Intraplaque hemorrhage in the carotid artery is related to an increased risk of cerebrovascular ischemic events. We aimed to investigate whether quantitative susceptibility mapping can characterize ...carotid artery plaque components and quantify the severity of intraplaque hemorrhage.
For this ex vivo quantitative susceptibility mapping study, 9 carotid endarterectomy specimens were imaged on a 3T MR imaging scanner using a 3D multi-echo gradient-echo sequence and a microscopy coil. The samples were examined histologically using immunostains, including glycophorin A and Prussian blue. The areas of erythrocytes, iron deposits, calcification, and fibrous matrices observed on stained sections were compared with quantitative susceptibility mapping findings and their mean susceptibility values.
Intraplaque hemorrhage and iron deposits were observed only in areas hyperintense on quantitative susceptibility mapping; calcifications and fibrous matrices were prevalent in hypointense areas. The mean susceptibility values for necrotic cores with intraplaque hemorrhage but no iron deposits, cores with iron deposits but no intraplaque hemorrhage, cores without either intraplaque hemorrhage or iron deposits, and cores with calcification were 188 ± 51, 129 ± 49, -11 ± 17, and -158 ± 78 parts per billion, respectively. There was a significant difference in the mean susceptibility values among the 4 histologic components (
< .01). The mean susceptibility values of the whole plaque positively correlated with the percentage area positive for glycophorin A (
= 0.65,
< .001) and Prussian blue (
= 0.47,
< .001).
Our findings suggest that quantitative susceptibility mapping can characterize the composition of carotid plaques and quantify the degree of intraplaque hemorrhage and iron deposits.
With the development of large‐scale rice cultivation management initiatives in East Asia, there is concern that a reduction in the number of human cultivators per unit area may lead to poor water ...management, which could result in decreased land productivity, owing to abnormally high‐ and low‐temperature damage to crops. Accurate simulation of paddy field water temperature is important for studying its impact on crops and providing timely information to aid in decision‐making for more efficient management under limited resources. We propose a neural‐network framework that considers the heat transfer by the vegetation canopy and applies physical‐theory constraints in its training. A novel tuning method is proposed to cope with the trade‐off between water temperature accuracy and physical consistency during training to ensure that the calculated water temperature variations in a paddy field enjoy high accuracy and physical consistency. In the experiments, the proposed framework outperforms physical process models and pure neural network models while maintaining high accuracy in the case of sparse data sets. Furthermore, an attention‐mechanism input layer is integrated into the model to rank feature importance, providing global interpretation to the proposed framework. We also perform sensitivity analysis on the physical process and propose models to compare their different strategies of feature ranking. The results show that the two methods have different sensitivities to different feature patterns, but they complement each other. In summary, the proposed model is credible and stable for practical applications and has the potential to guide more efficient paddy management.
Key Points
Paddy‐water temperature is simulated using the physics‐guided neural network while considering the effect of the vegetation canopy
A tuning method is proposed to cope with a trade‐off between water temperature accuracy and physical consistency during training
A global interpretation is given by attention mechanism weight comparison sensitivity analysis to rank the feature importance
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
To identify pulmonary/uterine thrombus formation in amniotic fluid embolism (AFE).
Retrospective, observational.
Nationwide.
Eleven autopsy cases of AFE and control cases.
We assessed pulmonary and ...uterine thrombus formation and thrombus area in AFE and pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) as a control. The area of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, fibrin, neutrophil elastase, citrullinated histone H3 (a neutrophil extracellular trap marker) and mast cell chymase immunopositivity was measured in 90 pulmonary emboli, 15 uterine thrombi and 14 PTE.
Pathological evidence of thrombus formation and its components in AFE.
Amniotic fluid embolism lung showed massive thrombus formation, with or without amniotic emboli in small pulmonary arteries and capillaries. The median pulmonary thrombus size in AFE (median, 0.012 mm
; P < 0.0001) was significantly smaller than that of uterine thrombus in AFE (0.61 mm
) or PTE (29 mm
). The median area of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa immunopositivity in pulmonary thrombi in AFE (39%; P < 0.01) was significantly larger than that of uterine thrombi in AFE (23%) and PTE (15%). The median area of fibrin (0%; P < 0.001) and citrullinated histone H3 (0%; P < 0.01) immunopositivity in pulmonary thrombi in AFE was significantly smaller than in uterine thrombi (fibrin: 26%; citrullinated histone H3: 1.1%) and PTE (fibrin: 42%; citrullinated histone H3: 0.4%). No mast cells were identified in pulmonary thrombi.
