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•Evaluation framework for coronary artery lumen segmentation and stenosis grading.•Description of the datasets and creation of reference standard is given.•Standardized evaluation ...measures are defined.•Results on current 11 submissions are presented.•Framework is open for new submissions.
Though conventional coronary angiography (CCA) has been the standard of reference for diagnosing coronary artery disease in the past decades, computed tomography angiography (CTA) has rapidly emerged, and is nowadays widely used in clinical practice. Here, we introduce a standardized evaluation framework to reliably evaluate and compare the performance of the algorithms devised to detect and quantify the coronary artery stenoses, and to segment the coronary artery lumen in CTA data. The objective of this evaluation framework is to demonstrate the feasibility of dedicated algorithms to: (1) (semi-)automatically detect and quantify stenosis on CTA, in comparison with quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and CTA consensus reading, and (2) (semi-)automatically segment the coronary lumen on CTA, in comparison with expert’s manual annotation. A database consisting of 48 multicenter multivendor cardiac CTA datasets with corresponding reference standards are described and made available. The algorithms from 11 research groups were quantitatively evaluated and compared. The results show that (1) some of the current stenosis detection/quantification algorithms may be used for triage or as a second-reader in clinical practice, and that (2) automatic lumen segmentation is possible with a precision similar to that obtained by experts. The framework is open for new submissions through the website, at http://coronary.bigr.nl/stenoses/.
Nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) nanowire arrays (NWs) grown by electrodeposition in porous nano-templates are studied by the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) technique at room temperature (RT) by comparing ...the effects of template type (alumina and polycarbonate) and the deposition substrate (i.e., metallic back contact). The line-width and resonance field of the FMR spectra strongly depends on the orientation of the applied field direction. A model is developed to analyze the spectra in order to extract the magnetic parameters such as g-values, spin–spin relaxation times (T2) and uniaxial anisotropy parameters. The experimental FMR spectra and their resonance field values were fitted using the imaginary part of magnetic susceptibility and a dispersion relation of magnetization, including the Bloch–Bloembergen type damping term. The easy axes of magnetization for all Ni and Co NWs were found to be perpendicular to the wire-axis. Surface spin modes have been observed only when pure Au was used as substrate. A discussion will be provided to explain the observed differences in terms of the anisotropic behavior and magnetic parameters of the NWs for different substrates and growth templates.
Abstract
Background
Given the rarity of 11β-hydroxylase deficiency (11βOHD), there is a paucity of data about the differences in clinical and biochemical characteristics of classic (C-11βOHD) and ...nonclassic 11βOHD (NC-11βOHD).
Objective
To characterize a multicenter pediatric cohort with 11βOHD.
Method
The clinical and biochemical characteristics were retrospectively retrieved. CYP11B1 gene sequencing was performed. Seventeen plasma steroids were quantified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and compared to that of controls.
Results
102 patients (C-11βOHD, n = 92; NC-11βOHD, n = 10) from 76 families (46,XX; n = 53) had biallelic CYP11B1 mutations (novel 9 out of 30). Five 46,XX patients (10%) were raised as males. Nineteen patients (19%) had initially been misdiagnosed with 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Female adult height was 152 cm −1.85 SD score (SDS) and male 160.4 cm (−2.56 SDS).None of the NC-11βOHD girls had ambiguous genitalia (C-11βOHD 100%), and none of the NC-11βOHD patients were hypertensive (C-11βOHD 50%). Compared to NC-11βOHD, C-11βOHD patients were diagnosed earlier (1.33 vs 6.9 years; P < 0.0001), had higher bone age-to-chronological age (P = 0.04) and lower adult height (−2.46 vs −1.32 SDS; P = 0.05). The concentrations of 11-oxygenated androgens and 21-deoxycortisol were low in all patients. The baseline ACTH and stimulated cortisol were normal in NC-11βOHD. Baseline cortisol; cortisone; 11-deoxycortisol; 11-deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone concentrations; and 11-deoxycortisol/cortisol, 11-deoxycorticosterone/cortisol, and androstenedione/cortisol ratios were higher in C-11βOHD than NC-11βOHD patients (P < 0.05). The 11-deoxycortisol/cortisol ratio >2.2, <1.5, and <0.1 had 100% specificity to segregate C-11βOHD, NC-11βOHD, and control groups.
Conclusion
NC-11βOHD can escape from clinical attention due to relatively mild clinical presentation. However, steroid profiles enable the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and subtyping of 11βOHD.
The existence of a fourth fermion generation has mostly been considered as a source of enhanced Higgs signals with respect to the 3 family Standard Model predictions. However, a fourth Standard Model ...family neutrino could cause the opposite situation. It is shown that relatively light fourth family neutrino (2mν4<mH) could drastically change the interpretation of the search results for the Higgs boson, especially if mH<170 GeV.
Operating conditions and challenging demands of present and future accelerator experiments result in new requirements on detector systems. There are many ongoing activities aimed to develop new ...technologies and to improve the properties of detectors based on existing technologies. Our work is dedicated to development of Transition Radiation Detectors (TRD) suitable for different applications. In this paper results obtained in beam tests at SPS accelerator at CERN with the TRD prototype based on straw technology are presented. TRD performance was studied as a function of thickness of the transition radiation radiator and working gas mixture pressure.
