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PeerJ 2024To investigate the effects of 12-week weight-bearing dance aerobics (WBDA) on muscle morphology, strength and functional fitness in older women.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of 12-week weight-bearing dance aerobics (WBDA) on muscle morphology, strength and functional fitness in older women.
METHODS
This controlled study recruited 37 female participants (66.31y ± 3.83) and divided them into intervention and control groups according to willingness. The intervention group received 90-min WBDA thrice a week for 12 weeks, while the control group maintained normal activities. The groups were then compared by measuring muscle thickness, fiber length and pennation angle by ultrasound, muscle strength using an isokinetic multi-joint module and functional fitness, such as 2-min step test, 30-s chair stand, chair sit-and-reach, TUG and single-legged closed-eyed standing test. The morphology, strength, and functional fitness were compared using ANCOVA or Mann-Whitney U test to study the effects of 12 weeks WBDA.
RESULTS
Among all recruited participants, 33 completed all tests. After 12 weeks, the thickness of the vastus intermedius ( = 17.85, < 0.01) and quadriceps ( = 15.62, < 0.01) was significantly increased in the intervention group compared to the control group, along with a significant increase in the torque/weight of the knee flexor muscles ( = 4.47, = 0.04). Similarly, the intervention group revealed a significant improvement in the single-legged closed-eyed standing test (2.16, = 0.03) compared to the control group.
CONCLUSION
The study concluded that compared to the non-exercising control group, 12-week WBDA was shown to thicken vastus intermedius, increase muscle strength, and improve physical function in older women. In addition, this study provides a reference exercise program for older women.
Topics: Humans; Female; Muscle Strength; Aged; Dancing; Weight-Bearing; Physical Fitness; Lower Extremity; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal; Exercise; Quadriceps Muscle
PubMed: 38952989
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17606 -
Clinical Interventions in Aging 2024To investigate association between optic disc parameters analyzed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and occurrence of peripheral retinal tears in patients with...
BACKGROUND
To investigate association between optic disc parameters analyzed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and occurrence of peripheral retinal tears in patients with symptomatic posterior vitreous detachment (PVD).
METHODS
This cross-sectional study enrolled 75 patients with symptoms of acute PVD, who were allocated into two groups based on whether a peripheral retinal tear occurred or not.
RESULTS
When comparing the average retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness (μm) between retinal tear and control groups, it was shown that patients with a retinal tear have a significantly higher (87.18 [95% confidence interval (CI), 84.47 to 89.9] vs 81.14 [95% CI, 77.81 to 84.46], = 0.005) average RNFL thickness. Furthermore, we observed a significant difference (0.13, 0.06 to 0.22 vs 0.07, 0.04 to 0.1, = 0.036, Mann-Whitney -test) in the size of cup volume (mm) between the tear and control groups, respectively. Linear regression showed a significant decrease ( = 0.029) in average RNFL thickness with increasing age, but without a significant difference between the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the tear and control groups in terms of rim area, disc area, and average cup-to-disc ratio.
CONCLUSION
Patients with a higher average RNFL thickness and larger cup volume measured by OCT were more prone to develop a peripheral retinal tear. Increased peripapillary average RNFL thickness due to trauma and subsequent inflammation, possibly related to the more adherent posterior hyaloid membrane to the retina, may also indicate strengthened adhesions in the areas of the peripheral retina where retinal tears occur. OCT analysis of the optic nerve head may be used in everyday clinical practice as a predictor of the development of peripheral retinal tears in patients with symptomatic PVD.
Topics: Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; Male; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Female; Vitreous Detachment; Middle Aged; Optic Disk; Retinal Perforations; Aged; Nerve Fibers; Adult; Linear Models
PubMed: 38952872
DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S466511 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2024It is known that in African countries the health condition is problematic, both from a diagnostic and therapeutic point of view. Patients have to travel long distances... (Review)
Review
It is known that in African countries the health condition is problematic, both from a diagnostic and therapeutic point of view. Patients have to travel long distances to access medical care. Many cannot afford the cost of transportation to a medical facility. Ultrasound its into the scenario of healthcare imaging with limited resources, as an effective, economical, repeatable diagnostic tool, requiring low maintenance. Ultrasound tools in fact are relatively cheap and machines are easy to move, making them adapt to be taken to a rural setting where they are most needed. However ultrasound exams are not easy to perform and they need an adequate training. The spread of POCUS (point-of-care "focused" ultrasound) worldwide could be useful in Africa to identify high-risk patients. These cases selected in rural setting by POCUS can be referred to hospitals for further treatment. To deal with these situations it is necessary to form doctors and/or paramedical staff capable of guaranteeing a qualitatively adequate service. Therefore the need for basic training is greater in developing countries. Sharing successful educational strategies should advance the integration of ultrasound into the university medical school curricula. This will ensure that recently qualified doctors can practice their basic skills accurately and independently.
