Objectives: The impact of heterogeneity on gender difference for achieving clinically meaningful weight loss (cmWL) remains unclear. Here, we explored the potential gender differences in factors ...associated with cmWL. Methods: A total of 60,668 participants with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m 2 at study entry and available BMI values at follow-up were included in this study. cmWL was defined as a weight loss of ≥5% from the study entry to follow-up. The associations of social-demographic factors, personal history of chronic diseases, lifestyle behaviors, and history of BMI with cmWL were evaluated using logistic regression models. Results: During a median follow-up of 9.13 years, 26.6% of the participants had a cmWL (30.8% for females vs. 23.1% in males; p < 0.001). Participants with older age, obesity at study entry, being more physical activity compared to 10 years ago, being relapsed smokers or consistent current smokers, having a history of chronic diseases (i.e., diabetes, osteoporosis, and stroke), cancer diagnosis during the study period, and more than 10-year follow-up were more likely to achieve cmWL in both males and females (all p < 0.05). The new smoking quitters and participants with less active in physical activity compared to 10 years ago were less likely to achieve cmWL in both males and females (all p < 0.05). Specifically, males with a history of emphysema were more likely to reach cmWL, and for females, those being overweight at 20 years old and current drinkers were more likely to reach cmWL (p < 0.05). Sensitivity analyses demonstrated similar results. Conclusion: Age, BMI status, physical activity, smoking status, family income, and health status were independent factors in males and females for weight management. However, further well-designed prospective studies are warranted to confirm our findings.
Objectives
This study aimed to investigate the potential factors associated with adherence to colonoscopy among participants who were preliminarily screened positive in a community‐based colorectal ...cancer screening program in China.
Methods
This study analyzed data from 1219 out of 6971 community residents who were identified as positive cases by the well‐validated high‐risk factor questionnaire (HRFQ) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) in the preliminary screening stage for colorectal neoplasms. Patients showing adherence to colonoscopy were defined as those who received positive results in a preliminary screening for colorectal neoplasms and later received a colonoscopy examination as required. The associations of social‐demographic factors, lifestyle behaviors, history of diabetes, body mass index (BMI), and risk factors in the HRFQ with adherence to colonoscopy were evaluated using logistic regression models.
Results
Among 1219 participants who preliminarily screened positive, the top five risk factors reported by the participants were chronic constipation (25.9%), hematochezia (23.5%), family history of CRC in first‐degree relatives (22.1%), chronic diarrhea (21.8%), and history of polyps (16.6%). Around 14.2% of participants who preliminarily screened positive reported three or more risk factors, and the proportion was 26.2% among participants who were positive according to both HRFQ and FIT. Among all participants who were preliminarily screened positive, the multivariable results showed that those who were married (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.25, p = 0.01), had chronic diarrhea (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.78, p = 0.047), and had a positive FIT (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.21, 2.10, p < 0.001 for patients who were negative according to HRFQ but positive according to FIT; OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.33, 2.78, p = 0.002 for patients who were positive for both HRFQ and FIT) were more likely to adhere to colonoscopy, while participants with a history of cancer (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.31, 0.79, p = 0.003) were less likely to adhere to colonoscopy. The results among participants who were tested positive according to only HRFQ were similar to those among all participants who were tested positive according to HRFQ or FIT. However, among participants who were tested positive according to only FIT, we only found that those who were married (OR = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.08, 5.90, p = 0.033) had a higher odds of adhering to colonoscopy, while those with a history of diabetes (OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.96, p = 0.042) were less likely to adhere to colonoscopy.
Conclusion
Our findings provide evidence supporting the development of tailored interventional strategies that aim to improve adherence to colonoscopy for individuals with a high risk of colorectal neoplasms. Both barriers and facilitators associated with adherence to colonoscopy should be considered in supportive systems and health policies. However, further well‐designed prospective studies are warranted to confirm our findings.
For the participation rate of colonoscopy screening is still disappointingly low in China. We find out the factors associated with colonoscopy adherence among individuals who were positive in the preliminary screening for colorectal neoplasms.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Dysregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) form the basis of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Vitex trifolia L. is a ...medicinal plant growing in countries such as China, India, Australia and Singapore. Its dried ripe fruits are documented in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat ailments like rhinitis and dizziness. Its leaves are used traditionally to treat inflammation-related conditions like rheumatic pain.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of V. trifolia leaf extracts prepared by different extraction methods (Soxhlet, ultrasonication, and maceration) in various solvents on cytokine production in human U937 macrophages, and identify phytoconstituents from the most active leaf extract.
