Practice Of Medicine Research Articles

Views of veterinary faculty students on the concept of Artificial Intelligence and its use in Veterinary Medicine practices: An example of Ankara University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

The study was carried out to determine the knowledge levels of the students of Ankara University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, on the concept of artificial intelligence and its use in veterinary practices. For this purpose, an online questionnaire was applied to a total of 529 students in the study, covering all grades of the faculty. The questionnaire consists of two parts. In the first part, there are 10 questions including demographics, knowledge about the concept of artificial intelligence, etc. The second part consists of 26 5-point Likert-type questions to determine students' thoughts on artificial intelligence applications. Data were analyzed using statistical tests. Consequently, the students participating in the study are partially knowledgeable about artificial intelligence (52.9%). They know the importance of following the developments in artificial intelligence for the profession (45.2%). They think that artificial intelligence applications will improve their professional skills (53.5%). They have the opinion that a robot cannot replace a veterinary surgeon (36.7%) and artificial intelligence cannot cause unemployment in veterinary medicine in the future (35.3%). In addition, they believe that artificial intelligence can cause ethical problems (39.3%) and that applications made with this technology should be developed in an ethical sense (42.4%). As a result, while the students think that artificial intelligence will have positive effects in the field of veterinary medicine, they also think that artificial intelligence can bring negative ethical implications. It can be concluded that including elective courses on artificial intelligence applications in veterinary faculties and conducting further research on the subject would be beneficial.

Lifestyle Medicine as a Public Health Solution for Treatment–Resistant Depression (TRD)

Treatment–⁠resistant depression (TRD) is defined as failing to fully remit after 2 antidepressant treatments of adequate dose and duration. A study that analyzed commercial insurance claims, Medicaid, and the Veterans Administration populations showed TRD to be a very costly healthcare disorder thereby making TRD a major public health concern for policymakers. Studies were analyzed and the results of the cost–⁠effective lifestyle medicine practices in treating TRD are shared. Recommendations include further funding and resources and more advanced research in using lifestyle medicine to treat TRD and other mental health problems.

An Examination of the Attitudes and Behaviors of Turkish Doctors and Medical Students towards Emigration

Objective: In this study, it is desired to investigate the attitudes and behaviors of doctors and medical school students towards brain drain. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted between the dates of 14.11.2022 – 31.12.2022 at Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University (AFSU). It was made to first-year medical faculty students and AFSU Faculty of Medicine Doctors. The sample of the study consisted of 691 students and 110 doctors. SPSS 26.0 statistical package program was used in the analysis of the data. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square analysis were used. Results: In the study, there are 784 (97.9%) citizens of the Republic of Turkey and 17 (2.1%) foreign nationals. It was observed that 491 (61.3%) of the participants were women and 691 (86.3%) were students. When the opinions of the participants about thinking of working abroad were examined, 429 (53.6%) people stated that they wanted to work, 123 (15.4%) did not want to work, and 249 (31.1%) people were undecided. If you want to practice medicine abroad, would you consider returning? 180 (42%) answered yes, 114 (26.6%) no and 135 (31.5%) undecided. Do you think language exams are an obstacle for you to go abroad? To the question, 628 (78.4%) of the participants answered yes, 99 (12.4% answered no) and 74 (9.2%) stated that they were undecided. 628 (78.4%) answered yes, 99 (12.4%) said no, 74 (9.2%) stated that they were undecided. Conclusions: Higher income, better treatment (Respect, love, understanding,.. ), insecurity , as one of the reasons why doctors want to go abroad. These include working conditions, technologically equipped healthcare systems abroad, travel opportunities, and career and further education opportunities. With the increasing number of staff, Doctors think that their specialty training will be insufficient, and with this thought, doctors want to go abroad. It has been observed that the rate of those who want to practice medicine abroad and the rate of those who want to return when they go are high. It has been determined that the foreign language problem is an important obstacle for brain drain. It can be understood that, due to the high rate of participants being undecided in case of an increase in working wages in Turkey, doctors may give up going if their wages increase.

