An Urdu speech for emotion recognition.

Emotion recognition from acoustic signals plays a vital role in the field of audio and speech processing. Speech interfaces offer humans an informal and comfortable means to communicate with machines. Emotion recognition from speech signals has a variety of applications in the area of human computer interaction (HCI) and human behavior analysis.

Imaging Modality and Frequency in Surveillance of Stage I Seminoma Testicular Cancer: Results From a Randomized, Phase III, Noninferiority Trial (TRISST).

Purpose: Survival in stage I seminoma is almost 100%. Computed tomography (CT) surveillance is an international standard of care, avoiding adjuvant therapy. In this young population, minimizing irradiation is vital.

Differentiation of Subclinical Ketosis and Liver Function Test Indices in Adipose Tissues Associated With Hyperketonemia in Postpartum Dairy Cattle.

Past studies suggested that during early lactation and the transition period, higher plasma growth hormone (GH) levels in subclinical ketosis (SCK) might involve the initiation of body adipose tissues mobilization, resulting in metabolic disorders in ruminants particularly hyperketonemia. The upregulated GH mRNA expression in adipose tissue may take part in the adipolysis process in SCK-affected cows that paves a way for study further. This study aimed to characterize the plasma levels of GH, β-hydroxybutyrate acid (BHBA) and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and glucose (GLu) in ketotic cows and healthy control (CON) cows; to measure the liver function test (LFT) indices in ketotic and healthy CON cows, and finally the quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay of candidate genes expressed in adipose tissues of ketotic and healthy CON cows during 0 to 7 week postpartum.

The impact of nutritional risk factors and sarcopenia on survival in patients treated with pelvic exenteration for recurrent gynaecological malignancy: a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to investigate the prognostic significance of nutritional risk factors and sarcopenia on the outcome of patients with recurrent gynaecological malignancies treated by pelvic exenteration.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated muscle body composite measurements based on pre-operative CT scans, nutritional risk factors as assessed by a validated pre-operative questionnaire, and clinical-pathological parameters in 65 consecutive patients with recurrent gynaecological malignancies, excluding ovarian cancer, treated by pelvic exenteration at the Royal Marsden Hospital London. Predictive value for postoperative morbidity was investigated by logistic regression analyses.

Detection and staging of radio-recurrent prostate cancer using multiparametric MRI.

Objective: We determined the sensitivity and specificity of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MP-MRI) in detection of locally recurrent prostate cancer and extra prostatic extension in the post-radical radiotherapy setting. Histopathological reference standard was whole-mount prostatectomy specimens. We also assessed for any added value of the dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) sequence in detection and staging of local recurrence.

Utilization and perception of same-day discharge in electrophysiological procedures and device implantations: an EHRA survey.

The aim of this European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) survey was to assess the utilization of same-day discharge (SDD) in electrophysiology (EP). An online-based questionnaire was shared with the EHRA community between 12 and 30 June 2020 and recorded institutional information, complication assessment, recent experiences, and opinions regarding possible advantages or concerns with SDD. In total, 218 responses from 49 countries provided information on current SDD management.

Young@Heart: empowering the next generation of cardiovascular researchers.

In recognition of the increasing health burden of cardiovascular disease, the Dutch CardioVascular Alliance (DCVA) was founded with the ambition to lower the cardiovascular disease burden by 25% in 2030. To achieve this, the DCVA is a platform for all stakeholders in the cardiovascular field to align policies, agendas and research. An important goal of the DCVA is to guide and encourage young researchers at an early stage of their careers in order to help them overcome challenges and reach their full potential.

Validation of T2- and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for mapping intra-prostatic tumour prior to focal boost dose-escalation using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Background And Purpose: To assess the diagnostic accuracy and inter-observer agreement of T2-weighted (T2W) and diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for mapping intra-prostatic tumour lesions (IPLs) for the purpose of focal dose-escalation in prostate cancer radiotherapy.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-six men selected for radical treatment with radiotherapy were recruited prospectively and underwent pre-treatment T2W+DW-MRI and 5 mm spaced transperineal template-guided mapping prostate biopsies (TTMPB). A 'traffic-light' system was used to score both data sets.

Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation With Pulmonary Vein Isolation Versus Without.

Objectives: This meta-analysis examined the ability of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) to prevent atrial fibrillation in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which the patients not receiving PVI nevertheless underwent a procedure.

Background: PVI is a commonly used procedure for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), and its efficacy has usually been judged against therapy with anti-arrhythmic drugs in open-label trials. There have been several RCTs of AF ablation in which both arms received an ablation, but the difference between the treatment arms was inclusion or omission of PVI.

Pacemaker and Defibrillator Implantation and Programming in Patients with Deep Brain Stimulation.

The need for cardiac device implantation in patients receiving deep brain stimulation (DBS) is increasing. Despite the theoretical risk of the two systems interacting, there are no clear guidelines for cardiologists carrying out cardiac device implantation in this population. We performed a review of the literature and describe 13 case reports in which patients have both DBS and a cardiac pacemaker or ICD implanted.

Improving haemodynamic optimization of cardiac resynchronization therapy for heart failure.

Objective: Optimization of cardiac resynchronization therapy using non-invasive haemodynamic parameters produces reliable optima when performed at high atrial paced heart rates. Here we investigate whether this is a result of increased heart rate or atrial pacing itself.

