scholarly journals Spine Surface Segmentation from Ultrasound Using Multi-feature Guided CNN

10.29007/f5fs ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Alsinan ◽  
Michael Vives ◽  
Vishal Patel ◽  
Ilker Hacihaliloglu
Keyword(s):  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Feature Maps ◽  
Localization Accuracy ◽  
Surface Segmentation ◽  
Surface Localization ◽  
Imaging Artifacts ◽  
Computer Assisted Orthopedic Surgery ◽  
Time Segmentation ◽  
Multimodal Images

Accurate, robust, and real-time segmentation of bone surfaces is an essential objective for ultrasound (US) guided computer assisted orthopedic surgery (CAOS) procedures. In this work, we present a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based technique for segmenting spine surfaces from in vivo US scans. Proposed design utilizes fusion of feature maps extracted from multimodal images to abate sensitivity to variations caused by imaging artifacts and low intensity bone boundaries. In particular, our multimodal inputs consist of B-mode US images and their corresponding local phase filtered counterparts. Validation studies performed on 261 in vivo US scans obtained from 10 subjects achieved a mean localization accuracy of 0.1 mm with an F-score of 97%. Comparison against state-of-the-art CNN networks show an improvement of 89% in bone surface localization accuracy.

Cardiovascular Effects of Micromeria graeca (L.) Benth. ex Rchb in Normotensive and Hypertensive Rats

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 1253-1261
Author(s):  
Mourad Akdad ◽  
Mohamed Eddouks
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Cardiovascular System ◽  
Arterial Blood Pressure ◽  
Antihypertensive Activity ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Hypertensive Rats ◽  
Vasorelaxant Effect ◽  
Arterial Blood

Aims: The present study was performed in order to analyze the antihypertensive activity of Micromeria graeca (L.) Benth. ex Rchb. Background: Micromeria graeca (L.) Benth. ex Rchb is an aromatic and medicinal plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family. This herb is used to treat various pathologies such as cardiovascular disorders. Meanwhile, its pharmacological effects on the cardiovascular system have not been studied. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of aerial parts of Micromeria graeca (AEMG) on the cardiovascular system in normotensive and hypertensive rats. Methods: In this study, the cardiovascular effect of AEMG was evaluated using in vivo and in vitro investigations. In order to assess the acute effect of AEMG on the cardiovascular system, anesthetized L-NAME-hypertensive and normotensive rats received AEMG (100 mg/kg) orally and arterial blood pressure parameters were monitored during six hours. In the sub-chronic study, rats were orally treated for one week, followed by blood pressure assessment during one week of treatment. Blood pressure was measured using a tail-cuff and a computer-assisted monitoring device. In the second experiment, isolated rat aortic ring pre-contracted with Epinephrine (EP) or KCl was used to assess the vasorelaxant effect of AEMG. Results: Oral administration of AEMG (100 mg/kg) provoked a decrease of arterial blood pressure parameters in hypertensive rats. In addition, AEMG induced a vasorelaxant effect in thoracic aortic rings pre-contracted with EP (10 μM) or KCl (80 mM). This effect was attenuated in the presence of propranolol and methylene blue. While in the presence of glibenclamide, L-NAME, nifedipine or Indomethacin, the vasorelaxant effect was not affected. Conclusion: This study showed that Micromeria graeca possesses a potent antihypertensive effect and relaxes the vascular smooth muscle through β-adrenergic and cGMP pathways.

Local delivery of soluble platelet collagen receptor glycoprotein VI inhibits thrombus formation in vivo

2006 ◽  
Vol 95 (05) ◽  
pp. 763-766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Bültmann ◽  
Christian Herdeg ◽  
Zhongmin Li ◽  
Götz Münch ◽  
Christine Baumgartner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Vascular Injury ◽  
Carotid Arteries ◽  
Thrombus Formation ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Local Delivery ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Glycoprotein Vi ◽  
Collagen Receptor

SummaryPlatelet-mediated thrombus formation at the site of vascular injury isa major trigger for thrombo-ischemic complications after coronary interventions. The platelet collagen receptor glycoprotein VI (GPVI) plays a critical role in the initiation of arterial thrombus formation. Endothelial denudation of the right carotid artery in rabbits was induced through balloon injury. Subsequently, local delivery of soluble, dimeric fusion protein of GPVI (GPVI-Fc) (n=7) or control Fc (n=7) at the site of vascular injury was performed with a modified double-balloon drugdelivery catheter.Thrombus area within the injured carotid artery was quantified using a computer-assisted image analysis and was used as index of thrombus formation.The extent of thrombus formation was significantly reduced in GPVI-Fc- compared with control Fc-treated carotid arteries (relative thrombus area, GPVI-Fc vs. Fc: 9.3 ± 4.2 vs. 2.3 ± 1.7, p<0.001). Local delivery of soluble GPVI resulted in reduced thrombus formation after catheter-induced vascular injury.These data suggest a selective pharmacological modulation of GPVI-collagen interactions to be important for controlling onset and progression of pathological arterial thrombosis, predominantly or even exclusively at sites of injured carotid arteries in the absence of systemic platelet therapy.

