of conventional generator sets. Through a case analysis, it is verified that the proposed scheduling strategy can achieve the tracking of the load curve to the new energy curve, reducing the peak-to-valley difference of the net load curve by 48.52% and the fluctuation by 67.54% compared to the original curve. These improvements effectively enhance the net load curve and reduce the difficulty in regulating conventional power generation units. Furthermore, the strategy achieves the full discard of renewable energy and reduces the system operating costs by 4.19%, effectively promoting the discard of renewable energy and reducing the system operating costs.

“Masks” of fever of unknown origin in children

   The article presents an analysis of cases of hospitalized children with fever of unknown origin. Purpose: to study the nosological structure of the causes of fever of unknown genesis in hospitalized children.   Material and methods: a retrospective analysis of the medical histories of children hospitalized in the pediatric department was carried out for 2022–2023. All children underwent a comprehensive laboratory and instrumental examination.   Results: the largest proportion (43,9 %) were school-age children who, in addition to fever, had complaints of weakness (87,8 %) and decreased appetite (85,4 %). Anemia (51,2 %), acceleration of ESR (47,6 %) and an increase in C-reactive protein (45,1 %) were most often recorded in the analyses. The causes of fever of unknown origin in 65,9 % of children were infectious diseases, in 19,5 % — autonomic dysfunction syndrome with a violation of thermoregulation, in 6,1 % — systemic connective tissue diseases, in 4,9 % — oncological pathology, in 2,4 % — inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.   The results of the study can be applied in pediatric practice, monitoring of children with infectious pathology.

Viscum album Lipophilic Extract in Actinic Keratosis, Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Case Series.

Introduction Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) belong to the group of keratinocyte carcinomas (KC). Actinic keratosis (AK) is a precursor lesion of cSCC. The incidences of cSCC, BCC and AK are currently strongly increasing. Different standard therapies exist for these conditions but are not always applicable or successful. Hydrophilic Viscum album extracts have been used in anthroposophic cancer therapy since 1917. Viscum album Lipophilic Extract (VALE) is prepared by means of supercritical CO2 extraction. This retrospective case series assessed the safe-ty and clinical effects of a topical application of 10% VALE in individual cases of cSCC, BCC and AK. Methods For this retrospective case series, a positive vote was obtained from the ethics committee of the University of Witten/Herdecke (No. 146/2020). Eligible patients signed a declaration of consent prior to inclusion in the study. The main outcome parameters were the clinical response to treat-ment with VALE and adverse drug reactions. Risk factors, concomitant therapies and diseases, fur-ther diagnostic and therapeutic information were documented where available. Data analysis was performed on the level of patients and of individual lesions. Results The study population consisted of 55 patients with 74 skin lesions. Individual case analysis accom-panied by photographic documentation revealed typical and promising treatment courses. Clinical response rates (complete + partial remissions) for individual lesions were 78 % for cSCC, 70 % for BCC, and 71 % for AK. Complete remission rates for individual lesions were 56 % for cSCC, 35 % for BCC, and 15 % for AK. In cSCC and BCC, shorter times to best clinical response were observed. Ad-verse drug reactions were reported in five patients including erythema and inflammatory reactions of mostly moderate severity that resolved completely. In one case, therapy was temporarily paused, in four cases it was continued without interruption. Discussion/ Conclusion The results of this study suggest that VALE is a safe and tolerable extract under whose application complete and partial remissions of KC could be observed. To improve and assess the efficacy of VALE, prospective investigations are necessary.

A Study on Cultural Default and Compensation in C-E Translation of Soft News from the Perspective of Relevance Theory: A Case Study of China Daily in 2022

Cultural default and compensation play an important role not only in literary translation, but also in many non-literary translation fields, including news translation. Under the guidance of relevance theory, this paper takes the bilingual soft news of China Daily as the materials adopts the literature method and case analysis method to examine the cultural defaults in the translation process of soft news, and finds out the appropriate compensation strategies. Through research, it is found that the most common cultural defaults in soft news are linguistic cultural defaults, followed by social cultural defaults, material cultural defaults, ecological cultural defaults and religious cultural defaults. In addition, reconstruction, transliteration and transplantation are common compensation strategies in translation, which need to be adjusted flexibly according to translation requirements. This study is expected to provide some reference for the translation of soft news and attract more scholars’ attention to cultural default and compensation in soft news translation, so as to improve the translation quality of soft news.

