Visual Evaluation Research Articles

Evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction by a new automatic tool on a pocket ultrasound device: Concordance study with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is one of the primary objectives of echocardiography. The gold standard assessment technique in emergency medicine is eyeballing. A new tool is now available on pocket ultrasound devices (PUD): automatic LVEF. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the concordance between LVEF values estimated by automatic LVEF with PUD and by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This was a prospective, monocentric, and observational study. All adult patients with an indication for cardiac MRI underwent a point-of-care ultrasound. Blinded to the MRI results, the emergency physician assessed LVEF using the automatic PUD tool and by visual evaluation. Sixty patients were included and analyzed. Visual estimation of LVEF was feasible for all patients and automatic evaluation for 52 (87%) patients. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient between automatic ejection fraction with PUD and by cardiac MRI was 0.23 (95% CI, 0.03-0.40). Concordance between LVEF estimated by the automatic ejection fraction with PUD and LVEF estimated by MRI was non-existent.

Inter-and intrarater agreement of Computed Tomographic brain calcification scoring in Primary Familial Brain Calcification.

The Total Calcification Score (TCS) is a visual rating scale to measure Primary Familial Brain Calcification (PFBC) related calcification severity on Computed Tomography (CT). We investigated the inter-and intrarater agreement of a modified TCS. Patients aged ≥18 years with PFBC or Fahr's syndrome who visited the outpatient clinic of a Dutch academic hospital were included. The TCS was modified, for example by adding hippocampal calcification, and ranged from 0 to 95 points. Fifteen raters evaluated all CTs, of whom three evaluated the CTs twice. Their Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA) level ranged from II (medical student) to V (neuroradiologist). Agreement was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the total score. Kendall's W and weighted Cohen's Kappa were used to determine the inter- and intrarater agreement for individual locations, respectively. Forty patients were included (mean age 60 years, 53% female). The median modified TCS was 34 (range 4-76). For all EPA levels, the interrater agreement of the modified TCS was excellent (ICC=0.97 (95% CI 0.95-0.98)). Kendall's W's were good to excellent for commonly affected locations, but poor to moderate for less commonly affected locations for raters with lower levels of expertise. The intrarater agreement of the modified TCS was excellent. Kappa's of most locations were substantial to almost perfect. The modified TCS can be used with excellent reproducibility of the overall amount of brain calcifications and with limited training, although for some individual calcification locations more expertise is needed. CI, Confidence Interval; CT, Computed Tomography; EPA, Entrustable Professional Activity; IBGC, Idiopathic Basal Ganglia Calcification; ICC, Intraclass Correlation Coefficient; IQR, Interquartile Range; PFBC, Primary Familial Brain Calcification; SD, Standard Deviation, TCS, Total Calcification Score; UMCU, University Medical Center Utrecht.

Pansharpening Based on Multimodal Texture Correction and Adaptive Edge Detail Fusion

Pansharpening refers to the process of fusing multispectral (MS) images with panchromatic (PAN) images to obtain high-resolution multispectral (HRMS) images. However, due to the low correlation and similarity between MS and PAN images, as well as inaccuracies in spatial information injection, HRMS images often suffer from significant spectral and spatial distortions. To address these issues, a pansharpening method based on multimodal texture correction and adaptive edge detail fusion is proposed in this paper. To obtain a texture-corrected (TC) image that is highly correlated and similar to the MS image, the target-adaptive CNN-based pansharpening (A-PNN) method is introduced. By constructing a multimodal texture correction model, intensity, gradient, and A-PNN-based deep plug-and-play correction constraints are established between the TC and source images. Additionally, an adaptive degradation filter algorithm is proposed to ensure the accuracy of these constraints. Since the TC image obtained can effectively replace the PAN image and considering that the MS image contains valuable spatial information, an adaptive edge detail fusion algorithm is also proposed. This algorithm adaptively extracts detailed information from the TC and MS images to apply edge protection. Given the limited spatial information in the MS image, its spatial information is proportionally enhanced before the adaptive fusion. The fused spatial information is then injected into the upsampled multispectral (UPMS) image to produce the final HRMS image. Extensive experimental results demonstrated that compared with other methods, the proposed algorithm achieved superior results in terms of both subjective visual effects and objective evaluation metrics.

Gingival phenotype classification by visual and probe visibility assessments: Relationship with thickness and probe design.

