14 research outputs found
EVA: Laparoscopic instrument tracking based on endoscopic video analysis for psychomotor skills assessment
INTRODUCTION: The EVA (Endoscopic Video Analysis) tracking system a new tracking system for extracting motions of laparoscopic instruments based on non-obtrusive video tracking was developed. The feasibility of using EVA in laparoscopic settings has been tested in a box trainer setup.
METHODS: EVA makes use of an algorithm that employs information of the laparoscopic instrument's shaft edges in the image, the instrument's insertion point, and the camera's optical centre to track the 3D position of the instrument tip. A validation study of EVA comprised a comparison of the measurements achieved with EVA and the TrEndo tracking system. To this end, 42 participants (16 novices, 22 residents, and 4 experts) were asked to perform a peg transfer task in a box trainer. Ten motion-based metrics were used to assess their performance.
RESULTS: Construct validation of the EVA has been obtained for seven motion-based metrics. Concurrent validation revealed that there is a strong correlation between the results obtained by EVA and the TrEndo for metrics such as path length (p=0,97), average speed (p=0,94) or economy of volume (p=0,85), proving the viability of EVA.
CONCLUSIONS: EVA has been successfully used in the training setup showing potential of endoscopic video analysis to assess laparoscopic psychomotor skills. The results encourage further implementation of video tracking in training setups and in image guided surgery
Low Radiation Dose Calcium Scoring: Evidence and Techniques
Coronary computed tomography (CT) allows for the acquisition of thin slices of the heart and coronary arteries, which can be used to detect and quantify coronary artery calcium (CAC), a marker of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Despite the proven clinical value in cardiac risk prognostication, there remain concerns regarding radiation exposure from CAC CT scans. There have been several recent technical advancements that allow for significant radiation dose reduction in CAC scoring. This paper reviews the clinical utility and recent literature in low radiation dose CAC scoring
Effects of Once-Weekly Exenatide on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The cardiovascular effects of adding once-weekly treatment with exenatide to usual care in patients with type 2 diabetes are unknown.
METHODS:
We randomly assigned patients with type 2 diabetes, with or without previous cardiovascular disease, to receive subcutaneous injections of extended-release exenatide at a dose of 2 mg or matching placebo once weekly. The primary composite outcome was the first occurrence of death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke. The coprimary hypotheses were that exenatide, administered once weekly, would be noninferior to placebo with respect to safety and superior to placebo with respect to efficacy.
RESULTS:
In all, 14,752 patients (of whom 10,782 [73.1%] had previous cardiovascular disease) were followed for a median of 3.2 years (interquartile range, 2.2 to 4.4). A primary composite outcome event occurred in 839 of 7356 patients (11.4%; 3.7 events per 100 person-years) in the exenatide group and in 905 of 7396 patients (12.2%; 4.0 events per 100 person-years) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83 to 1.00), with the intention-to-treat analysis indicating that exenatide, administered once weekly, was noninferior to placebo with respect to safety (P<0.001 for noninferiority) but was not superior to placebo with respect to efficacy (P=0.06 for superiority). The rates of death from cardiovascular causes, fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction, fatal or nonfatal stroke, hospitalization for heart failure, and hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome, and the incidence of acute pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, medullary thyroid carcinoma, and serious adverse events did not differ significantly between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS:
Among patients with type 2 diabetes with or without previous cardiovascular disease, the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events did not differ significantly between patients who received exenatide and those who received placebo. (Funded by Amylin Pharmaceuticals; EXSCEL ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01144338 .)
Selective hepatic vascular exclusion versus pringle maneuver in major liver resections: Prospective study
Selective hepatic vascular exclusion (SHVE) and the Pringle maneuver are
two methods used to control bleeding during hepatectomy. They are
compared in a prospective randomized study, where 110 patients
undergoing major liver resection were randomly allocated to the SHVE
group or the Pringle group. Data regarding the intraoperative and
postoperative courses of the patients are analyzed. Intraoperative blood
loss and transfusion requirements were significantly decreased in the
SHVE group, and postoperative liver function was better in that group.
Although there was no difference between the two groups regarding the
postoperative complications rate, patients offered the Pringle maneuver
had a significantly longer hospital stay. The application of SHVE did
not prolong the warm ischemia time or the total operating time. It is
evident from the present study that SHVE performed by experienced
surgeons is as safe as the Pringle maneuver and is well tolerated by the
patients. It is much more effective than the Pringle maneuver for
controlling intraoperative bleeding, and it is associated with better
postoperative liver function and shorter hospital stay
Total versus selective hepatic vascular exclusion in major liver resections
Background: Total hepatic vascular exclusion (THVE) and selective
hepatic vascular exclusion (SHVE) are two effective techniques for
bleeding control in major hepatic resections. Outcomes of the two
procedures were compared.
Methods: Patients undergoing major liver resection were randomly
allocated to the THVE and SHVE groups. Intraoperative hemodynamic
changes and the postoperative course of the two groups were compared.
Results: During vascular clamping, the THVE group showed a significant
elevation in pulmonary vascular resistance, systemic vascular
resistance. intrapulmonary shunts, and a significant reduction in
cardiac index, compared with the SHVE group (P <0.05). Patients
undergoing THVE received more crystalloids and blood, showed more severe
liver, renal and pancreatic dysfunction, and had a longer hospital stay
than the SHVE group (P <0.05).
Conclusions: Both techniques are equally effective in bleeding control
in major liver resections. THVE is associated with cardiorespiratory and
hemodynamic alterations and may be not tolerated by some patients. SHVE
is well tolerated with fewer postoperative complications and shorter
hospitalization time. (C) 2002 Excerpta Medica, Inc. All rights
reserved
Amphibian chytrid prevalence in an amphibian community in arid Australia
[Extract] The amphibian disease chytridiomycosis, caused by the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has dramatically affected amphibians, causing population declines in over 200 species worldwide (Fisher et al. 2009). The disease is widespread, driving amphibian declines in North America (Muths et al. 2003; Briggs et al. 2005), Australia (Berger et al. 1998), Central America (Lips et al. 2006) and South America (Catenazzi et al. 2011). The variation in susceptibility to disease and mortality seen among host species, populations and locations is at least partially driven by interplay between external environmental and internal host-specific factors (Woodhams et al. 2007; Searle et al. 2011; Blaustein et al. 2012). While at a single location some species may be locally extirpated, others may persist (Lips et al. 2006). Amphibian infection prevalence and mortality rates due to chytridiomycosis are correlated with ambient environmental conditions: being highest during cooler months and at higher elevations (Berger et al. 1998; Woodhams and Alford 2005; Kriger and Hero 2008)