Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
A Comparison of Systematic, Targeted and Combined Biopsy Using Machine Learning for Prediction of Prostate Cancer Risk: A Multi-Center Study.
The aims of the study were to construct a new prognostic prediction model for detecting prostate cancer (PCa) patients using machine-learning (ML) techniques and to compare those models across systematic and target biopsy detection techniques. ⋯ The RF model generated and presented an excellent prediction capability for the risk of PCa detected by targeted and combined biopsy compared to systematic biopsy alone. ML models can prevent missed PCa diagnoses by serving as a screening tool.
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Meta Analysis
Are newer drugs better? An analysis of neonatal pharmacological treatments across generations.
We evaluated the relative effects of newer versus older medications for neonatal conditions and trends in margin of superiority across generations. ⋯ We found no evidence that newer generation medications in neonatal care are consistently more effective than older generation medications.
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Dental professionals routinely work in proximity to patients even when either or both of them have suspected or confirmed COVID-19. The oral cavity also serves as a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 because the virus is present in and replicates in oral secretions (saliva and gingival crevicular fluid), oral tissues (salivary gland and periodontal tissue), and oral microenvironments (gingival sulcus and periodontal pocket). Despite a high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the prevalence of COVID-19 in dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and their patients was similar to that in the general population even during the pandemic. ⋯ It has been shown that aerosolized eugenol acts on airborne viruses to reduce their loads. This review highlights a hypothesis that the environment of dental offices impregnated with eugenol suppresses SARS-CoV-2 airborne transmission and SARS-CoV-2 contagion between dental professionals and patients, preventing COVID-19 in dental practice. Anti-COVID-19 eugenol might give insights into the safe delivery of dental treatment and oral care in the COVID-19 era.
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The success in determining the whole genome sequence of a bacterial pathogen was first achieved in 1995 by determining the complete nucleotide sequence of Haemophilus influenzae Rd using the chain-termination method established by Sanger et al. in 1977 and automated by Hood et al. in 1987. However, this technology was laborious, costly, and time-consuming. Since 2004, high-throughput next-generation sequencing technologies have been developed, which are highly efficient, require less time, and are cost-effective for whole genome sequencing (WGS) of all organisms, including bacterial pathogens. ⋯ WGS has also helped in determining resistance to antibiotics by the detection of antimicrobial resistance genes and point mutations. Furthermore, WGS data have helped in the epidemiological tracking and surveillance of pathogenic bacteria in healthcare settings as well as in communities. This review focuses on the applications of WGS in clinical bacteriology.
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The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and local anaesthetic infiltration (LAI) of port sites provide adequate analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Little is known if the two techniques affect the day-case (DC) rate of LC. We tested the appropriateness of the research design in view of a larger randomised controlled trial (RCT) - laparoscopic-assisted right subcostal TAP block plus local anaesthetic wound infiltration (STALA) versus LAI. ⋯ The laparoscopically guided right subcostal TAP block provided no additional benefit to LAI on pain control after LC and DC rate. Despite the appropriate design, our findings do not support a larger RCT.