Fecal calprotectin and endoscopic scores: The cornerstones in clinical practice for evaluating mucosal healing in inflammatory bowel disease

Managing inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is becoming increasingly complex and personalized,considering the advent of new advanced therapies with distinct mechanisms of action.Achieving mucosal healing(MH)is a pivotal therapeutic goal in IBD management and can prevent IBD progression and reduce flares,hospitalization,surgery,intestinal damage,and colorectal cancer.Employing proactive disease and therapy assessment is essential to achieve better control of intestinal inflammation,even if subclinical,to alter the natural course of IBD.Periodic monitoring of fecal calprotectin(FC)levels and interval endoscopic evaluations are cornerstones for evaluating response/remission to advanced therapies targeting IBD,assessing MH,and detecting subclinical recurrence.Here,we comment on the article by Ishida et al Moreover,this editorial aimed to review the role of FC and endoscopic scores in predicting MH in patients with IBD.Furthermore,we intend to present some evidence on the role of these markers in future targets,such as histological and transmural healing.Additional prospective multicenter studies with a stricter MH criterion,standardized endoscopic and histopathological analyses,and virtual chromoscopy,potentially including artificial intelligence and other biomarkers,are desired.

Three predictive scores compared in a retrospective multicenter study of nonunion tibial shaft fracture

BACKGROUND Delayed union,malunion,and nonunion are serious complications in the healing of fractures.Predicting the risk of nonunion before or after surgery is challenging.AIM To compare the most prevalent predictive scores of nonunion used in clinical practice to determine the most accurate score for predicting nonunion.METHODS We collected data from patients with tibial shaft fractures undergoing surgery from January 2016 to December 2020 in three different trauma hospitals.In this retrospective multicenter study,we considered only fractures treated with intramedullary nailing.We calculated the tibia FRACTure prediction healING days(FRACTING)score,Nonunion Risk Determination score,and Leeds-Genoa Nonunion Index(LEG-NUI)score at the time of definitive fixation.RESULTS Of the 130 patients enrolled,89(68.4%)healed within 9 months and were classified as union.The remaining patients(n=41,31.5%)healed after more than 9 months or underwent other surgical procedures and were classified as nonunion.After calculation of the three scores,LEG-NUI and FRACTING were the most accurate at predicting healing.CONCLUSION LEG-NUI and FRACTING showed the best performances by accurately predicting union and nonunion.

Effects of serum inflammatory factors,health index and disease activity scores on ankylosing spondylitis patients with sleep disorder

BACKGROUND Patients with ankylosing spondylitis(AS)frequently suffer from comorbid sleep disorders,exacerbating the burden of the disease and affecting their quality of life.AIM To investigate the clinical significance of serum inflammatory factors,health index and disease activity scores in patients with AS complicated by sleep disorders.METHODS A total of 106 AS patients with comorbid sleep disorders were included in the study.The patients were grouped into the desirable and undesirable prognosis groups in accordance with their clinical outcomes.The serum levels of inflammatory factors,including C-reactive protein,erythrocyte sedimentation rate,interleukin(IL)-6,tumour necrosis factor-αand IL-1β,were measured.Disease activity scores,such as the Bath AS functional index,Bath AS disease activity index,Bath AS metrology index and AS disease activity score,were assessed.The health index was obtained through the Short Form-36 questionnaire.RESULTS The study found significant associations amongst serum inflammatory factors,health index and disease activity scores in AS patients with comorbid sleep disorders.Positive correlations were found between serum inflammatory factors and disease activity scores,indicating the influence of heightened systemic inflammation on disease severity and functional impairment.Conversely,negative correlations were found between disease activity scores and health index parameters,highlighting the effect of disease activity on various aspects of healthrelated quality of life.Logistic regression analysis further confirmed the predictive value of these factors on patient outcomes,underscoring their potential utility in risk assessment and prognostication.CONCLUSION The findings demonstrate the intricate interplay amongst disease activity,systemic inflammation and patientreported health outcomes in AS patients complicated by sleep disorders.The results emphasise the need for comprehensive care strategies that address the diverse needs and challenges faced by these patients and underscore the potential relevance of serum inflammatory factors,health index and disease activity scores as prognostic markers in this patient population.