Health Resource Utilization and Cost Impact of Integrative Medicine Services for Newly Diagnosed Chronic Pain Patients.

Background: Integrative medicine (IM) is the healing-oriented practice of medicine that emphasizes the relationship between practitioner and patient. It considers the whole person, their environment, lifestyle, and social and cultural factors. It is evidence based and makes use of all appropriate therapies, conventional and complimentary. Objective: To evaluate the impact of IM services on health outcomes and care costs of chronic pain management patients compared with standard care. Methods: This article uses University of New Mexico hospital billing data from 10/2016 to 09/2019 to identify patients with nervous system or musculoskeletal pain. A total of 1,304 patients were matched using propensity scores into IM services (treatment: 652) and standard care (control: 652) cohorts for difference-in-differences analysis. The patients were matched based on age, sex, race, zip code, insurance type, ICD-10s, prescriptions, health care events, and medical claim costs. Results: Patients who used IM services had better health outcomes and lower costs at 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up. At the 12-month follow-up, the IM group showed a 19% decrease in utilization of inpatient care, a 37% decrease in Emergency Department utilization, and an 11.3% reduction in claim costs compared with the control group. Conclusion: Patients who utilize IM services as part of chronic pain management have overall lower health care costs and better health outcomes. Unfortunately, in the health system studied, less than 3% of patients utilize these services. Promotion of and education about IM services should be aimed at both patients and their providers.

Health Resource Utilization and Cost Impact of Integrative Medicine Services for Newly Diagnosed Chronic Pain Patients.

Background: Integrative medicine (IM) is the healing-oriented practice of medicine that emphasizes the relationship between practitioner and patient. It considers the whole person, their environment, lifestyle, and social and cultural factors. It is evidence based and makes use of all appropriate therapies, conventional and complimentary. Objective: To evaluate the impact of IM services on health outcomes and care costs of chronic pain management patients compared with standard care. Methods: This article uses University of New Mexico hospital billing data from 10/2016 to 09/2019 to identify patients with nervous system or musculoskeletal pain. A total of 1,304 patients were matched using propensity scores into IM services (treatment: 652) and standard care (control: 652) cohorts for difference-in-differences analysis. The patients were matched based on age, sex, race, zip code, insurance type, ICD-10s, prescriptions, health care events, and medical claim costs. Results: Patients who used IM services had better health outcomes and lower costs at 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up. At the 12-month follow-up, the IM group showed a 19% decrease in utilization of inpatient care, a 37% decrease in Emergency Department utilization, and an 11.3% reduction in claim costs compared with the control group. Conclusion: Patients who utilize IM services as part of chronic pain management have overall lower health care costs and better health outcomes. Unfortunately, in the health system studied, less than 3% of patients utilize these services. Promotion of and education about IM services should be aimed at both patients and their providers.

РАСПРОСТРАНЕННОСТЬ И ЗАБОЛЕВАЕМОСТЬ МОЧЕКАМЕННОЙ БОЛЕЗНЬЮ В ЯРОСЛАВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

In modern society, urolithiasis is one of the most common diseases. The study of trends in the incidence and prevalence of the disease is important in practical medicine. The estimated annual increase in urolithiasis is about 3%. The causes of this phenomenon are discussed, and so far they are not fully known. The purpose of the study is to assess the cumulative incident and prevalence of urolithiasis among the adult population living in various municipal districts of the Yaroslavl region based on the analysis of statistical reports of state medical institutions and medical documentation for the period from 2018 to 2023. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of the statistical data of the work of state medical organizations of the Yaroslavl region for this period was carried out. An analysis of the total number of adult patients attached, changes in the number of patients attached, and the total number of patients diagnosed with urolithiasis was performed using the relevant International Classification of Diseases codes N20.0, N20.1, N20.2, N20.9, N23.Results and discussions. The results showed that in the city of Yaroslavl over the past 6 years there has been a natural increase in the adult population. However, a decrease in numbers was recorded between 2020 and 2021, possibly due to the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is also a steady trend towards a decrease in the adult population in regions outside the regional center. Conclusion: It can be noted that urolithiasis is a widespread chronic disease of the urogenital system among the adult population living in various areas of the Yaroslavl region.

