Preliminary Study Research Articles

Does mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease need a standard pulmonary rehabilitation program? A case report

Background: Patients with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are usually not recommended for a standard pulmonary rehabilitation (PR)program based on the GOLD guideline in mild COPD GOLD A classification. Especially, the scientific evidence on exercise capacity that can be identified for recruitment in PR programs has been less reported. Thus, a preliminary case study to identify the exercise capacity under cardiopulmonary responses by aerobic exercise testing among patients in mild COPD GOLD A classification was the aim of this study. Objective: To evaluate the cardiopulmonary responses from exercise capacity testing in individual COPD patients with mild COPD GOLD A Classification. Materials and methods: Four participants with mild COPD GOLD A performed an exercise endurance capacity test at home using Spot Marching Exercise Test (SMT), marching on the spot with high hip and arm raising. The load of SMT was indicated by a controlled stepping rate at 70, 80, 90, 100, and 110 steps/min. Every participant performed Incremental SMT (ISMT) with every 3 min incremental load, and the Constant SMT (CSMT) at the peak load. Both exercise tests were terminated at symptom limit. Resting time between ISMT and CSMT was at least 30 minutes. Cardiopulmonary exercise responses, Borg perceived breathlessness (RPB) and exertion (RPE) were monitored every minute during the exercise test. The duration of exercises was recorded. Results: Peak exercise capacity using ISMT was low with the end exercise load at 70, 80, 80, and 90 steps/min which is equivalent to moderate to high intensity at 81%, 62%, 65% and 93% of age-predicted maximum heart rate (HRmax). The exercise test was stopped by breathlessness at RPB 7, 8, 6, and 5. Respiratory rates (RR) were 36, 26, 38, and 38 breaths/min. With CSMT, the results showed very short exercise duration 1.78, 4.60, 2.15, and 2.47 mins with RPB 7, 8, 5, and 5 and RR of 33, 27, 34, and 41 breaths/min respectively. Conclusion: This preliminary report reveals that all four mild COPD GOLD A show low exercise capacity and very poor exercise endurance that should identify the appropriated standard PR program in the future.

Evaluation of ChatGPT for Patient Counseling in Kidney Stone Clinic: A Prospective Study.

Introduction: The potential of large language models (LLMs) is to improve the clinical workflow and to make patient care efficient. We prospectively evaluated the performance of the LLM ChatGPT as a patient counseling tool in the urology stone clinic and validated the generated responses with those of urologists. Methods: We collected 61 questions from 12 kidney stone patients and prompted those to ChatGPT and a panel of experienced urologists (Level 1). Subsequently, the blinded responses of urologists and ChatGPT were presented to two expert urologists (Level 2) for comparative evaluation on preset domains: accuracy, relevance, empathy, completeness, and practicality. All responses were rated on a Likert scale of 1 to 10 for psychometric response evaluation. The mean difference in the scores given by the urologists (Level 2) was analyzed and interrater reliability (IRR) for the level of agreement in the responses between the urologists (Level 2) was analyzed by Cohen's kappa. Results: The mean differences in average scores between the responses from ChatGPT and urologists showed significant differences in accuracy (p < 0.001), empathy (p < 0.001), completeness (p < 0.001), and practicality (p < 0.001), except for the relevance domain (p = 0.051), with ChatGPT's responses being rated higher. The IRR analysis revealed significant agreement only in the empathy domain [k = 0.163, (0.059-0.266)]. Conclusion: We believe the introduction of ChatGPT in the clinical workflow could further optimize the information provided to patients in a busy stone clinic. In this preliminary study, ChatGPT supplemented the answers provided by the urologists, adding value to the conversation. However, in its current state, it is still not ready to be a direct source of authentic information for patients. We recommend its use as a source to build a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions bank as a prelude to developing an LLM Chatbot for patient counseling.

The Dose-Response in Elite Soccer: Preliminary Insights From Menstrual-Cycle Tracking During the FIFA Women's World Cup 2019.