Clinical prediction scores predicting weaning failure from invasive mechanical ventilation:Role and limitations

Invasive mechanical ventilation(IMV)has become integral to modern-day critical care.Even though critically ill patients frequently require IMV support,weaning from IMV remains an arduous task,with the reported weaning failure(WF)rates being as high as 50%.Optimizing the timing for weaning may aid in reducing time spent on the ventilator,associated adverse effects,patient discomfort,and medical care costs.Since weaning is a complex process and WF is often multifactorial,several weaning scores have been developed to predict WF and aid decision-making.These scores are based on the patient's physiological and ventilatory parameters,but each has limitations.This review highlights the current role and limitations of the various clinical prediction scores available to predict WF.

Risk scores for allograft failure: Are they still useful in liver recipients from donation after circulatory death?

BACKGROUND Liver grafts from donation after circulatory death(DCD)are associated with a higher risk of early graft dysfunction,determined by the warm ischemia and cold ischemia times.It is essential to have precise criteria to identify this complication in order to guide therapeutic strategies.AIM To validate different graft and recipient survival scores in patients undergoing liver transplantation(LT)with DCD grafts.METHODS A retrospective and observational unicentric study was conducted on 65 LT patients with grafts obtained from controlled DCD donors from November 2013 to November 2022.The United Kingdom(UK)risk score,early allograft dysfunction(EAD)Olthoff score,and model for early allograft function(MEAF)score were used to evaluate the risk of graft and recipient survival post-transplant.For survival analysis purposes,we used the Kaplan-Meier method,and the differences between subgroups were compared using the log-rank(Mantel-Cox)test.RESULTS Sixty-five patients were included in the study.The UK risk score did not demonstrate predictive capacity for recipient or graft survival.However,in donors aged over 70 years old(18.4%),it significantly predicted graft survival(P<0.05).According to Kaplan-Meier survival curves,graft survival rates at 6 months,2 years,and 5 years in the futility group dramatically decreased to 50%compared to the other groups(log-rank 8.806,P<0.05).The EAD Olthoff and MEAF scores did not demonstrate predictive capacity for recipient or graft survival.Based on Kaplan-Meier survival curves,patients with a MEAF score≥7 had a lower graft survival rate at 6 months,2 years,and 5 years compared to patients with a lower MEAF score(log-rank 4.667,P<0.05).CONCLUSION In our series,both UK DCD risk score and MEAF score showed predictive capability for graft survival.

Evaluation of the Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Toddlers with Spinal Dysraphism after Surgical Repair Using ASQ-3™ Scores

Background: Spinal dysraphism represents a wide spectrum of congenital abnormalities of the spine. Myelomeningocele is considered the most common malformation and the most common we saw in our community, with its morbidity problems seen commonly in the postoperative period. ASQ-3TM Scores are the ages and stages questionnaire, third edition, and represent a tool to assess the development progress, especially in toddlers. Objectives: Evaluation of neurodevelopmental outcome among Sudanese toddlers with spinal dysraphism after surgical closure with or without a VP shunt using ASQ-3TM Scores. Methodology: This is a retrospective hospital-based study of 84 patients who underwent myelomeningocele repair at the National Center for Neurological Sciences (NCNS) during the period from 2017 up to 2019. Data were collected through a constructed questionnaire, including ASQ-3TM Scores. Data were processed and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) computer program. Version 25. Results: 84 patients were included in this study;all patients were diagnosed with spinal dysraphism. Out of them, 51 (60.7%) were 2 years old, 33 (39.3%) were 3 years old, 45 (53.6%) were male, 45 (53.6%) of patients mothers attended ANC irregularly, and 54 (64.3%) their mothers didn’t receive folate supplements. 44 (52.3%) of patients underwent MMC repair only, while 40 (47.7%) underwent MMC repair and VP shunt. The commonest postoperative complication was infection, reported in 12 (14.3%) of patients, followed by VP shunt revision in 9 (10.7%) of patients. Neurological assessment showed that the majority of patients need further assessment with a professional, 57 (67.9%) of children don’t walk, run, or climb like other toddlers as their parent’s state;also, half of patients (42, 50%) had medical problems, and 27 (32.1%) of their parent’s state that they do not talk like other toddlers their age. There was a statistically significant association between post-operative complications and communication development, problem-solving development, and personal social development (P value = 0.05), and a statistically significant association was found between age at repair and neurological development (P value = 0.05). Conclusion: The majority of patients had motor deficiency (particularly gross motor) and poor personal and social skills. Age at repair and postoperative complications significantly influenced the neurological development.

