Tool For Quantitative Assessment Research Articles

In vivo accurate detection of the liver tumor with pharmacokinetic parametric images from dynamic fluorescence molecular tomography.

.SignificancePharmacokinetic parametric images in dynamic fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) can describe three-dimensional (3D) physiological and pathological information inside biological tissues, potentially providing quantitative assessment tools for biological research and drug development.AimIn vivo imaging of the liver tumor with pharmacokinetic parametric images from dynamic FMT based on the differences in metabolic properties of indocyanine green (ICG) between normal liver cells and tumor liver cells inside biological tissues.ApproachFirst, an orthotopic liver tumor mouse model was constructed. Then, with the help of the FMT/computer tomography (CT) dual-modality imaging system and the direct reconstruction algorithm, 3D imaging of liver metabolic parameters in nude mice was achieved to distinguish liver tumors from normal tissues. Finally, pharmacokinetic parametric imaging results were validated against in vitro anatomical results.ResultsThis letter demonstrates the ability of dynamic FMT to monitor the pharmacokinetic delivery of the fluorescent dye ICG in vivo, thus, enabling the distinction between normal and tumor tissues based on the pharmacokinetic parametric images derived from dynamic FMT.ConclusionsCompared with CT structural imaging technology, dynamic FMT combined with compartmental modeling as an analytical method can obtain quantitative images of pharmacokinetic parameters, thus providing a more powerful research tool for organ function assessment, disease diagnosis and new drug development.

Analysis of time-space variations during dynamic cervical spine motion in cervical spondylosis myelopathy patients

BACKGROUND CONTEXTDecreased cervical range of motion (ROM) is a common symptom of myelopathy patients. Many previous studies have relied on a variety of experimental approaches for quantifying static cervical range of motion. However, the change rules of time-space variation during dynamic cervical spine motion remains unknown. PURPOSETo develop and validate the effectiveness of a novel wearable robot-based sensor system, Analysis of Dynamic Cervical spine Motion (ADCM), in evaluating the dynamic cervical spine motion dysfunction of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). STUDY DESIGN/SETTINGA cross-sectional study. PATIENT SAMPLEOne hundred forty consecutive healthy individuals (70 men and 70 women) and 120 CSM patients (60 men and 60 women) were enrolled in the present study. OUTCOME MEASURESThe cervical motion process parameters, including the flexion and extension ROM, the flexion and extension time, and the Japanese Orthopedic Association scores (JOA) for cervical spine were measured. METHODSTwo hundred and sixty consecutive participants were asked to wear ADCM system and then fully flex and extend their neck rapidly and evenly at tolerable maximum speed. The cervical motion process was recorded and converted into waveforms. Relevant waveform parameters were measured and analyzed. The number of complete flexion-extension motions in 10 seconds has been defined as 10s F–E cycles. The Japanese Orthopedics Association (JOA) scores of CSM patients were marked. RESULTSCSM patients had a lower number of 10s F–E cycles than healthy subjects. There were significant differences in flexion and extension time and ROM between two groups. The waveforms of myelopathy patients were wider and lower than those in healthy individuals. The average ratio value (defined as F) of wave height to wave width (a+b/c+d) could quantitatively reflect such differences of waveforms. The average F value was correlated with the JOA scores of the cervical motion function (r=0.7538), and F value declined as JOA scores decreased. According to receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal threshold value of the normal average ratio was more than 34.7. CONCLUSIONSADCM appears to be an objective and quantitative severity assessment tool for confirmed CSM patients by evaluating dynamic cervical spine motion dysfunction.

Reconsidering the Suitability Assessment Method for Glacier Tourism: A Case Study from Tibet, China