Background
Overweight and obesity were recently associated with a poor prognosis in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Whether the metabolic consequences of obesity ...as defined by the metabolic syndrome (MS) are also linked with disease progression remains untested.
Methods
Eligible ADPKD patients with different stages of CKD (
n
= 105) and 105 non-diabetic controls matched for CKD stage were enrolled in the study. Groups were evaluated at baseline for presence of MS, blood markers of metabolism, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) score, and biochemical markers of inflammation (hs-CRP, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and PON-1). MS was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III). Patients were followed for 12 months and progression defined as a decrease in baseline eGFR > 10%.
Results
MS and hypertension were more prevalent amongst ADPKD patients than in the control group. Meanwhile, markers of inflammation such as hs-CRP (3.63 3.45–5.17 vs. 4.2 3.45–8.99 mg/dL;
p
= 0.014), IL-6 (21.65 14.1–27.49 vs. 24.9 16.23–39.4 pg/mL;
p
= 0.004) and IL-1β (21.33 15.8–26.4 vs. 26.78 18.22–35 pg/mL;
p
< 0.001) levels were all more elevated in ADPKD patients than in non-diabetic CKD subjects. In multivariate analysis having a truncating
PKD1
mutation predicted (OR 1.25 1.09–1.43;
p
= 0.002) fulfilling the MS criteria. Finally, ADPKD patients fulfilling MS criteria had a significantly more rapid progression during 12 months of follow-up than did those that did not (OR 3.28 1.09–9.87;
p
= 0.035).
Conclusions
Our data supports the notion that dysmetabolisms part of the ADPKD phenotype and associated with a poor outcome, especially in patients with a truncating
PKD1
mutation.
The impact of the fourth Standard Model family on Higgs boson search at Tevatron and LHC is reviewed. The enhancement due to a fourth SM family in the production of Higgs boson via gluon fusion ...already enables the Tevatron experiments to become sensitive to Higgs masses between 140 and 200 GeV and could increase this sensitivity up to about 300 GeV until the LHC is in shape. The same effect could enable the LHC running even at 7 TeV center of mass energy to scan Higgs masses between 200 and 300 GeV only with a few hundred pb
−1
of integrated luminosity.
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) was discovered as an activated T-lymphocyte-derived protein that inhibits the
random migration of macrophages in vitro. Subsequently, knowledge of the ...physiological actions of MIF was extended to include
its role as a proinflammatory cytokine that affects several functions of macrophages and lymphocytes. Previous reports have
suggested an involvement of MIF in reproduction. However, no data are currently available on the presence of this cytokine
in the human endometrium. In this study, the expression and tissue localization of MIF was evaluated in specimens of cycling
endometrium, first trimester placenta bed biopsy, and isolated endometrial glands by Western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry,
ELISA, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The results demonstrated that MIF is expressed in human endometrium
across the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy. Immunohistochemical localization identified the protein in glandular epithelium,
in stromal and predecidualized stromal cells of cycling endometrium, as well as in the decidua of first-trimester placenta.
The proinflammatory features and specific actions of MIF on lymphoid cells suggest its potential involvement in several aspects
of endometrial physiology.
Towards the end of LHC Run1, gas leaks were observed in some parts of the Transition Radiation Tracker (TRT) of ATLAS. Due to these leaks, primary Xenon based gas mixture was replaced with Argon ...based mixture in various parts. Test-beam studies with a dedicated Transition Radiation Detector (TRD) prototype were carried out in 2015 in order to understand transition radiation performance with mixtures based on Argon and Krypton. We present and discuss the results of these test-beam studies with different active gas compositions.
Abstract
Background
Abnormal glucose, and lipid metabolism all play major roles in the process of atherogenesis and are thus substantial risk factors for the development of coronary artery disease.
...Purpose
We sought to investigate whether the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) and the Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), surrogates for atherosclerosis, are linked to major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with Chronic Coronary Syndrome (CCS).
Methods and Results
Seven hundred ten-five consecutive patients with intermediate risk for CCS who presented to the outpatient clinic between June 2020 and August 2022 were included retrospectively. MACE included non-fatal myocardial infarction, heart failure, cerebrovascular events, non-cardiac mortality, and cardiac mortality. The composite of MACE was determined to be the primary outcome at follow-up after discharge. Secondary outcomes were defined as each individual parameter of MACE. For the primary outcome's time-to-event analysis, the Kaplan-Meier plots, and Cox proportional hazard models were done.The overall population’s median age was 55 years, with males accounting for 58%. The median follow-up time was 17 months. On multivariate cox regression analysis, age, hypertension, Coronary Artery Disease-Reporting and Data System score, and TyG index were found to be independent predictors of the primary outcome. The primary outcome rate was higher in individuals with high TyG than in those with low TyG (18.7% vs 3.8%, p<0.001). Likewise, patients with high TyG had statistically higher rates of cerebrovascular events, heart failure, non-fatal MI, non-cardiac mortality, and cardiac mortality than the latter.
Conclusion
We found that the TyG might predict poor cardiovascular outcomes in CCS patients.Table 1Figure 1
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