845 research outputs found
Corrigendum to “The Systemic Availability of Indispensable Amino Acids From Orally Ingested Algal and Legume Protein in Young Children at Risk of Environmental Enteric Dysfunction” [Am J Clin Nutr 188 (2024) 96–102]
No full textThe authors would like to add a second affiliation for Dr Nirupama Shivakumar. It is as follows: Center for Doctoral Studies, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
Isolation and identification of entomopathogenic fungus from Eastern Ghats of South Indian forest soil and their efficacy as biopesticide for mosquito control
No full textThe repeated usage of chemical insecticides, responsible for insecticide resistance in mosquitoes and environ- mental toxicity. Currently e#ective and environmental-safe control strategies are needed for the control disease- vector mosquitoes. Entomopathogens can be an e#ective alternative to chemical insecticide. Herein we isolated and tested 46 soil-borne entomopathogenic fungi belonging to six genera, namely Beauveria sp., Metarhizium sp., Fusarium sp., Aspergillus sp., Trichoderma sp., and Verticillium sp., fungi conidia were tested on Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. Bioassays results show that M. anisopliae fungal isolate causes a 100%, 98.6% and 92% mortality within six days, on Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus, respectively. M. anisopliae treated three mosquito larvae have lower lifetime with LT50 values in A. stephensi, 2.931 days; A. aegypti, 2.676 days and C. quinquefasciatus, 3.254 days. 18 s rDNA sequence analysis con!rmed that the isolated fungus are belonging to the genus of M. anisopliae-VKKH3, B. bassiana-VKBb03, and V. lecanii-VKPH1. Our results clearly show that M. anisopliae has good potential, as a low-cost, environmentally safe tool for the control of A. aegypti, A. stephensi, and C. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes
A deep learning approach to generate contrast-enhanced computerised tomography angiograms without the use of intravenous contrast agents
No full textAbstract
Introduction
Contrast-enhanced computerised tomographic (CT) angiograms are widely used in cardiovascular imaging to obtain a non-invasive view of arterial structures. In aortic aneurysmal disease (AAA), CT angiograms are required prior to surgical intervention to differentiate between blood and the intra-luminal thrombus, which is present in 95% of cases. However, contrast agents are associated with complications at the injection site as well as renal toxicity leading to contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) and renal failure.
Purpose
We hypothesised that the raw data acquired from a non-contrast CT contains sufficient information to differentiate blood and other soft tissue components. Therefore, we utilised deep learning methods to define the subtleties between the various components of soft tissue in order to simulate contrast enhanced CT images without the need of contrast agents.
Methods
Twenty-six AAA patients with paired non-contrast and contrast-enhanced CT images were randomly selected from an ethically approved ongoing study (Ethics Ref 13/SC/0250) and used for model training and evaluation (13/13). Non-contrast axial slices within the aneurysmal region from 10 patients (n=100) were sampled for the underlying Hounsfield unit (HU) distribution at the lumen, intra-luminal thrombus and interface locations, identified from their paired contrast axial slices. Subsequently, paired axial slices within the training cohort were augmented in a ratio of 10:1 to produce a total of 23,551 2-D images. We trained a 2-D Cycle Generative Adversarial Network (cycleGAN) for this non-contrast to contrast transformation task. Model output was assessed by comparison to the contrast image, which serves as a gold standard, using image similarity metrics (ex. SSIM Index).
Results
Sampling HUs within the non-contrast CT scan across multiple axial slices (Figure 1A) revealed significant differences between the blood flow lumen (yellow), blood/thrombus interface (red), and thrombus (blue) regions (p<0.001 for all comparisons). This highlighted the intrinsic differences between the regions and established the foundation for subsequent deep learning methods. The Non-Contrast-to-Contrast (NC2C)-cycleGAN was trained with a learning rate of 0.0002 for 200 epochs on 256 x 256 images centred around the aorta. Figure 1B depicts “contrast-enhanced” images generated from non-contrast CT images across the aortic length from the testing cohort. This preliminary model is able to differentiate between the lumen and intra-luminal thrombus of aneurysmal sections with reasonable resemblance to the ground truth.