Glacier retreat is becoming more widespread and severe due to global warming, and improper exploitation of glacier resources by tourism activities accelerates the destruction of glacier landscapes. Therefore, establishing a set of quantitative assessment tools is critical for guiding the rational utilization of glacier tourism resources. This study selected regional tourism resources, the natural environment of glaciers, service support, and market demand factors to build a suitability assessment method for glacier tourism (SAMGT), and it used the Delphi and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine the index weights, and combined them with GIS analysis technology. The Tibet autonomous region was proposed in this study as a case to build the SAMGT and provide scientific support for the rational development, scientific management, and sustainable development of glacier tourism resources. With regard to influencing the suitability of glacier tourism resource development, the results indicate that the weights of glacier resource endowment, ecological vulnerability, and tourism resource combination were high whereas that of market demand-related factors was low. The glacier tourism resource development area in Tibet can be divided into suitable, relatively suitable, barely suitable, and unsuitable exploitation zones, accounting for 5.39%, 9.76%, 15.28%, and 69.57% of the total area, respectively. Five representative glaciers were selected to verify the validity or test the rationality of SAMGT and prove that the model is reasonable, innovative, and effective from the perspectives of multiple dimensions and the comprehensiveness of the selected indicators.

Muscle weakness assessment tool for automated therapy selection in elbow rehabilitation

AbstractClinical observations and subjective judgements have traditionally been used to evaluate patients with muscular and neurological disorders. As a result, identifying and analyzing functional improvements are difficult, especially in the absence of expertise. Quantitative assessment, which serves as the motivation for this study, is an essential prerequisite to forecast the task of the rehabilitation device in order to develop rehabilitation training. This work provides a quantitative assessment tool for muscle weakness in the human upper limbs for robotic-assisted rehabilitation. The goal is to map the assessment metrics to the recommended rehabilitation exercises. Measurable interaction forces and muscle correlation factors are the selected parameters to design a framework for muscular nerve cell condition detection and appropriate limb trajectory selection. In this work, a data collection setup is intended for extracting muscle intervention and assessment using MyoMeter, Goniometer and surface electromyography data for upper limbs. Force signals and human physiological response data are evaluated and categorized to infer the relevant progress. Based upon the most influencing muscles, curve fitting is performed. Trajectory-based data points are collected through a scaled geometric Open-Sim musculoskeletal model that fits the subject’s anthropometric data. These data are found to be most suitable to prescribe relevant exercise and to design customized robotic assistance. Case studies demonstrate the approach’s efficacy, including optimally synthesized automated configuration for the desired trajectory.

Predicting Recidivism Risk Meets AI Act

Quantitative recidivism risk assessment can be used at the pretrial detention, trial, sentencing, and / or parole stage in the justice system. It has been criticized for what is measured, whether the predictions are more accurate than those made by humans, whether it creates or increases inequality and discrimination, and whether it compromises or violates other aspects of fairness. This criticism becomes even more topical with the arrival of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act. This article identifies and applies the relevant rules of the proposed AI Act in relation to quantitative recidivism risk assessment. It does so by focusing on the proposed rules for the quality of the data and the models used, on biases, and on the human oversight. It is concluded that legislation may consider requiring providers of high-risk AI systems to demonstrate that their solution performs significantly better than risk assessments based on simple models, and better than human assessment. Furthermore, there is no single answer to evaluate the performance of quantitative recidivism risk assessment tools that are or may be deployed in practice. Finally, three approaches of human oversight are discussed to correct for the negative effects of quantitative risk assessment: the optional, benchmark, and feedback approach.

The application of resilience theory in urban development: a literature review.

In the complex context of urbanization and climate change, how to improve the resilience of cities to deal with various uncertain and unpredictable threats is a new topic with both theoretical and practical challenges. In this paper, the researches on urban resilience are summarized using the bibliometric analysis combined with the visualization analysis. We provide a systematic and objective review of resilience applied to urban development focusing on its conceptual frameworks, research tendencies, and assessment methods. The analysis results demonstrate that an increasing attention has been given to urban resilience, especially in the field of climate change. The degree of research varies significantly in different countries, with the USA dominating in the number of publications, followed by the UK and China. Scholars’ attention to urban resilience in different periods is closely related to the development background and disasters experienced by their countries, but there are also some commonalities. Meanwhile, the multi-dimensional research on urban resilience has been recognized by many scholars. Quantitative assessment tools such as simulation model and optimization model have been widely used to assess the level of urban resilience. Based on this, we put forward the future research trends in this field and provide a potential guide for future application of urban resilience.

Understanding Online and Offline Social Networks in Illness Management of Older Patients With Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Mixed Methods Study Using Quantitative Social Network Assessment and Qualitative Analysis.

