Methods: The sociodemographic data of 3325 TB cases from January 2013 to December 2017 in Gombak district were collected from the MyTB web and TB Information System database. Environmental data were obtained from the Department of Environment, Malaysia; Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Malaysia; and Malaysian Metrological Department from July 2012 to December 2017. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and artificial neural network (ANN) were used to develop the prediction model of TB cases. The models that used sociodemographic variables as the input datasets were referred as MLR1 and ANN1, whereas environmental variables were represented as MLR2 and ANN2 and both sociodemographic and environmental variables together were indicated as MLR3 and ANN3.
Results: The ANN was found to be superior to MLR with higher adjusted coefficient of determination (R2) values in predicting TB cases; the ranges were from 0.35 to 0.47 compared to 0.07 to 0.14, respectively. The best TB prediction model, that is, ANN3 was derived from nationality, residency, income status, CO, NO2, SO2, PM10, rainfall, temperature, and atmospheric pressure, with the highest adjusted R2 value of 0.47, errors below 6, and accuracies above 96%.
Conclusions: It is envisaged that the application of the ANN algorithm based on both sociodemographic and environmental factors may enable a more accurate modeling for predicting TB cases.
METHODS: This study involved 70 consecutive Lenke 1 and 2 AIS patients who underwent scoliosis correction with alternate-level pedicle screw instrumentation. Preoperative parameters that were measured included main thoracic (MT) Cobb angle, proximal thoracic (PT) Cobb angle, lumbar Cobb angle as well as thoracic kyphosis. Side-bending flexibility (SBF) and fulcrum-bending flexibility (FBF) were derived from the measurements. Preoperative height and post-operative height increment was measured by an independent observer using a standardized method.
RESULTS: MT Cobb angle and FB Cobb angle were significant predictors ( p < 0.001) of height increment from multiple linear regression analysis ( R = 0.784, R2 = 0.615). PT Cobb angle, lumbar, SB Cobb angle, preoperative height and number of fused segment were not significant predictors for the height increment based on the multivariable analysis. Increase in post-operative height could be calculated by the formula: Increase in height (cm) = (0.09 × preoperative MT Cobb angle) - (0.04 x FB Cobb angle) - 0.5.
CONCLUSION: The proposed formula of increase in height (cm) = (0.09 × preoperative MT Cobb angle) - (0.04 × FB Cobb angle) - 0.5 could predict post-operative height gain to within 5 mm accuracy in 51% of patients, within 10 mm in 70% and within 15 mm in 86% of patients.
METHODS: Twenty-nine asymptomatic subjects were enrolled prospectively (age: mean 34.31, range 23-50; 14 men, 15 women) from August 2016 to April 2017. Qualitative analysis of muscles was done using Goutallier's system on CT and MRI. Quantitative analysis entailed cross sectional area (CSA) on CT and MRI, Hounsfield unit (HU) on CT, fat fraction using two-point Dixon technique on MRI. Three readers independently analyzed the images; intra- and inter-observer agreements were measured. Linear regression and Spearman's analyses were used for correlation with demographic data.
RESULTS: CSA values were significantly higher in men (p