Studying the virome in psychiatric disease

An overlooked aspect of current microbiome studies is the role of viruses in human health. Compared to bacterial studies, laboratory and analytical methods to study the entirety of viral communities in clinical samples are rudimentary and need further refinement. In order to address this need, we developed Virobiome-Seq, a sequence capture method and an accompanying bioinformatics analysis pipeline, that identifies viral reads in human samples. Virobiome-Seq is able to enrich for and detect multiple types of viruses in human samples, including novel subtypes that diverge at the sequence level. In addition, Virobiome-Seq is able to detect RNA transcripts from DNA viruses and may provide a sensitive method for detecting viral activity in vivo. Since Virobiome-Seq also yields the viral sequence, it makes it possible to investigate associations between viral genotype and psychiatric illness. In this proof of concept study, we detected HIV1, Torque Teno, Pegi, Herpes and Papilloma virus sequences in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells, plasma and stool samples collected from individuals with psychiatric disorders. We also detected the presence of numerous novel circular RNA viruses but were unable to determine whether these viruses originate from the sample or represent contaminants. Despite this challenge, we demonstrate that our knowledge of viral diversity is incomplete and opportunities for novel virus discovery exist. Virobiome-Seq will enable a more sophisticated analysis of the virome and has the potential of uncovering complex interactions between viral activity and psychiatric disease. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Evaluation of osseointegration using image analysis and visualization of 2D and 3D image data

Computerized image analysis, the discipline of using computers to automatically extract information from digital images, is a powerful tool for automating time consuming analysis tasks. In this thesis, image analysis and visualization methods are developed to facilitate the evaluation of osseointegration, i.e., the biological integration of a load-carrying implant in living bone. Adequate osseointegration is essential in patients who are in need of implant treatment. New implant types, with variations in bulk material and surface structural parameters, are continuously being developed. The main goal is to improve and speed up the osseointegration and thereby enhance patient well-being. The level of osseointegration can be evaluated by quantifying the bone tissue in proximity to the implant in e.g., light microscopy images of thin cross sections of bone implant samples extracted from humans or animals. This operator dependent quantitative analysis is cumbersome, time consuming and subjective. Furthermore, the thin sections represent only a small region of the whole sample. In this thesis work, computerized image analysis methods are developed to automate the quantification step. An image segmentation method is proposed for classifying the pixels of the images as bone tissue, non-bone tissue or implant. Subsequently, bone area and bone implant contact length in regions of interest are quantified. To achieve an accurate classification, the segmentation is based on both intensity and spatial information of the pixels. The automated method speeds up and facilitates the evaluation of osseointegration in the research laboratories. Another aim of this thesis is extending the 2D analysis to 3D and presenting methods for visualization of the 3D image volumes. To get a complete picture, information from the whole sample should be considered, rather than thin sections only. As a first step, 3D imaging of the implant samples is evaluated. 3D analysis methods, which follow the helix shaped implant thread and collects quantified features along the path, are presented. Additionally, methods for finding the position of the 2D section in the corresponding 3D image volume, i.e., image registration, are presented, enabling a direct comparison of the data from the two modalities. These novel and unique 3D quantification and visualization methods support the biomaterial researchers with improved tools for gaining a wider insight into the osseointegration process, with the ultimate goal of improved quality of life for the patients

Greater Dhaka city and surroundings [cartographic material]

1st. ed. Topographic map series of Dhaka showing roads, railways, vegetation, administrative boundaries, artificial and natural features. Relief shown by contours.; Municipality names in upper left margin.; "Prepared jointly by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)... and Survey of Bangladesh."; Includes index to sheets.Dhaka cit

Bangladesh [cartographic material].

Various eds. 1:250,000 topographic map series of Bangladesh. Relief shown by contours and spot heights. Depths shown by bathymetric isolines and soundings.; Sheets titled individually.; Sheets include index to adjoining sheets, administrative index, and notes

Registration of 2D Histological Images of Bone Implants with 3D SRμCT Volumes

To provide better insight in bone modeling and remodeling around implants, information is extracted using different imaging techniques. Two types of data used in this project are 2D histological images and 3D SRμCT (synchrotron radiation-based computed microtomography) volumes. To enable a direct comparison between the two modalities and to bypass the time consuming and difficult task of manual annotation of the volumes, registration of these data types is desired. In this paper, we present two 2D-3D intermodal rigid-body registration methods for the mentioned purpose. One approach is based on Simulated Annealing (SA) while the other uses Chamfer Matching (CM). Both methods use Normalized Mutual Information for measuring the correspondence between an extracted 2D-slice from the volume and the 2D histological image whereas the latter approach also takes the edge distance into account for matching the implant boundary. To speed up the process, part of the computations are done on the Graphic Processing Unit. The results show that the CM-approach provides a more reliable registration than the SA-approach. The registered slices with the CM-approach correspond visually well to the histological sections, except for cases where the implant has been damaged

Efficacy of spiritual care therapy in patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: A randomized controlled clinical study

Background: Spiritual care therapy has been shown to improve the well-being in chronic diseases such as cancer or psychiatric illness. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of spiritual care in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Methods: An open-label, clinical study randomizing patients undergoing PTCA to receive either standard of care alone or spiritual therapy with standard of care was carried out. Spiritual care therapy includes spiritual counseling and holy name chanting before angioplasty and holy name chanting over a period of 14-day postangioplasty. Clinical examination, functional assessment of cancer therapy-general well-being (FACT-G) and functional assessment of chronic illness therapy-spiritual well-being (FACIT-Sp), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were performed before the procedure, 24 h and 14 days after PTCA. Inferential statistics was used to assess the statistical significance of the outcome measures. Results: Significant reductions in the systolic blood pressures, FACT-G and FACIT-Sp were observed at both 24 h and 14 days following angioplasty in the spiritual care group but not in the control group that received standard of care. Significant reduction in the anxiety and depression scores of HADS in the spiritual care group was also observed as compared to control group at both the follow-up periods. Furthermore, a significant shorter length of hospital stay and lower levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was observed in the spiritual group. Conclusion: Spiritual care therapy can be part of treatments regime among CAD patients undergoing PTCA as it improves general as well as spiritual well-being and reduces hospital anxiety