BackgroundIndividuals’ social networks and social support are fundamental determinants of self-management and self-efficacy. In chronic respiratory conditions, social support can be promoted and optimized to facilitate the self-management of breathlessness.ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify how online and offline social networks play a role in the health management of older patients with chronic respiratory conditions, explore the role of support from online peers in patients’ self-management, and understand the barriers to and potential benefits of digital social interventions.MethodsWe recruited participants from a hospital-run singing group to a workshop in London, the United Kingdom, and adapted PERSNET, a quantitative social network assessment tool. The second workshop was replaced by telephone interviews because of the COVID-19 lockdown. The transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsA total of 7 participants (2/7, 29%, men and 5/7, 71%, women), with an age range of 64 to 81 years, produced network maps that comprised between 5 and 10 individuals, including family members, health care professionals, colleagues, activity groups, offline and online friends, and peers. The visual maps facilitated reflections and enhanced participants’ understanding of the role of offline and online social networks in the management of chronic respiratory conditions. It also highlighted the work undertaken by the networks themselves in the self-management support. Participants with small, close-knit networks received physical, health, and emotional support, whereas those with more diverse and large networks benefited from accessing alternative and complementary sources of information. Participants in the latter type of network tended to communicate more openly and comfortably about their illness, shared the impact of their illness on their day-to-day life, and demonstrated distinct traits in terms of identity and perception of chronic disease. Participants described the potential benefits of expanding their networks to include online peers as sources of novel information, motivation, and access to supportive environments. Lack of technological skills, fear of being scammed, or preference for keeping illness-related problems for themselves and immediate family were reported by some as barriers to engaging with online peer support.ConclusionsIn this small-scale study, the social network assessment tool proved feasible and acceptable. These data show the value of using a social network tool as a research tool that can help assess and understand network structure and engagement in the self-management support and could be developed into an intervention to support self-management. Patients’ preferences to share illness experiences with their online peers, as well as the contexts in which this can be acceptable, should be considered when developing and offering digital social interventions. Future studies can explore the evolution of the social networks of older people with chronic illnesses to understand whether their willingness to engage with online peers can change over time.

Development of a Psychometric Test: A Care Risk Scale for Homebound Older People With Dementia.

BackgroundHomebound older people with dementia (OPWD) face a series of care risks due to disease characteristics, care issues, and the family environment. However, China lacks a quantitative assessment tool for care risk. Thus, we attempted to develop a care risk scale for homebound OPWD.MethodsA care risk scale, with initially 18 items, was designed based on a systematic literature review, expert consultation, and a pilot study with 20 OPWD. The initial scale was validated among 1,045 homebound OPWD in Ningbo, China from November 1, 2020 to July 30, 2021. After removing three items that lacked discrimination power, the reliability and validity of the remaining 15 items was evaluated. Factor extraction was performed via principal axis factoring and Cattell’s scree plot analysis, with the resulting factors then being subjected to a varimax rotation.ResultsThe final scale consisted of 15 items assessed on a 5-point Likert scale that loaded on to three different factors, including dementia symptoms (four items), family support (four items), and home environment (seven items). These three factors were found to explain 72.9% of the cumulative variance. The overall Cronbach’s alpha for the final scale was 0.907. The correlation coefficients in the item-to-total analysis ranged from 0.511 to 0.662.ConclusionThe validation analysis indicated satisfactory reliability and validity of the 15-item scale for assessing care risk of homebound OPWD. This scale can help long-term care professionals and family caregivers identify care risks and help them take targeted measures to enhance safety of care for OPWD.

MO450: A New Hematuria Score, Semi-Quantitative Analysis of Hematuria Normalized for Urine Concentration Predicts the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease: From the KNOW-CKD Study

