Application of ImageJ in Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCT-A): A Literature Review

Background. This study aimed to review the literature on the application of ImageJ in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) images. Methods. A general search was performed in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases. The authors evaluated each of the selected articles in order to assess the implementation of ImageJ in OCT-A images. Results. ImageJ can aid in reducing artifacts, enhancing image quality to increase the accuracy of the process and analysis, processing and analyzing images, generating comparable parameters such as the parameters that assess perfusion of the layers (vessel density (VD), skeletonized density (SD), and vessel length density (VLD)) and the parameters that evaluate the structure of the layers (fractal dimension (FD), vessel density index (VDI), and lacunarity (LAC)), and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) that are used widely in the retinal and choroidal studies), and establishing diagnostic criteria. It can help to save time when the dataset is huge with numerous plugins and options for image processing and analysis with reliable results. Diverse studies implemented distinct binarization and thresholding techniques, resulting in disparate outcomes and incomparable parameters. Uniformity in methodology is required to acquire comparable data from studies employing diverse processing and analysis techniques that yield varied outcomes. Conclusion. Researchers and professionals might benefit from using ImageJ because of how quickly and correctly it processes and analyzes images. It is highly adaptable and potent software, allowing users to evaluate images in a variety of ways. There exists a diverse range of methodologies for analyzing OCTA images through the utilization of ImageJ. However, it is imperative to establish a standardized strategy to ensure the reliability and consistency of the method for research purposes

Correlation of pathologic findings of IgA nephropathy with clinical and laboratory data with regards to the Oxford-MEST-C classification

The Oxford classification system has been found to have significant correlations with clinical and laboratory data in patients with IgA nephropathy. Studies have shown that higher grades of mesangial hypercellularity and endocapillary hypercellularity are associated with younger age, higher blood pressure, and higher levels of proteinuria. Segmental glomerulosclerosis has been found to be associated with more severe proteinuria, lower serum albumin levels, and higher levels of creatinine. Tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis has been associated with older age, higher serum creatinine levels, and lower estimated glomerular filtration rates

Collapsing glomerulopathy following COVID 19 infection; a mini-review to the recent data

Collapsing glomerulopathy has been delineated as the most common morphological feature in COVID-19 individuals presenting with rapidly progressive renal failure and massive proteinuria. This condition, also known as COVID-19-associated nephropathy, has a poor prognosis. In COVID-19-related collapsing glomerulopathy, an immune dysfunction-mediated "second hit" to podocytes of African origin with APOL1 risk alleles was suggested. However, further research is still required to clarify this aspect of glomerulopathy

Sensory and Motor Behavior Evidences Supporting the Usefulness of Conditioned Medium from Dental Pulp-Derived Stem Cells in Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

Study Design Experimental animal study. Purpose This study aimed to assess effects of conditioned medium (CM) of dental pulp-derived stem cells loaded in collagen hydrogel on functional recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI). Overview of Literature SCI affects sensory and motor functions, and behavioral recovery is the most essential purpose of therapeutic intervention. Recent studies have reported that CM from dental pulp-derived stem cells has therapeutic benefits. In addition, collagen hydrogel acts as a drug delivery system in SCI experiments. Methods Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) were cultured, and SHED-CM was harvested and concentrated. Collagen hydrogel containing SHED-CM was prepared. The rats were divided into five groups receiving laminectomy, compressive SCI with or without intraspinal injection of biomaterials (SHED-CM), and collagen hydrogel with or without SHED-CM. Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scoring, inclined plane, cold allodynia, and beam walk tests were performed for 6 weeks to assess locomotor, motor, sensory, and sensory-motor performances, respectively. Results Scores of the rats receiving SHED-CM loaded in collagen hydrogel were significantly better than those of the other injured groups at 1-week post-injury for BBB, 2 weeks for inclined plane, 2 weeks for cold allodynia, and 4 weeks for beam walk tests (p <0.05). The differences remained significant throughout the study. Conclusions Intraspinal administration of SHED-CM loaded in collagen hydrogel leads to improved functional recovery and proposes a cell-free therapeutic approach for SCI

Construcciones causativas en lenguas iranias occidentales

Tesis inédita leída el 15-12-2003la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Departamento de Lingüístic

A Survey of Sophisticated Capital Budgeting Techniques, Risk and Inflation Analysis in Long Term Projects

This study is investigating the extent of using and effectiveness of sophisticated techniques and risk and inflation analyzing in evaluation of long term projects in Tehran Stock Exchange in 2006. To collect data for this research we designed a reliable and valid questionnaire. The result indicate that the managers of the companies in Tehran Stock Exchange are using the following techniques: net present value, profitability index, internal rate of return, and accounting rate of return in order to evaluate the long term projects. Also the results showed that in view of the above managers techniques based on inflation such as the method based on real value of cash flow have the most effectiveness in decision making for investment. Other results showed that the most important obstacles of using sophisticated capital budgeting techniques are not employing scientific and practical word force; and insufficient indexes and variants in the country to implement required calculations