РАСПРОСТРАНЕННОСТЬ И ЗАБОЛЕВАЕМОСТЬ МОЧЕКАМЕННОЙ БОЛЕЗНЬЮ В ЯРОСЛАВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

In modern society, urolithiasis is one of the most common diseases. The study of trends in the incidence and prevalence of the disease is important in practical medicine. The estimated annual increase in urolithiasis is about 3%. The causes of this phenomenon are discussed, and so far they are not fully known. The purpose of the study is to assess the cumulative incident and prevalence of urolithiasis among the adult population living in various municipal districts of the Yaroslavl region based on the analysis of statistical reports of state medical institutions and medical documentation for the period from 2018 to 2023. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of the statistical data of the work of state medical organizations of the Yaroslavl region for this period was carried out. An analysis of the total number of adult patients attached, changes in the number of patients attached, and the total number of patients diagnosed with urolithiasis was performed using the relevant International Classification of Diseases codes N20.0, N20.1, N20.2, N20.9, N23.Results and discussions. The results showed that in the city of Yaroslavl over the past 6 years there has been a natural increase in the adult population. However, a decrease in numbers was recorded between 2020 and 2021, possibly due to the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is also a steady trend towards a decrease in the adult population in regions outside the regional center. Conclusion: It can be noted that urolithiasis is a widespread chronic disease of the urogenital system among the adult population living in various areas of the Yaroslavl region.

Prevalence of traditional eye medicine and self-treatment in Gurage Zone, Rural Ethiopia

IntroductionTraditional medicines are commonly used worldwide, especially in Africa—however, there is limited information on the prevalence and types of traditional eye medicine utilization in Ethiopia. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence, the type and nature of traditional eye medicine use and practices related to self-medication for ophthalmic diseases in a rural Ethiopian population.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in six randomly selected primary health centers in rural Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Health-seeking behavior, use of self-medication, and traditional eye medicine were assessed in the population using a semi-structured questionnaire.Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analysis were computed to determine associated factors for using self-medication and traditional eye medicine.ResultOf the 814 participants interviewed, 487 (59.8%) reported using traditional eye medicine, mainly for combinations of symptoms of ocular redness, irritation, and eye discharge (95.5%). Besides, 604 (74.2%) participants reported self-treatment with tetracycline 1% eye ointment. Older age, females, low income, no formal education, and lack of access to media were risks for utilizing traditional eye medicine.ConclusionThe use of traditional eye medicine and self-treatment are common in this population. Regulatory legislation, public awareness, and making eye care are vital activities required to monitor such practices.

Exploring Hausa Cuisine for Diabetes Management: Towards a Culinary Solution

This paper explores the rich tradition of Hausa cuisine and its potential role in managing diabetes, focusing on traditional medicinal foods used by the Hausa people. Drawing from the abundant natural resources surrounding them, the Hausa people have long relied on a holistic approach to health, incorporating various trees, plants, roots, and herbs into their diet. Traditional remedies often blur the line between food and medicine, reflecting the Hausa belief that dietary choices play a crucial role in overall health. Through an extensive examination of traditional Hausa foods and their therapeutic effects on diabetes, this paper provides insights into potential culinary solutions for managing the condition. From fresh moringa leaves to baobab fruits, from hibiscus to fish and local fowls, the paper explores a wide range of traditional remedies used by the Hausa people to alleviate symptoms of diabetes. Furthermore, the paper discusses the harmful types of foods that diabetics should avoid and highlights non-harmful foods beneficial for diabetes management. By shedding light on the intricate relationship between Hausa cuisine and diabetes management, this paper contributes to our understanding of traditional medicinal practices and offers avenues for further research and exploration.