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS It is unclear whether hematuria is a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. In addition, quantitative evaluation considering urine concentration as in proteinuria has not been established in hematuria. The aim of this study is to verify the relationship between semi-quantitative analysis of hematuria normalized for urine concentration and the progression in CKD. METHOD We analyzed 1909 patients with pre-dialysis CKD from KNOW-CKD cohort who assessed baseline urine microscopy. Patients were scored according to the number of red blood cells (RBC) in high power field (1 point for < 1, 2 points for 1–4, 3 points for 5̵119 and 4 points for ≥ 20). To obtain the hematuria score, these points were divided by the random urine creatinine level and multiplied by 100. The study endpoint was CKD progression, defined as a composite of a ≥ 50% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from baseline values or end-stage kidney disease. RESULTS The hematuria score ranged from 1.86 to 20.3 (2.2 ± 1.86). During a median follow-up of 4.6 years (9657 person-years), 729 patients reached study endpoint. There was a graded association between hematuria score and the risk of progression of CKD. The hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for second, third and fourth quartile of hematuria score were 1.32 (1.04–1.67), 1.43 (1.12–1.82) and 1.50 (1.17–1.91), respectively, compared to the first quartile. For each 1 point increase in hematuria score, the risk of progression increased by 5%. CONCLUSION This study showed that there was a graded relationship between a new hematuria score and the risk of the progression of CKD. Microscopic hematuria is a risk factor for CKD progression and might be used as a quantitative risk assessment tool.

Role of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in troponinemia syndromes.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an evolving technology, proving to be a highly accurate tool for quantitative assessment. Most recently, it has been increasingly used in the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of conditions involving an elevation in troponin or troponinemia. Although an elevation in troponin is a nonspecific marker of myocardial tissue damage, it is a frequently ordered investigation leaving many patients without a specific diagnosis. Fortunately, the advent of newer cardiac MRI protocols can provide additional information. In this review, we discuss several conditions associated with an elevation in troponin such as myocardial infarction, myocarditis, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, coronavirus disease 2019 related cardiac dysfunction and athlete’s heart syndrome.

Green and sustainable tannin-immobilized cellulose dipstick for metallochromic sensing of ferric cations

Investigation of chromogenic sensor which can selectively estimate ferric cations in aqueous environment with prospect to produce portable platforms is currently proposed. Herein, the chromogenic sensor (Tannic Acid@Filter Paper; TA@FP) was prepared via doping of tannic acid within filter paper to afford the excellent selectivity for ferric cations over various examined metal ions. The designed chromogenic sensor was applied for estimating ferric ions via turn-on detection, while, it could acquire a marked visible color shifting from white to purple hue depending on the total content of Fe (III) ions in the aqueous medium. Complete characterization of the designed sensor before and after its exploitation in estimation of ferric cations was systematically performed via different spectral and microscopic analyses. The functionalized TA@FP was quite sensitive for quantitative estimation of ferric ions with wide scaling linear concentration range of 10–190 ppm. Maximum sensitivity of the exploited platform was observed at very low concentration (10 ppm) rather than the higher concentrations. The correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.99) was closer to unity. The prepared chromogenic sensor could be described as a simple and practical sensing tool for real-time quantitative and qualitative assessment of Fe (III) cations.

'CT and CT image-based texture image analysis in radiological diagnostics of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis'.

This prospective study is focused on evaluating radiological properties of AFRS. We analysed specific CT features related to the presence of AFRS, as well as explored the possible usefulness of the texture image analysis (TIA) as an additional diagnostical parameter. The CT images of maxillary sinuses of 37 adult patients diagnosed with chronic rhinosinusitis were analysed for homogeneity, high-attenuation areas, density of the soft tissue mass, bony wall thickness and density. TIA included assessment of uniformity, contrast, homogeneity and entropy of sinus content. In the F+ group, soft tissue mass was significantly more non-homogeneous, high-attenuation areas were more prevalent, while soft tissue densities were higher. The sinus wall showed a tendency towards decreased thickness and significantly higher density in the F+ group. Among TIA parameters only homogeneity was significantly lower in the F+ group. Presence of fungi should be suspected when the sinus is filled with a non-homogenous soft tissue content of a high CT density not necessarily presented as clearly visible hyperattenuation material. Additional criteria in radiological diagnostics of AFRS should encompass assessment of sinus bony wall density. TIA may serve as a tool for quantitative assessment of subjective CT features such as homogeneity of the soft tissue mass for investigative purposes. However, other TIA parameters showed limited potential.

