Deep Learning for the Segmentation of Vessels in Retinal Fundus images and its Interpretation

The main goal of this dissertation is to study and analyze different approaches based on deep learning techniques for the segmentation of retinal blood vessels. In order to do so, different design and architectures of CNN's will be studied and analysed, as their results and performance are evaluated and compared with the available algorithms. One other important objective of this work is to study and evaluate the different techniques that have been used for vessel segmentation, such as machine learning, and how these can be combined with the deep learning approaches. By Analyzing the features that the learned models are using to perform classification and combining them with different machine learning techniques (such as Random Forest and SVM Classifiers), another goal is to proposed a solution or set of solutions to perform the retinal vessel segmentation

A case of porto-sinusoidal vascular disease

Introduction: Porto-sinusoidal vascular syndrome is characterised by specific histological changes that do not include cirrhosis, with or without portal hypertension. Patients are usually asymptomatic until development of portal hypertension complications. Case description: A 69-year-old female with history of JAK2 positive essential thrombocythemia (ET) was referred to internal medicine consultation due to elevated liver enzymes. The patient had no previous history of liver disease. Seven months earlier, she had an ischaemic stroke and started treatment with atorvastatin. After discontinuing medication, liver enzymes returned to normal and atorvastatin-related drug-induced liver disease (DILI) was presumed. During a follow-up visit, iron deficiency anaemia was detected and an endoscopic study was performed. It revealed a gastric varix actively bleeding, which was successfully treated with cyanoacrylate. Two months later, the patient was admitted due to a new episode of variceal bleeding, and a portal hypertension complementary study was made. Discussion: Although the pathogenesis of porto-sinusoidal vascular disease (PSVD) remains poorly understood, vascular changes within the liver have been associated with several predisposing conditions, such as hypercoagulable states. Patients with ET, especially those with JAK2 mutation, are known to be at increased risk of non-cirrhotic vein thrombosis. Concerning PSVD, the association is not clear but it is believed that both PSVD and myeloproliferative neoplasms share a common denominator: a state characterised by hypercoagulability, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and, in some cases, portal hypertension. Conclusion: Portal hypertension without cirrhosis is a rare condition, presenting diagnostic challenges and significant impact on the patient’s prognosis

Grand Challenges in global eye health: a global prioritisation process using Delphi method

Background We undertook a Grand Challenges in Global Eye Health prioritisation exercise to identify the key issues that must be addressed to improve eye health in the context of an ageing population, to eliminate persistent inequities in health-care access, and to mitigate widespread resource limitations. Methods Drawing on methods used in previous Grand Challenges studies, we used a multi-step recruitment strategy to assemble a diverse panel of individuals from a range of disciplines relevant to global eye health from all regions globally to participate in a three-round, online, Delphi-like, prioritisation process to nominate and rank challenges in global eye health. Through this process, we developed both global and regional priority lists. Findings Between Sept 1 and Dec 12, 2019, 470 individuals complete round 1 of the process, of whom 336 completed all three rounds (round 2 between Feb 26 and March 18, 2020, and round 3 between April 2 and April 25, 2020) 156 (46%) of 336 were women, 180 (54%) were men. The proportion of participants who worked in each region ranged from 104 (31%) in sub-Saharan Africa to 21 (6%) in central Europe, eastern Europe, and in central Asia. Of 85 unique challenges identified after round 1, 16 challenges were prioritised at the global level; six focused on detection and treatment of conditions (cataract, refractive error, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, services for children and screening for early detection), two focused on addressing shortages in human resource capacity, five on other health service and policy factors (including strengthening policies, integration, health information systems, and budget allocation), and three on improving access to care and promoting equity. Interpretation This list of Grand Challenges serves as a starting point for immediate action by funders to guide investment in research and innovation in eye health. It challenges researchers, clinicians, and policy makers to build collaborations to address specific challenge

Pseudomixoma peritoneal de origem apendicular: uma entidade rara

Mulher de 66 anos, observada por dor na fossa ilíaca direita com um ano de evolução, agravada nos seis meses anteriores e aumento do perímetro abdominal. Tinha antecedentes de histerectomia com anexectomia bilateral por neoplasia benigna do ovário e útero miomatoso. Apresentava um abdómen tenso, doloroso à palpação superficial e profunda, sem defesa. O estudo do tubo digestivo (endoscopia e colonoscopia) não revelou alterações. Realizou tomografia computadorizada (TC) abdominal, compatível com mucocelo apendicular (figuras 1 e 2). Na laparotomia exploradora verificouse disseminação peritoneal extensa

