Nygaardgustafson3642
In breast imaging applications, cadmium telluride (CdTe) photon counting x-ray detectors (PCDs) may reduce radiation dose and enable single-shot multi-energy x-ray imaging. The purpose of this work is to determine the upper limits of the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of CdTe PCDs for x-ray mammography and to compare them with the published DQEs of energy-integrating detectors (EIDs) and other PCDs.
We calibrated and validated a Monte Carlo (MC) model of the DQE of CdTe PCDs using an XCounter CdTe PCD. Our model accounted for charge sharing, electronic noise, and charge summation logic. We used a 28 kVp Mo/Mo spectrum hardened by 3.9cm of Lucite to optimize the detector thickness and energy threshold for pixel sizes of 50, 85, and 100
μ
m with and without inter-pixel charge summation logic. The figure of merit used for optimization was the integral of the DQE, which is equivalent to the detectability index for a delta function task function, which represents a high-frequency task.
For rection, and (b) superior to slot-scanning silicon-strip PCDs in the scan direction.
(1) CdTe PCDs have the potential to provide a zero-frequency DQE equal to that of a-Se EIDs and slot-scanning silicon-strip PCDs, but this will require electronic noise levels ∼0.5 keV per pixel. (2) At mid-to-high spatial frequencies the DQE of CdTe PCDs may be (a) inferior to that of a-Se EIDs and slot-scanning silicon-strip PCDs in the slit direction, and (b) superior to slot-scanning silicon-strip PCDs in the scan direction.The treatments available for disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) have been limited and have variable efficacy. We report the largest case series to date of the use of Grenz ray therapy in 17 patients with DSAP. There was at least 50% improvement in DSAP lesions in all cases. Erythema, itching and burning were common side effects of Grenz ray therapy. We believe that Grenz ray therapy may be an effective treatment option for patients with DSAP.Myoepithelioma-like tumours of the vulvar region (MELTVR) are a newly described group of spindle cell neoplasm. Morphologically, they consist of epithelioid to spindled cells in a myxoid to collagenous stroma and can resemble epithelioid sarcomas, myoepithelial carcinomas or extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcomas. However, they have a distinct pattern of immunohistochemical staining characterised by positivity for EMA, ER, PR and negativity for cytokeratin, GFAP and S100. Nuclear staining for INI-1 is lost. In addition, they lack the characteristic gene arrangements of these other lesions. MELTVR can recur locally when incompletely excised, however, do not appear to metastasize. We report a case of a MELTVR in a 49-year-old woman arising in the right mons pubis.A 57-year-old woman presenting an acquired and persisting palmoplantar keratoderma associated with primary biliary cholangitis is reported. Treatment with oral ursodeoxycholic acid was prescribed, and a complete and persistent resolution of skin lesions was noted. This observation seems to support that acquired palmoplantar keratoderma is an uncommon cutaneous manifestation of primary biliary cholangitis.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of risk factors that increases the likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases. Although suggested, the relationship between MetS and prostate cancer (PCa) is still inconclusive. click here Very few studies have addressed this question in populations of African descent, which are disproportionately affected by PCa. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of MetS among incident cases of Afro-Caribbean PCa and estimate its association with adverse clinicopathological features and the risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP).
We included 285 consecutive patients with incident cases of PCa attending the University Hospital of Guadeloupe (French West Indies). MetS was evaluated at the time of diagnosis by collecting information on blood pressure, glycaemic status, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and obesity through various surrogates, including two waist circumference indicators (≤94 cm, ≥102 cm), the waist-to-hip ratio clarify the association, if any, between MetS and PCa outcomes.
To establish the epidemiological, clinical, pathological and genetic characteristics of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) in New Zealand (NZ).
Participants were recruited through the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of New Zealand (DEBRA NZ). Dedicated EB nurse medical records, Genetic Health Service NZ (GHSNZ) records and, where available, public hospital records were manually reviewed for relevant clinical data.
Ninety-two participants took part in the study (56% participation rate). Forty-nine (53%) participants had EB simplex (EBS), 40 (43%) had dystrophic EB (DEB), and 3 (3%) had junctional EB (JEB). Point prevalence for EB of all types was 19.5 per million, and 10.4, 8.6 and 0.9 per million for EBS, DEB and JEB, respectively. Thirty-four participants had intermediate or severe EB. There were 29 paediatric cases and almost even numbers of males and females. Compared to NZ European and Māori, prevalence rates were lower for Pacific and Asian people and higher in the Middle Eastern/Latimmunity in NZ.
Appendicitis remains a difficult disease to diagnose, and imaging adjuncts are commonly employed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging test that can be used to diagnose appendicitis. It is not commonly regarded as a first-line imaging test for appendicitis, but the reported diagnostic accuracy in some studies is equivalent to computed tomography (CT) scans. As it does not expose patients to radiation, it is an attractive imaging modality, particularly in women and children.
