F-FDG-Based Radiomics and Machine Learning: Useful Help for Aortic Prosthetic Valve Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis?

Background: Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) results in better sensitivity for prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) diagnosis, but visual image analysis results in relatively weak specificity and significant interobserver variability.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a radiomics and machine learning-based analysis of F-FDG PET/CT (PET-ML) as a major criterion for the European Society of Cardiology score using machine learning as a major imaging criterion (ESC-ML) in PVE diagnosis. The secondary objective was to assess performance of PET-ML as a standalone examination.

Powerful identification of cis-regulatory SNPs in human primary monocytes using allele-specific gene expression.

A large number of genome-wide association studies have been performed during the past five years to identify associations between SNPs and human complex diseases and traits. The assignment of a functional role for the identified disease-associated SNP is not straight-forward. Genome-wide expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis is frequently used as the initial step to define a function while allele-specific gene expression (ASE) analysis has not yet gained a wide-spread use in disease mapping studies.

Relationship between the achievement of successive periodic health examinations and the risk of dying. Appraisal of a prevention scheme.

Background: In the field of Periodic Health Examination (PHE), few studies brought information on their efficiency, both on morbidity and mortality.

Objective: The association between the reduction of mortality and a regular participation in PHE has been estimated.

Methods: This study concerned 50,116 persons 40-59 years old, of European origin, examined at the Centre of Preventive Medicine, Nancy, France, between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1985 with a maximum duration of follow-up reaching 25 years.

Integrating genome-wide genetic variations and monocyte expression data reveals trans-regulated gene modules in humans.

One major expectation from the transcriptome in humans is to characterize the biological basis of associations identified by genome-wide association studies. So far, few cis expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) have been reliably related to disease susceptibility. Trans-regulating mechanisms may play a more prominent role in disease susceptibility.

Activated thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor levels are associated with the risk of cardiovascular death in patients with coronary artery disease: the AtheroGene study.

Background: Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) attenuates fibrinolysis. Results on the association between TAFI levels and the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) are inconsistent.

Objectives: We investigated the association between TAFI levels and the risk of cardiovascular events in CAD.