Why democratize bioinformatics?

Network bioinformatics and web-based data collection instruments have the capacity to improve the efficiency of the UK’s appropriately high levels of investment into cardiovascular research. A very large proportion of scientific data falls into the long-tail of the cardiovascular research distribution curve, with numerous small independent research efforts yielding a rich variety of specialty data sets. The merging of such myriad datasets and the eradication of data silos, plus linkage with outcomes could be greatly facilitated through the provision of a national set of standardised data collection instruments—a shared-cardioinformatics library of tools designed by and for clinical academics active in the long-tail of biomedical research. Across the cardiovascular research domain, like the rest of medicine, the national aggregation and democratization of diverse long-tail data is the best way to convert numerous small but expensive cohort data sources into big data, expanding our knowledge-base, breaking down translational barriers, improving research efficiency and with time, improving patient outcomes

SAFE: A System for Extraction and Retrieval of Semantic Audio Descriptors

date-added: 2014-08-02 10:04:50 +0000 date-modified: 2014-11-26 17:42:49 +0000 keywords: semantic audio, VST plugins, data collection, ISMIR demoIn this paper, we present an overview of the Semantic Audio Feature Extraction (SAFE) Project, a system for the extraction and retrieval of semantic descriptions of musical timbre, deployed within the digital audio workstation. By embedding the data capture system into the music production workflow, we are able to maximise the return of semantically annotated music production data, whilst mit- igating against issues such as musical and environmental bias. Users of the plugins are free to submit semantic de- scriptions of their own music, whilst utilising the continually growing collaborative dataset of musical descriptors. In order to provide more contextually representative timbral transformations, the dataset is partitioned using metadata, captured within the application

Allocating Unique Property Reference Numbers to Patient Addresses Using A Deterministic Address-Matching Algorithm: Evaluation of Accuracy, Match Rate and Bias

Conference Proceedings from International Population Data Linkage Conference 202

Ex vivo renal perfusion and autotransplantation in treatment of calculous disease or abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Two more indications are described for temporary ex vivo perfusion of kidneys with revascularization of these organs as autografts to orthotopic or heterotopic locations. One of the patients had staghorn calculi which were removed from a solitary kidney. The other patient had both kidneys autografted in the course of a surgical procedure on an extensive abdominal aortic aneurysm

Sinteza 2-(1H-indol-3-il)acetil-N-(supstituiranih fenil)hidrazinkarbotioamida i srodnih heterocikličkih spojeva te procjena njihovog antikonvulzivnog djelovanja i toksičnosti

A series of new 5-(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl-4-(substituted aryl)-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiones (4a-g), 5-(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl-N-(substituted aryl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-amines (5a-g) and 5-(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl-N-(substituted aryl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amines (6a-g) were prepared by treating 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)acetyl-N-(substituted phenyl)hydrazine carbothioamides (3a-g) with suitable reagents. All the newly synthesized compounds were screened for their anticonvulsant activity in the MES model and were compared with the standard drugs phenytoin sodium and carbamazepine. Out of the twenty-one compounds studied, 4b, 4e, 4f, 5b, 5d, 5g, 6b, 6d and 6e showed comparable MES activity to phenytoin and carbamazepine after 0.5 h. Compound 5b showed to be more potent than carbamazepine after 4 h. Compounds 4a, 4c, 4d, 5a, 5c, 5e, 5f, 6f and 6g showed lower neurotoxicity than phenytoin.Reakcijom 2-(1H-indol-3-il)acetil-N-(supstituiranih fenil)hidrazinkarbotioamida (3a-g) s odgovarajućim reaktantom sintetizirana je serija novih 5-(1H-indol-3-il)metil-4-(supstituiranih aril)-2,4-dihidro-3H-1,2,4-triazol-3-tiona (4a-g), 5-(1H-indol-3-yl)metil-N-(supstituiranih aril)-1,3,4-oksadiazol-2-amina (5a-g) i 5-(1H-indol-3-il)metil-N-(supstituiranih aril)-1,3,4-tiadiazol-2-amina (6a-g). Ispitano je antikonvulzivno djelovanje sintetiziranih spojeva na MES modelu i uspoređeno s djelovanjem fenitoin natrija i karbamazepina. Spojevi 4b, 4e, 4f, 5b, 5d, 5g, 6b, 6d i 6e pokazali su MES djelovanje usporedivo s djelovanjem fenitoina i karbamazepina nakon 0,5 h, dok je spoj 5b nakon 4 sata imao snažnije djelovanje od karbamazepina. Osim toga, spojevi 4a, 4c, 4d, 5a, 5c, 5e, 5f, 6f i 6g su manje neurotoksični od fenitoina

