SwimmerNET: Underwater 2D Swimmer Pose Estimation Exploiting Fully Convolutional Neural Networks

Professional swimming coaches make use of videos to evaluate their athletes' performances. Specifically, the videos are manually analyzed in order to observe the movements of all parts of the swimmer's body during the exercise and to give indications for improving swimming technique. This operation is time-consuming, laborious and error prone. In recent years, alternative technologies have been introduced in the literature, but they still have severe limitations that make their correct and effective use impossible. In fact, the currently available techniques based on image analysis only apply to certain swimming styles; moreover, they are strongly influenced by disturbing elements (i.e., the presence of bubbles, splashes and reflections), resulting in poor measurement accuracy. The use of wearable sensors (accelerometers or photoplethysmographic sensors) or optical markers, although they can guarantee high reliability and accuracy, disturb the performance of the athletes, who tend to dislike these solutions. In this work we introduce swimmerNET, a new marker-less 2D swimmer pose estimation approach based on the combined use of computer vision algorithms and fully convolutional neural networks. By using a single 8 Mpixel wide-angle camera, the proposed system is able to estimate the pose of a swimmer during exercise while guaranteeing adequate measurement accuracy. The method has been successfully tested on several athletes (i.e., different physical characteristics and different swimming technique), obtaining an average error and a standard deviation (worst case scenario for the dataset analyzed) of approximately 1 mm and 10 mm, respectively

Effects of short-term hyperoxia on erythropoietin levels and microcirculation in critically Ill patients: a prospective observational pilot study

BACKGROUND: The normobaric oxygen paradox states that a short exposure to normobaric hyperoxia followed by rapid return to normoxia creates a condition of 'relative hypoxia' which stimulates erythropoietin (EPO) production. Alterations in glutathione and reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be involved in this process. We tested the effects of short-term hyperoxia on EPO levels and the microcirculation in critically ill patients.METHODS: In this prospective, observational study, 20 hemodynamically stable, mechanically ventilated patients with inspired oxygen concentration (FiO2) \ue2\u89\ua40.5 and PaO2/FiO2\ue2\u80\u89\ue2\u89\ua5\ue2\u80\u89200\uc2\ua0mmHg underwent a 2-hour exposure to hyperoxia (FiO2 1.0). A further 20 patients acted as controls. Serum EPO was measured at baseline, 24\uc2\ua0h and 48\uc2\ua0h. Serum glutathione (antioxidant) and ROS levels were assessed at baseline (t0), after 2\uc2\ua0h of hyperoxia (t1) and 2\uc2\ua0h after returning to their baseline FiO2 (t2). The microvascular response to hyperoxia was assessed using sublingual sidestream dark field videomicroscopy and thenar near-infrared spectroscopy with a vascular occlusion test.RESULTS: EPO increased within 48\uc2\ua0h in patients exposed to hyperoxia from 16.1 [7.4-20.2] to 22.9 [14.1-37.2] IU/L (p\ue2\u80\u89=\ue2\u80\u890.022). Serum ROS transiently increased at t1, and glutathione increased at t2. Early reductions in microvascular density and perfusion were seen during hyperoxia (perfused small vessel density: 85% [95% confidence interval 79-90] of baseline). The response after 2\uc2\ua0h of hyperoxia exposure was heterogeneous. Microvascular perfusion/density normalized upon returning to baseline FiO2.CONCLUSIONS: A two-hour exposure to hyperoxia in critically ill patients was associated with a slight increase in EPO levels within 48\uc2\ua0h. Adequately controlled studies are needed to confirm the effect of short-term hyperoxia on erythropoiesis.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ( www.clinicaltrials.gov ), NCT02481843 , registered 15th June 2015, retrospectively registered

Sequential or Concomitant Inhibition of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4/6 Before mTOR Pathway in Hormone-Positive HER2 Negative Breast Cancer: Biological Insights and Clinical Implications

About 75% of all breast cancers are hormone receptor-positive (HR+). However, the efficacy of endocrine therapy is limited due to the high rate of either pre-existing or acquired resistance. In this work we reconstructed the pathways around estrogen receptor (ER), mTOR, and cyclin D in order to compare the effects of CDK4/6 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors. A positive feedback loop links mTOR and ER that support each other. We subsequently considered whether a combined or sequential inhibition of CDK4/6 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR could ensure better results. Studies indicate that inhibition of CDK4/6 activates mTOR as an escape mechanism to ensure cell proliferation. In literature, the little evidence dealing with this topic suggests that pre-treatment with mTOR pathway inhibitors could prevent or delay the onset of CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance. Additional studies are needed in order to find biomarkers that can identify patients who will develop this resistance and in whom the sensitivity to CDK4/6 inhibitors can be restored

