LIRRN: Location-Independent Relative Radiometric Normalization of Bitemporal Remote-Sensing Images

Relative radiometric normalization (RRN) is a critical pre-processing step that enables accurate comparisons of multitemporal remote-sensing (RS) images through unsupervised change detection. Although existing RRN methods generally have promising results in most cases, their effectiveness depends on specific conditions, especially in scenarios with land cover/land use (LULC) in image pairs in different locations. These methods often overlook these complexities, potentially introducing biases to RRN results, mainly because of the use of spatially aligned pseudo-invariant features (PIFs) for modeling. To address this, we introduce a location-independent RRN (LIRRN) method in this study that can automatically identify non-spatially matched PIFs based on brightness characteristics. Additionally, as a fast and coregistration-free model, LIRRN complements keypoint-based RRN for more accurate results in applications where coregistration is crucial. The LIRRN process starts with segmenting reference and subject images into dark, gray, and bright zones using the multi-Otsu threshold technique. PIFs are then efficiently extracted from each zone using nearest-distance-based image content matching without any spatial constraints. These PIFs construct a linear model during subject-image calibration on a band-by-band basis. The performance evaluation involved tests on five registered/unregistered bitemporal satellite images, comparing results from three conventional methods: histogram matching (HM), blockwise KAZE, and keypoint-based RRN algorithms. Experimental results consistently demonstrated LIRRN's superior performance, particularly in handling unregistered datasets. LIRRN also exhibited faster execution times than blockwise KAZE and keypoint-based approaches while yielding results comparable to those of HM in estimating normalization coefficients. Combining LIRRN and keypoint-based RRN models resulted in even more accurate and reliable results, albeit with a slight lengthening of the computational time. To investigate and further develop LIRRN, its code, and some sample datasets are available at link in Data Availability Statement.

Magnetic stirring in syringe dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction as an effective method for preconcentration of tartrazine dye from food samples: A multivariate analysis approach

A new, rapid, simple, and sensitive preconcentration method and Spectrophotometry determination technique have been presented for the microextraction and determination of trace amount of Tartrazine dye in food samples. In the present system, which is called "Magnetic stirring in syring dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction"(MSIS- DLLME), a cloudy state result is formed in a homemade glass syringe by magnetic agitation. In the MSIS-DLLME system, Tartrazine colour was uprooted into an organic detergent (Toluene) after many twinkles. Subsequently, the organic detergent which was placed on top of the result was transferred into a narrow neck by moving the piston overhead. The effective parameters on the extraction recovery were studied and optimized by Central Composite design (CCD). Under the optimum conditions, the estimation cure is direct in the range of 0.1-1(μg L- 1). The limit of detection (LOD), relative standard divagation and enrichment factor were 0.03 μg L -1, ±4.6 (n = 10) and 166, independently. The advanced system was successfully applied for microextraction of Tartrazine in food samples.

Computed Tomography-Based Coronary Artery Calcium Score Calculation at a Reduced Tube Voltage Utilizing Iterative Reconstruction and Threshold Modification Techniques: A Feasibility Study

BACKGROUND

The coronary artery calcium score (CACS) indicates cardiovascular health. A concern in this regard is the ionizing radiation from computed tomography (CT). Recent studies have tried to introduce low-dose CT techniques to assess CACS. We aimed to investigate the accuracy of iterative reconstruction (IR) and threshold modification while applying low tube voltage in coronary artery calcium imaging.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 107 patients. Each subject underwent an electrocardiogram-gated CT twice, once with a standard voltage of 120 kVp and then a reduced voltage of 80 kVp. The standard filtered back projection (FBP) reconstruction was applied in both voltages. Considering Hounsfield unit (HU) thresholds other than 130 (150, 170, and 190), CACS was calculated using the FBP-reconstructed 80 kVp images. Moreover, the 80 kVp images were reconstructed utilizing IR at different strength levels. CACS was measured in each set of images. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to compare the CACSs.

RESULTS

A 64% reduction in the effective dose was observed in the 80 kVp protocol compared to the 120 kVp protocol. Excellent agreement existed between CACS at high-level (strength level = 5) IR in low-kVp images and the standard CACS protocol in scores ≥ 11 (ICC > 0.9 and p < 0.05). Increasing the threshold density to 190 HU in FBP-reconstructed low-kVp images yielded excellent agreement with the standard protocol in scores ≥ 11 (ICC > 0.9 and p < 0.05) and good agreement in score zero (ICC = 0.84 and p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

The modification of the density threshold and IR provides an accurate calculation of CACS in low-voltage CT with the potential to decrease patient radiation exposure.

Coronary artery involvement in a patient with IgG4-related disease

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a chronic fibro-inflammatory disorder of obscure etiology characterized by significant infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells toward several organs. Coronary artery involvement is rarely seen in IgG4-RD patients; thereby, we aim to outline the noninvasive imaging findings of this rare case. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) from a 15-year-old female diagnosed with IgG4-RD via histopathological assessment of orbital biopsy, were analyzed. CMR showed a severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and akinesia of the basal to mid-lateral, anterior, and septal walls. Inflammation of the basal to apical lateral wall and subendocardial infarction of the basal to apical lateral and mid inferoseptal walls were also evident. CCTA findings showed stenosis in branches of the left main artery (LM), left anterior descending artery (LAD), and right coronary artery (RCA), aortitis, and aortic wall thickening. After courses of proper treatment with prednisolone, Cellcept, and adalimumab, follow-up CMR showed significant improvement in LV systolic function and resolution of inflammation. Although IgG4-RD is an uncommon cause of coronary artery disease, it can cause lethal complications such as myocardial infarction. Hence, clinicians should be aware of cardiac complications in these patients.