Evidence-based practice in traditional persian medicine (TPM): a stakeholder and social network analysis

BackgroundThe utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is experiencing a global surge, accompanied by the adoption of national CAM policies in numerous countries. Traditional Persian medicine (TPM) is highly used as CAM in Iran, and the ongoing scientific evaluation of its interventions and the implementation of evidence-based medicine (EBM) encounters various barriers. Therefore, comprehending the characteristics and interactions of stakeholders is pivotal in advancing EBM within TPM policies. In this study, we utilized both classical stakeholder analysis and social network analysis to identify key stakeholders and potential communication patterns, thereby promoting EBM in TPM policy-making.MethodsA cross-sectional nationwide stakeholder analysis was conducted in 2023 using snowball sampling. The interviews were carried out using a customized version of the six building blocks of health. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Stakeholders were assessed based on five factors (power, interest, influence, position, and competency). The connections and structure of the network were analyzed using degree, betweenness, closeness centrality, and modularity index to detect clusters of smaller networks.ResultsAmong twenty-three identified stakeholders, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) and the Public were the most powerful and influential. The Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences was the most competent stakeholder. Social network analysis revealed a low density of connections among stakeholders. Pharmaceutical companies were identified as key connectors in the network, while the Public, supreme governmental bodies, and guilds acted as gatekeepers or brokers. The MOHME and Maraji were found to be high-ranking stakeholders based on four different centrality measures.ConclusionThis study identifies powerful stakeholders in the network and emphasizes the need to engage uninterested yet significant stakeholders. Recommendations include improving competence through education, strengthening international relations, and fostering stronger relationships. Engaging key connectors and gatekeepers is essential for bridging gaps in the network.

The Florida Geriatric Head Trauma CT Clinical Decision Rule.

Several clinical decision rules have been devised to guide head computed tomography (CT) use in patients with minor head injuries, but none have been validated in patients 65 years or older. We aimed to derive and validate a head injury clinical decision rule for older adults. We conducted a secondary analysis of an existing dataset of consecutive emergency department (ED) patients >65 years old with blunt head trauma. The main predictive outcomes were significant intracranial injury and Need for Neurosurgical Intervention on CT. The secondary outcomes also considered in the model development and validation were All Injuries and All Intracranial Injuries. Predictor variables were identified using multiple variable logistic regression, and clinical decision rule models were developed in a split-sample derivation cohort and then tested in an independent validation cohort. Of 5776 patients, 233 (4.0%) had significant intracranial injury and an additional 104 (1.8%) met CT criteria for Need for Neurosurgical Intervention. The best performing model, the Florida Geriatric Head Trauma CT Clinical Decision Rule, assigns points based on several clinical variables. If the points totaled 25 or more, a CT scan is indicated. The included predictors were arrival via Emergency Medical Services (+30 points), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) <15 (+20 points), GCS <14 (+50 points), antiplatelet medications (+17 points), loss of consciousness (+16 points), signs of basilar skull fracture (+50 points), and headache (+20 points). Utilizing this clinical decision rule in the validation cohort, a point total ≥25 had a sensitivity and specificity of 100.0% (95% CI: 96.0-100) and 12.3% (95% CI: 10.9-13.8), respectively, for significant intracranial injury and Need for Neurosurgical Intervention. The Florida Geriatric Head Trauma CT Clinical Decision Rule has the potential to reduce unnecessary CT scans in older adults, without compromising safe emergency medicine practice.

