Score Values Research Articles

PERFIL DOS RESULTADOS DE ESCORE DE CÁLCIO DE CORONÁRIAS EM UM SERVIÇO PRIVADO DE ARACAJU

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are responsible for one third of all deaths worldwide, with immutable risk factors such as age and gender, but also mutable factors such as sedentary lifestyles, obesity, hypertension and alcohol consumption. Given this scenario, there is a need to stratify the risk of individuals. The Coronary Calcium Score (CCS) is a tool used in non-contrast CT scans to stratify cardiovascular risk by quantifying the amount of calcium in the coronary arteries. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the coronary calcium score profile of patients at a private service in Aracaju/SE. METHODS: This is a quantitative, cross-sectional, documentary, descriptive and retrospective study, produced by evaluating tomography reports for calcium score, performed on outpatients, in a private service in Aracaju-SE, between January 1 and December 31, 2023. A total of 227 examination reports were obtained. The inclusion criteria were imaging reports from January to December 2023. Duplicate exams, exams of other areas of the body and exams outside the period listed for the research were excluded. RESULTS: Our sample consisted of 125 women and 102 men, with no difference in mean age between them, whose mean calcification was 215.46. Men had higher overall mean values for calcium score and calcification volume than women, as well as for the arterial territories (DA, CX and CD), with the exception of the TCE, for which there was no difference between the genders. CONCLUSION: These data reveal a higher proportion of women undergoing examinations compared to men. Although most of the individuals in the study did not have significant coronary calcification, it was observed that, among the cases of significant calcification, men were more affected than women.

Forming Dataset of The Undergraduate Thesis using Simple Clustering Methods

Each university collects many undergraduate theses data but has yet to process it to make it easier forstudents to find references as desired. This study aims to classify and compare the grouping ofdocuments using expert and simple clustering methods. Experts have done ground truth using ORBoolean Retrieval and keyword generation. The best cluster was discovered by the experiments usingthe K-Means, K-Medoids, and DBSCAN clustering methods and using Euclidean, Manhattan, CityBlock, and Cosine Similarity metrics. The cluster with the best Silhouette Score compared to theaccuracy of the categorization of each document. The K-Means clustering method and the CosineSimilarity metric gave the best results with a Silhouette Score value of 0.105534. The comparisonbetween ground truth and the best cluster results shows an accuracy of 33.42%. The result shows thatthe simple clustering method cannot handle data with Negative Skewness and Leptokurtic Kurtosis.

Prognostic Evaluation of Hemoglobin, Albumin, Lymphocyte, and Platelet (HALP) Score and Hematological Indices in Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) constitutes 10% of all lymphoma diagnoses and accounts for 5% of lymphoma-related deaths. Accurate prognostication in HL remains crucial, particularly given that 10%-20% of patients may receive either insufficient or excessive treatment. This study investigates the effect of hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score, which is a marker of inflammation status and nutrition, at the time of diagnosis for the patients with HL on prognosis. A total of 147 patients diagnosed with cHL were included in the study, and their data were analyzed retrospectively. The significance of the HALP score and hematological indices [neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR)] as predictors of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) was evaluated. Patients were grouped according to median values for the HALP score and hematological indices. High HALP score (p = 0.034), low NLR (p = 0.033), high LMR (p = 0.003), and low PLR (p = 0.014) were statistically significant in the early-stage favorable group. DFS and OS were not statistically significant according to the HALP score NLR, LMR, and PLR groups. The need for readily applicable, reliable prognostic markers in cHL, where immunotherapy treatments have led to significantly improved survival outcomes, remains persistent.

The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) Score Predicting Mortality Due to SARS-CoV-2 in Mexican Patients.

Background/Objectives: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause liver injury and a deterioration of hepatic function. The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score is a good predictor for poor prognosis of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the United States, Egypt and Turkey. Nevertheless, the best cut-off value for the MELD score to predict mortality in the Mexican population has yet to be established. Methods: A total of 234 patients with COVID-19 were studied in a tertiary-level hospital. Patients were stratified into survivors (n = 139) and non-survivors (n = 95). Receiver operating characteristic curves, Cox proportional hazard models, Kaplan-Meier method, and Bonferroni corrections were performed to identify the predictors of COVID-19 mortality. Results: MELD score had an area under the curve of 0.62 (95% CI: 0.56-0.68; p = 0.0009), sensitivity = 53.68%, and specificity = 73.38%. Univariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis suggested that the leukocytes > 10.6, neutrophils > 8.42, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) > 8.69, systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) > 1809.21, MELD score > 9, and leukocyte glucose index (LGI) > 2.41 were predictors for mortality. However, the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model revealed that only the MELD score >9 (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-2.8; Pcorrected = 0.03) was an independent predictor for mortality of COVID-19. Conclusions: Although the MELD score is used for liver transplantation, we suggest that a MELD score >9 could be an accurate predictor for COVID-19 mortality at admission to ICU requiring mechanical ventilation.

