J-PET Framework: Software platform for PET tomography data reconstruction and analysis

J-PET Framework is an open-source software platform for data analysis, written in C++ and based on the ROOT package. It provides a common environment for implementation of reconstruction, calibration and filtering procedures, as well as for user-level analyses of Positron Emission Tomography data. The library contains a set of building blocks that can be combined by users with even little programming experience, into chains of processing tasks through a convenient, simple and well-documented API. The generic input-output interface allows processing the data from various sources: low-level data from the tomography acquisition system or from diagnostic setups such as digital oscilloscopes, as well as high-level tomography structures e.g. sinograms or a list of lines-of-response. Moreover, the environment can be interfaced with Monte Carlo simulation packages such as GEANT and GATE, which are commonly used in the medical scientific community.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure

Diabetes and cardiovascular disease : from new mechanisms to new therapies

Diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular (CV) diseases, which are the leading cause of mortality among diabetic patients. Although hyperglycemia is a major determinant of macrovascular and microvascular complications in diabetes, hypoglycemia and glycemic variability have also a strong influence on the cardiovascular system. This overview presents the current state of knowledge on the impact of type 2 diabetes on the CV system and new therapeutic strategies that have been recently developed to correct glucose metabolism disorders in patients with high CV risk, such as glucagon‑like peptide 1 receptor agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase‑4 inhibitors, and sodium–glucose cotransporter‑2 inhibitors. Results of several large randomized clinical trials (such as EMPA‑REG, LEADER, SUSTAIN‑6, and CANVAS) assessing the efficacy and safety of drugs based on new mechanisms deserve attention due to their beneficial effect on serious CV events, including CV death, myocardial infarction, and stroke. In addition, based on the results of recent studies and meta‑analyses, an attempt was made to answer the questions of whether the actions of new drugs are mediated solely by the glucose‑lowering effect and whether indeed glycemic control affects the survival of patients with diabetes and CV risk, which seems of key importance from the clinical perspective

Electroencephalographic detection of synesthesia

In this paper the research on a person declaring synesthetic abilities will be presented.According to the current state of knowledge synesthesia activates additional cortical fields in the brainwhich can be found in the EEG. The research was conducted using an EGI-EEG system (ElectricalGeodesic Inc., Eugene, Oregon, USA) with the GeoSource software. GeoSource is a tool that implementsthe algorithms LAURA, LORETA and sLORETA. Using these algorithms for EEG analysis wecan determine where in the brain the source of activity is. The authors will try to answer the questionwhether the use of these tools can prove the occurrence of synesthesia

Low fasting glucose is associated with enhanced thrombin generation and unfavorable fibrin clot properties in type 2 diabetic patients with high cardiovascular risk

Objective To investigate the effect of low blood glucose on thrombin generation and fibrin clot properties in type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods In 165 patients with T2DM and high cardiovascular risk, we measured ex vivo plasma fibrin clot permeation [Ks], turbidity and efficiency of fibrinolysis including clot lysis time [t50%], together with thrombin generation and platelet activation markers in relation to fasting blood glucose. Results As compared to patients in medium (4.5-6.0 mmol/l, n = 52) and higher (>6.0 mmol/l, n = 75) glucose group, subjects with low glycemia (<4.5 mmol/l, n = 38) had lower Ks by 11% (p < 0.001) and 8% (p = 0.01), respectively, prolonged t50% by 10% (p < 0.001) and 7% (p = 0.016), respectively, and higher peak thrombin generation by 21% and 16%, respectively (p < 0.001 for both). There were no significant differences in Ks and t50% between patients in medium and higher glucose group. In the whole group, a J-shape relationship was observed between glycemia and the following factors: peak thrombin generation, Ks and t50%. Only in patients with HbA1c < 6.0% (42 mmol/mol) (n = 26) fasting glucose positively correlated with Ks (r = 0.53, P = 0.006) and inversely with t50% (r = −0.46, P = 0.02). By multiple regression analysis, after adjustment for age, fibrinogen, HbA1c, insulin treatment and T2DM duration, fasting glycemia was the independent predictor of Ks (F = 6.6, df = 2, P = 0.002), t50% (F = 8.0, df = 2, P < 0.001) and peak thrombin generation (F = 13.5, df = 2, P < 0.0001). Conclusions In T2DM patients fasting glycemia <4.5 mmol/l is associated with enhanced thrombin formation and formation of denser fibrin clots displaying lower lysability, especially when strict glycemia control was achieved (HbA1c<6.0%)