Induction of resistance, enzyme activity, and phytochemicals in canola plants treated with abscisic acid elevated based on nutrient availability: a case study on Brevicoryne brassicae L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is one of the important pests of cruciferous plants throughout the world including Iran. In the present study, we grew cultivated canola plants under different fertilizers or distilled water and sprayed them with 100 µM abscisic acid (ABA) or a control solution (NaOH dissolved in water) to study (i) the antibiosis parameters of B. brassicae on these plants; (ii) the antixenosis of B. brassicae adults on these plants; (iii) the plant's peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity; and (iv) the plant's total phenolic and glucosinolate content. The results of antibiosis experiments showed that ABA and fertilizers have a profound and negative effect on the performance of B. brassicae. In the antixenosis experiment, control plants attracted a significantly higher number of adult females in comparison to treated plants. Also, B. brassicae had lower performance and preference when they were reared on the ABA-treated fertilized plants with higher levels of phenolic and glucosinolate content. These results prompted us to hypothesize that fertilizers enable canola plants to trigger a higher level of secondary metabolites. Our findings reveal that the type and level of nutrient availability may have different impacts on how the plant regulates its defense mechanisms.

Does Gadolinium Deposition Lead to Metabolite Alteration in the Dentate Nucleus? An MRS Study in Patients with MS

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Repeat contrast-enhanced MR imaging exposes patients with relapsing-remitting MS to frequent administration of gadolinium-based contrast agents. We aimed to investigate the potential metabolite and neurochemical alterations of visible gadolinium deposition on unenhanced T1WI in the dentate nucleus using MRS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective study was conducted in a referral university hospital from January 2020 to July 2021. The inclusion criteria for case and control groups were as follows: 1) case: patients with relapsing-remitting MS, visible gadolinium deposition in the dentate nucleus (ribbon sign), >5 contrast-enhanced MR images obtained; 2) control 1: patients with relapsing-remitting MS without visible gadolinium deposition in the dentate nucleus, >5 contrast-enhanced MR images obtained; 3) control 2: patients with relapsing-remitting MS without visible gadolinium deposition in the dentate nucleus, <5 contrast-enhanced-MR images obtained; and 4) control 3: adult healthy individuals, with no contrast-enhanced MR imaging. Dentate nucleus and pontine single-voxel 12 × 12 × 12 MRS were analyzed using short TEs.

RESULTS

Forty participants (10 per group; 27 [67.5%] female; mean age, 35.6 [SD, 9.6] years) were enrolled. We did not detect any significant alteration in the levels of NAA and choline between the studied groups. The mean concentrations of mIns were 2.7 (SD, 0.73) (case), 1.5 (SD, 0.8) (control 1), 2.4 (SD, 1.2) (control 2), and 1.7 (SD, 1.2) (control 3) (P = .04). The mean concentration of Cr and mIns (P = .04) and the relative metabolic concentration (dentate nucleus/pons) of lipid 1.3/Cr (P = .04) were significantly higher in the case-group than in healthy individuals (controls 1-3). Further analyses compared the case group with cumulative control 1 and 2 groups and showed a significant increase in lactate (P = .02), lactate/Cr (P = .04), and Cr (dentate nucleus/pons) (P = .03) in the case group.

CONCLUSIONS

Although elevated concentrations of Cr, lactate, mIns, and lipid in the dentate nucleus of the case group indicate a metabolic disturbance, NAA and choline levels were normal, implying no definite neuronal damage.

Auditory-verbal memory function of women during the menstruation and ovulation periods

Background and Aim: Auditory-verbal mem­ory (AVM) is the ability to learn, retain, and recall syllables and words. Memory has a strong relationship with the nervous and endocrine systems in humans. Changes in estrogen levels occur naturally at short (menstrual period) and long (pregnancy, menopause, and maturity) peri­ods. Changes in estrogen levels are likely to affect memory function. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hormone fluctuations on the AVM of women. Methods: This cross-sectional study with a pretest/posttest design was conducted on 25 women aged 40−49 years with normal hearing and normal menstrual cycles of 28 ± 4 days, who were selected using a convenience sampling method. They were evaluated using two Persian versions of Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). This test was performed twice and at two different menstrual periods (2-5 and 14−16 days). Results: A significant correlation was observed between the mean of total recall score, recall score after interference, and delayed recall score at two different periods (p < 0.01). The scores of women in three areas on days 14−16 of the menstrual cycle were higher than on days 2−5. Conclusion: Women’s RAVLT scores on days 14−16 of the menstrual cycle are higher than on days 2−5, indicating the effect of hormonal fluc­tuations on their AVM function. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the changes in women’s AVM in different days of the menstrual cycle. Keywords: Auditory-verbal working memory; Rey learning test; menstrual cycle  

