Using Artificial Intelligence to Predict the Development of Kyphosis Disease: A Systematic Review.

The use of artificial intelligence in the field of medicine - including spine surgery - is now widespread and prominent. Kyphosis is a prevalent disease in spine surgery with abundant morbidity. Predicting the development of kyphosis disease has been somewhat difficult, and the use of AI to aid in the prediction of kyphosis disease may yield new opportunities for spine surgeons. The aim of this review is to recognize the contributions of AI in predicting the development of kyphosis. Five databases/registers were searched to identify suitable records for this review. Nine studies were included in this review. The studies demonstrated that AI could be utilized to predict the development of kyphosis disease after corrective surgery for a variety of spinal pathologies, including thoracolumbar burst fracture, cervical deformity, previous kyphosis disease, and adult degenerative scoliosis. The studies utilized a variety of AI modalities, including support vector machines, decision trees, random forests, and artificial neural networks. Two of the included studies also compared the use of different AI modalities in predicting the development of kyphosis disease. The literature has demonstrated that AI can be utilized effectively to predict the development of kyphosis disease. However, the current research is limited and only sparsely covers this broad field. Therefore, we suggest that further research is needed to explore the uncharted opportunities in predicting the development of kyphosis disease. Also, further research would confirm and consolidate the benefits demonstrated by the literature included in this review.

Validation of a risk prediction model for COVID-19: the PERIL prospective cohort study.

Aim: This study aims to perform an external validation of a recently developed prognostic model for early prediction of the risk of progression to severe COVID-19. Patients & methods/materials: Patients were recruited at their initial diagnosis at two facilities within Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar. 356 adults were included for analysis. Predictors for progression of COVID-19 were all measured at disease onset and first contact with the health system. Results: The C statistic was 83% (95% CI: 78%-87%) and the calibration plot showed that the model was well-calibrated. Conclusion: The published prognostic model for the progression of COVID-19 infection showed satisfactory discrimination and calibration and the model is easy to apply in clinical practice.d.

Clinical study of different composite resin systems in Class I cavities (an 18-month randomized clinical trial) / Estudo clínico de diferentes sistemas de resina composta em cavidades de Classe I (um ensaio clínico randomizado de 18 meses)

Objective: this double-blind randomized clinical trial evaluate the clinical performance of Thermo-Viscous Bulk Fill composite, Self-Adhesive Flowable composite, and Filtek Bulk Fill Composites restorations in Class I cavities over a period of 18 months. Material and Methods: twenty individuals between the ages of 30 and 45 participated in this research. Each patient should have at least three occlusal Class I carious lesions on their molars. They were dispersed at random, with n=20 teeth representing each tested material. Group I (Futurabond M+ and VisCalor Bulk Fill which heated in a viscolar dispenser at 68 °C for 30s and placed in a 4 mm thickness), Group II (Fusio Liquid Dentin self-adhesive composite which put in a thin layer (1mm increment)), and Group III (Single Bond Universal and Filtek Bulk Fill Posterior composite which applied in 4 mm thickness without heating). Using (USPHS) criteria, all restorations were assessed clinically at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months. Using an inverse replica, the marginal seal of the investigated restorations was further evaluated under SEM. Statistical analysis was performed with Chi-square test for all USPH parameters. Results: the three tested groups recorded a one hundred percent retention rate after 18 months follow up period. Concerning marginal adaptation, marginal discoloration, anatomical form, surface texture, and color matching, there was a significant difference (p˂0.05) between the three tested groups after 12 & 18 months. After 12 & 18 months, SEM analysis of the marginal seal revealed a statistically significant difference between the three groups. Conclusion: Bulk fill resin composite restorations showed satisfactory acceptable clinical performance after 18 months of clinical service compared to self-adhesive flowable composites, and Viscalor Bulk Fill composite demonstrated excellent results with considerable changes in marginal integrity as a consequence of thermal viscous technology and increased adaptability of restorations toward cavity walls and margins (AU)

Objetivo: este ensaio clínico randomizado duplo-cego avaliou o desempenho clínico de restaurações de resina Bulk Fill Termo-Viscosa, resina autoadesiva Flowable e Filtek Bulk Fill Composites em cavidades Classe I durante um período de 18 meses. Material e Métodos: 20 indivíduos com idade entre 30 e 45 anos participaram da pesquisa. Cada paciente deveria ter pelo menos três lesões de cárie oclusais de Classe I nos molares. Eles foram divididos aleatoriamente, com n=20 dentes representando cada material testado. Grupo I (Futurabond M+ e VisCalor Bulk Fill aquecido em dispensador viscolar a 68 °C por 30s e colocado em uma espessura de 4 mm), Grupo II (resina composta autoadesiva Fusio Liquid Dentin colocada em uma camada fina (incremento de 1 mm)) e Grupo III (resina composta Single Bond Universal e Filtek Bulk Fill Posterior aplicado em espessura de 4 mm sem aquecimento). Usando os critérios (USPHS), todas as restaurações foram avaliadas clinicamente no início, 6 meses, 12 meses e 18 meses. Usando uma réplica inversa, o selamento marginal das restaurações investigadas foi avaliado em MEV. A análise estatística foi realizada com o teste qui-quadrado para todos os parâmetros USPH. Resultados: os três grupos testados registraram uma taxa de retenção de cem por cento após um período de acompanhamento de 18 meses. Em relação à adaptação marginal, descoloração marginal, forma anatômica, textura da superfície e combinação de cores, houve uma diferença significativa (p˂0,05) entre os três grupos testados após 12 e 18 meses. Após 12 e 18 meses, a análise SEM do selamento marginal revelou uma diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os três grupos. Conclusão: as restaurações de resina composta Bulk Fill apresentaram desempenho clínico aceitável satisfatório após 18 meses de atendimento clínico em comparação com as resinas compostas fluidas autoadesivas, e a resina composta Viscalor Bulk Fill demonstrou excelentes resultados com mudanças consideráveis na integridade marginal, como consequência da tecnologia viscosa térmica e maior adaptabilidade de restaurações nas paredes e margens da cavidade (AU)

