Statistical validation of synthetic data for lung cancer patients generated by using generative adversarial networks

The development of healthcare patient digital twins in combination with machine learning technologies helps doctors in therapeutic prescription and in minimally invasive intervention procedures. The confidentiality of medical records or limited data availability in many health domains are drawbacks that can be overcome with the generation of synthetic data conformed to real data. The use of generative adversarial networks (GAN) for the generation of synthetic data of lung cancer patients has been previously introduced as a tool to solve this problem in the form of anonymized synthetic patients. However, generated synthetic data are mainly validated from the machine learning domain (loss functions) or expert domain (oncologists). In this paper, we propose statistical decision making as a validation tool: Is the model good enough to be used? Does the model pass rigorous hypothesis testing criteria? We show for the case at hand how loss functions and hypothesis validation are not always well aligned.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Creation and Validation of Chronojump-Boscosystem: A Free Tool to Measure Vertical Jumps

Measuring the height of the vertical jump is an indicator of the strength and power of the lower body. The technological tools available to measure the vertical jump are black boxes and are not open to third-party verification or adaptation. We propose the creation of a measurement system called Chronojump-Boscosystem, consisting of open hardware and free software. Methods: A microcontroller was created and validated using a square wave generator and an oscilloscope. Two types of contact platforms were developed using different materials. These platforms were validated by the minimum pressure required for activation at different points by a strain gauge, together with the on/off time of our platforms in respect of the Ergojump-Boscosystem platform by a sample of 8 subjects performing submaximal jumps with one foot on each platform. Agile methodologies were used to develop and validate the software. Results: All the tools fall under the free software / open hardware guidelines and are, in that sense, free. The microcontroller margin of error is 0.1%. The validity of the fiberglass platform is 0.95 (ICC). The management software contains nearly 113.000 lines of code and is available in 7 languages.La medición de la altura del salto vertical es un indicador de la fuerza y potencia del tren inferior. Los instrumentos electrónicos disponibles para medir este salto son cajas negras que no permiten la verificación ni la adaptación por parte de terceros. Proponemos la creación de un sistema de medición llamado Chronojump-Boscosystem, que consiste en un hardware abierto y un software libre. Métodos: Se ha creado un microcontrolador y se ha validado usando un generador de ondas cuadradas y un osciloscopio. Se han desarrollado dos tipos de plataformas usando materiales distintos. Las plataformas se han validado determinando su sensibilidad en distintos puntos por medio de una célula de carga, y por comparación con la plataforma de contactos del sistema Ergojump-Boscosystem en una muestra de 8 sujetos, realizando saltos sub-máximos con un pie en cada plataforma. Se ha usado una metodología ágil para el desarrollo y validación del software. Resultados: Todas las partes que componen el sistema se han licenciado como software libre o hardware abierto. El margen de error del microcontrolador es de 0,1%. La validez de la plataforma de fibra de vidrio es de 0,95 (ICC). El software de gestión tiene cerca de 113 mil líneas de código y está disponible en 7 idiomas

Enfermedad de Morquio. Reporte de un caso

La mucopolisacaridosis tipo IV-A (enfermedad de Morquio) es una enfermedad autosómica recesiva por acúmulo lisosomal, causada por mutaciones en el gen de la N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfato sulfatasa, que resulta en la falta de catabolismo de dos glicosaminoglicanos, el queratán y condroitín sulfato. Las manifestaciones clínicas varían desde un fenotipo grave a una forma atenuada. El acúmulo de sustrato se expresa como displasia ósea, baja estatura, inestabilidad atlantoaxoidea y compresión cervical con compromiso cardíaco, respiratorio, auditivo y ocular. A pesar de las muchas descripciones y manifestaciones clínicas de este síndrome, el retraso en su diagnóstico aún ocurre. Se presentó a un paciente masculino de 9 años de edad con baja talla, retraso severo del desarrollo psicomotor, sordera bilateral y atrofia muscular entre otras características clínicas; diagnosticado desde los 2 años de edad con Morquio A. Por la rareza de la enfermedad, siendo el segundo caso reportado en Cuba, y lo atípico del caso, se decide su presentación

Validation study of a scale for assessing three personality functional dimensions among Venezuelan HIV-positive patients

