Bmc Med
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Effective targeted prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D) depends on accurate prediction of disease risk. We assessed the role of metabolomic profiling in improving T2D risk prediction beyond conventional risk factors. ⋯ When added to conventional risk factors, circulating NMR-based metabolic biomarkers modestly enhanced T2D risk prediction.
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Congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a rare heart disease caused by various underlying mutations. Most general cardiologists do not routinely see patients with congenital LQTS and may not always recognize the accompanying ECG features. In addition, a proportion of disease carriers do not display obvious abnormalities on their ECG. Combined, this can cause underdiagnosing of this potentially life-threatening disease. ⋯ This study suggests that DL models can potentially be used to aid cardiologists in diagnosing LQTS. Furthermore, explainable DL models can be used to possibly identify new features for LQTS on the ECG, thus increasing our understanding of this syndrome.
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In December 2019, a new coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and associated disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), was identified in China. This virus spread quickly and in March, 2020, it was declared a pandemic. Scientists predicted the worst scenario to occur in Africa since it was the least developed of the continents in terms of human development index, lagged behind others in achievement of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs), has inadequate resources for provision of social services, and has many fragile states. ⋯ However, for Africa, the earlier predictions and modelling into COVID-19 incidence and mortality did not fit into the reality. Therefore, the main objective of this forum is to bring together infectious diseases and public health experts to give an overview of COVID-19 in Africa and share their thoughts and opinions on why Africa behaved the way it did. Furthermore, the experts highlight what needs to be done to support Africa to consolidate the status quo and overcome the negative effects of COVID-19 so as to accelerate attainment of the SDGs.
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Although social isolation has been associated with a higher mortality risk, little is known about the potential different impacts of face-to-face and non-face-to-face isolation on mortality. We examined the prospective associations of four types of social isolation, including face-to-face isolation with co-inhabitants and non-co-inhabitants, non-face-to-face isolation, and club/organization isolation, with all-cause and cause-specific mortality separately. ⋯ In this cohort study, face-to-face and non-face-to-face isolation were both positively associated with all-cause, CVD-, and other-cause (but not cancer) mortality. Our finding suggests a need to promote non-face-to-face contact among middle-aged and older adults.