Disease Symptoms Research Articles

A Comparative Analysis of the Efficacy of Ginkgo Biloba and Caroverine in the Management of Idiopathic Tinnitus.

The sound sensation that is experienced in the ears or brain and is unrelated to any external sources of stimulus is known as tinnitus. Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) is used to establish the presence of the condition and determine symptom severity, its impact on the patient's quality of life, thus in this study, we aim to compare the efficacy of caroverine and Ginkgo Biloba in the management of idiopathic tinnitus using TFI. This clinical study was conducted in at a tertiary care hospital in North India, for a duration of one year, among patients with chronic tinnitus. The sample size for this study consisted of 60 patients in each of three groups (caroverine, gingko biloba, and multivitamin). Assessments of TFI and pure-tone audiometry were performed to evaluate the efficacy of the two medications. The information pertaining to the subjects was kept anonymous and confidential. During data analysis, an association was significant for p value < 0.05. The patients in three groups were matched for the age, gender and duration of tinnitus. At 6 months of medication with Ginkgo Biloba, patients experienced a significant (p < 0.0001) decrease of 50.0% in tinnitus of moderate severity, and a complete resolution of severe tinnitus symptoms with a percentage change of -100.0%. In our study, Ginkgo Biloba Group has significantly improved the severity of idiopathic tinnitus. Tinnitus has diverse underlying mechanisms, can be a symptom of various underlying diseases, and is challenging to measure. Further research is warranted to validate and explore these treatment options further.

Identifying Crop Distress and Stress-Induced Plant Diseases Using Hyper Spectral Image Analysis

The purpose of this study is to determine whether hyper spectral images can be used to identify plant diseases and crop pressure from aerial photographs. With extensive research on the prevalent methods used closer to the problem, this study offers a potent strategy for identifying crop distress and illnesses using this efficient imaging technique. To identify the spectral fingerprints of common indications and symptoms of plant diseases and crop strains, this study evaluates the available hyper spectral photo datasets. After that, the data are examined using two learning algorithms—the highly randomized trees and the Random Woodland set of rules—to create predictions that are entirely dependent on the results that are discovered. In the end, a benchmarked set of test statistics is used to assess the prediction accuracy. The results of this study show that hyper spectral photo evaluation has a strong and promising utility for crop stress and disease identification. Hyper spectral light evaluation is a method for identifying plant diseases caused by strain on crops. By gathering and evaluating high-dimensional spectral reflection data from satellite or aircraft structures, details regarding the physiological homes of flowers can be identified. The health of plants, illnesses brought on by stress, and agricultural productivity predictions can all be made using these facts. Hyper spectral recordings can also be used to create actions that reduce agricultural losses and enhance the health of plants that are prone to disease.

Levodopa therapy affects brain functional network dynamics in Parkinson's disease

Levodopa (L-dopa) therapy is the most effective pharmacological treatment for motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, its effect on brain functional network dynamics is still unclear. Here, we recruited 26 PD patients and 24 healthy controls, and acquired their resting-state functional MRI data before (PD-OFF) and after (PD-ON) receiving 400 mg L-dopa. Using the independent component analysis and the sliding-window approach, we estimated the dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) and examined the effect of L-dopa on the temporal properties of dFC states, the variability of dFC and functional network topological organization. We found that PD-ON showed decreased mean dwell time in sparsely connected State 2 than PD-OFF, the transformation of the dFC state is more frequent and the variability of dFC was decreased within the auditory network and sensorimotor network in PD-ON. Our findings provide new insights to understand the dynamic neural activity induced by L-dopa therapy in PD patients.

Endothelial Myosin IIA Is Required for the Maintenance of Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity.

