Ιατρικά Άρθρα

Πέμπτη 8 Νοεμβρίου 2018

Caries detection enhancement using texture feature maps of intraoral radiographs

Abstract

Objectives

Dental caries are caused by tooth demineralization due to bacterial plaque formation. However, the resulting lesions are often discrete and thus barely recognizable in intraoral radiography images. Therefore, more advanced detection techniques are in great demand among dentists and radiographers. This study was performed to evaluate the performance of texture feature maps in the recognition of discrete demineralization related to caries plaque formation.

Methods

Digital intraoral radiology image analysis protocols incorporating first-order features (FOF), co-occurrence matrices, gray tone difference matrices, run-length matrices (RLM), local binary patterns (LBP), and k-means clustering (CLU) were used to transform the digital intraoral radiology images of 10 patients with confirmed caries, which were retrospectively reviewed in a dental clinic. The performance of the resulting texture feature maps was compared with that of radiographic images by radiologists and dental specialists.

Results

Significantly improved detection of caries spots was achieved by employing the CLU and FOF texture feature maps. The caries-affected area with sharp margins was well defined using the CLU approach. A pseudo-three-dimensional effect was observed in outlining the demineralization zones inside the cavity with the FOF 5 protocol. In contrast, the LBP and RLM techniques produced less satisfactory results with unsharp edges and less detailed depiction of the lesions.

Conclusions

This study illustrated the applicability of texture feature maps to the recognition of demineralized spots on the tooth surface debilitated by caries and identified the best performing techniques.

https://ift.tt/2AV7jTq

Poultry biogas slurry can partially substitute for mineral fertilizers in hydroponic lettuce production

Abstract

Poultry biogas slurry, a by-product of the biogas production process, is rich in nutrients. However, improper handling increases the potential for serious environmental contamination and resource waste. The preparation of nutrient solutions for hydroponic lettuce production requires large amounts of mineral fertilizers, which provides an opportunity for poultry biogas slurry to enter the crop nutrient cycle. To assess the feasibility of the application of poultry biogas slurry, we used different proportions of biogas slurry and mineral fertilizers in a hydroponics experiment with lettuce. Four treatments were established: HS (half-strength Hoagland solution), BS (2.6% biogas slurry), BS + HS (1.3% biogas slurry + quarter-strength Hoagland solution), and BS + MF (2.6% biogas slurry + mineral fertilizers). The addition of poultry biogas slurry (BS + HS) did not have an adverse effect on lettuce growth, significantly increased the soluble sugar concentration, reduced the nitrate concentration, and the concentrations of heavy metals were still within the safety standards. In addition, the application of poultry biogas slurry could effectively reduce the production costs, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions of hydroponically grown lettuce. Based on our study, poultry biogas slurry could replace 50% of the mineral fertilizer used in hydroponic lettuce production. The key is to control the electrical conductivity and replenish the nutrients that are lacking in the biogas slurry, especially magnesium.

https://ift.tt/2SY3WCg

Prevalence of nasal colonization by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in outpatients living with HIV/AIDS in a Referential Hospital of the Northeast of Brazil.

Prevalence of nasal colonization by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in outpatients living with HIV/AIDS in a Referential Hospital of the Northeast of Brazil.

BMC Res Notes. 2018 Nov 06;11(1):794

Authors: Regina Pedrosa Soares C, de Lira CR, Cunha MAH, Romão de Souza Junior V, Lopes de Melo F, de Araújo PSR, Maciel MAV

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of MRSA among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) being monitored in a tertiary outpatient hospital in the state of Pernambuco, in the Brazilian Northeast.
RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from a nasal swab and found in 31.4% of the individuals (95% CI 27.3-35.5), of whom 4.4% (95% CI 8.5-19.5) were MRSA, as confirmed by the presence of the mecA gene. For individuals whose S. aureus was recovered, the mean age was 41.5 years; 93.6% were on antiretroviral treatment. This group had CD4 cell counts > 200 (92%) and viral load ≤ 100 copies (79.1%). Use of antimicrobial agents in the past 12 months was found among 21% of the individuals, and 24.2% reported use of illicit drugs at lease once in their lifetime. Prevalence of nasal colonization by MSSA (26.7%) and MRSA (4.4%) was higher in comparison to other studies of this population; nevertheless, we were unable to establish factors associated with risk.

