Visual Assessment Research Articles

Welfare Status in Dairy Cows during Confined and Grazing Periods in the North American Pacific Northwest using Blood Parameters and Visual Assessments

ABSTRACT Grazing is usually associated with higher well-being in dairy cows. However, current research on the welfare of grazing cows lacks validation via blood profiling. We monitored four dairy farms that seasonally graze in the temperate North American Pacific Northwest, USA, to address this gap. We collected blood and hair samples and scored the animals for welfare-related visual evaluations during the dry period and early and late lactation stages during the confined and grazing periods. Over 20 blood parameters were analyzed, plus cortisol in the tail hair as a stress indicator. Blood profiling indicated that cows during the grazing period had a more stable metabolism across the stages of lactation, a more robust immune system, and slightly greater inflammation than during the confined period. The amount of cortisol in the hair was lower in cows during the grazing vs. confined period. Only a few direct animal measurements were affected, including a better body condition and cleanliness score compared to the confined period. Overall, our data indicate better welfare conditions in cows during the grazing period compared to the confined period.

Quantifying the perceptual translucency of the objects by spectrophotometric and imaging methods.

This study investigated the performance of various spectrophotometric methods in predicting visually perceived translucency and evaluated the efficiency of imaging techniques in quantifying translucency. We conducted the visual assessment in two stages using the pair comparison method. In the first stage, pairs of samples with identical colors but differing levels of translucency were compared. In the second stage, we compared pairs of samples with different colors but almost identical translucency. In the first stage, spectrophotometric methods exhibited high Pearson correlation coefficients, ranging from 0.96 to 0.99, with visual perceptions, demonstrating their accuracy in estimating translucency. Examination samples of different colors also revealed that among spectrophotometric methods, L*, absorption, and contrast ratio, with Pearson correlation coefficients of approximately 0.96, 0.96, and 0.98, respectively, had the strongest correlations with perceptual data. Using imaging techniques, the best result was obtained by comparing the lightness of the sample image on a black background to the same value on a white background, yielding a Pearson correlation coefficient of approximately 0.87. Additionally, we employed imaging-based methods for predicting translucency in real 3-D objects with simple shapes and limited colors. Despite the limitations, these methods produced promising results.

Biomarkers in Atopic Dermatitis: A Review of the Role of IL-13 and the Impact of Tralokinumab Treatment.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease that can significantly affect quality of life. Presence, severity, and therapeutic response of AD are traditionally reported through clinical assessments including the Eczema Area and Severity Index or Investigator's Global Assessment. These clinical rating scales are visual assessments used in clinical trials to denotate AD severity. Alternatively, biomarkers open the potential to further enhance diagnosis of AD, assess disease status and severity, and potentially enable tailored treatment options for patients. Biomarkers can be classified according to their clinical use, clinical presentation, and underlying/endogenous molecular mechanisms. Specifically, interleukin (IL)-13, which has been shown to be a key biomarker in AD pathogenesis, can be used for prediction of AD development and to monitor clinical severity/response to treatment. Treatment with tralokinumab, a human monoclonal antibody that binds directly to-and subsequently blocks signaling of-IL-13, has been shown to reduce inflammation, re-balance the skin microbiome, and improve the skin barrier in patients with AD. In this review, key AD-related biomarkers, the role of IL-13 in driving AD pathogenesis, and the impact of IL-13 inhibition by tralokinumab on other AD-related biomarkers are discussed.

Hardy-Rand-Rittler colour vision testing in cone and cone-rod dystrophies: correlation with structural and functional outcome measures.

