Mechanization of context information for image interpretation

This is a theoretical and experimental study of ways to use context for automatic interpretation of aerial photography. One type of photo interpretation system interprets a frame of aerial photography by dividing the frame into several square cells and classifying each cell. A parameter extraction device scans each cell, makes measurements, and classifies each cell according to statistical decision theory

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

The Dorak affair

CatalogingThomas S. Hansen2010102

Death in Venice.

CatalogingThomas S. Hansen2010070

Measuring aspirin resistance, clopidogrel responsiveness, and postprocedural markers of myonecrosis in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Aspirin and clopidogrel are proven to prevent thromboembolic events during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Enzyme release of creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) enzyme during PCI has been associated with an increased risk of future adverse cardiac events. This study examined the correlation between measurements of aspirin resistance and the level of inhibition of the thienopyridine-specific P2Y12 platelet receptor and CK-MB release after PCI. We prospectively studied 330 patients with elective PCI treated with drug-eluting stents. Patients were pretreated with aspirin and clopidogrel. Patients with positive CK-MB or acute coronary syndrome and those on glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors were excluded. Serum assays of aspirin resistance (Ultegra Rapid Platelet Function Assay-ASA, Accumetrics) and clopidogrel resistance (Rapid Platelet Function Assay P2Y12, Accumetrics) were performed before PCI. Serum troponinI and CK-MB levels were measured at 8, 16, and 24 hours after PCI. Aspirin resistance unit (ARU) measurement > or =550 was detected in 12 patients (3.7%). Mean platelet reactivity unit (PRU; measurement of inhibition of P2Y12 activity) was 192.2 +/- 95.4 (lower PRU, more inhibition of P2Y12 receptor). There was no correlation between level of ARU or PRU and troponin I or CK-MB release after PCI at any time point. Only multivessel coronary disease was found to be a predictor of any increase in CK-MB in a multivariate analysis (odds ratio 2.2, 95% confidence interval 1.4 to 3.3, p = 0.0003). A positive correlation was found between levels of ARU and PRU. Target vessel revascularization/major adverse cardiac event rate at 6 months was 8.2% with no correlation between ARU or PRU and release of cardiac enzymes or occurrence of adverse cardiac events. In conclusion, this study does not support routine measurements of aspirin and clopidogrel resistance in stable patients undergoing PCI.5 page(s

Prospective observational cohort study on grading the severity of postoperative complications in global surgery research

Background The Clavien–Dindo classification is perhaps the most widely used approach for reporting postoperative complications in clinical trials. This system classifies complication severity by the treatment provided. However, it is unclear whether the Clavien–Dindo system can be used internationally in studies across differing healthcare systems in high- (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods This was a secondary analysis of the International Surgical Outcomes Study (ISOS), a prospective observational cohort study of elective surgery in adults. Data collection occurred over a 7-day period. Severity of complications was graded using Clavien–Dindo and the simpler ISOS grading (mild, moderate or severe, based on guided investigator judgement). Severity grading was compared using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Data are presented as frequencies and ICC values (with 95 per cent c.i.). The analysis was stratified by income status of the country, comparing HICs with LMICs. Results A total of 44 814 patients were recruited from 474 hospitals in 27 countries (19 HICs and 8 LMICs). Some 7508 patients (16·8 per cent) experienced at least one postoperative complication, equivalent to 11 664 complications in total. Using the ISOS classification, 5504 of 11 664 complications (47·2 per cent) were graded as mild, 4244 (36·4 per cent) as moderate and 1916 (16·4 per cent) as severe. Using Clavien–Dindo, 6781 of 11 664 complications (58·1 per cent) were graded as I or II, 1740 (14·9 per cent) as III, 2408 (20·6 per cent) as IV and 735 (6·3 per cent) as V. Agreement between classification systems was poor overall (ICC 0·41, 95 per cent c.i. 0·20 to 0·55), and in LMICs (ICC 0·23, 0·05 to 0·38) and HICs (ICC 0·46, 0·25 to 0·59). Conclusion Caution is recommended when using a treatment approach to grade complications in global surgery studies, as this may introduce bias unintentionally