Fresh leaves of V. trifolia were extracted using Soxhlet, ultrasonication, and maceration in hexane, dichloromethane, methanol, ethanol or water. Each extract was evaluated for its effects on TNF-α and IL-1β cytokine production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human U937 macrophages. The most active extract was analyzed and further purified by different chemical and spectroscopic techniques.
Amongst 14 different leaf extracts investigated, extracts prepared by ultrasonication in dichloromethane and maceration in ethanol were most active in inhibiting TNF-α and IL-1β production in human U937 macrophages. Further purification led to the isolation of artemetin, casticin, vitexilactone and maslinic acid, and their effects on TNF-α and IL-1β production were evaluated. We report for the first time that artemetin suppressed TNF-α and IL-1β production. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses revealed the presence of eight other compounds. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of butylated hydroxytoluene, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, campesterol and maslinic acid in V. trifolia leaf extracts.
In conclusion, leaf extracts of V. trifolia obtained using different solvents and extraction methods were successfully investigated for their effects on cytokine production in human U937 macrophages. The findings provide scientific evidence for the traditional use of V. trifolia leaves (a sustainable resource) and highlight the importance of conservation of medicinal plants as resources for drug discovery. Our results together with others suggest further investigation on V. trifolia and constituents to develop novel treatment strategies in immune-mediated inflammatory conditions is warranted.
Background
The positive predictive value (PPV) of high risk factor questionnaire (HRFQ) plus fecal immunochemical test (FIT) as preliminary screening strategy for colorectal-related neoplasia is ...relatively low. We aim to explore independent factors associated with PPVs of HRFQ combined FIT for selecting high risk individuals for colonoscopy.
Methods
A total of 6971 residents were enrolled in a community-based screening program. Participants who had positive results of HRFQ and/or FIT and subsequently received colonoscopy were involved. The associations of socio-demographic factors, lifestyle behaviors, and high risk factors of colorectal cancer with PPVs of HRFQ, FIT, and their combination were evaluated by multivariable logistic regression models.
Results
Among 572 involved cases, 249 (43.5%) colorectal neoplasms were detected by colonoscopy, including 71 advanced adenoma (12.4%) and 9 colorectal cancer (CRC) (1.6%). The PPVs of preliminary screening were 43.5% for total colorectal neoplasms, 14.0% for advanced neoplasm, and 1.6% for CRC. Adding positive HRFQ to FIT could improve the PPV from 3.5 to 8.0% for detecting CRC. Preliminarily screened positive individuals who were males adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.95, 95% CI 1.31, 2.90;
p
< 0.001, elders (> 60 years) (AOR: 1.70, 95% CI 1.17, 2.46;
p
= 0.005), or ex-/current smokers (AOR: 3.04, 95% CI 1.31, 7.09;
p
= 0.10) had higher odds of PPVs of detecting colorectal neoplasms.
Conclusions
Combining HRFQ and FIT could largely improve PPVs for screening advanced neoplasm and CRC. Gender and age-specific FIT cut-off values as well as initiating ages for CRC screening might be recommended to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of current screening algorithm.
In this paper, a new generalization of Bézier curves with one shape parameter is constructed. It is based on the Lupaş q-analogue of Bernstein operator, which is the first generalized Bernstein ...operator based on the q-calculus. The new curves have some properties similar to classical Bézier curves. Moreover, we establish degree evaluation and de Casteljau algorithms for the generalization. Furthermore, we construct the corresponding tensor product surfaces over the rectangular domain, and study the properties of the surfaces, as well as the degree evaluation and de Casteljau algorithms. Compared with q-Bézier curves and surfaces based on Phillips q-Bernstein polynomials, our generalizations show more flexibility in choosing the value of q and superiority in shape control of curves and surfaces. The shape parameters provide more convenience for the curve and surface modeling.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Laccase-catalyzed oxidative reactions are increasingly examined as a reliable approach to environmental analysis and remediation, and it is urgent to widen metal category to compensate huge gap in ...the number of studies on copper- and non-copper laccase mimics. Herein, two-dimensional ultrathin MnO2 nanofilm (Mn-uNF) was designed via a chemical deposition and alkali etching process. Similar to Cu-laccase, Mn-uNF can oxidize phenols via a one-electron-transfer reaction of Mn(III) and accelerate the MnIII/MnIV state cycle through an unconventional oxygen reduction process. The excellent laccase-like performance of Mn-uNF can be ascribed to the abundant atomically dispersed Vo-assisted Mn(III) and surface -OH species, which was confirmed by characterizations and DFT calculation. Further, a facile dual-function colorimetric platform was designed for array sensing of o-, m-, and p-dihydroxybenzene isomers and one-step discrimination of tetracyclines containing phenol groups. These findings provide reasonable guidance for the design of a nanozyme with active Mn sites as a new family member of highly efficient copper-free laccase mimics.