Are we ready to use new endoscopic scores for ulcerative colitis?

For ulcerative colitis(UC),the variability in inflammatory activity along the colon poses a challenge in management.The focus on achieving endoscopic healing in UC is evident,where the UC Endoscopic Index of Severity and Mayo Endoscopic Subscore are commonly used for evaluation.However,these indices primarily consider the most severely affected region.Liu et al recent study validates the Toronto Inflammatory Bowel Disease Global Endoscopic Reporting(TIGER)score offering a comprehensive assessment of inflammatory activity across diverse segments of the colon and rectum and a reliable index correlating strongly with UC Endoscopic Index of Severity and moderately with Mayo Endoscopic Subscore(MES).Despite recommendation,certain aspects warrant further invest-igation.Fecal calprotectin,an intermediate target,correlates with TIGER and should be explored.Determining TIGER scores defining endoscopic remission and response,evaluating agreement with histological activity,and assessing inter-endoscopist agreement for TIGER require scrutiny.Exploring the correlation between TIGER and intestinal ultrasound,akin to MES,adds value.

Garg incontinence scores: New scoring system on the horizon to evaluate fecal incontinence. Will it make a difference?

The main aim of this opinion review is to comment on the recent article published by Garg et al in the World Journal of Gastroenterology 2023;29:4593–4603.The authors in the published article developed a new scoring system,Garg incon-tinence scores(GIS),for fecal incontinence(FI).FI is a chronic debilitating disease that has a severe negative impact on the quality of life of the patients.Rome IV criteria define FI as multiple episodes of solid or liquid stool passed into the clothes at least twice a month.The associated social stigmatization often leads to significant under-reporting of the condition,which further impairs management.An important point is that the complexity and vagueness of the disease make it difficult for the patients to properly define and report the magnitude of the problem to their physicians.Due to this,the management becomes even more difficult.This issue is resolved up to a considerable extent by a scoring ques-tionnaire.There were several scoring systems in use for the last three decades.The prominent of them were the Cleveland Clinic scoring system or the Wexner scoring system,St.Marks Hospital or Vaizey’s scores,and the FI severity index.However,there were several shortcomings in these scoring systems.In the opinion review,we tried to analyze the strength of GIS and compare it to the existing scoring systems.The main pitfalls in the existing scoring systems were that most of them gave equal weightage to different types of FI(solid,liquid,flatus,etc.),were not comprehensive,and took only the surgeon’s perception of FI into view.In GIS,almost all shortcomings of previous scoring systems had been addressed:different weights were assigned to different types of FI by a robust statistical methodology;the scoring system was made comprehensive by including all types of FI that were previously omitted(urge,stress and mucus FI)and gave priority to patients’rather than the physicians’perceptions while developing the scoring system.Due to this,GIS indeed looked like a paradigm shift in the evaluation of FI.However,it is too early to conclude this,as GIS needs to be validated for accuracy and simplicity in future studies.

