Arrhythmia Detection Using Convolutional Neural Models

Our main goal was studying the effectiveness of transfer learning using 2D CNNs. For this task, we generated spectrograms from ECG segments that were fed to a CNN to automatically extract features. These features are classified by a MLP into arrhythmic or normal rhythm segments, achieving 90% accuracy.Nuestra meta principal consistió en estudiar la efectividad de la transferencia de aprendizaje en el uso de CNNs 2D. Para ello, generamos espectrogramas, a partir de segmentos de electrocardiogramas, que sirvieron como entrada de una CNN para extraer automáticamente sus características. Estas características son clasificadas por un MLP para discernir entre segmentos arrítmicos o normales, obteniendo una precisión del 90%

The HIF-1/glial TIM-3 axis controls inflammation-associated brain damage under hypoxia.

Inflammation is closely related to the extent of damage following cerebral ischaemia, and the targeting of this inflammation has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. Here, we present that hypoxia-induced glial T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain protein (TIM)-3 can function as a modulator that links inflammation and subsequent brain damage after ischaemia. We find that TIM-3 is highly expressed in hypoxic brain regions of a mouse cerebral hypoxia-ischaemia (H/I) model. TIM-3 is distinctively upregulated in activated microglia and astrocytes, brain resident immune cells, in a hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1-dependent manner. Notably, blockade of TIM-3 markedly reduces infarct size, neuronal cell death, oedema formation and neutrophil infiltration in H/I mice. Hypoxia-triggered neutrophil migration and infarction are also decreased in HIF-1α-deficient mice. Moreover, functional neurological deficits after H/I are significantly improved in both anti-TIM-3-treated mice and myeloid-specific HIF-1α-deficient mice. Further understanding of these insights could serve as the basis for broadening the therapeutic scope against hypoxia-associated brain diseases

Application of a Cumulative Summation test (CUSUM)in the Lumbar Spine

Study design: Retrospective analysisObjectives: The aim of this study was to monitor the quality control of pedicle screw fixation using a cumulativesummation test (CUSUM).Overview of Literature: CUSUM test has already been used in several different surgical settings including theassessment of outcomes in transplant, laparoscopic, and total hip replacement surgeries. However, there has been nodata regarding CUSUM analysis for spine surgery.Methods: Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis who underwent lumbar fusion surgery were included in this study.The primary outcome was the CUSUM analysis for monitoring the quality control of the accuracy of pedicle screwinsertion.Results: Seven screws of the 100 pedicle screw insertions were considered to have failed in the lumbar fusion surgery,respectively. Throughout the monitoring period, there was no indication by the CUSUM test that the quality ofperformance of the pedicle screw fixation procedure was inadequate.Conclusions: Thisstudy demonstrates the CUSUM test can be a useful tool for monitoring of the quality of proceduresrelated with spine surgery.OAIID:oai:osos.snu.ac.kr:snu2014-01/102/0000004226/7SEQ:7PERF_CD:SNU2014-01EVAL_ITEM_CD:102USER_ID:0000004226ADJUST_YN:NEMP_ID:A079510DEPT_CD:801CITE_RATE:0DEPT_NM:의학과SCOPUS_YN:NCONFIRM:

N-Acetylcysteine and Allopurinol Synergistically Enhance Cardiac Adiponectin Content and Reduce Myocardial Reperfusion Injury in Diabetic Rats