A pilot study on brain plasticity of functional connectivity modulated by cognitive training in mild Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment

Alzheimer's disease (AD) alters the functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN) but also the topological properties of the functional connectome. Cognitive training (CT) is a tool to slow down AD progression and is likely to impact on functional connectivity. In this pilot study, we aimed at investigating brain functional changes after a period of CT and active control (AC) in a group of 26 subjects with mild AD (mAD), 26 with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and a control group of 29 healthy elderly (HE) people. They all underwent a CT and AC in a counterbalanced order following a crossover design. Resting-state functional MRI and neuropsychological testing were acquired before and after each period. We tested post-CT and post-AC changes of cognitive abilities, of the functional connectivity of the DMN, and of topological network properties derived from graph theory and network-based statistics. Only CT produced functional changes, increasing the functional connectivity of the posterior DMN in all three groups. mAD also showed functional changes in the medial temporal lobe and topological changes in the anterior cingulum, whereas aMCI showed more widespread topological changes involving the frontal lobes, the cerebellum and the thalamus. Our results suggest specific functional connectivity changes after CT for aMCI and mAD

Alzheimer’s disease: an overview on oxidative/nitrosative stress and gender related aspects

Stress ossidativo e perossidazione lipidica a livello cerebrale sono tra i principali meccanismi molecolari coinvolti nell’insorgenza dell’Alzheimer (AD). Inoltre, anche il genere potrebbe giocare un ruolo fondamentale nello sviluppo della malattia. Sulla base di precedenti studi che dimostrano un’alterazione piastrinica in pazienti AD, lo scopo del presente lavoro è stato quindi quello di valutare l’impatto del genere sui livelli di stress nitrosativo e sulla funzionalità di piastrine di pazienti AD e controlli sani. In secondo luogo, si è andati a valutare se i livelli plasmatici di LDL ossidate (ox-LDL) rilevati nell’AD fossero influenzati dall’attività di enzimi coinvolti nella perossidazione lipidica. I maschi AD mostrano una produzione piastrinica di NO e ONOO- maggiore delle femmine AD. La stessa differenza di genere è presente nel gruppo di controllo. Un andamento simile è riscontrato per la concentrazione di Ca2+ intracellulare, mentre l’attività della Na,K-ATPasi e la fluidità delle membrane mostrano un andamento opposto. A livello plasmatico, si osservano maggiori livelli di ox-LDL, una maggiore attività dell’enzima platelet activating factor acetyl hydrolase (PAF-AH) e una diminuita attività dell’enzima paraoxonase-1 (PON1) nei pazienti AD rispetto ai controlli sani, senza alcuna differenza di genere. L’attività di PAF-AH e PON-1, rispettivamente, correlano positivamente e negativamente con la gravità della malattia. Il rapporto PON1/PAF-AH è invece inversamente correlato con i livelli di ox-LDL. L’alterazione di tali parametri biochimici, in combinazione con una ridotta capacità totale antiossidante plasmatica riscontrata negli AD, potrebbero contribuire allo status infiammatorio e all’ossidazione lipoproteica tipica della malattia. Inoltre, i maschi hanno una maggior compromissione piastrinica rispetto alle femmine, mentre tali differenze di genere non sono presenti a livello di stress ossidativo plasmatico.Oxidative stress and neuronal lipid peroxidation are among the earliest events in Alzheimer disease (AD) pathogenesis. In addition, gender could differently contribute to the disease etiopathogenetic mechanisms. Based on previous results regarding oxidative alterations in AD platelets, firstly we aimed to investigate the role played by gender on platelet nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite (ONOO-) production in AD patients (M-AD and F-AD) and healthy controls, and its effects on intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and membrane Na,K-ATPase activity and fluidity. Secondly, we aimed to investigate whether higher plasma ox-LDL levels detected in AD were related to alterations of enzyme activities involved in lipid oxidation, including paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and platelet activating factor acetyl hydrolase (PAF-AH) in AD patients and healthy controls. NO and ONOO- production was significantly increased in platelets from both F-AD and M-AD compared to matched controls. M-AD showed a higher NO, ONOO- production and [Ca2+]i than F-AD, while membrane Na,K -ATPase activity and membrane fluidity showed an opposite trend. We also observed higher plasma ox-LDL levels and PAF-AH activity (also directly related with disease severity) and a diminished PON1 activity (inversely related to disease severity) in AD compared to control without any gender differences. A significant negative correlation was also observed between PON1/PAF-AH ratio and ox-LDL levels. Together these biochemical parameters, in combination with the lower plasma antioxidant capacity detected in AD, could contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress of plasma lipoproteins typical of AD. Furthermore, the study supports the conclusion that females are not at greater risk than males for oxidative stress injuries. Further studies on gender differences could lead to a higher probability of improved health outcomes via better-targeted therapies