Motor fuel retail prices regulation: The influence of the social order characteristics

Regulating retail fuel prices, which are getting particularly volatile, is an urgent issue amid the shock period that the global energy industry is facing today. Price volatility, however, is a factor in coordinating consumers’ and fuel producers’ plans. Economic theory fails to explain why in some countries, during a shock period, governments tend to regulate retail prices, while in others they develop market pricing mechanisms in the fuel market. The article reveals the influence of Douglass North’s social orders on the tendency of governments to establish a price regulation mechanism in the retail fuel market. New institutional economics constitutes the theoretical framework of the study. Among the research methods are case analysis, comparative crosscountry analysis, and statistical analysis. The empirical evidence comes from regulatory legal acts, US and Russian state statistics on fuel prices for 2019–2023, and materials from the GlobalPetrolPrices project. The research results revealed differences in uncertainty assessments by the governments of countries with different social orders: for regulators in open access social orders, industry shock is the reason of finding a new way to adapt to market conditions; for regulators in limited access social orders, it is the risk of destabilization of the social order. Our findings help to outline the institutional rationale behind the implementation of industry-specific policies.

Organ-on-chip technology's development and usages: A comprehensive review

Organ-on-a-chip technology is a new development technology that has made great contributions to the field of biomedicine-medicine, which began to be studied in 1950 but has not achieved effective results. With the development of technology and the passage of time, the first successful organ-on-a-chip products were introduced in 1990. Organ-on-chip technology has broken through the limitations of human drug testing and pathological research, solved the problem of unsatisfactory efficacy after using animal simulation, and greatly promoted the development of pathology and pharmacology. Organ-on-a-chip refers to the cell culture of human organs on a chip to simulate the function and characteristics of human organs, providing a new way for disease treatment and drug research and development. The researchers began by trying to grow cells on artificial substrates to mimic the structure and function of human organs. Organ-on-a-chip technology can process cell cultures while improving the environment for human drug testing and pathology research, truly simulating and performing experiments on humans. Organ-on-a-chip is a cell culture analog that utilizes a microfluidic device in which microchannels are used to guide and manipulate the solution. In recent years, with the development of bio print technology, the research of organ chips has entered a new stage. Bioprinting allows cells and biomaterials to be arranged in predetermined patterns and structures to build tissues and organs with specific functions. At present, the research of organ chips can already help us complete the test drug and case analysis, the development time of this technology is very short, and there is still a lot of development and exploration space in the future.

Exploring AI-chatbots’ capability to suggest surgical planning in ophthalmology: ChatGPT versus Google Gemini analysis of retinal detachment cases

BackgroundWe aimed to define the capability of three different publicly available large language models, Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer (ChatGPT-3.5), ChatGPT-4 and Google Gemini in analysing retinal detachment cases and suggesting...

Eighteen Years of Joint Master of Health Professions Education Between Geographically Distanced Partners Lessons from a Matured Partnership

Many educational partnerships between institutes never reach the stage of maturity, with students often bearing the costs of such discontinued partnerships. Reasons can be multifold, including a loss of ambitions, finances, or changing personal aspirations of stakeholders. In 2022 a joint curriculum in health professions education between two geographically and culturally distanced institutes reached its 18th anniversary. What can be learned from this particular partnership in terms of deliberate strategic choices, if any, to overcome the challenges identified in the literature? This article applies an instrumental, in-depth case analysis using a theoretical framework of factors that impact the sustainability of educational curriculum partnerships. By doing so, this paper intends to reveal successful strategies and managerial decisions that might be beneficial to those aiming for a sustainable partnership in higher education.

Return-to-play decision-making following ankle injury: a comprehensive case analysis of the functional hop test

Following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury of the knee, the functional hop test (an averaging of 4 component hop tests including single-hop, triple-hop, cross-over-hop, and 6-meter-hop) is commonly used by sports medicine physicians, doctors of physical therapy, and athletic trainers in return-to-practice and return-to-play decision making. In this case report, the functional hop test was applied to a 31-year-old recreational basketball player status-post full-tear of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) to examine the applicability of a standardized, efficient, and easy-to-administer functional test in making return-to-play decisions following an ankle injury. The functional hop test was administered 5 times across a treatment course of 11 physical therapy sessions emphasizing pain-free range of motion, baseline strength, weight-bearing loading, and sport-specific training. The functional hop test was found to be a helpful (albeit imperfect) tool for clinical decision-making following an ankle injury. Specifically, improvements in landing skill/confidence of single hop accounted for the greatest gains in total score in the early phase of rehabilitation, while momentum and plyometric skill/control of triple hop accounted for the greatest gains in total score in the later phase of rehabilitation. Modification of the functional hop test to include sub-component tests of strength, endurance, and/or lateral hops are discussed.