Attention-based deep learning framework for automatic fundus image processing to aid in diabetic retinopathy grading.

Background And Objective: Early detection and grading of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is essential to determine an adequate treatment and prevent severe vision loss. However, the manual analysis of fundus images is time consuming and DR screening programs are challenged by the availability of human graders. Current automatic approaches for DR grading attempt the joint detection of all signs at the same time.

[Invasive mucormycosis during COVID-19 infection. Report of two cases].

COVID-19 disease is associated with a significant number of opportunistic infections, including invasive fungal infections such as mucormycosis. The prevalence of the latter is rare, estimated to be between 0.005 and 1.

Hypovitaminosis D in patients with type 2 diabetes: risk factors and association with glycemic control and established microvascular complications.

Introduction: Several studies reported than vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of macrovascular and microvascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). We investigated the plasma levels of 25OHD in adult patients T2DM, risk factors for 25OHD deficiency and the relationship between 25OHD, glycemic control and chronic complications of T2DM.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out, in which 25OHD levels were evaluated in adult patients (over 18 years) with T2DM.

A robust method for the automatic location of the optic disc and the fovea in fundus images.

Background And Objective: The location of the optic disc (OD) and the fovea is usually crucial in automatic screening systems for diabetic retinopathy. Previous methods aimed at their location often fail when these structures do not have the standard appearance. The purpose of this work is to propose novel, robust methods for the automatic detection of the OD and the fovea.

Community pharmacy delivered PrEP to STOP HIV transmission: An opportunity NOT to miss!

In the United States, 1.1 million persons are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and approximately 37,800 new infections occur annually. Ending the HIV epidemic requires reducing HIV transmissions by 90% within the next 10 years and requires expanded HIV testing, antivirals for persons infected with HIV, and scale-up of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent new infections.

Thiol-Functionalized Ethylene Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica as an Efficient Scavenger for Palladium: Confirming the Homogeneous Character of the Suzuki Reaction.

This work describes the synthesis of thiol-functionalized periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) prepared using the precursor 1-thiol-1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane, alone or mixed with 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane. The thiol groups incorporated into the structure were found to be efficient for palladium binding. This has allowed these materials to be used as catalysts in the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of bromobenzene and phenylboronic acid.

Pre-emptive deceased-donor kidney transplant: A matched cohort study.

Introduction: Currently, kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with kidney disease who require replacement therapy. Dialysis is a necessary step, but not mandatory prior to transplantation. There is the possibility of pre-emptive transplantation or transplantation in pre-dialysis, that is, without previous dialysis.

Implementation of pre-exposure prophylaxis at a community pharmacy through a collaborative practice agreement with San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Objective: To discuss the design and implementation of a community pharmacy-initiated HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) program developed in collaboration with the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH).

Setting: A community pharmacy in San Francisco and the SFDPH developed a collaborative practice agreement (CPA) that allowed community pharmacists to initiate PrEP and PEP to prevent HIV acquisition and increase uptake in vulnerable populations.

Practice Description: A community pharmacy in San Francisco's Mission District, an urban, historically Hispanic/Latino/Latinx neighborhood.

The organic interlamellar layer in abalone nacre: Formation and mechanical response.

The interlamellar organic layer plays a key role in establishing the tensile mechanical response of nacre, while changing the compressive response in only a marginal manner. We conduct observations on the epithelial layer of the abalone foot in direct contact with the extrapallial layer where the deposition process takes place and identify cilia, microvilli, and secretory cells which determine the deposition of chitin to form the interlamellar organic layer. On the basis of these observations we propose a mechanism for the deposition of interlamellar organic layers.

Organic interlamellar layers, mesolayers and mineral nanobridges: contribution to strength in abalone (Haliotis rufescence) nacre.

The contributions of mesolayers, organic interlamellar layers and nanoasperities/mineral bridges to the strength of nacre from red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) shell nacre are investigated. Samples were demineralized and deproteinized to separate the organic and mineral components, respectively. Tensile tests were performed on both the isolated organic constituent and the isolated mineral.

Comparison of logistic regression and neural network classifiers in the detection of hard exudates in retinal images.