scholarly journals Computational Chemogenomics Drug Repositioning Strategy Enables the Discovery of Epirubicin as a New Repurposed Hit for Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Letícia Tiburcio Ferreira ◽  
Juliana Rodrigues ◽  
Gustavo Capatti Cassiano ◽  
Tatyana Almeida Tavella ◽  
Kaira Cristina Peralis Tomaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Antimalarial Activity ◽  
Drug Repositioning ◽  
Dna Gyrase ◽  
Plasmodium Yoelii ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT Widespread resistance against antimalarial drugs thwarts current efforts for controlling the disease and urges the discovery of new effective treatments. Drug repositioning is increasingly becoming an attractive strategy since it can reduce costs, risks, and time-to-market. Herein, we have used this strategy to identify novel antimalarial hits. We used a comparative in silico chemogenomics approach to select Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax proteins as potential drug targets and analyzed them using a computer-assisted drug repositioning pipeline to identify approved drugs with potential antimalarial activity. Among the seven drugs identified as promising antimalarial candidates, the anthracycline epirubicin was selected for further experimental validation. Epirubicin was shown to be potent in vitro against sensitive and multidrug-resistant P. falciparum strains and P. vivax field isolates in the nanomolar range, as well as being effective against an in vivo murine model of Plasmodium yoelii. Transmission-blocking activity was observed for epirubicin in vitro and in vivo. Finally, using yeast-based haploinsufficiency chemical genomic profiling, we aimed to get insights into the mechanism of action of epirubicin. Beyond the target predicted in silico (a DNA gyrase in the apicoplast), functional assays suggested a GlcNac-1-P-transferase (GPT) enzyme as a potential target. Docking calculations predicted the binding mode of epirubicin with DNA gyrase and GPT proteins. Epirubicin is originally an antitumoral agent and presents associated toxicity. However, its antiplasmodial activity against not only P. falciparum but also P. vivax in different stages of the parasite life cycle supports the use of this drug as a scaffold for hit-to-lead optimization in malaria drug discovery.

In vivo pulsatility of pancreatic islet peptides

1986 ◽  
Vol 251 (2) ◽  
pp. E215-E226 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Jaspan ◽  
E. Lever ◽  
K. S. Polonsky ◽  
E. Van Cauter
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Analysis ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Oscillatory Behavior ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
C Peptide ◽  
Tightly Coupled ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Central Pacemaker ◽  
Significant Periodicity

In vivo oscillations of pancreatic peptides are recognized in primates. To determine whether such oscillations also occur in other mammalian species and to examine their underlying mechanisms, portal vein levels of insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), and glucose were measured simultaneously at 1- or 2-min intervals in nine conscious dogs. For comparison with primates, additional experiments were conducted in baboons and humans. Computer-assisted pulse identification for both raw and smoothed data was performed and spectral estimations calculated after detrending. Concomitance and comovement between the fluctuations of the various peptides and glucose were tested. Prominent pulses at 10- to 14-min intervals were detected most regularly for insulin and glucagon and were frequently reflected in PP and somatostatin levels. Corresponding relative increments in plasma concentration averaged 54% for insulin, 16% for glucagon, 25% for PP, and 24% for somatostatin. Insulin pulses were concomitant with glucagon pulses in 80% of the cases. Pulses of PP were less frequent, although consistently associated with insulin pulses. Somatostatin pulses were less consistently associated with those of other peptides. Peptide oscillations were unrelated to glucose changes. Spectral analysis confirmed these results with peaks in the 10- to 14-min range for all peptides but no significant periodicity for glucose. No consistent delays or advances between the oscillations of the various peptides could be demonstrated. It is speculated that oscillatory behavior in the pancreas may be related to a central pacemaker mechanism, which involves insulin tightly coupled to glucagon, entraining the fluctuations of PP, and, inconsistently, of somatostatin.

scholarly journals Platelet turnover and kinetics in immune thrombocytopenic purpura: results with autologous 111In-labeled platelets and homologous 51Cr- labeled platelets differ

Blood ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Heyns A du ◽  
PN Badenhorst ◽  
MG Lotter ◽  
H Pieters ◽  
P Wessels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Reticuloendothelial System ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Scintillation Camera ◽  
Antiplatelet Antibody ◽  
Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Computer Assisted Image ◽  
The Difference

Abstract Mean platelet survival and turnover were simultaneously determined with autologous 111In-labeled platelets (111In-AP) and homologous 51Cr- labeled platelets (51Cr-HP) in ten patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). In vivo redistribution of the 111In-AP was quantitated with a scintillation camera and computer-assisted image analysis. The patients were divided into two groups: those with splenic platelet sequestration (spleen-liver 111In activity ratio greater than 1.4), and those with diffuse sequestration in the reticuloendothelial system. The latter patients had more severe ITP reflected by pronounced thrombocytopenia, decreased platelet turnover, and prominent early hepatic platelet sequestration. Mean platelet life span estimated with 51Cr-HP was consistently shorter than that of 111In-AP. Platelet turnover determined with 51Cr-HP was thus over-estimated. The difference in results with the two isotope labels was apparently due to greater in vivo elution of 51Cr. Although the limitations of the techniques should be taken into account, these findings indicate that platelet turnover is not always normal or increased in ITP, but is low in severe disease. We suggest that this may be ascribed to damage to megakaryocytes by antiplatelet antibody. The physical characteristics in 111In clearly make this radionuclide superior to 51Cr for the study of platelet kinetics in ITP.

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