This study investigated the agreement among dentists in classifying gingival phenotype (GP) through periodontal probe visibility (PPV) assessment with various probe types and the visual method. Additionally, the relationship between GP classifications and gingival thickness (GT) was evaluated. Photographs were taken with standard periodontal probe (SPP), color-coded periodontal probe (CCPP) tips in white, green, and blue, as well as metal phenotype probe (MPP) tips in gray and black. Evaluators (periodontist, periodontics resident, endodontics resident, dental student) assessed the photographs and classified the GPs. GT was measured by trans gingival probing. Visual method showed poor to fair agreement to classify GP. The lowest agreement regarding PPV was noted with white-tipped CCPP. The highest agreement in singular PPV was observed with CCPP blue (κ=0.932), followed by CCPP green (κ=0.791), MPP black (κ=0.783), SPP (κ=0.730), and MPP gray (κ=0.690). Combined PPV data revealed fair to moderate agreement with CCPP and moderate to substantial agreement with MPP in GP classification. The corresponding GT to different GP classifications based on combined PPV were comparable. The agreement between SPP and CCPP in classifying non-thin phenotypes was 89.8%, while the agreement between SPP and MPP was 75.4%. Based on PPV, no significant GT cutoff value was found to distinguish between thin and non-thin phenotypes. Determining a precise GT that guarantees the visibility of a given probe can be difficult when evaluating GP. Regardless of the type of probe, the PPV method has a high potential for misclassifying GP, despite having an acceptable agreement. Gingival phenotype (GP) is constituted by thickness of the gums and width of keratinized tissue around teeth. Direct visual evaluation or evaluating a periodontal probe's visibility beneath gums are established techniques to classify gingival phenotype. This study investigated how dentists classify GP using visual assessments and different types of periodontal probes, while also exploring the relationship between GP classifications and gingival thickness. Results showed varied agreement among dentists in classifying GP, with lower agreement observed when using certain types of probes, notably the white-tipped phenotype probe. The highest agreement was found with the blue phenotype probe. Data from periodontal probe visibility assessments indicated fair to moderate agreement with certain probes, suggesting some inconsistency in classification methods. Interestingly, GP classification with visual assessments or probes did not correlate with gingival thickness, which may highlight the importance of considering both factors in clinical practice. These findings underline the need for attention when relying solely on visual assessments or specific probe types for accurate GP classification.

Evaluation of e-Lung automated quantitative CT biomarkers in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

BackgroundIn patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), there is a need to identify biomarkers that i) are associated with increased risk of adverse outcome and ii) can be used to monitor treatment response or identify disease progression over time.MethodsTwo consecutive cohorts of patients with IPF were accessed from the Open Source Imaging Consortium database. Automated CT biomarkers of disease severity incorporating fibrotic and pulmonary vascular features (the reticulovascular score and weighted reticulovascular score (WRVS)), were studied. Relationships between imaging biomarkers, lung function and survival were analysed.ResultsIn separate test and validation cohorts, 168 and 176 patients with IPF respectively (median survival 2.6 years) were studied. A threshold of WRVS ≥15% at baseline CT was most strongly associated with transplant free survival (HR 3.00, 95% CI 1.47, 6.10, p=0.002) when adjusted for baseline FVC and age. In patients with 12 month follow up CT and lung function tests (n=89) an increase in 3% of WRVS (the minimal clinically important difference) was also significantly associated with reduced survival independent of FVC, and outperformed visual evaluation of progressive fibrosis.ConclusionsWRVS is an automated CT biomarker which can identify patients with IPF at increased risk of progression and is able to reliably capture disease progression over time.

Evaluation of Sheath Blight Resistance in Diverse Rice Varieties Under Artificial Inoculation and Field Conditions

