Search Results (9,261)

Early fire detection is the key to saving lives and limiting property damage. Advanced technology can detect fires in high-risk zones with minimal human presence before they escalate beyond control. This study focuses on providing a more advanced model structure based on the YOLOv8 architecture to enhance early recognition of fire. Although YOLOv8 is excellent at real-time object detection, it can still be better adjusted to the nuances of fire detection. We achieved this advancement by incorporating an additional context-to-flow layer, enabling the YOLOv8 model to more effectively capture both local and global contextual information. The context-to-flow layer enhances the model’s ability to recognize complex patterns like smoke and flames, leading to more effective feature extraction. This extra layer helps the model better detect fires and smoke by improving its ability to focus on fine-grained details and minor variation, which is crucial in challenging environments with low visibility, dynamic fire behavior, and complex backgrounds. Our proposed model achieved a 2.9% greater precision rate, 4.7% more recall rate, and 4% more F1-score in comparison to the YOLOv8 default model. This study discovered that the architecture modification increases information flow and improves fire detection at all fire sizes, from tiny sparks to massive flames. We also included explainable AI strategies to explain the model’s decision-making, thus adding more transparency and improving trust in its predictions. Ultimately, this enhanced system demonstrates remarkable efficacy and accuracy, which allows additional improvements in autonomous fire detection systems. Full article

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease of unknow etiology. Male sex is a well stablished risk factor, but other factors such as early and adult life expositions show contradictory evidence. Aim: to explore the link of clinical, sociodemographic, and occupational factors with ALS patients in Spain and the impact of these factors in functionality. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with ALS patients and healthy controls. Registered variables were smoking, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, previous cancer to reproductive organs or breast, occupational exposure, and early life exposures. Functionality in ALS patients was compared according to each exposure. Results: The ALS group consisted of 59 participants and the control group of 90 participants. ALS patients showed a significant association with previous cancer (p = 0.011), occupational exposure (p < 0.001), and older siblings (p = 0.029). ALS patients presented significant differences in BMI according to hypertension and older-sibling factors. Moreover, respiratory function was affected in patients with previous cancer (p = 0.031). Conclusions: Occupational exposure and previous cancer to reproductive organs or breast could be linked to ALS patients. In addition, hypertension and previous cancer could affect their BMI and respiratory function. Other factors such as longer smoking periods and exposition to older siblings could also characterize ALS patients. Full article

This systematic review of RCTs aimed to characterize short- and long-term changes in peri-implantitis-associated microbiota (total biofilm microbial load and predominant pathogens’ counts) following (any) peri-implantitis treatment in systemically healthy, non-smoking, partially/totally edentulous adults. The study protocol, compliant with the PRISMA statement, was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024514521) before the literature search. Data from 11 RCTs, assessed through the ROBINS-2 tool, were qualitatively synthesized. No data were retrieved on total edentulism, healthy peri-implant/periodontal sites, treated mucositis, gingivitis, and periodontitis sites. Shortly after treatment, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Peptostreptococcus micros prevailed, indicating early colonization, as after implant placement. After both surgical and non-surgical approaches, although not eradicated, the peri-implant total biofilm load, red- and orange-complex species, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans counts generally decreased for up to about three months. However, one month after treatment, red-complex species and Prevotella intermedia increased, likely due to persistent tissue-invasive bacteria, unresolved pathological conditions (high probing depth values) favoring anaerobiosis and dysbiosis, and a qualitatively and quantitatively decreased biofilm community, competing and balancing the predominant pathogens (biofilm “competitive balancing” effect), thus allowing recolonization by more virulent bacteria. Red-complex bacteria gradually leveled off to baseline at the six- and twelve-month follow-ups. Fusobacterium nucleatum remained almost unchanged after treatment. Full article

