3 research outputs found
LivDet in Action - Fingerprint Liveness Detection Competition 2019
The International Fingerprint liveness Detection Competition (LivDet) is an
open and well-acknowledged meeting point of academies and private companies
that deal with the problem of distinguishing images coming from reproductions
of fingerprints made of artificial materials and images relative to real
fingerprints. In this edition of LivDet we invited the competitors to propose
integrated algorithms with matching systems. The goal was to investigate at
which extent this integration impact on the whole performance. Twelve
algorithms were submitted to the competition, eight of which worked on
integrated systems.Comment: Preprint version of a paper accepted at ICB 201
Impact of COVID-19 on the cardiovascular health of women: a review by the Italian Society of Cardiology Working Group on ‘gender cardiovascular diseases’
The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), due to coronavirus
2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, presents with an extremely
heterogeneous spectrum of symptoms and signs. COVID 19 susceptibility and mortality show a significant sex
imbalance, with men being more prone to infection and
showing a higher rate of hospitalization and mortality than
women.
In particular, cardiovascular diseases (preexistent or arose
upon infection) play a central role in COVID-19 outcomes,
differently in men and women. This review will discuss the
potential mechanisms accounting for sex/gender influence
in vulnerability to COVID-19.
Such variability can be ascribed to both sex-related
biological factors and sex-related behavioural traits.
Sex differences in cardiovascular disease and COVID-19
involve the endothelial dysfunction, the innate immune
system and the renin-angiotensin system (RAS).
Furthermore, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)
is involved in disease pathogenesis in cardiovascular
disease and COVID-19 and it shows hormones-dependent
actions.
The incidence of myocardial injury during COVID-19 is sex dependent, predominantly in association with a greater
degree of inflammation and coagulation disorders among
men. Its pathogenesis is not fully elucidated, but the main
theories foresee a direct role of the ACE2 receptor, the
hyperimmune response and the RAS imbalance, which may
also lead to isolated presentation of COVID-19-mediated
myopericarditis. Moreover, the latest evidence on cardiovascular diseases
and their relationship with COVID-19 during pregnancy will
be discussed.
Finally, authors will analyse the prevalence of the long-covid
syndrome between the two sexes and its impact on the
quality of life and cardiovascular health
Stress Echocardiography in Italian Echocardiographic Laboratories: A Survey of the Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging
Background: The Italian Society of Echography and Cardiovascular Imaging (SIECVI) conducted a national survey to understand the volumes of activity, modalities and stressors used during stress echocardiography (SE) in Italy. Methods: We analyzed echocardiography laboratory activities over a month (November 2022). Data were retrieved through an electronic survey based on a structured questionnaire, uploaded on the SIECVI website. Results: Data were obtained from 228 echocardiographic laboratories, and SE examinations were performed in 179 centers (80.6%): 87 centers (47.5%) were in the northern regions of Italy, 33 centers (18.4%) were in the central regions, and 61 (34.1%) in the southern regions. We annotated a total of 4057 SE. We divided the SE centers into three groups, according to the numbers of SE performed: <10 SE (low-volume activity, 40 centers), between 10 and 39 SE (moderate volume activity, 102 centers) and >= 40 SE (high volume activity, 37 centers). Dipyridamole was used in 139 centers (77.6%); exercise in 120 centers (67.0%); dobutamine in 153 centers (85.4%); pacing in 37 centers (21.1%); and adenosine in 7 centers (4.0%). We found a significant difference between the stressors used and volume of activity of the centers, with a progressive increase in the prevalence of number of stressors from low to high volume activity (P = 0.033). The traditional evaluation of regional wall motion of the left ventricle was performed in all centers, with combined assessment of coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) in 90 centers (50.3%): there was a significant difference in the centers with different volume of SE activity: the incidence of analysis of CFVR was significantly higher in high volume centers compared to low - moderate - volume (32.5%, 41.0% and 73.0%, respectively, P < 0.001). The lung ultrasound (LUS) was assessed in 67 centers (37.4%). Furthermore for LUS, we found a significant difference in the centers with different volume of SE activity: significantly higher in high volume centers compared to low - moderate - volume (25.0%, 35.3% and 56.8%, respectively, P < 0.001). Conclusions: This nationwide survey demonstrated that SE was significantly widespread and practiced throughout Italy. In addition to the traditional indication to coronary artery disease based on regional wall motion analysis, other indications are emerging with an increase in the use of LUS and CFVR, especially in high-volume centers