Amniotic fluid may induce distinct thrombus formation in the uterus and lung. Pulmonary and uterine thrombi formation may contribute to cardiorespiratory collapse and/or consumptive coagulopathy in AFE.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Raman spectra of benzophenone (BP) have been measured in methanol, ethanol, and cyclohexane under various thermodynamic conditions including the supercritical states. The CO stretching band of BP ...shifted to higher frequencies with an increase in the solvent temperature from room temperature (RT) at constant pressure. Under the isothermal condition above the critical temperature of the solvent, the CO stretching band shifted to lower frequencies with a decrease in the solvent density. On the other hand, the ring stretching band shifted to lower frequencies with an increase in the solvent temperature from RT to ca. 530K, while it slightly shifted to higher frequencies under the supercritical conditions with decreasing density. We have calculated the acceptor number of supercritical alcohols in reference to the linear correlation established for normal solvents between the acceptor number of the solvent and the CO stretching frequency (Fujisawa et al., J. Phys. Chem. 112 (2008) 1914). The results are discussed in relation to the hydrogen bonding between the solute and the solvent.
Display omitted
•Raman spectra of benzophenone were measured in supercritical methanol and ethanol.•The CO stretching vibration of benzophenone showed a unique density dependence.•Acceptor number of alcohols was determined under various thermodynamic conditions.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Background: Health inequality has long attracted keen attention in the research and policy arena. While there may be various motivations to study health inequality, what distinguishes it as a topic ...is moral concern. Despite the importance of this moral interest, a theoretical and analytical framework for measuring health inequality acknowledging moral concerns remains to be established. Study objective: To propose a framework for measuring the moral or ethical dimension of health inequality—that is, health inequity. Design: Conceptual discussion. Conclusions: Measuring health inequity entails three steps: (1) defining when a health distribution becomes inequitable, (2) deciding on measurement strategies to operationalise a chosen concept of equity, and (3) quantifying health inequity information. For step (1) a variety of perspectives on health equity exist under two categories, health equity as equality in health, and health inequality as an indicator of general injustice in society. In step (2), when we are interested in health inequity, the choice of the measurement of health, the unit of time, and the unit of analysis in health inequity analysis should reflect moral considerations. In step (3) we must follow principles rather than convenience and consider six questions that arise when quantifying health inequity information. This proposed framework suggests various ways to conceptualise the moral dimension of health inequality and emphasises the logical consistency from conception to measurement.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, CMK, NMLJ, NUK, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-296) prompted the expansion of federal requirements for local school wellness policies, which aim to improve health promoting practices across ...school districts in the USA. This qualitative study examined how school district superintendents-as key school leaders who are often listed as the district accountability figure for wellness policies applicable to kindergarten through 12th grade-engaged with wellness policy implementation. The inquiry was guided by evidence-informed implementation and leadership frameworks, including the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and "bridging, buffering, and brokering" strategies from education leadership theory.
We conducted focus groups and interviews with superintendents (
= 39) from 23 states. Interviews were recorded and professionally transcribed; transcripts were team-coded in Atlas.ti v8 using an iteratively revised coding guide that was informed by CFIR, pilot testing, and during weekly analyst meetings. Principles of constant comparative analysis were employed to develop themes.
Most superintendents' reported positive perspectives and personal motivations to engage with wellness policy implementation. Within the CFIR process domain, superintendents demonstrated adaptive leadership traits and employed a combination of "bridging, buffering, and brokering" strategies to lead implementation activities. Rather than focus on personal traits, an emphasis on specific strategies highlights actions that may be applied.
The findings offer practical strategies to support superintendents with implementation, as well as a formative contribution to the dearth of theoretical frameworks in school wellness literature, particularly by advancing the specific understanding of leadership roles within a broader implementation framework. The application of education theory allowed for a deeper inquiry into the potential ways that leaders' strategies and engagement influences implementation more broadly.
The aims of this study are to propose a new set of Japanese diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for 2014 and to study the impact of tube voltage and the type of reconstruction algorithm on patient ...doses. The volume CT dose index (CTDI(vol)) for adult and paediatric patients is assessed and compared with the results of a 2011 national survey and data from other countries.
