PFO-spectrum disorder: two different cerebrovascular diseases in patients with PFO as detected by AI brain imaging software

BackgroundPatent foramen ovale (PFO) is a prevalent cardiac remnant of fetal anatomy that may pose a risk factor for stroke in some patients, while others can present with asymptomatic white matter (WM) lesions. The current study aimed to test the hypothesis that patients with a PFO who have a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack, compared to those without such a history, have a different burden and distribution of cerebral WM hyperintensities. Additionally, we tested the association between PFO morphological characteristics and severity of shunt, and their impact on the occurrence of ischemic cerebral vascular events and on the burden of cerebral WM lesions.Patients and methodsRetrospective, case–control study that included patients with PFO confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography. Right-to-left shunt size was assessed using transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Cerebral MRIs were analyzed for all participants using the semi-automated Quantib NDTM software for the objective quantification of WM lesions. WM lesions volume was compared between patients with and without a history of stroke. Additionally, the anatomical characteristics of PFOs were assessed to explore their relation to stroke occurrence and WM lesions volume.ResultsOf the initial 264 patients diagnosed with PFO, 67 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Of them, 62% had a history of PFO-related stroke/TIA. Overall burden of WM lesions, including stroke volume, was not significantly different (p = 0.103). However, after excluding stroke volume, WM lesions volume was significantly higher in patients without stroke (0.27 cm3, IQR 0.03–0.60) compared to those with stroke/TIA (0.08 cm3, IQR 0.02–0.18), p = 0.019. Patients with a history of PFO-related stroke/TIA had a tendency to larger PFO sizes by comparison to those without, in terms of length and height, and exhibited greater right-to-left shunt volumes.DiscussionWe suggest that PFO may be associated with the development of two distinct cerebrovascular conditions (stroke and “silent” WM lesions), each characterized by unique imaging patterns. Further studies are needed to identify better the “at-risk” PFOs and gain deeper insights into their clinical implications

Do Different Tree-Ring Proxies Contain Different Temperature Signals? A Case Study of Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) in the Eastern Carpathians

One of the most important proxy archives for past climate variation is tree rings. Tree-ring parameters offer valuable knowledge regarding how trees respond and adapt to environmental changes. Trees encode all environmental changes in different tree-ring parameters. In this study, we analyzed how air temperature is encoded in different Norway spruce tree-ring proxies along an altitude gradient in an intramountain valley of the Carpathians. The study area, in the Gheorgheni region, Romania (Eastern Carpathians), has a mountain climate with a frequent temperature inversion in winter. The climate–growth relationship was analyzed for two contrasting altitudes: low elevation, i.e., below 1000 m a.s.l., and high elevation, i.e., above 1500 m a.s.l. Two local weather stations, one in the valley and the other on the upper part of the mountains, provide daily temperatures (Joseni—750 m a.s.l. and Bucin—1282 m a.s.l.). The bootstrap Pearson correlation between cumulative daily temperature data and three tree-ring proxies (tree-ring width—TRW, basal area increment—BAI, and blue intensity—BI) was computed for each series. The results show that elevation modulates the climate response pattern in the case of BI, and remains relatively similar for TRW and BAI. The winter temperature’s positive influence on spruce growth was observed in both TRW and BAI chronologies. Additionally, the BAI chronology highlights a positive relationship with summer temperature. The highest correlation coefficient (r = 0.551, p < 0.05, n = 41) was recorded between BI residual chronology from high elevation series and summer/autumn temperature from the upper-part weather station for a cumulative period of 59 days (the second half of August to the beginning of October). Our results show that, for this intramountain valley of the Eastern Carpathians, different tree-ring proxies capture different climate signals

Safety of Innovative Nanotechnology Oral Formulations Loaded with Bioactive Menopause Molecules: Influence of Genotoxicity and Biochemical Parameters on a Menopausal Rat Model

