• The Journal of Bigdata
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2021

In this study, we propose a cardiovascular disease prediction model using machine learning. First, a multidimensional analysis of various differences between the two groups is performed and the results are visualized. In particular, we propose a predictive model using cost-sensitive learning that can improve the sensitivity for cases where there is a high class imbalance between the normal and patient groups, such as diseases. In this study, a predictive model is developed using CART and XGBoost, which are representative machine learning technologies, and prediction and performance are compared for cardiovascular disease patient data. According to the study results, CART showed higher accuracy and specificity than XGBoost, and the accuracy was about 70% to 74%.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.133-154
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• 2023

Obscured structural members are mostly under-evaluated during condition assessment due to lack of visual inspection capability. Insufficient information about the integrity of these structural members poses a significant risk for public safety. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) is a novel approach in structural health monitoring (SHM). Ordinary coaxial cables "as is" without a major modification are not suitable for SHM with TDR. The objective of this study is to propose a practical and cost-effective modification approach to commercially available coaxial cables in order to use them as a "cable sensor" for damage detection with the TDR equipment for obscured structural members. The experimental validation and assessment of the proposed modification approach was achieved by conducting 3-point bending tests of the model piles as a representative obscured structural member. It can be noted that the RG59/U-6 and RG6/U-4 cable sensors expose higher strain sensitivity in comparison with non-modified "as is" versions of the cables used. As a result, the cable sensors have the capability of sensing both the presence and the location of a structural damage with a maximum aberration of 3 cm. Furthermore, the crack development can be monitored by the RG59/U-6 cable sensor with a simple calibration.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.2
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• pp.280-297
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• 2021

International guidelines recommended screening with ultrasonography (US) every 6 months for patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, US demonstrates low sensitivity for the early detection of HCC. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in the noninvasive diagnosis of HCC, but it is not suitable for surveillance due to its lengthy examination and high cost. Therefore, several studies have been using various abbreviated MRI strategies, including noncontrast abbreviated MRI, dynamic contrast-enhanced abbreviated MRI, and abbreviated MRI using hepatobiliary phase image for HCC surveillance. In this article, we aim to review these various strategies and explore the future direction of HCC surveillance considering the cost-effectiveness aspect.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.165-179
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Mushroom consumption, rich in diverse nutrients and bioactive compounds, is suggested as a potential significant contributor to preventing cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs). This systematic review aimed to explore the association between mushrooms and cardiometabolic health outcomes, utilizing data from prospective cohort studies and clinical trials focusing on the general population, with mushrooms themselves as a major exposure. SUBJECTS/METHODS: All original articles, published in English until July 2023, were identified through searches on PubMed, Ovid-Embase, and google scholar. Of 1,328 studies, we finally selected 5 prospective cohort studies and 4 clinical trials. RESULTS: Existing research is limited, typically consisting of 1 to 2 studies for each CMD and cardiometabolic condition. Examination of articles revealed suggestive associations in some cardiometabolic conditions including blood glucose (both fasting and postprandial), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol related indices, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and obesity indices (body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference). However, mushroom consumption showed no association with the mortality and morbidity of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, although there was a potentially beneficial connection with all cause-mortality, hyperuricemia, and metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: Due to the scarcity of available studies, drawing definitive conclusions is premature. Further comprehensive investigations are needed to clarify the precise nature and extent of this relationship before making conclusive recommendations for the general population.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a life-threatening condition that necessitates early identification and intervention and is associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic burden. However, several diagnostic challenges remain regarding risk stratification and the optimal timing of endoscopy. The PillSense System is a noninvasive device developed to detect blood in patients with UGIB in real time. This study aimed to assess the safety and performance characteristics of PillSense using a simulated bleeding model. Methods: A preclinical study was performed using an in vivo porcine model (14 animals). Fourteen PillSense capsules were endoscopically placed in the stomach and blood was injected into the stomach to simulate bleeding. The safety and sensitivity of blood detection and pill excretion were also investigated. Results: All the sensors successfully detected the presence or absence of blood. The minimum threshold was 9% blood concentration, with additional detection of increasing concentrations of up to 22.5% blood. All the sensors passed naturally through the gastrointestinal tract. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the ability of the PillSense System sensor to detect UGIB across a wide range of blood concentrations. This ingestible device detects UGIB in real time and has the potential to be an effective tool to supplement the current standard of care. These favorable results will be further investigated in future clinical studies.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.742-750
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• 2022

Background/Aims: Cold snare polypectomy (CSP) is commonly used for the resection of colorectal polyps ≤10 mm. Data regarding the influence of snare type on CSP effectiveness are conflicting. Hence, this meta-analysis aimed to compare the outcomes and safety of thin- and thick-wire snares for CSP. Methods: A comprehensive search of the literature published between 2000 and 2021 was performed of various databases for comparative studies evaluating the outcomes of thin- versus thick-wire snares for CSP. Results: Five studies with data on 1,425 polyps were included in the analysis. The thick-wire snare was comparable to the thin-wire snare with respect to complete histological resection (risk ratio [RR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97-1.09), overall bleeding (RR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.40-2.40), polyp retrieval (RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.97-1.04), and involvement of submucosa in the resection specimen (RR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.72-2.28). There was no publication bias and a small study effect, and the relative effects remained the same in the sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: CSP using a thin-wire snare has no additional benefit over thick-wire snares in small colorectal polyps. Factors other than snare design may play a role in improving CSP outcomes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8063-8067
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• 2014

