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Background There is considerable interest in the potential use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems in mammographic screening. However, it is essential to critically evaluate the performance of AI before it can become a modality used for independent mammographic interpretation. Purpose To evaluate the reported standalone performances of AI for interpretation of digital mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT). Materials and Methods A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase (Ovid), and Web of Science databases for studies published from January 2017 to June 2022. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values were reviewed. Study quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 and Comparative (QUADAS-2 and QUADAS-C, respectively). A random effects meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis were performed for overall studies and for different study types (reader studies vs historic cohort studies) and imaging techniques (digital mammography vs DBT). Results In total, 16 studies that include 1 108 328 examinations in 497 091 women were analyzed (six reader studies, seven historic cohort studies on digital mammography, and four studies on DBT). Pooled AUCs were significantly higher for standalone AI than radiologists in the six reader studies on digital mammography (0.87 vs 0.81, P = .002), but not for historic cohort studies (0.89 vs 0.96, P = .152). Four studies on DBT showed significantly higher AUCs in AI compared with radiologists (0.90 vs 0.79, P < .001). Higher sensitivity and lower specificity were seen for standalone AI compared with radiologists. Conclusion Standalone AI for screening digital mammography performed as well as or better than radiologists. Compared with digital mammography, there is an insufficient number of studies to assess the performance of AI systems in the interpretation of DBT screening examinations. © RSNA, 2023 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Scaranelo in this issue.

The excessive use of glufosinateËammonium herbicide and carbofuran insecticide in agriculture leaves residues on agricultural samples and contaminates groundwater and surface water bodies through surface runoff and through leaching. To monitor pollution from the use of these pesticides, two simple, accurate and precise optical methods for their determination have been developed and validated in the commercial formulation and agricultural samples, viz., water, grains and vegetables. The first method is based on the reaction of the amino function of both pesticides with carbon disulfide and Ni(II) acetate in an aqueous acetonitrile medium and the measurement of color developed at 380 and 365 nm for glufosinateËammonium and carbofuran, respectively. Beer's law was valid within a concentration range of 0.4-8 and 0.4-9 [micro]g/mL for glufosinateËammonium and carbofuran, respectively. The second spectrofluorimetric method is based on the condensation of the primary amino group of glufosinateËammonium and carbofuran with acetylacetone and formaldehyde (Hantzsch reaction) in the presence of buffer of pH 5.5 producing a yellowËcolored product. The fluorescence intensity of the reaction products was measured at an emission wavelength of 470 nm after excitation at a wavelength of 380 nm for glufosinate-ammonium and 388 nm for carbofuran. The linearity range found was 0.13-5 and 0.14-6 [micro]g/ mL for glufosinateËammonium and carbofuran respectively. All the variables affecting the reactions, such as hydrolysis time, heating time, pH, concentration and volume of reagent were carefully studied and optimized. The high recoveries of glufosinate-ammonium and carbofuran from spiked water, grain and vegetable samples in both methods indicate good accuracy and precision of the methods., Author(s): Nisha Sharma [sup.1] , Ankita Kaura [sup.1] , Akhil Chaudhary [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) https://ror.org/02s5yma07, grid.412137.2, 0000 0001 0744 1069, Department of Chemistry, Himachal Pradesh University, , 171005, Shimla, [...]

Background: The prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Assam is higher than the national average as per both NHFS-4 and NHFS-5. Four districts in Assam, falling under the NITI-Aayog Aspiration Districts Transformation program of 2018, namely, Goalpara, Barpeta, Darrang, and Dhubri, have a prevalence of teenage pregnancy at levels higher than the state's average (12% as per NHFS-5). Teenage pregnancy affects several health and nutritional indicators. Objectives: The objective of the study was to identify the factors associated with teenage pregnancies in the Aspirational Districts of Assam in both social and public health contexts. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out across these four districts, with sample size of teenage pregnant women as 388 and an equal number of controls. Results: The study presents several factors to be statistically significant, viz., lower level of education of the teenage mothers or their spouses and lesser access to adequate health-related information by teenage mothers. Furthermore, less number of teenage mothers are aware of contraceptive availability and face objection from spouses to use contraception. A unique factor presented by the study is the higher elopement rate among teenage mothers. Conclusion: Many of the factors upheld by the study are rooted in social and cultural fabric of the communities and could be addressed by mobilizing local institutions like panchayat and religious bodies to act as deterrence to teenage marriages in the communities. Men should also be brought into the fold of discussions on this sensitive subject through information and awareness generation.