PMID: 30400979 [PubMed - in process]

https://ift.tt/2OzpOjU

Contaminated sites, waste management, and green chemistry: new challenges from monitoring to remediation

https://ift.tt/2qBHRMA

Multi-material Three-Dimensional Food Printing with Simultaneous Infrared Cooking

3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, Ahead of Print.

https://ift.tt/2qCM5nu

Relevance of Reference Centers in Sarcoma Care and Quality Item Evaluation: Results from the Prospective Registry of the Spanish Group for Research in Sarcoma (GEIS)

AbstractBackground.Reference centers (RCs) are a key point for improving the survival of patients with soft‐tissue sarcomas (STS). The aim of this study was to evaluate selected items in the management of patients with STS, comparing results between RC and local hospitals (LHs).Materials and Methods.Diagnostic and therapeutic data from patients diagnosed between January 2004 and December 2011 were collected. Correlation with outcome was performed.Results.A total of 622 sarcomas were analyzed, with a median follow‐up of 40 months. Imaging of primary tumor preoperatively (yes vs. no) correlated with a higher probability of free surgical margins (77.4% versus 53.7%; p = .006). The provenance of the biopsy (RC vs. LH) significantly affected relapse‐free survival (RFS; 3‐year RFS 66% vs. 46%, respectively; p = .019). Likewise, 3‐year RFS was significantly worse in cases with infiltrated (55.6%) or unknown (43.4%) microscopic surgical margins compared with free margins (63.6%; p < .001). Patients managed by RCs had a better 3‐year overall survival compared with those managed by LHs (82% vs. 70.4%, respectively; p = .003). Perioperative chemotherapy in high‐risk STS, more frequently administered in RCs than in LHs, resulted in significantly better 3‐year RFS (66% vs. 44%; p = .011). In addition, patients with stage IV disease treated in RCs survived significantly longer compared with those in LHs (30.4 months vs. 18.5 months; p = .036).Conclusion.Our series indicate that selected quality‐of‐care items were accomplished better by RCs over LHs, all with significant prognostic value in patients with STS. Early referral to an RC should be mandatory if the aim is to improve the survival of patients with STS.Implications for Practice.This prospective study in patients diagnosed with soft‐tissue sarcoma shows the prognostic impact of reference centers in the management of these patients. The magnitude of this impact encompasses all steps of the process, from the initial management (performing diagnostic biopsy) to the advanced disease setting. This is the first prospective evidence showing improvement in outcomes of patients with metastatic disease when they are managed in centers with expertise. This study provides extra data supporting referral of patients with sarcoma to reference centers.

https://ift.tt/2Dt16Rd

Age and the Risk of Paclitaxel‐Induced Neuropathy in Women with Early‐Stage Breast Cancer (Alliance A151411): Results from 1,881 Patients from Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) 40101

AbstractPurpose.A few previous studies report a direct relationship between older age and chemotherapy‐induced neuropathy. This study further evaluated this adverse event's age‐based risk.Methods.CALGB 40101 investigated adjuvant paclitaxel (80 mg/m2 once per week or 175 mg/m2 every 2 weeks) in patients with breast cancer and served as a platform for the current study that investigated age‐based differences in neuropathy. Grade 2 or worse neuropathy, as per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4, was the primary endpoint; patients were assessed at baseline, every 6 months for 2 years, and then annually for 15 years.Results.Among these 1,881 patients, 230 were 65 years of age or older, 556 were 55–64 years, and 1,095 were younger than 55; 1,226 neuropathy events (commonly grade 1 or 2) were reported in 65% of the cohort. The number of grade 2 or worse events was 63 (27%), 155 (28%), and 266 (24%) within respective age groups (p = .14). In univariate analysis, only motor neuropathy had a higher age‐based incidence: 19 (8%), 43 (8%), and 60 (5%), respectively (p = .04); in multivariate analyses, this association was no longer statistically significant. Other endpoints, such as time to onset of neuropathy (time from trial enrollment to neuropathy development) and time to improvement (time from maximal grade sensory neuropathy to a one‐category improvement), showed no statistically significant age‐based differences. In contrast, obesity was associated with neuropathy, and every 2‐week paclitaxel was associated with trends toward neuropathy.Conclusion.Although paclitaxel‐induced neuropathy is common, older age is not an independent risk factor. Clinical trial identification number. NCT00041119 (CALGB 40101).Implications for Practice.Age alone is not an independent risk factor for paclitaxel‐induced neuropathy.

