An innovative radiomics approach to predict response to chemotherapy of liver metastases based on CT images

Liver metastases (mts) from colorectal cancer (CRC) can have different responses to chemotherapy in the same patient. The aim of this study is to develop and validate a machine learning algorithm to predict response of individual liver mts. 22 radiomic features (RF) were computed on pretreatment portal CT scans following a manual segmentation of mts. RFs were extracted from 7x7 Region of Interests (ROIs) that moved across the image by step of 2 pixels. Liver mts were classified as non-responder (R-) if their largest diameter increased more than 3 mm after 3 months of treatment and responder (R+), otherwise. Features selection (FS) was performed by a genetic algorithm and classification by a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier. Sensitivity, specificity, negative (NPV) and positive (PPV) predictive values were evaluated for all lesions in the training and validation sets, separately. On the training set, we obtained sensitivity of 86%, specificity of 67%, PPV of 89% and NPV of 61%, while, on the validation set, we reached a sensitivity of 73%, specificity of 47%, PPV of 64% and NPV of 57%. Specificity was biased by the low number of R- lesions on the validation set. The promising results obtained in the validation dataset should be extended to a larger cohort of patient to further validate our method.Clinical Relevance— to personalize treatment of patients with metastastic colorectal cancer, based on the likelihood of response to chemotherapy of each liver metastasis

A Convolutional Neural Network based system for Colorectal cancer segmentation on MRI images

The aim of the study is to present a new Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based system for the automatic segmentation of the colorectal cancer. The algorithm implemented consists of several steps: a pre-processing to normalize and highlights the tumoral area, the classification based on CNNs, and a post-processing aimed at reducing false positive elements. The classification is performed using three CNNs: each of them classifies the same regions of interest acquired from three different MR sequences. The final segmentation mask is obtained by a majority voting. Performances were evaluated using a semi-automatic segmentation revised by an experienced radiologist as reference standard. The system obtained Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) of 0.60, Precision (Pr) of 0.76 and Recall (Re) of 0.55 on the testing set. After applying the leave-one-out validation, we obtained a median DSC=0.58, Pr=0.74, Re=0.54. The promising results obtained by this system, if validated on a larger dataset, could strongly improve personalized medicine

Experimental and Numerical Study of the Effect of Surface Patterning on the Frictional Properties of Polymer Surfaces

We describe benchmark experiments to evaluate the frictional properties of laser patterned low-density polyethylene as a function of sliding velocity, normal force and humidity. The pattern is a square lattice of square cavities with sub-mm spacing. We find that dynamic friction decreases compared to non-patterned surfaces, since stress concentrations lead to anticipated detachment, and that stick-slip behavior is also affected. Friction increases with humidity, and the onset of stick-slip events occurs in the high humidity regime. Experimental results are compared with numerical simulations of a simplified 2-D spring-block model. A good qualitative agreement can be obtained by introducing a deviation from the linear behavior of the Amontons-Coulomb law with the load, due to a saturation in the effective contact area with pressure. This also leads also to the improvement of the quantitative results of the spring-block model by reducing the discrepancy with the experimental results, indicating the robustness of the adopted simplified approach, which could be adopted to design patterned surfaces with controlled friction properties

Atividade citotóxica dos extratos de plantas medicinais sobre o epitélio branquial do Guaru (Poecilia vivipara Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo avaliar os efeitos citotóxicos dos extratos brutos das plantas Eugenia uniflora, (pitanga) Solanum paniculatum (jurubeba) e Hyptidendron canun, nas concentrações de 20, 60 e 100 ug/L sobre o epitélio branquial do guaru (Poecilia vivipara). Foram avaliados os dados de área e perímetro do filamento branquial, frequência, área e perímetro de células ricas em mitocôndrias para as regiões basal, intermediária e apical do epitélio de revestimento dos filamentos branquiais. A análise estatística destes dados indicou que os extratos brutos etanólicos de S. paniculatum e H. canun nas concentrações testadas, causam danos ao epitélio branquial e às células ricas em mitocôndrias do guaru. Por sua vez, o extrato bruto aquoso de E. uniflora demonstrou alta toxicidade para as células em geral, uma vez que 100% dos animais foram a óbito nas primeiras três horas de exposição

Applying Data Warehousing to a Phase III Clinical Trial From the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi Ensures Superior Data Quality and Improved Assessment of Clinical Outcomes

Data collection in clinical trials is becoming complex, with a huge number of variables that need to be recorded, verified, and analyzed to effectively measure clinical outcomes. In this study, we used data warehouse (DW) concepts to achieve this goal. A DW was developed to accommodate data from a large clinical trial, including all the characteristics collected. We present the results related to baseline variables with the following objectives: developing a data quality (DQ) control strategy and improving outcome analysis according to the clinical trial primary end points

The MAORY ICS software architecture

The Multi Conjugate Adaptive Optics RelaY (MAORY) for ESO's Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is an adaptive optics module offering multi-conjugate (MCAO) and single-conjugate (SCAO) compensation modes. In MCAO, it relies on the use of up to six Laser Guide Stars (LGS) and three Natural Guide Stars (NGS) for atmospheric turbulence sensing and multiple mirrors for correction, providing high Strehl and high sky coverage. In SCAO mode, a single natural source is used as reference, providing better correction but in a smaller field. MAORY will be installed at the Nasmyth focus of the ELT. It will feed the MICADO first-light diffraction limited imager and a future second instrument. MAORY is being built by a Consortium composed by INAF in Italy and IPAG in France and is currently approaching end of phase B. In this paper we describe the preliminary design of the MAORY Instrument Control System Software (ICS SW). We start with an overview of the MAORY module and then describe the general architecture of the MAORY control network and software. We then describe the main software components, with particular emphasis to those managing the NGS and LGS wavefront sensors functions and the AO off-load and secondary loops, and the main interfaces to subsystems and external systems. We then conclude with a description of the software engineering practices adopted for the development of MAORY ICS SW

MORFEO enters final design phase

MORFEO (Multi-conjugate adaptive Optics Relay For ELT Observations, formerly MAORY), the MCAO system for the ELT, will provide diffraction-limited optical quality to the large field camera MICADO. MORFEO has officially passed the Preliminary Design Review and it is entering the final design phase. We present the current status of the project, with a focus on the adaptive optics system aspects and expected milestones during the next project phase

Clinical Features, Cardiovascular Risk Profile, and Therapeutic Trajectories of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Candidate for Oral Semaglutide Therapy in the Italian Specialist Care

Introduction: This study aimed to address therapeutic inertia in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by investigating the potential of early treatment with oral semaglutide. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2021 and April 2022 among specialists treating individuals with T2D. A scientific committee designed a data collection form covering demographics, cardiovascular risk, glucose control metrics, ongoing therapies, and physician judgments on treatment appropriateness. Participants completed anonymous patient questionnaires reflecting routine clinical encounters. The preferred therapeutic regimen for each patient was also identified. Results: The analysis was conducted on 4449 patients initiating oral semaglutide. The population had a relatively short disease duration (42%  60% of patients, and more often than sitagliptin or empagliflozin. Conclusion: The study supports the potential of early implementation of oral semaglutide as a strategy to overcome therapeutic inertia and enhance T2D management

MAORY for ELT: preliminary design overview

MAORY is one of the approved instruments for the European Extremely Large Telescope. It is an adaptive optics module, enabling high-angular resolution observations in the near infrared by real-time compensation of the wavefront distortions due to atmospheric turbulence and other disturbances such as wind action on the telescope. An overview of the instrument design is given in this paper