Prognostic model for predicting recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with high systemic immune-inflammation index based on machine learning in a multicenter study.

This study aims to use machine learning to conduct in-depth analysis of key factors affecting the recurrence of HCC patients with high preoperative systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) levels after receiving ablation treatment, and based on this, construct a nomogram model for predicting recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients. This study included clinical data of 505 HCC patients who underwent ablation therapy at Beijing You'an Hospital from January 2014 to January 2020, and accepted 65 HCC patients with high SII levels from Beijing Ditan Hospital as an external validation cohort. 505 patients from Beijing You'an Hospital were divided into low SII and high SII groups based on the optimal cutoff value of SII scores. The high SII group was further randomly divided into training and validation cohorts in a 7:3 ratio. eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), random survival forest (RSF), and multivariate Cox regression analysis, were used to explore the factors affecting the post-ablation RFS of HCC patients. Based on the identified key factors, a nomogram model were developed to predict RFS in HCC patients, and their performance were evaluated using the concordance index (C index), receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA). The optimal cutoff value for nomogram scores was used to divide patients into low- and high-risk groups, and the effectiveness of the model in risk stratification was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival curves. This study confirmed that age, BCLC stage, tumor number, and GGT level were independent risk factors affecting RFS in HCC patients. Based on the selected risk factors, an RFS nomogram was successfully constructed. The C-index, ROC curve, calibration curve, and DCA curve each demonstrated the discrimination, accuracy, and decision-making utility of the nomogram, indicating that it has good predictive performance. KM curve revealed the nomogram could significantly differentiate patient populations with different recurrence risk. We developed a reliable nomogram that can accurately predict the 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS for HCC patients with high SII levels following ablation therapy.

The controlling nutritional status score as a new prognostic predictor in patients with cervical cancer receiving radiotherapy: a propensity score matching analysis

BackgroundAs assessment tools of nutritional status, the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) and modified controlling nutritional status (mCONUT) score are associated with survival in various cancers. We aimed to investigate the association between the CONUT/mCONUT score’s prognostic value and survival time in patients with FIGO stage IIB–IIIB cervical cancer treated with radiotherapy.MethodsIn this retrospective study, 165 patients between September 2013 and September 2015 were analyzed, and the optimal CONUT/mCONUT score cut-off values were determined using receiver operating characteristic curves. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to minimize selection bias. The Kaplan–Meier method and a Cox proportional hazard model were used to assess the CONUT/mCONUT score’s predictive value linked to survival time. Two nomograms were created to predict the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).ResultsThe cut-off values for CONUT and mCONUT score were both 2. Five-year OS and PFS rates were higher in a low CONUT score group than in a high CONUT score group (OS: 81.1% vs. 53.8%, respectively, P < 0.001; PFS: 76.4% vs. 48.2%, respectively; P < 0.001). A high CONUT score was associated with decreased OS (hazard ratio (HR) 2.93, 95% CI 1.54–5.56; P = 0.001) and PFS (HR 2.77, 95% CI 1.52–5.04; P < 0.001). High CONUT scores influenced OS in the PSM cohort. A high mCONUT score was not associated with decreased OS and PFS in Cox regression analysis.ConclusionThe CONUT score is a promising indicator for predicting survival in patients with cervical cancer receiving radiotherapy.