Comparing 11 early warning scores and three shock indices in early sepsis prediction in the emergency department

BACKGROUND:This study aimed to evaluate the discriminatory performance of 11 vital sign-based early warning scores(EWSs)and three shock indices in early sepsis prediction in the emergency department(ED).METHODS:We performed a retrospective study on consecutive adult patients with an infection over 3 months in a public ED in Hong Kong.The primary outcome was sepsis(Sepsis-3 definition)within 48 h of ED presentation.Using c-statistics and the DeLong test,we compared 11 EWSs,including the National Early Warning Score 2(NEWS2),Modified Early Warning Score,and Worthing Physiological Scoring System(WPS),etc.,and three shock indices(the shock index[SI],modified shock index[MSI],and diastolic shock index[DSI]),with Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome(SIRS)and quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(qSOFA)in predicting the primary outcome,intensive care unit admission,and mortality at different time points.RESULTS:We analyzed 601 patients,of whom 166(27.6%)developed sepsis.NEWS2 had the highest point estimate(area under the receiver operating characteristic curve[AUROC]0.75,95%CI 0.70-0.79)and was significantly better than SIRS,qSOFA,other EWSs and shock indices,except WPS,at predicting the primary outcome.However,the pooled sensitivity and specificity of NEWS2≥5 for the prediction of sepsis were 0.45(95%CI 0.37-0.52)and 0.88(95%CI 0.85-0.91),respectively.The discriminatory performance of all EWSs and shock indices declined when used to predict mortality at a more remote time point.CONCLUSION:NEWS2 compared favorably with other EWSs and shock indices in early sepsis prediction but its low sensitivity at the usual cut-off point requires further modification for sepsis screening.

Impact of Nursing Interventions Based on Self- Efficacy Theory on HAMA and HAMD Scores in Patients with Hepatitis B Cirrhosis

Objective:To explore the effect of nursing interventions based on self-efficacy theory guidance on psychological stress indicators in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis.Methods:70 patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis from October 2023 to May 2024 were selected and grouped by random number table.The observation group received nursing intervention based on self-efficacy theory,while the control group received routine nursing.The differences in psychological stress indicators,self-efficacy indicators,and nursing satisfaction were compared between the two groups.Results:Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale(HAMA)and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD)scores of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group(P<0.05);Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scale(CDSES)scores of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group(P<0.05);and nursing satisfaction scores of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Hepatitis B cirrhosis patients receiving nursing care based on self-efficacy theory can stimulate patients'self-efficacy,calm their emotions,and their overall satisfaction is high.

Work Ability Index and Work Ability Score: A Comparation between both Scores in a Persistent COVID-19 Cohort

Aims: The present study aims to compare the assessment of work ability based on the use of the Work Ability Index (WAI) with another questionnaire base only on the use of WAI’s first item, termed as the “Work Ability Score” (WAS). Study design: A cohort of 384 Spanish workers included in a Post COVID-19 condition or persistent COVID-19 multicenter research was utilized. Place and Duration of Study: This cohort was enlisted in four hospitals (Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid;Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Andalucía;Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid and Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca, Castilla y León), since 2021 until 2022. Methodology: 384 Spanish workers (176 men and 208 women;aged 20 to 70 years) with Post COVID-19 condition or persistent COVID-19 were included. Descriptive analysis of primary scores was conducted. Given the non-normal distribution of data, the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were employed. Spearman and Kendall correlations were employed to assess the relationship between WAI and WAS, also used weighted Kappa to estimate the degree agreement between WAI and WAS. Logistic regression models were utilized to study determinants influencing WAI and WAS, categorized as poor or moderate. Results: WAI had an average score of 32.98 (SD = 10.28), whereas WAS had an average of 5.95 (SD = 2.77). Significant differences were observed in both WAI and WAS across the same variables. Strong and statistically significant correlations were evident between WAI and WAS (rs = 0.83, p < 0.001). All the variables used in the logistic regression model (gender, the sector employment, and previous chronic diseases) were statistically significant in both questionnaires. Conclusion: WAS questionnaire could be used as a tool for reliable assessment of work ability among Spanish workers with Post COVID-19 condition or Persistent CO-VID-19.