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) a vital food crop for nearly half of the global population, facing significant threats from various biotic and abiotic stresses. Among biotic stresses, diseases pose the most common challenge. Sheath blight, caused by soil-borne fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia Solani Kühn (R. solani), is a major concern, leading to substantial damage to rice and cereal crops worldwide. This study evaluated sheath blight resistance across diverse rice varieties, including short grain, long grain, aromatic, hybrid, and wild types, under both artificial inoculation and field conditions. Ten host plant species were assessed for resistance to sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia Solani, using physiological screening one-week post-inoculation. The highly virulent R. solani isolate (AG-1 IA anastomosis group) was cultured on PDA media, covering the entire plate 3 to 5 days. Screening of cultivated rice varieties, was conducted using field conditions and humidified chamber methods, with results confirmed through molecular characterization. Among the ten cultivated rice varieties, Arize 6444 and Dhanya 748 exhibited the lowest disease index, classifying them as moderately resistant. In contrast, Kalanamak and Pusa Basmati were highly susceptible, displaying high disease indices. Among wild rice accessions, Oryza rufipogon showed a disease index of five or less. Visual ratings indicated the highest susceptibility in Kalanamak, followed by Pusa Basmati and Swarna sub-1, while the lowest visual ratings were observed in wild rice accessions Oryza australiensis and Oryza rufipogon across all tested hosts. The findings underscore the importance of identifying resistant rice varieties to manage sheath blight effectively. The moderately resistant cultivars and wild rice accessions identified in this study offer valuable genetic resources for breeding programs aimed at enhancing sheath blight resistance in rice.

Simulation model to assess the validity of the clinical portfolio diet score used in the PortfolioDiet.app for dietary self-tracking: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial in hyperlipidemic adults.

The Portfolio Diet combines cholesterol-lowering plant foods for the management of cardiovascular disease risk. However, the translation of this dietary approach into clinical practice necessitates a user-friendly method for patients to autonomously monitor their adherence. This study aimed to develop and validate the clinical-Portfolio Diet Score (c-PDS) as a food-based metric to facilitate self-tracking of the Portfolio Diet. Using a simulation model to estimate the c-PDS, the validity was assessed in a secondary analysis of a completed trial of the Portfolio Diet in 98 participants with hyperlipidemia over 6 months. Concurrent and predictive validity of the estimated c-PDS were assessed against the reference measure (weighed 7-day diet records) and concomitant changes in LDL-C from baseline to 6 months. Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess the limits of agreement between the two methods. The c-PDS was positively correlated with dietary adherence as measured using the 7-day diet records (r = 0.94, p < 0.001). The c-PDS was negatively correlated with change in LDL-C (r = -0.43, p < 0.001) with a 1-point increase in the c-PDS being associated with a - 0.04 mmol/L (CI:-0.06,-0.03; p < 0.001) or a 1.09% reduction in LDL-C. Visual evaluation of the Bland-Altman plots showed reasonable agreement. These findings indicate good validity of the c-PDS for primary prevention in adults with hyperlipidemia. The predictive validity findings have informed the goals and messaging within the PortfolioDiet.app, a digital health application for delivering the Portfolio Diet. Future research will assess the effectiveness of the intended combination of the c-PDS and the PortfolioDiet.app in supporting behavior change.

Grapevine Pinot gris virus spreads in infected vineyards: latent infections have no direct impact on grape production

BackgroundGrapevine Pinot gris virus (GPGV) infects grapevines worldwide and causes symptoms such as chlorotic mottling and deformations on leaves, stunted shoots and short panicles, or none of these symptoms if it appears as latent infection. So far, the consequences of GPGV infections for winegrowers are difficult to assess since important information such as plant performance at different GPGV infection levels and symptom expression are not fully clarified.MethodsIn order to investigate the course of GPGV spread, annual visual evaluations and ELISA tests were conducted over 3–4 consecutive years in four GPGV-infected vineyards in southern Germany: GEM, HEC, NIM, and REI. The program PATCHY was used to analyze spatial disease patterns. Sanger sequencing was used to determine virus isolates in vines at different GPGV infection levels, to test their respective influence on symptom expression. Yield and GrapeScan (FTIR) analyses were conducted to test the impact of different GPGV infection levels and isolates on fruit quantity and quality.ResultsGPGV infections significantly increased in all four vineyards (GEM 22–32%, HEC 50–99%, NIM 83–90%, REI 56–76%) with significant spreading patterns across and along rows. Specific symptom progression patterns were not observed. According to our results, the virus isolate has an influence on whether symptoms develop during a GPGV infection. While yield analyses revealed that yield losses only occur in symptomatic vines and range from 13 to 96% depending on the severity of symptoms, latent infections have no impact on grape production. No relevant effects of GPGV infections on must quality were observed.ConclusionsSecondary spread of GPGV was observed in all vineyards monitored, indicating vector-borne transmission that is likely to be accelerated by human viticultural management. GPGV should be further monitored to prevent the accumulation of detrimental symptomatic isolates. The results of this study can be used to assess the risk of GPGV to viticulture and should be considered when developing management strategies against the virus.

