Correlation between compression, tensile and tearing tests on healthy and calcified aortic tissues

An anastomosis performed in calcified tissues tears up faster than in healthy tissues. This study develops and validates an in vitro non-destructive method to distinguish healthy from calcified aortic tissues.status: publishe

Evaluation of an intuitive writing interface in robot-aided laser laparoscopic surgery

OBJECTIVE: The feasibility of the conceptual Intuitive Writing Interface (IWI) in robot-aided laser laparoscopic surgery has been demonstrated previously. This paper investigates the potential improvement of IWI by comparing conventional manipulation (CM) and IWI manipulation (IM) and conducting an animal experiment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three tasks were designed that were considered to be representative of laser laparoscopic surgical procedures. All test participants used both CM and IM in all tasks. Completion time and error level of each task were taken as comparative indices and were integrated into a self-defined Index of Time and Error (ITE). Six sequential in vitro trials were carried out to investigate learning curves. In addition, nephrectomy was performed on a rabbit by employing IWI in robot-aided laser laparoscopic surgery. RESULTS: The results showed significant advantages for IM, with shorter completion time, more successful shots, and smaller error length in the three tasks, as compared to CM. The learning curve showed a promising trend for IM. More than half of the participants performed better with IM. The animal model experiment demonstrated the clinical feasibility of IM, but at the same time revealed some limitations. CONCLUSIONS: The new IWI interface definitely improved laser laparoscopic procedures by taking advantage of familiar writing skills. With its flexibility of implementation and ease of use, IWI has clear potential for use in laser laparoscopic procedures.status: publishe

APES — Anonymity and privacy in electronic services. Datenschutz und Datensicherheit (DuD

on unconditional anonymity. The anonymity requirements and properties of a wide range of applications have been analyzed, and a model has been developed to describe these anonymity properties [79]. Basic building blocks for unconditional anonymity and privacy were then distilled from the existing solutions, which provide anonymity and privacy in the selected applications [34]. In the last phase we incorporated the appropriate privacyenhancing technologies in two different applications – privacy-preserving targeted advertising through web banners, and anonymous peer-to-peer networking – and we presented a number of new tools and technologies for anonymity and privacy in this context [35]. The next two years of the APES project focus on anonymity control. The same approach is followed. This deliverable therefore starts with a taxonomy of anonymity control in electronic services, expanding on the terminology proposed in Deliverable 2. We then analyze the anonymity control requirements and properties of a wide range of applications, includin

FINAL VERSION

Executive summary For applications such as electronic voting and electronic payments, anonymity and privacy are strictly necessary. In a democratic society public elections will be held anonymously and citizens have a fundamental right to privacy, for example when buying goods or subscribing to services. However, current technologies such as databases, online connections, mobile communications, may lead to an increased erosion of privacy. For the time being no widespread communications and payment technologies are available to provide on-line shopping without giving away a substantial amount of personal information. Applications like email, publishing and web browsing are widely accepted without anonymity properties. This document describes the anonymity requirements of a variety of applications in which anonymity and privacy play an important role: (1) anonymous connections, whic

Crossing muscle fibers of the human tongue resolved in vivo using constrained spherical deconvolution

Background: Surgical resection of tongue cancer may impair swallowing and speech. Knowledge of tongue muscle architecture affected by the resection could aid in patient counseling. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) enables reconstructions of muscle architecture in vivo. Reconstructing crossing fibers in the tongue requires a higher-order diffusion model. Purpose: To develop a clinically feasible diffusion imaging protocol, which facilitates both DTI and constrained spherical deconvolution (CSD) reconstructions of tongue muscle architecture in vivo. Study Type: Cross-sectional study. Subjects/Specimen: One ex vivo bovine tongue resected en bloc from mandible to hyoid bone. Ten healthy volunteers (mean age 25.5 years; range 21–34 years; four female). Field Strength/Sequence: Diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging at 3 T using a high-angular resolution diffusion imaging scheme acquired twice with opposing phase-encoding for B 0 -field inhomogeneity correction. The scan of the healthy volunteers was divided into four parts, in between which the volunteers were allowed to swallow, resulting in a total acquisition time of 10 minutes. Assessment: The ability of resolving crossing muscle fibers using CSD was determined on the bovine tongue specimen. A reproducible response function was estimated and the optimal peak threshold was determined for the in vivo tongue. The quality of tractography of the in vivo tongue was graded by three experts. Statistical Tests: The within-subject coefficient of variance was calculated for the response function. The qualitative results of the grading of DTI and CSD tractography were analyzed using a multilevel proportional odds model. Results: Fiber orientation distributions in the bovine tongue specimen showed that CSD was able to resolve crossing muscle fibers. The response function could be determined reproducibly in vivo. CSD tractography displayed significantly improved tractography compared with DTI tractography (P = 0.015). Data Conclusion: The 10-minute diffusion imaging protocol facilitates CSD fiber tracking with improved reconstructions of crossing tongue muscle fibers compared with DTI. Level of Evidence: 2. Technical Efficacy: Stage 1. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019