Brain endothelial cells (ECs) are essential elements of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), maintaining its integrity through both paracellular junctions and transcellular transport systems. Myosin IIA, a multifunctional protein, plays a significant role in various cellular processes, including cytoskeletal maintenance, cell division, and signal transduction. While Myosin IIA has been implicated in bleeding and ischemic stroke, its role in regulating BBB integrity under physiological conditions remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the impact of Myosin IIA deficiency on BBB integrity using intravenous tracer injections and models of epilepsy. Flow cytometry, Western blot, and real-time PCR were employed to isolate brain cells and assess changes in protein and mRNA levels. Additionally, immunofluorescence staining and electron microscopy were used to explore alterations in protein expression and the structure of BBB. Our results demonstrate that endothelial Myosin IIA deficiency increased BBB permeability and exacerbated symptoms in BBB-related diseases. Mechanistically, we found that Myosin IIA modulates β-catenin transcription and protein interactions. The overexpression of β-catenin in brain endothelial Myosin IIA deficiency mice improved BBB integrity and reduced disease severity. This study establishes Myosin IIA as a critical regulator of BBB integrity and suggests new therapeutic targets for vascular diseases.

A multi-network model of Parkinson’s disease tremor: exploring the finger-dimmer-switch theory and role of dopamine in thalamic self-inhibition

Background. Tremor is a cardinal symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) that manifests itself through complex oscillatory activity across multiple neuronal populations. According to the finger-dimmer-switch (FDS) theory, tremor is triggered by transient pathological activity in the basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical (BTC) network (the finger) and transitions into an oscillatory form within the inner circuitry of the thalamus (the switch). The cerebello-thalamo-cortical (CTC) network (the dimmer) is then involved in sustaining and amplifying tremor amplitude. In this study, we aimed to investigate the generation and progression dynamics of PD tremor oscillations by developing a comprehensive and interacting FDS model that transitions sequentially from healthy to PD to tremor and then to tremor-off state.Methods.We constructed a computational model consisting of 700 neurons in 11 regions of BTC, CTC, and thalamic networks. Transition from healthy to PD state was simulated through modulating dopaminergic synaptic connections; and further from PD to tremor and tremor-off by modulating projections between the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), anterior ventrolateral nucleus (VLa), and posterior ventrolateral nucleus (VLp).Results.Sustained oscillations in the frequency range of PD tremor emerged in thalamic VLp (5 Hz) and cerebellar dentate nucleus (3 Hz). Increasing self-inhibition in the thalamus through dopaminergic modulation significantly decreased tremor amplitude.Conclusion/Significance.Our results confirm the mechanistic power of the FDS theory in describing the PD tremor phenomenon and emphasize the role of dopaminergic modulation on thalamic self-inhibition. These insights pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing the tremor by strengthening thalamic self-inhibition, particularly in dopamine-resistant patients.

Alterations in Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in the Pathogenesis of Various Cognitive Impairments.

Cognitive impairment is a typical symptom of both neurodegenerative and certain other diseases. In connection with these different pathologies, the etiology and neurological and metabolic changes associated with cognitive impairment must differ. Until these characteristics and differences are understood in greater detail, pharmacological treatment of the different forms of cognitive impairment remains suboptimal. Neurotransmitter receptors, including neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), dopamine receptors, and glutamine receptors, play key roles in the functions and metabolisms of the brain. Among these, the role of nAChRs in the development of cognitive impairment has attracted more and more attention. The present review summarizes what is presently known concerning the structure, distribution, metabolism, and function of nAChRs, as well as their involvement in major cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, vascular dementia, schizophrenia, and diabetes mellitus. As will be discussed, the relevant scientific literature reveals clearly that the α4β2 and α7 nAChR subtypes and/or subunits of the receptors play major roles in maintaining cognitive function and in neuroprotection of the brain. Accordingly, focusing on these as targets of drug therapy can be expected to lead to breakthroughs in the treatment of cognitive disorders such as AD and schizophrenia.

