Purpose: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) diagnosis poses challenges due to the absence of an objective and definitive test. Although laboratory tests such as infrared thermography, quantitative sudomotor axonal reflex testing (QSART), and 3-phase bone scintigraphy have been considered diagnostic aids, their use remains controversial. This retrospective study aimed to elucidate the diagnostic validity and potential value of these modalities for the diagnosis of CRPS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries represent a promising solution for achieving high energy densities exceeding 500 Wh kg, leveraging cathode materials with theoretical energy densities up to 2600 Wh kg. These batteries are also cost-effective, abundant, and environment-friendly. In this study, an innovative approach is proposed utilizing highly oxidized single-walled carbon nanotubes (Ox-SWCNTs) as a conductive fibrous scaffold and functional interlayer in sulfur cathodes and separators, respectively, to demonstrate large-area and ultra-flexible Li-S batteries with enhanced energy density.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSarcopenia is a contributing factor in the development of long-COVID syndrome. We aimed to investigate how intercostal muscle mass changes over 3 months compared to other chest wall muscles following COVID-19 infection, along with identifying factors contributing to intercostal muscle loss during follow-up. We retrospectively studied 110 COVID-19 patients, analyzing muscle masses in the intercostal, pectoralis, and thoracic 12th vertebra level (T12) on initial and follow-up CT scans.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The immigration enforcement system has significant effects on the health of immigrants, their families, and society. Exposure to the immigration enforcement system is linked to adverse mental health outcomes, which may have been exacerbated by sustained immigration enforcement activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the association between exposure to immigration enforcement and the mental health of undocumented young adults in California during the COVID-19 pandemic.
High-risk breast lesions including incidental intraductal papilloma without atypia (IPA), lobular hyperplasia (LCIS or ALH), flat epithelial atypia (FEA) and complex sclerosing lesion (CSL) are not routinely excised due to low upgrade rates to carcinoma. We aim to identify features of these lesions predictive of upgrade when identified concurrently with invasive disease. Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study was performed for patients who underwent multi-site lumpectomies with invasive disease at one site and a high-risk lesion at another site between 2006 and 2021.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUndocumented immigrants experienced high levels of economic insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic while being excluded from government-based relief and unemployment benefits. In April 2020, California became the first state to offer financial aid to undocumented immigrants through the innovative Disaster Relief Assistance for Immigrants (DRAI) program in collaboration with several community-based organizations (CBOs). However, the process of applying for aid was marked by many implementation challenges, such as intake and language access; however, little data exists on the direct experiences of the undocumented community.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of our study was to assess the performance of content-based image retrieval (CBIR) for similar chest computed tomography (CT) in obstructive lung disease. This retrospective study included patients with obstructive lung disease who underwent volumetric chest CT scans. The CBIR database included 600 chest CT scans from 541 patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Med Ultrasound
July 2022
Core needle biopsy of breast masses is a common procedure for tissue diagnosis of breast lesions. The incidence of complications is low, with pseudoaneurysm (PA) after core biopsy has been described in the literature, and the subsequent need for surgical management. Ultrasonography is the most common modality used for not only diagnosis but also treatment of a PA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHealthcare (Basel)
May 2023
(1) Background: This study aimed to identify factors associated with hypertension control among older adults with hypertension based on their socio-demographic and health characteristics. (2) Methods: The sample consisted of a total of 1824 with hypertension and was obtained from the Eighth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (VIII-1, VIII-2). (3) Results: As the factors associated with hypertension control among older men, 65-74 years old (OR = 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKarrikins (KARs) are small butenolide compounds identified in the smoke of burning vegetation. Along with the stimulating effects on seed germination, KARs also regulate seedling vigor and adaptive behaviors, such as seedling morphogenesis, root hair development, and stress acclimation. The pivotal KAR signaling repressor, SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2 1 (SMAX1), plays central roles in these developmental and morphogenic processes through an extensive signaling network that governs seedling responses to endogenous and environmental cues.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the lobar emphysema ratio (LER) and tumor recurrence and survival in patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods: We enrolled 258 patients with surgically proven stage I NSCLC. These patients underwent noncontrast chest CT, and pulmonary lobe segmentation and lobar emphysema quantification were performed using commercially available software.