Deep COVID DeteCT: an international experience on COVID-19 lung detection and prognosis using chest CT

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents open questions in how we clinically diagnose and assess disease course. Recently, chest computed tomography (CT) has shown utility for COVID-19 diagnosis. In this study, we developed Deep COVID DeteCT (DCD), a deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN) that uses the entire chest CT volume to automatically predict COVID-19 (COVID+) from non-COVID-19 (COVID-) pneumonia and normal controls. We discuss training strategies and differences in performance across 13 international institutions and 8 countries. The inclusion of non-China sites in training significantly improved classification performance with area under the curve (AUCs) and accuracies above 0.8 on most test sites. Furthermore, using available follow-up scans, we investigate methods to track patient disease course and predict prognosis.

Association between iron deposition in splenic,hepatic and myocardial tissues assessed by T2* relaxometry technique

BACKGROUND

Decreasing signal intensity of the spleen assessed by T2* MRI is a frequent finding in patients with beta-thalassemia due to iron deposition within the reticuloendothelial cells in this organ. This parameter can also be applied to determine the candidates for blood cell transfusion. However, the association between splenic siderosis and iron overload in other vital organs such as heart and liver remains unclear. The present study aimed to assess the correlation between iron deposition in splenic, hepatic and myocardial tissues by T2* relaxometry technique.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 39 consecutive patients with a definitive diagnosis of beta-thalassemia major who underwent spleen, liver and heart MRI examinations for iron deposition and cardiac function.

RESULTS

No significant correlation was found between the heart and splenic T2* relaxation time (R=0.206, P=0.357). We revealed a strong correlation between the splenic T2* relaxation time and hepatic calculated T2*s (R=0.515, P=0.014). The liver T2* values can be predicted from the splenic T2*s by a new linear equation. According to the ROC curve analysis, the splenic T2* could significantly, but moderately predict moderate to severe from mild liver iron excess (AUC=0.667).

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated a significant linear correlation between the splenic and hepatic T2* relaxation time, probably indicative of the same iron deposition mechanism, and made us available to write a linear model that would predict the deposited iron density in the spleen with the use of the magnetic resonance T2* values.

Direct and Indirect Effects of Behavioral Inhibition/Activation Systems on Depression and Current Suicidal Ideation Through Rumination and Self-Reflection

This study aimed to evaluate direct and indirect effects of the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and the behavioral activation system (BAS) on depression and current suicidal ideation through rumination and self-reflection in a sample of suicide attempters. Three hundred suicide attempters completed the Rumination/Reflection Questionnaire (RRQ), the Carver and White BIS/BAS scales, the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Results revealed that the BAS and BIS had direct effects on suicidal ideation but not depression. Low BAS had an indirect effect on depression through decreased self-reflection. High BIS had an indirect effect on depression via increased rumination. Low BAS and high BIS had indirect effects on suicidal ideation through decreased self-reflection. The findings suggest that low BAS and high BIS may be associated with depression and suicidal ideation in suicide attempters who have decreased self-reflection and increased rumination. Also, increasing self-reflection and reducing rumination as respectively adaptive and maladaptive self-focused attention strategies may prohibit depression and suicidal ideation.

The Comparison of Death Anxiety, Obsession, and Depression Between Muslim Population with Positive and Negative Religious Coping

Death anxiety, obsession, and depression constitute three dimensions of death distress which can be influenced by religious coping in religious individuals. The aim of this study was to compare death anxiety, depression, and obsession between Muslims with positive and negative religious coping. In a cross-sectional study, a sample of 339 participants were selected via stratified random sampling method. The participants were screened using the Brief Religious Coping Scale, in which 60 individuals were identified to have positive religious coping and 62 individuals were recognized as individuals with negative religious coping. They responded to Death Anxiety Scale, Death Obsession Scale, and Death Depression Scale. The data were analyzed using factor analysis and multiple analysis of variance. The results of principal component analysis showed that death anxiety, death obsession, and death depression were separate factors of death distress. The results also revealed that individuals with negative religious coping gained higher scores than those with positive religious coping in all the three variables of death anxiety, obsession, and depression. Consistent with the previous studies and Terror Management Theory, this finding lays emphasis on the role of positive religious coping in reducing death distress and the possible consequent psychopathology.

Childhood maltreatment, cognitive emotion regulation strategies, and alcohol craving and dependence in alcohol-dependent males: Direct and indirect pathways

OBJECTIVES

Childhood maltreatment (CM) and cognitive emotion regulation strategies (CERSs) may be important in alcohol craving and dependence in alcohol-dependent individuals. The aim of this study was to evaluate direct effects of CM on the subscales of alcohol craving and alcohol dependence and its indirect effects via CERSs in individuals with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional design, 329 alcohol-dependent males completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-Short version (CERQ-Short), the Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS), the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II).

RESULTS

Participants with alcohol dependence had early age of onset of alcohol use (mean = 20.78 years), relatively long duration of alcohol use (mean = 11.14 years), and low education (mean = 9.55 years). Indirect effects were observed from CM to the subscales of alcohol craving and dependence only through maladaptive CERSs after adjusting for demographic and clinical factors. No direct effect was observed through CM on the subscales of alcohol craving and dependence.