To determine how Hardy-Rand-Rittler (HRR) colour vision testing correlates with visual functional and structural assessments in Cone and Cone-Rod Dystrophy. Thirty-four Cone and 69 Cone-Rod Dystrophy patients diagnosed by electroretinography (ERG) at the Save Sight Institute in Sydney were included in a retrospective analysis. Each patient's HRR colour vision test scores were compared with markers of cone and rod system function including visual acuity (VA), ERG responses, changes on Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Fundus Autofluorescence. The number of plates identified on HRR testing correlated with logMAR best-corrected distance VA; r(101) = -0.49, p < 0.0001. HRR scores correlated with markers of cone and macula function including OCT Ellipsoid Zone Gap Width, Central Macular and Outer Nuclear Layer Thickness, Full Field ERG 30 Hz flicker amplitudes, light adapted 3.0 b-wave amplitudes and Pattern ERG 15- and 30-degree p50 amplitudes. HRR colour vision testing correlates with structural and functional measures in Cone and Cone-Rod Dystrophy. HRR colour vision testing provides a simple clinic-based option to monitor disease changes in Cone and Cone-Rod Dystrophy patients, especially when ERG testing is not available.

A Study of Combined Onabotulinumtoxin A and Hyaluronic Acid Filler for the Treatment of Enlarged Facial Pores

Introduction: Enlarged facial pores are a common cosmetic concern caused by excessive sebum production, visible hair shafts, and a reduction in skin elasticity, leading to a decrease in skin quality and overall appearance. Various treatment modalities have been explored to address this issue. This study focuses on the efficacy and safety of combining Onabotulinumtoxin A (OnaBoNT-A) and hyaluronic acid filler (HA filler) to target enlarged facial pores in Asians. Materials and Methods: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of OnaBoNT-A monotherapy in combination with HA filler for the treatment of enlarged facial pores. This study was a prospective, randomized, single-blinded, split-face, controlled trial that enrolled 32 subjects with visibly enlarged pores on both cheeks. One side of the face received intradermal injections of OnaBoNT-A, while the other side received OnaBoNT-A in combination with intradermal hyaluronic acid filler injection. The outcomes were measured by pore volume, visual assessment, pain score, improvement score, and side effects at various time intervals up to 24 weeks. Results: This study investigated the effects of onaBoNT-A monotherapy or in combination with HA filler on facial pore size and skin roughness. The results showed that both sides exhibited a reduction in pore volume and skin roughness over time, but the side treated with onaBoNT-A monotherapy had a slightly better improvement than the combination side at the 6-month follow-up. Subjects with histories of facial oiliness were more likely to respond to onaBoNT-A monotherapy, while those without histories of facial oiliness were more likely to respond to the side treated with combined treatment. The most common adverse events were erythema, bruising, and edema, which were more frequent on the combination side. Additionally, 18 subjects (56.25%) experienced a palpable lump on the combination side, which resolved in most cases within a few months. Conclusion: BoNT-A and HA dermal filler had a role in reducing pore size. Nonetheless, individuals with enlarged pores who exhibited beneficial effects to botulinum toxin injection typically had a background of facial oiliness. Adverse incidents like dermal edema and palpable nodules were observed, underscoring the significance of meticulous patient selection and accurate injection technique.

Correlation between serum levels of fibroblast growth factor-21 and the severity of migraine headache in patients undergoing sodium valproate treatment

Background: Mitochondrial metabolism disruption increases neuron excitability and reduces migraine attack threshold. This study investigates whether serum fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) levels in chronic migraine relate to headache severity and response to sodium valproate treatment. Methods: This pilot study involved 30 patients with chronic migraine treated with sodium valproate. Serum FGF-21 levels were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment. Pain severity and disability were evaluated using visual analogue scale (VAS) and Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS). Paired t-test was used for the quantitative variables. The qualitative variables were evaluated using Pearson’s chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test. Moreover, correlation coefficients were calculated. A P &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean age of the patients was 42.9 ± 11.3 years. There was a significant reduction in headache severity between baseline and the end of the study regarding VAS scores (8.50 ± 1.50 vs. 5.30 ± 2.20, P &lt; 0.001). The same reduction was observed in MIDAS during the study (61.20 ± 33.20 vs. 20.31 ± 17.07, P &lt; 0.001). However, there was no significant changes in serum levels of FGF-21 over three months (299.53 ± 479.80 vs. 491.33 ± 456.64, P = 0.810), nor any relationship between these levels and headache severity scores (MIDAS: P = 0.658, VAS: P = 0.708). Conclusion: The results of this study did not show a significant correlation between FGF-21 serum levels and changes in VAS and MIDAS throughout the study. Further research on various mitochondrial pathways can provide valuable insights into the migraine pathophysiology and help identify more effective biomarkers for monitoring therapeutic regimens.

