359 research outputs found
Dynamic âSpot Signâ Resolution following INR Correction in a Patient with Warfarin-Associated Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Hematoma expansion in intracerebral hemorrhage is associated with poor clinical outcome. The âspot signâ is a radiological marker that is associated with hematoma expansion, and thought to represent active extravasation of contrast. This case demonstrates the use of dynamic CT angiography in identifying the time-dependent appearance of a spot sign in a patient with warfarin-associated intracerebral hemorrhage. Repeat imaging is also presented which verified cessation of the spot sign after INR correction
Atomic engineering of interfacial polarization switching in van der Waals multilayers
In conventional ferroelectric materials, polarization is an intrinsic
property limited by bulk crystallographic structure and symmetry. Recently, it
has been demonstrated that polar order can also be accessed using inherently
non-polar van der Waals materials through layer-by-layer assembly into
heterostructures, wherein interfacial interactions can generate spontaneous,
switchable polarization. Here, we show that introducing interlayer rotations in
multilayer vdW heterostructures modulates both the spatial ordering and
switching dynamics of polar domains, engendering unique tunability that is
unparalleled in conventional bulk ferroelectrics or polar bilayers. Using
operando transmission electron microscopy we show how changing the relative
rotations of three WSe2 layers produces structural polytypes with distinct
arrangements of polar domains, leading to either a global or localized
switching response. Introducing uniaxial strain generates structural anisotropy
that yields a range of switching behaviors, coercivities, and even tunable
biased responses. We also provide evidence of physical coupling between the two
interfaces of the trilayer, a key consideration for controlling switching
dynamics in polar multilayer structures more broadly.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figure
Local atomic stacking and symmetry in twisted graphene trilayers
Moir\'e superlattices formed from twisting trilayers of graphene are an ideal
model for studying electronic correlation, and offer several advantages over
bilayer analogues, including more robust and tunable superconductivity and a
wide range of twist angles associated with flat band formation. Atomic
reconstruction, which strongly impacts the electronic structure of twisted
graphene structures, has been suggested to play a major role in the relative
versatility of superconductivity in trilayers. Here, we exploit an
inteferometric 4D-STEM approach to image a wide range of trilayer graphene
structures. Our results unveil a considerably different model for moir\'e
lattice relaxation in trilayers than that proposed from previous measurements,
informing a thorough understanding of how reconstruction modulates the atomic
stacking symmetries crucial for establishing superconductivity and other
correlated phases in twisted graphene trilayers.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure
Prevention of venous thromboembolism in acute spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage: A survey of opinion
INTRODUCTION: People immobilized following acute spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) are at risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) but the role of short-term prophylactic anticoagulation remains uncertain. We surveyed UK clinical practice and opinion regarding preventing VTE after ICH. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An online survey was sent to stroke healthcare professionals within the United Kingdom and Ireland via a professional society (British and Irish Association of Stroke Physicians (BIASP)). RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-three staff members responded to the survey, of whom 80% were consultant stroke physicians. All responders except one considered the issue to be important or extremely important, but only 5 (4%) were âextremely certainâ and 51 (41%) âfairly certainâ regarding the optimal treatment approach. Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) devices alone were the most used method (in 60%) followed by IPC devices and switching to low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (in 30%). We identified high levels of uncertainty regarding the role of anticoagulation, and its optimal timing; uncertainty was greater in lobar compared to deep ICH. Most respondents (93%) consider a randomised controlled trial investigating the role of pharmacological VTE prophylaxis after acute ICH as important and would consider participation. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The optimal method for the prevention of VTE in non-traumatic ICH patients remains an area of clinical uncertainty. Clinical trials assessing short-term anticoagulation in patients after acute ICH would be beneficial in providing evidence to resolve this clinical dilemma
Prevention of venous thromboembolism in acute spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage: A survey of opinion
Oral anticoagulant re-initiation following intracerebral hemorrhage in non-valvular atrial fibrillation: Global survey of the practices of neurologists, neurosurgeons and thrombosis experts
<div><p>Background</p><p>While oral anticoagulants (OACs) are highly effective for ischemic stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains the most feared complication of OAC. Clinical controversy remains regarding OAC resumption and its timing for ICH survivors with atrial fibrillation because the balance between risks and benefits has not been investigated in randomized trials.</p><p>Aims/Hypothesis</p><p>To survey the practice of stroke neurologists, thrombosis experts and neurosurgeons on OAC re-initiation following OAC-associated ICH.</p><p>Methods</p><p>An online survey was distributed to members of the International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Canadian Stroke Consortium, NAVIGATE-ESUS trial investigators (Clinicatrials.gov identifier NCT02313909) and American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Demographic factors and 11 clinical scenarios were included.</p><p>Results</p><p>Two hundred twenty-eight participants from 38 countries completed the survey. Majority of participants were affiliated with academic centers, and >20% managed more than 15 OAC-associated ICH patients/year. Proportion of respondents suggesting OAC anticoagulant resumption varied from 30% (for cerebral amyloid angiopathy) to 98% (for traumatic ICH). Within this group, there was wide distribution in response for timing of resumption: 21.4% preferred to re-start OACs after 1â3 weeks of incident ICH, while 25.3% opted to start after 1â3 months. Neurosurgery respondents preferred earlier OAC resumption compared to stroke neurologists or thrombosis experts in 5 scenarios (p<0.05 by Kendallâs tau).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Wide variations in current practice exist among management of OAC-associated ICH, with decisions influenced by patient- and provider-related factors. As these variations likely reflect the lack of high quality evidence, randomized trials are direly needed in this population.</p></div