This preliminary study examined the influence of estimated menstrual-cycle (MC)phase on responses to soccer matches and training sessions in preparation for and during the FIFA (Fédération internationale de football association) Women's World Cup 2019. Twenty outfield players representing a national team were tracked over a 45-day period. External (10-Hz global positioning system; total and distance covered at high-metabolic power [≥20W·kg-1]) and internal load measures (minutes ≥80% heart-rate maximum, sessional ratings of perceived exertion) were collected during all training and matches, with single-item wellness measures (fatigue, soreness, sleep quality, and sleep duration) collected each morning prior to activity. MC phase was estimated individually via an algorithm, informed from pretournament survey responses and ongoing symptom reporting (FitrWoman). Model comparison statistics were used to determine the impact of estimated MC phase in nonhormonal contraceptive users (n = 16). Sessional rating of perceived exertion responses to total distances ≥5km were higher during the luteal phase (+0.6-1.0au; P ≤ .0178) versus menstruation (phase 1), but no other observable dose-response trends were observed. Sleep, fatigue, and soreness ratings were not typically associated with MC phase, with the exception of exacerbated fatigue ratings in luteal versus follicular phase 48 hours postmatch (-0.73au, P = .0275). Preliminary findings suggest that estimated MC phase may contribute to the understanding of the dose-response to soccer training and matches.

Model Predictive Control of Magnetic Helical Swimmers in Two-Dimensional Plane

Magnetic micro/mini-swimmers have a great potential application in biomedical research and have gained broad attention. Recent research studies focus on the automatic control methods of magnetic micro/mini-swimmers, such as artificial intelligence methods. However, their autonomous manipulation remains a challenge since they are subject to various disturbances from the external environment and model uncertainties. The current methods employ a status observer to estimate these disturbances and uncertainties. In this paper, we apply a data-driven technique that utilizes the nonlinear approximation ability of neural networks (NNs). To be specific, a flexible structure of NNs, Broad Learning System (BLS), is employed to model the input-output mapping relationship between the direction of the rotating magnetic field and the swimming direction of the helical miniature swimmer. Then, according to the dual-variable decoupling control, a levitation controller is formulated and a path following controller is proposed based on a planar three-degree-of-freedom model of magnetic helical swimmers, which is inspired by the model of wheeled mobile robots. Simulations and experiments are conducted to quantitatively validate the proposed control method using different planar paths. The experiment results show that the mean absolute error of the path following control is about 3 <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\%$</tex-math> </inline-formula> of the body length which is less than 0.5 <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$mm$</tex-math> </inline-formula> . Our proposed control method provides a preliminary study to alleviate the impact of disturbances and uncertainties on the control performance of magnetic micro/mini-swimmers. <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Note to Practitioners</i> —This paper is mainly motivated by the potential application of artificial intelligence methods in magnetic micro/mini-robot community, especially for the applications that reject disturbances and uncertainties. In practice, a path planner is employed to compute a pre-defined reference path that connects the start and the targeted locations. Then our control method is applied to the magnetic helical swimmer and it is guided to follow the reference path. Tackling external disturbances and model uncertainties is still challenging during the control progress. Neural network-based technique is an intuitive approach since their nonlinear modeling ability and generalization are suitable for estimating these disturbances and uncertainties. As for training the neural-network model, the training data about the angle parameters should be recorded by manual control of the helical swimmer. These angle parameters define the rotating axis of the uniform rotating magnetic field and the self-rotating axis of the magnetic helical swimmer. According to the planar motion model, the optimal controller is formulated using the feedback distance error and angle error, and the sum of the control signal and the prediction of the compensating model is used as the final control input. Our electromagnetic coil system features easy operation and configuration of cameras or other sensors. Simulations and experiments validate the performance of the neural network-based compensating method and the proposed optimal control method using magnetic micro/mini-swimmers.

A Preliminary Study of '把' Sentences in Modern Chinese and Analysis of Errors in Acquiring '把'  Sentences by Students of Chinese Language Major at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade

This paper provides an overview of a study conducted on the "把" sentence pattern in modern Chinese by Vietnamese learners. It highlights the importance of understanding this sentence pattern and notes the significant research conducted on the topic. The study utilized various research methods, such as documentary analysis and statistical comparison, to explore the acquisition of "把" sentences. Additionally, a questionnaire survey was conducted among college students majoring in Chinese language. By identifying common errors made by learners and providing suggestions for improvement, this study aims to assist the 11DHTQ students at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade in acquiring the correct usage of "把" sentences.

Non-immersive virtual reality based treatment for children with unilateral cerebral palsy: Preliminary results.

Unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) represents about 30-40% of overall cerebral palsy diagnoses. Upper limb impairment has a significant negative impact on activities of daily living (ADL), and recent studies have shown that the use of virtual reality (VR) can increase motivation and promote an improvement in ADL. This preliminary study was aimed at exploring the acceptability and usability of a VR rehabilitation treatment, using the VITAMIN Platform, for children with UCP. A secondary goal of the study was to compare the results of usual standardized clinical scales and questionnaires with kinematic results as well as with the quantitative measures acquired by the VITAMIN platform in each exercise of the rehabilitation sessions. Six children with UCP (aged 7-15) were recruited for a preliminary investigation in using a non-immersive VR system. The treatment was composed of 10 weekly sessions of 45 minutes. Each child played five types of exergames, using the impaired upper limb to hit virtual objects projected on a wide screen. Standardized clinical scales, kinematic analysis, and questionnaires were used to extensively assess upper limb function before and at the end of treatment. Five typically-developing children provided a reference for the instrumented kinematic assessment. At the end of the treatment, Melbourne Assessment 2 (MA2) scores increased for all the participants (mean increase in range of movement (ROM) + 19.1%, accuracy + 4.6%, dexterity + 13.1%, fluency + 10.3%). Shoulder flexion-extension ROM also improved (mean increase + 10.5°), and according to the kinematic analysis, shoulder movements became more similar to reference profiles. These results were confirmed by a general improvement in performing ADL, assessed by the ABILHAND-Kids questionnaire. Finally, a general agreement among the different measures and indexes emerged from the acquired data. The results show that VR treatment with the VITAMIN platform could be engaging and functional for rehabilitation of children with UCP. The good agreement among the qualitative and quantitative measures and indexes confirms the potential of such novel treatment. However, due to the limited sample size and small number of sessions, further and larger investigations are required to evaluate the effectiveness and to generalize the results.

Concurrent Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab and High-Dose External Beam Radiotherapy for Highly Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (atezo-bev) has been recommended for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). High-dose external beam radiotherapy (RT) is recognized for its excellent local tumor control. The efficacy and safety of concurrent atezo-bev with RT for highly advanced HCC has been minimally explored. In this preliminary retrospective study, we assessed patients with highly advanced HCC, characterized by Vp4 portal vein thrombosis or tumors exceeding 50% of liver volume, who received concurrent atezo-bev and RT (group A). Group A included 13 patients who received proton radiation at a dose of 72.6 GyE in 22 fractions, and one patient who received photon radiation at a dose of 54 Gy in 18 fractions. This group was compared with 34 similar patients treated atezo-bev alone as a control (group B). The primary objectives were to evaluate the objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), and safety. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups, except for a higher incidence of Vp4 portal vein thrombosis in group A (78.6% vs. 21.4%, P = .05). Group A achieved a higher ORR (50.0% vs. 11.8%, P < .01) and a longer OS (not reached vs. 5.5 months, P = .01) after a median follow-up of 5.2 months. Multivariate analysis indicated that concurrent RT independently favored longer OS (hazard ratio: 0.18; 95% CI, 0.05-0.63, P < .01). Group A did not increase any grade adverse events (78.6% vs. 58.8%, P = .19) or severe adverse events of grade ≥ 3 (14.3% vs. 14.7%, P = .97) compared to group B. The concurrent high-dose external beam radiotherapy appears to safely enhance the effectiveness of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab for highly advanced patients with HCC. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Reduced Anxiety and Depression and Improved Mood in Older Adults Living in Care Homes After Participating in Chair Yoga.

Providing opportunities for older adults to engage in physical and mental activity is important to support healthy aging. The present preliminary study investigated the feasibility of accessible chair yoga for older adults in care homes. Chair yoga participants (n = 17) were assessed before and after attending twice weekly chair yoga sessions for 8weeks, while control participants (n = 16) underwent the assessments only. Participant ages ranged from 80 to 101years and included those living with mild to severe dementia. Anxiety and depression measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and negative affect measured by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), improved in the chair yoga but not the control group. Balance confidence (Modified Falls Efficacy Scale) and Health-related Quality of Life (EQ-5D-3L) were unchanged. Chair yoga is a feasible activity for older care home residents, including those living with dementia, with the potential to improve mental well-being.