Angiogenic properties and intercellular communication of differentiated porcine endothelial cells in vascular therapy

Endothelial cell dysfunction can lead to various vascular diseases. Blood flow disorder is a common symptom of vascular diseases. Regenerative angiogenesis, which involves transplanting vascular cells or stem cells into the body to shape new vasculature, can be a good therapeutic strategy. However, there are several limitations to using autologous cells from the patients themselves. We sought to investigate the new vascular cells that can play a role in the formation of angiogenesis in vivo using stem cells from alternative animals suitable for cellular therapy. Porcine is an optimal animal model for xenotransplantation owing to its physiological similarity to humans. We used differentiated porcine endothelial cells (pECs) as a therapeutic strategy to restore vessel function. Differentiated pECs formed vessel-like structures in mice, distinguishing them from stem cells. MMPs activity and migration assays indicated that differentiated pECs possessed angiogenic potential. Tube formation and 3D spheroid sprouting assays further confirmed the angiogenic phenotype of the differentiated pECs. Immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation analyses revealed claudin-mediated tight junctions and connexin 43-mediated gap junctions between human ECs and differentiated pECs. Additionally, the movement of small RNA from human ECs to differentiated pECs was observed under co-culture conditions. Our findings demonstrated the in vivo viability and angiogenetic potential of differentiated pECs and highlighted the potential for intercellular communication between human and porcine ECs. These results suggest that transplanted cells in vascular regeneration completed after cell therapy have the potential to achieve intercellular communication within the body.

Therapeutic Potential of Capsaicin in Various Neurodegenerative Diseases with Special Focus on Nrf2 Signaling.

Neurodegenerative disease is mainly characterized by the accumulation of misfolded proteins, contributing to mitochondrial impairments, increased production of proinflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species, and neuroinflammation resulting in synaptic loss and neuronal loss. These pathophysiological factors are a serious concern in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Based on the symptoms of various neurodegenerative diseases, different treatments are available, but they have serious side effects and fail in clinical trials, too. Therefore, treatments for neurodegenerative diseases are still a challenge at present. Thus, it is important to study an alternative option. Capsaicin is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in capsicum. Besides the TRPV1 receptor activator in nociception, capsaicin showed a protective effect in brain-related disorders. Capsaicin also reduces the aggregation of misfolded proteins, improves mitochondrial function, and decreases ROS generation. Its antioxidant role is due to increased expression of an nrf2-mediated signaling pathway. Nrf2 is a nuclear erythroid 2-related factor, a transcription factor, which has a crucial role in maintaining the normal function of mitochondria and the cellular defense system against oxidative stress. Intriguingly, Nrf2 mediated pathway improved the upregulation of antioxidant genes and inhibition of microglial-induced inflammation, improved mitochondrial resilience and functions, leading to decreased ROS in neurodegenerative conditions, suggesting that Nrf2 activation could be a better therapeutic approach to target pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disease. Therefore, the present review has evaluated the potential role of capsaicin as a pharmacological agent for the treatment and management of various neurodegenerative diseases via the Nrf2-mediated signaling pathway.

Seropositivity and coinfection of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses in Central India: A hospital-based study

ABSTRACT Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) show similarity in the transmission, distribution, hepatotropism, and leading to chronic asymptomatic infection. Coinfection of HBV and HCV can lead to more severe liver disease and an increased risk for progression to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Most of the people with chronic infection are unaware of their HBV and HCV infections, hence facilitating these to go undiagnosed until these viruses have caused serious liver damage and they act as a potential source of infection for the community at large. Therefore, the present study aimed to find the prevalence of HBV and HCV along with incidences of coinfection of HBV and HCV in patients seeking hospital care in central India. Methods: A five-year hospital-based study was carried out at the tertiary care hospital in Central India from 2018 to 2022. A total of 72402 patients attending the outdoor patients and admitted indoor patients who were advised for HBV and HCV for screening before any invasive/surgical procedure and patients who presented with symptoms of acute or chronic liver disease were included in this study. Screening was done by immunochromatography-based card test followed by the confirmation of all samples by enzyme immunoassay. Results: Seroprevalence of HBV and HCV was found to be 3.71% and 1.91%, respectively. Coinfection with HBV/HCV was seen in 0.13% of the individuals. The overall prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HBV-HCV coinfection was significantly higher in the male population as compared to females. Conclusion: The study findings of seroprevalence of HBV and HCV among the hospital-based population will help to get a baseline understanding of the disease burden in central India. The HBV/HCV coinfection rate also raises serious concerns owing to its high prevalence rate among the younger age.