Leveraging descriptor learning and functional map-based shape matching for automated anatomical Landmarking in mouse mandibles.

Geometric morphometrics is used in the biological sciences to quantify morphological traits. However, the need for manual landmark placement hampers scalability, which is both time-consuming, labor-intensive, and open to human error. The selected landmarks embody a specific hypothesis regarding the critical geometry relevant to the biological question. Any adjustment to this hypothesis necessitates acquiring a new set of landmarks or revising them significantly, which can be impractical for large datasets. There is a pressing need for more efficient and flexible methods for landmark placement that can adapt to different hypotheses without requiring extensive human effort. This study investigates the precision and accuracy of landmarks derived from functional correspondences obtained through the functional map framework of geometry processing. We utilize a deep functional map network to learn shape descriptors, which enable us to achieve functional map-based and point-to-point correspondences between specimens in our dataset. Our methodology involves automating the landmarking process by interrogating these maps to identify corresponding landmarks, using manually placed landmarks from the entire dataset as a reference. We apply our method to a dataset of rodent mandibles and compare its performance to MALPACA's, a standard tool for automatic landmark placement. Our model demonstrates a speed improvement compared to MALPACA while maintaining a competitive level of accuracy. Although MALPACA typically shows the lowest RMSE, our models perform comparably well, particularly with smaller training datasets, indicating strong generalizability. Visual assessments confirm the precision of our automated landmark placements, with deviations consistently falling within an acceptable range for MALPACA estimates. Our results underscore the potential of unsupervised learning models in anatomical landmark placement, presenting a practical and efficient alternative to traditional methods. Our approach saves significant time and effort and provides the flexibility to adapt to different hypotheses about critical geometrical features without the need for manual re-acquisition of landmarks. This advancement can significantly enhance the scalability and applicability of geometric morphometrics, making it more feasible for large datasets and diverse biological studies.

Using Transorbital Sonography for Assessing Traumatic Brain Injury in Patients With Periorbital Hematoma.

The aim of this study is to assess the comparative effectiveness of transorbital sonography (TOS) and the pupillary penlight visual assessment method in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and periorbital hematoma. A total of 140 patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were selected from a tertiary hospital in Zhejiang Province between January 2022 and December 2023. Pupillary function in all patients was assessed using both TOS and the pupillary penlight visual assessment method on the first, third, and seventh day after admission. The stability and consistency of the measurement results were compared. Stability was determined using the coefficient of variation, whereas consistency was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient. The coefficients of variation for the pupillary transverse diameter values measured by TOS were 29.84% (left) and 29.55% (right) on day 1, 27.81% (left) and 26.88% (right) on day 3, and 26.80% (left) and 25.51% (right) on day 7. These values were consistently lower than those obtained through the pupillary penlight visual assessment method, indicating superior stability with the TOS measurement. In addition, the intraclass correlation coefficient analysis demonstrated consistency between the 2 methods, with values ranging from 0.562 to 0.809 (P<0.05), indicating good consistency. TOS represents an innovative tool for neurological assessment. It has been validated that the presence or absence of eyelid edema does not compromise the accuracy of ultrasound-based pupillary function measurements. The 2 methods of measurement exhibit good consistency, with the TOS method demonstrating superior stability in monitoring data. This approach provides a more accurate means of assessing pupillary function in patients with TBI who have periorbital hematoma or facial swelling, particularly when opening the eyelid is challenging, thereby addressing a significant clinical nursing challenge.

Randomized Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Versus Transurethral Resection for Staging New Bladder Cancers: Results From the Prospective BladderPath Trial.

Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is the initial staging procedure for new bladder cancers (BCs). For muscle-invasive bladder cancers (MIBCs), TURBT may delay definitive treatment. We investigated whether definitive treatment can be expedited for MIBC using flexible cystoscopic biopsy and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for initial staging. We conducted a prospective open-label, randomized study conducted within 17 UK hospitals (registered as ISRCTN 35296862). Participants with suspected new BC were randomly assigned 1:1 to TURBT-staged or mpMRI-staged care, with minimization factors of sex, age, and clinician visual assessment of stage. Blinding was not possible. Patients unable/unwilling to undergo mpMRI or with previous BC were ineligible. The study had two stages with separate primary outcomes of feasibility and time to correct treatment (TTCT) for MIBC, respectively. Between May 31, 2018, and December 31, 2021, 638 patients were screened, and 143 participants randomly assigned to TURBT (n = 72; 55 males, 15 MIBCs) or initial mpMRI (n = 71; 53 males, 14 MIBCs). For feasibility, 36 of 39 (92% [95% CI, 79 to 98]) participants with suspected MIBC underwent mpMRI. The median TTCT for participants with MIBC was significantly shorter with initial mpMRI (n = 12, 53 days [95% CI, 20 to 89] v n = 14, 98 days [95% CI, 72 to 125] for TURBT, log-rank P .02). There was no detriment for participants with non-MIBC (median TTCT: n = 30, 17 days [95% CI, 8 to 25] for mpMRI v n = 28, 14 days [95% CI, 10 to 29] for TURBT, log-rank P = .67). No serious adverse events were reported. The mpMRI-directed pathway led to a 45-day reduction in TTCT for MIBC. Incorporating mpMRI ahead of TURBT into the standard pathway was beneficial for all patients with suspected MIBC.

Off‐the‐shelf image analysis models outperform human visual assessment in identifying genes controlling seed color variation in sorghum

AbstractSeed color is a complex phenotype linked to both the impact of grains on human health and consumer acceptance of new crop varieties. Today, seed color is often quantified via qualitative human assessment or biochemical assays for specific colored metabolites. Imaging‐based approaches have the potential to be more quantitative than human scoring while being lower cost than biochemical assays. We assessed the feasibility of employing image analysis tools trained on rice (Oryza sativa) or wheat (Triticum aestivum) seeds to quantify seed color in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) using a dataset of 1,500 images. Quantitative measurements of seed color from images were substantially more consistent across biological replicates than human assessment. Genome‐wide association studies conducted using color phenotypes for 682 sorghum genotypes identified more signals near known seed color genes in sorghum with stronger support than manually scored seed color for the same experiment. Previously unreported genomic intervals linked to variation in seed color in our study co‐localized with a gene encoding an enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway leading to anthocyanins, tannins, and phlobaphenes—colored metabolites in sorghum seeds—and with the sorghum ortholog of a transcription factor shown to regulate several enzymes in the same pathway in rice. The cross‐species transferability of image analysis tools, without the retraining, may aid efforts to develop higher value and health‐promoting crop varieties in sorghum and other specialty and orphan grain crops.

18F-FAPI-42 PET/CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT in Patients with Malignant Digestive System Neoplasms: A Head-to-Head Comparative Study.