CONCLUSIONS

Although drawing causal conclusions from the current research is impossible, the findings suggest that maladaptive CERSs may be a possible mechanism relating CM to alcohol craving and dependence in treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent individuals, while adaptive CERSs may be less important regarding this relation. However, the findings of the current study need longitudinal research.

Effects of childhood emotional maltreatment on depressive symptoms through emotion dysregulation in treatment-seeking patients with heroin-dependence

BACKGROUND

Although individuals who experience childhood emotional maltreatment (CEM) are more likely to use maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, resulting in vulnerability to depression, no research has examined whether emotion dysregulation may explain the association between CEM and current depressive symptoms in a clinical sample of heroin-dependent individuals.

OBJECTIVES

The current study aimed to assess the direct effect of CEM on current depressive symptoms and its indirect effect via emotion dysregulation in a treatment-seeking sample of males with heroin dependence. In a cross-sectional design, participants (N = 350) completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Obsessive-Compulsive Drug Use Scale (OCDUS), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II).

RESULTS

Emotional abuse and neglect severity had significant direct effects on current depressive symptoms and significant indirect effects through emotion dysregulation after controlling for clinical factors related to heroin use.

LIMITATIONS

Study limitations include the cross-sectional design and use of self-report scales.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest emotion dysregulation may increase depressive symptoms in heroin users who experienced CEM. Training in emotion regulation strategies may decrease depressive symptoms in heroin-dependent individuals with CEM. Additional research with a longitudinal design to confirm these results is warranted.

Coronary CT Angiography and Dual-Energy Computed Tomography in Ischemic Heart Disease Suspected Patients

BACKGROUND

Advanced computed tomography (CT) scanners enable concurrent assessment of coronary artery anatomy and myocardial perfusion. The purpose of this study was to assess dual-energy CT images in a group of patients suspected for ischemic heart disease and to evaluate agreement of cardiac computed tomography perfusion (CTP) images with CT angiography results in a single dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) acquisition.

METHODS

Thirty patients (mean age: 53.8 ± 12.9 years, 60% male) with angina pectoris or atypical chest pain, suspected for ischemic heart disease, were investigated using a 384-row detector CT scanner in dual-energy mode (DECT). Firstly, resting CTP images were acquired, and then from the same raw data, computed tomography angiography (CTA) studies were reconstructed for stenosis detection. CT-based dipyridamole-stress myocardial perfusion imaging was then performed in patients who exhibited coronary stenosis >50% or had myocardial bridge (MB). A color-coded iodine map was used for evaluation of myocardial perfusion defects using the 17-segment model. Two independent blinded readers analyzed all images for stenosis and myocardial perfusion defects. Different myocardial iodine content (mg/mL) was calculated by parametric tests. The kappa agreement was calculated between results of two methods in cardiac scans.

RESULTS

All 30 CT angiograms were evaluated and assessment ability was 100% for combined CTA/CTP. According to the combined CT examination, 17 patients (56.7%) exhibited significant coronary stenosis and/or deep MB (DMB). A total of 510 myocardial segments and 90 vascular territories were analyzed. Coronary CTA demonstrated significant stenosis in 22 vessels (24.4% of all main coronary arteries) among 12 patients (40%), DMB in 6 vessels (6.7% of all main coronary arteries) in 17 out of 30 patients (56.7%). Twenty-eight out of 90 vascular territories (31.1%) and 41 out of 510 segments (8%) showed reversible perfusion defects on stress DECT. Kappa agreement between CTA and CTP results in whole heart was 0.79 (95% confidence interval=0.57-1). There were significant differences in mean iodine concentration between ischemic (0.59 ± 0.07 mg/mL) and normal segments (2.2 ± 0.15) with P < 0.001.

CONCLUSION

Agreement of CTA and CTP in whole heart and in LAD considering DMB and significant CAD together were good to excellent; however, considering sole pathologies, most of the agreements were weak (<0.5). DECT with iodine quantification may provide a valuable method in comparison with previous methods for identifying both coronary stenosis and myocardial ischemia.

Childhood trauma and the likelihood of increased suicidal risk in schizophrenia

The aims of the present study were to investigate the dimensions of childhood trauma (CT) in patients with schizophrenia, and to predict suicidal risk (e.g., current suicidal ideation and lifetime suicide attempts) by CT dimensions and clinical factors (positive and negative symptoms and depression). Eighty-two inpatients with schizophrenia completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI); they were also administered the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).The presence of lifetime suicide attempts was assessed by structured diagnostic clinical interview. Patients with lifetime suicide attempts scored higher on sexual abuse than those without attempts after controlling for depression severity. Patients with high suicidal risk had higher scores on physical neglect than those without high risk after controlling for depression severity. Patients with high CT had higher scores on negative and positive symptoms, current suicidal ideation, and depression than those with low CT. Logistic regression analyses indicated that sexual abuse was a unique predictor of lifetime suicide attempts, and that physical neglect and depression were unique predictors of current suicidal ideation. These findings indicate that patients with schizophrenia who have experienced CT may be at increased risk for suicide.

