Diagnostic performance of CT with Valsalva maneuver for the diagnosis and characterization of inguinal hernias

PURPOSE Inguinal hernias are mainly diagnosed clinically, but imaging can aid in equivocal cases or for treatment planning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of CT with Valsalva maneuver for the diagnosis and characterization of inguinal hernias. METHODS This single-center retrospective study reviewed all consecutive Valsalva-CT studies between 2018 and 2019. A composite clinical reference standard including surgery was used. Three blinded, independent readers (readers 1-3) reviewed the CT images and scored the presence and type of inguinal hernia. A fourth reader measured hernia size. Interreader agreement was quantified with Krippendorff's α coefficients. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of Valsalva-CT for the detection of inguinal hernias was computed for each reader. RESULTS The final study population included 351 patients (99 women) with median age 52.2 years (interquartile range (IQR), 47.2, 68.9). A total of 381 inguinal hernias were present in 221 patients. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 85.8%, 98.1%, and 91.5% for reader 1, 72.7%, 92.5%, and 81.8% for reader 2, and 68.2%, 96.3%, and 81.1% for reader 3. Hernia neck size was significantly larger in cases correctly detected by all three readers (19.0 mm, IQR 13, 25), compared to those missed by all readers (7.0 mm, IQR, 5, 9; p < 0.001). Interreader agreement was substantial (α = 0.723) for the diagnosis of hernia and moderate (α = 0.522) for the type of hernia. CONCLUSION Valsalva-CT shows very high specificity and high accuracy for the diagnosis of inguinal hernia. Sensitivity is only moderate which is associated with missed smaller hernias

A-to-I RNA editing in the earliest-diverging Eumetazoan phyla

© The Author(s), 2017. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Molecular Biology and Evolution 34 (2017): 1890-1901, doi:10.1093/molbev/msx125.The highly conserved ADAR enzymes, found in all multicellular metazoans, catalyze the editing of mRNA transcripts by the deamination of adenosines to inosines. This type of editing has two general outcomes: site specific editing, which frequently leads to recoding, and clustered editing, which is usually found in transcribed genomic repeats. Here, for the first time, we looked for both editing of isolated sites and clustered, non-specific sites in a basal metazoan, the coral Acropora millepora during spawning event, in order to reveal its editing pattern. We found that the coral editome resembles the mammalian one: it contains more than 500,000 sites, virtually all of which are clustered in non-coding regions that are enriched for predicted dsRNA structures. RNA editing levels were increased during spawning and increased further still in newly released gametes. This may suggest that editing plays a role in introducing variability in coral gametes.This work was supported by the Australian Research Council (to PK), the European Research Council (grant 311257), the I-CORE Program of the Planning and Budgeting Committee in Israel (grants 41/11 and 1796/12), and the Israel Science Foundation (1380/14)

Effect of increasing fruit and vegetable intake by dietary intervention on nutritional biomarkers and attitudes to dietary change : a randomised trial

This work was funded by The Scottish Government Rural and Environmental Science and Analytical Sciences Division (RESAS) and supported by the Rank Prize Funds.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

From Parent to Gamete: Vertical Transmission of Symbiodinium (Dinophyceae) ITS2 Sequence Assemblages in the Reef Building Coral Montipora capitata