Country performance analysis of Swiss tourism, leisure and hospitality management research

Based on tradition and high standards, Swiss higher education in tourism and hospitality is ranked among the best in the world. Although scientific research is the foundation of a country’s higher education system, the Swiss Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management Scientific Research (Swiss TL&HM-SR) has not yet been subject to a systematic analysis. This paper aims to fill this gap by assessing the Swiss TL&HM-SR performance, as well as identifying and discussing its most prominent topics. To this end, bibliometric data were gathered from the Scopus database and analyzed through a bibliometric mixed-method approach. Results provide a new performance indicator for the Swiss TL&HM-SR in this field of research, and show that innovation and sustainable destination management are particularly prominent topics within Swiss TL&HM-SR. In this context, contributions to these topics in particular are discussed in more detail. The findings provide useful insights for stakeholders aiming to improve sustainability performance through strategic management of destinations, as well as for researchers aiming to follow the latest trends, identify emerging topics and formulate more attractive projects for financing institutions. The study also provides a new and innovative methodological contribution, as it combines different methods of scientific research performance assessment, which can be further employed in other countries or knowledge areas

Breaking of Sitting Time Prevents Lower Leg Swelling—Comparison among Sit, Stand and Intermittent (Sit-to-Stand Transitions) Conditions

Background: Sitting or standing during prolonged periods is related to leg swelling. It is unknown if interrupting sedentary behavior can attenuate lower leg swelling. We aimed to examine if adding sit-to-stand transitions prevents lower leg swelling as compared with uninterrupted motionless standing and sitting, using localized bioelectrical impedance raw parameters. Methods: Twenty adults participated in this crossover randomized controlled trial and acted out three conditions: (1) uninterrupted, motionless standing; (2) uninterrupted motionless sitting; (3) sit-to-stand transitions (1 min sitting followed by 1 min standing). Localized resistance (R), reactance (Xc), impedance (Z) and phase angle (PhA) were assessed at baseline, at 10 min and at 20 min for each condition. Results: For sitting and standing conditions, R and Xc values decreased after 10 and 20 min. Uninterrupted sitting resulted in the highest decrease in R (ΔSit − ΔStand = −9.5 Ω (4.0), p = 0.019; ΔSit − ΔInt = −11.6 Ω (4.0), p = 0.005). For standardized R (R/knee height), sitting was the condition with a greater decrease (ΔSit − ΔStand = −30.5 Ω/m (13.4), p = 0.025; ΔSit − ΔInt = −35.0 Ω/m (13.5), p = 0.011). Conclusions: Interrupting sedentary behavior by changing from sit to stand position during short periods may be effective at preventing leg swelling

First report of chronic hepatitis E in renal transplant recipients in Portugal

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection can be responsible for chronic hepatitis in immunocompromised patients, and can rapidly evolve into fibrosis and/or hepatic cirrhosis. We present two cases of chronic hepatitis E, emphasizing the need to be aware of this entity as a growing etiology of hepatitis in transplant and immunocompromised patients

ESTIMATION OF EUCALYPTUS TREE HEIGHT IN CLONAL AND PROGENY TESTS USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS

ABSTRACT The goal of this study was to test the applicability of artificial neural networks for estimating tree heights in clonal tests and progenies. We used data from 8,329 clonal tests collected for six age groups, divided into six blocks and five repetitions. For the progeny tests, we used 36,793 data points, collected at age 5 and divided into ten blocks and five repetitions. The categorical input variables considered were age, treatment, and block. The diameter (dap) was used with continuous input variables. For training the networks, we used two samples. Sub-sample 1 was composed of the first tree of each block. In sub-sample 2, the tree was selected randomly within each block. This selection was made in both tests. The selected data were separated, with 70% used for training and 30% used for validation. The other unselected trees were used for generalization. For each age and treatment, we used the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test to verify the normality of the errors. The results show that ANNs can be used to estimate the heights of trees subjected to various experimental plot treatments, with no loss of accuracy or estimation precision