Fully automated deep learning based auto-contouring of liver segments and spleen on contrast-enhanced CT images.

Manual delineation of liver segments on computed tomography (CT) images for primary/secondary liver cancer (LC) patients is time-intensive and prone to inter/intra-observer variability. Therefore, we developed a deep-learning-based model to auto-contour liver segments and spleen on contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) images. We trained two models using 3d patch-based attention U-Net ([Formula: see text] and 3d full resolution of nnU-Net ([Formula: see text] to determine the best architecture ([Formula: see text].

Numerical Simulation of Three-Dimensional Free Surface Flows Using the K-BKZ-PSM Integral Constitutive Equation.

This work introduces a novel numerical method designed to address three-dimensional unsteady free surface flows incorporating integral viscoelastic constitutive equations, specifically the K-BKZ-PSM (Kaye-Bernstein, Kearsley, Zapas-Papanastasiou, Scriven, Macosko) model. The new proposed methodology employs a second-order finite difference approach along with the deformation fields method to solve the integral constitutive equation and the marker particle method (known as marker-and-cell) to accurately capture the evolution of the fluid's free surface. The newly developed numerical method has proven its effectiveness in handling complex fluid flow scenarios, including confined flows and extrudate swell simulations of Boger fluids.

Urgent versus Non-Urgent Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Outcomes.

Introduction: There are limited data about the outcomes of nonelective transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Some studies suggest that these patients (pts) have worst results. Our purpose was to compare outcomes in pts submitted to urgent versus elective TAVI.

Outcomes and predictors of periprocedural stroke after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Risk factors for stroke after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are currently incompletely understood.

Purpose: To identify possible predictors of early post-TAVI stroke and explore its short-term outcomes.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients (pts) submitted to TAVI between 2009 and 2020 in a tertiary center.

Initial single-center experience of a standardized protocol for invasive assessment of ischemia and non-obstructive coronary artery disease.

Introduction: Coronary vasomotion disorders (CVDs), including microvascular angina (MVA) and vasospastic angina (VSA), account for significant morbidity among patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (NOCAD). However, protocols for CVD assessment in clinical practice are seldom standardized and may be difficult to implement.

Purpose: To assess the safety and feasibility of a comprehensive coronary function test (CFT) protocol for assessment of CVD and the prevalence of different phenotypes of CVD in patients with angina and NOCAD (ANOCA).

Outcomes in Pregnant Women with Valvular Heart Disease from Portuguese-Speaking African Countries Treated in Portugal through an International Agreement of Health Cooperation.

Aims: We performed a clinical audit of maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with valvular heart disease (VHD) from Portuguese-speaking African countries who were transferred for their care, during a twenty-year period, through a memorandum of agreement of international cooperation.

Methods And Results: A retrospective analysis of 81 pregnancies in 45 patients with VHD (median age 24, interquartile range 22-29 years) from 2000 to 2020 was performed. The main outcome measures were maternal cardiovascular and fetal outcomes.

Malignant Primary and Metastatic Cardiac Tumors: A Single-Center 27-Year Case Review.

Background: Malignant primary cardiac tumors are exceedingly rare, and despite surgical exeresis or chemotherapy, their prognosis remains poor. Cardiac invasion by metastatic tumors, while more common, also entails an unsatisfactory outcome. This study aimed to review patients diagnosed with malignant primary and secondary cardiac tumors in a tertiary center between 1995 and 2022.

Late gadolinium enhancement in the left ventricular wall is associated with atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Purpose: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between AF and left ventricular (LV) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE).

Methods: 55 patients with HCM were retrospectively included.

Numerical Simulation of Rheological Models for Complex Fluids Using Hierarchical Grids.

In this work, we implement models that are able to describe complex rheological behaviour (such as shear-banding and elastoviscoplasticity) in the system, which is a recently developed Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software that can simulate Newtonian, Generalised-Newtonian and viscoelastic flows using finite differences in hierarchical grids. The system uses a moving least squares (MLS) meshless interpolation technique, allowing for more complex mesh configurations while still keeping the overall order of accuracy. The selected models are the Vasquez-Cook-McKinley (VCM) model for shear-banding micellar solutions and the Saramito model for viscoelastic fluids with yield stress.

Non-uptake of HIV testing among trans men and trans women: cross-sectional study of client records from 2017 to 2019 in a community-based transgender health center in Metro Manila, Philippines.

Background: Transgender individuals are considered at high risk of contracting HIV infection. Integrating HIV testing and counseling (HTC) services into current transgender health programs is necessary to increase its uptake. Our study aimed to describe the characteristics of trans men (TM) and trans women (TW) who accessed HTC services in a community-based transgender health center in Metro Manila, Philippines, and to examine the relationship between gender identity and their non-uptake of HIV testing.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation outcomes in patients with low flow low gradient aortic stenosis.