Comparative Analysis of Peroxidase and Catalase Isoenzymes via Native-PAGE Electrophoresis and SDS-PAGE Profiling of Leaf Proteins in Rice Varieties under Infection Stress

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food for over half of the world's population. However, rice productivity is significantly hindered by various diseases, including sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani. This study aims to evaluate the resistance of different rice varieties and wild rice accessions to sheath blight and to analyze the biochemical responses, specifically peroxidase and catalase activities, under infection stress. The results revealed that Kalanamak and Pusa Basmati were highly susceptible, with high disease indices and visual ratings. Conversely, wild rice accessions such as O. rufipogon and O. australiensis exhibited lower disease indices, indicating moderate resistance. Peroxidase activity varied significantly among the rice leaves, ranging from 148.83 to 182.44 mg/g fresh weight/min. Dhanya 748 showed the highest peroxidase activity, followed by O. australiensis and O. rufipogon. Native-PAGE electrophoresis of peroxidase isoenzymes demonstrated high-intensity bands in O. rufipogon, BPT 5204, and Swarna Sub-1, while minimal or no bands were observed in other genotypes, indicating varying levels of peroxidase activity. Catalase activity also showed significant variation, ranging from 138.18 to 152.14 mg/g fresh weight/min. BPT-5204 exhibited the highest catalase activity, followed by O. australiensis and Pusa Basmati. Isoenzyme analysis via Native-PAGE revealed high-intensity catalase bands in O. australiensis, Dhanya 748, NDR 118, and Pusa Basmati, while no bands were observed in O. rufipogon, CSR 13, Arize 6444, and Swarna Sub-1. SDS-PAGE analysis of leaf proteins showed variability in banding patterns. Non-infected leaves of Swarna Sub-1, Arize 6444, Kalanamak, and Pusa Basmati had minimal bands, while O. australiensis and Dhanya 748 showed maximum bands. Infected leaves of CSR 13, NDR 118, Arize 6444, Kalanamak, Dhanya 748, and Pusa Basmati had minimal bands, whereas O. australiensis exhibited maximum bands. Overall, the study highlights the potential of wild rice species in enhancing disease resistance and provides insights into the biochemical responses of rice varieties under pathogen stress.

Research on visual experience evaluation of fortress heritage landscape by integrating SBE–SD method and eye movement analysis

Urbanization has led to homogenizing heritage site landscapes, and the protective measures have become disconnected from public needs. Additionally, the complex and diverse overall characteristics of heritage sites and the uneven distribution of values across different areas are related to the lack of landscape experience assessment. The “subjective + objective” cognitive evaluation and visual perception framework that adopts the Scenic Beauty Estimation Procedure-Semantic Differential (SBE–SD) method and eye-tracking analysis can compensate for the limitations of a single evaluation method by integrating quantitative and qualitative analysis. This research takes the Yi’an Fortress in Zhangpu County, Fujian Province, as the object and examines the visual experiences of different areas and types of landscapes within the Yi’an Fortress. The findings reveal several key insights: (1) Significant differences were found in the landscape experiences of different areas within the heritage site. The visual experience score of the core building area of Yi’an Fortress is (1.01) > the heritage entrance area (0.897) > the residential area (0.841) > the natural ecological area (0.784), indicating that the natural ecological area should be the focus of future protection and development efforts, with a particular emphasis on enhancing the ‘landscape aesthetic’ and ‘landscape cultural’ aspects. (2) The landscape experience scores can be used to understand the reasons for the differences in participants’ experiences of different landscapes. The architectural heritage landscape of the Yi’an Fortress scored highest in the experience evaluation due to its superior performance in terms of ‘landscape form’ factors. The cultural decorative landscape scored next, while the garden greening landscape scored the lowest, due to their poorer performance in terms of ‘landscape form’ and ‘landscape aesthetics’. (3) The eye-tracking data was consistent with the results of the subjective evaluation, validating the “subjective + objective” cognitive evaluation and visual perception framework, employing the SBE–SD method and eye-tracking analysis is a scientific and effective method for assessing the visual experience of heritage landscapes. These results provide a scientific basis for the heritage planners and managers of the Yi’an fortress to improve the landscape environment, better meet public needs, and preserve the unique character of this vital cultural resource. Furthermore, this study offers a new research method and approach for the protection of other heritage landscapes.

