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Intelligent bell facial paralysis assessment: a facial recognition model using improved SSD network.Scientific Reports Jun 2024With the continuous progress of technology, the subject of life science plays an increasingly important role, among which the application of artificial intelligence in...
With the continuous progress of technology, the subject of life science plays an increasingly important role, among which the application of artificial intelligence in the medical field has attracted more and more attention. Bell facial palsy, a neurological ailment characterized by facial muscle weakness or paralysis, exerts a profound impact on patients' facial expressions and masticatory abilities, thereby inflicting considerable distress upon their overall quality of life and mental well-being. In this study, we designed a facial attribute recognition model specifically for individuals with Bell's facial palsy. The model utilizes an enhanced SSD network and scientific computing to perform a graded assessment of the patients' condition. By replacing the VGG network with a more efficient backbone, we improved the model's accuracy and significantly reduced its computational burden. The results show that the improved SSD network has an average precision of 87.9% in the classification of light, middle and severe facial palsy, and effectively performs the classification of patients with facial palsy, where scientific calculations also increase the precision of the classification. This is also one of the most significant contributions of this article, which provides intelligent means and objective data for future research on intelligent diagnosis and treatment as well as progressive rehabilitation.
Topics: Humans; Bell Palsy; Neural Networks, Computer; Female; Male; Facial Expression; Adult; Artificial Intelligence; Middle Aged; Facial Paralysis; Facial Recognition; Automated Facial Recognition
PubMed: 38834661
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63478-x -
Heliyon May 2024Alternative fuels can be produced from both non-edible feedstocks and edible crops. The higher production costs and contaminating nature of vegetable biofuels, which...
Evaluating the effect of diethyl ether and moringa oleifera antioxidant additives on the performance and emission characteristics of jatropha biodiesel-diesel blended fuel on CI engine - An experimental investigation.
Alternative fuels can be produced from both non-edible feedstocks and edible crops. The higher production costs and contaminating nature of vegetable biofuels, which cause engine component failure, make it conceivable to encourage the synthesis of biodiesel from non-edible sources. One of the most widely utilized alternative fuels is Jatropha biofuel, which has performance levels comparable to diesel fuels and can be used with CI (Compression Ignition) engines without any modifications. However when it comes to oxidative stability properties that impact shelf life and commercialization, the majority of biodiesels-including Jatropha-are lacking. Therefore, the objective of this study was to enhance the oxidative stability and other physicochemical parameters, such performance and emission characteristics, of Jatropha biodiesel with diesel blends by adding additives like DEE (diethyl ether) and MA (moringa oleifera antioxidant). The seeds of jatropha and moringa were harvested by hand and then mechanically extracted with a screw press. A conical flask containing the precisely weighed amount of oil is filled with 50 mL of neutral alcohol. The combination is then heated for an hour using a water condenser over a bath. Using phenolphthalein indicator, the contents are titrated with KOH solution after cooling. Weight of oil taken (w)/volume of KOH used (mL) × normality of KOH is the formula used to determine the acidity value of jatropha oil. It is therefore below the minimum level set by ASTM D 675, which is 2.5 mg KOH/g. Methanol was used in the transesterification process to produce biodiesel, and potassium hydroxide (KOH) was used as a catalyst. Then, using 5 % DEE and 10 % MA additives, the physicochemical properties of jatropha biodiesel-such as density, kinematics viscosity, calorific value, and oxidative stability-were characterized. The percentage of improvement of the biodiesel's mentioned properties with these additives was 0.68 %, 2.8 %, 0.73 %, and 33.8 %, respectively. The brake thermal efficiency (BTE) of B40MA10DEE05D45 increased by 8.52 % whereas the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) of B50MA10DEE05D35, which is Made up of 44 % diesel, 50 % jatropha biodiesel, 5 % DEE, and 10 % MA fuels, declined by 5.14 %. As a result of these additions, the blended fuel's CO, HC, and NOx emissions were reduced by 3.51 %, 2.25 %, and 8.64 %, respectively. Therefore, a 20 % blend of Jatropha biodiesel and diesel containing antioxidants from Moringa can be used in compression ignition engines without the need for engine modifications and with high oxidation stability.
PubMed: 38831843
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31436 -
Journal of Dentistry Jun 2024To evaluate the effect of daily use of a multiple-enzyme lozenge on de novo plaque formation, on gingivitis development, and on the oral microbiome composition.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the effect of daily use of a multiple-enzyme lozenge on de novo plaque formation, on gingivitis development, and on the oral microbiome composition.