P-054 Paternal age and cryopreservation impact sperm chromatin status as indicated by changes in protamine and histone levels

Abstract Study question Do paternal age and cryopreservation alter sperm chromatin status in normospermic men? Summary answer Paternal age and cryopreservation appear to impact sperm chromatin condensation by altering protamine and histone DNA levels. What is known already Semen parameters do not accurately reflect male fertility and thus are not adequate to assess the impact of patient profile and semen manipulation/conservation on sperm functional quality. DNA protamination leads to sperm chromatin condensation, which is associated with sperm maturity but also appears to function as a defence mechanism against oxidative attack. In the face of contrasting/insufficient previous data, the impact of advanced paternal age (APA) and cryopreservation on sperm chromatin condensation and histone/protamine balance remains unclear. Study design, size, duration Twenty-two normospermic men, 11 of which with advanced paternal age (APA; ≥42) and 11 pre-APA (≤35), provided semen samples by masturbation (1-5 days abstinence). Fresh and cryopreserved/thawed samples from all patients were assessed for chromatin histone staining, while samples from a subgroup of 10 patients (5 pre-APA and 5 APA) were assessed for protamine presence. The effects of age and cryopreservation on the percentage of stained cells were assessed with the Fisher’s exact test. Participants/materials, setting, methods Semen samples were provided by male partners of couples treated at our fertility centre. Sample aliquots were cryopreserved and analyzed after thawing (CryoSperm &amp; Sperm Preparation Medium, Origio). Histone presence was assessed through aniline blue staining and protamine presence was indirectly assessed through staining with the protamine competitor Chromomycin A3 (CMA3); stained cells were visualized by bright field and fluorescence microscopy, respectively. Two hundred sperm cells were evaluated in each sample by the same embryologist. Main results and the role of chance Mean paternal age was 31.5±3.9 and 44.4±2.1 years for pre-APA and APA patient-groups, respectively. Major parameters observed in fresh semen samples were: 2.3±0.7 vs. 3.6±1.6mL (volume); 39±28 vs. 38±12 x10ˆ6/mL (concentration); 7±12 vs. 6±5% (rapid progressive motility); 41±12 vs. 38±13% (slow progressive motility); 12±5 vs. 11±4% (non-progressive motility); 40±17 vs. 45±16% (immotile) and 5±1 vs. 6±2% (normal morphology), for pre-APA and APA, respectively. The percentage of aniline blue (histone marker) positive cells was less than half in fresh samples from APA as compared to pre-APA patients (10.2% and 23.4%, respectively, p &amp;lt; 0.0001). Consistently, the percentage of CMA3 (protamine absence marker) positive cells was less than half in APA as compared to pre-APA patients (6.4% and 16.4%, respectively, p &amp;lt; 0.0001). In both age groups, the percentages of aniline blue and CMA3 positive cells were higher in cryopreserved/thawed samples as compared to their fresh counterparts (aniline blue positive: 35.2% vs. 23.4% and 22.0% vs. 10.2%; CMA3 positive: 27.2% vs. 16.4% and 18.8% vs. 6.4%, in cryopreserved vs. fresh in pre-APA and APA, respectively, p &amp;lt; 0.0001). Limitations, reasons for caution Our study is limited by the potential interference of confounding factors not equally distributed in age groups. The conclusions from this study must be confirmed in other patient populations with different race/genetics and habits. Wider implications of the findings Our findings suggest that APA increases, while cryopreservation decreases, sperm chromatin condensation, as indicated by changes in DNA histone and protamine abundance. Our study thus sheds light on the impact of paternal age and cryopreservation on sperm quality, providing new valuable parameters for reproductive medicine practice and research. Trial registration number na

P-226 Consistent quality in Duostim cycle embryos: Concordant assessment by embryologists and Artificial Intelligence