Scanning procedures for the head (non-helical and helical), chest and upper abdomen were examined for adults and 5-year-old children. A questionnaire concerning the following items was sent to 3000 facilities: tube voltage, use of reconstruction algorithms and displayed CTDI(vol).
The mean CTDI(vol) values for paediatric examinations using voltages ranging from 80 to 100 kV were significantly lower than those for paediatric examinations using 120 kV. For adult examinations, the use of iterative reconstruction algorithms significantly reduced the mean CTDI(vol) values compared with the use of filtered back projection. Paediatric chest and abdominal scans showed slightly higher mean CTDI(vol) values in 2014 than in 2011. The proposed DRLs for adult head and abdominal scans were higher than those reported in other countries.
The results imply that further optimization of CT examination protocols is required for adult head and abdominal scans as well as paediatric chest and abdominal scans.
Low-tube-voltage CT may be useful for reducing radiation doses in paediatric patients. The mean CTDI(vol) values for paediatric scans showed little difference that could be attributed to the choice of reconstruction algorithm.
Objective
Biliary brush cytology is an important diagnostic tool in the evaluation of pancreatobiliary malignancies. However, it is difficult to distinguish between malignant and benign cells. The ...present study evaluated the utility of immunocytochemical expression of Claudin‐18 and Maspin in brushing cytology specimens of pancreatobiliary lesions in the diagnosis of pancreatobiliary malignancies.
Methods
The study retrospectively assessed biliary and pancreatic duct brushing cytology specimens of 43 patients whose pancreatobiliary lesions were histologically diagnosed at the University of Miyazaki Hospital. Scanty cellularity slides and cases with no histological confirmation were excluded. Alcohol‐fixed and Papanicolaou‐stained slides were immunostained with monoclonal antibodies to Claudin‐18 and Maspin.
Results
Of the 43 patients, 35 (81.4%) were finally histologically diagnosed with invasive adenocarcinomas. The sensitivity of routine cytology for the detection of malignancy was 63%, and the specificity was 100%. The sensitivity of cytology in combination with immunocytochemical expression of Claudin‐18 (89%) or Claudin‐18 and/or Maspin (97%) was significantly higher than that of cytology alone (P < 0.01).
Conclusion
Immunocytochemical staining for Claudin‐18 and Maspin improved the diagnostic sensitivity for pancreatobiliary adenocarcinomas.
Authors claim that this is the first study examining the Immunocytochemical staining for Claudin‐18 and Maspin in biliary brushing cytology specimens. The result of this retrospective study in 43 patients showed that the addition of these two immunological stains can improve the diagnostic sensitivity of the pancreaticobiliary adenocarcinomas.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background: Thrombus formation through the activation of tissue factor (TF) and factor (F) XI is a critical event in the onset of cardiovascular disease. TF expressed in atherosclerotic plaques and ...circulating blood is an important determinant of thrombogenicity that contributes to fibrin‐rich thrombus formation after plaque disruption. However, the contribution of FXI to thrombus formation on disrupted plaques remains unclear. Methods: A mouse monoclonal antibody against FXI and activated FXI (FXIa) (XI‐5108) was generated by immunization with activated human FXI. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), bleeding time, and ex vivo platelet aggregation in rabbits were measured before and after an intravenous bolus injection of XI‐5108. We investigated the role of FXI upon arterial thrombus growth in the rabbit iliac artery in the presence of repeated balloon injury. Results: The XI‐5108 antibody reacted to the light chain of human and rabbit FXI/FXIa, and inhibited FXIa‐initiated FXa and FXIa generation. Fibrin‐rich thrombi developed on the injured neointima that was obviously immunopositive for glycoprotein IIb‐IIIa, fibrin, TF, and FXI. Intravenous administration of XI‐5108 (3.0 mg kg−1) remarkably reduced thrombus growth, and the APTT was significantly prolonged. However, PT, bleeding time and platelet aggregation were not affected. Conclusions: These results indicate that plasma FXI plays a potent role in thrombus growth on the injured neointima. Inhibition of plasma FXI activity might help to reduce thrombus growth on ruptured plaques without prolonging bleeding time.
Full text
Available for:
FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
PDF