Topics: Humans; Ultrasonography; Africa; Point-of-Care Systems; Developing Countries; Global Health; Health Services Accessibility
PubMed: 38952735
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1363134 -
International Journal of Nanomedicine 2024How to ingeniously design multi-effect photosensitizers (PSs), including multimodal imaging and multi-channel therapy, is of great significance for highly spatiotemporal...
BACKGROUND
How to ingeniously design multi-effect photosensitizers (PSs), including multimodal imaging and multi-channel therapy, is of great significance for highly spatiotemporal controllable precise phototherapy of malignant tumors.
METHODS
Herein, a novel multifunctional zinc(II) phthalocyanine-based planar micromolecule amphiphile () was successfully designed and synthesized, in which N atom with photoinduced electron transfer effect was introduced to enhance the near-infrared absorbance and nonradiative heat generation. After simple self-assembling into nanoparticles (NPs), would exhibit enhanced multimodal imaging properties including fluorescence (FL) imaging (FLI) /photoacoustic (PA) imaging (PAI) /infrared (IR) thermal imaging, which was further used to guide the combined photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT).
RESULTS
It was that under the self-guidance of the multimodal imaging, could precisely pinpoint the tumor from the vertical and horizontal boundaries achieving highly efficient and accurate treatment of cancer.
CONCLUSION
Accordingly, the integration of FL/PA/IR multimodal imaging and PDT/PTT synergistic therapy pathway into one could provide a blueprint for the next generation of phototherapy, which offered a new paradigm for the integration of diagnosis and treatment in tumor and a promising prospect for precise cancer therapy.
Topics: Photosensitizing Agents; Multimodal Imaging; Isoindoles; Animals; Humans; Indoles; Photochemotherapy; Nanoparticles; Mice; Zinc Compounds; Organometallic Compounds; Cell Line, Tumor; Photoacoustic Techniques; Photothermal Therapy; Neoplasms; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Phototherapy; Female
PubMed: 38952677
DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S461843 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2024To construct and validate a computed tomography (CT) radiomics model for differentiating lung neuroendocrine neoplasm (LNEN) from lung adenocarcinoma (LADC) manifesting...
PURPOSE
To construct and validate a computed tomography (CT) radiomics model for differentiating lung neuroendocrine neoplasm (LNEN) from lung adenocarcinoma (LADC) manifesting as a peripheral solid nodule (PSN) to aid in early clinical decision-making.
METHODS
A total of 445 patients with pathologically confirmed LNEN and LADC from June 2016 to July 2023 were retrospectively included from five medical centers. Those patients were split into the training set (n = 316; 158 LNEN) and external test set (n = 129; 43 LNEN), the former including the cross-validation (CV) training set and CV test set using ten-fold CV. The support vector machine (SVM) classifier was used to develop the semantic, radiomics and merged models. The diagnostic performances were evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and compared by Delong test. Preoperative neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels were collected as a clinical predictor.
RESULTS
In the training set, the AUCs of the radiomics model (0.878 [95% CI: 0.836, 0.915]) and merged model (0.884 [95% CI: 0.844, 0.919]) significantly outperformed the semantic model (0.718 [95% CI: 0.663, 0.769], both<.001). In the external test set, the AUCs of the radiomics model (0.787 [95% CI: 0.696, 0.871]), merged model (0.807 [95%CI: 0.720, 0.889]) and semantic model (0.729 [95% CI: 0.631, 0.811]) did not exhibit statistical differences. The radiomics model outperformed NSE in sensitivity in the training set (85.3% vs 20.0%; <.001) and external test set (88.9% vs 40.7%; = .002).