Utilizing Bladder Diaries to Prevent Unnecessary Treatment in Patients With Storage Dysfunction: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction A frequency volume chart (FVC) or bladder diary (BD) is used to diagnose lower urinary tract symptoms and to determine the effectiveness of treatment. In outpatient practice, patients who use an FVC or BD may experience improvement in storage symptoms and not desire further treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of patients who did not desire treatment after BD recording and to assess the changes in storage symptoms after BD recording. Methods This was a retrospective study. Patients who completed a three-day BD record were included. The patients were divided into two groups: those whose symptoms improved after using a BD and no longer desired treatment, and those who desired treatment. We compared endpoints including patient background, BD, Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) score. Results We recruited 79 patients. Four patients were excluded (two were minors and two due to cognitive impairment). Thus, 75 patients were included in the analysis. Of these, 27 (36.0%) did not desire treatment for storage symptoms after BD recording. Compared with the group of patients who desired treatment, those who did not desire treatment had significantly lower daytime and nighttime frequency and number of leaks recorded in their BD, and there were fewer patients with nocturia and habitual caffeine consumption. Baseline OABSSand ICIQ-UI SFscores were lower and there were no significant changes in storage symptoms after BD recording. The cut-off value for the baseline total score of OABSSthat did not desire treatment for storage symptoms after BD recording was 6 points. Conclusion In this study, 36.0% of patients no longer desired treatment for storage symptoms after using a BD. These patients initially exhibited a normal daily urinary frequency and mild storage symptoms. These findings suggest that among patients presenting to the outpatient clinic with storage symptoms, those with mild symptom severity and a total OABSSof 6 points or less may be able to avoid unnecessary treatment through BD recording.

The diagnostic performance of the Mindray system in detecting CA125 and HE4 for patients with ovarian cancer.

Cancer antigen 125 (CA125) and human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) are the most commonly used tumor biomarkers for ovarian cancer (OC) screening and diagnosis. The risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm (ROMA) score uses these markers, as detected by the Roche system, to predict the risk of OC. This study sought to assess the performance of the Mindray system in detecting CA125 and HE4 for ROMA score calculation in clinical settings. Consecutive OC patients and patients with benign pelvic masses were screened and enrolled in this study. The CA125 and HE4 levels of these patients were measured using both the Mindray and Roche systems. The ROMA score for each patient was calculated. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The HE4 and CA125 levels were significantly higher in the patients with OC than the patients with benign ovarian masses. Both detection systems showed high efficiency in detecting ovarian cancer. For the premenopausal OC patients, the AUC values for the ROMA score, HE4, and CA125 were 0.866, 0.852, and 0.879, respectively, using the Roche system, and 0.911, 0.902, and 0.883, respectively, using the Mindray system. For the postmenopausal OC patients, the AUC values for the ROMA score, HE4, and CA125 were 0.962, 0.920, and 0.953, respectively, using Roche system, and 0.966, 0.924, and 0.959, respectively, using the Mindray system. The correlation analysis showed strong agreement between the two systems. Among the patients who experienced recurrence, we observed a significant increase in both HE4 and CA125 levels compared to baseline using the Mindray system. The Mindray and Roche systems provide consistent results. The Mindray system can be used to detect HE4 and CA125 for ROMA score calculation.

Repeatability of gait of children with spastic cerebral palsy in different walking conditions

Three-dimensional gait analysis is the ‘gold standard’ for measurement and description of gait. Gait variability can arise from intrinsic and extrinsic factors and may vary between walking conditions. This study aimed to define the inter-trial and inter-session repeatability in gait analysis data of children with cerebral palsy (CP) who were walking in four conditions, namely barefoot or with ankle–foot orthosis (AFO), and overground or treadmill. Ten children with spastic CP (7♀; 9.9y ± 3.5y; GMFCS-level I-III) were included in this study. Overall, we found good to excellent intra-class correlation (ICC)-values and favourable standard error of measurement (SEM)-values for the inter-session Gait Profile Score (ICC = 0.85–0.98, SEM = 0.45–0.91°) and Gait Variable Scores (ICC = 0.85–0.99, SEM = 0.22–1.11°) for the lower-limb joints. Taking the total joint-range-of-motion into account, the knee joint showed the most repeatable motion (%SEM = 0.5–1.8 %), while ankle motions showed the lowest repeatability (%SEM = 0.8 %–3.0 %). For the continuous waveform data, only the ankle joint showed repeatability differences between walking conditions, namely, smaller SEM-values for the AFO-condition (mean inter-trial = 0.14°; mean inter-session = 1.121°) in comparison to the barefoot-condition (mean inter-trial = 0.55°; mean inter-session = 2.22°). For all the kinetic parameters, the treadmill conditions showed smaller SEM-values in comparison to the overground condition. In conclusion three-dimensional gait analysis was found to be reliable in all four walking conditions for children with CP. The resulting measurement errors can be used as a reference during clinical interpretations of gait analyses.Clinical trial registration number: Trial ID from an internationally recognized trial registry (ClinicalTrials.gov): NCT06355869

