Re-identification of objects from aerial photos with hybrid siamese neural networks

In this paper, we consider the task of re-identifying the same object in different photos taken from separate positions and angles during aerial reconnaissance, which is a crucial task for the maintenance and surveillance of critical large-scale infrastructure. To effectively hybridize deep neural networks with available domain expertise for a given scenario, we propose a customized pipeline, wherein a domain-dependent object detector is trained to extract the assets (i.e., sub-components) present on the objects, and a siamese neural network learns to re-identify the objects, exploiting both visual features (i.e., the image crops corresponding to the assets) and the graphs describing the relations among their constituting assets. We describe a real-world application concerning the re-identification of electric poles in the Italian energy grid, showing our pipeline to significantly outperform siamese networks trained from visual information alone. We also provide a series of ablation studies of our framework to underline the effect of including topological asset information in the pipeline, learnable positional embeddings in the graphs, and the effect of different types of graph neural networks on the final accuracy

Clinical and radiological criteria for the differential diagnosis between asbestosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Application in two cases

Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and asbestosis are pulmonary interstitial diseases that may present overlapping clinical aspects in the full-blown phase of the disease. For both clinical entities the gold standard for diagnosis is histological examination, but its execution poses ethical problems, especially when performed for preventive or forensic purposes. Objective: To evaluate the application of internationally accepted clinical, anamnestic and radiological criteria for differential diagnosis between asbestosis and IPF, and to assess the ability to discriminate between the two diseases. Even if clinically similar, the two diseases present extremely different prognostic and therapeutic perspectives. Methods: Two clinical cases of IPF are reported, in which the differential diagnosis was made by studying occupational exposure to asbestos, the onset and progression of clinical symptoms, and the identification of specific radiological elements by means of chest High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT). Results: The diagnosis of IPF could be made on the basis of the absence of significant exposure to asbestos, the early onset and rapid progression of dyspnea and restrictive ventilatory defects, in association with a pulmonary radiological pattern characterized by peculiar elements such as honeycombing. Discussion: The diagnostic procedure adopted to make a differential diagnosis with asbestosis provides practical clinical elements facilitating the differentiation between the two forms of pulmonary fibrosis, a fundamental aspect of the activity of the occupational physician

Magnetic resonance imaging for deep infiltrating endometriosis: current concepts, imaging technique and key findings

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent chronic disease affecting about 10% of reproductive-age women with symptoms like pelvic pain and infertility. Pathologically, it is defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity responsible for a chronic inflammatory process. For decades the diagnosis of endometriosis was based on surgical exploration and biopsy of pelvic lesions. However, laparoscopy is not a risk-free procedure with possible false negative diagnosis due to an underestimate of retroperitoneal structures such as ureters and nerves. For these reasons nowadays, the diagnosis of endometriosis is based on a noninvasive approach where clinical history, response to therapy and imaging play a fundamental role. Trans-vaginal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging are suitable for recognizing most of endometriotic lesions; nevertheless, their accuracy is strictly determined by operators’ experience and imaging technique. This review paper aims to make radiologists aware of the diagnostic possibilities of pelvic MRI and familial with the MR acquisition protocols and image interpretation for women with endometriosis

The multifaceted covid-19: Ct aspects of its atypical pulmonary and abdominal manifestations and complications in adults and children. a pictorial review

Our daily experience in a COVID hospital has allowed us to learn about this disease in many of its changing and unusual aspects. Some of these uncommon manifestations, however, appeared more frequently than others, giving shape to a multifaceted COVID-19 disease. This pictorial review has the aim to describe the radiological aspects of atypical presentations and of some complications of COVID-19 disease in adults and children and provide a simple guide for radiologists to become familiar with the multiform aspects of this disease

Fibrosing Progressive Interstitial Lung Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Multicentre Italian Study