METHODS
This trial with two parallel arms included 24 healthy adults allocated to the Active (n = 12) or Placebo (n = 12) group. Subjects consumed one lozenge three times daily for seven days, and no oral hygiene procedures were allowed. Differences in de novo plaque accumulation between a baseline period, and one and seven days of intervention were assessed by the Turesky-modification of the Quigley-and-Hein-Plaque-Index (TM-QHPI). The development of gingivitis after seven days of intervention was assessed by the Gingival Index (GI). Plaque and saliva samples were collected at baseline and after seven days of intervention, and evaluated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
RESULTS
All subjects completed the study, and no adverse events were reported. After one day, the average TM-QHPI was significantly lower in the Active than in the Placebo group, as compared to baseline (p = 0.012). After 7 days, average TM-QHPI values did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.37). GI values did not increase during the intervention period, with no difference between groups (p = 0.62). Bacterial richness increased in both plaque and saliva samples over a seven-day oral hygiene-free period, with a statistically significant difference for the saliva samples (p = 0.0495) between groups.
CONCLUSIONS
A multiple-enzymes lozenge decreased the build-up of de novo plaque after one day and slowed down the process of species increment in saliva. The lozenge may be an adjunct to regular mechanical plaque removal.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Dental plaque is the main cause of caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. The search for therapeutic adjuncts to mechanical plaque removal that have no harmful effects on the oral microbiome is important. Treatment with multiple plaque-matrix degrading enzymes is a promising non-biocidal approach to plaque control.
PubMed: 38830531
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2024.105107 -
Heliyon May 2024Wall. ex Griseb. is an endangered species of the Dioscoreaceae family. It is the most commonly consumed wild species as a vegetable due to its high protein, vital amino... (Review)
Review
Wall. ex Griseb. is an endangered species of the Dioscoreaceae family. It is the most commonly consumed wild species as a vegetable due to its high protein, vital amino acid, vitamin, and mineral content. There are approximately 613 species in the genus Plum. ex L., which is found in temperate and tropical climates. , a plant species widespread across tropical and sub-tropical regions, called by different names in different languages. In English, it is commonly referred to as "Wild yam" or "Elephant foot". The Sanskrit name for this plant is "Varahikand," while in Hindi, it is known as "Gun" or "Singly-mingly." The Urdu language refers to it as "Qanis," and in Nepali, it is called "Tarul," "Bhyakur," or "Ghunar." has been used to cure a wide range of human ailments for centuries. This plant has nutritional and therapeutic uses and also contains high amounts of steroidal saponins, allantoin, polyphenols, and most notably, polysaccharides and diosgenin. These bioactive chemicals have shown potential in providing protection against a wide spectrum of inflammatory conditions, including enteritis (inflammation of the intestines), arthritis (joint inflammation), dermatitis (skin inflammation), acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), and neuro inflammation (inflammation in the nervous system). Furthermore, the valuable bioactive chemicals found in have been associated with a range of beneficial biological activities, such as antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, and cytotoxic properties. Sapogenin steroidal chemicals are highly valued in the fields of medicine, manufacturing, and commerce. It has both expectorant and sedative properties. It is employed in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, encompassing various ailments related to the heart and blood vessels, skin disease, cancer, immune deficiencies, and autoimmune diseases. Additionally, it finds application in managing disorders of the central nervous system and dysfunctional changes in the female reproductive system. Furthermore, it is valued for its role in treating bone and joint diseases. Metabolic disorders are also among the ailments for which is employed. It has traditionally been used as a vermifuge, fish poison, and to kill lice. Diosgenin, a steroidal compound found in , plays a crucial role as a precursor in the chemical synthesis of various hormones. Due to the presence of valuable bioactive molecule, like corticosterone and sigmasterol, is cultivated specifically for the extraction of these beneficial phytochemicals. The current study aims to assess medicinal properties, ethnobotanical usage, phytochemicals, pharmacological properties, threats, and conservation techniques.
PubMed: 38826718
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31245 -
BMC Public Health Jun 2024Globally, the counting of deaths based on gender identity and sexual orientation has been a challenge for health systems. In most cases, non-governmental organizations...
Accuracy, potential, and limitations of probabilistic record linkage in identifying deaths by gender identity and sexual orientation in the state of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
BACKGROUND
Globally, the counting of deaths based on gender identity and sexual orientation has been a challenge for health systems. In most cases, non-governmental organizations have dedicated themselves to this work. Despite these efforts in generating information, the scarcity of official data presents significant limitations in policy formulation and actions guided by population needs. Therefore, this manuscript aims to evaluate the accuracy, potential, and limits of probabilistic data relationships to yield information on deaths according to gender identity and sexual orientation in the State of Rio de Janeiro.