Radionuclide-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) is an emerging tumor tracer. We sought to assess the uptake and diagnostic performance of 18F-FAPI-42 PET/CT compared with simultaneous 2-deoxy-2[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT in primary and metastatic lesions in patients with malignant digestive system neoplasms and to determine the potential clinical benefit. Forty-two patients (men = 30, women = 12, mean age = 56.71 ± 13.26years) who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT and 18F-FAPI-42 PET/CT simultaneously for diagnosis, staging, and restaging were enrolled. Quantitative data, including standardized uptake value (SUV), tumor-to-liver ratio (TLR), and tumor-to-blood pool ratio (TBR), were analyzed. Two independent readers performed a visual assessment of lesion number and location on PET/CT images. Interobserver agreement between two examinations was calculated using Cohen's kappa (κ). Primary tumor locations included the liver (n = 20), stomach (n = 9), pancreas (n = 5), and intestine (n = 10). More intense 18F-FAPI-42 uptake and higher tumor-to-background contrast were detected in most primary and metastatic lesions compared with 18F-FDG, contributing to improved diagnostic accuracy ranging from 95.24% to 100%. Moreover, additional lesions showing 18F-FAPI-42 uptake in primary, locoregional and distant metastatic lesions were visualized, especially in multiple liver and peritoneal metastases. Patient-based interobserver agreement varied from moderate to strong, with suboptimal outcomes observed in primary tumors (κ = 0.441, P = 0.01) and preferable results derived from metastatic liver and bone lesions (κ = 1 and 0.896, both P < 0.01). 18F-FAPI-42 PET/CT resulted in modified treatment strategies for 40.48% (17/42) of patients, while 18F-FDG PET/CT led to altered therapeutic regimens in only 4.8% (2/42) of patients. In selected patients with malignant digestive system neoplasms, our study shows that 18F-FAPI-42 PET/CT is a promising alternative for assessing primary tumors and metastases and aiding staging, restaging, and decision-making, with higher uptake and better lesion visualization compared with 18F-FDG. Additionally, it may shed light into the treatment selection and response assessment for FAP-targeted therapy or immunotherapy.

The textures of sarcoidosis: quantifying lung disease through variograms

Objective. Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease affecting the lungs in over 90% of patients. Qualitative assessment of chest CT by radiologists is standard clinical practice and reliable quantification of disease from CT would support ongoing efforts to identify sarcoidosis phenotypes. Standard imaging feature engineering techniques such as radiomics suffer from extreme sensitivity to image acquisition and processing, potentially impeding generalizability of research to clinical populations. In this work, we instead investigate approaches to engineering variogram-based features with the intent to identify a robust, generalizable pipeline for image quantification in the study of sarcoidosis.Approach. For a cohort of more than 300 individuals with sarcoidosis, we investigated 24 feature engineering pipelines differing by decisions for image registration to a template lung, empirical and model variogram estimation methods, and feature harmonization for CT scanner model, and subsequently 48 sets of phenotypes produced through unsupervised clustering. We then assessed sensitivity of engineered features, phenotypes produced through unsupervised clustering, and sarcoidosis disease signal strength to pipeline.Main results. We found that variogram features had low to mild association with scanner model and associations were reduced by image registration. For each feature type, features were also typically robust to all pipeline decisions except image registration. Strength of disease signal as measured by association with pulmonary function testing and some radiologist visual assessments was strong (optimistic AUC ≈ 0.9,p≪0.0001in models for architectural distortion, conglomerate mass, fibrotic abnormality, and traction bronchiectasis) and fairly consistent across engineering approaches regardless of registration and harmonization for CT scanner.Significance. Variogram-based features appear to be a suitable approach to image quantification in support of generalizable research in pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Generation of high-resolution MPRAGE-like images from 3D head MRI localizer (AutoAlign Head) images using a deep learning-based model.

Magnetization prepared rapid gradient echo (MPRAGE) is a useful three-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted sequence, but is not a priority in routine brain examinations. We hypothesized that converting 3D MRI localizer (AutoAlign Head) images to MPRAGE-like images with deep learning (DL) would be beneficial for diagnosing and researching dementia and neurodegenerative diseases. We aimed to establish and evaluate a DL-based model for generating MPRAGE-like images from MRI localizers. Brain MRI examinations including MPRAGE taken at a single institution for investigation of mild cognitive impairment, dementia and epilepsy between January 2020 and December 2022 were included retrospectively. Images taken in 2020 or 2021 were assigned to training and validation datasets, and images from 2022 were used for the test dataset. Using the training and validation set, we determined one model using visual evaluation by radiologists with reference to image quality metrics of peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity index measure (SSIM), and Learned Perceptual Image Patch Similarity (LPIPS). The test dataset was evaluated by visual assessment and quality metrics. Voxel-based morphometric analysis was also performed, and we evaluated Dice score and volume differences between generated and original images of major structures were calculated as absolute symmetrized percent change. Training, validation, and test datasets comprised 340 patients (mean age, 56.1 ± 24.4years; 195 women), 36 patients (67.3 ± 18.3years, 20 women), and 193 patients (59.5 ± 24.4years; 111 women), respectively. The test dataset showed: PSNR, 35.4 ± 4.91; SSIM, 0.871 ± 0.058; and LPIPS 0.045 ± 0.017. No overfitting was observed. Dice scores for the segmentation of main structures ranged from 0.788 (left amygdala) to 0.926 (left ventricle). Quadratic weighted Cohen kappa values of visual score for medial temporal lobe between original and generated images were 0.80-0.88. Images generated using our DL-based model can be used for post-processing and visual evaluation of medial temporal lobe atrophy.