Abstract 7289: PancreaAlert: Intelligent nanoengineered biosensor for pancreatic cancer

Abstract Introduction: Pancreatic cancer accounts for 3% of cancer cases and 7% of cancer deaths in the United States. It is currently in the third position with respect to cancer-related deaths, and it is expected to move to second place as of 2040. This is mainly due to its diagnosis in the later stage. If detected in the first or second stage surgery can be performed thus increasing the patient’s survival rate. The current methods of diagnosis cannot do early stage or asymptomatic detection. So, detecting cancer-specific biomarkers can aid in the prognosis. Serum protein-based biomarkers carbohydrate antigen CA242, CA19-9, and carcinoembryonic antigen CEA are specific to pancreatic cancer. Thus, in this preliminary study, we aim to develop a nanoengineered electrochemical biosensor combined with machine learning to detect pancreatic cancer-specific biomarkers CA242, CA19-9, and CEA. Methodology: Nanoengineering the biosensor: The gold working electrode of the gold- biosensor (DRP-250AT) was coated with graphene oxide nano colloidal solution and kept in UV overnight for the graphene oxide nanosheet to crosslink with the working electrode. Detection of biomarkers using an electrochemical biosensor: First, a Crosslinker (DSP) was added to ethanol cleaned biosensor to bind the analytes. Following that antibody specific to each biomarker were added to the biosensors. The addition of TBS superblock prevented non-specific binding. Then different concentrations of biomarkers were added, and the corresponding sensor was subjected to various electrochemical analyses such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and voltammetry. SEM-EDAX analysis: The antigen-antibody binding on the biosensor's surface was confirmed. Automation and machine learning: Python code was developed to automate the analysis process and machine learning models (support vector machine and neural network) were used to classify the concentrations into various risk levels. The sensitivity of the developed tool was high when compared with conventional methods like ELISA and confocal microscopy. Results: From the electrochemical studies we found that with increasing concentration of biomarkers, there was a trend in output parameters: capacitance, resistance, impedance and area under the curve. By analyzing this trend, the concentrations of biomarkers can be detected. Using this data as input the machine learning model (accuracy greater than 80%) classified the concentrations into risk levels (normal, low risk, and high risk). Significance: Nanoengineering with graphene oxide nanosheets enhances the sensitivity of electrochemical biosensors. Automation and machine learning models help in the analysis of large datasets produced by this sensor. Overall, this device aids in the prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Our preliminary results are encouraging but more thorough research is required to make this diagnostic tool a working application. Citation Format: Meenal Karunanidhi, Hemalatha Kanniyappan, Edith Zhan, Ruth Mathew, Yani Sun, Junyi Wu, Yan Yan, Gnanasekar Munirathinum, Mathew T. Mathew. PancreaAlert: Intelligent nanoengineered biosensor for pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 7289.

Abstract 281: The function of FGFR2+ cancer-associated fibroblasts on cancer stem cell expansion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract Aims: FGFR2+ fibroblasts were reported to promote tumor progression, but the mechanisms remained unexplored in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Methods: Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) displayed the distributions of FGFR2+ fibroblasts and cancer stem cells (CSCs). After FGFR2+ fibroblast isolation, tumor cells were stimulated with fibroblasts supernatant to assess radioresistance and CSC properties. RNA-seq analysis identified the downstream BMP5 expression.Results: In our preliminary study, the immunohistochemistry results showed that FGFR2+ fibroblasts were always represented in the area near cancer stem cells (CSCs), and FGFR2+ fibroblasts infiltration was associated with poor outcomes. When we cocultured FGFR2+ fibroblasts with tumor cells, we found the proportion of CSCs were upregulated. The results of RNA sequencing and ELISA showed that FGFR2+ fibroblasts overexpressed BMP5. Using FGFR2+ fibroblasts or BMP5 to stimulate cancer cells, the proportion of cancer stem cells was increased, the capabilities of sphere formation and survival after radiation were enhanced. Both RNA sequencing and immunoblotting results indicated that BMP5 affected H2AX phosphorylation in DNA repair pathway and activated its potential upstream pathway MAPK signaling pathway. In vivo experiments also showed that FGFR2+ fibroblasts could upregulate CSCs proportions.Conclusions: Our findings suggested that BMP5 derived from FGFR2+ fibroblasts might induce CSCs expansion and led to poor prognosis in the ESCC. Citation Format: Ying Wang, Ping Feng, Tong-chao Jiang, Xin-yuan Guan, Yun-fei Xia. The function of FGFR2+ cancer-associated fibroblasts on cancer stem cell expansion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 281.

Abstract 3761: A modified SELEX enables the efficient identification of DNA aptamers with potential for specific cancer targeting

Abstract Background: Aptamers have sparked significant interest in cell recognition due to their superior binding specificity and biocompatibility. Cell recognition can be mediated by targeting the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) that presents short peptides derived from intracellular antigens. Although numerous antibodies have demonstrated a specific affinity for the peptide-MHC complex, the number of aptamers that exhibit comparable characteristics is limited. However, the success rate of aptamer identification is low. This is possibly due to the presence of complementary sequences or sequences rich in quinine and cytosine that are less accessible for primers. Here, we use ovalbumin model antigen to explore whether aptamers with specificity for binding to a defined peptide-MHC complex can be identified. We developed DNA aptamers with modified SELEX by employing systemic consecutive selections with minimal PCR amplification. Furthermore, the other tumour antigen, claudin-6, was also used as a target to determine whether our modification for SELEX can be used with any selection technology. Methods: To determine whether our modified SELEX has potential for selecting aptamer capable of cancer-specific targeting, we used ovalbumin presented by H-2Kb (to represent the specific antigen presented by MHC) and claudin-6 (a cancer-associated adhesion molecule) as a target for the selection of aptamers. This modified SELEX consisted of consecutive positive and negative selections with minimal PCR amplification. Meanwhile, the selection of candidate aptamers is based on their appearance in multiple rounds rather than enrichment, and is facilitated by several computational tools. The specificity and affinity of the candidate aptamer are validated by flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence analysis with cells with or without these molecules. Results: After high-throughput sequencing, a total of 211 candidate aptamers were selected for further analysis. The quadruplex forming G-rich sequences (QGRS) mapper, mFold modeling, and NUPACK web servers were used to predict the potential of G-quadruplex formation, resulting in only four potential aptamers. Using MTCQ1-OVA cells with FITC-conjugated aptamers, two aptamers showed selective binding to MTCQ1-OVA cells and had no binding specificity to MTCQ1-WT cells. The binding specificity was further validated by immunohistochemistry in tumour derived from mice inoculated with MTCQ1-WT or MTCQ1-OVA cells. In the pull-down assay, the binding affinity of these two candidate aptamers was 136.2 nM and 155.1 nM affinity. Conclusions: This preliminary study demonstrated that our modification for SELEX is effective in the selection of aptamers with promising potential for specific cancer targeting. The identification of aptamers may facilitate further application in diverse biomedical fields. Citation Format: Yang Lin, Cho-Yi Chen, Zhi-Qian Lin, Bing-Hong Chen, Yi-Chen Sun, Kai-Feng Hung. A modified SELEX enables the efficient identification of DNA aptamers with potential for specific cancer targeting [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3761.

Attentional disengagement, craving, and mentalizing: a preliminary experimental study among older-aged male gamblers

IntroductionEmpirical studies have demonstrated the role that attentional bias, the mutual excitatory relationship between attentional bias and craving, and mentalizing play in problem gambling. Although problem gambling rates among older-aged adults have steadily increased in recent years, research studies among this cohort are scarce. The present study is the first to empirically investigate attentional bias, as well as the joint role of attentional bias, craving, and mentalizing among older-aged gamblers.MethodThirty-six male older-aged gamblers were administered the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), the Gambling Craving Scale (GACS), and the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ-8) to assess gambling severity, craving levels, and mentalizing, respectively. Participants also performed a modified Posner Task to investigate attentional biases.ResultsHierarchical linear regression analysis showed that among older-aged male gamblers, GACS Anticipation and RFQ-8 Uncertainty about mental states, as well as disengagement bias at 100 ms, significantly predicted gambling severity.ConclusionThe present study provides the first empirical support for the role of attentional bias, craving, and mentalizing among older-aged gambling. More specifically, a difficult in disengaging attention away from gambling, the anticipation of pleasure deriving from gambling, and hypomentalizing predicted gambling severity among older-aged gamblers. The findings make an important contribution, by identifying the factors responsible for problem gambling among this specific age cohort and suggesting that timely interventions for mentalizing and attentional bias may be necessary to prevent problem gambling in old age.