CONCLUSION
The CT radiomics model could non-invasively, effectively and sensitively predict LNEN and LADC presenting as a PSN to assist in treatment strategy selection.
PubMed: 38952551
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1420213 -
International Medical Case Reports... 2024The clinical picture of intracerebral calcification is so varied that it constitutes an essential element of a wide range of clinical syndromes of variable expression...
BACKGROUND
The clinical picture of intracerebral calcification is so varied that it constitutes an essential element of a wide range of clinical syndromes of variable expression that continue to be described. In this article, we discuss the diagnostic possibilities of basal ganglia calcification considering the association of failure to thrive and macular degeneration in our patient.
CASE
A 17-year-old male patient of Congolese origin consulted us for a pyramidal syndrome consisting of upper limb tremors during mobilization and dysgraphia. The patient also presented with a distance vision disorder for which the ophthalmological examination revealed poor visual acuity in both eyes (2/10) and macular degeneration in the left eye. On physical examination, we noted a short stature with a small head circumference in relation to age. The brain scan revealed the presence of bilateral striato-pallidal calcifications giving the appearance of Fahr's disease. However, the association of delay of stature development with microcrania, macular degeneration with reduced visual acuity and basal ganglia calcifications could suggest a wide range of syndromic hypotheses, the most likely of which is Rajab-type cerebral calcification.
CONCLUSION
The association of failure to thrive, macular degeneration, and cerebral calcification of the basal ganglia is revealed as a particular phenotype compared to cases reported in the literature. An in-depth analysis would be necessary to identify a possible genetic basis.
PubMed: 38952481
DOI: 10.2147/IMCRJ.S469737 -
Trauma Case Reports Aug 2024In vascular neurosurgery, dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are a difficult, challenging condition whose natural history and therapy are still debated. This case...
In vascular neurosurgery, dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are a difficult, challenging condition whose natural history and therapy are still debated. This case report presented a 30-year-old male patient who experienced intermittent headaches for two months, along with gradual weakness in all four limbs, resulting in quadriplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) played a significant role in the diagnosis of the patient, in which the final diagnosis was vascular myelopathy due to Dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF). A successful embolization procedure of arteriovenous fistula using balloon-assisted liquid embolic agents, through branches of the right occipital artery was performed, resulting in complete obliteration of the fistula. In order to improve the neurovascular symptoms that had previously been reported, the patient was effectively undergoing rehabilitation, with notable progress.
PubMed: 38952476
DOI: 10.1016/j.tcr.2024.101044 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) has been established as a diagnostic tool for assessing microvascularization, essential for understanding angiogenesis in...
UNLABELLED
Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) has been established as a diagnostic tool for assessing microvascularization, essential for understanding angiogenesis in neoplastic development.
AIM
This study assesses the effectiveness of CEUS as a supplementary tool to TIRADS in enhancing the ultrasound-based diagnosis of thyroid cancer.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
Over one year, 157 nodules in 133 patients, with predominantly solid thyroid nodules, were examined using ultrasound and CEUS and underwent thyroidectomy, allowing for a comparison of ultrasound findings with pathological reports.
RESULTS
Thyroid cancer was identified in 31.21% (49/157) of cases. Significant CEUS high-risk features included inhomogeneous enhancement, enhancement defects, and complete hypoenhancement (AUC 0.818, 0.767, 0.864 respectively). Nodules exhibiting any of these features were classified as high-risk in CEUS. The diagnostic performance of TIRADS improved when combined with CEUS, with AUC increasing from 0.707 to 0.840 and improved sensitivity.
CONCLUSION
The integration of CEUS with TIRADS significantly enhances the diagnostic accuracy and specificity in identifying thyroid cancer. This combination proves to be a more effective method for risk stratification and diagnosis, highlighting the value of CEUS as an adjunctive tool in thyroid cancer evaluation.
Topics: Humans; Thyroid Nodule; Male; Female; Ultrasonography; Thyroid Neoplasms; Middle Aged; Adult; Contrast Media; Aged; Thyroidectomy
PubMed: 38952390
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1417449 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024To develop and validate radiomics models utilizing endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) images to distinguish insulinomas from non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine...