Abstract Study question Does the Duostim protocol, evaluated by embryologists and AI, yield similar embryo quality in both cycles, and what impact does it have on reproductive outcomes? Summary answer Duostim protocol, when assessed by both AI and embryologists, maintains consistent embryo quality, making it a promising therapeutic option in assisted reproductive technology. What is known already Duostim optimises ovarian cycles with consecutive stimulations in the follicular and luteal phases, particularly beneficial for poor prognosis and oncological patients, aiming to boost oocyte production in a short period. It’s crucial to evaluate its impact on embryo quality. AI tools like CHLOE-EQ assist embryologists by automatically generating an embryo quality score (EQ Score) from time-lapse videos and morphokinetic annotations. This study compares the embryo quality from the initial and subsequent stimulations in a Duostim cycle, examining both AI-generated EQ Scores and assessments by embryologists. Study design, size, duration In a retrospective study spanning from February to December 2022, 234 embryos resulting from Duostim protocols were analyzed. The embryos were divided into “first” (n = 112) and “second” (n = 122) stimulations. Evaluation of embryo quality utilized CHLOE-EQ scores (Fairtility Ltd), morphokinetic events (tPNa-tEB), and Direct Unequal Cleavage (DUC) automatically annotated by AI. Manual annotations by embryologists included parameters like euploidy, utilization, and fragmentation. Participants/materials, setting, methods The study included embryos from Duostim protocols. Embryo quality of each stimulation group was evaluated using EQ score and embryo development pace (tPNa-tEB), measured by 2-sample t-test. Additional analysis compared euploidy, utilization, and abnormalities (DUCs, fragmentation) between first and second stimulation and was evaluated using chi-squared tests. Main results and the role of chance Patient age averaged 40±3 years. EQ scores revealed comparable embryo quality between “first” and “second” stimulation cycles (3.2 ± 3.6 vs. 2.9 ± 3.7), with a similar distribution of low, medium, and high-quality embryos.Similarities were observed in development rates between embryos derived from the first and second stimulation; tPNA(9 ± 3 vs 9 ± 3); tPNf(22 ± 7 vs 22 ± 5); t2(27 ± 4 vs 27 ± 4); t3(37 ± 6 vs 37 ± 5); t4 (39 ± 6 vs 39 ± 6); t5(48 ± 9 vs 49 ± 8); t6(54 ± 9 vs 56 ± 10); t7(57 ± 10 vs 59 ± 10); t8(61 ± 12 vs 61 ± 12); t9(70 ± 12 vs 73 ± 12); tM(89 ± 12 vs 88 ± 14); tSB(106 ± 12 vs 107 ± 16); tB(113 ± 12 vs 116 ± 15); tEB(124 ± 11 vs 125 ± 14), p=NS. Both stimulation groups had similar utilization (39% vs. 33%), euploidy (54% vs. 45%), DUCs (19% vs. 17%), and fragmentation rates (≤25%: 95% vs. 96%; &amp;gt;26%: 5% vs. 4 The quantity of oocytes retrieved from the first and second stimulations (112 vs. 122) further supported these findings. Limitations, reasons for caution The sample, while substantial, may not represent diverse populations. Generalizability and potential confounding variables should be considered. To enhance applicability, assessments across diverse IVF centers with varied patient demographics are crucial. Wider implications of the findings Duostim, assessed by both AI and embryologists, emerges as a promising therapeutic option without compromising embryonic quality or euploidy. The study supports AI integration for assessing therapeutic protocols and their impact on embryonic quality, emphasizing its potential in enhancing reproductive medicine practices. Trial registration number NA

Dosimetry: Was and Is an Absolute Requirement for Quality Radiation Research.

This review aims to trace the evolution of dosimetry, highlight its significance in the advancement of radiation research, and identify the current trends and methodologies in the field. Key historical milestones, starting with the first publications in the journal in 1954, will be synthesized before addressing contemporary practices in radiation medicine and radiobiological investigation. Finally, possibilities for future opportunities in dosimetry will be offered. The overarching goal is to emphasize the indispensability of accurate and reproducible dosimetry in enhancing the quality of radiation research and practical applications of ionizing radiation.