Background: The INBUILD study demonstrated the efficacy of nintedanib in the treatment of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease different to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related ILD. Nevertheless, the prevalence of RA-ILD patients that may potentially benefit from nintedanib remains unknown. Objectives and methods: The aim of the present multicentre study was to investigate the prevalence and possible associated factors of fibrosing progressive patterns in a cross-sectional cohort of RA-ILD patients. Results: One hundred and thirty-four RA-ILD patients with a diagnosis of RA-ILD, who were confirmed at high-resolution computed tomography and with a follow-up of at least 24 months, were enrolled. The patients were defined as having a progressive fibrosing ILD in case of a relative decline in forced vital capacity > 10% predicted and/or an increased extent of fibrotic changes on chest imaging in a 24-month period. Respiratory symptoms were excluded to reduce possible bias due to the retrospective interpretation of cough and dyspnea. According to radiologic features, ILD was classified as usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) in 50.7% of patients, nonspecific interstitial pneumonia in 19.4%, and other patterns in 29.8%. Globally, a fibrosing progressive pattern was recorded in 36.6% of patients (48.5% of patients with a fibrosing pattern) with a significant association to the UIP pattern. Conclusion: We observed that more than a third of RA-ILD patients showed a fibrosing progressive pattern and might benefit from antifibrotic treatment. This study shows some limitations, such as the retrospective design. The exclusion of respiratory symptoms' evaluation might underestimate the prevalence of progressive lung disease but increases the value of results.Background: The INBUILD study demonstrated the efficacy of nintedanib in the treatment of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease different to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related ILD. Nevertheless, the prevalence of RA-ILD patients that may potentially benefit from nintedanib remains unknown. Objectives and methods: The aim of the present multicentre study was to investigate the prevalence and possible associated factors of fibrosing progressive patterns in a cross-sectional cohort of RA-ILD patients. Results: One hundred and thirty-four RA-ILD patients with a diagnosis of RA-ILD, who were confirmed at high-resolution computed tomography and with a follow-up of at least 24 months, were enrolled. The patients were defined as having a progressive fibrosing ILD in case of a relative decline in forced vital capacity > 10% predicted and/or an increased extent of fibrotic changes on chest imaging in a 24-month period. Respiratory symptoms were excluded to reduce possible bias due to the retrospective interpretation of cough and dyspnea. According to radiologic features, ILD was classified as usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) in 50.7% of patients, nonspecific interstitial pneumonia in 19.4%, and other patterns in 29.8%. Globally, a fibrosing progressive pattern was recorded in 36.6% of patients (48.5% of patients with a fibrosing pattern) with a significant association to the UIP pattern. Conclusion: We observed that more than a third of RA-ILD patients showed a fibrosing progressive pattern and might benefit from antifibrotic treatment. This study shows some limitations, such as the retrospective design. The exclusion of respiratory symptoms’ evaluation might underestimate the prevalence of progressive lung disease but increases the value of results

Clinical and functional characterization of a novel mutation in lamin a/c gene in a multigenerational family with arrhythmogenic cardiac laminopathy.

none17noneAkinori Kimura;Cinzia Forleo;Monica Carmosino;Nicoletta Resta;Alessandra Rampazzo;Rosanna Valecce;Sandro Sorrentino;Massimo Iacoviello;Francesco Pisani;Giuseppe Procino;Andrea Gerbino;Arnaldo Scardapane;Cristiano Simone;Martina Calore;Silvia Torretta;Maria Svelto;Stefano FavaleAkinori, Kimura; Cinzia, Forleo; Monica, Carmosino; Nicoletta, Resta; Rampazzo, Alessandra; Rosanna, Valecce; Sandro, Sorrentino; Massimo, Iacoviello; Francesco, Pisani; Giuseppe, Procino; Andrea, Gerbino; Arnaldo, Scardapane; Cristiano, Simone; Calore, Martina; Silvia, Torretta; Maria, Svelto; Stefano, Faval

Radiological evaluation of colorectal anastomoses

Background and aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy, interobserver variability, timing and discordance with relaparotomy of postoperative radiological examination of colorectal anastomoses. Patient/methods: From 2000 to 2005, 429 patients underwent an