Background: Hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress plays a central role in the development of diabetic myocardial complications. Adiponectin (APN), an adipokine with anti-diabetic and anti-ischemic effects, is decreased in diabetes. It is unknown whether or not antioxidant treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and/or allopurinol (ALP) can attenuate APN deficiency and myocardial ischemia reperfusion (MI/R) injury in the early stage of diabetes. Methodology/Principal Findings: Control or streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were either untreated (C, D) or treated with NAC (1.5 g/kg/day) or ALP (100 mg/kg/day) or their combination for four weeks starting one week after STZ injection. Plasma and cardiac biochemical parameters were measured after the completion of treatment, and the rats were subjected to MI/R by occluding the left anterior descending artery for 30 min followed by 2 h reperfusion. Plasma and cardiac APN levels were decreased in diabetic rats accompanied by decreased cardiac APN receptor 2 (AdipoR2), reduced phosphorylation of Akt, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) but increased IL-6 and TNF-α (all P<0.05 vs. C). NAC but not ALP increased cardiac APN concentrations and AdipoR2 expression in diabetic rats. ALP enhanced the effects of NAC in restoring cardiac AdipoR2 and phosphorylation of Akt, STAT3 and eNOS in diabetic rats. Further, NAC and ALP, respectively, decreased postischemic myocardial infarct size and creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB) release in diabetic rats, while their combination conferred synergistic protective effects. In addition, exposure of cultured rat cardiomyocytes to high glucose resulted in significant reduction of cardiomyocyte APN concentration and AdipoR2 protein expression. APN supplementation restored high glucose induced AdipoR2 reduction in cardiomyocytes. Conclusions/Significance: NAC and ALP synergistically restore myocardial APN and AdipoR2 mediated eNOS activation. This may represent the mechanism through which NAC and ALP combination greatly reduces MI/R injury in early diabetic rats. © 2011 Wang et al.published_or_final_versio

The possible functions of duplicated ets (GGAA) motifs located near transcription start sites of various human genes

Transcription is one of the most fundamental nuclear functions and is an enzyme complex-mediated reaction that converts DNA sequences into mRNA. Analyzing DNA sequences of 5′-flanking regions of several human genes that respond to 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in HL-60 cells, we have identified that the ets (GGAA) motifs are duplicated, overlapped, or clustered within a 500-bp distance from the most 5′-upstream region of the cDNA. Multiple protein factors including Ets family proteins are known to recognize and bind to the GGAA containing sequences. In addition, it has been reported that the ets motifs play important roles in regulation of various promoters. Here, we propose a molecular mechanism, defined by the presence of duplication and multiplication of the GGAA motifs, that is responsible for the initiation of transcription of several genes and for the recruitment of binding proteins to the transcription start site (TSS) of TATA-less promoters

Airway sizes and proportions in children quantified by a video-bronchoscopic technique

Background: A quantitative understanding of airway sizes and proportions and a reference point for comparisons are important to a bronchoscopist. The aims of this study were to measure large airway areas, and define proportions and predictors of airway size in children. Methods: A validated videobronchoscope technique was used to measure in-vivo airway cross-sectional areas (cricoid, right (RMS) and left (LMS) main stem and major lobar bronchi) of 125 children. Airway proportions were calculated as ratios of airways to cricoid areas and to endotracheal tube (ETT) areas. Mann Whitney U, T-tests, and one-way ANOVA were used for comparisons and standard univariate and backwards, stepwise multivariate regression analyses were used to define airway size predictors. Results: Airways size increased progressively with increasing age but proportions remained constant. The LMS was 21% smaller than the RMS. Gender differences in airways' size were not significant in any age group or airway site. Cricoid area related best to body length (BL): cricoid area (mm2) = 26.782 + 0.254*BL (cm) while the RMS and LMS area related best to weight: RMS area (mm2) = 23.938 + 0.394*Wt (kg) and LMS area (mm2) = 20.055 + 0.263*Wt (kg) respectively. Airways to cricoid ratios were larger than airway to ETT ratios (p=0.0001). Conclusions: The cricoid and large airways progressively increase in size but maintain constant proportional relationships to the cricoid across childhood. The cricoid area correlates with body length while the RMS and LMS are best predicted by weight. These data provide for quantitative comparisons of airway lesions

Post-intervention Status in Patients With Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab During REGAIN and Its Open-Label Extension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo

資訊素養與商業教育結合之理念與實施──以逢甲大學Sunny Net商學專業網站為例 | A Practical Application of Information Literacy in Business Education── Using a Web Site to Teach Lifelong Learning in Feng Chia University