Background: Personality has been recognized as a key variable in the prediction of treatment adherence and health care behaviors in patients living with chronic diseases. Purpose: In order to contribute to the prediction of treatment-adherence behaviors among HIVpositive patients, this study aimed to test the metric properties of the 12-item Stress-Related Situations Scale (SRSS-12), which assesses four interactive styles of personality related to stressful situations when receiving treatment for a chronic disease. Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study was performed with a nonprobability sampling between May and June 2016. The SRSS-12 was fulfilled by 186 out of 400 HIV-positive patients receiving attention through the regional program for HIV -sexually transmitted diseases control in the State of Lara, Venezuela (sample proportion =0.465). The participants were young adults (X=34.9 years), predominantly men (80.1%), and single (76.3%). Data analysis included exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, assessment of internal consistency, and description of distributions. Results: The exploratory factor analysis yielded a three-factor structure: Tolerance to Frustration and Ambiguity, Follow-up of Instructions and Impulsivity, and Decision Making. Through confirmatory factor analysis, this model showed an acceptable fit to the data. The three factors showed convergent and discriminant validity and internal consistency from acceptable to high. The factor scores did not follow a normal distribution. Conclusions: The three-factor model for the SRSS-12 showed validity and internal consistency among Venezuelan HIV-positive patients. Scaled scores for factors can be developed using percentile scores. Keywords: tolerance to frustration, tolerance to ambiguity, impulsivity, interactive style of personality, stres

Cathodoluminescence characterization of InGaSb crystals

The nature and the spatial distribution of radiative defects in In(X)Ga(1-x)Sb grown by the vertical Bridgman method have been studied by cathodoluminescence (CL) in a scanning electron microscope. The CL results have been complemented by X-ray microanalysis and backscattered electron imaging to relate the local luminescence properties to the chemical composition. Measurements of the band gap energy from the CL spectra, supported by X-ray compositional mappings, reveal an effective incorporation of In in the matrix, leading to the fori-nation of the ternary alloy in the whole volume of the ingot. A band often observed in the CL spectra, peaked at about 20 meV below the band gap energy, is attributed to the presence in the ternary alloy of an acceptor level that would correspond to the V(Ga)-Ga(Sb) acceptor in GaSb

Immediate Functional Loading with Full-Arch Fixed Implant-Retained Rehabilitation in Periodontal Patients: Clinical Study

(1) Background. The immediate functional loading of implants is a clinical procedure used for treating periodontal edentulous patients. This clinical study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of the immediate functional loading of implants with fully fixed rehabilitations in compromised periodontal patients. (2) Methods. Three hundred and five implants IPX screw implants were placed in 27 periodontal patients using an immediate functional loading protocol with fixed rehabilitations. All patients had a previous history of periodontitis, four patients (14.8%) were smokers and seven patients (25.9%) suffered from chronic medical conditions. (3) Results. Implant and prosthetic clinical findings were evaluated during a mean period of 41.3 +/- 19.6 months. No implants were lost during the clinical follow-up. The cumulative survival rate for all implants was 100%. Regarding the prostheses designed, a total of 54 fixed prostheses were placed in the 27 patients immediately after the surgery. Forty-four hybrid fixed prostheses (81.5%) and 10 fixed rehabilitations (18.5%) were placed in the patients. The mean marginal bone loss was 1.51 +/- 1.16 mm, ranging from 0 to 3.5 mm during the follow-up evaluation. Thirty-one implants (10.2%) in 10 patients (37%) were associated with peri-implantitis. Five patients (18.5%) showed some kind of technical complications (loss/fracture of the prosthetic screw, acrylic resin fracture, ceramic chipping). (4) Conclusions. The clinical outcomes of this study demonstrate that fixed rehabilitation by immediate functional loading of implants is considered a predictable procedure

Long-Term Clinical Study of Implants Placed in Maxillary Sinus Floor Augmentation Using Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate

Introduction. The aim of this study was to show the long-term clinical outcomes of implants placed in maxillary sinus floor augmentation (MFSA) using beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). Patients and methods. Maxillary patients were diagnosed for MFSA and used beta- β-TCP. After the lateral sinus surgery, implants were loaded at 6 months with restorations. The clinical follow-up was at 10 years. Results. One hundred and one patients (58 females and 43 males) were treated with MFSA. Twenty-nine patients (28.7%) had a history of periodontitis. Thirty-three patients (32.7%) were smokers. One hundred and twenty-one MFSA, 81 unilateral and 20 bilateral sites, with 234 implants were performed. The average vertical bone height available was 4.92 ± 1.83 mm. The average vertical bone gain obtained was 6.95 ± 2.19 mm following MFSA. The implant cumulative survival rate was 97.2%. Three implants (1.3%) were lost during the healing period. Six implants (2.6%) were lost by peri-implantitis. One hundred and fifteen restorations were placed in the patients. Mean marginal bone loss was 1.93 mm ± 1.03 mm. Six patients (27.3%) showed technical complications. Thirty-six implants (15.3%) in 14 patients (13.9%) were associated with peri-implantitis. Conclusions. This study indicates that treatment with implant-supported restoration by MFSA using β-TCP constitutes a successful implant approach

Immediate Loading of Implants with Fixed Rehabilitations in Geriatric Edentulous Patients; Biological Complications

Background: This study aimed to report the outcomes of the immediate loading of implants with fixed rehabilitations in edentulous geriatric patients. Methods: Edentulous geriatric patients were diagnosed with an oral examination, radiographic evaluation, and intermaxillary relations and treated with fixed rehabilitation over several implants. After immediate surgery, the implants were immediately loaded with a fully fixed prosthesis. Results: Twenty-four patients (20 females and 4 males) were treated using a total 210 implants. All patients (100%) had a previous history of periodontitis. Eleven patients (45.8%) were smokers. Eleven patients (45.8%) suffered from chronic medical diseases (i.e., diabetes, cardiovascular diseases). The study's clinical follow-up period extended for three years, during which thirty-three fixed prostheses were installed over the implants in 24 patients. The average marginal bone loss measured was 1.33 +/- 0.17 mm. The success rate of the implants and prosthodontics being placed in this study yielded 98.5% and 97%, respectively. One patient (4.2%) showed some kind of technical complications. Eleven patients (45.8%) showed mucositis, and 25 implants (11.9%) in 10 patients (41.7%) were associated with peri-implantitis. Conclusions: This study shows that the treatment of edentulous geriatric patients by immediate loading of implants with fixed rehabilitations is a clinically successful protocol but with a high prevalence of peri-implant diseases

Implant Treatment by Guided Surgery Supporting Overdentures in Edentulous Mandible Patients

Introduction: This study aimed to show the clinical outcomes of implants inserted by guided surgery supporting mandibular overdentures in edentulous patients. Patients and methods: Mandibular edentulous patients were diagnosed with an oral examination, cone-beam computerized tomography, and diagnostic casts for intermaxillary relations and treated with overdentures over two implants by guided surgery. After flapless surgery, implants were early loaded with an overdenture at 6 weeks. Results and discussion: Fourteen patients (nine females and five males) were treated with 28 implants. Four patients (28.6%) had a previous history of periodontitis. Five patients (35.7%) were smokers. Nine patients (64.3%) suffered from systemic diseases (i.e., diabetes, cardiovascular diseases). The clinical follow-up of the study was 44.7 ± 31.4 months. Clinical outcomes showed a global success of 100% of implants. Fourteen overdentures were placed in the patients over the implants. Mean marginal bone loss was 1.25 mm ± 0.95 mm. Four patients (28.6%) showed some kind of mechanical prosthodontic complications. Six implants (21.4%) were associated with peri-implantitis. Conclusions: This study indicates that treatment of mandibular edentulous patients with overdentures by guided surgery and early loading of implants placed appears to be a successful implant protocol

A Rule-based Method Applied to the Imbalanced Classification of Radiation Toxicity

This paper describes a rule-based classifier (DEQAR-C), which is set up by the combination of selected rules after a two-phase process. In the first phase, the rules are generated and sorted for each class, and then a selection is performed to obtain a final list of rules. A real imbalanced dataset regarding the toxicity during and after radiation therapy for prostate cancer has been employed in a comparison with other predictive methods (rule-based, artificial neural networks, trees, Bayesian and logistic regression). DEQAR-C produced excellent results in an evaluation regarding several performance measures (accuracy, Matthews correlation coefficient, sensitivity, specificity, precision, recall and F-measure) and by using cross-validation. Therefore, it was employed to obtain a predictive model using the full data. The resultant model is easily interpretable, combining three rules with two variables, and suggesting conditions that are mostly confirmed by the medical literature