Background: Some studies suggest that patients with low flow low gradient (LF-LG) aortic stenosis (AS) may achieve worse results after undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Purpose: To compare outcomes between LF-LG AS and high gradient (HG) AS patients submitted to TAVI.

Methods: Inclusion of 480 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI between 2008 and 2020 at a single tertiary center.

Non-VKA Oral Anticoagulants in Adult Congenital Heart Disease: a Single-Center Study.

Purpose: Non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOACs) prescription is increasing in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). However, data on efficacy and safety in ACHD is unclear, particularly in severe CHD. The study aimed to review the safety and efficacy of NOACs in ACHD.

Vertical Cracks Excited in Lock-in Vibrothermography Experiments: Identification of Open and Inhomogeneous Heat Fluxes.

Lock-in vibrothermography has proven to be very useful to characterizing kissing cracks producing ideal, homogeneous, and compact heat sources. Here, we approach real situations by addressing the characterization of non-compact (strip-shaped) heat sources produced by open cracks and inhomogeneous fluxes. We propose combining lock-in vibrothermography data at several modulation frequencies in order to gather penetration and precision data.

When "Wait and See" may be the Best Option: Two Case Reports of Left Main Artery Spontaneous Dissection.

Introduction: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is frequently underdiagnosed, and the most appropriate management is unknown, particularly in high-risk anatomical subsets.

Case Reports: Two cases of females in their 60-70s with few cardiovascular risk factors or relevant past medical history, who presented acute myocardial infarction, have been presented. Both were submitted to invasive coronary angiography, with a suspicion of SCAD in both cases, which was later supported by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Myocardial Work Brings New Insights into Left Ventricular Remodelling in Cardio-Oncology Patients.

Serial transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) assessment of 2D left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) are the gold standard screening methods for cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). Non-invasive left ventricular (LV) pressure-strain loop (PSL) provides a novel method of quantifying myocardial work (MW) with potential advantages to evaluate the impact of cardiotoxic treatments on heart function. We prospectively assessed breast cancer female patients undergoing cancer therapy through serial monitoring by 2D and 3D TTE.

Prevalence and Factors Associated With Gender-Affirming Surgery Among Transgender Women & Transgender Men in a Community-Based Clinic in Metro Manila, Philippines: A Retrospective Study.

Background: More information is needed about gender-affirming surgery (GAS) in the Philippines because of many self- or peer-prescribed gender-affirming procedures among transgender people.

Aim: To assess the desire of transgender adults for GAS, determined the prevalence, and evaluated factors associated with the desire.

Methods: We did a retrospective study of medical charts of 339 transgender men (TGM) and 186 transgender women (TGW) who attended clinical services at Victoria by LoveYourself, a transgender-led community-based clinic in Metro Manila, from March 2017 to December 2019.

Fitness Cost of Antiretroviral Drug Resistance Mutations on the Gene during Analytical Antiretroviral Treatment Interruption among Individuals Experiencing Virological Failure.

HIV cure studies require patients to enter an analytical treatment interruption (ATI). Here, we describe previously unanalyzed data that sheds light on ATI dynamics in PLHIV (People Living with HIV). We present drug resistance mutation dynamics on the pol gene among individuals with antiretroviral virological failure who underwent ATI.

A Hierarchical Grid Solver for Simulation of Flows of Complex Fluids.

Tree-based grids bring the advantage of using fast Cartesian discretizations, such as finite differences, and the flexibility and accuracy of local mesh refinement. The main challenge is how to adapt the discretization stencil near the interfaces between grid elements of different sizes, which is usually solved by local high-order geometrical interpolations. Most methods usually avoid this by limiting the mesh configuration (usually to graded quadtree/octree grids), reducing the number of cases to be treated locally.

Soluble CD40 ligand expression in stable atherosclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: The role of inflammation in atherosclerosis development and expression in different arterial territories is unclear. Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) mediates inflammation and atherogenesis. Through a systematic review and meta-analysis, we assessed whether sCD40L was dysregulated in stable atherosclerosis, irrespective of the diseased arterial territory, and whether this dysregulation differed according to the specific territory.

Food practices as part of daily routines: A conceptual framework for analysing networks of practices.

Current debates about the need to change daily practices to address sustainability or health issues often neglect to recognise that single practices like eating are embedded in daily routines and connected to a multitude of other practices that take place within networks. While connections, such as complexes, bundles or nexuses, are mentioned in extant literature, a clear definition of these categories and their operationalisation for empirical research is missing. This conceptual study aims to fill this gap by proposing an analytical framework for a network of practices that joins multiple authors' concepts and supports empirical analyses that aim to understand the complex intertwining of practices in daily life, as well as the challenges to changing them.

Association of seasonality and serum albumin concentration with vitamin D deficiency in subjects with chronic hepatitis C infection living in a sunny country.

Objective: This study aimed to analyse the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the season when the blood sample was obtained from subjects with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection.

Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a representative sample. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration <50 nmol/l, based on the values set forth by the Endocrine Society guideline for higher-risk populations.