Effects of biopsychosocial approach on cognition among Parkinson's population.

Cognitive decline is a debilitating symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD). Cognitive impairment in PD has a significant impact on many aspects of an individual's life, social interactions, and overall quality of life (QOL). It is also associated with a faster disease progression and an increased risk of developing dementia. A biopsychosocial approach is likely to address not only the underlying biological mechanisms of cognitive impairment in PD but also the psychological and social factors that can contribute to cognitive decline and influence treatment outcomes. This experimental study was conducted on 60 older adults with PD at Saveetha medical college and hospital. Participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated into two groups of Biopsychosocial (n=30) and conventional (n=30). Participants in the intervention group received the multiple interventions based on the biopsychosocial approach with a duration of 60min per session. Pre and post-test evaluation conducted using Scales for Outcomes in PD-cognition (SCOPA-cog) and Parkinson disease QOL Questionnaire (PDQ-8). The results of the study showed that there is a statistically significant difference in the median scores within the Groups for the outcome measures SCOPA-cog and PDQ-8 (p<0.001). For SCOPA-cog, the BPS group median score increased from 30 to 36, while the Conventional group median score increased from 31 to 33. For PDQ-8, the BPS group median reduced from 27 to 14, compared to the Conventional group's reduced from 30 to 24. On comparison between the post-test values, the biopsychosocial approach group showed more improvement in cognition and QOL with (p<0.001). The findings of this study concluded that the biopsychosocial approach is effective in improving cognition and QOL among the Parkinson population.

Clinical and Radiological Severity of Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head in Sickle Cell Disease Patients

Abstract Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) has a high prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa. Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head is a devastating complication of SCD. Early presentation and diagnosis can be treated with hip-preserving procedures, resulting in good outcomes. Late presentations will require more complicated treatment procedures, such as hip replacement. A good knowledge of the clinical presentation and severity of the disease will aid in early detection and clinical management. This study was designed to establish the age and sex distribution, severity, and stages of AVN in SCD patients at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of SCD patients referred to the orthopaedic clinic with AVN of the femoral head. An evaluation form was used to assess the patient’s age, sex, genotype, and clinical symptoms. Hip X-rays were obtained to assess the severity of the disease. Chi-square tests were used to determine the association between demographic variables’ data and AVN. Results: Most patients were in the 31- to 50-year age group and presented with profound and limiting clinical features and advanced features on X-rays (stages 3 and 4 of the disease). There was a statistically significant association between the radiological stage of disease and clinical symptoms (limping, difficulty climbing stairs, and hip abduction). Conclusion: The patients mostly presented with severe disease both clinically and radiologically and will require complex surgical procedures including hip arthroplasties. Clinicians at primary care centres need to look out for early signs so that they can refer them for treatment.

High-throughput Identification of Fusarium Head Blight Resistance in Wheat Varieties Using Field Robot-Assisted Imaging and Deep Learning Techniques