Parental effects are ubiquitous in nature and in many organisms play a particularly critical role in the transfer of symbionts across generations; however, their influence and relative importance in the marine environment has rarely been considered. Coral reefs are biologically diverse and productive marine ecosystems, whose success is framed by symbiosis between reef-building corals and unicellular dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium. Many corals produce aposymbiotic larvae that are infected by Symbiodinium from the environment (horizontal transmission), which allows for the acquisition of new endosymbionts (different from their parents) each generation. In the remaining species, Symbiodinium are transmitted directly from parent to offspring via eggs (vertical transmission), a mechanism that perpetuates the relationship between some or all of the Symbiodinium diversity found in the parent through multiple generations. Here we examine vertical transmission in the Hawaiian coral Montipora capitata by comparing the Symbiodinium ITS2 sequence assemblages in parent colonies and the eggs they produce. Parental effects on sequence assemblages in eggs are explored in the context of the coral genotype, colony morphology, and the environment of parent colonies. Our results indicate that ITS2 sequence assemblages in eggs are generally similar to their parents, and patterns in parental assemblages are different, and reflect environmental conditions, but not colony morphology or coral genotype. We conclude that eggs released by parent colonies during mass spawning events are seeded with different ITS2 sequence assemblages, which encompass phylogenetic variability that may have profound implications for the development, settlement and survival of coral offspring

Major Cellular and Physiological Impacts of Ocean Acidification on a Reef Building Coral

As atmospheric levels of CO2 increase, reef-building corals are under greater stress from both increased sea surface temperatures and declining sea water pH. To date, most studies have focused on either coral bleaching due to warming oceans or declining calcification due to decreasing oceanic carbonate ion concentrations. Here, through the use of physiology measurements and cDNA microarrays, we show that changes in pH and ocean chemistry consistent with two scenarios put forward by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) drive major changes in gene expression, respiration, photosynthesis and symbiosis of the coral, Acropora millepora, before affects on biomineralisation are apparent at the phenotype level. Under high CO2 conditions corals at the phenotype level lost over half their Symbiodinium populations, and had a decrease in both photosynthesis and respiration. Changes in gene expression were consistent with metabolic suppression, an increase in oxidative stress, apoptosis and symbiont loss. Other expression patterns demonstrate upregulation of membrane transporters, as well as the regulation of genes involved in membrane cytoskeletal interactions and cytoskeletal remodeling. These widespread changes in gene expression emphasize the need to expand future studies of ocean acidification to include a wider spectrum of cellular processes, many of which may occur before impacts on calcification

Urban coral reefs: Degradation and resilience of hard coral assemblages in coastal cities of East and Southeast Asia

© 2018 The Author(s) Given predicted increases in urbanization in tropical and subtropical regions, understanding the processes shaping urban coral reefs may be essential for anticipating future conservation challenges. We used a case study approach to identify unifying patterns of urban coral reefs and clarify the effects of urbanization on hard coral assemblages. Data were compiled from 11 cities throughout East and Southeast Asia, with particular focus on Singapore, Jakarta, Hong Kong, and Naha (Okinawa). Our review highlights several key characteristics of urban coral reefs, including “reef compression” (a decline in bathymetric range with increasing turbidity and decreasing water clarity over time and relative to shore), dominance by domed coral growth forms and low reef complexity, variable city-specific inshore-offshore gradients, early declines in coral cover with recent fluctuating periods of acute impacts and rapid recovery, and colonization of urban infrastructure by hard corals. We present hypotheses for urban reef community dynamics and discuss potential of ecological engineering for corals in urban areas

