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In the chronic disease diagnosis with high-dimensional clinical features, feature selection (FS) algorithms are widely applied to avoid sparse data. In current FS algorithms, only population features, which are in strong relevance with states of all patients, are extracted, while subspace features, which are in weak relevance with states of all patients but in strong relevance with states of patients under a certain state, are ignored. Eliminated relevant information in subspace features worsens the performance of current classification models. To alleviate the conflict of feature extraction in sparse data, we propose a two-phase classification model with relevant information in both population and subspace features considered. For a patient, his probability under each state is estimated in a space whose dimensions are population features in Phase 1, and in a space whose dimensions are subspace features under that state in Phase 2. The final result of the classification model is based on results in both phases. With both population and subspace features considered and probabilities under each state estimated in a low-dimensional space, the two-phase classification model outperforms other benchmark models both in accuracy and mean absolute error in the hepatic fibrosis diagnosis for patients with chronic hepatitis B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The effect of corticosteroids on influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viral pneumonia patients remains controversial, and the impact of dosage has never been studied. Methods Using data of hospitalized adolescent and adult patients with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viral pneumonia, prospectively collected from 407 hospitals in mainland China, the effects of low-to-moderate-dose (25-150 mg d−1) and high-dose (>150 mg d−1) corticosteroids on 30-day mortality, 60-day mortality, and nosocomial infection were assessed with multivariate Cox regression and propensity score-matched case-control analysis. Results In total, 2141 patients (median age: 34 years; morality rate: 15.9%) were included. Among them, 1160 (54.2%) had PaO2/FiO2<300 mm Hg on admission, and 1055 (49.3%) received corticosteroids therapy. Corticosteroids, without consideration of dose, did not influence either 30-day or 60-day mortality. Further analysis revealed that, as compared with the no-corticosteroid group, low-to-moderate-dose corticosteroids were related to reduced 30-day mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [ aHR] 0.64 [95% CI 0.43-0.96, P=.033]). In the subgroup analysis among patients with PaO2/FiO2<300 mm Hg, low-to-moderate-dose corticosteroid treatment significantly reduced both 30-day mortality ( aHR 0.49 [95% CI 0.32-0.77]) and 60-day mortality ( aHR 0.51 [95% CI 0.33-0.78]), while high-dose corticosteroid therapy yielded no difference. For patients with PaO2/FiO2 ≥300 mm Hg, corticosteroids (irrespective of dose) showed no benefit and even increased 60-day mortality ( aHR 3.02 [95% CI 1.06-8.58]). Results were similar in the propensity model analysis. Conclusions Low-to-moderate-dose corticosteroids might reduce mortality of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viral pneumonia patients with PaO2/FiO2<300 mm Hg. Mild patients with PaO2/FiO2 ≥300 mm Hg could not benefit from corticosteroid therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the inspection and evaluation methods on dynamic performance of highway bridges under moving vehicular loads. The background and development process of the existing specifications are stated and discussed. Up to now, four specifications or drafts for approval related to dynamic performance inspection and evaluation have been published. The deficiencies of the existing specifications are discussed and the differences among them are compared, including dynamic loading test methods, data processing, and evaluation criteria. Finally, some key research topics about the inspection and evaluation methods on dynamic performance of highway bridges are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of overlaying titanium mesh with concentrate growth factors(CGF) for rebuilding severe buccal bone defect of anterior maxilla when used in association with dental implantation., Methods: Twenty patients with severe buccal bone defect of maxilla were selected. A total of 25 dental implants were placed, including 5 cases in bilateral central incisor area and 15 cases in unilateral central incisor area. After implantation, the defects were treated with Bio-oss and Bio-guid in conjunction with fixation of titanium mesh and then CGF technology was used. Two-stage surgery was carried out after 6 months of submerged healing, and permanent prosthesis was used 3 months after temporary restoration. The repairs of the defect were observed at the second stage surgery. The height of margin bone around implants and the thickness of bone at implants lingual side were measured, at the time of the second stage operation, and 3, 6, 12, 18 months after permanent restoration. The differences were analyzed by SPSS 19.0 software package with multi-sample nonparametric test and Fierdman test., Results: At the time of second operation, the bone plate at lingual side was completely reconstructed, and new bone was formed at the top of implants. Clinical measurements showed that the averaged thickness of bone at lingual side was (2.69±0.154) mm at that time. Three, 6, 12, 18 months after restoration, the values were (2.67±0.152) mm, (2.66±0.153) mm, (2.65±0.153) mm, (2.65±0.151) mm, respectively. Implant-abutment junction was used as a base line to assess vertical bone absorption, the marginal bone of implant neck at lingual side was all inferior to the base line, the distance was (0.02±0.048) mm, (0.69±0.085) mm，(0.87±0.019) mm, (0.87±0.013) mm, respectively. Statistical analysis showed the thickness of bone of labial side decreased significantly over time after permanent restoration (P<0.01). Likewise, the height of marginal bone was also decreased significantly (P<0.01). However, the difference between them at 12 months and 18 months was not statistically significant (P>0.05)., Conclusions: The results indicate that bone augmentation at maxilla can be achieved using titanium mesh in conjunction with CGF. The height and thickness of newly formed bone at the implant neck margin will be stabilized after 1 year. This method is worthy of wide clinical application.