Fuzzy genetic-based noise removal filter for digital panoramic X-ray images

This paper proposed a novel fuzzy genetic-based noise removal filter and surveyed the gain of popular filters for noise removal in the digital orthopantomography (OPG) images. The proposed filter is a non-invasive technique for attaining sub-clinical information from the areas of interest in each tooth, both jaws and maxillofacial. The proposed Poisson removal filter combines 4th-order partial differential equations (PDE), total variation (TV) and Bayes shrink threshold accompanied by fuzzy genetic algorithm (FGA) and the exact unbiased inverse of generalized Anscombe transformation (EUIGAT). Experiments were performed in order to show the effect of noise removal filters on 110 simulated, 106 phantom and 104 panoramic radiographic images for subjects (aged 30�60 years old, 50 males and 54 females). Various noises degraded filters and Canny edge detection was performed separately in three kinds of images. The program measured mean square error (MSE), peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), image quality index (IQI), structural similarity index metric (SSIM) and figure of merit (FOM). The results verify that the proposed filter enhances physicians� and dentists� skill of diagnosing normal and pathological events in the teeth, jaws, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) regions and changeable anatomical panoramic landmarks related to osteoporosis progress in the mandible bone using noise removal and improving images quality. Experimental results show the superiority of this filter over other noise removal filters. © 2018 The Author

Pulmonary Mycobacterium Simiae infection and HTLV1 infection: an incidental co-infection or a predisposing factor?

There is little information on atypical mycobacterium and human T lymphothropic virus Type I (HTLV-I) co-infection. We present the first case of pulmonary M. simiae infection in co-infection with HTLV-1, confirmed by ELISA antibody test and Western Blot. We discuss the clinical characteristics and laboratory tests of the patient and presumptive immunological relation. We propose that in patients with the HTLV infection and pulmonary symptoms and signs compatible with tuberculosis, evaluation for atypical mycobacteriosis may be recommendable

The Bandim TBscore – reliability, further development, and evaluation of potential uses

Background: The tuberculosis (TB) case detection rate has stagnated at 60% due to disorganized case finding and insensitivity of sputum smear microscopy. Of the identified TB cases, 4% die while being treated, monitored with tools that insufficiently predict failure/mortality. Objective: To explore the TBscore, a recently proposed clinical severity measure for pulmonary TB (PTB) patients, and to refine, validate, and investigate its place in case finding. Design: The TBscore's inter-observer agreement was assessed and compared to the Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) (paper I). The TBscore's variables underlying constructs were assessed, sorting out unrelated items, proposing a more easily assessable TBscoreII, which was validated internally and externally (paper II). Finally, TBscore and TBscoreII's place in PTB-screening was examined in paper III. Results: The inter-observer variability when grading PTB patients into severity classes was moderate for both TBscore (κ W=0.52, 95% CI 0.46–0.56) and KPS (κ W=0.49, 95% CI 0.33–0.65). KPS was influenced by HIV status, whereas TBscore was unaffected by it. In paper II, proposed TBscoreII was validated internally, in Guinea-Bissau, and externally, in Ethiopia. In both settings, a failure to bring down the score by ≥25% from baseline to 2 months of treatment predicted subsequent failure (p=0.007). Finally, in paper III, TBscore and TBscoreII were assessed in health-care-seeking adults and found to be higher in PTB-diagnosed patients, 4.9 (95% CI 4.6–5.2) and 3.9 (95% CI 3.8–4.0), respectively, versus patients not diagnosed with PTB, 3.0 (95% CI 2.7–3.2) and 2.4 (95% CI 2.3–2.5), respectively. Had we referred only patients with cough >2 weeks to sputum smear, we would have missed 32.1% of the smear confirmed cases in our cohort. A TBscoreII>=2 missed 8.6%. Conclusions: TBscore and TBscoreII are useful monitoring tools for PTB patients on treatment, as they could fill the void which currently exists in risk grading of patients. They may also have a role in PTB screening; however, this requires our findings to be repeated elsewhere

Use of RAAS Inhibitors and Risk of Clinical Deterioration in COVID-19: Results From an Italian Cohort of 133 Hypertensives.