Background: Remnant cholesterol (RC) is highly associated with several chronic diseases. However, the relationship between RC and Metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains unclear. The study’s objective is to illustrate the relationship of RC to MetS. Methods: The data were collected from the Chinese Nutrition and Health Surveillance (2015–2017), which included personal, household and dietary information. A total of 65,618 residents aged 20 years or older from 31 provinces in mainland China were included in this study. RC was calculated by the equation RC = TC − (LDL-C + HDL-C). The criteria for MetS were based on the 2020 Chinese Type 2 Diabetes Prevention and Treatment Guidelines. Logistic regression models were used to analyse the relationship between RC and MetS and every MetS component. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was established to evaluate the accuracy of RC in identifying MetS, and the area under the curve (AUC) and the best threshold were calculated. Results: The weighted RC level of Chinese residents aged 20 years or older was 0.48 mmol/L. Participants with high RC levels were likely to be elderly, have a higher prevalence of MetS, higher total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting blood glucose (FBG), hba1c, and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Sex, body mass index (BMI), education status, household yearly income per capita, marital status, area of the country, residence location, smoking status, fruit intake and sleep time had statistical differences in the RC group (p < 0.05). The OR of MetS gradually increased with an increase in the RC quartile (p < 0.01), and higher quartiles of RC (Q4) suggested the highest MetS risk. The prevalence of each MetS component gradually increased with an increase in the RC quartile. The ROC curve found that to identify MetS, the AUC and best threshold of RC were 0.71 and 0.52 mmol/L, respectively. Conclusions: RC had a positive association with MetS and each MetS component. The accuracy in identifying MetS was higher in RC than in other indexes. The current study could provide new scientific evidence for the early prevention and control of MetS. Full article

Background: With the growing trends in recreational marijuana use, our study aims at analyzing the association between acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and ventricular fibrillation (Vfib) and cannabis use disorder in young adults (18–45). Methods: Young adult hospitalizations (18–45 years) with documented ACS/ventricular fibrillation and documented cannabis use were identified from the National Inpatient Sample (2019). Primary outcomes included prevalence and odds of ACS/ventricular fibrillation with cannabis use disorder. Patient factors that held significant association with adverse cardiovascular events in young cannabis users were studied. Propensity scoring and neighbor matching were used to compare resource utilization and in-hospital outcomes in the study population. Results: Among young patients (18–45) admitted for ACS, documented cannabis use disorder (CUD) had a statistically significant association with an odds ratio of 2.29 (2.48–3.04) after adjusting for age, sex, race, household income, smoking, cocaine use, uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Documented CUD had a significant association with ventricular fibrillation in the population with an odds ratio of 2.29 (1.51–3.49) after adjusting for the above-mentioned factors. Among admissions with documented CUD, patient factors that held significant association with admitting diagnosis of ACS/Vfib were: black race (OR: 1.73), uncontrolled hypertension (OR: 4.08) and diabetes (OR: 2.45). Propensity-matched cohorts with documented CUD and ACS had significantly higher mean length of hospital stay 3.28 (2.98–3.53) days when compared to the cohort without documented CUD, 2.69 (2.32–2.82) days. The mean of total hospital charges was higher in the cohort with documented CUD at $92,390.64 (92,240.31–92,445.76) compared to $90,886.44 (89,932.21–91,042.56) in the cohort without cannabis use disorder. Conclusions: Documented diagnosis of cannabis use disorder had statistically significant association with admission diagnosis of ACS/Vfib even after accounting for confounders. A documented race as black and co-existing diagnosis of uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes had a significant association with admission diagnosis of ACS in the population with documented cannabis use disorder. Propensity-matched cohorts with cannabis use disorder with the main admitting diagnosis of ACS/Vfib were associated with a higher mean length of hospital stay and a higher mean of total charges compared to the matched cohorts without documented cannabis use disorder. Full article

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major global health challenge, primarily driven by exposures to tobacco smoke and biomass smoke. While Tobacco-Smoke-Induced COPD (TSCOPD) has been extensively studied, the diagnostic challenges and distinct pathogenesis of Biomass-Smoke-Induced COPD (BSCOPD), particularly in low- and middle-income countries, remain underexplored. Objective: To explore the differences in clinical manifestations, pulmonary function, and inflammatory profiles between BSCOPD and TSCOPD and highlight the diagnostic complexities of BSCOPD. Methods: This review analyzes the current literature comparing BSCOPD with TSCOPD, focusing on distinctive pathophysiological mechanisms, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress processes. Results: BSCOPD presents differences in clinical presentation, with less emphysema, smaller airway damage, and higher rates of pulmonary hypertension compared to TSCOPD. BSCOPD is also characterized by bronchial hyperresponsiveness and significant hypoxemia, unlike TSCOPD, which exhibits severe airflow obstruction and emphysema. Additionally, the inflammatory profile of BSCOPD includes distinct mucous hypersecretion and airway remodeling. Conclusions: The unique genetic, epigenetic, and oxidative stress mechanisms involved in BSCOPD complicate its diagnosis and management. Biomass smoke’s underrecognized impact on accelerated lung aging and exacerbation mechanisms emphasizes the need for targeted research to refine diagnostic criteria and management strategies for BSCOPD. Future directions: Further research should focus on identifying specific biomarkers and molecular pathways to enhance early diagnosis and improve clinical outcomes in populations exposed to biomass smoke. Full article