Adaptation and Validation of the Person-Centred Assessment Tool for the Acute Care Setting

Introduction: Person-centred care (PCC) is synonymous with best practice in the care of persons with dementia. Despite this, PCC is not routinely assessed, and there is no validated tool for in the acute care setting. We aimed to validate the Person-Centred Assessment Tool (P-CAT) in an acute setting. Methods: P-CAT was administered independently to a total of 161 nurses (n = 16, from a specialized dementia unit with PCC training; n = 116, geriatric wards; n = 30, medical/surgical wards). The word “residents” was replaced with “patients” in P-CAT. We employed confirmatory factor analysis with principal component extraction to verify the previously reported three- and two-factor solutions. A one-way between-groups ANOVA was then used to investigate group differences in the P-CAT score (total scale and subscale). Results: Factor analysis revealed a two-factor solution (explained variance 42.28%): (i) extent of personalizing care and (ii) amount of organizational and environmental support. Out of the 13 items, only 2 items did not load as expected. The internal consistency reliability of the scale was satisfactory (Cronbach’s α = 0.77). Nurses’ P-CAT scores were significantly different across ward settings [Welch’s F(2,37.20) = 13.01, p < 0.001, ω2 = 0.09], with the highest among those PCC trained. Post hoc analyses revealed a significant difference in mean subscale scores between PCC-trained nurses and nurses from the other two ward settings. P-CAT scores were not significantly correlated with age, r(159) = 0.01, p = 0.861, or with nursing experience, r(159) = 0.04, p = 0.615. Discussion/Conclusion: P-CAT possesses adequate validity and reliability as a quantitative assessment tool of PCC in the acute care setting.

Taxonomy and Stakeholder Risk Management in Integrated Projects of the European Green Deal

The article analyzed the state of the global problem of ecological safety of the EU and argued the need to create a methodology for planning technologically integrated projects of the “European Green Deal” (TIP “EGD”) that accounts for the risks to the stakeholders, i.e., the state, project executors, resource suppliers, project managers, and clients. Each of these has an individual set of values that determines the project risk for them. Herein is proposed a taxonomy of three ranks of TIP “EGD” involving agricultural waste, determined by their characteristics, products, and requirements for the stakeholders. The authors point out the need to create tools for quantitative risk assessment for the stakeholders of TIP “EGD” involving agricultural waste and distinguish four groups of risk components with regard to the value of such projects. A model of value risk formation is presented that addresses the risk management of each of these stakeholder values. The need to develop tools (models, methods, and algorithms) for quantitative risk assessment of the values of each type of project is discussed. Regularities in the formation of stakeholder values, which were a foundation of the model of formation, are established.

A Systematic Review of Assessment Tools Measuring Cultural Competence Outcomes Relevant to Pharmacy Education

Objective. To identify and describe validated assessment tools that measure cultural competence and are relevant to pharmacy education.Methods. A systematic approach was used to identify quantitative cultural competence assessment tools relevant to pharmacy education. A systematic search of the literature was conducted using the OVID and EBSCO databases and a manual search of journals deemed likely to include tools relevant to pharmacy education. To be eligible for the review, the tools had to be developed using a study sample from the United States, have at least one peer-reviewed validated publication, be applicable to the pharmacy profession, and be published since 2010.Results. The systematic literature and manual search identified 27 tools. Twelve assessment tools met the criteria to be included in the summary and their relevancy to pharmacy education is discussed.Conclusion. A review of literature demonstrates that assessment tools vary widely and there is no one tool that can effectively assess all aspects of cultural competence in pharmacy students or the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum. As cultural competence is a priority within the accreditation standards for pharmacy education, PharmD programs are encouraged to develop additional tools that measure observed performance.

Hierarchical multi-response Gaussian processes for uncertainty analysis with multi-scale composite manufacturing simulation

Variations of constituent fiber and matrix properties and process conditions can cause significant variability in composite parts and affect their performance. The focus of this paper is to establish a new computational framework that can efficiently quantify the uncertainty propagation of parts manufactured through the resin transfer molding (RTM) process. RTM involves a sequence of inter-related processes that span multiple spatial and temporal scales. This calls for a multi-scale analysis for the nominal process, which is computationally complex and intensive. A direct Monte Carlo simulation of uncertainty quantification leads to prohibitive cost. In this research we leverage a sequentially architected multi-response Gaussian process (MRGP) meta-modelling approach to facilitate a hierarchical procedure. This can dramatically reduce the computational cost, and allow us to characterize the process outputs of interest at different scales and at the same time capture the intrinsic correlation amongst these outputs. Moreover, integrating a global sensitivity analysis with the hierarchical MRGP meta-models yields the importance ranking of uncertainty propagation paths. This computational framework provides a quantitative assessment tool of the uncertainties in composite manufacturing. Case study on curing-induced dimensional variability of a curved composite part is conducted for demonstration and validation.