Background: Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown conflicting results on cortisol levels following probiotic administration in healthy and diseased populations. Previous analyses were inconclusive due to limited studies, and evidence is lacking on how these effects vary by health status; region; therapy duration; medications, and use of single or multiple strains. Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO [CRD42024538539]), we searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, ProQuest, and Web of Science Preprints until 13 August 2024, for RCTs on probiotic administration, either alone or combined, across all age groups and without specific medical condition requirements. We applied random-effects meta-analysis, assessed bias using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool, and evaluated evidence certainty with GRADE. Findings: We screened 1739 records and retrieved 46 RCTs (3516 participants). Probiotics supplementation decreased cortisol levels compared to the control arm [46 RCTs; SMD: −0.45; 95% CI: −0.83; −0.07; I2: 92.5%, low certainty]. Among various subgroups; probiotics supplementation decreased the cortisol levels in the subgroups without concomitant medications [37 RCTs; SMD: −0.30; 95% CI [−0.58; −0.03], I2: 88.7%] with a single probiotic strain [30 RCTs; SMD: −0.33; 95% CI: −0.63; −0.028; I2: 88.8%], in a healthy population [35 RCTs; SMD:−0.3; 95% CI: −0.58; −0.03; I2: 88.7] and in the Asia region [21 RCTs; SMD: −0.83; 95% CI: −1.58; −0.07; I2: 95%]. Interpretation: A low level of evidence suggests probiotics might reduce cortisol levels, but more targeted studies are needed to identify variables affecting the response in specific subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synopsis: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing surgical excision with percutaneous ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted excision (USVAE) for the treatment of benign phyllodes tumor (PT) using local recurrence (LR) as the endpoint. Objective: To determine the frequency of local recurrence (LR) of benign phyllodes tumor (PT) after ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted excision (USVAE) compared to the frequency of LR after surgical excision. Method: A systematic review and meta-analysis [following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standard] was conducted by comparing LR in women older than 18 years treated for benign PT by US-VAE compared with local surgical excision with at least 12 months of follow-up. Studies were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. The pooled effect measure used was the odds ratio (OR) of recurrence. Results: Five comparative prospective or retrospective observational studies published between January 1, 1992, and January 10, 2022, comparing surgical excision with percutaneous US-VAE for LR of benign PT met the selection criteria. Four were retrospective observational cohorts, and one was a prospective observational cohort. A total of 778 women were followed up. Of them, 439 (56.4%) underwent local surgical excision, and 339 (43.6%) patients had US-VAE. The median age of patients in the five studies ranged from 33.7 to 39 years; the median size ranged from 1.5 cm to 3.0 cm, and the median follow-up ranged from 12 months to 46.6 months. The needle gauge ranged from 7G to 11G. LR rates were not statically significant between US-VAE and surgical excision (41 of 339 versus 34 of 439; OR 1.3; p = 0.29). Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that using US-VAE for the removal of benign PT does not increase local regional recurrence and is a safe minimally invasive therapeutic option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical nanoemulsion (NE)-loaded cream and gel formulations of Hippophae rhamnoides L. (sea buckthorn [SBT]) fruit oil for wound healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The NE-loaded cream and gel formulations of H. rhamnoides L. (SBT) fruit oil (IPHRFH) were prepared and evaluated for their wound-healing activity on female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. They were further divided into groups (seven) and the wound-healing activity was determined by measuring the area of the wound on the wounding day and on the 0th, 4th, 8th, and 10th days. The acute dermal toxicity of the formulations was assessed by observing the erythema, edema, and body weight (BW) of the rats. RESULTS: The topical NE cream and gel formulations of H. rhamnoides L. (SBT) fruit oil showed significant wound-healing activity in female SD rats. The cream formulation of IPHRFH showed 78.96%, the gel showed 72.59% wound contraction on the 8th day, whereas the positive control soframycin (1% w/w framycetin) had 62.29% wound contraction on the 8th day. The formulations also showed a good acute dermal toxicity profile with no changes significantly affecting BW and dermal alterations. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that topical NE-loaded cream and gel formulation of H. rhamnoides L. (SBT) fruit oil are safe and effective for wound healing. The formulations showed no signs of acute dermal toxicity in female SD rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ImportanceFor patients with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa and clinicians alike, phenotypic variability can be challenging because it complicates counseling regarding patients' likely visual prognosis.ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical findings from patients with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa with 13 distinct RPGR mutations and assess for phenotypic concordance or variability.DesignRetrospective medical record review of data collected from 1985 to 2011.SettingKellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan.PatientsA total of 42 patients with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa with mutations in RPGR. Age at first visit ranged from 4 to 53 years, with follow-up ranging from 1 to 11 visits (median follow-up time, 5.5 years; range, 1.4-32.7 years, for 23 patients with >1 visit).Main outcomes and measuresClinical data assessed for concordance included visual acuity (VA), Goldmann visual fields (GVFs), and full-field electroretinography (ERG). Electroretinography phenotype (cone-rod vs rod-cone dysfunction) was defined by the extent of photopic vs scotopic abnormality. Qualitative GVF phenotype was determined by the GVF pattern, where central or peripheral loss suggested cone or rod dysfunction, respectively. Goldmann visual fields were also quantified and compared among patients.ResultsEach mutation was detected in 2 or more related or unrelated patients. Five mutations in 11 patients displayed strong concordance of VA, while 4 mutations in 16 patients revealed moderate concordance of VA. A definitive cone-rod or rod-cone ERG pattern consistent among patients was found in 6 of 13 mutations (46.2%); the remaining mutations were characterized by patients demonstrating both phenotypes or who had limited data or nonrecordable ERG values. Concordant GVF phenotypes (7 rod-cone pattern vs 4 cone-rod pattern) were seen in 11 of 13 mutations (84.6%). All 6 mutations displaying a constant ERG pattern within the mutation group revealed a GVF phenotype consistent with the ERG findings.Conclusions and relevanceWhile VA and ERG phenotypes are concordant in only some patients carrying identical mutations, assessment of GVF phenotypes revealed stronger phenotypic conservation. Phenotypic concordance is important for establishing proper counseling of patients diagnosed as having X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, as well as for establishing accurate patient selection and efficacy monitoring in therapeutic trials.

Seventeen tree tomato (Solanum betaceum Cav.) genotypes were evaluated for their morpho-biochemical diversity in Randomized Block Design under three replications at Sikkim University, Gangtok in 2017-18. The genotypes were grouped into five clusters and cluster I possessed highest number of genotypes (6). Highest inter-cluster distance (372237) was recorded between clusters II & V. Intra-cluster was maximum in cluster III (28651.72) showing diversity within the cluster. The genotype STT-110 produced maximum value for average fruit weight (81 g) and other fruit yield contributing characters. Whereas, STT-40 produced maximum values for iron (1.86 mg/100 g), copper (0.47 mg/100 g) and manganese (1.38 mg/100 g). Genetic parameters (PCV, GCV) along with heritability and genetic advance were highest for anthocyanin (77.26%, 77.19%, 99% and 158.85%), flavonoid (56.91%, 56.90%, 100% and 117.22%), total phenol (52.76%, 52.72%, 99%, and 108.54%), manganese (50.87%, 49.26%, 93%, and 98.28%) and ascorbic acid (41.73%, 41.71%, 99% and 85.89%). Correlation coefficient analysis showed that polar and equatorial diameter of fruit was significantly correlated with average fruit weight. Genotypic correlation coefficients were higher than phenotypic correlation coefficients, which indicate the inherent association among the characters. This study highlights the potential utilization of STT-110 genotype for further selection in future breeding programme for enhancing yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture has a big impact on society because it is essential for a large percentage of our food. The issue of hunger is getting worse because of a growing population in many nations, resulting in food shortages or insufficiencies. To meet the world's food needs, it is ever more crucial to provide crop protection, conduct detailed land surveys, and predict crop yields. To calculate the estimated number of crops that are produced in a year, this research focuses on the use of machine learning techniques to predict crop yield and recommend crops with the highest yield and profitability in the Northeast region of India. The crop market's fluctuations in prices may be controlled with the aid of this information. To estimate agricultural crop yields, this study accurately evaluates a range of machine learning regression models, such as Linear Regression, Decision Tree, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, XGBoost (eXtreme Gradient Boosting), and AdaBoost. With a 0.98 R2 score for the XGBoost and 0.96 for the Random Forest, they performed better than the other models. By evaluating crop yields along with their corresponding market prices and costs, we have determined their profitability. As a result, we have provided recommendations for the top five profitable crops in India’s Northeastern region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]