Bulletin of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering (BCSEE)
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Effect sizes and test-retest reliability of the fMRI-based neurologic pain signature
No full textIdentifying biomarkers that predict mental states with large effect sizes and high test-retest reliability is a growing priority for fMRI research. We examined a well-established multivariate brain measure that tracks pain induced by nociceptive input, the Neurologic Pain Signature (NPS). In N = 295 participants across eight studies, NPS responses showed a very large effect size in predicting within-person single-trial pain reports (d = 1.45) and medium effect size in predicting individual differences in pain reports (d = 0.49). The NPS showed excellent short-term (within-day) test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.84, with average 69.5 trials/person). Reliability scaled with the number of trials within-person, with ≥60 trials required for excellent test-retest reliability. Reliability was tested in two additional studies across 5-day (N = 29, ICC = 0.74, 30 trials/person) and 1-month (N = 40, ICC = 0.46, 5 trials/person) test-retest intervals. The combination of strong within-person correlations and only modest between-person correlations between the NPS and pain reports indicate that the two measures have different sources of between-person variance. The NPS is not a surrogate for individual differences in pain reports but can serve as a reliable measure of pain-related physiology and mechanistic target for interventions
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome with a special focus on seizures
No full text•Seizures is one of the most common clinical presentations of PRES.•The destruction of BBB and the abnormal cerebrovascular autoregulation may be either causes of or, alternatively, results of seizures.•PRES lesions on MRI are most commonly dominated by bilateral and relatively symmetrical posterior cortical and subcortical edema on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery T2-FLAIR and T2-weighted images (T2WI).•Multimode MRI is very important to diagnose PRES, such as DWI, PWI, SWI and vessels imaging.
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a neurological disorder characterized by headache, seizures, confusion and visual disturbances, as well as potentially reversible neuroimaging findings in most patients after proper treatment. Seizures is one of the most common clinical presentations of PRES. This review summarizes the potential pathophysiology and clinical features of PRES, as well as a multimodal approach to imaging and also briefly discusses the phenomenon of seizures in paediatric population
Prostate Cancer Disparities in Risk Group at Presentation and Access to Treatment for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders: A Study With Disaggregated Ethnic Groups
No full textWe identified (1) differences in localized prostate cancer (PCa) risk group at presentation and (2) disparities in access to initial treatment for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) men with PCa after controlling for sociodemographic factors.
We assessed all patients in the National Cancer Database with localized PCa with low-, intermediate-, and high-risk disease who identified as Thai, White, Asian Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Laotian, Pakistani, Kampuchean, and Hmong. Multivariable logistic regression defined adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% CI of (1) presenting at progressively higher risk group and (2) receiving treatment or active surveillance with intermediate- or high-risk disease, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors.
Among 980,889 men (median age 66 years), all AANHPI subgroups with the exception of Thai (AOR = 0.84 [95% CI, 0.58 to 1.21],
> .05), Asian Indian (AOR = 1.12 [95% CI, 1.00 to 1.25],
> .05), and Pakistani (AOR = 1.34 [95% CI, 0.98 to 1.83],
> .05) men had greater odds of presenting at a progressively higher PCa risk group compared with White patients (Chinese AOR = 1.18 [95% CI, 1.11 to 1.25],
< .001; Japanese AOR = 1.36 [95% CI, 1.26 to 1.47],
< .001; Filipino AOR = 1.37 [95% CI, 1.29 to 1.46],
< .001; Korean AOR = 1.32 [95% CI, 1.18 to 1.48],
< .001; Vietnamese AOR = 1.20 [95% CI, 1.07 to 1.35],
= .002; Laotian AOR = 1.60 [95% CI, 1.08 to 2.36],
= .018; Hmong AOR = 4.07 [95% CI, 1.54 to 10.81],
= .005; Kampuchean AOR = 1.55 [95% CI, 1.03 to 2.34],
= .036; Asian Indian or Pakistani AOR = 1.15 [95% CI, 1.07 to 1.24],
< .001; Native Hawaiians AOR = 1.58 [95% CI, 1.38 to 1.80],
< .001; and Pacific Islanders AOR = 1.58 [95% CI, 1.37 to 1.82],
< .001). Additionally, Japanese Americans (AOR = 1.46 [95% CI, 1.09 to 1.97],
= .013) were more likely to receive treatment compared with White patients.