Alzheimer’s disease: an overview on oxidative/nitrosative stress and gender related aspects

Stress ossidativo e perossidazione lipidica a livello cerebrale sono tra i principali meccanismi molecolari coinvolti nell’insorgenza dell’Alzheimer (AD). Inoltre, anche il genere potrebbe giocare un ruolo fondamentale nello sviluppo della malattia. Sulla base di precedenti studi che dimostrano un’alterazione piastrinica in pazienti AD, lo scopo del presente lavoro è stato quindi quello di valutare l’impatto del genere sui livelli di stress nitrosativo e sulla funzionalità di piastrine di pazienti AD e controlli sani. In secondo luogo, si è andati a valutare se i livelli plasmatici di LDL ossidate (ox-LDL) rilevati nell’AD fossero influenzati dall’attività di enzimi coinvolti nella perossidazione lipidica. I maschi AD mostrano una produzione piastrinica di NO e ONOO- maggiore delle femmine AD. La stessa differenza di genere è presente nel gruppo di controllo. Un andamento simile è riscontrato per la concentrazione di Ca2+ intracellulare, mentre l’attività della Na,K-ATPasi e la fluidità delle membrane mostrano un andamento opposto. A livello plasmatico, si osservano maggiori livelli di ox-LDL, una maggiore attività dell’enzima platelet activating factor acetyl hydrolase (PAF-AH) e una diminuita attività dell’enzima paraoxonase-1 (PON1) nei pazienti AD rispetto ai controlli sani, senza alcuna differenza di genere. L’attività di PAF-AH e PON-1, rispettivamente, correlano positivamente e negativamente con la gravità della malattia. Il rapporto PON1/PAF-AH è invece inversamente correlato con i livelli di ox-LDL. L’alterazione di tali parametri biochimici, in combinazione con una ridotta capacità totale antiossidante plasmatica riscontrata negli AD, potrebbero contribuire allo status infiammatorio e all’ossidazione lipoproteica tipica della malattia. Inoltre, i maschi hanno una maggior compromissione piastrinica rispetto alle femmine, mentre tali differenze di genere non sono presenti a livello di stress ossidativo plasmatico.Oxidative stress and neuronal lipid peroxidation are among the earliest events in Alzheimer disease (AD) pathogenesis. In addition, gender could differently contribute to the disease etiopathogenetic mechanisms. Based on previous results regarding oxidative alterations in AD platelets, firstly we aimed to investigate the role played by gender on platelet nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite (ONOO-) production in AD patients (M-AD and F-AD) and healthy controls, and its effects on intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and membrane Na,K-ATPase activity and fluidity. Secondly, we aimed to investigate whether higher plasma ox-LDL levels detected in AD were related to alterations of enzyme activities involved in lipid oxidation, including paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and platelet activating factor acetyl hydrolase (PAF-AH) in AD patients and healthy controls. NO and ONOO- production was significantly increased in platelets from both F-AD and M-AD compared to matched controls. M-AD showed a higher NO, ONOO- production and [Ca2+]i than F-AD, while membrane Na,K -ATPase activity and membrane fluidity showed an opposite trend. We also observed higher plasma ox-LDL levels and PAF-AH activity (also directly related with disease severity) and a diminished PON1 activity (inversely related to disease severity) in AD compared to control without any gender differences. A significant negative correlation was also observed between PON1/PAF-AH ratio and ox-LDL levels. Together these biochemical parameters, in combination with the lower plasma antioxidant capacity detected in AD, could contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress of plasma lipoproteins typical of AD. Furthermore, the study supports the conclusion that females are not at greater risk than males for oxidative stress injuries. Further studies on gender differences could lead to a higher probability of improved health outcomes via better-targeted therapies