The Impact of Cruise Controllability on the Decision Making of Schedule Construction

Nowadays, challenged by diverse uncertainties and disruptions (e.g., bad weather), as well as the strict environmental regulations imposed by authorities (e.g., on carbon emissions), airlines are struggling. How to improve their operational efficiency in such a volatile and adverse market becomes a top agenda of airlines. Among various operations, crew scheduling is fundamentally important as staffing cost is a big part of the total operational expenses. It is known that in crew scheduling, “robust crew pairing” is crucial to make the produced pairings less vulnerable in real operations. Existing studies generally construct robustness assuming that the aircraft cruise speed is fixed. However, prior studies have found that flight times exhibit significant variations due to reasons like cruise speed adjustment, and aircraft can control cruise speed for purposes like reducing delays. For crew, cruise speed controllability is also useful in hedging disruptions. For example, one flight can speed up to meet its on-time arrival even if it departs late due to crew disruptions. However, the impacts of cruise speed controllability on crew pairing robustness and the related environmental costs are under-explored. We thus propose this preliminary study to explore the possibility to use cruise speed controllability to enhance schedule robustness for crews.

E-Sports Events: A Sports Parent's Perspective

e-Sports is a rapidly growing industry, which has gained popularity in the recent years. It is estimated that the global e-sports market will have a value of $1.87 billion in 2025. e-Sports competitions and tournaments are becoming increasingly popular, especially among schoolchildren and college students. The growth of leagues, at school level, requires that parents should understand this sport and have a positive attitude towards e-sports and e-sports events, due to the likely support that parents are required to provide to participants at these events. The study is a preliminary study, which aims to understand parents' view of e-sports, as a form of sports, to determine the financial investment to participate in e-sports and parents’ experience during an e-sport event. The study used a qualitative approach, utilising a semi-structured interview schedule, with six parents interviewed at an event, as well as a focus group discussion, with 21 parents of e-sports players. The study found that parents have a positive perception of e-sports events and are fully supportive of their children participating in them. Further, it was concluded that e-sports is viewed as a form of sports and, in comparison to other ‘traditional sports’, it is actually a very affordable form of sport to partake in. Parents spend most of their money at e-sports events on food, whilst some parents will go to a restaurant after the event, to celebrate the child’s accomplishments. The results of this preliminary study will guide further studies on e-sports events and are already giving an indication to e-sports organisers what the perspectives and needs of parents are.

Frail Patients Undergoing Optimization Before Surgery: Preliminary Results.

It is estimated that 10% or more of patients older than 65 years are affected by frailty, a mental and physical state of vulnerability to adverse surgical outcomes. Frailty can be assessed using the Edmonton Frailty Scale: a reliable and convenient multidimensional assessment before surgery. The correlation between frailty score, presurgical optimization, and surgical outcomes was investigated in this preliminary pilot study. A retrospective study was performed on patients referred to the surgical optimization clinic and assessed for frailty from September 2020 to May 2023. Patients received presurgical optimization for reasons including diabetes, smoking cessation, prehabilitation and nutrition, and/or cardiopulmonary issues. Outcomes were evaluated whether they proceeded to surgery, were referred to the High-Risk Surgical Committee, surgical case canceled, or not scheduled. For those who proceeded to surgery, infection rates, complications, and 30-day emergency department (ED) and readmission rates were evaluated. Of 143 unique patients, 138 (men = 61, women = 77) were evaluated for this study. The average Edmonton frailty score for patients who proceeded to surgery was 7.013 (n = 78) vs 9.389 with cancelation and 9.600 for not scheduled or not optimized for surgery. Postoperative infection rates were <3%. However, 30-day ED and readmission rate was 21% (16 of 78). Patients with lower average Edmonton frailty scores were more likely to proceed to surgery, whereas those with higher average Edmonton frailty scores were more likely to have surgery canceled or delayed. Frail patients cleared for surgery were found to have a high 30-day ED and readmission rate.

