The obesity epidemic progresses everywhere across the globe, and implementing frequent nationwide surveys to measure the percentage of obese population is costly. Conversely, country-level food sales information can be accessed inexpensively through different suppliers on a regular basis. This study applies a methodology to predict obesity prevalence at the country-level based on national sales of a small subset of food and beverage categories. Three machine learning algorithms for nonlinear regression were implemented using purchase and obesity prevalence data from 79 countries: support vector machines, random forests and extreme gradient boosting. The proposed method was validated in terms of both the absolute prediction error and the proportion of countries for which the obesity prevalence was predicted satisfactorily. We found that the most-relevant food category to predict obesity is baked goods and flours, followed by cheese and carbonated drinks.

Background Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is an emergent disease that threatens patients with texturized breast implants. Major concerns about the safety of these implants are leading to global changes to restrict the utilization of this product. The principal alternative is to perform breast augmentation utilizing smooth implants, given the lack of association with BIA-ALCL. The implications and costs of this intervention are unknown. Objectives The authors of this study determined the cost-effectiveness of smooth implants compared with texturized implants for breast augmentation surgery. Methods A tree decision model was utilized to analyze the cost-effectiveness. Model input parameters were derived from published sources. The capsular contracture (CC) rate was calculated from a meta-analysis. Effectiveness measures were life years, avoided BIA-ALCL, avoided deaths, and avoided reoperations. A sensitivity analysis was performed to test the robustness of the model. Results For avoided BIA-ALCL, the incremental cost was $18,562,003 for smooth implants over texturized implants. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was negative for life years, and avoided death and avoided reoperations were negative. The sensitivity analysis revealed that to avoid 1 case of BIA-ALCL, the utilization of smooth implants would be cost-effective for a risk of developing BIA-ALCL equal to or greater than 1:196, and there is a probability of CC with smooth implants equal to or less than 0.096. Conclusions The utilization of smooth implants to prevent BIA-ALCL is not cost-effective. Banning texturized implants to prevent BIA-ALCL may involve additional consequences, which should be considered in light of higher CC rates and more reoperations associated with smooth implants than with texturized implants.

No abstract

No abstract

multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors that were independently associated with Hand10 scores. Results: Hand10 scores showed no statistical differences in terms of unilateral/bilateral CTS and sex differences. Single regression analysis showed that Hand10 scores correlated significantly with the pain VAS, SF-MPQ, PASS-20, SRS-18, s2PD at index and middle scores, and grip strength. Multiple regression analysis showed that grip strength (B = 1.47, β = 0.49, P = .00) and SRS-18 score (B = -0.91, β = -0.36, P = .02) were significant correlation factors for the Hand10 score (R 2 = 0.49). Conclusions: In patients with CTS, grip strength and psychological stress are significant correlating factors of disability according to a patient-administered upper extremity assessment. Objective: Describe functional status of people with total median nerve injuries at wrist level operated and rehabilitated in a public orthopedic hospital. Materials and Methods: Exploratory, retrospective case analysis. Population corresponds to participants with median nerve injury operated and rehabilitated through sensory reeducation protocol, in an orthopedic hospital in Santiago, Chile, between 18 and 60 years old between May 2013 and May 2014. Exclusion criteria include participants with an incomplete assessment recorded in hospital's clinical record. Data were obtained from clinical records, taking into consideration: mechanical detection threshold, static and dynamic 2-point discrimination, palmar abduction grip, and lateral and three-digit pinch strength. The outcomes are as follows: cause of injury, tendon injury associated, time between injury and surgery, time between surgery and assessment, age at surgery, quantity of therapy sessions, static and dynamic 2-point discrimination, mechanical detection threshold, palmar abduction manual muscle test, grip, and lateral and three-digit pinch strength. Data were tabulated and analyzed with SPSS v23.0 software, and distribution and descriptive analysis was conducted for parametric data. This study has approval of the ethics committee of the establishment. Results: Six patients had complete data for this study. All data distributed normally with Shapiro-Wilk test. Five were males and 1 female, average age of at the moment of injury was 35.1 (standard deviation [SD] = 9.19) years old, 5 out of 6 were right-handed, 4 were injured by glass, 1 by knife, and 1 by circular saw, and, in average, people had to wait 11.17 (SD = 7.05) days for repair surgery. All the cases had associated tendon injury that was also repaired in the surgery. The participants received between 10 and 54 sessions of physiotherapy that lasted 19 weeks on average. Only 3 of the 6 participants were given the medical clearance. The functional assessment took place 24 weeks after surgery on average; half the participants ended their rehabilitation period with at least 4.31 points when evaluated with Semmes-Weinstein Monofilaments. In static 2-point discrimination, 66.6% had less than 6 mm, and in dynamic 2-point d...