Is the ratio of apoB/apoA-1 the best predictor for the severity of coronary artery lesions in Chinese diabetics with stable angina pectoris？ An assessment based on Gensini scores

Background There is a paucity of data about the best lipid ratio predicting the severity of coronary artery disease （CAD） in patients with diabetes mellitus. We determined the relationship between five conventional lipid ratios and the extent of coronary artery lesions in Chinese Type 2 diabetics with stable angina pectoris （SAP）. Methods A prospective cohort study within 373 type 2 diabetic patients diag- nosed with stable CAD by coronary angiography was performed. All patients were classified into three groups according to the tertiles of Gensini scores （GS, low group 〈 8 points n = 143; intermediate group 8-28 points, n = 109; high group 〉 28 points, n = 121）. Association between the ratios of apolipoprotein （apo） B and apoA-1, total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol （TC/HDL-C）, triglycerides and HDL-C （TG/HDL-C）, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and HDL-C （LDL-C/HDL-C）, Non-HDL-C/HDL-C and GS were evaluated using the receivers operating characteristic （ROC） curves and multivariate logistic regression models. Results The ratio of apoB/apoA-1, TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, and Non-HDL-C/HDL-C were correlated with Gensini scores. Area under the ROC curves for predicting high Gensini scores in the ratios of apoB/apoA-1, TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C and Non-HDL-C/HDL-C were 0.62, 0.60, 0.59 and 0.60, respec- tively （P 〈 0.005 for all）. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjusted with demographic characteristic and other lipid parameters, the ratio of apoB/apoA-1 is qualified as an independent discriminator for the severity of CAD. However, after fiu-ther adjusting different baseline variables, such as left ventricular ejective fraction, hemoglobin Alc, leukocytes count and serum creatinine, none of the above lipid ratios remained. Conclusions Compared with other lipid parameters, the ratio of apoB/apoA-1 appears to be more significantly correlated with the extent of coronary artery lesions in Chinese diabetics, but it was not an independent predictor in these settings.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding risk scores： Who, when andwhy？

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding(UGIB) remains a significant cause of hospital admission. In order to stratify patients according to the risk of the compli-cations, such as rebleeding or death, and to predict the need of clinical intervention, several risk scores have been proposed and their use consistently recommended by international guidelines. The use of risk scoring systems in early assessment of patients suffering from UGIB may be useful to distinguish high-risks patients, who may need clinical intervention and hospitalization, from low risk patients with a lower chance of developing complications, in which management as outpatients can be considered. Although several scores have been published and validated for predicting different outcomes, the most frequently cited ones are the Rockall score and the Glasgow Blatchford score(GBS). While Rockall score, which incorporates clinical and endoscopic variables, has been validated to predict mortality, the GBS, which is based on clinical and laboratorial parameters, has been studied to predict the need of clinical intervention. Despite the advantages previously reported, their use in clinical decisions is still limited. This review describes the different risk scores used in the UGIB setting, highlights the most important research, explains why and when their use may be helpful, reflects on the problems that remain unresolved and guides future research with practical impact.