Our findings suggest that there are differences in PCa risk group at presentation by race or ethnicity among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander subgroups and that there exist disparities in treatment patterns. Although AANHPI are often studied as a homogenous group, heterogeneity upon subgroup disaggregation underscores the importance of further study to assess and address barriers to PCa care
JQ1 attenuates psychostimulant- but not opioid-induced conditioned place preference
No full textEpigenetic mechanisms play important roles in the neurobiology of substance use disorder. In particular, bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins, a class of histone acetylation readers, have been found to regulate cocaine conditioned behaviors, but their role in the behavioral response to other drugs of abuse remains unclear. To address this knowledge gap, we examined the effects of the BET inhibitor, JQ1, on nicotine, amphetamine, morphine, and oxycodone conditioned place preference (CPP). Similar to previous cocaine studies, systemic administration of JQ1 caused a dose-dependent reduction in the acquisition of amphetamine and nicotine CPP in male mice. However, in opioid studies, JQ1 did not alter morphine or oxycodone CPP. Investigating the effects of JQ1 on other types of learning and memory, we found that JQ1 did not alter the acquisition of contextual fear conditioning. Together, these results indicate that BET proteins play an important role in the acquisition of psychostimulant-induced CPP but not the acquisition of opioid-induced CPP nor contextual fear conditioning
Clinical and Optical Coherence Tomography Comparison Between Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia and Squamous Metaplasia
No full textThe purpose of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics and high-resolution optical coherence tomography (HR-OCT) findings between corneal squamous metaplasia and ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN).
A retrospective case-control study of 8 patients, 4 with histologically confirmed squamous metaplasia and 4 with histologically confirmed OSSN, who presented to the Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute between 2016 and 2020 was performed. Clinical characteristics, HR-OCT findings, and pathology were evaluated and compared.
Four patients with squamous metaplasia and 4 with OSSN were evaluated. In the metaplasia group, 75% were male, 2 were White, and 2 were Black. In the OSSN group, all 4 were White males. All lesions were opalescent and occurred at the limbus; however, the borders were more smooth and rounded in the metaplastic lesions compared with OSSN. HR-OCT findings were indistinguishable between the 2 groups.
There is overlap in clinical characteristics and HR-OCT findings between corneal squamous metaplasia and OSSN, highlighting one limitation of HR-OCT. As such, if a corneal opacity has some but not all HR-OCT findings of OSSN, squamous metaplasia should also be considered. A biopsy may be indicated to further evaluate and guide treatment
Creating a multi-user focused community engagement page to enhance user experience and increase content visibility for NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Atmospheric Laboratory
No full textWithin the past decade, the use of social media has percolated through every branch of society and has become a priority for many research organizations (Cooke et al., 2017). The majority of Americans report using the internet as their preferred source of science and technology information, which can be positive or negative considering the growing media landscape (Lee & VanDyke, 2015). NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) utilizes social media to disseminate research findings and to direct users back to the AOML website where more in-depth material is provided.The AOML website features an outreach and education page, which has been an indispensable tool for communicating science between AOML and the science curious public for years. However, the target audience of the page was not well defined, which led to material intended for various learning levels being presented all at once. This limited the effectiveness, accessibility, and value of the material.The methodology of this project was determined by collaborating with NOAA communication teams to identify best practices for designing outreach and education pages supported by social media campaigns. Two media campaigns were implemented to measure the user traffic directed back to the website and define AOML’s audiences and their interests. The results of this project provided more accessible, scientific material to three targeted audiences: educators, students, and the science curious public. Products from this project include the live redesigned web page, a best practices document, a virtual guest speaker video series, over 40 social media posts, and a new public interactive question and answer box.While this was a successful project that produced multiple outputs, it also acts as a starting point for multiple opportunities for future work. The most notable future project is the implementation of a mobile-friendly web page so users directed from social media can access all available material without the use of a computer. Also, the creation of a link in the Instagram bio for easy link access would increase the amount of users being directed back to the site. More future projects are outlined towards the end of this report
Penetrating Orbital Injury Due to a Wooden Dowel in a Birthday Cake
No full textThis case report describes left upper eyelid swelling and pain following periocular trauma in a 14-year-old girl whose face was shoved from behind into a multilayered cake containing a wooden dowel
Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated healthcare personnel, first responders, and other essential and frontline workers: Eight US locations, January-September 2021
No full textWe sought to evaluate the impact of changes in estimates of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness on the incidence of laboratory-confirmed infection among frontline workers at high risk for SARS-CoV-2.
