Ion Beam Analysis (IBA) utilizing MeV ion beams provides valuable insights into surface elemental composition across the entire periodic table. While ion beam measurements have advanced towards high throughput for mapping applications, data analysis has lagged behind due to the challenges posed by large volumes of data and multiple detectors providing diverse analytical information. Traditional physics-based fitting algorithms for these spectra can be time-consuming and prone to local minima traps, often taking days or weeks to complete.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases risk of dysplasia and colorectal cancer. Advanced endoscopic techniques allow for the detection and characterization of IBD dysplastic lesions, but specialized training is not widely available. We aimed to develop and validate an online training platform to improve the detection and characterization of colonic lesions in IBD: OPtical diagnosis Training to Improve dysplasia Characterization in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (OPTIC-IBD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe present an R-package for predictive modelling, CARRoT (Cross-validation, Accuracy, Regression, Rule of Ten). CARRoT is a tool for initial exploratory analysis of the data, which performs exhaustive search for a regression model yielding the best predictive power with heuristic 'rules of thumb' and expert knowledge as regularization parameters. It uses multiple hold-outs in order to internally validate the model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOn the path to full understanding of the structure-function relationship or even design of RNA, structure prediction would offer an intriguing complement to experimental efforts. Any deep learning on RNA structure, however, is hampered by the sparsity of labeled training data. Utilizing the limited data available, we here focus on predicting spatial adjacencies ("contact maps") as a proxy for 3D structure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground & Aims: Microscopic inflammation has significant prognostic value in ulcerative colitis (UC); however, its assessment is complex with high interobserver variability. We aimed to develop and validate an artificial intelligence (AI) computer-aided diagnosis system to evaluate UC biopsies and predict prognosis.
Methods: A total of 535 digitalized biopsies (273 patients) were graded according to the PICaSSO Histologic Remission Index (PHRI), Robarts, and Nancy Histological Index.
Background: Endoscopic and histological remission (ER, HR) are therapeutic targets in ulcerative colitis (UC). Virtual chromoendoscopy (VCE) improves endoscopic assessment and the prediction of histology; however, interobserver variability limits standardized endoscopic assessment. We aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to distinguish ER/activity, and predict histology and risk of flare from white-light endoscopy (WLE) and VCE videos.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComput Methods Programs Biomed
September 2022
Background And Objective: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affecting the colon and the rectum characterized by a remitting-relapsing course. To detect mucosal inflammation associated with UC, histology is considered the most stringent criteria. In turn, histologic remission (HR) correlates with improved clinical outcomes and has been recently recognized as a desirable treatment target.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aims: A composite endoscopic-histologic remission is increasingly explored as an important endpoint in ulcerative colitis (UC). We investigated combined endoscopic-histologic remission for predicting clinical outcomes at 12 months compared with endoscopic remission alone using the high definition virtual chromoendoscopy (VCE) Paddington International virtual ChromoendoScopy ScOre (PICaSSO) and histology scores.
Methods: Ulcerative colitis patients, prospectively enrolled from 11 international centres, underwent VCE with targeted biopsies and followed up for 12 months.
Background And Aims: Endoscopic and histologic remission (HR) are key therapeutic targets in the management of ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of the Paddington International virtual ChromoendoScopy ScOre (PICaSSO), a virtual chromoendoscopy score originally validated by use of the iSCAN platform, with the narrow-band imaging (NBI), linked-color imaging (LCI), and blue-laser imaging (BLI) platforms.
Methods: We evaluated endoscopic activity using the Mayo Endoscopic Score (MES), the Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS), and PICaSSO in 159 UC patients (78 NBI and 81 BLI/LCI) who underwent colonoscopy in 2 tertiary referral centers.
Unlabelled: Histological remission is evolving as an important treatment target in UC. We aimed to develop a simple histological index, aligned to endoscopy, correlated with clinical outcomes, and suited to apply to an artificial intelligence (AI) system to evaluate inflammatory activity.
Methods: Using a set of 614 biopsies from 307 patients with UC enrolled into a prospective multicentre study, we developed the Paddington International virtual ChromoendoScopy ScOre (PICaSSO) Histologic Remission Index (PHRI).
Background: Definite noninvasive characterisation of renal tumours positive on Tc-sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) examination including renal oncocytomas (ROs), hybrid oncocytic chromophobe tumours (HOCTs), and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (chRCC) is currently not feasible.
