Deep learning-based super-resolution (SR) algorithms aim to reconstruct low-resolution (LR) images into high-fidelity high-resolution (HR) images by learning the low- and high-frequency information. ...Experts’ diagnostic requirements are fulfilled in medical application scenarios through the high-quality reconstruction of LR digital medical images.
Medical image SR algorithms should satisfy the requirements of arbitrary resolution and high efficiency in applications. However, there is currently no relevant study available. Several SR research on natural images have accomplished the reconstruction of resolutions without limitations. However, these methodologies provide challenges in meeting medical applications due to the large scale of the model, which significantly limits efficiency. Hence, we suggest a highly effective method for reconstructing medical images at any desired resolution.
Statistical features of medical images exhibit greater continuity in the region of neighboring pixels than natural images. Hence, the process of reconstructing medical images is comparatively less challenging. Utilizing this property, we develop a neighborhood evaluator to represent the continuity of the neighborhood while controlling the network’s depth.
The suggested method has superior performance across seven scales of reconstruction, as evidenced by experiments conducted on panoramic radiographs and two external public datasets. Furthermore, the proposed network significantly decreases the parameter count by over 20× and the computational workload by over 10× compared to prior researches. On large-scale reconstruction, the inference speed can be enhanced by over 5×.
The novel proposed SR strategy for medical images performs efficient reconstruction at arbitrary resolution, marking a significant breakthrough in the field. The given scheme facilitates the implementation of SR in mobile medical platforms.
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•A model for super-resolution of medical images with arbitrary resolution is present.•The proposed efficient method can increase the inference speed by five times.•The strategy provides a technical solution for deployment on mobile platforms.
This paper presents an expert knowledge-based approach to landslide susceptibility mapping in an effort to overcome the deficiencies of data-driven approaches. The proposed approach consists of three ...generic steps: (1) extraction of knowledge on the relationship between landslide susceptibility and predisposing factors from domain experts, (2) characterization of predisposing factors using GIS techniques, and (3) prediction of landslide susceptibility under fuzzy logic. The approach was tested in two study areas in China — the Kaixian study area (about 250km2) and the Three Gorges study area (about 4600km2). The Kaixian study area was used to develop the approach and to evaluate its validity. The Three Gorges study area was used to test both the portability and the applicability of the developed approach for mapping landslide susceptibility over large study areas. Performance was evaluated by examining if the mean of the computed susceptibility values at landslide sites was statistically different from that of the entire study area. A z-score test was used to examine the statistical significance of the difference. The computed z for the Kaixian area was 3.70 and the corresponding p-value was less than 0.001. This suggests that the computed landslide susceptibility values are good indicators of landslide occurrences. In the Three Gorges study area, the computed z was 10.75 and the corresponding p-value was less than 0.001. In addition, we divided the susceptibility value into four levels: low (0.0–0.25), moderate (0.25–0.5), high (0.5–0.75) and very high (0.75–1.0). No landslides were found for areas of low susceptibility. Landslide density was about three times higher in areas of very high susceptibility than that in the moderate susceptibility areas, and more than twice as high as that in the high susceptibility areas. The results from the Three Gorge study area suggest that the extracted expert knowledge can be extrapolated to another study area and the developed approach can be used in large-scale projects. Results from these case studies suggest that the expert knowledge-based approach is effective in mapping landslide susceptibility and that its performance is maintained when it is moved to a new area from the model development area without changes to the knowledge base.