Age-related differences in the quantitative analysis of the finger tapping task.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative measures of the finger tapping task is important for objective assessment of bradykinesia. However, age-related changes in quantitative measures are still unclear.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to quantitatively investigate age-related group differences in finger tapping performance.METHODS: Eighty-three healthy normal subjects with age ranging from aged 20 to 89 years participated in this study. All subjects were instructed to tap their index finger and thumbs as rapidly as possible and with as large amplitude as possible. Angular velocity of the finger tapping movement was measured using a gyrosensor. Quantitative variables include root mean squared (RMS) angular velocity, RMS angular displacement, peak power and peak frequency derived from angular velocity signals.RESULTS: Significant age-related differences were observed in RMS angular velocity, peak power and peak frequency ( 0.001). Specifically, the oldest age group had the slowest average speed, the lowest peak power and peak frequency. These results indicate deterioration in finger speed, intensity of the main movement component and tapping frequency due to aging.CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the quantitative variables should be adjusted for age when clinicians assess Parkinsonian bradykinesia. The results contribute to the development of an accurate and quantitative assessment tool for bradykinesia.

Image-based biomechanical modeling for coronary atherosclerotic plaque progression and vulnerability prediction

Atherosclerotic plaque progression and rupture play an important role in cardiovascular disease development and the final drastic events such as heart attack and stroke. Medical imaging and image-based computational modeling methods advanced considerably in recent years to quantify plaque morphology and biomechanical conditions and gain a better understanding of plaque evolution and rupture process. This article first briefly reviewed clinical imaging techniques for coronary thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) plaques used in image-based computational modeling. This was followed by a summary of different types of biomechanical models for coronary plaques. Plaque progression and vulnerability prediction studies based on image-based computational modeling were reviewed and compared. Much progress has been made and a reasonable high prediction accuracy has been achieved. However, there are still some inconsistencies in existing literature on the impact of biomechanical and morphological factors on future plaque behavior, and it is very difficult to perform direct comparison analysis as differences like image modality, biomechanical factors selection, predictive models, and progression/vulnerability measures exist among these studies. Encouraging data and model sharing across the research community would partially resolve these differences, and possibly lead to clearer assertive conclusions. In vivo image-based computational modeling could be used as a powerful tool for quantitative assessment of coronary plaque vulnerability for potential clinical applications.

Relative peripheral refraction characteristics and their relationship with retinal microvasculature in young adults: Using a novel quantitative approach

AimTo analyze relative peripheral refraction (RPR) characteristics in young adults and to investigate the relationship between RPR and retinal microvasculature using multispectral refractive tomography (MRT), a novel quantitative approach. MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 278 eyes of 139 young adults. All eyes underwent complete ophthalmic examinations, including MRT, optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and other ocular examinations. Refraction difference values (RDVs) among different rings/sectors were compared using one-way ANOVA in bilateral eyes. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses were performed between ∆RDV in different rings and ∆density/thickness value in OCTA. ResultsAmong the different rings, the 30°-45°/45°-53° RDV was significantly greater than the inner rings in both eyes. Among the different sectors, RDV in the superior sector was most significantly reduced among all sectors, and RDV in the nasal sector was significantly greater than that in the temporal sector. In the stepwise multiple linear regression analyses, ∆RDV was negatively correlated with ∆radial peripapillary capillary plexus density and ∆macular thickness. ConclusionsMRT may be a useful tool in RPR quantitative assessment. RPR and some OCTA indexes might be closely correlated. Further research should be conducted to investigate the relationships among these indexes in young adults.

Fractal analysis of perfusion imaging in synovitis: a novel imaging biomarker for grading inflammatory activity based on assessing angiogenesis

ObjectivesThe mutual and intertwined dependence of inflammation and angiogenesis in synovitis is widely acknowledged. However, no clinically established tool for objective and quantitative assessment of angiogenesis is routinely available. This...