Approach: Forty-three patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy underwent haemodynamic optimization of atrioventricular (AV) delay using non-invasive beat-to-beat systolic blood pressure in three states: rest (atrial-sensing, 66  ±  11 bpm), slow atrial pacing (73  ±  12 bpm), and fast atrial pacing (94  ±  10 bpm).

Right ventricular pacing for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: meta-analysis and meta-regression of clinical trials.

Aims: Right ventricular pacing for left ventricular outflow tract gradient reduction in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy remains controversial. We undertook a meta-analysis for echocardiographic and functional outcomes.

Methods And Results: Thirty-four studies comprising 1135 patients met eligibility criteria.

His Resynchronization Versus Biventricular Pacing in Patients With Heart Failure and Left Bundle Branch Block.

Background: His bundle pacing is a new method for delivering cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Objectives: The authors performed a head-to-head, high-precision, acute crossover comparison between His bundle pacing and conventional biventricular CRT, measuring effects on ventricular activation and acute hemodynamic function.

Methods: Patients with heart failure and left bundle branch block referred for conventional biventricular CRT were recruited.

Roadmap for cardiovascular education across the European Society of Cardiology: inspiring better knowledge and skills, now and for the future.

Aims: The provision of high-quality education allows the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) to achieve its mission of better cardiovascular practice and provides an essential component of translating new evidence to improve outcomes.

Methods And Results: The 4th ESC Education Conference, held in Sophia Antipolis (December 2016), brought together ESC education leaders, National Directors of Training of 43 ESC countries, and representatives of the ESC Young Community. Integrating national descriptions of education and cardiology training, we discussed innovative pathways to further improve knowledge and skills across different training programmes and health care systems.

MRI measurement of residual cervical length after radical trachelectomy for cervical cancer and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes: a blinded imaging analysis.

Objective: To determine the association between the residual cervix measured on postoperative MRI after radical vaginal trachelectomy (RVT) and adverse obstetrical outcomes.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: Referral Cancer centre.

Distinct impacts of heart rate and right atrial-pacing on left atrial mechanical activation and optimal AV delay in CRT.

Background: Controversy exists regarding how atrial activation mode and heart rate affect optimal atrioventricular (AV) delay in cardiac resynchronization therapy. We studied these questions using high-reproducibility hemodynamic and echocardiographic measurements.

Methods: Twenty patients were hemodynamically optimized using noninvasive beat-to-beat blood pressure at rest (62 ± 11 beats/min), during exercise (80 ± 6 beats/min), and at three atrially paced rates: 5, 25, and 45 beats/min above rest, denoted as A , A , and A , respectively.

Multicenter Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial Comparing Hemodynamic Optimization Against Echocardiographic Optimization of AV and VV Delay of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: The BRAVO Trial.

Objectives: BRAVO (British Randomized Controlled Trial of AV and VV Optimization) is a multicenter, randomized, crossover, noninferiority trial comparing echocardiographic optimization of atrioventricular (AV) and interventricular delay with a noninvasive blood pressure method.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy including AV delay optimization confers clinical benefit, but the optimization requires time and expertise to perform.

Methods: This study randomized patients to echocardiographic optimization or hemodynamic optimization using multiple-replicate beat-by-beat noninvasive blood pressure at baseline; after 6 months, participants were crossed over to the other optimization arm of the trial.

Automatic detection of end-diastolic and end-systolic frames in 2D echocardiography.

Background: Correctly selecting the end-diastolic and end-systolic frames on a 2D echocardiogram is important and challenging, for both human experts and automated algorithms. Manual selection is time-consuming and subject to uncertainty, and may affect the results obtained, especially for advanced measurements such as myocardial strain.

Methods And Results: We developed and evaluated algorithms which can automatically extract global and regional cardiac velocity, and identify end-diastolic and end-systolic frames.

Visualizing Localized Reentry With Ultra-High Density Mapping in Iatrogenic Atrial Tachycardia: Beware Pseudo-Reentry.

Background: The activation pattern of localized reentry (LR) in atrial tachycardia remains incompletely understood. We used the ultra-high density Rhythmia mapping system to study activation patterns in LR.

Methods And Results: LR was suggested by small rotatory activations (carousels) containing the full spectrum of the color-coded map.

Baseline results from the UK SIGNIFY study: a whole-body MRI screening study in TP53 mutation carriers and matched controls.

In the United Kingdom, current screening guidelines for TP53 germline mutation carriers solely recommends annual breast MRI, despite the wide spectrum of malignancies typically seen in this group. This study sought to investigate the role of one-off non-contrast whole-body MRI (WB MRI) in the screening of asymptomatic TP53 mutation carriers. 44 TP53 mutation carriers and 44 population controls were recruited.

What shape do UK trainees want their training to be? Results of a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The British Government is acting on recommendations to overhaul postgraduate training to meet the needs of the changing population, to produce generalist doctors undergoing shorter broad-based training (Greenaway Review). Only 45 doctors in training were involved in the consultation process. This study aims to obtain a focused perspective on the proposed reforms by doctors in training from across specialities.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy: mechanisms of action and scope for further improvement in cardiac function.

Aims: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) may exert its beneficial haemodynamic effect by improving ventricular synchrony and improving atrioventricular (AV) timing. The aim of this study was to establish the relative importance of the mechanisms through which CRT improves cardiac function and explore the potential for additional improvements with improved ventricular resynchronization.

Methods And Results: We performed simulations using the CircAdapt haemodynamic model and performed haemodynamic measurements while adjusting AV delay, at low and high heart rates, in 87 patients with CRT devices.