Clinical submission of supernumerary head of adducter brevis muscle

Adductor brevis is an important member of the adductor family occupying the medial compartment of the thigh executing the function of adduction and medial rotation. Deviations from normal anatomy are unusual and rarely reported. A survey of anatomical archives revealed occasional mention of additional bellies of adductor brevis muscle. The present study reports a double belly of adductor brevis muscle (AB) found during a cadaveric dissection class for medical students. The left sided AB displayed two bellies disposed in the same plane. This case report attempts to present the clinical applications of supernumerary bellies of this important adductor muscle of the thigh. It is feasible to categorize these muscular variations upon specialized radiological procedures such as CT and MRI scans only if the radiologist possesses satisfactory understanding of variant anatomy of this region. It is thereafter inferred that upon recognition these muscles present a fair chance of being of utilitised in reconstructions. A biomechanical overview of the present anomaly is also attempte

Preferences for Prenatal Tests for Cystic Fibrosis: A Discrete Choice Experiment to Compare the Views of Adult Patients, Carriers of Cystic Fibrosis and Health Professionals

As new technologies enable the development of non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) for cystic fibrosis (CF), research examining stakeholder views is essential for the preparation of implementation strategies. Here, we compare the views of potential service users with those of health professionals who provide counselling for prenatal tests. A questionnaire incorporating a discrete choice experiment examined preferences for key attributes of NIPD and explored views on NIPD for CF. Adult patients (n = 92) and carriers of CF (n = 50) were recruited from one children’s and one adult NHS specialist CF centre. Health professionals (n = 70) were recruited via an e-mail invitation to relevant professional bodies. The key attribute affecting service user testing preferences was no miscarriage risk, while for health professionals, accuracy and early testing were important. The uptake of NIPD by service users was predicted to be high and includes couples that would currently decline invasive testing. Many service users (47%) and health professionals (55.2%) thought the availability of NIPD for CF would increase the pressure to undergo prenatal testing. Most service users (68.5%) thought NIPD for CF should be offered to all pregnant women, whereas more health professionals (68.2%) thought NIPD should be reserved for known carrier couples. The implications for clinical practice are discussed

X-ray Diffraction Analysis of Severely Cold Deformed Hypereutectoid Steel Wire

Hypereutectoid steel wire rod of diameter 6.40 mm is lead patented in lead bath of an electric powered furnace and then it is cold drawn through converging conical dies in a die sequence up to 2.50 mm diameter. The drawn wires subjected to different true strain are analysed using line profile X-ray diffraction methods. The classical Williamson-Hall plot as well as modified Williamson-Hall plot of drawn wire specimens of different true strain is plotted. The theoretical as well as experimental value of q is evaluated. The q is a parameter which depends up on elastic constant of the crystal and type of dislocations. The changes in nature of dislocations from edge dislocations to screw dislocations are calculated against true strain and are verified by scanned electron microscopy’s micrograph of drawn wire

CT attenuation analysis of carotid intraplaque hemorrhage

Background and Purpose: Intraplaque hemorrhage is considered a leading parameter of carotid plaque vulnerability. Our purpose was to assess the CT characteristics of intraplaque hemorrhage with histopathologic correlation to identify features that allow for confirming or ruling out the intraplaque hemorrhage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 91 patients (67 men; median age, 657 years; age range, 41-83 years) who underwent CT angiography and carotid endarterectomy from March 2010 to May 2013. Histopathologic analysis was performed for the tissue characterization and identification of intraplaque hemorrhage. Two observers assessed the plaque's attenuation values by using an ROI (≤1 and ≥2 mm2). Receiver operating characteristic curve, Mann-Whitney, and Wilcoxon analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 169 slices were assessed (59 intraplaque hemorrhage, 63 lipid-rich necrotic core, and 47 fibrous); the average values of the intraplaque hemorrhage, lipid-rich necrotic core, and fibrous tissue were 17.475 Hounsfield units (HU) and 18.407 HU, 39.476 HU and 48.048 HU, and 91.66 HU and 93.128 HU, respectively, before and after the administration of contrast medium. The Mann-Whitney test showed a statistically significant difference of HU values both in basal and after the administration of contrast material phase. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed a statistical association between intraplaque hemorrhage and low HU values, and a threshold of 25 HU demonstrated the presence of intraplaque hemorrhage with a sensitivity and specificity of 93.22% and 92.73%, respectively. The Wilcoxon test showed that the attenuation of the plaque before and after administration of contrast material is different (intraplaque hemorrhage, lipid-rich necrotic core, and fibrous tissue had P values of .006, .0001, and .018, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this preliminary study suggest that CT can be used to identify the presence of intraplaque hemorrhage according to the attenuation. A threshold of 25 HU in the volume acquired after the administration of contrast medium is associated with an optimal sensitivity and specificity. Special care should be given to the correct identification of the ROI

Efek Larvasida Ekstrak Etanol Daun Mahkota Dewa (Phaleria Macrocarpa) terhadap Larva Aedes Aegypti