The Examination of Effects of Cognitive Group Counseling on the Anxiety and Depression Factors in Female Senior Citizens Staying at Nursing Homes in Sabzevar in 2008-2009

Objectives: The main goal of this study is to determine the effect of cognitive group counseling on the anxiety and depression factors in female senior citizens staying at nursing homes. Methods & Materials: The method used in this pilot study is the pre-test and post -test with a control group and the statistical society in this study consists of all the elder women staying at Madar Nursing Home in Sabzevar. The sample was selected randomly from the society under study. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was primarily administered and then scores higher than six for anxiety and depression factors were identified and a number of 30 subjects were selected randomly. Next, they were placed in two groups consisting of 15 subjects (subject group and control group). Results: The analysis of the results was performed using the covariance analysis. It indicates that cognitive group counseling significantly results in reducing depression and anxiety. Conclusion: Cognitive group counseling has a positive effect on reducing anxiety and depression. Refresher courses for the staff and nurses working in the nursing homes can serve as a supplementary treatment along with pharmaceutical treatment

Invesigation of Dynamic Plantar Pressure Distribution in Healthy Adults during Standing and Walking

Objective: This study was performed to investigate plantar pressure distribution in healthy adults to establish normal plantar pressure values. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive and analytical study, 80 individuals (female and male) with healthy feet were selected from convenient samples by simple selection. This study was performed with usage of RS-Scan plantar pressure measurement device to measure plantar pressure in 9 anatomical regions of the foot during standing and walking. Data were analyzed by Paired T-test and Independent T-test. Results: During walking the highest pressure was located under the heel area (31.43 n/cm2), 2th (30.86 n/cm2) and 3th (28 n/cm2) metatarsal heads, followed by big toe (23.51 n/cm2) and the lowest pressure was at 2-5 toes and midfoot. There were significant differences between male and female in static pressure values for the left forefoot (P<0.001), contact areas at rear foot(P<0.001) and right midfoot (P=0.02). Results showed significant differences in pressure under 4th metatarsal head of right (P=0.05) and left (P=0.04) foot, 5th metatarsal head of right foot (P=0.02) and under heel region pressures of both foot (P<0.001) between females and males. Conclusion: There are many differences in distribution manner and values of plantar pressure between females and males that would be considered at therapeutic and rehabilitation procedures of at risk foot (for example: Diabetic foot) and shoe designing

A Custome Loyalty Model fo E-Commerce Recommendation Systems

The main objective of this research is to provide a customer loyalty model for e-commerce recommender systems. The proposed model is developed using Delone and McLean Information System success model and a set of factors which are identified from the literature. To test the research hypotheses of the developed model, a questionnaire survey is conducted and the data is collected from the 384 customers in a B2C website. We used SPSS and SmartPLS software for descriptive statistics and path analyses and to verify the proposed model.  The result of the Structural Equations Modeling showed that trust has a significant relationship with the customers’ satisfaction in the e-commerce recommendation systems. In addition, the results revealed that satisfaction with the recommended products can improve the customers’ loyalty in the B2C recommendation systems. The proposed model will help the e-commerce managers to improve their website recommendation systems and increase the sale of the products by achieving the customers’ loyalty in the online shopping websites

The Short Effects of Two Spinal Stabilization Exercise on Balance Tests and Limit of Stability in Men with Non–Specific Chronic Low Back Pain: Randomized Clinical Trial Study

Objective: This study investigated the short-term effects of two stability exercises, including Abdominal Hollowing and Abdominal bracing on stabilization parameters of Biodex Stability System in male subjects with non-specific recurrent low back pain. Materials & Methods: This Randomized Clinical Trial and case–control study was performed on 30 male subjects with non-specific recurrent low back pain by sample of convenience and randomly allocated into 3 control group( 10 subject) and 2 experimental group (10 subject). Dynamic balance stability indices (Overall, Anterior–Posterior and Medial–Lateral) and Limit of Stability were measured by using Biodex Stability System before and immediately after exercise. Results: Our finding showed that all indices except with Medial–Lateral were increased significantly in experimental group in comparison with control. In Abdominal Bracing group, both level of stability of 8 and 3, showed a significant reduction (P<0.05). The limit of Stability in both experimental groups with abdominal Hallowing (P=0.001) and Abdominal Bracing (P=0.01) increased significantly. Conclusion: The findings revealed that one session training enhances balance status, due to muscle activity improvement