Genetic Screening of FecXG Polymorphism in Saanen Goat (Capra hircus) Breed in Türkiye

Determination of fecundity gene mutations and utilizing them in farm animals programs offers the opportunity to improve productivity. The BMP15/FecX gene is one of the candidate genes with significant effects on multiple births in sheep. Studies in small ruminant have shown that BMP15 gene mutations increase the rate of multiple births, although the effect of BMP15 gene mutations varies at the breed level. Although there are many studies on sheep fecundity in Türkiye, there are no studies on goat. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to investigate FecXG mutation in the exon 2 region of BMP15 gene in Saanen goats (Capra hircus). A total of 24 samples were used to investigate the FecXG mutation in Saanen goats raised in the Muş Plain of Türkiye. A fragment of 141 bp of BMP15 gene was amplified by PCR and then products subjected to the digestion of restriction enzyme HinfI. This preliminary study’s findings showed that there is no FecXG mutation in Saanen goats.

Using multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy to assess the effect of cupping therapy on the spatial hemodynamic response of the biceps muscle: A preliminary study.

The local hemodynamic response after cupping therapy has been considered as a contributing factor for improving muscle tissue health; however, the effects of cupping pressure and duration on the spatial hemodynamic response have not been investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate the hemodynamic response inside and outside the cupping cup under various pressures and durations of cupping therapy. A 3-way factorial design with repeated measures was used to investigate the main and interaction effects of the location (areas inside and outside the cup), pressure (-225 and -300 mmHg) and duration (5 and 10 min) on the hemodynamic response of the biceps muscle. A functional near-infrared spectroscopy was used to assess hemodynamic changes in 18 participants. A significant three-way interaction of the location, pressure, and duration factors was observed in oxyhemoglobin (p= 0.023), deoxy-hemoglobin (p= 0.013), and blood volume (p= 0.013). A significant increase was observed in oxyhemoglobin, blood volume, and oxygenation compared to pre-cupping (p< 0.05) in the area outside the cup. Our findings indicate that an appropriate combination of cupping pressure and duration can effectively affect the spatial hemodynamic response of the biceps.

Choroid plexus volume differentiates MS from its mimics.

This study aimed to determine whether choroid plexus volume (CPV) could differentiate multiple sclerosis (MS) from its mimics. A secondary analysis of two previously enrolled studies, 50 participants with MS and 64 with alternative diagnoses were included. CPV was automatically segmented from 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), followed by manual review to remove misclassified tissue. Mean normalized choroid plexus volume (nCPV) to intracranial volume demonstrated relatively high specificity for MS participants in each cohort (0.80 and 0.76) with an area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve of 0.71 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.55-0.87) and 0.65 (95% CI = 0.52-0.77). In this preliminary study, nCPV differentiated MS from its mimics.

The role and needs of family doctors in sexual medicine: contributions of a preliminary Portuguese qualitative study for a global action.

Sexual health is fundamental for overall well-being and quality of life, making it the focus of intervention in Sexual Medicine (SM). Within the National Health Services, Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) guarantee comprehensive care in a biopsychosocial action, including in sexual health. This exploratory study aimed to investigate PCPs' perceptions about their role in SM and how to improve it. A cross-sectional online qualitative design was used, and a sample of 73 Portuguese PCPs was collected. Data was analyzed employing a summative content analysis. Three categories were established regarding how PCPs perceive their role in SM: "Protagonist", "Antagonist", and "Circumstantial". Concerning improving PCP's practice,two categories were identified: "Legitimizing Sexual Health" and "Enhancing Professional Development". In relation to SM,PCPs recognize themselves as institutional gatekeepers and comprehensive caregivers, resorting to familiar tasks to practice in a conditioned framework. To improve their rolein SM, PCPs highlighted education investment,making specific suggestions for educational content, resource expedition, detailed guidelines creation, and raising provider and patient awareness beyond the biomedical scope. The results stress the need for an institutional effort to uphold PCPs' crucial role in SM to ensure adequate resource use and consistent, comprehensive sexual healthcare provision, enhancing overall patient care and placing sexual health as an essential field in primary care.

[Preliminary study on automatic quantification and grading of leopard spots fundus based on deep learning technology].