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever ( DHF ) is a disease caused by type I, II , III and IV dengue virus which is transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitos. The effort to control this dengue vector by chemical larvicides still have an adverse impact the population and causing vector's resistance . Botanical larvacides produced from plants material can be used as an alternative to reduce these impacts . Mahkota Dewa ( Phaleria macrocarpa ) is one of the potential plants as a botanical larvicidal. The aim of this research was to determine the larvacides effect of Phaleria macrocarpa leaves ethanol extract against Aedes aegypti larvae. The design of this research is an experimental includes preliminary test and final test. The final test divided into 7 groups, consists of 0 ppm , 100 ppm , 300 ppm , 500 ppm , 600 ppm , 900 ppm , 1000 ppm. Each group contained 20 larvae in 100 ml extract solution with 3 repetitions. The regression Probit Analysis concluded that the LC50 has 545,3 ppm and LC90 has 859,9 ppm

Relationship between white matter hyperintensities volume and the circle of Willis configurations in patients with carotid artery pathology

Purpose We aimed to assess if there is a difference of distribution and volume of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in the brain according to the Circle of Willis (CoW) configuration in patients with carotid artery pathology. Material and methods One-hundred consecutive patients (79 males, 21 females; mean age 70 years; age range 46–84 years) that underwent brain MRI before carotid endarterectomy (CEA) were included. FLAIR-WMH lesion volume was performed using a semi-automated segmentation technique and the status of the circle of Willis was assessed by two neuroradiologists in consensus. Results We found a prevalence of 55% of variants in the CoW configuration; 22 cases had one variants (40%); 25 cases had two variants (45.45%) and 8 cases showed 3 variants (14.55%). The configuration that was associated with the biggest WMH volume and number of lesions was the A1 + PcoA + PcoA. The PcoA variants were the most prevalent and there was no statistically significant difference in number of lesions and WMH for each vascular territory assessed and the same results were found for AcoA and A1 variants. Conclusion Results of our study suggest that the more common CoW variants are not associated with the presence of an increased WMH or number of lesions whereas uncommon configurations, in particular when 2 or more segment are missing increase the WMH volume and number of lesions. The WHM volume of the MCA territory seems to be more affected by the CoW configuration

Towards Designing an Integrated Earth Observation System for the Provision of Solar Energy Resource and Assessment

The GEOSS strategic plan specifically targets the area of improved energy resource management due to the importance of these to the economic and social viability of every nation of the world. With the world s increasing demand for energy resources, the need for new alternative energy resources grows. This paper overviews a new initiative within the International Energy Agency that addresses needs to better manage and develop solar energy resources worldwide. The goal is to provide the solar energy industry, the electricity sector, governments, and renewable energy organizations and institutions with the most suitable and accurate information of the solar radiation resources at the Earth's surface in easily-accessible formats and understandable quality metrics. The scope of solar resource assessment information includes historic data sets and currently derived data products using satellite imagery and other means. Thus, this new task will address the needs of the solar energy sector while at the same time will serve as a model that satisfies GEOSS objectives and goals

Semiautomated and automated algorithms for analysis of the carotid artery wall on computed tomography and sonography: a correlation study.

Objectives—The purpose of this study was to compare automated and semiautomated algorithms for analysis of carotid artery wall thickness and intima-media thickness on multidetector row computed tomographic (CT) angiography and sonography, respectively, and to study the correlation between them. Methods—Twenty consecutive patients underwent multidetector row CT angiographic and sonographic analysis of carotid arteries (mean age, 66 years; age range, 59–79 years). The intima-media thickness of the 40 carotid arteries was measured with novel and dedicated automated software analysis and by 4 observers who manually calculated the intima-media thickness. The carotid artery wall thickness was automatically estimated by using a specific algorithm and was also semiautomatically quantified. The correlation between groups was calculated by using the Pearson ρ statistic, and scatterplots were calculated. We evaluated intermethod agreement using Bland-Altman analysis. Results—By comparing automated carotid artery wall thickness, automated intima-media thickness, semiautomated carotid artery wall thickness, and semiautomated intima-media thickness analyses, a statistically significant association was found, with the highest values obtained for the association between semiautomated and thickness analyses(Pearson ρ = 0.9; 95% confidence interval, 0.82–0.95; P = 0.0001). The lowest values were obtained for the association between semiautomated intima-media thickness and automated carotid artery wall thickness analyses (Pearson ρ = 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.15–0.66; P = 0.0047). In the Bland-Altman analysis, the better results were obtained by comparing the semiautomated and automated algorithms for the study of intima-media thickness, with an interval of –16.1% to +43.6%. Conclusions—The results of this preliminary study showed that carotid artery wall thickness and intima-media thickness can be studied with automated software, although the CT analysis needs to be further improved

Artificial Intelligence Applications in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Are We on the Path to Avoiding the Administration of Contrast Media?

In recent years, cardiovascular imaging examinations have experienced exponential growth due to technological innovation, and this trend is consistent with the most recent chest pain guidelines. Contrast media have a crucial role in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, allowing for more precise characterization of different cardiovascular diseases. However, contrast media have contraindications and side effects that limit their clinical application in determinant patients. The application of artificial intelligence (AI)-based techniques to CMR imaging has led to the development of non-contrast models. These AI models utilize non-contrast imaging data, either independently or in combination with clinical and demographic data, as input to generate diagnostic or prognostic algorithms. In this review, we provide an overview of the main concepts pertaining to AI, review the existing literature on non-contrast AI models in CMR, and finally, discuss the strengths and limitations of these AI models and their possible future development