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a common cause of visual impairment in industrialized countries. Automatic recognition of DR lesions in retinal images can contribute to the diagnosis and screening of this disease. The aim of this study is to automatically detect one of these lesions: hard exudates (EXs).

Preparation of Palladium-Supported Periodic Mesoporous Organosilicas and their Use as Catalysts in the Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reaction.

Three periodic mesoporous materials, , two organosilicas with either ethylene or phenylene bridges and one silica, have been used as supports for Pd nanoparticles. All Pd-supported samples (1.0 wt%) were prepared by the incipient wetness method and subsequently reduced in an H₂ stream at 200 °C.

Armadillo armor: mechanical testing and micro-structural evaluation.

The armadillo has a unique protective bony armor, called the osteoderm, which confers to its shell-like skin distinctive mechanical properties. The top layer of the shell is made out of a dark-brown keratin layer with bimodal size scales. Beneath the keratin layer, the osteoderm consists of hexagonal or triangular tiles having a composition that is the same as bone.

Biological materials: a materials science approach.

The approach used by Materials Science and Engineering is revealing new aspects in the structure and properties of biological materials. The integration of advanced characterization, mechanical testing, and modeling methods can rationalize heretofore unexplained aspects of these structures. As an illustration of the power of this methodology, we apply it to biomineralized shells, avian beaks and feathers, and fish scales.

Inmunohistochemical profile of solid cell nest of thyroid gland.

It is widely held that solid cell nests (SCN) of the thyroid are ultimobranchial body remnants. SCNs are composed of main cells and C cells. It has been suggested that main cells might be pluripotent cells contributing to the histogenesis of C cells and follicular cells, as well as to the formation of certain thyroid tumors.

Assessment of four neural network based classifiers to automatically detect red lesions in retinal images.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is an important cause of visual impairment in industrialised countries. Automatic detection of DR early markers can contribute to the diagnosis and screening of the disease. The aim of this study was to automatically detect one of such early signs: red lesions (RLs), like haemorrhages and microaneurysms.

Choosing the most efficient database for a web-based system to store and exchange ophthalmologic health records.

Response times are a critically important parameter when implementing any telematics application. Hence, it is important to evaluate those times to check the performance of the system. Different database will get different response times.

Performance evaluation of a web-based system to exchange Electronic Health Records using Queueing model (M/M/1).

Response time measurement of a web-based system is essential to evaluate its performance. This paper shows a comparison of the response times of a Web-based system for Ophthalmologic Electronic Health Records (EHRs), TeleOftalWeb. It makes use of different database models like Oracle 10 g, dbXML 2.

Predictors of Infant Feeding Frequency by Mexican Immigrant Mothers.

With an increase in the prevalence of overweight being seen as early as infancy, it is essential that the factors which account for early excess weight gain be identified. In this study, maternal and infant characteristics were examined to determine their relation to the frequency of infants being fed. A cohort of 67 low-educated Mexican mothers who formula-fed their infants were recruited at a WIC Center and home-visited when their infants were 6-months-old.

Retinal image analysis based on mixture models to detect hard exudates.

Diabetic Retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness in developed countries. Hard exudates have been found to be one of the most prevalent earliest clinical signs of retinopathy. Thus, automatic detection of hard exudates from retinal images is clinically significant.

Detection of hard exudates in retinal images using a radial basis function classifier.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most important causes of visual impairment. Automatic recognition of DR lesions, like hard exudates (EXs), in retinal images can contribute to the diagnosis and screening of the disease. The aim of this study was to automatically detect these lesions in fundus images.

Maternal behavior and infant weight gain in the first year.

Objective: To examine the relative contributions of maternal characteristics and behaviors in predicting infant weight gain over the first year of postpartum life.

Design: Longitudinal study of maternal feeding style throughout infancy.

Setting: A Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children center.

Automatic detection of red lesions in retinal images using a multilayer perceptron neural network.

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is an important cause of visual impairment among people of working age in industrialized countries. Automatic detection of DR clinical signs in retinal images would be an important contribution to the diagnosis and screening of the disease. The aim of the present study is to automatically detect some of these clinical signs: red lesions (RLs), like hemorrhages (HEs) and microaneurysms (MAs).