In recent years, nanoparticles have gained significant importance due to their unique properties, such as pharmacological, electrical, optical, and magnetic abilities, contributing to the growth of the science and technology sector. Particular naturally derived biomolecules with beneficial effects on menopause disorder have been the subject of studies of pharmaceutical formulation to obtain alternative pharmaceutical forms with increased bioavailability and without side effects, as in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) loaded with such active ingredients. In the present study, one stage of a broader project, we have performed pharmacotoxicology studies for six combinatory innovative nanocapsule pharmaceutical forms containing active natural biomolecules before considering them as oral formulas for (1) in vitro toxicity studies on culture cells and (2) in vivo preclinical studies on a surgically induced menopause model of Wistar female rats, and the influence of the NLCs on key biochemical parameters: lipid profile (TG, Chol, HDL), glycemic markers (Gli), bone markers (Pac, Palc, Ca, phosphorus), renal markers (Crea, urea, URAC), inflammation (TNF), oxidative stress (GSH, MDA), and estrogen–progesterone hormonal profile. The micronucleus test did not reveal the genotoxicity of the tested compounds; the menopause model showed no significant safety concerns for the six tested formulas evaluated using the blood biochemical parameters; and the results showed the potential hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, hypouricemic, and antioxidant potential of one of the tested formulas containing nano diosgenin and glycyrrhizic acid

Local experience in cervical cancer imaging: Comparison in tumour assessment between TRUS and MRI

ObjectiveThe aim of study was to analyze the accuracy of TRUS (transrectal ultrasound) vs. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and clinical gynecological examination estimation in the evaluation of tumor dimensions.MethodsThe patients inclusion criterion included primarily pathologically squamous cell carcinoma, but excluded were patients who had not undergone BT (brachytherapy) and treated with palliative intent. We offer two types of treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer: (a) radiochemotherapy followed by surgery and (b) exclusive radiochemotherapy. Imaging tests follow the presence of tumor and tumor size (width and thickness). Each examination was performed by a different physician who had no knowledge of the others’ findings. All patients underwent MRI prior to EBRT (external beam radiation therapy) while 18 of them also at the time of the first brachytherapy application. For the analysis we used the r-Pearson correlation coefficient.ResultsIn 2013, 26 patients with cervical cancer were included. A total of 44 gynecological examinations were performed, 44 MRIs and 18 TRUSs. For the comparisons prior to EBRT the correlation coefficient between TRUS vs. MRI was r[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]=[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]0.79 for AP and r[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]=[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]0.83 for LL, for GYN vs. MRI was r[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]=[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]0.6 for AP and r[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]=[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]0.75 for LL. Prior to BT for GYN vs. MRI, r values were 0.60 and 0.63 for AP and LL, respectively; for GYN vs. TRUS, r values were 0.56 and 0.78 for AP and LL, respectively.ConclusionsA high correlation between the three examinations was obtained. As such, TRUS can be considered a suitable method in the evaluation of tumor dimensions

Table_1_PFO-spectrum disorder: two different cerebrovascular diseases in patients with PFO as detected by AI brain imaging software.DOCX

BackgroundPatent foramen ovale (PFO) is a prevalent cardiac remnant of fetal anatomy that may pose a risk factor for stroke in some patients, while others can present with asymptomatic white matter (WM) lesions. The current study aimed to test the hypothesis that patients with a PFO who have a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack, compared to those without such a history, have a different burden and distribution of cerebral WM hyperintensities. Additionally, we tested the association between PFO morphological characteristics and severity of shunt, and their impact on the occurrence of ischemic cerebral vascular events and on the burden of cerebral WM lesions.Patients and methodsRetrospective, case–control study that included patients with PFO confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography. Right-to-left shunt size was assessed using transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Cerebral MRIs were analyzed for all participants using the semi-automated Quantib NDTM software for the objective quantification of WM lesions. WM lesions volume was compared between patients with and without a history of stroke. Additionally, the anatomical characteristics of PFOs were assessed to explore their relation to stroke occurrence and WM lesions volume.ResultsOf the initial 264 patients diagnosed with PFO, 67 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Of them, 62% had a history of PFO-related stroke/TIA. Overall burden of WM lesions, including stroke volume, was not significantly different (p = 0.103). However, after excluding stroke volume, WM lesions volume was significantly higher in patients without stroke (0.27 cm3, IQR 0.03–0.60) compared to those with stroke/TIA (0.08 cm3, IQR 0.02–0.18), p = 0.019. Patients with a history of PFO-related stroke/TIA had a tendency to larger PFO sizes by comparison to those without, in terms of length and height, and exhibited greater right-to-left shunt volumes.DiscussionWe suggest that PFO may be associated with the development of two distinct cerebrovascular conditions (stroke and “silent” WM lesions), each characterized by unique imaging patterns. Further studies are needed to identify better the “at-risk” PFOs and gain deeper insights into their clinical implications.</p