Future of ombrogenic forest marshland areas

Badania terenowe prowadzono na terenach mokradłowych Leśnego Kompleksu Promocyjnego Lasy Rychtalskie. Obszary mokradłowe charakteryzują się bardzo dużymi zdolnościami retencyjnymi. Odpływ roczny jest stosunkowo niewielki – ok. 4% sumy opadów rocznych i występuje tylko w półroczu zimowym i w maju. Wody gruntowe zalegają płytko ok. 1 m poniżej powierzchni terenu. Prognozę zmian stosunków wodnych na badanych terenach wyrażającą się zmianami stanów wód gruntowych, oparto na ujemnym rocznym trendzie opadów atmosferycznych. Założono, że istotne zmiany w ekosystemach mokradłowych będą zachodzić, gdy średni poziom wód gruntowych spadnie o 50% obecnego stanu. Można szacować, że nastąpi to po ok. 100 latach. Działając pragmatycznie, należałoby dążyć do całkowitego zatrzymania odpływającej z tych terenów wody. Wykazano, iż wody powierzchniowe mają lepszą jakość niż wody gruntowe. Pierwsze z nich mają czystość odpowiadającą wartościom zawartym w granicach pomiędzy wartościami będącymi na granicy oznaczeń do górnej granicy klasy drugiej, natomiast drugie wartościom do piątej klasy czystości. W wodach powierzchniowych elementem o najgorszej wartości było we wszystkich sezonach chemiczne zapotrzebowanie na tlen (ChZT). Swoje najwyższe wskazania osiągnęło ono w sezonie wiosennym 2006 roku. Złą jakość wód gruntowych determinowały elementy nieorganiczne, takie jak amoniak i fosforany rozpuszczone. W zależności od sezonu osiągały one wartości charakterystyczne dla III, IV i V klasy jakości (najgorsze wiosną 2006 roku). W wyniku przeprowadzonych badań nie stwierdzono istotnych procesów akumulacji zanieczyszczeń pochodzenia antropogenicznego w wodach powierzchniowych i gruntowych leśnych mokradeł ombrogenicznych LKP Lasy Rychtalskie. Również inne, przeprowadzone lecz nie opisane w niniejszej pracy badania (m.in. monitoring dioksynowy, magnetometria) potwierdzają brak znaczących ilości zanieczyszczeń, w szczególności metali ciężkich i biogenów na tych terenach (Miler i in. 2004–2007). W dłuższej perspektywie czasowej należy się jednak liczyć ze zwiększonymi stężeniami zanieczyszczeń w wodach w związku z prognozowanym deficytem wody wynikającym z malejącego trendu sum rocznych opadów atmosferycznych. Niemniej jest to perspektywa dość odległa.Field studies have been carried out on marshland areas in the Promotion Forest Complex Rychtalskie Forest. Marshland areas are characterized by very large water storage capacities. Total annual outflow is relatively small – about 4% of a total annual precipitation and it occurs only in winter half-year and in May. Ground water levels lie shallow, about 1 m under the surface area. The forecast of water condition change in the investigated areas, expressed by ground water changes, was based on negative trend of precipitation. It has been assumed that, essential changes on marshland area ecosystems will occur, when – average ground water levels come down by about 50% of the present state. It has been estimated that it will happen after around 100 years. Pragmatic actions should aim to totally stop water outflow from these areas. It was found that surface water had better water quality than ground water. First of them had the results in the interval ranging from the border of detect ability to the upper limit of the 2nd class of purity whereas second to the 5th class of purity. In surface waters the parameter with the poorest value in all seasons was chemical oxygen demand (ChZT). The highest level was recorded in the spring season of 2006. Poor quality of ground waters was determined by inorganic elements such as ammonia and soluble phosphates. Depending on the seasons they reached values characteristic of quality classes III, IV and V (being the worst in spring of 2006). As a result of conducted analyses no significant processes of anthropogenic pollutants were found in surface and ground waters of ombrogenic forest marshes in the Lasy Rychtalskie Promotional Forest Complex. Also other analyses conducted within the framework of this study and which results are not described in this paper (e.g. dioxin monitoring, magnetometry) confirmed the absence of considerable amounts of pollutants, particularly heavy metals and biogens in those areas (Miler et al. 2004–2007). However, in the longer perspective we need to consider elevated concentrations of pollutants in waters in connection with the forecasted water deficit, resulting from the downward trend for total annual precipitation. However, this is a rather long-time perspective

Conception of retention and drain changes measurement in the Tuczno monitoring site

Powierzchnia poddana analizom położona jest w północno-zachodniej części Polski na terenie województwa zachodniopomorskiego. Badania zlokalizowano w bliskim sąsiedztwie meteorologicznej stacji badawczej zarządzanej przez Katedrę Meteorologii UP w Poznaniu. Obszar znajduje się na terenie otuliny Drawieńskiego Parku Narodowego. Standardowe badania stosunków wodnych w lasach bazują na schemacie zlewniowym, który w zasadzie uniemożliwia oceny quasipunktowe (w oddziałach, czy pododdziałach leśnych). Dlatego do obliczania profilowego odpływu i zmian retencji zaproponowano pomiary stanów wód gruntowych w transektach spływowych oraz oznaczanie uwilgotnienia w strefie aeracji metodą TDR. Reflektometria Czasowo-Domenowa (TDR) stała się znaną i użyteczną metodą dla pomiarów zawartości wody w glebie i wielkości przewodności elektrycznej w latach 80-tych ubiegłego wieku poprzez opublikowanie serii artykułów Toppy, Daltona i innych. Reflektometria Czasowo-Domenowa (TDR) jest wysoce dokładną i dostosowaną do pomiarów automatycznnych metodą dla określania zawartości wody i przewodności elektrycznej. Zawartość wody jest wnioskowana na podstawie przenikalności dielektrycznej ośrodka, podczas gdy przewodność elektryczna jest wnioskowana na podstawie tłumienia sygnału TDR. Mieszane modele empiryczne i dielektryczne są używane dla ustalania relacji zawartość wody a przenikalność dielektryczna. Glina i materia organiczna wiążą znaczne ilości wody, tak że mierzona wielkość stałej dielektrycznej jest zmniejszana i zależności z całkowitą zawartością wody wymagają odrębnych kalibracji. W metodzie TDR przenikalność dielektryczna ośrodka (np. gleby) wyliczana jest na podstawie pomiaru prędkości propagacji impulsu elektromagnetycznego wzdłuż falowodu utworzonego z elektrod przewodzących prąd elektryczny, tworzących sondę pomiarową umieszczoną w badanym ośrodku. Przenikalność dielektryczna warunkuje prędkość propagacji w takim falowodzie. Zatem na podsta wie pomiaru prędkości propagacji impulsu elektromagnetycznego można ocenić wilgotność ośrodka.The area subjected to analysis is located in the north-west part of Poland in Pomerania province. The study is located in the vicinity of meteorological research station managed by the Department of Meteorology, University of Life Sciences in Poznań. The area is located within the buffer zone of Drawieński National Park. Standard tests of the water conditions in forests based on river basin schema, which basically makes evaluation the quasi-point impossible (in units or subunits of forest). Therefore, to calculate the profile drainage and retention changes proposed measurements of groundwater levels in the trailing transects and marking moisture in the aeration zone using TDR method. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) became known as a useful method for soil water content and bulk electrical conductivity measurement in the 1980s through the publication of a series of papers by Topp, Dalton and others. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) is a highly accurate and automatable method for determination of porous media water content and electrical conductivity. Water content is inferred from the dielectric permittivity of the medium, whereas electrical conductivity is inferred from TDR signal attenuation. Empirical and dielectric mixing models are used to relate water content to measured dielectric permittivity. Clay and organic matter bind substantial amounts of water, such that measured bulk dielectric constant is reduced and the relationship with total water content requires individual calibration. The TDR method dielectric medium (eg. soil) is calculated by measuring the speed of propagation of electromagnetic pulse along a waveguide formed by electrically conductive electrodes, forming a probe placed in the test center. Permittivity determines the speed of propagation in the waveguide. Thus, by measuring the propagation speed of the electromagnetic pulse humidity medium can be estimated

Fatigue Life Assessment of Selected Structural Elements of MI-24 Helicopter

In order to ensure the integrity of the structure, it is important to determine the actual loads that act on individual elements and their influence on fatigue life. The article demonstrates how to determine the fatigue life of selected elements of the Mi-24 helicopter. In addition, the work indicates the potential location of damage. In calculations, the actual levels of loads acting on the elements during the flight were used. The entire test was performed using the numerical analysis, which greatly helped reduce the time of the project. Fatigue life was determined using the MSC.FATIGUE program with the Palmgren - Miner linear damage accumulation rule