Endoscopic ultrasonography-based intratumoral and peritumoral machine learning radiomics analyses for distinguishing insulinomas from non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
OBJECTIVES
To develop and validate radiomics models utilizing endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) images to distinguish insulinomas from non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-PNETs).
METHODS
A total of 106 patients, comprising 61 with insulinomas and 45 with NF-PNETs, were included in this study. The patients were randomly assigned to either the training or test cohort. Radiomics features were extracted from both the intratumoral and peritumoral regions, respectively. Six machine learning algorithms were utilized to train intratumoral prediction models, using only the nonzero coefficient features. The researchers identified the most effective intratumoral radiomics model and subsequently employed it to develop peritumoral and combined radiomics models. Finally, a predictive nomogram for insulinomas was constructed and assessed.
RESULTS
A total of 107 radiomics features were extracted based on EUS, and only features with nonzero coefficients were retained. Among the six intratumoral radiomics models, the light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) model demonstrated superior performance. Furthermore, a peritumoral radiomics model was established and evaluated. The combined model, integrating both the intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics features, exhibited a comparable performance in the training cohort (AUC=0.876) and achieved the highest accuracy in predicting outcomes in the test cohorts (AUC=0.835). The Delong test, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were employed to validate these findings. Insulinomas exhibited a significantly smaller diameter compared to NF-PNETs. Finally, the nomogram, incorporating diameter and radiomics signature, was constructed and assessed, which owned superior performance in both the training (AUC=0.929) and test (AUC=0.913) cohorts.
CONCLUSION
A novel and impactful radiomics model and nomogram were developed and validated for the accurate differentiation of NF-PNETs and insulinomas utilizing EUS images.
Topics: Humans; Machine Learning; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Endosonography; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Insulinoma; Adult; Neuroendocrine Tumors; Diagnosis, Differential; Aged; Nomograms; Radiomics
PubMed: 38952387
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1383814 -
Heliyon Jun 2024It is difficult to differentiate between primary central nervous system lymphoma and primary glioblastoma due to their similar MRI findings. This study aimed to assess...
Differentiation between primary central nervous system lymphomas and gliomas according to pharmacokinetic parameters derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.
PURPOSE
It is difficult to differentiate between primary central nervous system lymphoma and primary glioblastoma due to their similar MRI findings. This study aimed to assess whether pharmacokinetic parameters derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI could provide valuable insights for differentiation.
METHODS
Seventeen cases of primary central nervous system lymphoma and twenty-one cases of glioblastoma as confirmed by pathology, were retrospectively analyzed. Pharmacokinetic parameters, including K, K, V, and the initial area under the Gd concentration curve, were measured from the enhancing tumor parenchyma, peritumoral parenchyma, and contralateral normal parenchyma. Statistical comparisons were made using Mann-Whitney tests for V and Matrix Metallopeptidase-2, while independent samples -tests were used to compare pharmacokinetic parameters in the mentioned regions and pathological indicators of enhancing tumor parenchyma, such as vascular endothelial growth factor and microvessel density. The pharmacokinetic parameters with statistical differences were evaluated using receiver-operating characteristics analysis. Except for the Wilcoxon rank sum test for V, the pharmacokinetic parameters were compared within the enhancing tumor parenchyma, peritumoral parenchyma, and contralateral normal parenchyma of the primary central nervous system lymphomas and glioblastomas using variance analysis and the least-significant difference method.
RESULTS
Statistical differences were observed in K and K within the enhancing tumor parenchyma and in K within the peritumoral parenchyma between these two tumor types. Differences were also found in Matrix Metallopeptidase-2, vascular endothelial growth factor, and microvessel density within the enhancing tumor parenchyma of these tumors. When compared with the contralateral normal parenchyma, pharmacokinetic parameters within the peritumoral parenchyma and enhancing tumor parenchyma exhibited variations in glioblastoma and primary central nervous system lymphoma, respectively. Moreover, the receiver-operating characteristics analysis showed that the diagnostic efficiency of K in the peritumoral parenchyma was notably higher.
CONCLUSION
Pharmacokinetic parameters derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI can differentiate primary central nervous system lymphoma and glioblastoma, especially K in the peritumoral parenchyma.
PubMed: 38952379
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32619