The generative adversarial network (GAN) is a promising deep learning method for generating images. We evaluated the generation of highly realistic and high-resolution chest radiographs (CXRs) using progressive growing GAN (PGGAN). We trained two PGGAN models using normal and abnormal CXRs, solely relying on normal CXRs to demonstrate the quality of synthetic CXRs that were 1000 × 1000 pixels in size.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate the technical success rate and complications associated with percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) via percutaneous renal access behind the stone and renal calyx dilation in patients with complex renal stones.
Materials And Methods: From January 2010 to February 2021, we identified 69 patients with 70 complex renal stones who underwent PCN. Complex renal stones were classified as simple (renal pelvis only) (27.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
September 2022
Background: The study aimed to identify the differences in self-rated health (SRH) and the factors associated with poor SRH among older women who live alone, based on their sociodemographic and health characteristics.
Methods: The sample consisted of 812 older women living alone and was obtained from the Seventh Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (Ⅶ-1, Ⅶ-2, Ⅶ-3). Complex sample analysis was performed using the independent -test, the Chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression in SPSS/WIN 24.
Background: Undocumented immigrants are expected to face increased risks related to COVID-19 due to marginalizing restrictive immigration policies. However, few studies have assessed the prevalence of direct encounters with the immigration enforcement system among the undocumented and its impacts on their COVID-related health behaviors and outcomes. In this study, we quantify undocumented immigrants' lifetime exposure to various immigration enforcement tactics and their association with delays in COVID-19 testing and healthcare behaviors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Med Ultrasound
June 2022
Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the performance between noncontrast-enhanced computed tomography (NECT) plus abdominal ultrasound (US) (NECT + US) with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) for the detection of hepatic metastasis in breast cancer patient with postsurgical follow-up.
Methods: A total of 1470 patients without already diagnosed hepatic metastasis were included. All patients underwent US and multiphase CECT including the NECT.
Background/aim: Copine 1 (CPNE1) is a calciumdependent phospholipid protein that has been shown to regulate the AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT) signaling pathway to mediate its function in various cell types. However, little is known about the physiological function of this protein in breast cancer cells. We aimed to investigate the prognostic and therapeutic value of CPNE1 in erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 [human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)]-positive and luminal A subtypes of breast cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMedicine (Baltimore)
July 2022
Rationale: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the breast is a rare entity, with an estimated incidence of only 0.2% to 0.3% of all primary breast tumors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program grants young, undocumented immigrants work authorization and protections from deportation, with about 1.3 million eligible for the program. This exploratory study examines the association between DACA status and contraceptive use among undocumented young adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCOVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing COVID-19 infection, disease, and death. However, there is no data about vaccine intentions among the 10.7 million undocumented immigrants in the US.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate whether artificial intelligence (AI) for detecting breast cancer on mammography can improve the performance and time efficiency of radiologists reading mammograms.
Materials And Methods: A commercial deep learning-based software for mammography was validated using external data collected from 200 patients, 100 each with and without breast cancer (40 with benign lesions and 60 without lesions) from one hospital. Ten readers, including five breast specialist radiologists (BSRs) and five general radiologists (GRs), assessed all mammography images using a seven-point scale to rate the likelihood of malignancy in two sessions, with and without the aid of the AI-based software, and the reading time was automatically recorded using a web-based reporting system.
The widespread adoption of Li-ion batteries is currently limited by their unstable electrochemical performance and high flammability under mechanical deformation conditions and a relatively low energy density. Herein, high-energy-density lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are developed for applications in next-generation flexible electronics and electric vehicles with long cruising distances. Freestanding high-S-loading carbon nanotubes cathodes are assembled with a phosphorus (P)-doped carbon interlayer coated on commercial separators.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To determine the performance of quantification of liver extracellular volume fraction (fECV) using dual-energy CT (DECT) compared with CT imaging for ruling out high-riskesophageal varices(HRV) in cirrhotic patients.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 229 cirrhotic patients (training [n = 159] and internal validation cohorts [n = 70]) who underwent dual-source DECT, serum marker assessment, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) from 2017 to 2020. The fECV score was measured using iodine maps from 3-minute delayed, equilibrium-phase images at 100/140 Sn kVp.
An explosion in Internet use, social networking sites, and COVID-19 has promoted a new concept in health - online social capital, defined as linkages to online social networks that promote trust and group norms. Particularly for the 1.3 million undocumented young adult immigrants who "live in the shadows," the Internet may serve as a place of support and information.
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