METHODS
This study evaluated the accuracy of the probabilistic record linkage to obtain information on deaths according to gender and sexual orientation. Data from two information systems were used from June 15, 2015 to December 31, 2020. We constructed nine probabilistic data relationship strategies and identified the performance and cutoff points of the best strategy.
RESULTS
The best data blocking strategy was established through logical blocks with the first and last names, birthdate, and mother's name in the pairing strategy. With a population base of 80,178 records, 1556 deaths were retrieved. With an area under the curve of 0.979, this strategy presented 93.26% accuracy, 98.46% sensitivity, and 90.04% specificity for the cutoff point ≥ 17.9 of the data relationship score. The adoption of the cutoff point optimized the manual review phase, identifying 2259 (90.04%) of the 2509 false pairs and identifying 1532 (98.46%) of the 1556 true pairs.
CONCLUSION
With the identification of possible strategies for determining probabilistic data relationships, the retrieval of information on mortality according to sexual and gender markers has become feasible. Based on information from the daily routine of health services, the formulation of public policies that consider the LGBTQ + population more closely reflects the reality experienced by these population groups.
Topics: Humans; Brazil; Female; Male; Gender Identity; Sexual Behavior; Medical Record Linkage; Data Accuracy; Death Certificates; Adult
PubMed: 38824562
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19002-x -
BMC Nephrology Jun 2024This study examines medication adherence among kidney transplant patients at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, focusing...
BACKGROUND
This study examines medication adherence among kidney transplant patients at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, focusing on the level of adherence and associated factors to immunosuppressant medicines.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 270 patients from October 2021 to January 2022 using a structured questionnaire analyzed with SPSS version 26. The prevalence of medication adherence was computed, and a binary logistic regression was fitted to estimate the association. Medication adherence level measurement in post-kidney transplant patients was assessed using the Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire (SMAQ) and Basel Adherence Assessment Scale in Immunosuppressants (BAASIS). A 95% confidence interval and p-value < 0.05 were used for statistical significance.
RESULTS
The study found that 71.5% of kidney transplant patients were male, with a median age of 37 and a mean duration of 3.55 years. Medication adherence in post-kidney transplant patients was 81.9%. Post-transplant duration above 5 years and missing follow-up visits more than two times was associated with a 92.6% and 91.2% in medication non-adherence rate respectively. Additionally, forgetfulness was associated with a 90.6%, non-adherence level compared to drug unavailability and financial reasons.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
The study indicates that our patients exhibit higher medication adherence than WHO-measured levels, suggesting the need for healthcare providers to strengthen their intervention, especially for those above 5 years post-kidney transplant. The reason for increased adherence could be explained by the health education program about the medication name, dosing, frequency of ingestion and adverse effects of the drug, and effects of non-adherence.
Topics: Humans; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Ethiopia; Medication Adherence; Female; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Hospitals, Teaching; Immunosuppressive Agents; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 38824513
DOI: 10.1186/s12882-024-03620-z -
International Journal of Medical... 2024Recovery time is a crucial factor in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of both patients and endoscopy centers. Propofol is often preferred due to its fast onset and... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Recovery time is a crucial factor in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of both patients and endoscopy centers. Propofol is often preferred due to its fast onset and minimal side effects. Remimazolam is a new intravenous sedative agent, characterized by its rapid onset of action, quick recovery and organ-independent metabolism. Importantly, its effect can be specifically antagonized by flumazenil. The primary goal of this study is to compare the recovery time of remimazolam besylate and propofol anesthesia during endoscopic procedures in elderly patients. 60 patients aged 65-95 years who underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy were randomly and equally assigned to two groups: the remimazolam group (Group R) and the propofol group (Group P). The primary measure was the recovery time, defined as the time from discontinuing remimazolam or propofol until reaching an Observer's Assessment of Alertness and Sedation scale (OAA/S) score of 5 (responds readily to name spoken in normal tone). The time required to achieve an OAA/S score of 3 (responds after name spoken loudly or repeatedly along with glazed marked ptosis) was also recorded and compared. The recovery time for Group R (2.6 ± 1.6 min) was significantly shorter than that for Group P (10.8 ± 3.0 min), with a 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.949-9.431 min, <0.001. Similarly, the time to attain an OAA/S score of 3 was significantly less in Group R (1.6 ± 0.9 min) compared to Group P (9.6 ± 2.6 min), with a 95% CI: 6.930-8.957 min, <0.001. Our study demonstrated that remimazolam anesthesia combined with flumazenil antagonism causes a shorter recovery time for elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy compared to propofol. Remimazolam followed by flumazenil antagonism provides a promising alternative to propofol for geriatric patients, particularly during gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Propofol; Male; Female; Aged, 80 and over; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; Anesthesia Recovery Period; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Benzodiazepines
PubMed: 38818475
DOI: 10.7150/ijms.93045 -
Heliyon May 2024Emotion recognition technology through EEG signal analysis is currently a fundamental concept in artificial intelligence. This recognition has major practical... (Review)
Review
Emotion recognition technology through EEG signal analysis is currently a fundamental concept in artificial intelligence. This recognition has major practical implications in emotional health care, human-computer interaction, and so on. This paper provides a comprehensive study of different methods for extracting electroencephalography (EEG) features for emotion recognition from four different perspectives, including time domain features, frequency domain features, time-frequency features, and nonlinear features. We summarize the current pattern recognition methods adopted in most related works, and with the rapid development of deep learning (DL) attracting the attention of researchers in this field, we pay more attention to deep learning-based studies and analyse the characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and applicable scenarios. Finally, the current challenges and future development directions in this field were summarized. This paper can help novice researchers in this field gain a systematic understanding of the current status of emotion recognition research based on EEG signals and provide ideas for subsequent related research.