Pharmacoacupuncture for the Treatment of Frozen Shoulder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Pharmacoacupuncture (PA) is an alternative injection therapy for a broad range of conditions. This meta-analysis evaluates the effectiveness and safety of PA in treating frozen shoulder (FS) and aims to standardise PA characteristics in clinical practice. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing PA for FS were systematically reviewed from seven electronic databases up to August 31, 2023. Outcomes measured included the visual analogue scale (VAS) or numerical rating scale (NRS), effective rate, Constant-Murley Score (CMS), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), ROM, quality of life (QoL), and adverse events. Data analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3, with the risk of bias in each trial evaluated using Cochrane's risk of bias tool. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tool assessed the quality of evidence. Thirteen RCTs involving 1034 patients met the inclusion criteria, with eleven RCTs and 872 patients included in the meta-analysis. PA showed low-quality evidence of improvement in VAS, effective rate, CMS Total, and CMS Pain. Moderate-quality evidence indicated improvement in CMS ADL and CMS Mobility. PA was effective in four SF-36 subscales: physical function, social role function, mental health, and emotional role function. No significant difference in CMS strength was observed. One trial reported mild anaphylaxis reaction to bee venom as an adverse event. PA may offer potential benefits as an alternative injection therapy for FS patients. Further well-designed RCTs with rigorous methodology are required to substantiate its therapeutic efficacy and clinical utility. PROSPERO (CRD42023445708).

Bioimpedance sensor array for monitoring chronic wounds: Validation of method feasibility.

In an ageing society, the incidence of hard-to-heal wounds is rising. Chronic wound healing is a complex process, which requires specialised treatment. Clinical assessment of the wound is essential to establish care approaches but is usually based on visual evaluation and it remains challenging. Therefore, innovative quantitative methods for the assessment of chronic wounds are needed. We conducted a single-centre observational study designed to assess the feasibility of a bioimpedance measurement method conducted with a multielectrode sensor array to monitor the wound healing process in patients with chronic wounds of venous, mixed venous-arterial and diabetic aetiology. In total, 104 measurements of bioimpedance were conducted in 18 ulcers during the study. Across all 7 patients analysed, the bioimpedance of the ulcers was consistently increasing as the wound surface was decreasing. The variables had significant (p < 0.001) and strong negative correlation (r = -0.86). We validated the feasibility of the bioimpedance measurement method for the monitoring of the wound healing process on the lower legs. It may be a promising quantitative method for monitoring the status of the wounds. However, long-term measurements are needed to show the usability of the electrode dressing and bioimpedance measurement in the assessment of chronic wounds.

New non-contrast MRI of endolymphatic hydrops in Ménière's disease considering inversion time.

Three-tesla MRI with gadolinium-based contrast agents is important in diagnosing Ménière's disease. However, contrast agents cannot be used in some patients. By using the compositional difference between the inner ear endolymph and perilymph, we performed basic and clinical research focused on potassium ions and protein to find the optimal parameters for visualizing endolymphatic hydrops on MRI without contrast. We then examined the relationship between severity stage and visualization rate of endolymphatic hydrops. In phantom experiments simulating the endolymph and perilymph, we explored MRI parameters that could be used to separate endolymph from perilymph by gradually changing the inversion time. We then used these parameters to perform both new non-contrast MRI and contrast MRI on the same day in Ménière's disease patients, and we compared the visualization rates of endolymphatic hydrops under the two modalities. Fifty patients were selected from 478 patients with Ménière's disease of different severity stages; 12 patients had asthma and allergy to contrast agents. The higher the disease stage, the higher the endolymphatic hydrops visualization rate. The new non-contrast MRI gave significantly higher (p < .01) visualization rates of endolymphatic hydrops on the affected side in patients at Stage 3 or above than in Stages 1 and 2 combined. New non-contrast MRI with parameters focusing on the endolymph-perilymph difference in the density of protons surrounding the potassium ions and protein can produce images consistent with endolymphatic hydrops. We believe that this groundbreaking method will be useful for diagnosing Ménière's disease in patients. Clinical studies are at evidence level 3 in non-randomized controlled trials.

A denoising method for power equipment images based on block-matching and 3D filtering.