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, and its two major types, esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), present a severe global public health problem with an increasing incidence and mortality. Established risk factors include smoking, alcohol consumption, and dietary habits, but recent research has highlighted the substantial role of oral microbiota in EC pathogenesis. This review explores the intricate relationship between the microbiome and esophageal carcinogenesis, focusing on the following eight significant mechanisms: chronic inflammation, microbial dysbiosis, production of carcinogenic metabolites, direct interaction with epithelial cells, epigenetic modifications, interaction with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), metabolic changes, and angiogenesis. Certain harmful bacteria, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, are specifically implicated in sustaining irritation and tumor progression through pathways including NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome. Additionally, the review explores how microbial byproducts, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), contribute to DNA harm and disease advancement. Furthermore, the impact of reflux on microbiota composition and its role in esophageal carcinogenesis is evaluated. By combining epidemiological data with mechanistic understanding, this review underscores the potential to target the microbiota–immune system interplay for novel therapeutic and diagnostic strategies to prevent and treat esophageal cancer. Full article

This study investigates the escalating impact of wildfire smoke on the remote sensing of phytoplankton biomass in freshwater systems. Wildfire smoke disrupts the accuracy of Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) retrieval models, with Chl-a often used as a proxy for quantifying phytoplankton biomass. Given the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires, there is a need for the development and refinement of remote sensing methodologies to effectively monitor phytoplankton dynamics under wildfire-impacted conditions. Here we developed a novel approach using Landsat’s coastal/aerosol band (B1) to screen for and categorize levels of wildfire smoke interference. By excluding high-interference data (B1 reflectance > 0.07) from the calibration set, Chl-a retrieval model performance using different Landsat band formulas improved significantly, with R² increasing from 0.55 to as high as 0.80. Our findings demonstrate that Rayleigh-corrected reflectance, combined with B1 screening, provides a robust method for monitoring phytoplankton biomass even under moderate smoke interference, outperforming full atmospheric correction methods. This approach enhances the reliability of remote sensing in the face of increasing wildfire events, offering a valuable tool for the effective management of aquatic environments. Full article

Background: Japan’s rising health expenditure, driven by an aging population, coincides with growing demands for increased spending. Reducing smoking-related costs could alleviate the burden on the health care system. Despite efforts to promote smoking cessation, success has been limited, indicating a need for strategies beyond cessation. Methods: Using a status quo simulation based on hospital resource data from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, we examine the impact of heated tobacco products (HTPs) on the prevalence of four smoking-attributable diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer) and the related direct health care costs. The baseline scenario assumes a 50% switch from combustible cigarettes to HTPs, with a 70% risk reduction. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the effects of parameter variations. Results: If 50% of smokers replaced combustible tobacco products with HTPs, 12 million patients could be averted equivalent to JPY 454 billion in health care savings. Prefectures located in the north and south of Japan would benefit the most. Conclusions: Considering the heterogeneous prevalence rates, a one-size-fits-all tobacco control approach is ineffective. Japan should prioritize cost-efficient measures that promote public health and economic benefits. Encouraging smokers to switch to reduced-risk products, raising awareness of health risks, and adopting a harm-based taxation model can drive positive change. Public–private partnerships can further enhance harm reduction efforts. With a combination of tax reforms, revised regulations, collaborations, and ongoing research, Japan can create a more effective and comprehensive approach to tobacco control. Full article