Prevalence of asymptomatic hyperuricemia and its association with prediabetes, dyslipidemia and subclinical inflammation markers among young healthy adults in Qatar.

AIM: The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of asymptomatic hyperuricemia in Qatar and to examine its association with changes in markers of dyslipidemia, prediabetes and subclinical inflammation. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of young adult participants aged 18 - 40 years old devoid of comorbidities collected between 2012 and 2017. Exposure was defined as uric acid level, and outcomes were defined as levels of different blood markers. De-identified data were collected from Qatar Biobank. T-tests, correlation tests and multiple linear regression were all used to investigate the effects of hyperuricemia on blood markers. Statistical analyses were conducted using STATA 16. RESULTS: The prevalence of asymptomatic hyperuricemia is 21.2% among young adults in Qatar. Differences between hyperuricemic and normouricemic groups were observed using multiple linear regression analysis and found to be statistically and clinically significant after adjusting for age, gender, BMI, smoking and exercise. Significant associations were found between uric acid level and HDL-c p = 0.019 (correlation coefficient -0.07 (95% CI [-0.14, -0.01]); c-peptide p = 0.018 (correlation coefficient 0.38 (95% CI [0.06, 0.69]) and monocyte to HDL ratio (MHR) p = 0.026 (correlation coefficient 0.47 (95% CI [0.06, 0.89]). CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic hyperuricemia is prevalent among young adults and associated with markers of prediabetes, dyslipidemia, and subclinical inflammation.

68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in newly diagnosed prostate cancer: diagnostic sensitivity and interobserver agreement.

PURPOSE: To determine the diagnostic sensitivity and interobserver agreement of Gallium 68-prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography (68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT) imaging for diagnosis and staging of patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer (PC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and seventy-three men (mean age, 68 ± 7.7 years; range 46-84 years) with newly diagnosed, untreated PC were enrolled in this prospective study between January 2017 and August 2018. All patients underwent a 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT examination. For each patient, we determined the disease stage, the Gleason score, and the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) for primary prostatic tumor and extraprostatic metastases. The diagnostic sensitivity and interobserver agreement of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT for diagnosis and staging of PC were established by histopathology as the reference standard. RESULTS: 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT examinations were interpreted as positive for PC in 166 of 173 patients (101 patients had primary prostatic tumor only, two patients had extraprostatic metastases only and 63 patients had combined lesions). The sensitivity of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT examination in the diagnosis of PC was 96%. 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT produced a significant change of stage in 28.6% patients with an upstage in 17.9% patients and a downstage in 10.7% patients. The interobserver agreements were almost good to perfect (k = 0.63-0.89) for visual image interpretation, SUVmax measurement, and tumor staging. CONCLUSION: 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT is a valuable tool with high diagnostic sensitivity (96%) and high reproducibility for diagnosis and staging of patients with newly diagnosed PC.

Diazinon immunotoxicity in mice: modulation of cytokines level and their gene expression.

Diazinon is one of the organophosphate pesticides of wide spectrum insect-killing power. Diazinon extensive application as an effective pesticide was associated with direct or indirect modulation of major and vital immune mechanisms. This study addressed the effect of diazinon toxicity on cytokines that are involved in the regulation of innate, cellular and humoral immune responses. Mice intoxicated with 50 mg/kg (1/5 LD50) body weight for 30 days indicated gradual decrease in the level of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the splenocytes cultures that were pulsed with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Sever suppression of these cytokines was confirmed by the RT-PCR. The level of IL-10 in CD4(+), CD8(+), and B cells indicated significant increase, whereas INF-gamma level was significantly decreased in B cells only. On the molecular level, the INF-gamma mRNA synthesis was significantly increased in all cells subpopulation, whereas, IL-2 mRNA synthesis was only increased in CD4(+). It was shown that diazinon immunotoxicity in mice capable of modulating the major cytokines involved in the regulation of the immune responses. In certain stage of diazinon toxicity, Th2 type responses appeared dominant. Diazinon could accelerate the INF- gamma and IL-2 mRNA synthesis but their translation might be impaired.