A Hybrid Multilayer Filtering Approach for Thyroid Nodule Segmentation on Ultrasound Images

OBJECTIVES

Speckle noise is the main factor that degrades ultrasound image contrast and segmentation failure. Determining an effective filter can reduce speckle noise and improve segmentation performances. The aim of this study was to define a useful filter to improve the segmentation outcome.

METHODS

Twelve filters, including median, hybrid median (Hmed), Fourier Butterworth, Fourier ideal, wavelet (Wlet), homomorphic Fourier Butterworth, homomorphic Fourier ideal, homomorphic wavelet (Hmp_Wlet), frost, anisotropic diffusion, probabilistic patch-based (PPB), and homogeneous area filters, were used to find the best filter(s) to prepare thyroid nodule segmentation. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used for filter evaluation in the nodule segmentation process. Accordingly, 10 morphologic parameters were measured from segmented regions to find the best parameters that predict the segmentation performance.

RESULTS

The best segmentation performance was reached by using 4 hybrid filters that mainly contain contrast-limited adaptive histogram equalization, Wlet, Hmed, Hmp_Wlet, and PPB filters. The area under the ROC curve for these filters ranged from 0.900 to 0.943 in comparison with the original image, with an area under the curve of 0.685. From 10 morphologic parameters, the area, convex area, equivalent diameter, solidity, and extent can evaluate segmentation performance.

CONCLUSIONS

Hybrid filters that contain contrast-limited adaptive histogram equalization, Wlet, Hmed, Hmp_Wlet, and PPB filters have a high potential to provide good conditions for thyroid nodule segmentation in ultrasound images. In addition to an ROC analysis, morphometry of a segmented region can be used to evaluate segmentation performances.

Validation of the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS) in Iranian adolescents

BACKGROUND

The main purpose of the current study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS) in Iranian adolescents.

METHODS

A number of 805 high school and freshman students answered the HPS, the Hypomania scale of the MMPI-2, the Borderline Traits Questionnaire (STB) and the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief. Data were analysed using explanatory factor analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient as well as independent t-test.

RESULTS

Principal component analysis led to the extraction of two factors namely mood volatility/excitement and social vitality. Convergent validity coefficients were equal to 0.71, 0.57 and 0.74 for the total scale, mood volatility/excitement and social vitality subscales respectively. Test-retest reliability of the total scale and its subscales were equal to 0.61, 0.67 and 0.57 respectively. Internal consistency and the split-half reliability of the total scale and the two subscales showed the same coefficients. The results showed that the female group gained higher scores on the total scale and the social vitality subscale.

DISCUSSION

The results supported the multi-dimensional structure and psychometric properties of the HPS among Iranian adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study confirm the use of HPS as a valid scale in investigating hypomanic characteristics, particularly among Iranian adolescents. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

CAD system based on B-mode and color Doppler sonographic features may predict if a thyroid nodule is hot or cold

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate if the analysis of sonographic parameters could predict if a thyroid nodule was hot or cold.

METHODS

Overall, 102 thyroid nodules, including 51 hyperfunctioning (hot) and 51 hypofunctioning (cold) nodules, were evaluated in this study. Twelve sonographic features (i.e., seven B-mode and five Doppler features) were extracted for each nodule type. The isthmus thickness, nodule volume, echogenicity, margin, internal component, microcalcification, and halo sign features were obtained in the B-mode, while the vascularity pattern, resistive index (RI), peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, and peak systolic/end diastolic velocity ratio (SDR) were determined, based on Doppler ultrasounds. All significant features were incorporated in the computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system to classify hot and cold nodules.

RESULTS

Among all sonographic features, only isthmus thickness, nodule volume, echogenicity, RI, and SDR were significantly different between hot and cold nodules. Based on these features in the training dataset, the CAD system could classify hot and cold nodules with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.898. Also, in the test dataset, hot and cold nodules were classified with an AUC of 0.833.

CONCLUSIONS

2D sonographic features could differentiate hot and cold thyroid nodules. The CAD system showed a great potential to achieve it automatically.

KEY POINTS

• Cold nodules represent higher volume (p = 0.005), isthmus thickness (p = 0.035), RI (p = 0.020), and SDR (p = 0.044) and appear hypoechogenic (p = 0.010) in US. • Nodule volume with an AUC of 0.685 and resistive index with an AUC of 0.628 showed the highest classification potential among all B-mode and Doppler features respectively. • The proposed CAD system could distinguish hot nodules from cold ones with an AUC of 0.833 (sensitivity 90.00%, specificity 70.00%, accuracy 80.00%, PPV 87.50%, and NPV 75.00%).

Early maladaptive schemas in patients with schizophrenia and non-patients with high and low schizotypal traits and their differences based on depression severity

BACKGROUND

The aims of this study were to predict positive and negative symptoms of psychosis via early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) in patients with schizophrenia (SZ); to compare EMSs among SZ patients, non-patients with high schizotypal traits, and non-patients with low schizotypal traits; and to compare EMSs among subgroups concerning depression severity.

METHODS

We applied three groups of participants including SZ patients (n = 105), non-patients with low schizotypal traits (n = 90), and non-patients with high schizotypal traits (n = 90). Participants completed the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Schizotypal Personality Scale (STA), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II).