Diabetes empowerment scores among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and its correlated factors: A cross-sectional study in a primary care setting in Malaysia

BACKGROUND There are limited studies on diabetes empowerment among type 2 diabetes patients,particularly in the primary care setting.AIM To assess the diabetes empowerment scores and its correlated factors among type 2 diabetes patients in a primary care clinic in Malaysia.METHODS This is a cross sectional study involving 322 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(DM)followed up in a primary care clinic.Systematic sampling method was used for patient recruitment.The Diabetes Empowerment Scale(DES)questionnaire was used to measure patient empowerment.It consists of three domains:(1)Managing the psychosocial aspect of diabetes(9 items);(2)Assessing dissatisfaction and readiness to change(9 items);and(3)Setting and achieving diabetes goal(10 items).A score was considered high if it ranged from 100 to 140.Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25 and multiple linear regressions was used to identify the predictors of total diabetes empowerment scores.RESULTS The median age of the study population was 55 years old.56%were male and the mean duration of diabetes was 4 years.The total median score of the DES was 110[interquartile range(IQR)=10].The median scores of the three subscales were 40 with(IQR=4)for"Managing the psychosocial aspect of diabetes";36 with(IQR=3)for"Assessing dissatisfaction and readiness to change";and 34 with(IQR=5)for"Setting and achieving diabetes goal".According to multiple linear regressions,factors that had significant correlation with higher empowerment scores among type 2 diabetes patients included an above secondary education level(P<0.001),diabetes education exposure(P=0.003),lack of ischemic heart disease(P=0.017),and lower glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c)levels(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Diabetes empowerment scores were high among type 2 diabetes patients in this study population.Predictors for high empowerment scores included above secondary education level,diabetes education exposure,lack of ischemic heart disease status and lower HbA1c.

Assessment of disease activity in inflammatory bowel diseases:Non-invasive biomarkers and endoscopic scores

Inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)comprise two major forms:Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.The diagnosis of IBD is based on clinical symptoms combined with results found in endoscopic and radiological examinations.In addition,the discovery of biomarkers has significantly improved the diagnosis and management of IBD.Several potential genetic,serological,fecal,microbial,histological and immunological biomarkers have been proposed for IBD,and they have been evaluated for clinical routine and clinical trials.Ileocolonoscopy,especially with biopsy collection,has been considered the standard method to diagnose IBD and to assess clinical activity of the disease,but it is limited to the colon and terminal ileum and is considered invasive.For this reason,non-invasive biomarkers are necessary for this type of chronic inflammatory disease,which affects mostly young individuals,as they are expected to have a long follow-up.

Conceptual Density Functional Theory Study of the Chemical Reactivity Properties and Bioactivity Scores of the Leu-Enkephalin Opioid Peptide Neurotransmitter

The SMD solvation model (Solvation Model based on the Density) and eight density functionals, CAM-B3LYP, LC-ωPBE, M11, MN12SX, N12SX, ωB97, ωB97X, and ωB97XD, were assessed in link with the Def2TZVP basis set for the calculation of the structure of the Leu-Enkephalin Opioid Peptide Neurotransmitter as well as their molecular properties. Through the Conceptual Density Functional Theory (CDFT), the entire chemical descriptors for the system were calculated. The active regions of the molecules necessary for electrophilic, nucleophilic and radical attacks were chosen through linking them with the corresponding Fukui functions. Furthermore, the prediction of the pKa value for the peptide is done with great accuracy as well as the ability of the studied molecule in acting as an efficient inhibitor of the formation of Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs), which comprises of a useful knowledge for the development of drugs for preventing Alzheimer, Diabetes and Parkinson diseases. Lastly, the bioactivity scores for the studied peptides are predicted via various methodologies.

Chemical Reactivity Properties, Drug-Likeness Features and Bioactivity Scores of the Cholecystokinin Peptide Hormone

Five density functionals, CAM-B3LYP, LC-ωPBE, MN12SX, N12SX and ωB97XD, in connection with the Def2TZVP basis set were assessed together with the SMD solvation model for the calculation of the molecular and chemical reactivity properties of the Cholecystokinin peptide hormone (CCK-8) in the presence of water. All the chemical reactivity descriptors for the systems were calculated via Conceptual Density Functional Theory (CDFT). The potential bioavailability and druggability as well as the bioactivity scoresfor CCK-8 were predicted through different methodologies already reported in the literature which have been previously validated during the study of different peptidic systems. The conclusion was that the CCK-8 peptide will be moderately bioactive regarding all the interactions.