Background: Cervical cancer is a major public health problem in Bangladesh. Persistence of high risk human papillomavirus (HRHPV) influences the progression of the disease, with an important role in followup for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Objective: To establish application of high risk HPV DNA test in the follow-up of women after treatment of CIN. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional and hospital based study was carried out among 145 CIN treated women during the previous six months to three years at the colposcopy clinic of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, between January 2011 and June 2012. Pap smear and HPV samples were collected and colposcopy was performed to find out the persistence of the disease. Cervical samples obtained were tested for HPV DNA using the Hybrid Capture II (HC-II) test. A cervical biopsy was collected whenever necessary. The results were compared to assess the efficacy of different methods during follow up such as Pap smear, HPV test and colposcopy. Results: Mean age of the recruited women (n=145) was 33.6 (${\pm}7.6$), mean age of marriage was 16.8 (${\pm}2.9$) and mean age of 1st delivery was 18.8 (${\pm}3.5$) years. More than half had high grade CIN before treatment and 115 (79.3%) women were managed by LEEP and 20.7% were managed by cold coagulation. Among the 145 treated women, 139 were negative for HPV DNA and six of them (4.1%) were HPV positive. Sensitivity of Pap smear (40.0) and HPV DNA test (40.0) was poor, but specificity was quite satisfactory (>93.0) for all the tests. Conclusions: The high risk HPV DNA test can be an effective method of identifying residual disease. It can be added to colposcopy and this should be applied to all treated women attending for their first or second post-treatment follow-up visit at 6 months to one year, irrespective of the grade of treated CIN.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1340-1349
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• 2017

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological and cellular milk profile for the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis in female buffaloes and to assess risk factors for predisposition of the disease. Methods: Analyses were carried out by standard plate count (SPC), identification of species and antibiotic resistance, somatic cell count (SCC), electrical electrical conductivity of milk (ECM), and lactoferrin content in milk. Teat cups were swabbed to evaluate risk factors, observing hyperkeratosis, milking vacuum pressure and cleanliness of the site. Hence, 30 female buffaloes were randomly selected (15 from a group in early lactation and 15 in late lactation). Results: The most common bacteria in the microbiological examination were Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp. and Corynebacterium sp. In the antibiotic sensitivity test, 10 (58.82%) of the 17 antibiotics tested were sensitive to all isolates, and resistant bacteria were Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus haemolyticus, and Escherichia coli. It was observed that positive samples in the microbiological examination showed total bacterial count between $9.10{\times}10^3$ to $6.94{\times}10^6$ colony forming units/mL, SCC between 42,000 to 4,320,000 cells/mL and ECM ranging from 1.85 to 7.40 mS/cm. It was also found that the teat cups had high microbial counts indicating poor hygiene, and even faults in the cleanliness of the animals' waiting room were observed. It is concluded that values of SCC above 537,000 cells/mL and ECM above 3.0 mS/mL are indications of mammary gland infection for this herd; however, the association of these values with a microbiological analysis is necessary to more accurately evaluate the health status of mammary glands with subclinical mastitis. Conclusion: Through phenotypic characterization of bacteria involved in the samples, the genera Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., and Corynebacterimum bovis were the most prevalent in this study. Faults in environment and equipment hygienization are factors that are directly associated with mastitis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1907-1912
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• 2015

Purpose: The study was designed to: (1) investigate the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection and cervical neoplasia; and (2) evaluate clinical performance of visual inspection with acetic acid/ Lugol's iodine (VIA /VILI), Pap smear, high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) DNA test for detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) and (3) explore appropriate screening approach in rural areas of Shandong Province. Materials and Methods: A total of 3,763 eligible women from Yiyuan County in Yimeng mountainous areas of rural Shandong, China, were enrolled and underwent Pap smear, HR-HPV DNA testing by Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2), and VIA /VILI tests. Women positive in any test were referred to colposcopy and biopsy as indicated. Results: The prevalence of HR-HPV infection among all enrolled women was 11.1% and that in healthy women was 9.9%. In total 33 cases of CIN1, 16 cases of CIN2, 6 cases of CIN3 but none of cervical cancer were detected and the crude prevalence of CIN2+ was 0.58%. For detecting CIN2+, the sensitivity of HR-HPV DNA testing, VIA/VILI, Pap smear was 90.9%, 77.3%, 81.8%, respectively. Pap smear had the best specificity of 98.2%, followed by HR-HPV DNA testing with specificity of 89.4%, VIA/VILI had the lowest specificity of 81.2%. Colposcopy referral rate of HR-HPV DNA testing, VIA/VILI, Pap smear was 11.1%, 18.5%, 2.3%, respectively. Conclusions: Our results suggest that HR-HPV DNA testing alone might be appropriate for primary cervical cancer screening in rural low-resource areas of Shandong Province, China.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.193-199
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of walking and band exercise for 12 weeks on c-reactive protein and cardiovascular disease risk factor in overweight and obese children. Body composition, blood lipids, insulin sensitivity, c-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed before, after 4 weeks and after 12 weeks of combined exercise. Sixteen participants (BMI${\geq}$21.3) were randomly allocated to exercise group (n=8) and control group (n=8). The exercise group participated in 50 minutes of walking exercise and band exercises as resistance training two days a week for 12 weeks. There were significant different on weight (p<0.001), BMI (p<0.001), fat mass (p<0.001), fat percentage (p<0.001), LBM percentage (p<0.001), TG (p<0.05), HDL-C (p<0.01), insulin (p<0.05), HOMA-IR (p<0.05) in exercise group after intervention. And the change of weight (p<0.001), BMI (p<0.001), fat mass (p<0.001), fat percentage (p<0.001), LBM mass (p<0.05), LBM percentage (p<0.001), insulin (p<0.05), HOMA-IR (p<0.05) were significant difference between groups after intervention. These findings suggest that 12 weeks of walking and band exercise can be useful intervention in the improvement of cardiovascular disease risk factor in overweight and obese children. But c-reactive protein was no change.