A substation is important equipment of the power system, and there are many power equipment components in the substation. In order to better detect the working status of power equipment components, it is necessary to preprocess these components. In the actual application, the power equipment images may be noisy due to external environmental interference. Therefore, it should denoise these images in order to improve system detection performance. This paper uses the acquired power equipment images and adds noise intensity of 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30, respectively. Then, the Block-Matching and 3D Filtering (BM3D) method is used to denoise these images. BM3D includes three steps such as block combination, collaborative filtering, and integration, which has strong denoising ability. The experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms other methods in terms of denoising visual effects and evaluation indicators. Especially in terms of preserving details and textures of the denoised image, there is a significant advantage in suppressing strong noise. In summary, the proposed method can achieve encouraging denoising results, which is an effective denoising method for power equipment images.

Brain endurance training improves soccer-specific technical skills and cognitive performance in fatigued professional soccer players

ObjectivesBrain Endurance Training (BET) — the addition of mentally fatiguing cognitive tasks to standard physical training — could improve performance in soccer. We tested whether BET, with cognitive tasks intermixed with physical training activities, improved players' cognitive and soccer-specific technical performance compared to physical training alone when fresh and fatigued. DesignThe study employed a pre/training/midtest/training/posttest design. Methods31 professional male soccer players were randomly assigned to BET or control groups and completed 18 physical training sessions over 6 weeks. In between the physical training activities, the BET group completed demanding cognitive tasks, whereas the control group rested. Players completed the Loughborough soccer passing (LSPT) and shooting test (LSST) before and after completing a 30-min Stroop task. A brief psychomotor vigilance test (PVT-B), a visual analog rating of mental fatigue (MF-VAS), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during testing and training. ResultsDuring testing, the 30-min Stroop task elicited a state of MF, confirmed by higher subjective ratings (P < .01). Compared to pre-testing, at mid- and post-testing, the BET group improved passing (all P < .01), shooting (all P < .01), and PVT-B performance (all P < .01) when tested after (fatigued) but not before (fresh) the Stroop task, whereas the control group did not change performance either way. During training the BET group reported higher MF (P < .01) and exhibited slower PVT-B responses (P < .01) compared to control. ConclusionsIntermixed BET was more effective than physical training alone at improving cognitive and soccer-specific technical performance of professional soccer players when fatigued.

Ornamental Grasses Tolerate Cyclical Flood, Drought, and Submergence During Stormwater Management, but Conditions and Survival Vary by Species

Perennial ornamental grasses are often recommended for rain gardens, but few data support their use. We conducted two experiments to evaluate the ability of ornamental grass cultivars to grow while subjected to cyclical flooding, submergence, and drought typical of rain gardens. Our objectives were to determine the effects of cyclical flood and drought (Expt. 1) and submergence depth and duration (Expt. 2) on grass growth and survival. Seven cultivars were evaluated during greenhouse trials, including Pixie Fountain tufted hairgrass [Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv.], Northwind switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), Red October big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), Purpurascens Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis Andersson), Blue Heaven® little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash], Blonde Ambition blue grama grass [Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths], and Karl Foerster feather reed grass [Calamagrostis ×acutiflora (Schrad.) DC]. During Expt. 1, grasses underwent four cycles of flooding duration (2 days or 7 days) followed by drought (drying to volumetric soil water contents of 0.14 or 0.07 cm3·cm−3). During Expt. 2, grasses were cyclically submerged at 15 or 30 cm above the soil surface for 2, 4, or 7 days, followed by floodwater removal and drainage for 2 days before being resubmerged. Cyclical submergence continued until the 7-day submergence treatments completed four cycles. Both experiments were replicated in a full factorial randomized complete block design. Controls were included in both experiments. Plants were measured to determine plant height, shoot count, visual damage rating, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight. Floodwater chemistry and soil reducing conditions were measured during Expt. 2. Chinese silvergrass and switchgrass survived cyclical soil flooding/drought and submergence for 7 days at a depth of 30 cm while maintaining acceptable foliar damage. All grasses survived cyclical flood and drought when the soil volumetric water content was maintained at 14%, suggesting they can withstand periodic soil flooding as long as the water is not too deep. As water depth and duration increased from 4 days to 7 days, little bluestem, blue grama grass, and feather reed grass experienced significant foliar damage. Tufted hair grass and big bluestem experienced significant foliar damage when submerged for 2 days. Our results showed that perennial ornamental grasses can tolerate cyclical flood and drought and periodic submergence, but that plant conditions and survival vary, which can inform strategic plant placement within rain gardens, bioretention basins, and other stormwater management systems.

