171,002 research outputs found
REMODEL. WP4. Vision-based Perception. T4_3. Cable Detection and Tracking. Real Time Segmentation of Deformable Linear Objects. v0
No full textThe dataset contains the source code and model weights utilized for the experimental validation on segmentation of deformable linear objects. The developed approach is called RT-DLO.
A novel method to separate the DLO instances is applied. It employs the generation of a graph representation of the scene given the semantic mask where the graph nodes are sampled from the DLOs center-lines whereas the graph edges are selected based on topological reasoning. RT-DLO also describes each DLO instance with a sequence of 2D coordinates. The associated publication is the following:
A. Caporali, K. Galassi, B. L. Žagar, R. Zanella, G. Palli and A. C. Knoll, "RT-DLO: Real-Time Deformable Linear Objects Instance Segmentation," in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, doi: 10.1109/TII.2023.3245641
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and autoimmunity: a tale of shadows and suspects
No full textBackground and Objective, The key pathogenic feature of TTP is the formation of platelet aggregates within the microcirculation; however, the etiology of such aggregates has been elusive for years. A large amount of evidence points to an abnormal interaction between damaged vascular endothelium and platelets, although the cause of the primary microvascular endothelial cell injury is seldom clear. The autoimmune hypothesis often recurs, and this is based on a number of observations: the claimed superiority of plasma-exchange over plasma infusion, the anecdotal report of the presence of immunocomplexes and autoantibodies in TTP patients, the efficacy of the administration of corticosteroids and other immunosuppressant agents, and the concomitant occurrence of TTP in association with autoimmune diseases, especially systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This review will focus on the complex relationships between TTP and humoral autoimmunity; in particular, similarities and differences between TTP, SLE and antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies syndrome, as well as the putative role of several other antibodies directed towards endothelial cells and/or platelets, including the recently discovered anti-CD36 antibodies and antivWF-cleaving metalloprotease, will be discussed. Design and Methods. The authors have been Involved in the study and treatment of TTP and autoimmune diseases for years; furthermore, the PubMed data base of the National Library of Congress has been extensively searched using the Internet. Conclusions. Although over the years evidence has increased in favor of the autoimmune hypothesis for TTP etiopathogenesis, TTP should not yet be considered an autoimmune disease. Autoantibodies should be regarded as only one of the many different insults which can trigger microvascular thrombosis even though the autoimmune theory of the pathogenesis of TTP is gaining more and more strength. As far as concerns the relationship between TTP, SLE and aPL antibodies-related disorders, these diseases should be distinguished on the basis of both different clinical presentations and accurate antibody screening, although this approach should definitely not delay the prompt start of treatment
SPINOZA E L'UGUAGLIANZA
No full textIl discorso filosofico sull’uguaglianza si presenta in termini centrali nel Trattato Teologico-politico, come una struttura portante sia della pars theologica, sia di quella più propriamente politica del libro. Quel discorso viene sviluppato lungo un tracciato argomentativo ‘a tre stadi’, che comprende, in sequenza: a) la destrutturazione del carattere speciale, della unzione eccezionale degli Ebrei rispetto agli altri popoli; b) la comune natura, l’uguale caratura modale degli individua, e la conseguente equazione diritto-potenza: equazione costitutiva di ciascuno (jus naturale uniuscuiusque), dei singoli uomini e di ogni altro essere vivente; c) la democrazia quale species apicale dell’imperium, quella naturalmente più potente, proprio perché costruita sul più completo riconoscimento e sulla più ampia traduzione istituzionale dell’uguaglianza modale, l’unica aperta all’inclusione e al dispiegamento di tutti, nella universale libertas.
Facilmente riconoscibile (lineare, evidente), questo percorso non appare tuttavia in grado di evitare una differenza cruciale, che si insinua nell’antropologia del modo (del modo-uomo), e che si rivela incomponibile: una bipartizione, una polarità (ragione-passione, sapiente-volgo), tale da rendere concettualmente non solo difficile ma alla lunga proprio ingestibile, impercorribile l’obiettivo pratico-concettuale dell’uguaglianza democratica, almeno nella sua versione funzionale moderna. Questo scacco teorico (che si affianca, sul piano storico-politico, alla sconfitta della fazione repubblicana olandese) prelude alla nuova riflessione dell'ultimo, incompiuto Trattato politico, imperniato sulla nozione di 'multitudo'. Il volume esce presso OLMS (Hildesheim - Zürich - New York, nella Collana "Europea Memoria
Safety of Mud-Bath Applications in Moderately Active Rheumatoid Arthritis
No full textObjective: To evaluate safety of mud-bath therapy in mild-moderately rheumatoid arthritis [RA].