Comparison of a flexible versus a rigid breast compression paddle: pain experience, projected breast area, radiation dose and technical image quality

To compare pain, projected breast area, radiation dose and image quality between flexible (FP) and rigid (RP) breast compression paddles. The study was conducted in a Dutch mammographic screening unit (288 women). To compare both paddles one additional image with RP was made, consisting of either a mediolateral-oblique (MLO) or craniocaudal-view (CC). Pain experience was scored using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Projected breast area was estimated using computer software. Radiation dose was estimated using the model by Dance. Image quality was reviewed by three radiologists and three radiographers. There was no difference in pain experience between both paddles (mean difference NRS: 0.08 ± 0.08, p = 0.32). Mean radiation dose was 4.5 % lower with FP (0.09 ± 0.01 p = 0.00). On MLO-images, the projected breast area was 0.79 % larger with FP. Paired evaluation of image quality indicated that FP removed fibroglandular tissue from the image area and reduced contrast in the clinically relevant retroglandular area at chest wall side. Although FP performed slightly better in the projected breast area, it moved breast tissue from the image area at chest wall side. RP showed better contrast, especially in the retroglandular area. We therefore recommend the use of RP for standard MLO and CC view

Long-Term Outcome after Joint Bleeds in Von Willebrand Disease Compared to Haemophilia A : A Post Hoc Analysis

Long-term outcome after joint bleeds in von Willebrand disease (VWD) (von Willebrand factor activity ≤ 30 IU/dL) could differ from moderate or severe haemophilia A (HA) (factor VIII [FVIII] 1-5 IU/dL or FVIII  5/joint) less often than moderate and severe HA patients (52% vs. 77% vs. 98%). HJHS and PS in VWD were similar to moderate HA (median HJHS 5 vs. 6, RR 0.9 [0.5-1.4] and PS > 3 of ≥ 1 joint OR 0.3 [0.1-1.4]), but better than in severe HA patients (median HJHS 5 vs. 9, RR 1.8 [1.1-2.9]; PS > 3 in any joint OR 0.1 [0.0-0.3]). Self-reported limitations in activities were comparable across VWD, moderate HA (HAL score < 95: 67% vs. 49%; OR 1.4 [0.5-3.6]) and young adults with severe HA (67% vs. 48%; OR 1.7 [0.7-4.4]). Despite fewer joint bleeds, joint outcome after joint bleeds was similar in VWD and moderate HA patients. Type 3 VWD patients had worst joint outcome, comparable to younger intensively treated severe HA patients. Limitations in activities occurred as often in VWD as in both moderate and severe HA

Surgical repair of distal biceps tendon ruptures : a biomechanical comparison of two techniques

PURPOSE: To compare pain, projected breast area, radiation dose and image quality between flexible (FP) and rigid (RP) breast compression paddles. METHODS: The study was conducted in a Dutch mammographic screening unit (288 women). To compare both paddles one additional image with RP was made, consisting of either a mediolateral-oblique (MLO) or craniocaudal-view (CC). Pain experience was scored using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Projected breast area was estimated using computer software. Radiation dose was estimated using the model by Dance. Image quality was reviewed by three radiologists and three radiographers. Results : There was no difference in pain experience between both paddles (mean difference NRS: 0.08 +/- 0.08, p = 0.32). Mean radiation dose was 4.5 % lower with FP (0.09 +/- 0.01 p = 0.00). On MLO-images, the projected breast area was 0.79 % larger with FP. Paired evaluation of image quality indicated that FP removed fibroglandular tissue from the image area and reduced contrast in the clinically relevant retroglandular area at chest wall side. CONCLUSIONS: Although FP performed slightly better in the projected breast area, it moved breast tissue from the image area at chest wall side. RP showed better contrast, especially in the retroglandular area. We therefore recommend the use of RP for standard MLO and CC views