Taiwanese reference values for the Short Physical Performance Battery in community-dwelling older adults

ObjectivesTo establish reference values for SPPB score as well as test performances among Taiwanese community-dwelling older adults. MethodsParticipants included 847 older adults. The total scores and three subtest scores for the SPPB and the registered time to complete the walk and five-repetition sit-to-stand (STS) tests were determined and compared between sex and age (65–74, 75–84, and ≥85 years) groups. ResultsThe mean SPPB total score was 10.9 in women and 10.5 in men. SPPB scores did not differ by sex, regardless of age group. However, the walk test (p = .030) and STS test (p = .008) timings were longer for men than for women in the 65–74-year-old group. The ≥85-year-old men achieved a lower balance score than did the 65–74-year-old men (p = .027). ConclusionsPopulation-specific SPPB reference values contribute to assessments of physical function and facilitate cross-cultural comparisons of physical performance.

The prognostic utility of Lactate/Albumin*Age score in septic patient with normal lactate level

BackgroundA previous study has shown that the lactate/albumin*age (LAA) score is useful for predicting mortality in patients with sepsis admitted to the ICU. We aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of the LAA score in patients with sepsis who presented to the emergency department (ED) MethodsThis retrospective observational study used data from the Korean Shock Society Registry collected between January 2017 and December 2021. The prognostic performance of the LAA score for predicting the 28-day mortality was evaluated. Lactate and albumin levels were measured immediately after arrival to the ED. ResultsOf the 5346 patients with sepsis, data from 3240 were analyzed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of the LAA score (0.737, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.716–0.757), was higher than that of lactate (0.699, 95 % CI 0.677–0.720, p < 0.001), lactate/albumin (LA) ratio (0.730, 95 % CI 0.709–0.751, p = 0.016), and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (0.698, 95 % confidence interval 0.676–0.720, p = 0. 004), and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores (0.672; 95 % confidence interval 0.649–0.694, p < 0.001). The optimal cut-off value for the LAA score was 119.9. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis according to the optimal cutoff value, the 28-day mortality rates were higher in the high LAA score group (log-rank test, p < 0.001). The LAA score was independently associated with 28-day mortality in the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model (adjusted hazard ratio 2.07, 95 % CI 1.76–2.43, p < 0.001). In the normal (<2 mmol/L) lactate group, the AUROC value for LAA score was higher than LA ratio (normal group 0.674 vs 0.634, p < 0.004). In patients over 65 years old, LAA score (0.731) showed a higher AUROC value than LA ratio (0.725). (p < 0.001) ConclusionThe LAA score may be used as an independent predictor of mortality in patients with sepsis in the emergency department. Our results show that it performs better than serum lactate alone, LA ratio, and SOFA and APACHE II scores. While this suggests that the LAA could provide clinicians with a useful tool for timely early intervention and care planning in patients with a poor prognosis, further validation in large multicenter prospective studies are necessary to confirm its reliability and practicality as a readily available and objective biomarker.

Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of lifitegrast 5% eye drops: A randomized, double-blind, active-controlled trial in Indian patients with dry eye disease.

To compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of lifitegrast 5% versus carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) 0.5% in adult patients with dry eye disease (DED). A total of 370 eligible patients with DED were randomized equally to receive twice-daily doses of a single drop in each eye of either lifitegrast 5% or CMC 0.5% for 12 weeks. Follow-up at weeks 2, 6, and 12 evaluated changes from baseline in primary [eye dryness score (EDS), ocular discomfort score (ODS), ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and tear film break-up time (TFBUT)] and secondary [Schirmer tear test (STT) score and corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) score] endpoints. Global improvement, safety, and tolerability were also assessed. At week 2, values of ocular discomfort score, OSDI, and conjunctival redness were significantly more favorable in patients treated with lifitegrast compared to CMC. At week 6, values of all study variables were better in patients treated with lifitegrast compared to CMC; differences between the groups were statistically significant for all except photophobia. This trend was also maintained at week 12. Global improvement and tolerability were found to be better with lifitegrast than with CMC. No serious safety concerns were reported in any treatment group. To our knowledge, this is the first active-controlled trial informing on the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of lifitegrast 5%. Significantly more favorable values for EDS (except photophobia), ODS, OSDI, TFBUT, STT score, CFS score, and conjunctival redness score were achieved at week 12 with lifitegrast 5% compared to CMC 0.5%.