Possibilities of Bombyx mori (B. mori) biotechnological platform for regenerative medicine

Regenerative medicine aims at changing modern medicine practice by eliminating core reasons of diseases and disorders. Regenerative medicine includes gene therapy, cell therapy and products of tissue engineering that are destined for augmentation, regeneration or replacement of organs, tissues, genes and metabolic processes in the organism. Biomaterials are amongst key components of regenerative medicine on which successful strategies are based.The review of biotechnological methods implemented in the USP and DSP stages with the use of B. mori was made. The methods analysed are aimed at improving quality characteristics and obtaining new kinds of biomaterials to meet the needs of regenerative medicine and biomedicine. The diversity of biotechnological solutions that allow to gain a wide spectrum of biomaterials (incl. derivatives of cocoon shell such as fibroin, sericin and their composites; recombinant derivatives; antimicrobial peptides; modified transgenic silk fibres;transgenic fibres that contain growth factors and peptides; etc.) is a unique basis for the bioindustrial platform on the B. mori basis.

Leverage Effective Deep Learning Searching Method for Forensic Age Estimation.

Dental age estimation is extensively employed in forensic medicine practice. However, the accuracy of conventional methods fails to satisfy the need for precision, particularly when estimating the age of adults. Herein, we propose an approach for age estimation utilizing orthopantomograms (OPGs). We propose a new dental dataset comprising OPGs of 27,957 individuals (16,383 females and 11,574 males), covering an age range from newborn to 93 years. The age annotations were meticulously verified using ID card details. Considering the distinct nature of dental data, we analyzed various neural network components to accurately estimate age, such as optimal network depth, convolution kernel size, multi-branch architecture, and early layer feature reuse. Building upon the exploration of distinctive characteristics, we further employed the widely recognized method to identify models for dental age prediction. Consequently, we discovered two sets of models: one exhibiting superior performance, and the other being lightweight. The proposed approaches, namely AGENet and AGE-SPOS, demonstrated remarkable superiority and effectiveness in our experimental results. The proposed models, AGENet and AGE-SPOS, showed exceptional effectiveness in our experiments. AGENet outperformed other CNN models significantly by achieving outstanding results. Compared to Inception-v4, with the mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.70 and 20.46 B FLOPs, our AGENet reduced the FLOPs by 2.7×. The lightweight model, AGE-SPOS, achieved an MAE of 1.80 years with only 0.95 B FLOPs, surpassing MobileNetV2 by 0.18 years while utilizing fewer computational operations. In summary, we employed an effective DNN searching method for forensic age estimation, and our methodology and findings hold significant implications for age estimation with oral imaging.

Artificial intelligence in ophthalmology: the present and the future

The medical industry is undergoing an active digital transformation, including the creation of electronic databases, cloud security systems, mobile health monitoring devices, and telemedicine tools. Artificial intelligence (AI), one of the most important technological achievements of the last decade, is gradually gaining momentum in various areas of practical medicine. The cutting edge of AI, neural networks, offers promising approaches to the improvement of clinical examination quality. The review presents data of studies focusing on the use of AI tools in the diagnosis of the most common ophthalmic diseases: diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinopathy of prematurity, glaucoma, cataracts, and ophthalmic oncology. We discuss both the advantages of neural networks in the diagnosis and monitoring of eye diseases, and outline the difficulties of their implementation, including ethical and legal conflicts.

МЕХАНИЗМЫ ДЕЙСТВИЯ И ШИРОТА ПРИМЕНЕНИЯ ГИАЛУРОНОВОЙ КИСЛОТЫ

Given the fact that today the use of hyaluronic acid is limited only to intra-articular injections or cosmetic products, the purpose of this article was to analyze modern literature concerning the mechanism of action of hyaluronic acid on the body at various levels (molecular, cellular and tissue) in order to increase awareness and demonstrate the possibilities of using hyaluronic acid in medical research and practical medicine.