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•Ultrathin MnO2 designed as a new member of highly efficient copper-free laccase mimics.•A new synergy between Vo-assisted MnIII and -OH activated by an alkali etching process.•One-step discrimination of TC, OTC, CTC based on laccase mechanism for the first time.•A facile colorimetric sensor for selective recognition of o-, m-, and p-dihydroxybenzene isomers.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
7.
Ensembling techniques in solar panel quality classification Luu, Trong Hieu; Ky Phuc, Phan Nguyen; Lam, Tran ...
International journal of electrical and computer engineering (Malacca, Malacca),
10/2023, Volume:
13, Issue:
5
Journal Article
Open access
Solar panel quality inspection is a time consuming and costly task. This study tries to develop as reliable method for evaluating the panels quality by using ensemble technique based on three machine ...learning models namely logistic regression, support vector machine and artificial neural network. The data in this study came from infrared camera which were captured in dark room. The panels are supplied with direct current (DC) power while the infrared camera is located perpendicular with panel surface. Dataset is divided into four classes where each class represent for a level of damage percentage. The approach is suitable for systems which has limited resources as well as number of training images which is very popular in reality. Result shows that the proposed method performs with the accuracy is higher than 90%.
Gouty stones in the spinal canal Liu, Shu-Zhong; Qiu, Yu-Zhi; Liang, An-Nan ...
QJM : An International Journal of Medicine,
2024-Apr-11, 2024-04-11, 20240411
Journal Article
Scattering of SH waves by an embedded rigid elliptic cylinder of finite length, which is partially debonded from elastic soil is studied. The debonding regions are modeled as multiple elliptic ...arc-shaped interface cracks with non-contacting faces. The scattered wave field is expressed as a Mathieu function expansion with unknown coefficients. The mixed boundary conditions of the problem lead to a set of singular integral equations of the first type in terms of the dislocation density functions of the cracks. A quadrature method is used to solve these integral equations numerically. The results for dynamic stress intensity factors, far-field pattern of the displacement and scattering cross sections are presented. We particularly discuss the effects of the ratio of the short radius to long radius of the cylinder.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Recently, the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score, a continuous index consisting of only albumin and bilirubin, has been developed for objectively assessing liver function in patients with hepatocellular ...carcinoma (HCC). However, the ALBI score was arbitrarily categorized into three ALBI grades based on two artificially predetermined cutoff points with no explanation and statistical grounds, causing a considerable loss of discriminatory ability. This study aims to propose a modified ALBI (mALBI) grade for offering a detailed evaluation of hepatic reserve and specify its role during clinical practice in the HCC setting. The study population comprised 3540 HCC patients treated with mainstream therapies including hepatectomy (n=2056), thermal ablation (n=550), and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (n=934) from 2002 to 2017. The ALBI score was stratified into four mALBI grades through a recently proposed statistical method aiming to select the optimal cutoff points of a continuous predictive variable by maximizing the discriminative ability in a multivariable Cox regression model. The mALBI grade had an overall better discriminatory ability than the ALBI grade in predicting overall survival through Harrell’s C-index (0.614 vs. 0.598, P<0.001). Both visual inspections of Kaplan-Meier curves and calculation of hazard ratios displayed a more subtle evaluation of liver function using the mALBI grade. Moreover, the newly identified cut-point (ALBI score = -2.29) between the mALBI grade 2a and 2b was much closer to a 30% retention rate of indocyanine green at 15 minutes, an indicator for the performance of a subsegmentectomy. The newly proposed mALBI grade provides a more subtle assessment of liver function to guide clinical decision-making and predicts the prognosis of HCC patients more accurately than the original ALBI grade.
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