Methods: We planned a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in patients with moderate active RA, treated with active or placebo mud applied for 15 to 20 minutes at 39 to 40 degrees C and followed by a shower and thermal bath at 37 to 38 degrees C for 10 to 12 minutes. The first 50 patients were evaluated for an interim analysis and considered "treated patients" without blinding breakdown. Patients were evaluated before treatment [visit 1], at the end of the treatment [visit 2], after four weeks [visit 3], and after six months [visit 4, end of the study] for flare, Disease Activity Score [DAS], C-reactive protein, swollen joints, Health Assessment Questionnaire, and adverse reactions. As a control group, 50 matched RA patients were enrolled at the same outpatient clinic and evaluated four weeks apart.
Results: The baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. No significant differences were noted as for disease flares. Thirty-three [66 percent] treated and 12 [24 percent] control patients had an improvement of more than 0.6 on the DAS [p <.001]. Concerning the treated patients, DAS, C-reactive protein, swollen joints, and the Health Assessment Questionnaire showed a significant reduction at visit 2 when compared to the baseline, lasting until visit 4. No significant side effects were noted.
Conclusions: A negative effect of hot application in mild to moderately active RA seems to be excluded. The observed improvement in disease activity should be the subject of further studies
Association of the mtDNA m.4171C>A/MT-ND1 mutation with both optic neuropathy and bilateral brainstem lesions
No full textBackground: An increasing number of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, mainly in complex I genes, have
been associated with variably overlapping phenotypes of Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON),
mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with stroke-like episodes (MELAS) and Leigh syndrome (LS). We here describe
the first case in which the m.4171C>A/MT-ND1 mutation, previously reported only in association with LHON, leads
also to a Leigh-like phenotype.
Case presentation: A 16-year-old male suffered subacute visual loss and recurrent vomiting and vertigo associated
with bilateral brainstem lesions affecting the vestibular nuclei. His mother and one sister also presented subacute
visual loss compatible with LHON. Sequencing of the entire mtDNA revealed the homoplasmic m.4171C>A/MT-ND1
mutation, previously associated with pure LHON, on a haplogroup H background. Three additional non-synonymous
homoplasmic transitions affecting ND2 (m.4705T>C/MT-ND2 and m.5263C>T/MT-ND2) and ND6 (m.14180T>C/MT-ND6)
subunits, well recognized as polymorphisms in other mtDNA haplogroups but never found on the haplogroup H
background, were also present.
Conclusion: This case widens the phenotypic expression of the rare m.4171C>A/MT-ND1 LHON mutation, which
may also lead to Leigh-like brainstem lesions, and indicates that the co-occurrence of other ND non-synonymous
variants, found outside of their usual mtDNA backgrounds, may have increased the pathogenic potential of the
primary LHON mutation
Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs): An emerging family of autoantigens in rheumatic diseases
No full textIn eukaryotic cells, mature mRNA molecules are produced through the extensive post-transcriptional processing of primary transcripts assembled in ribonucleoprotein complexes. Twenty polypeptides, termed heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins or hnRNPs, have been identified as the major components of such complexes. Although these proteins were identified more than 30 years ago, their role in RNA metabolism is just beginning to emerge. In contrast to previous models that ascribed to hnRNPs a mere structural function, recent data suggest a direct involvement in several aspects of the RNA life, such splicing, export of the mature mRNAs to the cell cytoplasm and translation. In addition, a growing body of evidence points to hnRNPs as an important target of the autoimmune response in rheumatic diseases. The present paper will review some of the most relevant data concerning the structure, function and autoantigenic properties of the hnRNPs
Circulating Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Autoantibodies (anca) In 2 Cases of Tolosa-hunt Syndrome
No full textPlasma procalcitonin in rheumatic diseases
No full textData on the origin and biological function of procalcitonin, the pro-hormone of calcitonin, are scarce. Since this peptide can be induced in bacterial invasive infections, serum procalcitonin levels may be useful in differential diagnosis of systemic inflammatory response syndrome. This review will focus on the clinical significance of changes in serum procalcitonin levels in patients with connective tissue diseases and other rheumatic disorders
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