Comparison of Prognostic Scores for Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in the Hepato-Gastro-Enterology Department of Campus Teaching Hospital of Lome

Objective: To evaluate and compare the prognostic contribution of different UGIB prognostic scores. Patients and Method: Descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective collection conducted from January 2014 to December 2019. Patients hospitalized in the Gastroenterology Department of Campus Teaching Hospital of Lome for upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage were included. The analytical component of this study had consisted of an evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of different prognostic scores (GBS, mGBS, FRS, CRS, AIMS65) in predicting the occurrence of death and/or re-bleeding within 42 days. These different scores were compared using ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curves. Results: We included 314 patients in our study. The male to female sex ratio was 2.48. Fibroscopy found non-related portal hypertension UGIB in 70.94% of the cases. The “FRS” was the most accurate score in predicting death or re-bleeding in all patients. The “FRS” was the most precise score in predicting the occurrence of spotting in all patients. The “FRS” was the most accurate score in predicting death among all patients. The mortality of patients at low risk of death (below the threshold value) was 2.2% for the “FRS”, 9.3% for the “CRS”, 0% for the “GBS” (p = 0.565), 50% for the “mGBS” and 11.4% for the “AIMS65”. Scores were more accurate for non-related portal hypertension UGIB. Conclusion: The “FRS” and the “CRS” are two precise scores in predicting the occurrence of an incident in the event of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. However, these scores were less effective in related portal hypertension UGIB.

Application of SYNTAX and its Derivative Scores in the Selection of Revascularization Strategies for Complex Coronary Heart Disease

Complex coronary heart disease(CHD)has become a hot spot in medicine due to its complex coronary anatomy,variable clinical factors,difficult hemodynamic reconstruction,and limited effect of conservative drug treatment.Identifying complex CHD and selecting optimal treatment methods have become more scientific as revascularization technology has improved,and coronary risk stratification scores have been introduced.SYNTAX and its derivative scores are decision-making tools that quantitatively describe the characteristics of coronary lesions in patients based on their complexity and severity.The SYNTAX and its derivative scores could assist clinicians in rationalizing the selection of hemodynamic reconstruction treatment strategies,and have demon-strated outstanding value in evaluating the prognosis of patients with complex CHD undergoing revascularization treatment.The authors in this article summary the practical application of SYNTAX and its derivative scores in complex CHD in order to deepen the understanding of the relationship between the choice of different revascularization strategies and SYNTAX and its derived scores in complex CHD and provide a further reference for clinical treatment of complex CHD.

Use of factor scores for determining the relationship between body measurements and semen traits of cocks

Semen evaluation is required to predict fertility. In most rural African communities, facilities for microscopic evaluation of semen are not available. Therefore, an indirect method of predicting semen traits of cocks is required by poultry farmers. The objective of this study was to use factor scores derived from factor analysis of body measurements to predict some semen traits of cocks. Correlation matrix was obtained by calculating the correlations between body measurements and semen traits of cocks. Kais-er-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy and Bartletts test of sphericity were used to test the appropriateness of factor analysis on the data. The extraction of the factors was done by calculating the eigenvalues of the correlation matrix. Variance maximizing rotation of the transformation matrix was done to facilitate the interpretation of the factor loadings. Two factors with eigenvalues greater than 1 were extracted which accounted for 76.96% of the variations present in the original variables. The two factors were used to obtain the factor score coefficients. When utilized as independent variables in multiple regression analysis, the two factors explained 53.20% and 40.80% of the variations in sperm motility and sperm concentration respectively. Factor 1 had more impact on sperm motility than factor 2 as it was significantly related to it. Factor 2 was significantly more related to sperm concentration than factor 1. The relationship between body measurements and semen volume, live sperm and abnormal sperm were weak and mostly negative. Therefore, they were not predicted using factor scores.