Wildfires cause severe consequences, including property loss, threats to human life, damage to natural resources, biodiversity, and economic impacts. Consequently, numerous wildland fire detection systems were developed over the years to identify fires at an early stage and prevent their damage to both the environment and human lives. Recently, deep learning methods were employed for recognizing wildfires, showing interesting results. However, numerous challenges are still present, including background complexity and small wildfire and smoke areas. To address these challenging limitations, two deep learning models, namely CT-Fire and DC-Fire, were adopted to recognize wildfires using both visible and infrared aerial images. Infrared images detect temperature gradients, showing areas of high heat and indicating active flames. RGB images provide the visual context to identify smoke and forest fires. Using both visible and infrared images provides a diversified data for learning deep learning models. The diverse characteristics of wildfires and smoke enable these models to learn a complete visual representation of wildland fires and smoke scenarios. Testing results showed that CT-Fire and DC-Fire achieved higher performance compared to baseline wildfire recognition methods using a large dataset, which includes RGB and infrared aerial images. CT-Fire and DC-Fire also showed the reliability of deep learning models in identifying and recognizing patterns and features related to wildland smoke and fires and surpassing challenges, including background complexity, which can include vegetation, weather conditions, and diverse terrain, detecting small wildfire areas, and wildland fires and smoke variety in terms of size, intensity, and shape. CT-Fire and DC-Fire also reached faster processing speeds, enabling their use for early detection of smoke and forest fires in both night and day conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and gastric cancer (GC) risk, while also examining the interaction of genetic factors with lifestyle variables including the nutrient and bioactive compound intake in Korean adults of a large hospital-based cohort. Methods: We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) comparing GC patients (n = 312) with healthy controls without cancers (n = 47,994) to identify relevant genetic variants. Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) was employed to detect SNP interactions between diets and lifestyles. We utilized polygenic risk scores (PRSs) to assess individuals’ GC risk based on multiple SNP loci. Among the selected SNPs, since SEMA3C_rs1527482 was a missense mutation, bioactive compounds which decrease the binding energy were found with its wild and mutated proteins by molecular docking analysis. Results: Individuals with high PRSs exhibited a 4.12-fold increased risk of GC compared to those with low PRSs. Additional factors associated with elevated GC risk included a low white blood cell count (OR = 5.13), smoking (OR = 3.83), and low coffee consumption (OR = 6.30). The SEMA3C_rs1527482 variant showed a positive correlation with GC risk. Molecular docking analyses suggested that certain polyphenols, including theaflavate, rugosin E, vitisifuran B, and plantacyanin, reduced the binding free energy in both wild-type and mutated SEMA3C_rs1527482. However, some polyphenols exhibited differential binding energies between its wild and mutated forms, suggesting they might modulate wild and mutated proteins differently. Conclusion: High PRSs and SEMA3C_rs1527482 interact with immune function, coffee intake, polyphenol consumption, and smoking status to influence GC risk. These findings could contribute to developing personalized nutrition and lifestyle interventions to reduce GC risk. Full article

The frequency of extreme wildfire events (EWEs) is expected to increase due to climate change, leading to higher levels of atmospheric pollutants being released into the air, which could cause significant short-term impacts on human health (both for the population and firefighters) and on visibility. This study aims to gain a better understanding of the effects of EWEs’ smoke on air quality, its short-term impacts on human health, and how it reduces visibility by applying a modelling system to the Portuguese EWEs of October 2017. The Weather Research and Forecasting Model was combined with a semi-empirical fire spread algorithm (WRF-SFIRE) to simulate particulate matter smoke dispersion and assess its impacts based on up-to-date numerical approaches. Hourly simulated particulate matter values were compared to hourly monitored values, and the WRF-SFIRE system demonstrated accuracy consistent with previous studies, with a correlation coefficient ranging from 0.30 to 0.76 and an RMSE varying between 215 µg/m³ and 418 µg/m³. The estimated daily particle concentration levels exceeded the European air quality limit value, indicating a potential strong impact on human health. Health indicators related to exposure to particles were estimated, and their spatial distribution showed that the highest number of hospital admissions (>300) during the EWE, which occurred downwind of the fire perimeters, were due to the combined effect of high smoke pollution levels and population density. Visibility reached its worst level at night, when dispersion conditions were poorest, with the entire central and northern regions registering poor visibility levels (with a visual range of less than 2 km). This study emphasises the use of numerical models to predict, with high spatial and temporal resolutions, the population that may be exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution caused by ongoing wildfires. It offers valuable information to the public, civil protection agencies, and health organisations to assist in lessening the impact of wildfires on society. Full article