&lt;p&gt;頁次：63-70&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: &amp;quot;新細明體&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-family: HiddenHorzOCR;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;資訊素養融入專業課程的教學理念已愈來愈受到重視，但國內商業教育卻鮮少有此一理念。本文首先探討現階段大學商業教育教學的概況，以反映資訊素養教育的重要性及迫切性。其次，討論大學體制內於商業教育課程中實施資訊素養教育的限制因素，進一步討論如何誘導資訊素養結合商業教育理念，階段性策略的構思，接著說明理念實踐的過程，並介紹逢甲大學商學專業網&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Sunny Net&lt;/span&gt;的現況，分享初步的成果，且提出未來展望，以尋求建立一個可以適用在我國商學專業學科的教學模式。&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: 新細明體; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-TW; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;" lang="EN-US"&gt;Although efforts to integrate information literacy throughout educational curriculums is growing, it has not received much attention in Taiwan's business education at the post-secondary level. The purpose of this study is to explain the developing role of information literacy in business education and to analyze the present institutional constraints in its implementation. This study presents a pioneering project, Sunny Net sponsored by Feng Chia University, which is a resource-based learning environment requiring web site maintenance in order to promote student initiative and to help students recognize when there is a need for information, to identify the information for that need, and to be able to locate, to evaluate, to effectively use that information, and to create a means of presenting the information in a useful and high quality manner. The project is a working model of the lifelong learning concept. As well, it is a practical means of teaching students to apply theoretical &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: HiddenHorzOCR; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-TW; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;" lang="EN-US"&gt;acade&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: 新細明體; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-TW; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;" lang="EN-US"&gt;mic concepts to actual real world experiences. Lastly, &lt;span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"&gt;it&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;highlights information literacy as one of the essential skills required for future academic and career paths.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt

Monitoring the Quality of Robot-Assisted Pedicle Screw Fixation in the Lumbar Spine by Using a Cumulative Summation Test

Study Design. Prospective randomized controlled trial.Objective. The aim of this study was to monitor the quality control of robot-assisted pedicle screw fixation accuracy by using a cumulative summation (CUSUM) test at the initial stage of its application.Summary of Background Data. Although robot-assisted pedicle screw fixation reduces screw misplacement rates and provides critical support for minimally invasive surgical procedures, there have been no reports relating to the monitoring of quality control of the accuracy of this robot-assisted pedicle screw fixation procedure.Methods. Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis scheduled to undergo surgery were randomly and equally assigned through 1:1 allocation to a robot-assisted minimally invasive posterior lumbar interbody fusion (Rom-PLIF) group or a conventional open posterior PLIF using freehand technique group. The accuracy of pedicle screw placement was evaluated using postoperative computed tomography. The primary outcome was the CUSUM analysis for monitoring the quality control of the accuracy of pedicle screw insertion between the Rom-PLIF and conventional open posterior PLIF using freehand technique groups.Results. Of the 80 pedicle screws inserted in each group, 4 screws in the Rom-PLIF group, and 7 in the conventional open PLIF group, breached the pedicle. Of these 11 offending screws, 4 cases were categorized as grade B in the Rom-PLIF group, whereas 6 were grade B and 1 case was grade C in the Com-PLIF group, using the Gertzbein and Robbins classification. Throughout the monitoring period, there was no CUSUM test-derived indication that the quality of performance of the pedicle screw fixation procedure was inadequate in either group.Conclusion. First, this study demonstrates the adequacy of quality control of robot-assisted pedicle screw fixation even early in the application period based on the CUSUM analysis. Second, the CUSUM test can be a useful tool for monitoring of the quality of procedures related with spine surgery.OAIID:oai:osos.snu.ac.kr:snu2015-01/102/0000004226/2SEQ:2PERF_CD:SNU2015-01EVAL_ITEM_CD:102USER_ID:0000004226ADJUST_YN:YEMP_ID:A079510DEPT_CD:801CITE_RATE:2.447FILENAME:spine-2015_kim_monitoring the quality of robot assisted pedicle screw fixation in the lumbar spine.pdfDEPT_NM:의학과SCOPUS_YN:YCONFIRM: