Automated claustrum segmentation in human brain MRI using deep learning

In the last two decades, neuroscience has produced intriguing evidence for a central role of the claustrum in mammalian forebrain structure and function. However, relatively few in vivo studies of the claustrum exist in humans. A reason for this may be the delicate and sheet-like structure of the claustrum lying between the insular cortex and the putamen, which makes it not amenable to conventional segmentation methods. Recently, Deep Learning (DL) based approaches have been successfully introduced for automated segmentation of complex, subcortical brain structures. In the following, we present a multi-view DL-based approach to segment the claustrum in T1-weighted MRI scans. We trained and evaluated the proposed method in 181 individuals, using bilateral manual claustrum annotations by an expert neuroradiologist as reference standard. Cross-validation experiments yielded median volumetric similarity, robust Hausdorff distance, and Dice score of 93.3%, 1.41 mm, and 71.8%, respectively, representing equal or superior segmentation performance compared to human intra-rater reliability. The leave-one-scanner-out evaluation showed good transferability of the algorithm to images from unseen scanners at slightly inferior performance. Furthermore, we found that DL-based claustrum segmentation benefits from multi-view information and requires a sample size of around 75 MRI scans in the training set. We conclude that the developed algorithm allows for robust automated claustrum segmentation and thus yields considerable potential for facilitating MRI-based research of the human claustrum. The software and models of our method are made publicly available

Decreased cortical thickness mediates the relationship between premature birth and cognitive performance in adulthood

Cortical thickness (CTh) reflects cortical properties such as dendritic complexity and synaptic density, which are not only vulnerable to developmental disturbances caused by premature birth but also highly relevant for cognitive performance. We tested the hypotheses whether CTh in young adults is altered after premature birth and whether these aberrations are relevant for general cognitive abilities. We investigated CTh based on brain structural magnetic resonance imaging and surface‐based morphometry in a large and prospectively collected cohort of 101 very premature‐born adults (<32 weeks of gestation and/or birth weight [BW] below 1,500 g) and 111 full‐term controls at 26 years of age. Cognitive performance was assessed by full‐scale intelligence quotient (IQ) using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. CTh was reduced in frontal, parietal, and temporal associative cortices predominantly in the left hemisphere in premature‐born adults compared to controls. We found a significant positive association of CTh with both gestational age and BW, particularly in the left hemisphere, and a significant negative association between CTh and intensity of neonatal treatment within limited regions bilaterally. Full‐scale IQ and CTh in the left hemisphere were positively correlated. Furthermore, CTh in the left hemisphere acted as a mediator on the association between premature birth and full‐scale IQ. Results provide evidence that premature born adults have widespread reduced CTh that is relevant for their general cognitive performance. Data suggest lasting reductions in cortical microstructure subserving CTh after premature birth

Evidence that breast cancer risk at the 2q35 locus is mediated through IGFBP5 regulation.

GWAS have identified a breast cancer susceptibility locus on 2q35. Here we report the fine mapping of this locus using data from 101,943 subjects from 50 case-control studies. We genotype 276 SNPs using the 'iCOGS' genotyping array and impute genotypes for a further 1,284 using 1000 Genomes Project data. All but two, strongly correlated SNPs (rs4442975 G/T and rs6721996 G/A) are excluded as candidate causal variants at odds against &gt;100:1. The best functional candidate, rs4442975, is associated with oestrogen receptor positive (ER+) disease with an odds ratio (OR) in Europeans of 0.85 (95% confidence interval=0.84-0.87; P=1.7 × 10(-43)) per t-allele. This SNP flanks a transcriptional enhancer that physically interacts with the promoter of IGFBP5 (encoding insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 5) and displays allele-specific gene expression, FOXA1 binding and chromatin looping. Evidence suggests that the g-allele confers increased breast cancer susceptibility through relative downregulation of IGFBP5, a gene with known roles in breast cell biology

Neck emergency due to parathyroid adenoma bleeding: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The spontaneous rupture of a parathyroid adenoma accompanied by extracapsular hemorrhage is a rare, potentially fatal, condition and is a cervicomediastinal surgical emergency.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>This report describes an atypical two-step spontaneous rupture of an asymptomatic parathyroid adenoma in a 56-year-old Caucasian woman who presented with a painful mass in the right side of her neck.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Based on this case report and similar cases reported in the medical literature, a diagnosis of extracapsular parathyroid hemorrhage should be considered when a non-traumatic sudden neck swelling coexists with hypercalcemia and regional ecchymosis.</p

A new two-phase dimeticone pediculicide shows high efficacy in a comparative bioassay

Background: \ud Dimeticones kill head lice by physical means. Here we assessed in a comparative bioassay the ex vivo efficacy of "NYDA® sensitiv", a new two-phase dimeticone-based pediculicide similar to a product established on the market, but without fragrances.\ud \ud Methods:\ud We compared efficacy of the new product to a positive dimeticone control group, a sample of four other insecticidal and natural head lice products marketed in Germany, and an untreated control. In a bioassay, lice were exposed ex vivo to products and examined for activity for up to 24 hours, following a standard protocol.\ud \ud Results:\ud After 6 and 24 hours, 13.7 and 88.5% of untreated control lice did not show major vital signs. In contrast, no lice showed major vital signs 5 minutes after treatment with the new product or the control dimeticone group (NYDA®). This effect persisted at all observation points (100% efficacy). Efficacy of 0.5% permethrin (Infectopedicul®) ranged between 76 and 96% in evaluations between 5 min and 6 hours. All lice treated with a coconut-based compound (mosquito® Läuseshampoo) did not show major vital signs after 5 min, but mortality was only 58% after one hour. Pyrethrum extract (Goldgeist® forte) showed an efficacy of 22 - 52% between 5 min and 3 hours after treatment; after 6 hours, 76% of lice were judged dead. An oxyphthirine®-based compound (Liberalice DUO LP-PRO®) killed 22 - 54% of lice in the first 6 hours.\ud \ud Conclusions:\ud The two-phase dimeticone compound NYDA® sensitiv is highly efficacious. The removal of fragrances as compared to an established dimeticone product did not affect in vitro efficacy

Prevalence of congenital heart defects in neuroblastoma patients: a cohort study and systematic review of literature

Data on the prevalence of congenital heart defects (CHD) in neuroblastoma patients are inconsistent. If CHD are more common in neuroblastoma patients than in the general population, cardiac screening might be warranted. In this study we used echocardiography to determine the prevalence of CHD in a single centre cohort of surviving neuroblastoma patients. In addition, we performed a systematic review of the literature. Echocardiography was performed in 119 of 133 patients (89.5%). Only two patients (1.7%) had CHD. The prevalence of CHD was not significantly different from a previously published control group of 192 leukaemia patients examined by echocardiography (P = 0.49). Literature search revealed 17 studies, showing prevalence rates of CHD in neuroblastoma patients ranging from 0 to 20%. Prevalence was less than 3.6% in the majority of studies. Most studies lacked information on validity. We conclude that current evidence does not support standard cardiac screening in all patients with neuroblastoma

Knowing the enemy: ant behavior and control in a pediatric hospital of Buenos Aires

Ant control is difficult in systems even where a variety of control strategies and compounds are allowed; in sensitive places such as hospitals, where there are often restrictions on the methods and toxicants to be applied, the challenge is even greater. Here we report the methods and results of how we faced this challenge of controlling ants in a pediatric hospital using baits. Our strategy was based on identifying the species present and analyzing their behavior. On the one hand, we evaluated outdoors in the green areas of the hospital, the relative abundance of ant genera, their food preferences and the behavioral dominances. On the other hand, control treatments were performed using separately two boron compounds added to sucrose solution which was not highly concentrated to avoid constrains due to the viscosity. Most of the species in the food preference test accepted sugary food; only one species was recorded to visit it less than the protein foods. This result was consistent with the efficacy of control treatments by sugary baits within the rooms. For species that showed good acceptance of sugar solutions in the preference test outdoors, sugar bait control indoors was 100& effective. Conversely, for the only species that foraged significantly less on sugar food, the bait treatment was ineffective. This work reveals the importance of considering the behavior and feeding preferences of the species to be controlled by toxic baits.Fil: Josens, Roxana Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Sola, Francisco Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Marchisio, Nahuel Matías. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Di Renzo, María Agostina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental. Laboratorio del Grupo de Estudio de Insectos Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Giacometti, Alina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; Argentin