The primary objective was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of MRI for detecting appendicitis in all patients. Secondary objectives To investigate the accuracy of MRI in subgroups of pregnant women, children, and adults. To investigate the potential influence of MRI scanning variables such as sequences, slice thickness, or field of view.
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, and Embase until February 2021. We searched the references of included studies and other systematic revthan others.Microbiota can both negatively and positively impact radiation-induced bone loss. Our prior research showed that compared to mice with conventional gut microbiota (CM), mice with restricted gut microbiota (RM) reduced inflammatory tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in bone marrow, interleukin (IL)-17 in blood, and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 20 (CCL20) in bone marrow under anti-IL-17 treatment. We showed that Muribaculum intestinale was more abundant in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) from the small intestine of female RM mice and positively associated with augmented skeletal bone structure. Female C57BL/6J pun RM mice, which were injected with anti-IL-17 antibody one day before exposure to 1.5 Gy 28Si ions of 850 MeV/u, showed high trabecular numbers in tibiae at 6 weeks postirradiation. Irradiated CM mice were investigated for lower interferon-γ and IL-17 levels in the small intestine than RM mice. IL-17 blockage resulted in bacterial indicator phylotypes being different between both microbiota groups before aation with conditions of treatment and disease as well as mechanisms of systemic side-effects in radiotherapy.Genetic variants within the fibrinogen Aa-chain encoding the aC-region commonly result in hypodysfibrinogenemia in patients. However, the (patho)physiological consequences and underlying mechanisms of such mutations remain undefined. Here, we generated Fga270 mice carrying a premature termination codon within the Fga gene at residue 271. The Fga270 mutation was compatible with Mendelian inheritance for offspring of heterozygous crosses. Adult Fga270/270 mice were hypofibrinogenemic with ~10% plasma fibrinogen levels relative to FgaWT/WTmice, linked to 90% reduction in hepatic Fga mRNA due to nonsense-mediated decay of the mutant mRNA. Fga270/270 mice had preserved hemostatic potential in vitro and in vivo in models of tail bleeding and laser-induced saphenous vein injury, while Fga-/- mice had continuous bleeding. Platelets from FgaWT/WTandFga270/270 mice displayed comparable initial aggregation following ADP stimulation, but Fga270/270 platelets quickly disaggregated. Despite ~10% plasma fibrinogen, the fibrinogen level in Fga270/270 platelets was ~30% of FgaWT/WT platelets with a compensatory increase in fibronectin. Notably, Fga270/270 mice showed complete protection from thrombosis in the inferior vena cava stasis model. In a model of Staphylococcus aureus peritonitis, Fga270/270 mice supported local, fibrinogen-mediated bacterial clearance and host survival comparable to FgaWT/WT, unlike Fga-/- mice. Decreasing the normal fibrinogen levels to ~10% with siRNA in mice also provided significant protection from venous thrombosis without compromising hemostatic potential and antimicrobial function. These findings both reveal novel molecular mechanisms underpinning fibrinogen aC-region truncation mutations and highlight the concept that selective fibrinogen reduction may be efficacious for limiting thrombosis while preserving hemostatic and immune protective functions.Development of the Drosophila visceral muscle depends on Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (Alk) receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling, which specifies founder cells (FCs) in the circular visceral mesoderm (VM). Although Alk activation by its ligand Jelly Belly (Jeb) is well characterized, few target molecules have been identified. Here, we used targeted DamID (TaDa) to identify Alk targets in embryos overexpressing Jeb versus embryos with abrogated Alk activity, revealing differentially expressed genes, including the Snail/Scratch family transcription factor Kahuli (Kah). We confirmed Kah mRNA and protein expression in the VM, and identified midgut constriction defects in Kah mutants similar to those of pointed (pnt). ChIP and RNA-Seq data analysis defined a Kah target-binding site similar to that of Snail, and identified a set of common target genes putatively regulated by Kah and Pnt during midgut constriction. Taken together, we report a rich dataset of Alk-responsive loci in the embryonic VM and functionally characterize the role of Kah in the regulation of embryonic midgut morphogenesis.Platelet α-granules regulate hemostasis and myriad other physiological processes, but their biogenesis is unclear. Mutations in only 3 proteins are known to cause α-granule defects and bleeding disorders in humans. Two such proteins, VPS16B and VPS33B, form a complex mediating transport of newly synthesized α-granule proteins through megakaryocyte (MK) endosomal compartments. It is unclear how the VPS16B/VPS33B complex accomplishes this function. Here we report VPS16B/VPS33B associates physically with Syntaxin 12 (Stx12), a SNARE protein that mediates vesicle fusion at endosomes. Importantly, Stx12-deficient MKs display reduced α-granule numbers and overall levels of α-granule proteins, thus revealing Stx12 as a new component of the α-granule biogenesis machinery. VPS16B/VPS33B also binds CCDC22, a component of the CCC complex working at endosome exit sites. CCDC22 competes with Stx12 for binding to VPS16B/VPS33B, suggesting a possible hand-off mechanism. Moreover, the major CCC form expressed in MKs contains COMMD3, one of 10 COMMD proteins.