Fusarium head blight (FHB) has attracted much attention in food science and agriculture for its threat to wheat yields and food safety, due to the production of mycotoxins like deoxynivalenol (DON). Breeding of wheat varieties with improved FHB resistance is essential for controlling this disease. However, identifying resistance in different materials during variety selection remains time-consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, this paper proposed a high-throughput method for the evaluation of FHB disease symptoms. It enabled the semiautomatic acquisition of images of individual wheat ears in a field environment with the aid of a field robot. The images obtained were semantically segmented to get a single wheat ear, from which the infected spikelets (ISs) were extracted, and then the disease degree was calculated. The results showed that the accuracy value of the individual wheat ear using DeepLabV3+ reached 0.996. The accuracy value of ISs was over 0.98. The mean Accuracy of this method for identifying the resistance of varieties was 0.967, and the precision of a single severity grade reached 0.980. The results indicate that the proposed method enables the acquisition and extraction of disease phenotype and rapid identification of resistance to FHB. The study also provides a reference for accurately identifying phenotypes of wheat ears in other field environments and for selecting and breeding other fungal-toxin-resistant varieties.

Ontology-Based Data Collection for a Hybrid Outbreak Detection Method Using Social Media.

Given the persistent global challenge presented by rapidly spreading diseases, as evidenced notably by the widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on both human health and economies worldwide, the necessity of developing effective infectious disease prediction models has become of utmost importance. In this context, the utilization of online social media platforms as valuable tools in healthcare settings has gained prominence, offering direct avenues for disseminating critical health information to the public in a timely and accessible manner. Propelled by the ubiquitous accessibility of the internet through computers and mobile devices, these platforms promise to revolutionize traditional detection methods, providing more immediate and reliable epidemiological insights. Leveraging this paradigm shift, our proposed framework harnesses Twitter data associated with infectious disease symptoms, employing ontology to identify and curate relevant tweets. Central to our methodology is a hybrid model that integrates XGBoost and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) architectures. The integration of XGBoost addresses the challenge of handling small dataset sizes, inherent during outbreaks due to limited time series data. XGBoost serves as a cornerstone for minimizing the loss function and identifying optimal features from our multivariate time series data. Subsequently, the combined dataset, comprising original features and predicted values by XGBoost, is channeled into the BiLSTM for further processing. Through extensive experimentation with a dataset spanning multiple infectious disease outbreaks, our hybrid model demonstrates superior predictive performance compared to state-of-the-art and baseline models. By enhancing forecasting accuracy and outbreak tracking capabilities, our model offers promising prospects for assisting health authorities in mitigating fatalities and proactively preparing for potential outbreaks.

Temperature-induced pathogen Vibrio fortis NH-2 triggers bleaching and rough-shell disease in Porphyra sensu lato

Neoporphyra haitanensis and Neopyropia yezoensis are two critically important cultivated species of Porphyra sensu lato in China. Recently, outbreaks of bleaching and rough-shell diseases in Jiangsu Province have led to the death of shell-borne conchocelis (SBC), severely affecting the healthy supply of SBC. In this study, through culture-dependent methods and infection assays, we confirmed that bacterial strain NH-2 was responsible for inducing disease symptoms identical to those observed in the bleaching and rough-shell-diseased samples from the nurseries. Strain NH-2 was also found to induce cell pyknosis in free-living conchocelis (FLC), and thallus cells of Porphyra, leading to degradation of chloroplasts and eventual cell death. By integrating morphological observations, physiological assessments, biochemical characterization, and whole-genome sequencing, strain NH-2 was identified as Vibrio fortis NH-2. This strain demonstrated a mortality rate exceeding 54.0 % at temperatures above 25 °C (p < 0.01), with disease severity increasing at higher temperatures, establishing V. fortis NH-2 as a temperature-induced pathogen. In conclusion, the findings of this study provided critical insights into the etiology of Porphyra diseases and offered valuable guidance for disease prevention strategies in the aquaculture industry.