Validation of the Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: Polish version adaptation and value in clinical practice.

Fibromyalgia frequently co‑occurs with axial spondyloarthritis. The Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST) is a well‑recognized screening tool for fibromyalgia and has been translated into multiple languages. Yet, it has not been adapted into Polish, nor has it been validated in the context of axial spondyloarthritis. This study aimed to create a Polish version of the FiRST, evaluate its psychometric properties, and conduct its validation among patients with axial spondyloarthritis. We translated and performed a cross‑cultural adaptation of the FiRST into Polish, followed by its validation in a cohort of 174 patients with axial spondyloarthritis. For criterion validity, we employed the 2016 American College of Rheumatology fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria as the gold standard for fibromyalgia diagnosis. The Polish version of the FiRST demonstrated marginally acceptable internal consistency with the Cronbach α coefficient of 0.644, but exhibited high test‑retest reliability, with a global score correlation coefficient of 0.75 (P <0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated a good performance of the translated questionnaire (area under the curve of 0.803). The accuracy of the derived cutoff value for the global score (5+ points, consistent with the original instrument) was 75.3%, featuring higher specificity (82.6%) than sensitivity (63.1%), and a fair level of diagnostic agreement, as indicated by the Cohen κ coefficient of 0.46. Our study provided a validated Polish version of the FiRST. Although it may not be an ideal tool for screening in axial spondyloarthritis cases and should be used cautiously in research, it proves to be a useful instrument in daily clinical settings.

Reference values for Vertebral Heart Size and Manubrium Heart Score for Healthy Border Collies

This study aimed to establish reference values for vertebral heart size (VHS) and manubrium heart score (MHS) in healthy adult Border Collies. The study utilized 12 dogs, both male and female, aged between 1 and 9 years. All dogs exhibited normal results on B- and M-mode echocardiography. Thoracic radiographs were taken in left lateral (LL), right lateral (RL), and ventrodorsal (VD) recumbency. Both subjective and objective analyses were conducted by two evaluators. The reproducibility of the objective radiographic measurements was excellent (P &lt; 0.001), with the following mean values and standard deviations: VHS LL = 9.95 ± 0.47; VHS RL = 10.10 ± 0.51; VHS VD = 10.84 ± 0.61; Short-MHS RL = 2.10 ± 0.17; Long-MHS RL = 2.57 ± 0.19; Overall MHS RL = 4.65 ± 0.33; Short-MHS VD = 2.13 ± 0.22; Long-MHS VD = 2.94 ± 0.26, and Overall MHS VD = 5.03 ± 0.42. This study contributes to the standardization of VHS and MHS measurements, thereby aiding in the evaluation of the cardiac silhouette of Border Collies.

A Cognitive Function Test Utilizing Eye-tracking Technology in Virtual Reality is useful to distinguish between normal cognition, MCI and mild dementia.

AimThis study aimed to verify the usability of our newly developed virtual reality-based cognitive function examination (VR-E) to differentiate mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from normal cognition and mild dementia. MethodThe subjects of analysis were 71 people (26 males and 45 females, aged from 59 to 94), including 31 with normal cognitive function, 26 with MCI, and 14 with mild dementia, according to the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). The total score and each cognitive domain score of VR-E were compared among CDR0, CDR0.5 and CDR1. In addition, for CDR0 vs. CDR0.5 and CDR 0.5 vs. 1, the areas under the curve (ROC) were examined using the total score and each cognitive domain of VR-E. AimThis study aimed to verify the usability of our newly developed virtual reality-based cognitive function examination (VR-E) to differentiate mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from normal cognition and mild dementia. MethodThe subjects of analysis were 71 people (26 males and 45 females, aged from 59 to 94), including 31 with normal cognitive function, 26 with MCI, and 14 with mild dementia, according to the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). The total score and each cognitive domain (memory, judgement, spatial cognition, calculation, language function) score of VR-E were compared among CDR0, CDR0.5 and CDR1. In addition, for CDR0 vs. CDR0.5 and CDR 0.5 vs. 1, the areas under the curve (ROC) were examined using the total score and each cognitive domain of VR-E. ResultsThere were significant differences between the three CDR groups in the VR-E scores as well as each VR-E cognitive domain score. The ROC analysis with an AUC value for the VR-E scores between CDR 0 and 0.5 was 0.71, and between CDR 0.5 and 1 was 0.92. For each VR-E cognitive domain, the ROC analysis with an AUC value between CDR 0 and 0.5 was 0.63 for memory, 0.79 for judgment, 0.70 for spatial cognition, 0.62 for calculation, and 0.57 for language. Between CDR 0.5 and 1, the AUC values were 0.81 for memory, 0.75 for judgment, 0.82 for spatial cognition, 0.88 for calculation, and 0.86 for language. ConclusionThe results suggest that VR-E is useful for differentiating mild cognitive impairment from normal cognition and early dementia.

The healthy eating index for older adults: adaptation of the 2015 healthy eating index considering dietary guidelines for healthy aging.

The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) is a comprehensive measure to assess diet quality. Because of the various factors that influence the nutritional status of older adults, there is a need to adapt an index that assesses the quality of the diet considering the dietary requirements of aging and health promotion. This study aimed to adapt the HEI for older adults, considering their needs for healthy eating. Food consumption data was collected by means of three non-consecutive 24-hour food recalls (R24h). For the adaptation of the Healthy Eating Index for Older Adults (HEI-OA), the components and scoring methodology of HEI-2015 were maintained and Brazilian food intake recommendations for the older population were used, which are in line with international recommendations. The validity of the HEI-OA was assessed by four ideal diets, Mann-Whitney's test, Spearman's correlation analysis and Cronbach's coefficient. Content validity of the HEI-OA was confirmed by the maximum score for diets recommended to older adults and by the score between groups with known differences in diet quality. The HEI-OA total score did not correlate with total energy intake (TEI - total energy value: r = -0.141, p > 0.05). The total HEI-OA score showed a statistically significant correlation with several nutrients. These correlations allowed identifying that these nutrients are closely related to the components of the HEI-OA. The internal consistency value for the HEI-OA total score was 0.327, similar to the 2005 and 2010 versions of the HEI. The HEI was successfully adapted for use with older adults, presenting validity and reliability. The HEI-OA can be used to assess diet quality in line with international dietary guidelines for healthy aging.

Risk prediction and prognostic analysis of post-implantation syndrome after thoracic endovascular aortic repair

This study aimed to establish a predictive model for the risk of post-thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) post-implantation syndrome (PIS) in type B aortic dissection (TBAD) patients, assisting clinical physicians in early risk stratification and decision management for high-risk PIS patients. This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 547 consecutive TBAD patients who underwent TEVAR treatment at our hospital. Feature variables were selected through LASSO regression and logistic regression analysis to construct a nomogram predictive model, and the model's performance was evaluated. The optimal cutoff value for the PIS risk nomogram score was calculated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, further dividing patients into high-risk group (HRG) and low-risk group (LRG), and comparing the short to midterm postoperative outcomes between the two groups. In the end, a total of 158 cases (28.9%) experienced PIS. Through LASSO regression analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis, variables including age, emergency surgery, operative time, contrast medium volume, and number of main prosthesis stents were selected to construct the nomogram predictive model. The model achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.86 in the training set and 0.82 in the test set. Results from calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curve (CIC) demonstrated that the predictive model exhibited good performance and clinical utility. Furthermore, after comparing the postoperative outcomes of HRG and LRG patients, we found that the incidence of postoperative PIS significantly increased in HRG patients. The duration of ICU stay and mechanical assistance time was prolonged, and the incidence of postoperative type II entry flow and acute kidney injury (AKI) was higher. The risk of aortic-related adverse events (ARAEs) and major adverse events (MAEs) at the first and twelfth months of follow-up also significantly increased. However, there was no significant difference in the mortality rate during hospitalization. This study established a nomogram model for predicting the risk of PIS in patients with TBAD undergoing TEVAR. It serves as a practical tool to assist clinicians in early risk stratification and decision-making management for patients.