https://ift.tt/2RL1tts

Hydroxychloroquine sulphate therapy of erosive oral lichen planus

Abstract

Background/Objectives

Erosive oral lichen planus (LP) may be painful and debilitating. Symptomatic oral LP has been treated with a wide spectrum of topical and systemic therapies, but few have been evaluated in large series. Hydroxychloroquine is suggested to be effective in oral LP.

Methods

Twenty‐one consecutive patients with erosive, biopsy‐confirmed oral LP were prescribed. hydroxychloroquine sulphate 400 mg/day. Symptomatic improvement was evaluated by means of a visual analogue scale into three groups: no change, moderate to marked improvement and complete remission.

Results

Five (24%) patients obtained complete remission, 12 (57%) patients showed moderate to marked improvement, 3 (14%) patients did not improve at all and in one patient therapy was terminated after 1 month due to side effects. Response to therapy was observed after 2–4 months. Side effects which ultimately led to termination of therapy in three patients were elevated creatinine serum levels (after 1 month), visual field defects (after 8 months) and hyperpigmentation (after 24 months). Among six patients who responded to therapy, three flared on stopping.

Conclusions

Hydroxychloroquine sulphate may be effective and relatively safe treatment for erosive oral LP.

https://ift.tt/2qxDhz8

Efficacy of erbium glass laser in the treatment of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis: A case series

Abstract

Background

Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis remains a challenge; new physical treatment modalities including laser systems are of interest in the treatment of localized lesions.

Method

Fourteen patients (10 females) with 20 lesions of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis underwent weekly treatments of 1540 nm erbium glass fractional laser (Palomar) using 10 mm spot size hand piece in four passes of 50–70 mJ/cm² fluence and 10 ms pulse duration.

Results

Twelve lesions were available for assessment: six (50%) improved at 6 weeks and eleven lesions (91.7%) at 12 weeks. There were no recurrences at 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐ups.

Conclusion

Erbium glass fractional laser may be an alternative treatment for localized cases of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis.

https://ift.tt/2Fffb6l

Comparative on plant stoichiometry response to agricultural non-point source pollution in different types of ecological ditches

Abstract

Long-term agricultural development has led to agricultural non-point source (NPS) pollution. Ecological ditches (eco-ditch), as specific wetland systems, can be used to manage agricultural NPS water and achieve both ecological and environmental benefits. In order to understand which type of eco-ditch systems (Es, soil eco-ditch; Ec, concrete eco-ditch; Eh, concrete eco-ditch with holes on double-sided wall) is more suitable for plant nutrient balance meanwhile reducing NPS water (total nitrogen [TN], about 10 mg/L; total phosphorus [TP], about 1 mg/L), it is essential to evaluate the plant (Vallisneria natans) stoichiometry response to water in different types of eco-ditches under static experiment. The results indicated that there were no significant differences in TP removal efficiency among three eco-ditches, yet Eh systems had the best TN removal efficiency during the earlier experimental time. Addition of agricultural NPS water had varying effects on plants living in different types of eco-ditch systems. Plant organ stoichiometry of V. natans varied in relation to eco-ditch types. Plant stoichiometry (C:N, C:P, and N:P) of V. natans in Eh systems could maintain the homeostasis of nutrients and was not greatly affected by external changing environment. V. natans in Es systems can more easily modify the nutrient contents of organs with regard to nutrient availability in the environment. Our findings provide useful plant stoichiometry information for ecologists studying other specific ecosystems.

https://ift.tt/2yYM1mx

The effect of preoperative penicillin allergy testing on perioperative non‐beta-lactam antibiotic use: A systematic review and meta-analysis

https://ift.tt/2Ds3B64

Cross-sectional study on Asthma Insights and Management in the Gulf and Russia

https://ift.tt/2RGFXpu

Impact of patient satisfaction with his or her inhaler on adherence and asthma control

https://ift.tt/2Dv2en8

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