High platelet reactivity in patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: Randomised controlled trial comparing prasugrel and clopidogrel

Background: Prasugrel is more effective than clopidogrel in reducing platelet aggregation in acute coronary syndromes. Data available on prasugrel reloading in clopidogrel treated patients with high residual platelet reactivity (HRPR) i.e. poor responders, is limited. Objectives: To determine the effects of prasugrel loading on platelet function in patients on clopidogrel and high platelet reactivity undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Patients: Patients with ACS on clopidogrel who were scheduled for PCI found to have a platelet reactivity ≥40 AUC with the Multiplate Analyzer, i.e. “poor responders” were randomised to prasugrel (60 mg loading and 10 mg maintenance dose) or clopidogrel (600 mg reloading and 150 mg maintenance dose). The primary outcome measure was proportion of patients with platelet reactivity <40 AUC 4 hours after loading with study medication, and also at one hour (secondary outcome). 44 patients were enrolled and the study was terminated early as clopidogrel use decreased sharply due to introduction of newer P2Y12 inhibitors. Results: At 4 hours after study medication 100% of patients treated with prasugrel compared to 91% of those treated with clopidogrel had platelet reactivity <40 AUC (p = 0.49), while at 1 hour the proportions were 95% and 64% respectively (p = 0.02). Mean platelet reactivity at 4 and 1 hours after study medication in prasugrel and clopidogrel groups respectively were 12 versus 22 (p = 0.005) and 19 versus 34 (p = 0.01) respectively. Conclusions: Routine platelet function testing identifies patients with high residual platelet reactivity (“poor responders”) on clopidogrel. A strategy of prasugrel rather than clopidogrel reloading results in earlier and more sustained suppression of platelet reactivity. Future trials need to identify if this translates into clinical benefit

Semantic Description of Timbral Transformations in Music Production

Abstract. In music production, descriptive terminology is used to define perceived sound transformations. By understanding the underlying statistical features associated with these descriptions, we can aid the retrieval of contextually relevant processing parameters using natural language, and create intelligent systems capable of assisting in audio engineering. In this study, we present an analysis of a dataset containing descriptive terms gathered using a series of processing modules, embedded within a Digital Audio Workstation. By applying hierarchical clustering to the audio feature space, we show that similarity in term representations exists within and between transformation classes. Furthermore, the organisation of terms in low-dimensional timbre space can be explained using perceptual concepts such as size and dissonance. We conclude by performing Latent Semantic Indexing to show that similar groupings exist based on term frequency

Resolving an inflammatory concept: the importance of inflammation and resolution in tendinopathy

Injuries to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in equine athletes, but the healing response is poorly understood. One important drive for the healing of connective tissues is the inflammatory cascade, but the role of inflammation in tendinopathy has been contentious in the literature. This article reviews the processes involved in the healing of tendon injuries in natural disease and experimental models. The importance of inflammatory processes known to be active in tendon disease is discussed with particular focus on recent findings related specifically to the horse. Whilst inflammation is necessary for debridement after injury, persistent inflammation is thought to drive fibrosis, a perceived adverse consequence of tendon healing. Therefore the ability to resolve inflammation by the resident cell populations in tendons at an appropriate time would be crucial for successful outcome. This review summarises new evidence for the importance of resolution of inflammation after tendon injury. Given that many anti-inflammatory drugs suppress both inflammatory and resolving components of the inflammatory response, prolonged use of these drugs may be contraindicated as a therapeutic approach. We propose that these findings have profound implications not only for current treatment strategies but also for the possibility of developing novel therapeutic approaches involving modulation of the inflammatory process