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showing 10 items of 2844 documents
Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Strategy 2021 - Executive summary and rationale for key changes
2021
Funder: Global Initiative for Asthma
Statistical atlas based exudate segmentation
2013
Diabetic macular edema (DME) is characterized by hard exudates. In this article, we propose a novel statistical atlas based method for segmentation of such exudates. Any test fundus image is first warped on the atlas co-ordinate and then a distance map is obtained with the mean atlas image. This leaves behind the candidate lesions. Post-processing schemes are introduced for final segmentation of the exudate. Experiments with the publicly available HEI-MED data-set shows good performance of the method. A lesion localization fraction of 82.5% at 35% of non-lesion localization fraction on the FROC curve is obtained. The method is also compared to few most recent reference methods.
Fast Estimation of Diffusion Tensors under Rician noise by the EM algorithm
2016
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is widely used to characterize, in vivo, the white matter of the central nerve system (CNS). This biological tissue contains much anatomic, structural and orientational information of fibers in human brain. Spectral data from the displacement distribution of water molecules located in the brain tissue are collected by a magnetic resonance scanner and acquired in the Fourier domain. After the Fourier inversion, the noise distribution is Gaussian in both real and imaginary parts and, as a consequence, the recorded magnitude data are corrupted by Rician noise. Statistical estimation of diffusion leads a non-linear regression problem. In this paper, we present a f…
SARS-CoV-2: Impact on, Risk Assessment and Countermeasures in German Eye Banks.
2020
Introduction Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic there has been some debate regarding the risk of transmission through tissue transplantation and tissue banking processes. Aim of the study To analyze the changes that SARS-CoV-2 has caused regarding the harvesting of corneal donor tissue and eye bank activities in Germany. Methods A questionnaire was provided to 26 eye banks in Germany, consisting of questions about adaptations made in the screening of potential donors and the harvesting of corneal tissue following the pandemic spread of SARS-CoV-2. Results Eighteen eye banks actively reduced recruitment of donors and two banks ceased all activity. Additional diagnostic screening wa…
Enseñar estrategias de afrontamiento a padres de niños con cáncer a través de un cortometraje
2010
Este trabajo describe la utilidad de un cortometraje para enseñar estrategias de afrontamiento positivas a los padres de hijos con cáncer. Para la realización del cortometraje se han utilizado los resultados de un trabajo de investigación sobre las estrategias de afrontamiento que utilizan los padres. Los resultados se extrajeron del análisis del discurso de los padres que participaron en un grupo de autoayuda durante ocho sesiones. El cortometraje ha sido evaluado por los psicólogos de todas las asociaciones de padres que forman parte de la Federación de padres de niños enfermos de cáncer. Asimismo, se ha experimentado en sesiones grupales realizadas en las sedes de ASPANION (Asociación de…
Anaemia in advanced chronic fasciolosis
2008
Abstract The association between fasciolosis-induced anaemia and related factors has been quantified in a rodent model. Haematological parameters were analysed in Wistar rats at 20 and 60 weeks post-infection (p.i.). Pigment stones and bile specimens were collected. Serum IgG1, IgG2a and IgE were determined in rat serum samples. Cytokine levels have been correlated with haematological parameters. The screening for gastrointestinal bleeding was carried out. Bacteriological bile cultures revealed viable bacteria in 53.8% of specimens at 60 weeks p.i. The results show that the type of anaemia in fasciolosis might be considered a biomarker of the chronicity period of the disease, changing from …
Effect of a 2-y dietary and physical activity intervention on plasma fatty acid composition and estimated desaturase and elongase activities in child…
2016
Background: Evidence on the effects of lifestyle interventions on plasma fatty acid composition in children is limited. Objective: We investigated the effects of a dietary and physical activity intervention on plasma fatty acid composition of cholesteryl esters (CEs) and phospholipids and estimated desaturase and elongase activities in children. Design: We conducted a 2-y controlled dietary and physical activity intervention based on Finnish nutrition and physical activity recommendations in a population sample of 506 children aged 6–8 y. We assessed plasma fatty acid composition by gas chromatography and estimated desaturase and elongase activities as the ratio of product fatty acids to pr…
Fertility outcome after radical vaginal trachelectomy: a prospective study of 212 patients.
2011
ObjectiveFor treatment in patients with early-stage cervical cancer, radical vaginal trachelectomy (RVT) as a fertility-preserving surgery can be put on a par with radical hysterectomy as to oncologic safety. Our aim was to investigate the fertility concerns and outcome.MethodsProspective collection of fertility data of patients treated with RVT. The data were collected on personal communication, by telephone, or e-mail correspondence. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed.ResultsBetween March 2005 and April 2010, 212 patients were followed up after RVT. Only 76 patients (35.9%) were seeking parenthood currently. Sixty pregnancies occurred in 50 women. Five patients (8.3%) had firs…
Problems and perspectives of ophthalmic research in Germany: results from a national survey.
2013
<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> To identify and describe the most relevant obstacles to carrying out ophthalmic research in Germany. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Two research methods were used to assess current problems in ophthalmic research. First, 55 expert interviews were conducted with major stakeholders in ophthalmic research, and key problems were identified. An online questionnaire was then sent to 3,080 German ophthalmologists, of whom 927 responded by evaluating the current research situation within ophthalmology in Germany. We devised a score to rank areas of concern by multiplying the responders' rate, ranging between -3 (‘I disagree completely')…
Trophic niche influences ingestion of micro- and mesoplastics in pelagic and demersal fish from the Western Mediterranean Sea.
2023
Plastic pollution has been extensively documented in the marine food web, but targeted studies focusing on the relationship between microplastic ingestion and fish trophic niches are still limited. In this study we investigated the frequency of occurrence and the abundance of micro- and mesoplastics (MMPs) in eight fish species with different feeding habits from the western Mediterranean Sea. Stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N) was used to describe the trophic niche and its metrics for each species. A total of 139 plastic items were found in 98 out of the 396 fish analysed (25%). The bogue revealed the highest occurrence with 37% of individuals with MMPs in their gastrointestinal tract,…