Cervical cancer (CC) remains a prevalent malignancy and a significant global public health concern, primarily driven by persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. The infectious nature of HPV underscores the preventability of CC through vaccination and screening programs. In addition to HPV, factors such as age, parity, smoking, hormonal contraceptives, and HIV co-infection elevate the risk of CC. HIV-associated immunodeficiency exacerbates susceptibility to infections and cancers, making CC a defining condition for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among women living with HIV (WLWH). These women face higher risks of HPV exposure due to sexual behavior and often encounter economic, social, and psychological barriers to screening. HIV and HPV co-infection can potentially accelerate CC carcinogenesis, with WLWH typically being diagnosed with CC earlier than their HIV-negative counterparts. Antiretroviral therapy (ART), which reduces AIDS-related mortality, also lowers the risk of invasive CC. The interaction between HIV and HPV is intricate and bidirectional. This summary reviews current evidence on HPV infection and CC in WLWH, highlighting the connections across pathogenesis, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Full article

A prevalence of cigarette smoking can cause the accumulation of cadmium (Cd²⁺) in the lungs, kidneys, and blood. The effects of exposure can cause multiple chronic disease types to emerge in the affected organ systems. The only moderately effective therapeutic option is chelation therapy; the health risks associated with this therapy have caused much criticism. The disease types associated with Cd²⁺ toxicity have inflammatory components and greatly impact innate immunity. These factors are affected at the cellular level and cause pathways like apoptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis. A development in understanding these pathways stipulates that these three pathways act as one complex of pathways, known together as PANoptosis. The inflammatory mechanisms of PANoptosis are particularly interesting in Cd²⁺ toxicity due to its inflammatory effects. Proteins in the gasdermin family act to release inflammatory cytokines, like interleukin-1β, into the extracellular environment. Cytokines cause inflammatory disease pathologies like fibrosis and cancer. RAW 264.7 monocytes are key in the murine immune system and provide an excellent model to investigate Cd²⁺ toxicity. Exposure of 0–15 µM CdCl₂ was sufficient to increase expression of cleaved gasdermin D (GSDMD) and gasdermin E (GSDME) in this cell type. Cd²⁺ also exhibits a dose–dependent cytotoxicity in this cell type. Full article

Background: Concerns have been raised regarding the effects of perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure on cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but clear evidence linking PFAS exposure to CVD is lacking, and the mechanism remains unclear. Objectives: To study the association between PFASs and CVD in U.S. population, and to reveal the mechanism of PFASs’ effects on CVD. Methods: To assess the relationships between individual blood serum PFAS levels and the risk of total CVD or its subtypes, multivariable logistic regression analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were conducted on all participants or subgroups among 3391 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The SuperPred and GeneCards databases were utilized to identify potential targets related to PFAS and CVD, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses of intersection genes were performed using Metascape. Protein interaction networks were generated, and core targets were identified with STRING. Molecular docking was achieved using Autodock Vina 1.1.2. Results: There was a positive association between Me-PFOSA-AcOH and CVD (OR = 1.28, p = 0.022), especially coronary heart disease (CHD) (OR = 1.47, p = 0.007) and heart attack (OR = 1.58, p < 0.001) after adjusting for all potential covariates. Me-PFOSA-AcOH contributed the most to distinguishing between individuals in terms of CVD and non-CVD. Significant moderating effects for Me-PFOSA-AcOH were observed in the subgroup analysis stratified by sex, ethnicity, education level, PIR, BMI, smoking status, physical activity, and hypertension (p < 0.05). The potential intersection targets were mainly enriched in CVD-related pathways, including the inflammatory response, neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction, MAPK signaling pathway, and arachidonic acid metabolism. TLR4 was identified as the core target for the effects of Me-PFOSA-AcOH on CVD. Molecular docking results revealed that the binding energy of Me-PFOSA-AcOH to the TLR4-MD-2 complex was −7.2 kcal/mol, suggesting that Me-PFOSA-AcOH binds well to the TLR4-MD-2 complex. Conclusions: Me-PFOSA-AcOH exposure was significantly associated with CVD. Network toxicology and molecular docking uncovered novel molecular targets, such as TLR4, and identified the inflammatory and metabolic mechanisms underlying Me-PFOSA-AcOH-induced CVD. Full article