RESULTS

The results indicated that the mistrust/abuse and social isolation schemas were significant predictors of positive and negative symptoms in SZ patients respectively. SZ patients and non-patients with high schizotypal traits exceeded non-patients with low schizotypal traits on all EMSs. There were no differences between SZ patients and non-patients with high schizotypal traits regarding EMSs. In the subgroups with high depression, SZ patients showed higher levels of EMSs than non-patients with low and high schizotypal traits. In the subgroups with low depression, both SZ patients and non-patients with high schizotypal traits had higher scores on EMSs than non-patients with low schizotypal traits.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that mistrust/abuse and social isolation may be specific to psychosis symptoms. Also, SZ and schizotypal traits may overlap in relation to EMSs. In addition, the activated EMSs may contribute to high depression in SZ.

Early maladaptive schemas and suicidal risk in inpatients with bipolar disorder

The present study aimed to assess the associations of early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) and clinical factors (hypomanic/manic and depressive symptoms) with suicidal risk (current suicidal ideation and lifetime suicide attempts) in inpatients with bipolar disorder (BD). One hundred inpatients with BD completed the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF), the Bipolar Depression Rating Scale (BDRS), the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI). 59% of patients had lifetime suicide attempts and 59% showed high suicidal risk (BSSI ≥ 6). BD patients with lifetime suicide attempts had higher scores on the entitlement and social isolation schemas, depression, and hypomanic/manic symptoms than those without such attempts. Patients with high suicidal risk had higher levels of depressive and hypomanic/manic symptoms as well as some EMSs than those without high suicidal risk. Logistic regression analyses revealed that hypomanic/manic symptoms as well as the entitlement and defectiveness schemas were significantly associated with current suicidal ideation. Also, the entitlement and social isolation schemas were associated with lifetime suicide attempts. These results suggest that the entitlement, social isolation, and defectiveness schemas may relate to suicidal risk in patients with BD.

Assessing the Relation of Epicardial Fat Thickness and Volume, Quantified by 256-Slice Computed Tomography Scan, With Coronary Artery Disease and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the association between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as cardiovascular risk factors.

METHODS

Complete medical records of subjects were reviewed and cardiovascular risk factors were recorded. Epicardial fat volume (EFV) and epicardial fat thickness (EFT) were measured using digital volumetry of acquired images using a 256-slice CT-scanner. Calcium score was measured using Agatston method in non-contrast images. After contrast administration, bolus-tract images were obtained. Coronary arteries were assessed using reconstructed images in arterial phase of contrast-enhanced images. EFV and EFT measurements were compared to computed tomography angiography (CTA) findings of coronary arteries.

RESULTS

A total of 269 patients (Mean age: 55.5 ± 12.1, 44% female) were included. Higher means of EFT and EFV were associated with coronary artery stenosis. However, the correlation coefficients of the arterial stenosis with EFT and EFV were weak. EFV and EFT had a significant association with age (P < 0.001, P < 0.001 respectively), body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001, P < 0.001 respectively) and hypertension (P < 0.016, P < 0.003 respectively). Diabetes mellitus (DM) and hyperlipidemia were not significantly associated with EFV (P = 0.069 and 0.639 respectively) and EFT (P = 0.103 and 0.366 respectively). EFV and EFT showed a weak correlation coefficient with calcium scoring (Spearman correlation coefficients: 0.26 and 0.22 respectively, both P < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression models considering coronary stenosis as dependent variable and EFV, EFT and other CAD risk factors as independent variables, EFV and EFT did not show significant P values and were omitted from the model by other CAD risk factors.

CONCLUSION

Increased EFV and EFT are associated with CAD, age, BMI and hypertension. However, no remarkable association was found between them and calcium score, hyperlipidemia or DM. These variables could weakly predict CAD in univariate models but they are not independent predictive factors for CAD in multivariate models consisting of other CAD risk factors. Hence, EFT and EFV are not independent predictors for CADs when they are considered simultaneously with other CAD risk factors.

Predictive quantitative sonographic features on classification of hot and cold thyroid nodules

PURPOSE

This study investigated the potentiality of ultrasound imaging to classify hot and cold thyroid nodules on the basis of textural and morphological analysis.

METHODS

In this research, 42 hypo (hot) and 42 hyper-function (cold) thyroid nodules were evaluated through the proposed method of computer aided diagnosis (CAD) system. To discover the difference between hot and cold nodules, 49 sonographic features (9 morphological, 40 textural) were extracted. A support vector machine classifier was utilized for the classification of LNs based on their extracted features.

RESULTS

In the training set data, a combination of morphological and textural features represented the best performance with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.992. Upon testing the data set, the proposed model could classify the hot and cold thyroid nodules with an AUC of 0.948.

CONCLUSIONS

CAD method based on textural and morphological features is capable of distinguishing between hot from cold nodules via 2-Dimensional sonography. Therefore, it can be used as a supplementary technique in daily clinical practices to improve the radiologists' understanding of conventional ultrasound imaging for nodules characterization.

