Online learning of Riemannian hidden Markov models in homogeneous Hadamard spaces

Hidden Markov models with observations in a Euclidean space play an important role in signal and image processing. Previous work extending to models where observations lie in Riemannian manifolds based on the Baum-Welch algorithm suffered from high memory usage and slow speed. Here we present an algorithm that is online, more accurate, and offers dramatic improvements in speed and efficiency

Згадав Василя Черниха чи Василя Черних?

Anafylactische reacties ten gevolge van chemotherapeutische medicatie komen soms voor en kunnen ernstig zijn. De diversiteit aan oorzaken maakt het optreden van een dergelijke overgevoeligheidsreactie moeilijk te voorspellen. Een 60-jarige vrouw ontwikkelde na toediening van een tweede chemotherapie etoposide ter behandeling van een kleincellig longcarcinoom een anafylactische reactie. Tijdens het vervolg van de behandeling werd etoposide vervangen door paclitaxel, waarna zij kort na het starten van de paclitaxel een tweede, ernstige anafylactische reactie kreeg. Opname op de intensivecareafdeling volgde, waarna de patiënte weer herstelde. Van zowel etoposide als paclitaxel is bekend dat een allergische reactie kan ontstaan bij intraveneuze toediening. Het mechanisme dat ten grondslag ligt aan deze reactie is niet bekend. Gezien het verschil in structuur is kruisovergevoeligheid tussen etoposide en paclitaxel niet waarschijnlijk. Om de oplosbaarheid van beide middelen te verhogen, worden respectievelijk de hulpstoffen polysorbaat 80 en Cremophor® EL gebruikt. Intradermale testen met beide middelen gaven een positieve reactie. De anafylactische reacties op beide cytostatica kunnen waarschijnlijk worden verklaard op grond van kruisovergevoeligheid voor de hulpstoffen

Irritancy testing of sodium laurate and other anionic detergents using an open exposure model

Background/aims: The irritant potency of soap (sodium laurate, LAU) as opposed to other anionic detergents is not uniformly agreed upon. The aim of the study was to compare the irritancy of sodium laurate with that of sodium laurylsulphate (SLS), sodium cocoyl isethionate and disodium lauryl 3-ethoxysulphosuccinate by means of a 4-day repeated open exposure model in order to achieve a more realistic mimicry of daily practice.Methods: The effects of the exposures were evaluated by: a) number of fulfilled exposures, b) visual score after exposures, and c) transepidermal water loss (TEWL) after exposures.Results: in the majority of subjects, exposure to LAU had to be stopped because of burning sensations, erythema and/or scaling. The number of fulfilled exposures to LAU was lower than that of SLS. The other agents were tolerated very well. These less irritative agents had much lower visual scores and TEWL values after the repeated exposures compared with LAU and SLS.Conclusions: The explanation for the irritant nature of LAU in the present study might be the type of alkyl chain length distribution. Its 12-carbon chain content was ≤ 99%, and this agent can therefore be designated as pure sodium laurate. The same holds true for SLS. In daily practice, however, soap is a mixture of different - less irritant - chain lengths. Therefore, these findings cannot be extrapolated to commercially available soap bars.</p

Randomized controlled observer-blinded treatment of chronic foot eczema with iontophoresis and bath-PUVA

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of iontophoresis combined with local psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy in chronic foot eczema. A randomized, observer-blinded, multi-centre study was conducted in 48 patients with chronic moderate-to-severe foot eczema randomized to one of 3 groups: In the iontophoresis group local bath-PUVA was preceded by iontophoresis. In the PUVA group only local PUVA was given. The corticosteroid group was treated with fluticasone. All treatments were given for 8 weeks, with an 8-week follow-up period. The primary efficacy parameter was eczema score described by Rosén et al. Secondary efficacy parameters were a global impression by the patient, and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). The eczema score and the DLQI decreased significantly over time. There were no significant differences in the decrease in eczema score (p=0.053) and DLQI values (p=0.563) between the 3 treatments. The DLQI values in our chronic foot eczema patients were high. There was no obvious advantage of local bath-PUVA with or with-out iontophoresis over local steroid therapy

The impact of hyperhidrosis on patients' daily life and quality of life : A qualitative investigation

Background: An understanding of the daily life impacts of hyperhidrosis and how patients deal with them, based on qualitative research, is lacking. This study investigated the impact of hyperhidrosis on the daily life of patients using a mix of qualitative research methods. Methods: Participants were recruited through hyperhidrosis patient support groups such as the Hyperhidrosis Support Group UK. Data were collected using focus groups, interviews and online surveys. A grounded theory approach was used in the analysis of data transcripts. Data were collected from 71 participants, out of an initial 100 individuals recruited. Results: Seventeen major themes capturing the impacts of hyperhidrosis were identified; these covered all areas of life including daily life, psychological well-being, social life, professional /school life, dealing with hyperhidrosis, unmet health care needs and physical impact. Conclusions: Psychosocial impacts are central to the overall impacts of hyperhidrosis, cutting across and underlying the limitations experienced in other areas of life.Peer reviewe

Extracellular vesicles derived from Staphylococcus aureus induce atopic dermatitis-like skin inflammation

P>Background: Recently, we found that Staphylococcus aureus produces extracellular vesicles (EV) that contain pathogenic proteins. Although S. aureus infection has been linked with atopic dermatitis (AD), the identities of the causative agents from S. aureus are controversial. We evaluated whether S. aureus-derived EV are causally related to the pathogenesis of AD. Methods: Extracellular vesicles were isolated by the ultracentrifugation of S. aureus culture media. The EV were applied three times per week to tape-stripped mouse skin. Inflammation and immune dysfunction were evaluated 48 h after the final application in hairless mice. Extracellular vesicles-specific IgE levels were measured by ELISA in AD patients and healthy subjects. Results: The in vitro application of S. aureus EV increased the production of pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-6, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha, and eotaxin) by dermal fibroblasts. The in vivo application of S. aureus EV after tape stripping caused epidermal thickening with infiltration of the dermis by mast cells and eosinophils in mice. These changes were associated with the enhanced cutaneous production of IL-4, IL-5, IFN-gamma, and IL-17. Interestingly, the serum levels of S. aureus EV-specific IgE were significantly increased in AD patients relative to healthy subjects. Conclusion: These results indicate that S. aureus EV induce AD-like inflammation in the skin and that S. aureus-derived EV are a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target for the control of AD.X116764sciescopu