Microbial Biodegradation of Synthetic Polyethylene and Polyurethane Polymers by Pedospheric Microbes: Towards Sustainable Environmental Management

This study attempted to isolate and identify pedospheric microbes originating in dumpsites and utilized them for the degradation of selected synthetic polymers for the first time in a cost-effective, ecologically favorable and sustainable manner. Specifically, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyurethane (PUR) were converted by the isolated fungi, i.e., Aspergillus flavus, A terreus, A. clavatus, A. nigers and bacterial coccus and filamentous microbes and assessed in a biotransformative assay under simulated conditions. Commendable biodegradative potentials were exhibited by the isolated microbes against polymers that were analyzed over a span of 30 days. Among the selected fungal microbes, the highest activity was achieved by A. niger, expressing 55% and 40% conversion of LDPE and PUR, respectively. In the case of bacterial strains, 50% and 40% conversion of LDPE and PUR degradation was achieved by coccus. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were utilized to analyze the degradative patterns in terms of vibrational and thermal characteristics, and stereomicroscopic analysis was performed for the visual assessment of morphological variations. Profound structural transformations were detected in FT-IR spectra and TGA thermograms for the selected microbes. Stereomicroscopic analysis was also indicative of the remarkable transformation of the surface morphology of these polymers after degradation by microbes in comparison to the reference samples not treated with any pedospheric microbes. The results are supportive of the utilization of the selected pedospheric microbes as environmental remediators for the cleanup of persistent polymeric toxins. This current work can be further extended for the successful optimization of further augmented percentages by using other pedospheric microbes for the successful adoption of these biotechnological tools at a practical level.

Visualizing Preosteoarthritis: Updates on UTE-Based Compositional MRI and Deep Learning Algorithms.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is heterogeneous and involves structural changes in the whole joint, such as cartilage, meniscus/labrum, ligaments, and tendons, mainly with short T2 relaxation times. Detecting OA before the onset of irreversible changes is crucial for early proactive management and limit growing disease burden. The more recent advanced quantitative imaging techniques and deep learning (DL) algorithms in musculoskeletal imaging have shown great potential for visualizing "pre-OA." In this review, we first focus on ultrashort echo time-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques for direct visualization as well as quantitative morphological and compositional assessment of both short- and long-T2 musculoskeletal tissues, and second explore how DL revolutionize the way of MRI analysis (eg, automatic tissue segmentation and extraction of quantitative image biomarkers) and the classification, prediction, and management of OA. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Detecting osteoarthritis (OA) before the onset of irreversible changes is crucial for early proactive management. OA is heterogeneous and involves structural changes in the whole joint, such as cartilage, meniscus/labrum, ligaments, and tendons, mainly with short T2 relaxation times. Ultrashort echo time-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in particular, enables direct visualization and quantitative compositional assessment of short-T2 tissues. Deep learning is revolutionizing the way of MRI analysis (eg, automatic tissue segmentation and extraction of quantitative image biomarkers) and the detection, classification, and prediction of disease. They together have made further advances toward identification of imaging biomarkers/features for pre-OA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Automated stenosis estimation of coronary angiographies using end-to-end learning.