Topical Tranexamic Acid on Donor Wounds in Burn Patients: A Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial.

Patients with major burn injuries are prone to massive blood loss owing to tangential excision of burn wounds and donor skin harvesting. In general, topical application of the antifibrinolytic drug tranexamic acid (TXA) to surgical wounds reduces bleeding; however, its effect on bleeding and re-epithelialization in superficial wounds of burns has not been explored. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of topical TXA in reducing blood loss and its effect on wound re-epithelialization in burn surgery. Split-thickness skin graft donor wounds in burn patients were paired and randomized to topical application of either TXA (25 mg/mL) or placebo. Endpoints were postoperative bleeding as measured by dressing weight gain per cm2 wound area, blood stain area per wound area, and visual evaluation of bleeding in the dressings. Healing time was recorded to analyze the effect on wound re-epithelialization. There was no significant difference in bleeding or time to re-epithelialization between the TXA and placebo wounds. A post hoc subanalysis of wounds with dressing weight gain above the median, showed a significant difference in favor of TXA. However, use of tumescence may have influenced end points. No significant adverse events related to the study drugs were observed. This study demonstrates that topical application of TXA (25 mg/mL) to split-thickness skin graft donor wounds does not delay re-epithelialization. Although a reduction in bleeding is suggested, further studies are needed to determine the role of topical TXA in reducing bleeding in burn surgery.

Expert CONsensus on Visual Evaluation in Retinal disease manaGEment: the CONVERGE study

Background/AimsRecent decades have seen significant advances in both structural and functional testing of retinal disease. However, the current clinical value of specific testing modalities, as well as future trends, need...

Cervical Cancer Tissue Analysis Using Photothermal Midinfrared Spectroscopic Imaging.

Hyperspectral photothermal mid-infrared spectroscopic imaging (HP-MIRSI) is an emerging technology with promising applications in cervical cancer diagnosis and quantitative, label-free histopathology. This study pioneers the application of HP-MIRSI to the evaluation of clinical cervical cancer tissues, achieving excellent tissue type segmentation accuracy of over 95%. This achievement stems from an integrated approach of optimized data acquisition, computational data reconstruction, and the application of machine learning algorithms. The results are statistically robust, drawing from tissue samples of 98 cervical cancer patients and incorporating over 40 million data points. Traditional cervical cancer diagnosis methods entail biopsy, staining, and visual evaluation by a pathologist. This process is qualitative, subject to variations in staining and subjective interpretations, and requires extensive tissue processing, making it costly and time-consuming. In contrast, our proposed alternative can produce images comparable to those from histological analyses without the need for staining or complex sample preparation. This label-free, quantitative method utilizes biochemical data from HP-MIRSI and employs machine-learning algorithms for the rapid and precise segmentation of cervical tissue subtypes. This approach can potentially transform histopathological analysis by offering a more accurate and label-free alternative to conventional diagnostic processes.

The effect of dexamethasone and bupivacaine on postoperative pain and nausea and vomiting by preperitoneal nerve blocking in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized clinical trial

Background: This study aims to examine the effects of preperitoneal administration of dexamethasone and bupivacaine surrounding laparoscopic trocars on postoperative pain (POP) and nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Method: In this randomized triple-blinded trial with a 1:1 randomization ratio, 104 patients with chronic cholecystitis were candidates for elective LC. A total of 40 mg (8 ml) of bupivacaine was mixed with 8 mg (2 ml) of dexamethasone or normal saline. The solution was injected preperitoneally via an 18G needle parallel and lateral to trocars until a bulge in the interior surface of the parietal peritoneum was observed by the camera. Primary outcomes were severity of POP based on 0-10 Likert visual analog scale (VAS) and rates of PONV and secondary outcomes were rate of postoperative opioid usage and any side-effects. Result: The mean VAS score was significantly lower in the dexamethasone group (3.5 vs. 6.2, P&lt;0.001). The dexamethasone group had 46.2% and 26.9% lower rate of nausea and vomiting after LC compared to the other group (P=0.001 and 0.015, respectively). Postoperative opioid use was lower in the dexamethasone group, but its difference was insignificant (P=0.3). Conclusions: Preperitoneal dexamethasone injection around laparoscopic trocars may lower the intensity of POP and PONV rates. Perioperative local corticosteroids can be used as an effective, available, and inexpensive analgesic and antiemetic prevention for laparoscopic procedures.