Antibacterial, antibiofilm and antiquorum sensing effects of Thymus daenensis and Satureja hortensis essential oils against Staphylococcus aureus isolates

AIMS

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Thymus daenensis and Satureja hortensis essential oils (EOs) on the planktonic growth, biofilm formation and quorum sensing (QS) of some Staphylococcus aureus isolates (strong biofilm producers).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the EOs, inhibition of biofilm formation as well as disruption of preformed Staph. aureus biofilms were assessed. The antibiofilm activity of the EOs was determined using microtitre plate test (MtP) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The QS inhibitory activity was also examined on the pregrown biofilms by gene expression analysis using quantitative real-time RT-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of hld gene (RNAIII transcript). Moreover, tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay (MTT) was performed to detect cytotoxic effects of these EOs on the Vero cell line. Finally, the major components of the tested EOs were determined using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The MICs of T. daenensis and S. hortensis EOs against planktonic cells of the isolates were 0·0625 and 0·125 μl ml^-1 respectively. The minimum bactericidal concentrations for both of the EOs was 0·125 μl ml^-1 . The MtP test showed a significant inhibitory effect of the EOs on the biofilm formation and disruption at sub-MIC concentrations. These results were confirmed by SEM. Real-time PCR revealed a significant down-regulation of hld gene following treatment with MIC/2 concentration of S. hortensis EO. GC-MS analysis showed that carvacrol, terpinene and thymol were the major components of the applied EOs.

CONCLUSIONS

As selected EOs did not show significant cytotoxic effects even up to tenfold of MIC concentration, the applied EOs seem to be good candidates for preventing of biofilm formation of Staph. aureus cells.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The present study introduced T. daenensis and S. hortensis EOs as new antibiofilm, and S. hortensis EO as anti-QS herbal agents with natural origin against Staph. aureus.

Diagnostic Efficacy of Coronary Artery Three-Dimensional Steady-State Free Precession Magnetic Resonance Angiography in Comparison with Invasive Coronary Angiography for Detecting Coronary Artery Disease

PURPOSE

To assess the diagnostic value of three-dimensional steady-state free precession magnetic resonance angiography (3D-SSFP MRA) for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients suspected of CAD based on clinical evaluation, underwent invasive coronary angiography (CAG) and Cardiac MRA (CMRA). Collected data in favor of any CAD findings in CMRA were compared to CAG results as the standard diagnostic method in CAD detection. Analysis was performed on per-patient, per-vessel and per-segment bases.

RESULTS

A total of 30 patients (mean age: 43 ± 10 years, 19 men) were enrolled for analysis. On per-patient analysis, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and area under receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve of CMRA for detection of coronary artery stenosis were 100% (CI95%: 75% - 100%), 50% (CI95%: 18% - 81%), 73.33% (CI95%: 46% - 90%), 100% (CI95%: 47% - 100%) and 0.827, respectively. On per-vessel analysis, CMRA had a sensitivity of 89.29% (CI95%: 71%-97%), specificity of 80.56% (CI95%: 63% - 91%), PPV of 78.13% (CI95%: 60% - 90%), NPV of 90.63% (CI95%: 74% - 98%) and area under ROC curve of 0.845. On per-segment analysis, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of CMRA for segmental stenosis detection were 77.78% (CI95%: 60% - 89%), 87% (CI95%: 81% - 92%), 62% (CI95%: 46% - 76%), and 93.89% (CI95%:  88% - 97%), respectively. Area under ROC curve was 0.835 on per-segment analysis.

CONCLUSION

3D SSFP CMRA provides a promising non-invasive diagnostic tool for assessing coronary artery disease.

Molecular analysis of the bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine strain currently being used in Iran

BACKGROUND

In developing countries, tuberculosis (TB) infection control remains a challenge. The bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is the only effective vaccine available for TB control. Iran uses a local BCG vaccine strain with an unknown substrain.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the molecular characteristics of the current BCG strain being used in Iran using comparative genomics of the evolutionarily late strains, including BCG vaccines Pasteur, BCG-Danish, BCG-Glaxo, BCG-Prague, BCG-Frappier, BCG-Connaught and BCG-Moreau.

METHODS

A total of 67 different vials of BCG vaccine were cultured. DNA was extracted using the modified cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) method, and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to determine four target genomic regions of difference (RD) 1, RD8, RD16 and SenX3-RegX3, and to see whether RD2 and RD14 were present.

RESULTS

Our results showed that all studied batches were Mycobacterium bovis; molecular analysis revealed that the Iranian vaccine strains possess RD8, RD16 and SenX3-RegX3 regions but not RD1, RD2 and RD14. All of the vaccine batches analysed were compatible with BCG-Pasteur 1173p2, the original strain.

CONCLUSION

All of the BCG strains studied were recognised as the BCG-Pasteur 1173p2 strain. No genetic diversity among stocks and ready-for-use vaccine vials were detected.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Dual-Source Computerized Tomography Coronary Angiography in Symptomatic Patients Presenting to a Referral Cardiovascular Center During Daily Clinical Practice

Background

There are numerous studies that address the diagnostic value of dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) as an alternative to conventional coronary angiography (CCA). However, the benefit of application of DSCT in a real world clinical setting should be evaluated.

Objectives

To determine the diagnostic accuracy of DSCT technique compared with CCA as the gold standard method in detection of coronary artery stenosis among symptomatic patients who are presented to a referral cardiovascular center during daily clinical practice.

