An intelligent system for trading signal of cryptocurrency based on market tweets sentiments

The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of an online stock trading platform in enhancing the financial literacy of those with limited financial knowledge. To this end, an intelligent system is proposed which utilizes social media sentiment analysis, price tracker systems, and machine learning techniques to generate cryptocurrency trading signals. The system includes a live price visu�alization component for displaying cryptocurrency price data and a prediction function that provides both short-term and long-term trading signals based on the sentiment score of the previous day’s cryptocurrency tweets. Additionally, a method for refining the sentiment model result is outlined. The results illustrate that it is feasible to incorporate the Tweets sentiment of cryptocurrencies into the system for generating reliable trading signals

Global sagittal alignment after surgery of right thoracic idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents and adults with and without thoracic hypokyphosis

The study procedure was conducted in accordance to guidelines approved by the institutional clinical research ethics committee (CREC No. 2016.722) and the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects and their parents before participating in this study.AbstractThis study aimed to characterize global sagittal alignment in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with normal kyphosis (NTK, kyphosis > 10°) and with thoracic hypokyphosis (THK, kyphosis < 10°), before and after posterior spinal fusion, and compare them with asymptomatic controls. 27 AIS girls and young adults with right thoracic curves were included (seventeen with age ≤ 18 years, then age > 21). Biplanar radiographies were acquired at baseline, immediate post-operatively, 1-year and 2-year follow-up, and 3D reconstruction of the spine and pelvis was performed. NTK and THK showed different global sagittal alignment, as well as differences compared to controls. AIS with THK at baseline had higher SVA/SFD (2.0 ± 2.9 vs − 0.4 ± 1.9; P < 0.05) and OD-HA (0.2 ± 1.4° vs − 1.3 ± 1.6°; P < 0.05) than controls, indicating that THK had compensated balance with unusual forward leaning posture. Immediately post-operation, SVA/SFD remained high (1.3 ± 3.0) while OD-HA reversed (− 1.2 ± 1.7°), indicating that THK patients had found partially compensated balance. After 2-yeas, both SVA/SFD (− 1.3 ± 2.1) and OD-HA (− 1.4 ± 0.9°) were normalized. The changes in global sagittal alignment and mechanism of balance are different in AIS with or without THK. As the head plays a critical role on balance during immediate and delayed post-operation, OD-HA can be complementary parameter for assessing global balance during post-operative follow-up of AIS patients with THK.The investigation was fully supported by a grant from the General Research Funding of Hong Kong (Project no. 14206716) (W.C.W.C.), and a funding from the BiomecAM Chair Program on Musculoskeletal Modeling (with the support of Société Générale, Covea, Yves Cotrel Foundation, ParisTech Foundation and Proteor) (C.V.)

The G1613A Mutation in the HBV Genome Affects HBeAg Expression and Viral Replication through Altered Core Promoter Activity

Infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes acute and chronic hepatitis and is closely associated with the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previously, we demonstrated that the G1613A mutation in the HBV negative regulatory element (NRE) is a hotspot mutation in HCC patients. In this study, we further investigated the functional consequences of this mutation in the context of the full length HBV genome and its replication. We showed that the G1613A mutation significantly suppresses the secretion of e antigen (HBeAg) and enhances the synthesis of viral DNA, which is in consistence to our clinical result that the G1613A mutation associates with high viral load in chronic HBV carriers. To further investigate the molecular mechanism of the mutation, we performed the electrophoretic mobility shift assay with the recombinant RFX1 protein, a trans-activator that was shown to interact with the NRE of HBV. Intriguingly, RFX1 binds to the G1613A mutant with higher affinity than the wild-type sequence, indicating that the mutation possesses the trans-activating effect to the core promoter via NRE. The trans-activating effect was further validated by the enhancement of the core promoter activity after overexpression of RFX1 in liver cell line. In summary, our results suggest the functional consequences of the hotspot G1613A mutation found in HBV. We also provide a possible molecular mechanism of this hotspot mutation to the increased viral load of HBV carriers, which increases the risk to HCC

Soft tissue release and osteotomies in the treatment of patients with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

We aim to study the outcome of soft tissue releases by tendon elongations and osteotomies in fixed joint contractures by clinical examination and patient self-reported assessment on 20 patients (14 males and 6 females) with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy treated with single-event multilevel surgery (SEMLS) between 2000 and 2012. A questionnaire was used to collect information on problems encountered before and after surgery and decision on surgery. Comparing patients with Gross Motor Function Classification System class I/II, (N = 8), III (N = 8) and IV/V , patients of classes IV/V showed much slower mean recovery time than I/II group (14.00 vs. 4.38 months, p < 0.01). SEMLS in the treatment of patients with spastic diplegia had good mid-term results in most patients. The patients who had unfavourable outcomes are associated with mental retardation, general or local complications and previous selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery. Patient selection and good rehabilitations preoperation and postoperation provided the most favourable outcomes of SEMLS. 中 文 摘 要: 我們的目的是通過臨床檢查和患者自我報告，評估20例（男14例，女6例）痙攣型雙癱性腦癱患者在2000年至2012年之間進行單次多層手術治療（SEMLS），研究以肌腱延長和截骨術等軟組織鬆解治療固定關節攣縮弛的結果。使用問卷收集手術前後遇到的問題以及手術決定的信息。比較粗大運動功能分類系統運GMFCS I / II級（N = 8）、III（N = 8）和IV / V組患者的平均恢復時間比I / II組慢（14.00比4.38個月，p <0.01）。 SEMLS治療痙攣型雙癱性腦癱在大多數患者中有良好的中期療效。不良後果的患者與弱智、全身或局部並發症以及先前選擇性背側神經根切斷術相關。患者選擇、手術前後的良好康復提供了SEMLS最有利的結果。 Keywords: osteotomy, cerebral palsy, single-event multi-level surger