Pathological validation and significance of micrometastasis in sentinel nodes in primary breast cancer
In embracing a multidisciplinary approach to the management of patients with sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer, the pathologist task is to screen sentinel nodes for possible metastasis. The consequences of missing sentinel node micrometastasis can directly influence treatment strategies, and this screening therefore has to be performed with more attention than usual. There is presently great diversity in the histopathological work-up of sentinel nodes, with many centres employing additional techniques such as immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction or flow cytometry in addition to routine haematoxylin and eosin staining. In this review, we address the pathological validation and significance of micrometastasis in sentinel node biopsy in primary breast cancer
Comparison of quality control methods for automated diffusion tensor imaging analysis pipelines
© 2019 Haddad et al. The processing of brain diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data for large cohort studies requires fully automatic pipelines to perform quality control (QC) and artifact/outlier removal procedures on the raw DTI data prior to calculation of diffusion parameters. In this study, three automatic DTI processing pipelines, each complying with the general ENIGMA framework, were designed by uniquely combining multiple image processing software tools. Different QC procedures based on the RESTORE algorithm, the DTIPrep protocol, and a combination of both methods were compared using simulated ground truth and artifact containing DTI datasets modeling eddy current induced distortions, various levels of motion artifacts, and thermal noise. Variability was also examined in 20 DTI datasets acquired in subjects with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) from the multi-site Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative (ONDRI). The mean fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) were calculated in global brain grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) regions. For the simulated DTI datasets, the measure used to evaluate the performance of the pipelines was the normalized difference between the mean DTI metrics measured in GM and WM regions and the corresponding ground truth DTI value. The performance of the proposed pipelines was very similar, particularly in FA measurements. However, the pipeline based on the RESTORE algorithm was the most accurate when analyzing the artifact containing DTI datasets. The pipeline that combined the DTIPrep protocol and the RESTORE algorithm produced the lowest standard deviation in FA measurements in normal appearing WM across subjects. We concluded that this pipeline was the most robust and is preferred for automated analysis of multisite brain DTI data
Sensitivity and specificity of blood-fluid levels for oral anticoagulant-associated intracerebral haemorrhage
Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is a life-threatening emergency, the incidence of which has increased in part due to an increase in the use of oral anticoagulants. A blood-fluid level within the haematoma, as revealed by computed tomography (CT), has been suggested as a marker for oral anticoagulant-associated ICH (OAC-ICH), but the diagnostic specificity and prognostic value of this finding remains unclear. In 855 patients with CT-confirmed acute ICH scanned within 48 h of symptom onset, we investigated the sensitivity and specificity of the presence of a CT-defined blood-fluid level (rated blinded to anticoagulant status) for identifying concomitant anticoagulant use. We also investigated the association of the presence of a blood-fluid level with six-month case fatality. Eighteen patients (2.1%) had a blood-fluid level identified on CT; of those with a blood-fluid level, 15 (83.3%) were taking anticoagulants. The specificity of blood-fluid level for OAC-ICH was 99.4%; the sensitivity was 4.2%. We could not detect an association between the presence of a blood-fluid level and an increased risk of death at six months (ORâ=â1.21, 95% CI 0.28â3.88, pâ=â0.769). The presence of a blood-fluid level should alert clinicians to the possibility of OAC-ICH, but absence of a blood-fluid level is not useful in excluding OAC-ICH
Role of fine-needle aspiration cytology and core biopsy in the preoperative diagnosis of screen-detected breast carcinoma
Core biopsy (CB) has now largely replaced fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the preoperative assessment of breast cancer in the UK. We studied the contribution of FNAC and CB in the preoperative diagnosis of screen-detected breast carcinoma. Data were prospectively collected on 150â840 women who underwent breast screening over a 4-year period from 1999 to 2003. Data on women who had both FNAC and CB taken from the same lesion preoperatively and in whom surgical excision of the lesion subsequently confirmed malignancy was analysed. In 763 cancers, FNAC was inadequate (C1) in 8% and benign (C2) in 10%. Most of these cases presented with microcalcification (25% were C1 or C2). Core biopsy was not representative (B1) or benign (B2) in 7%. The absolute and complete sensitivities were 65 and 82% for FNAC and 80 and 93% for CB in the diagnosis of cancer. Core biopsy was abnormal (B3 or above) in 86% of the cancers missed by FNAC and FNAC was abnormal (C3 or above) in 65% of those missed by CB. Core biopsy is better than FNAC at preoperative diagnosis of screen-detected breast cancer as it missed fewer cancers. However, combining FNAC resulted in a better preoperative diagnosis rate
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