Skougoode4827

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Accurate and fast vessel segmentation from liver slices remain challenging and important tasks for clinicians. The algorithms from the literature are slow and less accurate. We propose fast parallel gradient based seeded region growing for vessel segmentation. Seeded region growing is tedious when the inter connectivity between the elements is unavoidable. Parallelizing region growing algorithms are essential towards achieving real time performance for the overall process of accurate vessel segmentation. METHODS The parallel implementation of seeded region growing for vessel segmentation is iterative and hence time consuming process. Seeded region growing is implemented as kernel termination and relaunch on GPU due to its iterative mechanism. The iterative or recursive process in region growing is time consuming due to intermediate memory transfers between CPU and GPU. We propose persistent and grid-stride loop based parallel approach for region growing on GPU. We analyze static region of interest of tiles on GPU for the acceleration of seeded region growing. RESULTS We aim fast parallel gradient based seeded region growing for vessel segmentation from CT liver slices. The proposed parallel approach is 1.9x faster compared to the state-of-the-art. CONCLUSION We discuss gradient based seeded region growing and its parallel implementation on GPU. The proposed parallel seeded region growing is fast compared to kernel termination and relaunch and accurate in comparison to Chan-Vese and Snake model for vessel segmentation. V.Urethral caruncle is a benign fleshy outgrowth at the urethral meatus that occurs mainly at posterior lip of urethra and is most commonly seen in postmenopausal women. They are typically asymptomatic and are mostly reported as incidental findings during pelvic examination. When symptomatic, they commonly present with bleeding, haematuria, pain, dysuria or a lump. Despite being a recognised condition in medicine for more than two centuries, urethral caruncle is still a very poorly understood condition and the current literature is largely deficient to guide the general practitioners and gynaecologists in the appropriate management of the condition. The aim of the paper is to systematically review the current literature on the management options available for urethral caruncle and highlight the need for high quality research to develop better management strategies for this condition. We searched the following electronic databases from 1946 until January 2019 MEDLINE, EMBASE, COCHRANE and WEB OF SCIENCE. The search identified a total of 41 articles on the treatment of the condition in pre- and postmenopausal women, out of which only eight studies were relevant for our review. Most of these studies were retrospective case series or small cohort studies, mainly on the surgical treatment of the lesion. 4-Chloro-DL-phenylalanine price We found no systematic studies in the current literature on the conservative management of urethral caruncles. The most common method of surgical treatment encountered in these studies was simple excision. In conclusion, the current literature is largely deficient to guide us in the appropriate management of this common condition and there is need for more robust studies to develop evidence based management of this distressing condition that can guide the general practitioners and gynaecologists. OBJECTIVE Uterine transplantation is now considered a feasible treatment for women with absolute uterine factor infertility and has been successfully performed for a woman with Asherman's syndrome (AS). The endometrium is a clinically and histologically distinct entity from the surrounding myometrium. Endometrial transplantation (ETx) may offer a less invasive option, with less immunogenic impact, to restore fertility in women with severe AS. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of ETx by evaluating surgical and reproductive outcomes following endometrial autotransplantation in a rabbit model. STUDY DESIGN A longitudinal study assessing surgical, biochemical, radiological, reproductive and histological outcomes following endometrial autotransplantation in ten New Zealand white rabbits. RESULTS Ten procedures were performed, including 8 endometrial auto-transplants (ETx) and 2 endometrial resections (ER), to control against endometrial regeneration. Eight procedures were successful, wherea the first time, the feasibility of ETx with gross and microscopic evidence of viable endometrium, and the demonstration of clinical pregnancies. Whilst further studies are essential, and the achievement of successful livebirths fundamental, ETx may offer a potential fertility restoring opportunity for women with severe, treatment refractory cases of AS. OBJECTIVE Despite recent guidelines and the frequency of pediatric tracheostomy, surgical techniques and perioperative management are variable. We aim to describe the post-operative practice patterns following tracheostomy in children. METHODS An electronic cross-sectional survey was distributed to American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngologists (ASPO) members in academic and private practice settings. Responses were collected anonymously and analyzed by percentages of respondents who employ specific management strategies. Statistical analysis of response distributions performed using the Z test of proportions for binary questions and the Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test for questions with more than two options. For questions with ordered categorical responses, Cuzick's nonparametric test of trend was used. RESULTS One-hundred twenty-four responses were received (22.3%). Most respondents were fellowship trained and practiced in academic medical centers. A greater number of tracheostomies were performed by respondents practicing in the Midwest region (p = 0.042). There was no variability in the number of tracheostomies performed based on practitioner age, hospital setting, or fellowship training. The majority perform stoma maturation and/or stay suture techniques intraoperatively and send patients to the intensive care unit postoperatively. The routine use of postoperative paralysis was reported by a minority of respondents and 50% reported the use of sedation. There was a roughly-even distribution of respondents who reported postoperative immobilization, mobilization to a chair, and ambulation respectively. Routine; postoperative airway evaluations were reported by 35% of respondents. Clinic follow-up was; variable. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate ongoing variability in the postoperative management strategies following tracheostomy in children and highlight areas for further study.