We analyzed data from a prospective frontline worker cohort to estimate the incidence of COVID-19 by month as well as the association of COVID-19 vaccination, occupation, demographics, physical distancing, and mask use with infection risk. Participants completed baseline and quarterly surveys, and each week self-collected mid-turbinate nasal swabs and reported symptoms.
Among 1018 unvaccinated and 3531 fully vaccinated workers, the monthly incidence of laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in January 2021 was 13.9 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.4-17.4), declining to 0.5 (95% CI -0.4-1.4) per 1000 person-weeks in June. By September 2021, when the Delta variant predominated, incidence had once again risen to 13.6 (95% CI 7.8-19.4) per 1000 person-weeks. In contrast, there was no reportable incidence among fully vaccinated participants at the end of January 2021, and incidence remained low until September 2021 when it rose modestly to 4.1 (95% CI 1.9-3.8) per 1000. Below average facemask use was associated with a higher risk of infection for unvaccinated participants during exposure to persons who may have COVID-19 and vaccinated participants during hours in the community.
COVID-19 vaccination was significantly associated with a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection despite Delta variant predominance. Our data demonstrate the added protective benefit of facemask use among both unvaccinated and vaccinated frontline workers
Neutrophil-Lymphocyte ratio is associated with poor clinical outcome after mechanical thrombectomy in stroke in patients with COVID-19
No full textBackground The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is emerging as an important biomarker of acute physiologic stress in a myriad of medical conditions, and is a confirmed poor prognostic indicator in COVID-19. Objective We sought to describe the role of NLR in predicting poor outcome in COVID-19 patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke. Methods We analyzed NLR in COVID-19 patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes enrolled into an international 12-center retrospective study of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, consecutively admitted between March 1, 2020 and May 1, 2020. Increased NLR was defined as >= 7.2. Logistic regression models were generated. Results Incidence of LVO stroke was 38/6698 (.57%). Mean age of patients was 62 years (range 27-87), and mortality rate was 30%. Age, sex, and ethnicity were not predictive of mortality. Elevated NLR and poor vessel recanalization (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) score of 1 or 2a) synergistically predicted poor outcome (likelihood ratio 11.65, p = .003). Patients with NLR > 7.2 were 6.8 times more likely to die (OR 6.8, CI95% 1.2-38.6, p = .03) and almost 8 times more likely to require prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation (OR 7.8, CI95% 1.2-52.4, p = .03). In a multivariate analysis, NLR > 7.2 predicted poor outcome even when controlling for the effect of low TICI score on poor outcome (NLR p = .043, TICI p = .070). Conclusions We show elevated NLR in LVO patients with COVID-19 portends significantly worse outcomes and increased mortality regardless of recanalization status. Severe neuro-inflammatory stress response related to COVID-19 may negate the potential benefits of successful thrombectomy
