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In recent years, intelligent structural damage diagnosis algorithms using machine learning have achieved much success. However, because of the fact that in real bridge applications, the working environment (load, temperature, and noise) is changing all the time, degradation of the performance of intelligent structural damage diagnosis methods is very serious. To address these problems, a novel bridge diagnosis algorithm based on deep learning is proposed. Our contributions include: First, we proposed an improved denoising auto‐encoder‐based deep neural networks, which is optimized by the gray relational analysis. It is able to automatically extract high‐level features from raw signals via a multi‐layer extraction to satisfy any damage diagnosis objective and thus does not need any time consuming denoising prepossessing. The model can achieve high accuracy under noisy environment. Second, the algorithm does not rely on any domain adaptation algorithm or require information of the target domain. It can achieve high accuracy when working environment is changed. Numerical simulations and experimental investigations on real bridges conducted to present the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed algorithm, comparing with other commonly machine learning‐based algorithms. The result shows it is deemed as an ideal and effective method for damage diagnosis of bridge structures. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel multimodal and bio-inspired approach to biomedical signal processing and classification is presented in the paper. This approach allows for an automatic semantic labeling (interpretation) of sleep apnea events based the proposed data-driven biomedical signal processing and classification. The presented signal processing and classification methods have been already successfully applied to real-time unimodal brainwaves (EEG only) decoding in brain-computer interfaces developed by the author. In the current project the very encouraging results are obtained using multimodal biomedical (brainwaves and peripheral physiological) signals in a unified processing approach allowing for the automatic semantic data description. The results thus support a hypothesis of the data-driven and bio-inspired signal processing approach validity for medical data semantic interpretation based on the sleep apnea events machine-learning-related classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Japanese Society of Emergency Pediatrics has formulated evidence-based guidelines for the management of intussusception in children in order to diagnose intussusceptions promptly, to initiate appropriate treatment as early as possible, and to protect intussuscepted children from death. Methods: Literature was collected systematically via the Internet using the key words 'intussusception' and 'children.' The evidence level of each paper was rated in accordance with the levels of evidence of the Oxford Center for Evidence-based Medicine. The guidelines consisted of 50 clinical questions and the answers. Grades of recommendation were added to the procedures recommended on the basis of the strength of evidence levels. Results: Three criteria of 'diagnostic criteria,''severity assessment criteria,' and 'criteria for patient transfer' were proposed aiming at an early diagnosis, selection of appropriate treatment, and patient transfer for referral to a tertiary hospital in severe cases. Barium is no longer recommended for enema reduction (recommendation D) because the patient becomes severely ill once perforation occurs. Use of other contrast media, such as water-soluble iodinated contrast, normal saline, or air, is recommended under either fluoroscopic or sonographic guidance. Delayed repeat enema improves reduction success rate, and is recommended if the initial enema partially reduced the intussusception and if the patient condition is stable. Conclusions: The guidelines offer standards of management, but it is not necessarily the purpose of the guidelines to regulate clinical practices. One should judge each individual clinical situation in accordance with experiences, available devices, and the patient's condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The PainFree Smart Shock Technology (SST) study showed a low implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) inappropriate shock rate. However, the majority of patients were from Western countries with patient characteristics different from those in Japan. ICD shock rates using the novel SST algorithms in Japanese patients are still unknown. Methods: All 2,770 patients in the PainFree SST study (Japan [JPN]: N = 181, other geographies [OJPN]: N = 2,589) were included in this analysis. Results: Japanese patients had higher average left ventricular ejection fraction (P < 0.0001), higher prevalence of secondary prevention indications (P < 0.0001), nonischemic cardiomyopathy (P < 0.0001), and permanent atrial fibrillation (P < 0.0001). The appropriate shock rate at 12 months was not different between JPN and OJPN: 6.4% and 6.3%, respectively (P = 0.95). The inappropriate shock rate at 12 months was significantly higher in Japanese patients (2.9% vs 1.7%, P = 0.017). However, after propensity score matching