566P ClC-1 chloride channel inhibition improves disease symptoms and survival in a rat model of muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) myasthenia gravis

566P ClC-1 chloride channel inhibition improves disease symptoms and survival in a rat model of muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) myasthenia gravis

Using implementation science to evaluate the implementation of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in a clinical heart failure care setting

BackgroundPatients with heart failure can experience poor quality of life, recurring hospitalizations, and progressive disease symptoms. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) include patients’ voices in clinical care by assessing patient symptoms, function, and quality of life. In 2022, PROMs were implemented into the electronic health record system (Epic) at a large academic hospital in Toronto, ON. The purpose of this study was to use implementation science frameworks to systematically evaluate the uptake and integration of PROMs into clinical heart failure care. MethodsThe Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework guided the mixed-methods, one-year quality improvement project. Data sources included clinician use of PROMs, patient-level data on completed PROMs, and semi-structured interviews with clinicians. The PROM was the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-12 (KCCQ-12) which captures four domains related to heart failure: symptom frequency, physical limitations, social limitations, and quality of life. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data was analyzed using behaviour change frameworks and latent content analysis. ResultsOver one year, more patients were assigned to PROMs, a higher proportion of patients completed PROMs, and approximately 80% of patients had high KCCQ-12 scores. Clinicians experience barriers related to attention and decision processes, environmental context, and professional role for integrating PROMs into practice. Suggested resources include adding language licenses for PROMs translations, reducing cognitive load for clinicians assigning and interpreting PROMs in Epic, and champions modelling PROMs in practice. ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the benefit of using implementation science frameworks to evaluate the implementation of PROMs in practice and to provide actionable recommendations to health systems.

Impacts of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) on patient health-related quality of life (HRQoL): Results of an online US patient survey.

242 Background: Effects of disease symptoms and treatment negatively impact the HRQoL of patients (pts) with mCRC, including physical and psychological well-being. Understanding challenges faced by pts with mCRC may help improve HRQoL and enhance their disease journey. Using an online survey, we aimed to gain insights into the effects of mCRC on HRQoL. Methods: Pts aged ≥18 yrs with stage IV colon, rectal, or colorectal cancer participated in an online survey conducted in the US by The Harris Poll between 01/17/24-02/07/24. Of the 344 pts who participated, 254 were recruited via online panels and 90 via pt advocacy groups (PAGs; BLKHLTH, COLONTOWN, Colorectal Cancer Alliance, and Family Reach). The 60-question survey explored the pt profile, diagnosis experience, the role of PAGs/other resources, HRQoL, access to care and financial challenges, discrimination, and treatment experience. Raw data were not weighted and thus are only representative of participants who completed the survey. Sample data are accurate to within 5.3 %-points using a 95% confidence level; all surveys are subject to multiple sources of error. Results: Of 344 participants, 190 (55%) were male, mean age was 56 yrs (±13 yrs); the majority were White (n=158 46%), Black/African American (n=87 25%), or Hispanic (n=75 22%). Of applicable respondents, a majority reported that mCRC had a negative impact on maintaining a normal work schedule (69%), financial wellbeing (69%), emotional wellbeing (67%), hobbies (64%), physical activity (63%), and romantic relationships (61%). However, 43% of applicable pts reported a positive impact on relationships with family and friends, while 70% of overall respondents agreed that a diagnosis had inspired them to act on things they’ve always wanted to do or have pushed off. From an emotional perspective, most pts agreed that they felt like a burden to family (72%) or sensed decreasing support over time from family/friends (63%). Although for many pts a diagnosis had brought them closer to loved ones, 78% agreed they had at times felt alone in their experience, and 70% struggled with being emotionally present. Further, among 330 (96%) pts who had attempted to access mental health resources, 55% had found this difficult, especially Black pts compared to Hispanic and White pts (Table). Conclusions: During their disease journey, pts with mCRC suffer a deterioration in multiple aspects of HRQoL that affects their daily lives, including emotional/mental wellbeing. Better support, specifically improving ease of access to mental health resources, is needed to help pts maintain HRQoL throughout their disease journey. Ease of access to mental health resources for Black, Hispanic, and White pts. Ease of access, % All patients n=330 Black patients n=85 Hispanic patients n=75 White patients n=146 Very difficult 21 27 15 19 Somewhat difficult 35 36 24 39 Somewhat easy 26 16 41 25 Very easy 18 20 20 17