This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in American Journal of Hypertension, following peer review. The version of record: Carla Felice, Chiara Nardin, Gian Luca Di Tanna, Ugo Grossi, Enrico Bernardi, Luca Scaldaferri, Micaela Romagnoli, Luca Tonon, Paola Cavasin, Simone Novello, Riccardo Scarpa, Antonio Farnia, Ernesto De Menis, Roberto Rigoli, Francesco Cinetto, Paolo Pauletto, Carlo Agostini, Marcello Rattazzi, Use of RAAS Inhibitors and Risk of Clinical Deterioration in COVID-19: Results From an Italian Cohort of 133 Hypertensives, American Journal of Hypertension, hpaa096, doi: 10.1093/ajh/hpaa096 is available online at:  https://doi.org/10.1093/ajh/hpaa096BACKGROUND: The effect of chronic use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors on the severity of COVID-19 infection is still unclear in patients with hypertension. We aimed to investigate the association between chronic use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and COVID-19-related outcomes in hypertensive patients. METHODS: A single-center study was conducted on 133 consecutive hypertensive subjects presenting to the emergency department with acute respiratory symptoms and/or fever who were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection between 9 and 31 March 2020. RESULTS: All patients were grouped according to their chronic antihypertensive medications (ACEIs, N = 40; ARBs, N = 42; not on RAAS inhibitors, N = 51). There was no statistical difference between ACEIs and ARBs groups in terms of hospital admission rate, oxygen therapy, and need for noninvasive ventilation. Patients chronically treated with RAAS inhibitors showed a significantly lower rate of admission to semi-intensive/intensive care units, when compared with the non-RAAS population (odds ratio (OR) 0.25, confidence interval (CI) 95% 0.09-0.66, P = 0.006). Similarly, the risk of mortality was lower in the former group, although not reaching statistical significance (OR 0.56, CI 95% 0.17-1.83, P = 0.341). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that chronic use of RAAS inhibitors does not negatively affect clinical course of COVID-19 in hypertensive patients. Further studies are needed to confirm this finding and determine whether RAAS inhibitors may have a protective effect on COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality

Subjective Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: An Overview of Self-Report Measures Used Across 19 International Research Studies

Research increasingly suggests that subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in older adults, in the absence of objective cognitive dysfunction or depression, may be a harbinger of non-normative cognitive decline and eventual progression to dementia. Little is known, however, about the key features of self-report measures currently used to assess SCD. The Subjective Cognitive Decline Initiative (SCD-I) Working Group is an international consortium established to develop a conceptual framework and research criteria for SCD (Jessen et al., 2014, Alzheimers Dement 10, 844-852). In the current study we systematically compared cognitive self-report items used by 19 SCD-I Working Group studies, representing 8 countries and 5 languages. We identified 34 self-report measures comprising 640 cognitive self-report items. There was little overlap among measures- approximately 75% of measures were used by only one study. Wide variation existed in response options and item content. Items pertaining to the memory domain predominated, accounting for about 60% of items surveyed, followed by executive function and attention, with 16% and 11% of the items, respectively. Items relating to memory for the names of people and the placement of common objects were represented on the greatest percentage of measures (56% each). Working group members reported that instrument selection decisions were often based on practical considerations beyond the study of SCD specifically, such as availability and brevity of measures. Results document the heterogeneity of approaches across studies to the emerging construct of SCD. We offer preliminary recommendations for instrument selection and future research directions including identifying items and measure formats associated with important clinical outcome