PubMed: 38818173
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31485 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) lacks clear biomarkers in clinical practice. Language as a potential diagnostic biomarker for PTSD is investigated in this study....
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) lacks clear biomarkers in clinical practice. Language as a potential diagnostic biomarker for PTSD is investigated in this study. We analyze an original cohort of 148 individuals exposed to the November 13, 2015, terrorist attacks in Paris. The interviews, conducted 5-11 months after the event, include individuals from similar socioeconomic backgrounds exposed to the same incident, responding to identical questions and using uniform PTSD measures. Using this dataset to collect nuanced insights that might be clinically relevant, we propose a three-step interdisciplinary methodology that integrates expertise from psychiatry, linguistics, and the Natural Language Processing (NLP) community to examine the relationship between language and PTSD. The first step assesses a clinical psychiatrist's ability to diagnose PTSD using interview transcription alone. The second step uses statistical analysis and machine learning models to create language features based on psycholinguistic hypotheses and evaluate their predictive strength. The third step is the application of a hypothesis-free deep learning approach to the classification of PTSD in our cohort. Results show that the clinical psychiatrist achieved a diagnosis of PTSD with an AUC of 0.72. This is comparable to a gold standard questionnaire (Area Under Curve (AUC) ≈ 0.80). The machine learning model achieved a diagnostic AUC of 0.69. The deep learning approach achieved an AUC of 0.64. An examination of model error informs our discussion. Importantly, the study controls for confounding factors, establishes associations between language and DSM-5 subsymptoms, and integrates automated methods with qualitative analysis. This study provides a direct and methodologically robust description of the relationship between PTSD and language. Our work lays the groundwork for advancing early and accurate diagnosis and using linguistic markers to assess the effectiveness of pharmacological treatments and psychotherapies.
Topics: Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Humans; Deep Learning; Male; Machine Learning; Female; Adult; Language; Natural Language Processing; Biomarkers; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38816468
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61557-7 -
Phytomedicine : International Journal... Jul 2024Xiaoyao pills (XYP) is a commercial Chinese patent medicine used in the treatment of depression. However, the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects, as well as... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Xiaoyao pills (XYP) is a commercial Chinese patent medicine used in the treatment of depression. However, the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects, as well as the patients who can benefit from XYP, have not been evaluated so far.
OBJECTIVES
To this end, we conducted a double-blinded, random, and placebo-controlled clinical trial of orally administered XYP in patients with depression.
METHODS
The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) scores were recorded at baseline, and every 2 weeks after the start of treatment. To further elucidate the epigenetic mechanism of XYP, we performed mRNA sequencing and genome-wide DNA methylation sequencing using peripheral blood leukocytes of patients and healthy.
RESULTS
XYP effectively alleviated the symptoms in patients with mild or moderate depressive disorders, particularly that of psychomotor retardation. XYP restored aberrant gene expression and DNA methylation patterns associated with depression, and the normalization of DNA methylation correlated with downregulation of several genes. In addition, altered DNA methylation levels in the XYP-treated samples were attributed to increased expression of the DNA methyltransferase DNMT1.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study provides new insights into the epigenetic mechanism underlying depression and the therapeutic effects of XYP, along with an experimental basis for using XYP in the treatment of depression.
TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION
The name of the registry and number: U.S.
CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRY
The link to the registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ISRCTN12746343 (https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12746343). The name of the trial register is "Efficacy and safety of the Xiaoyao pill for improving the clinical symptoms of stagnation of liver qi (chi) and spleen deficiency". The clinical trial registration number is ISRCTN12746343.
Topics: Humans; DNA Methylation; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Double-Blind Method; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Adult; Depression; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1; Epigenesis, Genetic; Antidepressive Agents
PubMed: 38815407
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155660