Play therapy: An effective approach to reduce anxiety in children with cancer

Cancer poses a significant challenge to public health worldwide and ranks as the second most common cause of death in children. Approximately 300,000 cases of cancer are diagnosed among children aged 0 to 19 every year [1]. The incidence of childhood cancer is increasing all over the world. A cancer diagnosis can cause serious psychological problems because cancer and admission to the hospital increase the feeling of pain, anxiety, and fear of death [2]. Children diagnosed with cancer often experience severe and persistent anxiety, which can have long-term effects on their well-being. The stress of being hospitalized, coupled with the limited understanding of their illness by medical professionals, the lack of effective coping strategies, and the pain resulting from invasive procedures and treatment regimens, all contribute to the anxiety experienced by these young patients [3].

Epileptic EEG classification via deep learning-based strange attractor

Electroencephalography is commonly exploited in recording brains’ electrical activities for revealing the symptoms of various neurological diseases, e.g., epileptic seizures. We hypothesize that its capability primarily comes from the information it captures from the brain, which is supposed to be a chaotic dynamical system. Therefore, seizure detection in clinical practice could benefit from strange attractor reconstruction from time series in classifying non-ictal and ictal epileptic seizures. We propose a deep learning architecture and the loss function in a latent space to implement the reconstruction. By leveraging the proposed deep model, the hidden coordinates can be derived from a low-dimensional time series or univariate time series (e.g., Electroencephalography). Furthermore, added variables can extract more features from the reconstructed dynamical system. The proposed pipeline is evaluated by using a publicly available epileptic seizure database. Experimental results demonstrated the promising outcome of the proposed approach.

Coronary Plaque Characteristics in Patients With Chronic Kidney Failure: Impact on Cardiovascular Events and Mortality.

In patients with coronary artery disease, coronary plaques with high-risk features and low-attenuation plaque burden are independent measures associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Patients with chronic kidney failure may have different coronary artery disease characteristics. The aim was to assess the association of coronary plaque characteristics and coronary artery disease extent with MACE and all-cause mortality in patients with chronic kidney failure. Potential kidney transplant candidates who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography as part of the cardiac screening program before kidney transplantation were included. We evaluated high-risk plaques and diameter stenosis semiqualitatively and quantified coronary artery calcium score and plaque burden (percentage atheroma volume). In 484 patients with chronic kidney failure and few or no symptoms of coronary artery disease (mean age, 53±12 years; 62% men; 32% on dialysis), 56 (12%) patients suffered MACE and 69 (14%) patients died during a median follow-up of 4.9 years. High-risk plaques were present in 39 (70%) patients with MACE. Median calcified plaque burden was 3.7% in patients with MACE versus 0.2% in patients without MACE. The median low-attenuation plaque burden was 0.3% versus 0.03%, respectively. In semiqualitative analyses, the presence of high-risk plaque and a higher coronary artery calcium score were associated with increased risk of MACE (hazard ratio (HR), 2.0 [95% CI, 1.0-3.7]; P=0.040; HR, 1.2 [95% CI, 1.0-1.3]; P=0.014), respectively. Neither were associated with all-cause mortality. In quantified analysis, increasing levels of both calcified and low-attenuation plaque burdens were associated with risk of MACE (HR, 2.6 [95% CI, 1.8-3.7]; P<0.001; HR, 2.6 [95% CI, 1.5-4.5]; P=0.001 [per variable doubling, respectively]) and all-cause mortality (HR, 1.6 [95% CI, 1.2-2.1]; P=0.002; HR, 1.8 [95% CI, 1.1-3.0]; P=0.028, respectively). In patients with chronic kidney failure, calcified and low-attenuation plaque burdens were independently associated with MACE and all-cause mortality, while high-risk plaques and coronary artery calcium score were only associated with MACE. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01344434.