Objective: To achieve automatic segmentation, quantification, and grading of different regions of leopard spots fundus (FT) using deep learning technology. The analysis includes exploring the correlation between novel quantitative indicators, leopard spot fundus grades, and various systemic and ocular parameters. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The data were sourced from the Beijing Eye Study, a population-based longitudinal study. In 2001, a group of individuals aged 40 and above were surveyed in five urban communities in Haidian District and three rural communities in Daxing District of Beijing. A follow-up was conducted in 2011. This study included individuals aged 50 and above who participated in the second 5-year follow-up in 2011, considering only the data from the right eye. Color fundus images centered on the macula of the right eye were input into the leopard spot segmentation model and macular detection network. Using the macular center as the origin, with inner circle diameters of 1 mm, 3 mm, and outer circle diameter of 6 mm, fine segmentation of the fundus was achieved. This allowed the calculation of the leopard spot density (FTD) and leopard spot grade for each region. Further analyses of the differences in ocular and systemic parameters among different regions' FTD and leopard spot grades were conducted. The participants were categorized into three refractive types based on equivalent spherical power (SE): myopia (SE<-0.25 D), emmetropia (-0.25 D≤SE≤0.25 D), and hyperopia (SE>0.25 D). Based on axial length, the participants were divided into groups with axial length<24 mm, 24-26 mm, and>26 mm for the analysis of different types of FTD. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis test, Bonferroni test, and Spearman correlation analysis. Results: The study included 3 369 participants (3 369 eyes) with an average age of (63.9±10.6) years; among them, 1 886 were female (56.0%) and 1, 483 were male (64.0%). The overall FTD for all eyes was 0.060 (0.016, 0.163); inner circle FTD was 0.000 (0.000, 0.025); middle circle FTD was 0.030 (0.000, 0.130); outer circle FTD was 0.055 (0.009, 0.171). The results of the univariate analysis indicated that FTD in various regions was correlated with axial length (overall: r=0.38, P<0.001; inner circle: r=0.31, P<0.001; middle circle: r=0.36, P<0.001; outer circle: r=0.39, P<0.001), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) (overall: r=-0.69, P<0.001; inner circle: r=-0.57, P<0.001; middle circle: r=-0.68, P<0.001; outer circle: r=-0.72, P<0.001), age (overall: r=0.34, P<0.001; inner circle: r=0.30, P<0.001; middle circle: r=0.31, P<0.001; outer circle: r=0.35, P<0.001), gender (overall: r=-0.11, P<0.001; inner circle: r=-0.04, P<0.001; middle circle: r=-0.07, P<0.001; outer circle: r=-0.11, P<0.001), SE (overall: r=-0.20; P<0.001; inner circle: r=-0.19, P<0.001; middle circle: r=-0.20, P<0.001; outer circle: r=-0.20, P<0.001), uncorrected visual acuity (overall: r=-0.18, P<0.001; inner circle: r=-0.26, P<0.001; middle circle: r=-0.24, P<0.001; outer circle: r=-0.22, P<0.001), and body mass index (BMI) (overall: r=-0.11, P<0.001; inner circle: r=-0.13, P<0.001; middle circle: r=-0.14, P<0.001; outer circle: r=-0.13, P<0.001). Further multivariate analysis results indicated that different region FTD was correlated with axial length (overall: β=0.020, P<0.001; inner circle: β=-0.022, P<0.001; middle circle: β=0.027, P<0.001; outer circle: β=0.022, P<0.001), SFCT (overall: β=-0.001, P<0.001; inner circle: β=-0.001, P<0.001; middle circle: β=-0.001, P<0.001; outer circle: β=-0.001, P<0.001), and age (overall: β=0.002, P<0.001; inner circle: β=0.001, P<0.001; middle circle: β=0.002, P<0.001; outer circle: β=0.002, P<0.001). The distribution of overall (H=56.76, P<0.001), inner circle (H=72.22, P<0.001), middle circle (H=75.83, P<0.001), and outer circle (H=70.34, P<0.001) FTD differed significantly among different refractive types. The distribution of overall (H=373.15, P<0.001), inner circle (H=367.67, P<0.001), middle circle (H=389.14, P<0.001), and outer circle (H=386.89, P<0.001) FTD differed significantly among different axial length groups. Furthermore, comparing various levels of FTD with systemic and ocular parameters, significant differences were found in axial length (F=142.85, P<0.001) and SFCT (F=530.46, P<0.001). Conclusions: The use of deep learning technology enables automatic segmentation and quantification of different regions of theFT, as well as preliminary grading. Different region FTD is significantly correlated with axial length, SFCT, and age. Individuals with older age, myopia, and longer axial length tend to have higher FTD and more advanced FT grades.