Salivary ACE2 and TMPRSS2 link to periodontal status and metabolic parameters

Abstract Background Periodontitis links extensively to various non‐communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease and most recently COVID‐19 complications. Two important proteins in humans, ACE2 and TMPRSS2, have been associated with various health problems and coronavirus infection. This study was to investigate the soluble ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in saliva and serum as well as their association with periodontal status and systemic conditions. Methods The demographic background, lifestyles, full‐mouth periodontal status and medical parameters in 139 subjects were examined and recorded. Saliva and serum samples were collected for determining the levels of ACE2, TMPRSS2 and MMP8. Findings The salivary levels of ACE2 increased with the severity and complexity of periodontitis and correlated positively with alveolar bone loss and salivary MMP8 as an inflammatory biomarker. While, the salivary levels of TMPRSS2 were negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI), cholesterol/high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio, low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), salivary MMP8 and number of remaining teeth. No inter‐correlation existed among ACE2 and TMPRSS2 levels in both saliva and serum. Conclusions The present study demonstrated the disparate correlation of the soluble ACE2 and TMPRSS2 with periodontal and systemic parameters. Salivary ACE2 could differentiate periodontal health and severe periodontitis, while salivary TMPRSS2 prominently linked to the metabolic parameters of obesity and cardiovascular disease. Our findings imply the potential application of the biofluidic soluble form of SARS‐CoV‐2 entry proteins in assessing oral or systemic conditions and delivering appropriate healthcare

Effects of a Home-Based Exercise Intervention (E-Fit) on Bone Density, Muscle Function, and Quality of Life in Girls with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS): A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients have lower physical activity levels than normal adolescents, and there is an association with poorer bone and muscle health. This study evaluated the effects of a home-based exercise intervention (E-Fit) on bone mineral density (BMD), muscle function, and quality of life (QoL) in AIS-affected girls. Methods: A total of 40 AIS females aged 11 to 14 years were randomly assigned to the E-Fit or control group. The E-Fit group performed modified 7-min high-intensity interval training (HIIT) 5 days per week for 6 months. Outcome measures including BMD using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), muscle strength and endurance tests, physical activity levels, and QoL using self-reported questionnaires were assessed at baseline and at 6-month and 12-month follow-up. Results: In total, 14 patients in the E-Fit and 16 in the control group completed the study. The E-Fit group showed a marginally significant interaction effect in the whole body areal BMD at the 6- (p = 0.096) and 12-month follow-ups (p = 0.085). The left arm lean mass in the E-Fit group showed a statistically significant interaction effect between the 6- and 12-month follow-ups (p = 0.046). The E-Fit group showed improvements in physical activity participation, as measured by the Modified Baecke Questionnaire (MBQ), with a significant interaction effect in work index (p = 0.043), sport index (p = 0.050), and total score (p = 0.016) from baseline to the 12-month follow-up. Improvement on self-image were noted in E-Fit group across time. Conclusions: The present results provided some evidence to support the positive benefits of E-Fit for bone health and muscle function in AIS girls

An analysis on the determinants of head to pelvic balance in a Chinese adult population

Background: Balanced global spinopelvic balance is important in the maintenance of the physiological alignment of all body segments above the pelvis with minimum energy expenditure. The key determinants affecting the 3D index-odontoid-hip axis (OD-HA) angle, and in particular its alterations, have not been clearly defined. The aim of this study is to identify the determinants of the 3D OD-HA angle in maintaining global spinopelvic balance in a large Chinese adult cohort of different gender and age groups. Methods: A total of 516 asymptomatic adults were enrolled in this study. Biplanar radiographies were performed to reconstruct the subject’s inter-acetabular axis and C2 odontoid process. The 3D angle formed by the vertical and the line between odontoid and mid-interacetabular axis (OD-HA angle) was computed and projected in the subject’s sagittal and coronal planes. Thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), T1 pelvic angle (TPA) and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) were measured. Results: The mean values of sagittal and coronal OD-HA were −0.2°±2.5° and 0.2°±1.1°, respectively. Both sagittal and coronal OD-HA had significant correlation with age (r=0.265 and r=−0.143, P<0.01, respectively), sagittal OD-HA showed increment from 20s to 80s (−1.3° to 0.8° for female, −0.3° to 1.5° for male) and a significant difference between male and female from 20 to 69 years old. Further analysis showed that sex, weight, TK, PT, SVA, TPA and ODI were determinants of OD-HA. Conclusions: 3D OD-HA angle showed physiological stability with little variability from young to elderly adults, with SD of 2.45° and 1.06° in sagittal and coronal planes, respectively. OD-HA angle confirms the hypothesis that the head tends to remain above the pelvis in a small cone of stability. This study provides an analysis of the determinants of OD-HA and the reference range of the head-pelvis balance in each decade and gender based on a large-scale asymptomatic population