to adjust for the difference in baseline characteristics, the difference in inappropriate shock rate was not statistically significant (P = 0.51). Conclusions: There was no difference in the appropriate shock rate between Japan and other geographies. The inappropriate shock rate in Japan was low, although it was slightly higher compared to other geographies due to baseline characteristics, including a higher prevalence of permanent AF. There was not a statistically significant difference after adjusting for baseline characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is unclear whether health related quality of life (HRQL) may have a predictive value for mortality in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We investigated the relationship between HRQL assessed using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and survival time in patients with IPF, and tried to determine a clinical meaningful cut off value to predict poorer survival rates.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients with IPF who underwent an initial evaluation from May 2007 to December 2012. The diagnosis of IPF was made according to the 2011 international consensus guidelines. We used Cox proportional hazard models to identify independent predictors for mortality rate in patients with IPF.Results: We examined 182 eligible cases, average age was 66 years old, and 86% were male. Mean levels of percent predicted FVC, DLco, six-minute-walk test distance, and the SGRQ total score were around 80%, 58%, 580 m, and 34 points. On multivariate analysis, the SGRQ total score (hazard ratio [HR], 1.012; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.001-1.023; P = .029) and percent predicted FVC (HR, 0.957; 95% CI 0.944-0.971, P < .001) were independent predictors for mortality rate. Moreover, a score higher than 30 points in the SGRQ total score showed higher mortality rate (HR, 2.047; 95% CI, 1.329-3.153; P = .001).Conclusions: The SGRQ total score was one of independent prognostic factors in patients with IPF. Total scores higher than 30 points were associated with higher mortality rates.Trial Registration: This study was retrospective, observational study, so it is not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Electrocardiographic diagnosis of wide QRS complex tachycardia (WCT) continues to be challenging as none one of the available methods is specific for ventricular tachycardia (VT) diagnosis. We aimed to construct a method for WCT differentiation based on a scoring system, in which ECGs are graded according to the number of VT-specific features. This novel method was validated and compared with Brugada algorithm and other methods.Methods and Results: A total of 786 WCTs (512 VTs) from 587 consecutive patients with a proven diagnosis were analysed by two blinded observers. The VT score method was based on seven ECG features: initial R wave in V1, initial r > 40 ms in V1/V2, notched S in V1, initial R in aVR, lead II R wave peak time ≥50 ms, no RS in V1-V6, and atrioventricular dissociation. Atrioventricular dissociation was assigned two points, and each of the other features was assigned one point. The overall accuracy of VT score ≥1 for VT diagnosis (83%) was higher than that of the aVR (72%, P = 0.001) and Brugada (81%) algorithms. Ventricular tachycardia score ≥3 was present in 66% of VTs and was more specific (99.6%) than any other algorithm/criterion for VT diagnosis. Ventricular tachycardia score ≥4 was present in 33% of VTs and was 100% specific for VT.Conclusion: The new ECG-based method provides a certain diagnosis of VT in the majority of patients with VT, identifies unequivocal ECGs, and has superior overall diagnostic accuracy to other ECG methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surveillance and diagnostic algorithms for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have already been described in guidelines published by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the European Association for the Study of the Liver and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EASL-EORTC), and the Japan Society of Hepatology (JSH), but the content of these algorithms differs slightly. The JSH algorithm mainly differs from the other two algorithms in that it is highly sophisticated and considers the functional imaging techniques of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced MRI (EOB-MRI) and Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to be very important diagnostic modalities. In contrast, the AASLD and EASL-EORTC algorithms are less advanced and suggest that a diagnosis be made based solely on hemodynamic findings using dynamic CT/MRI and biopsy findings. A consensus meeting regarding the JSH surveillance and diagnostic algorithm was held at the 50th Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan Congress, and a 2014 update of the algorithm was completed. The new algorithm reaffirms the very important role of EOB-MRI and Sonazoid CEUS in the surveillance and diagnosis of liver cancer and is more sophisticated than those currently used in the United States and Europe. This is now an optimized algorithm that can be used to diagnose early-stage to classical HCC easily and highly accurately. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]