The initial evaluation of stenosis during coronary angiography is typically performed by visual assessment. Visual assessment has limited accuracy compared to fractional flow reserve and quantitative coronary angiography, which are more time-consuming and costly. Applying deep learning might yield a faster and more accurate stenosis assessment. We developed a deep learning model to classify cine loops into left or right coronary artery (LCA/RCA) or "other". Data were obtained by manual annotation. Using these classifications, cine loops before revascularization were identified and curated automatically. Separate deep learning models for LCA and RCA were developed to estimate stenosis using these identified cine loops. From a cohort of 19,414 patients and 332,582 cine loops, we identified cine loops for 13,480 patients for model development and 5056 for internal testing. External testing was conducted using automated identified cine loops from 608 patients. For identification of significant stenosis (visual assessment of diameter stenosis > 70%), our model obtained a receiver operator characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (ROC-AUC) of 0.903 (95% CI: 0.900-0.906) on the internal test. The performance was evaluated on the external test set against visual assessment, 3D quantitative coronary angiography, and fractional flow reserve (≤ 0.80), obtaining ROC AUC values of 0.833 (95% CI: 0.814-0.852), 0.798 (95% CI: 0.741-0.842), and 0.780 (95% CI: 0.743-0.817), respectively. The deep-learning-based stenosis estimation models showed promising results for predicting stenosis. Compared to previous work, our approach demonstrates performance increase, includes all 16 segments, does not exclude revascularized patients, is externally tested, and is simpler using fewer steps.

In vivo efficacy of a stabilized Vitamin C-based serum at pH 6 on some ageing facial signs of women of different ages and phototypes.

To assess, clinically and instrumentally, the efficacy of a stabilized 12% Vitamin C (VC)-based serum (pH 6) on skin photoageing of women of various age and phototype. Eighty women, with Phototypes I to VI, of various age (45-70y) living in Mauritius, participated in an open, uncontrolled study. After a two-week period of washout, they applied the Vitamin C-based serum twice a day for 2 months onto their whole face as well as a hydrating cream every evening to ensure a comparable skin hydration level in all subjects. At set time intervals (D0, D immediate, D14, D28 and D56), a local dermatologist graded eight facial signs by visual or tactile assessments, using a 0-9 structured scale. At each time interval, the facial skin was imaged by standardized technique (Colorface™) and through echography (Dermascan™) to record its thickness and density. Skin elasticity was recorded by a the Cutometer® device under a controlled suctional stress. A questionnaire was filled out by all subjects recording their self-assessments of the serum's effects and several organoleptic properties. Compared with the baseline values (D0), the skin of all subjects showed progressive and significant changes in glow, tone evenness, radiance, firmness, softness and smoothness, associated with a reduction in fine lines. Deep wrinkles, only observed on 26 subjects, were found to be reduced. Self-assessments corresponded well with both clinical and instrumental results and indicated excellent skin tolerance. Ultrasound recordings exhibited significantly thicker and denser skin at D56. If certain changes in some skin facial signs (skin tone and related items, firmness, sagging…) are linked to the high concentration of VC, a complementary impact of increased skin hydration remains possible due to the glycerol present in the serum and hydrating cream. These significant performance results invivo showed that a very acidic medium (∼pH 3) is not a prerequisite to an efficient VC cosmetic formula, as has long been accepted in the cosmetics industry. Such a low pH can fragilize the skin equilibrium over time. As second originality, the studied formula seemed to fit all phototypes.

Repeatability of AI-based, automatic measurement of vertebral and cardiovascular imaging biomarkers in low-dose chest CT: the ImaLife cohort.