SLC11A1 (NRAMP1) Polymorphisms and Tuberculosis Susceptibility: Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Natural resistance associated macrophage protein 1 (NRAMP1), encoded by the SLC11A1 gene, has been described to regulate macrophage activation and be associated with infectious and autoimmune diseases. The relation between SLC11A1 polymorphisms and tuberculosis susceptibility has been studied in different populations. Methods: We systematically reviewed published studies on SLC11A1 polymorphisms and tuberculosis susceptibility until September 15, 2010 and quantitatively summarized associations of the most widely studied polymorphisms using metaanalysis. Results: In total, 36 eligible articles were included in this review. In Meta-analysis, significant associations were observed between tuberculosis risk and widely studied SLC11A1 polymorphisms with summarized odds ratio of 1.35 (95%CI, 1.17– 1.54), 1.25 (95 % CI, 1.04–1.50), 1.23 (95 % CI, 1.04–1.44), 1.31 (95%CI, 1.08–1.59) for 39 UTR, D543N, INT4, and 59 (GT)n, respectively. Heterogeneity between studies was not pronounced, and the associations did not remarkably vary in the stratified analysis with respect to study population and study base. Conclusions: The association between SLC11A1 polymorphisms and tuberculosis susceptibility observed in our analyses supports the hypothesis that NRAMP1 might play an important role in the host defense to the development of tuberculosis

Evaluation of Bacterial Contamination in Anesthesia Breathing Circuits

Introduction : Hospital infections are one of the important reasons of mortality and incurred expenses. Therefore, we must control these infections by identifying contamination sources. The aim of this study was the determination of bacterial pollution of corrugated anesthesia sets in surgical rooms. Methods: This study was an analytic-description one performed in training hospitals of Yazd city. Research sample was 440 cases provided from different parts of corrugate after completing the anesthesia period by wet sterile swabs and transferred to culture media. On Thursday, each week, a sample from different parts of tube after sterilizing with cetrimide solution was obtained. Finally, after 24 hours, culture medias were studied for colony growth. Results: Obtained results indicated that of 440 cases taken samples, 343 cases were without bacterial pollution, 71 cases (19.29%) had bacterial pollution of samples before sterilizing and 26 cases (36.1%) were polluted after tube sterilizing. Conclusion: Sampling and culturing from used equipment and tools in hospital is one of the important actions for identifying and controlling hospital infections. Obtained results from this study indicated that of 440 cases, there were 97 cases of pollution. Therefore, it is suggested that anti bacterial filters should be installed before Y form piece of tubes in anesthesia machines and disposable corrugated tubes should replace traditional tubes. In addition, it seems necessary that wider investigations should be done

Amoebic keratitis in Iran (1997-2007)

Background: Amoebic keratitis introduced as a painful corneal infection which sometimes lead to poor vision and blind-ness. The main goal of this study was to report amoebic keratitis during ten years from 1997-2007 in patients who was sus-pected to have amoebic keratitis and referred to Parasitology laboratory, School of Public Health, Tehran Univer¬sity of Medical Sciences, Iran. Other aim was to assess the major risk factor for developing this sight-threatening disease. Comparison of lens culture and corneal scrapes culture also was performed. "nMethods: During 1997-2007, 142 patients referred to Dept. of Medical Parasitology, School of Public Health, Tehran Uni-versity of Medical Sciences, Iran. Details of each patient such as age, sex, history of contact lens wear, type of contact lens, clinical symptoms were recorded in questioners. Keratitis was diagnosed on the basis of culture of lenses and/or corneal scrapes on non-nutrient agar overlaid with Escherichia coli and direct microscopy of lenses and/or corneal scrapes. "nResults: Among 142 patients, 49 (34.5%) had amoebic keratitis. 73.46% of these patients were from Tehran but there were a few cases from other cities. The commonest age was between 15-25 yr (75.5%) and more female (37:12) were identified then male. It is worth to mention that 44 patients (89.79%) were contact lens wearers who among them 41 patients (93.18%) wore soft contact lens and only three patients suffer from amoebic keratitis because of wearing hard contact lens. Other finding of this study demonstrated that the most common sign of the patients was severe pain combined with photophobia. "nConclusion: This study indicates that Acanthamoeba keratitis continue to rise in Iran. This is due to increase frequency of lens wearers as well as consideration of ophthalmologist to Acanthamoeba as an agent of keratitis and improvement of labo¬ratory methods. Another finding of this research was the confirmation of soft contact lens as a major risk factor. It is rec¬ommended to educate contact lens wearers for regular disinfection. Besides, culture of corneal scrapes was negative in most of cases, so lens culture were performed which had a much better result