Objective: To investigate whether combined Tc-sestamibi SPECT/CT and in situ metabolomic profiling can accurately characterise renal tumours exhibiting Tc-sestamibi uptake.
Design Setting And Participants: A tissue microarray analysis of 33 tumour samples from 28 patients was used to investigate whether their in situ metabolomic status correlates with their features on Tc-sestamibi SPECT/CT examination.
Background: In real-world clinical practice, biologics in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) may be discontinued for a variety of reasons, including discontinuation initiated by gastroenterologists. The aims of the study are to report outcomes after discontinuation and predictors of prognosis after a minimum follow-up of 24 months; outcomes of gastroenterologist-initiated discontinuation with resulting direct cost implications on the health system were also studied.
Methods: IBD patients who discontinued their first-use biologics between January 2013 and December 2016 were identified at our tertiary centre.
Background: Endoscopic and histological remission are both important treatment goals in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). We aimed to define cellular architecture, expression of molecular markers, and their correlation with endoscopic scores assessed by ultra-high magnification endocytoscopy (ECS) and histological scores.
Methods: Patients with UC (n = 29) were prospectively recruited.
Background & Aims: Endoscopic and histologic remission are important goals in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). We investigated the correlation of the recently developed Paddington International Virtual ChromoendoScopy ScOre (PICaSSO) and other established endoscopic scores against multiple histological indices and prospectively assessed outcomes.
Methods: In this prospective multicenter international study, inflammatory activity was assessed with high-definition and virtual chromoendoscopy in the rectum and sigmoid using the Mayo Endoscopic Score (MES), UC Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS), and PICaSSO.
The disclosure of proven cardiorenal benefits with certain antidiabetic agents was supposed to herald a new era in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D), especially for the many patients with T2D who are at high risk for cardiovascular and renal events. However, as the evidence in favour of various sodium-glucose transporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) accumulates, prescriptions of these agents continue to stagnate, even among eligible, at-risk patients. By contrast, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) DPP-4i remain more widely used than SGLT2i and GLP-1 RA in these patients, despite a similar cost to SGLT2i and a large body of evidence showing no clear benefit on cardiorenal outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDNA replication initiates from multiple genomic locations called replication origins. In metazoa, DNA sequence elements involved in origin specification remain elusive. Here, we examine pluripotent, primary, differentiating, and immortalized human cells, and demonstrate that a class of origins, termed core origins, is shared by different cell types and host ~80% of all DNA replication initiation events in any cell population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: To develop a robust toolkit to aid decision-making for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) based on readily available patient variables that could accurately predict functional outcome following MT.
Materials And Methods: Data from patients with anterior circulation stroke who underwent MT between October 2009 and January 2018 (n=239) were identified from our MT database. Patient explanatory variables were age, sex, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS), collateral score, and Glasgow Coma Scale.
Background: Fecal calprotectin (FC) is a common surrogate marker of mucosal healing (MH) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). We investigated the optimum FC thresholds for defining endoscopic remission (ER) and histological remission (HR) using advanced endoscopic techniques.
Patients And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we collected clinical, endoscopic, histological data, and FC from 76 UC and 41 CD patients.
Background: Several studies have reported that ulcerative colitis [UC] patients with endoscopic mucosal healing may still have histological inflammation. We investigated the relationship between mucosal healing defined by modified PICaSSO [Paddington International Virtual ChromoendoScopy ScOre], Mayo Endoscopic Score [MES] and probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy [pCLE] with histological indices in UC.
Methods: A prospective study enrolling 82 UC patients [male 66%] was conducted.
Purpose: Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is common and risk stratification scores can guide clinical decision-making. There is no robust risk stratification tool specific for LGIB, with existing tools not routinely adopted. We aimed to develop and validate a risk stratification tool for LGIB.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aim: Dye-based chromoendoscopy (DCE) with targeted biopsies is recommended for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) surveillance. However, DCE has not yet been widely adopted into clinical practice. We evaluated quality indicators in IBD surveillance following introduction of structured changes in service delivery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDNA replication is a stochastic process with replication forks emanating from multiple replication origins. The origins must be licenced in G1, and the replisome activated at licenced origins in order to generate bi-directional replication forks in S-phase. Differential firing times lead to origin interference, where a replication fork from an origin can replicate through and inactivate neighbouring origins (origin obscuring).
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