To evaluate the repeatability of AI-based automatic measurement of vertebral and cardiovascular markers on low-dose chest CT. We included participants of the population-based Imaging in Lifelines (ImaLife) study with low-dose chest CT at baseline and 3-4 month follow-up. An AI system (AI-Rad Companion chest CT prototype) performed automatic segmentation and quantification of vertebral height and density, aortic diameters, heart volume (cardiac chambers plus pericardial fat), and coronary artery calcium volume (CACV). A trained researcher visually checked segmentation accuracy. We evaluated the repeatability of adequate AI-based measurements at baseline and repeat scan using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), relative differences, and change in CACV risk categorization, assuming no physiological change. Overall, 632 participants (63 ± 11 years; 56.6% men) underwent short-term repeat CT (mean interval, 3.9 ± 1.8 months). Visual assessment showed adequate segmentation in both baseline and repeat scan for 98.7% of vertebral measurements, 80.1-99.4% of aortic measurements (except for the sinotubular junction (65.2%)), and 86.0% of CACV. For heart volume, 53.5% of segmentations were adequate at baseline and repeat scans. ICC for adequately segmented cases showed excellent agreement for all biomarkers (ICC > 0.9). Relative difference between baseline and repeat measurements was < 4% for vertebral and aortic measurements, 7.5% for heart volume, and 28.5% for CACV. There was high concordance in CACV risk categorization (81.2%). In low-dose chest CT, segmentation accuracy of AI-based software was high for vertebral, aortic, and CACV evaluation and relatively low for heart volume. There was excellent repeatability of vertebral and aortic measurements and high concordance in overall CACV risk categorization. Question Can AI algorithms for opportunistic screening in chest CT obtain an accurate and repeatable result when applied to multiple CT scans of the same participant? Findings Vertebral and aortic analysis showed accurate segmentation and excellent repeatability; coronary calcium segmentation was generally accurate but showed modest repeatability due to a non-electrocardiogram-triggered protocol. Clinical relevance Opportunistic screening for diseases outside the primary purpose of the CT scan is time-consuming. AI allows automated vertebral, aortic, and coronary artery calcium (CAC) assessment, with highly repeatable outcomes of vertebral and aortic biomarkers and high concordance in overall CAC categorization.

Theoretical Foundations and Methodological Frameworks for Visual Quality Assessment in Cultural Landscapes

Theoretical Foundations and Methodological Frameworks for Visual Quality Assessment in Cultural Landscapes

The combined manifestations of dramatically sore throat, congested and edematous mucosa, no-swelling tonsil are specific in acute Omicron pharyngitis

ObjectiveTo identify specific clinical signs of Omicron pharyngitis infection.MethodsA clinical cross-sectional retrospective study was designed to analyze the primary symptoms of pharyngitis in outpatients seeking treatment for sore throat. Pharyngeal congestion, mucosal edema, were measured using a visual analogue assessment score (0–10) while the presence of ulcers, no-tonsil-swelling, no-tonsil-exudate. They were recorded as "yes" or "no "as two-Categorical data by two senior clinicians, respectively. Significant clinical signs were selected and combined to form a diagnostic panel using SPSS software to differentiate between Omicron pharyngitis and other sore throat cases. The efficiency of the panel was calculated.ResultsA total of 39 sore throat patients were included in the study, including 15 confirmed cases of Omicron pharyngitis through nuclear acid or Sars-Cov-2 virus antigen testing, and 24 cases of common pharyngitis caused by other pathogens. Mucosal congestion and edema were identified as the most significant symptoms and consolidated into a single working group. When combined with the third significant symptom of no-tonsil-swelling, the three-sign-combined diagnostic panel was found to have a high diagnostic efficiency. Mucosal congestion and edema were the most significant signs. When mucosal congestion and edema were consolidated into a single working panel, the cut-off values were determined to be 7.5 and 1, respectively. When combined with the third significant symptom no-tonsil-swelling, the three-sign diagnostic panel was found to have a high diagnostic efficiency. When compared with the gold standard measurement of Sars-Cov-2 virus antigen or nucleic acid, the diagnostic panel has a sensitivity of 66.7% and a specificity of 91.7%.ConclusionA combination of three signs may be a useful diagnostic tool for Omicron pharyngitis. Clinical signs of dramatic mucosal congestion and edema, non-swollen tonsils are the characteristics of Omicron pharyngitis.