ОПЫТ РЕАЛИЗАЦИИ ПИЛОТНОГО ПРОЕКТА «ГРОДНЕНСКАЯ УНИВЕРСИТЕТСКАЯ КЛИНИКА» В АСПЕКТЕ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ НАУЧНОЙ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ

The development and prompt implementation of advanced medical methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention, based on the latest achievements of science and technology is a healthcare focus area for any state. The purpose of this publication is to summarize the experience of the pilot project “Grodno University Clinic” implementation regarding the efficiency of scientific activities. 12 indices of the University clinic innovative development were included in the model for final results activities of the clinic’s departments. Significant growth in innovation has been achieved, 25 employees of the clinic participate in the educational process of the medical university, 15 theses are being carried out by the clinic staff and teaching staff, and 6 patents have been jointly received. 11 initiative research projects are planned and carried out at the clinic. In addition, funded projects are being implemented, the implementation of which made it possible to attract 209,850 BYN in 2022. Scientific and practical conference “Innovative achievements in the work of Grodno University Clinic” is held annually as a part of the “Perspective plan for the development of the health care institution “Grodno University Clinic” implementation regarding the increase of the efficiency of scientific activities and personnel of the highest scientific qualifications. The clinic conducts clinical trials of medicines and medical products; income for 2022 amounted to 523.88K BYN. The experience of this project implementation makes it possible to draw the following conclusions. The presented interim results of pilot project “Grodno University Clinic” implementation regarding the efficiency of scientific activities allow us to assess positively this initiative transformation of the model for organizing the functioning of a multidisciplinary medical healthcare institution. The marked tendencies in the dynamics of the main indices reflect the efficiency of scientific research in the applied healthcare areas of high priority. The positive influence on innovation impacted by this favorable environment under a new integration project of science and practice for national healthcare is shown. Further research on the role and place of university clinics in the Republic of Belarus under their contribution and influence on the training of highly qualified scientific staff for healthcare, the development and implementation of import-substituting and export-oriented innovative methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention in practical medicine are considered to be relevant.

Research on ultrasound-based radiomics: a bibliometric analysis.

A large number of studies related to ultrasound-based radiomics have been published in recent years; however, a systematic bibliometric analysis of this topic has not yet been conducted. In this study, we attempted to identify the hotspots and frontiers in ultrasound-based radiomics through bibliometrics and to systematically characterize the overall framework and characteristics of studies through mapping and visualization. A literature search was carried out in Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database from January 2016 to December 2023 according to a predetermined search formula. Bibliometric analysis and visualization of the results were performed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, R, and other platforms. Ultimately, 466 eligible papers were included in the study. Publication trend analysis showed that the annual publication trend of journals in ultrasound-based radiomics could be divided into three phases: there were no more than five documents published in this field in any year before 2018, a small yearly increase in the number of annual publications occurred between 2018 and 2022, and a high, stable number of publications appeared after 2022. In the analysis of publication sources, China was found to be the main contributor, with a much higher number of publications than other countries, and was followed by the United States and Italy. Frontiers in Oncology was the journal with the highest number of papers in this field, publishing 60 articles. Among the academic institutions, Fudan University, Sun Yat-sen University, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences ranked as the top three in terms of the number of documents. In the analysis of authors and cocited authors, the author with the most publications was Yuanyuan Wang, who has published 19 articles in 8 years, while Philippe Lambin was the most cited author, with 233 citations. Visualization of the results from the cocitation analysis of the literature revealed a strong centrality of the subject terms papillary thyroid cancer, biological behavior, potential biomarkers, and comparative assessment, which may be the main focal points of research in this subject. Based on the findings of the keyword analysis and cluster analysis, the keywords can be categorized into two major groups: (I) technological innovations that enable the construction of radiomics models such as machine learning and deep learning and (II) applications of predictive models to support clinical decision-making in certain diseases, such as papillary thyroid cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and breast cancer. Ultrasound-based radiomics has received widespread attention in the medical field and has been gradually been applied in clinical research. Radiomics, a relatively late development in medical technology, has made substantial contributions to the diagnosis, prediction, and prognostic evaluation of diseases. Additionally, the coupling of artificial intelligence techniques with ultrasound imaging has yielded a number of promising tools that facilitate clinical decision-making and enable the practice of precision medicine. Finally, the development of ultrasound-based radiomics requires multidisciplinary cooperation and joint efforts from the field biomedicine, information technology, statistics, and clinical medicine.