Conclusion
This study describes, for the first time, the ability to differentiate between visually incoherent soft tissue regions in non-contrast CT images using deep learning methods. Ultimately, refinement of this methodology may negate the use of intravenous contrast and prevent related complications
Krein's method in inverse scattering
No full textA detailed discussion of the Krein’s results (applicable for solving the inverse scattering problem) is given with complete proofs. It is shown that the S-function S(k) used in Krein’s work is the S-matrix used in physics. The basic new results of the paper include the detailed description and analysis of an inversion algorithm based on Krein’s results and a proof of its consistency, that is the proof that the reconstructed potential generates the same scattering data from which it was reconstructed. Numerical advantages of using Krein’s method are discussed
IMPAIRED ORAL HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
No full textBackground: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been associated with various health implications, including potential effects on oral health and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL). Understanding the relationship between COPD and dental health is crucial for optimizing patient care and well-being. This review aims to assess the existing literature on the impact of COPD on oral health and OHRQoL. Methods: The review process followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted in the databases, resulting in 304 records. Data extraction was done by 2 reviewers separately. Data extraction variables included study ID, sample, age, gender ratio, type of study, respiratory evaluation, OHRQoL assessment, and inferences. Newcastle Ottawa scale was employed to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Results: The final selection included 3 studies eligible for qualitative synthesis. OHIP-5 and OHIP-14 were used to assess OHRQoL These studies provided valuable insights into the association between COPD and dental health. OHRQoL was negatively impacted among COPD sufferers. In addition, COPD patients demonstrated significantly fewer teeth and higher plaque index (PI) as compared to control cohorts. The risk of bias was low in the included studies. But the literature available was scarce, which warrants further longitudinal studies with a larger sample size in this regard. Conclusion: The evidence from the selected studies suggests a significant association between COPD and various dental health parameters, as well as their impact on OHRQoL. Dental health assessments should be integrated into COPD management to better understand disease severity and exacerbation risk. An interdisciplinary approach involving both respiratory and oral health professionals is crucial for comprehensive patient care. Future research should explore the underlying mechanisms and conduct longitudinal studies to establish causal relationships. These findings contribute to our understanding of the complex interplay between COPD and oral health and have implications for improving patient outcomes and quality of life
Microbiological aspects of cancer progression: A systematic review conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions
No full textThe complex interplay between the gut microbiota, cancer treatments and patient characteristics has emerged as a significant area of research. This study sought to examine these relationships in the context of colorectal cancer (CRC). A comprehensive search of relevant studies was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The studies included a variety of treatment modalities and microbiological parameters. A data extraction form, designed specifically for this review, was used to assess a range of variables across all studies. The analysis revealed a multifaceted interaction between the gut microbiota, genetic factors and treatment outcomes. Elderly patients with CRC frequently received single-agent chemotherapy, with outcomes that were comparable to those of younger patients. The presence of tumorigenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis, was associated with early colon neoplasia. Additionally, an abundance of Fusobacterium spp. was observed in colonic adenomas, contributing to a pro-inflammatory environment. Although the FcγRIIIa-158 V/V genotype was associated with higher cetuximab-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), no direct influence of FcγR polymorphisms on treatment response was noted. Furthermore, the combination of programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), BRAF and MEK inhibition showed favorable response rates. The gut microbiome, especially the presence of Fusobacterium spp., had a notable influence on the therapeutic response in CRC. These findings underscore the role of the gut microbiota and genetic factors in cancer treatment outcomes, emphasizing the potential of a holistic approach to cancer management. Future research should exploit these findings in order to develop microbiota-modulating strategies and personalized medicine approaches for the purpose of improving the efficacy of cancer treatment
Prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment needs among middle and high school children of Davangere city, India by using Dental Aesthetic Index
No full textBackground: Malocclusion has large impact on individual and society in term of discomfort, Quality of Life [QoL] Aims and Objectives: To assess prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment needs among middle and high school children of Davangere city, India by using Dental Aesthetic Index [DAI]. Materials and Methods: A Descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among 1000, in the age group 12 to 15 year old school children studying in middle and high schools of Davangere city, India. 10 schools were selected by simple random sampling procedure and 100 study subjects were selected proportionately for males and females by using systematic random sampling procedures in each school. Data recorded using proforma consisted DAI components. The collected data was subjected to statistical analysis. Statistical Analysis: The Chi-square test [x 2 ] was used for comparison of severity of malocclusion. Analysis of Variance [ANOVA] test was used for comparison of mean DAI scores between the age groups and in DAI scores. ′Z′ test was used for comparing the mean DAI scores between sex group. Results: Of the 1000 children examined, 518[ 51.8%] were males and 482[ 48.2%] were females. 80.1% school children had ≤ 25 DAI scores with no or minor malocclusion requiring no or little treatment, 15.7% had 26-30 DAI scores with definite malocclusion requiring elective treatment, 3.7% had 31-35 DAI scores with severe malocclusion requiring highly desirable treatment and 0.5% had ≥ 36 DAI scores with handicapping malocclusion requiring mandatory treatment. Conclusions: 80.1% school children had no or minor malocclusion which required no or slight treatment, 19.9% had definite/handicapping malocclusion requiring definite/mandatory orthodontic treatment
Influence of zinc precursor concentration on properties zinc sulphide thin films using spray pyrolysis technique
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