Objective: Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) is regarded as a fundamental index to assess pulmonary artery stenosis. The application of FFR can increase the accuracy of detection of pulmonary artery ...stenosis. However, the invasive examination may carry a number of physiological risks for patients. Therefore, we propose a personalized pulmonary circulation model to non-invasively calculate FFR of pulmonary artery stenosis. Methodology: We have employed a personalized pulmonary circulation model to non-invasively calculate FFR. This model combines boundary condition estimation and 3D pulmonary artery morphology reconstruction for CFD simulation. Firstly, we obtain patient-specific boundary conditions by matching cardiac output and main pulmonary artery pressure. Secondly, the 3D pulmonary artery morphology is reconstructed by semi-automatic segmentation. The CFD simulation is performed to obtain the pressure distribution in the entire pulmonary artery. Finally, the FFR in pulmonary artery stenosis is calculated as the ratio of distal pressure and proximal pressure. Results: To validate our model, we compare the simulated FFR with the measured FFR by pressure guide wires examination of 20 patients. The FFR simulated by our model shows a good agreement with the measured FFR by pressure guide wires examination (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">r=</tex-math></inline-formula> 0.989, <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">p< </tex-math></inline-formula> 0.001). Conclusion: Our proposed personalized pulmonary circulation model is shown to be capable of non-invasively calculating FFR with sufficient accuracy. Significance: The FFR calculated by our personalized circulation model may effectively contribute to non-invasive detection of pulmonary artery stenosis and to a comprehensive evaluation of the entire pulmonary artery vascular tree.
We investigated the occurrence of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the surface soils from the largest BFR-manufacturing ...and vegetable farming center (Shouguang) of North China. The total concentrations of BFRs ranged from 39.9 to 8145ng/g dry weight with a mean of 1947ng/g. The BFRs were dominated by decabromodiphenylethane (deca-BDEs) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), with means of 1127 and 672ng/g, respectively, followed by decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) (111ng/g) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCD) (37.5ng/g). This profile was generally consistent with the BFR production and use in China, except for TBBPA. Although the lower brominated BDEs (tri- through hepta-BDEs) in the soil may originate from technical deca-BDE mixtures as trace impurities and/or from the degradation of deca-BDEs, deca-BDE was shown to be persistent in the soil. The concentrations of OCPs (44ng/g) were significantly lower than those of BFRs and displayed a spatial distribution opposite to that of BFRs, which was concentrated in the industrial zone. PCBs (with the lowest levels) showed a relatively uniform spatial distribution because of regional diffusive sources. The mass inventories for the entire land soil (20-cm) were estimated to be 1042, 26, and 3.7t for BFRs, OCPs, and PCBs, respectively.
•BFR concentrations in the soil were dominated by deca-BDEs, TBBPA, and DBDPE.•The soil BFR profiles generally resembled the BFR production and use in China.•BDE209 is persistent and has not undergone significant degradation in the soil.•Manufacturing plants are a very significant source of BFRs into the environment.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive, fatal disease with no cure. Parenteral and inhaled prostacyclin analogue therapies are effective for the treatment of PAH, but complicated ...administration requirements can limit the use of these therapies in patients with less severe disease. This study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the oral prostacyclin analogue treprostinil diolamine as initial treatment for de novo PAH.
Three hundred forty-nine patients (intent-to-treat population) not receiving endothelin receptor antagonist or phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor background therapy were randomized (treprostinil, n=233; placebo, n=116). The primary analysis population (modified intent-to-treat) included 228 patients (treprostinil, n=151; placebo, n=77) with access to 0.25-mg treprostinil tablets at randomization. The primary end point was change from baseline in 6-minute walk distance at week 12. Secondary end points included Borg dyspnea index, clinical worsening, and symptoms of PAH. The week 12 treatment effect for 6-minute walk distance (modified intent-to-treat population) was 23.0 m (P=0.0125). For the intent-to-treat population, 6-minute walk distance improvements were observed at peak (26.0 m; P=0.0001) and trough (17.0 m; P=0.0025) plasma study drug concentrations. Other than an improvement in the combined 6-minute walk distance/Borg dyspnea score, there were no significant changes in secondary end points. Oral treprostinil therapy was generally well tolerated; the most common adverse events (intent-to-treat) were headache (69%), nausea (39%), diarrhea (37%), and pain in jaw (25%).
Oral treprostinil improves exercise capacity in PAH patients not receiving other treatment. Oral treprostinil could provide a convenient, first-line prostacyclin treatment option for PAH patients not requiring more intensive therapy.
URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00325403.
Background
Cancer‐associated venous thromboembolism (CAT) has detrimental impact on patients' clinical outcomes and quality of life. Data on CAT education, communication, and awareness among the ...general cancer population are scanty.
Methods
We present the preliminary results of an ongoing patient‐centered survey including 27 items covering major spheres of CAT. The survey, available in 14 languages, was promoted and disseminated online through social networks, email newsletters, websites, and media.
Results
As of September 20, 2022, 749 participants from 27 countries completed the survey. Overall, 61.8% (n = 460) of responders were not aware of their risk of CAT. Among those who received information on CAT, 26.2% (n = 56) were informed only at the time of CAT diagnosis. Over two thirds (69.1%, n = 501) of participants received no education on signs and symptoms of venous thromboembolism (VTE); among those who were educated about the possible clinical manifestations, 58.9% (n = 119) were given instructions to seek consultation in case of VTE suspicion. Two hundred twenty‐four respondents (30.9%) had a chance to discuss the potential use of primary thromboprophylaxis with health‐care providers. Just over half (58.7%, n = 309) were unaware of the risks of bleeding associated with anticoagulation, despite being involved in anticoagulant‐related discussions or exposed to anticoagulants. Most responders (85%, n = 612) valued receiving CAT education as highly relevant; however, 51.7% (n = 375) expressed concerns about insufficient time spent and clarity of education received.
Conclusions
This ongoing survey involving cancer patients with diverse ethnic, cultural, and geographical backgrounds highlights important patient knowledge gaps. These findings warrant urgent interventions to improve education and awareness, and reduce CAT burden.
Abstract
Mycoplasma capricolum
subsp.
subsp.
capripneumonia
(Mccp) and
Mycoplasma mycoides
subsp.
sbusp.
capri
(Mmc) cause caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) and mycoplasmal pneumonia in goats and ...sheep (MPGS), respectively. These diseases cannot be identified on clinical symptoms alone and it is laborious to distinguish them using biochemical methods. It is therefore important to establish a simple, rapid identification method for Mccp and Mmc. Here, we report a high-resolution melting (HRM) curve analysis using specific primers based on the Mmc 95010 strain
MLC_0560
and Mccp F38 strain
MCCPF38_00984
gene sequences. The method was highly specific with intra- and inter-batch coefficients of variation < 1%. The lower limit of detection for Mccp and Mmc was 55 copies/μL and 58 copies/μL, respectively. HRM and fluorescence qPCR results were compared using 106 nasal swabs and 47 lung tissue samples from goats (HRM-qPCR coincidence rate 94.8%; 145/153). Mycoplasma isolation and identification was performed on 30 lung tissue samples and 16 nasal swabs (HRM-culturing coincidence rate 87.0%; 40/46). HRM analysis was more sensitive than fluorescence qPCR and Mycoplasma isolation, indicating the practicality of HRM for accurate and rapid identification of Mccp and Mmc, and diagnosis and epidemiology of CCPP and MPGS.
Chitosan is an extremely valuable biopolymer and is usually obtained as a byproduct from the shells of crustaceans. In the current work, chitosan is obtained from an herbal source (Ganoderma lucidum ...spore powder (GLSP)) for the first time. To show this, both standard (thermochemical deacetylation, (TCD)) and emerging (ultrasound-assisted deacetylation (USAD)) methods of chitosan preparation were used. The obtained chitosan was characterized by elemental analysis, XRD (X-ray diffraction), FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and thermogravimetric measurements. The process resulted in chitosan possessing comparable values of DD, η and Formula: see text to the commercial product. Chitosan obtained via both processes (TCD and USAD) displayed excellent biocompatibility; although the USAD prepared biopolymer exhibited significantly improved fibroblast (L929 cell) viability and enhanced antibacterial zones for both Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The findings of new herbal chitosan mark key developments of natural biomaterials; marking a potential shift from conventional sea-based organisms.
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