Prediction of damage intensity to masonry residential buildings with convolutional neural network and support vector machine

During their life cycle, buildings are subjected to damage that reduces their performance and can pose a significant threat to structural safety. This paper presents the results of research into the creation of a model for predicting damage intensity of buildings located in mining terrains. The basis for the research was a database of technical and mining impact data for 185 masonry residential buildings. The intensity of damage to buildings was negligible and ranged from 0 to 6%. The Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) methodology was used to create the model. The Support Vector Machine (SVM) methodology, which is commonly used for analysis of this type of issue, was used for comparisons. The resulting models were evaluated by comparing parameters such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. The comparisons revealed only minor differences between the models. Despite the small range of damage intensity, the models created were able to achieve prediction results of around 80%. The SVM model had better results for training set accuracy, while the CNN model achieved higher values for F1 score and average precision for the test set. The results obtained justify the adoption of the CNN methodology as effective in the context of predicting the damage intensity of masonry residential buildings located in mining terrains.

Validation of the Center for Neurologic Study Bulbar Function Scale–Chinese version in a population with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

ObjectiveThe Center for Neurologic Study Bulbar Function Scale (CNS-BFS) was specifically designed as a self-reported measure of bulbar function. The purpose of this research was to validate the Chinese translation of the CNS-BFSC as an effective measurement for the Chinese population with ALS.MethodsA total of 111 ALS patients were included in this study. The CNS-BFSC score, three bulbar function items from the ALSFRS-R, and visual analog scale (VAS) score for speech, swallowing and salivation were assessed in the present study. Forty-six ALS patients were retested on the same scale 5–10 days after the first evaluation.ResultsThe CNS-BFSC sialorrhea, speech and swallowing subscores were separately correlated with the VAS subscores (p < 0.001). The CNS-BFSC total score and sialorrhea and speech scores were significantly correlated with the ALSFRS-R bulbar subscore (p < 0.001). The CNS-BFSC total score and ALSFRS-R bulbar subscale score were highly predictive of a clinician diagnosis of impaired bulbar function (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.947 and 0.911, respectively; p < 0.001). A cutoff value for the CNS-BFSC total score was selected by maximizing Youden’s index; this cutoff score was 33, with 86.4% sensitivity and 93.3% specificity. The CNS-BFSC total score and the sialorrhea, speech and swallowing subscores had good–retest reliability (p > 0.05). The Cronbach’s α of the CNS-BFSC was 0.972.ConclusionThe Chinese version of the CNS-BFSC has acceptable efficacy and reliability for the assessment of bulbar dysfunction in ALS patients.

The Condition of the Meniscus and Cartilage of the Injured Knee on Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Is a Prognostic Factor Affecting Postoperative Outcomes Following Knee Cartilage Restoration Surgery

PurposeTo evaluate the relationship between preoperative whole-joint imaging evaluation of the knee with patient reported outcome measures after cartilage restoration surgery (mosaicplasty, osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA), matrix autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI)). MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent knee articular cartilage restoration at our institution from 2014 to 2020. The patients’ knee MRI was evaluated with the whole joint magnetic resonance imaging score (WORMS) and semi-quantitative synovial inflammation imaging biomarkers of the preoperative MRI. To assess patient-reported outcome (PRO) score, Lysholm score and Knee Osteoarthritis and Injury Outcome Score (KOOS) were completed at minimum 2 years follow-up. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman rank test to obtain correlation values for WORMS score and PRO score for each survey. ResultsThere were 40 patients who were enrolled in this study. The average age at baseline was 34.5 years. The average BMI was 28.2 kg/m2 and 26 of 40 were men (range, 20-58 years). The maximum preoperative WORMS score was significantly correlated with the post-operative Lysholm score (r = -0.52, p=0.0013). The WORMS Meniscus and Cartilage sub-scales were significantly correlated with the Lysholm score (r = -0.36, p=0.024 and r = -0.37, p=0.021 respectively). The maximum WORMS score was significantly correlated with the KOOS Daily living and Sports/rec sub-scores (r= -0.47, p=0.0023 and r = -0.42, p=0.0077, respectively). Semi-quantitative synovial inflammation imaging biomarkers were not significantly correlated with PRO scores. ConclusionIncreasing preoperative degenerative change in the knee, as evidenced by a higher WORMS on preoperative MRI, was associated with inferior patient-reported outcomes at a minimum of 2 years after cartilage restoration surgery (mosaicplasty, OCA, MACI). Semi-quantitative scoring of the whole joint on preoperative MRI may allow for improved counseling regarding expected benefit for patients after cartilage restoration surgery.