Patients and Methods

Evaluating the medical records of a tertiary care referral cardiovascular center, 47 patients who had undergone DSCT and CCA, and also met the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study were selected. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and likelihood ratios (LRs) of the DSCT imaging technique were calculated.

Results

In total, 97.8% of the segments (628/642) could be visualized with diagnostic image quality via DSCT coronary angiography. The mean heart rate during DSCT was 69.2 ± 12.2 bpm (range: 39 - 83 bpm), and the mean Agatston score was 507.7 ± 590.5 (range: 0 - 2328). Per segment analysis of the findings revealed that the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, positive LR (PLR) and negative LR (NLR) of DSCT technique for evaluation of patients with coronary artery disease were 93.7%, 96.8%, 92.7%, 97.2%, 29.4, and 0.066, respectively. Also per vessel, analysis of the findings showed a sensitivity of 97.1%, a specificity of 94.0%, PPV of 95.3%, NPV of 96.3%, PLR of 16.1, and NLR of 0.030.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that DSCT coronary angiography provides high diagnostic accuracy for the evaluation of CAD patients during daily routine practice of a referral cardiovascular setting.

Thymectomy for Myasthenia Gravis: Prognostic Factors in 70 Patients

Thymectomy has become increasingly accepted as an efficacious procedure for myasthenia gravis, with high rates of complete clinical remission. Predictors of the response to thymectomy for myasthenia gravis vary in the literature. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 70 patients (63% female; mean age, 38 years) diagnosed with myasthenia gravis from August 1993 to August 2004, to determine the factors predicting outcome. Complications occurred in 20%, but there was no hospital mortality. Complete clinical remission was obtained postoperatively in 47%. Our results indicate that patients with less than 1 year's duration of disease have a better prognosis, and Osserman stages I, IIa, and IIb are also associated with higher clinical remission rates. Female patients have a better prognosis than males, and the younger the patient the better the outcome. Thymectomy is indicated for myasthenia gravis as early as possible in the course of the disease.

Comparison of Perfectionism and Related Positive-Negative Dimension in People With High Traits on Obsessive Compulsive and Eating Disorder Characteristics

BACKGROUND

Psychopathological perfectionism is often correlated with obsessive compulsive eating disorders.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to investigate perfectionism in people with high traits of obsessive compulsive and eating disorder characteristics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was an expo fact research. The statistical population of the research comprised of male and female undergraduate students at Tabriz and Sarab branches of Payam- e- Noor University, Tabriz Islamic University and Azarbaijan Shahid Madani university in the academic year 2012 - 2013. A group of 640 university students, using the stratified random sampling method were screened by the obsessive compulsive inventory and the eating attitude test, then a group of 143 participants with high obsessive compulsive traits with another 137 participants with high eating disorder characteristics were selected and assessed with the Perfectionism Inventory. Data were analyzed using one way analysis of variance.

RESULTS

The results showed that perfectionism and related negative dimension are more commonly found in people with high obsessive-compulsive traits than eating disorder characteristics (P < 0.02). The results showed the highest contribution of maladaptive perfectionism in predicting obsessive-compulsive features and pathological eating attitude. Also, no difference was found between the two groups in terms of negative perfectionism.

CONCLUSIONS

The greater association of perfectionism with symptoms of obsessive-compulsive is consistent with its phenomenological feature. Fear of failure may motivate the behavioral components of perfectionism that aim to focus on careful checking, reassurance seeking and excessive consideration before making a decision.

Identification and determination of the fatty acid composition of Quercus brantii growing in southwestern Iran by GC-MS

This article reports the fatty acid composition of the oil extracts from Quercus brantii fruits growing in Kohgiloye va Boyer Ahmad province in southwestern Iran. The oil from Q. brantii fruits was extracted with hexane in Soxhlet apparatus and subsequently identified and determined by using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The results revealed that the major fatty acids were oleic acid (52.99-66.14%), linoleic acid (10.80-11.11%), palmitic acid (8.08-10.06%), stearic acid (0.74-1.57%), α-linolenic acid (0.19-0.35%), erucic acid (0.12-0.15%) and arachidic acid (0.12-0.13%). The total proportion of unsaturated and saturated oil was 64.60-77.27% and 9.17-11.75%, respectively. Results indicate that the fruits of Q. brantii contained 0.19-0.35% omega-3, 10.92-14.77% omega-6 and 53.14-66.26% omega-9. Therefore, Q. brantii can be introduced as rich sources of fatty acid in food dietary and medical health.

Determination of trace elements in soil, leaves and fruits of Quercus brantii grown in southwestern Iran by atomic spectroscopy

Quercus brantii acorn is rich of some useful mineral elements such as K, Fe and Zn. The content of these mineral elements in Quercus are dependent on their region and environmental conditions. Q. brantii grown naturally in different regions of Iran especially in Kohgiloye va Boyer Ahmad province (southwestern of Iran). In this study total concentration of Fe, Zn and K elements were determined using atomic absorption and emission spectroscopy in fruits, leaves of Q. brantii and also in the soils where this plant was grown. Statistical evaluation (ANOVA test) was employed for all measurements. Results confirmed that the concentration of elements in fruit and leave depended on area which the plant is growth. The transport factor of elements was also considered.