A Handheld Laser-Scanning-Based Methodology for Monitoring Tree Growth in Chestnut Orchards.

Chestnut and chestnut byproducts are of worldwide interest, so there is a constant need to develop faster and more accurate monitoring techniques. Recent advances in simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithms and user accessibility have led to increased use of handheld mobile laser scanning (HHLS) in precision agriculture. We propose a tree growth monitoring methodology, based on HHLS point cloud processing, that calculates the length of branches through spatial discretization of the point cloud for each tree. The methodology was tested by comparing two point clouds collected almost simultaneously for each of a set of sweet chestnut trees. The results obtained indicated that our HHLS method was reliable and accurate in efficiently monitoring sweet chestnut tree growth. The same methodology was used to calculate the growth of the same set of trees over 37 weeks (from spring to winter). Differences in week 0 and week 37 scans showed an approximate mean growth of 0.22 m, with a standard deviation of around 0.16 m reflecting heterogeneous tree growth.

Is Satoyoshi syndrome an autoimmune disease? A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Satoyoshi syndrome is a rare multisystem disease of presumed autoimmune aetiology. We carried out a systematic review to evaluate the available evidence to support that autoimmune hypothesis. METHODS: We searched for Satoyoshi syndrome cases in PubMed, the Web of Science and Scopus up to January 2022, using keywords 'Satoyoshi syndrome' or 'Komuragaeri disease'. Data on symptoms, associated autoimmune diseases, presence of autoantibodies and response to treatment were collected. RESULTS: A total of 77 patients from 57 articles published between 1967 and 2021 were included; 59 patients were women. The mean age at diagnosis was 21.2 years. All cases had painful muscular spasms and alopecia. Frequent manifestations included: diarrhoea, malabsorption, growth retardation, amenorrhoea and bone deformity. Satoyoshi syndrome was associated with other autoimmune diseases: myasthenia gravis, autoimmune thyroiditis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, atopic dermatitis, bronchial and lupus erythematosus. Autoantibody determinations were performed in 39 patients, of which 27 had positive results. The most frequently detected autoantibodies were ANAs. Other less frequently found autoantibodies were: anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies, anti-DNA antibodies, antithyroid antibodies, anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD) and anti-gliadin antibodies. Pharmacological treatment was reported in 50 patients. Most of them improved with CS, immunosuppressants and immunoglobulins, or a combination of these medications. CONCLUSION: Satoyoshi syndrome is associated with other autoimmune diseases and a variety of autoantibodies. Improvement after CS or other immunosuppressant treatment was observed in 90% of cases. These data support an autoimmune aetiology for Satoyoshi syndrome. More studies including systematic determination of autoantibodies in all patients with Satoyoshi syndrome will help us advance in our understanding of this disease.

Multiscale Supervised Classification of Point Clouds with Urban and Forest Applications.

We analyze the utility of multiscale supervised classification algorithms for object detection and extraction from laser scanning or photogrammetric point clouds. Only the geometric information (the point coordinates) was considered, thus making the method independent of the systems used to collect the data. A maximum of five features (input variables) was used, four of them related to the eigenvalues obtained from a principal component analysis (PCA). PCA was carried out at six scales, defined by the diameter of a sphere around each observation. Four multiclass supervised classification models were tested (linear discriminant analysis, logistic regression, support vector machines, and random forest) in two different scenarios, urban and forest, formed by artificial and natural objects, respectively. The results obtained were accurate (overall accuracy over 80% for the urban dataset, and over 93% for the forest dataset), in the range of the best results found in the literature, regardless of the classification method. For both datasets, the random forest algorithm provided the best solution/results when discrimination capacity, computing time, and the ability to estimate the relative importance of each variable are considered together.

Molecular and neurochemical substrates of the audiogenic seizure strains: The GASH:Sal model.

PURPOSE: Animal models of audiogenic epilepsy are useful tools to understand the mechanisms underlying human reflex epilepsies. There is accumulating evidence regarding behavioral, anatomical, electrophysiological, and genetic substrates of audiogenic seizure strains, but there are still aspects concerning their neurochemical basis that remain to be elucidated. Previous studies have shown the involved of γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) in audiogenic seizures. The aim of our research was to clarify the role of the GABAergic system in the generation of epileptic seizures in the genetic audiogenic seizure-prone hamster (GASH:Sal) strain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied the K+/Cl- cotransporter KCC2 and ß2-GABAA-type receptor (GABAAR) and ß3-GABAAR subunit expressions in the GASH:Sal both at rest and after repeated sound-induced seizures in different brain regions using the Western blot technique. We also sequenced the coding region for the KCC2 gene both in wild- type and GASH:Sal hamsters. RESULTS: Lower expression of KCC2 protein was found in GASH:Sal when compared with controls at rest in several brain areas: hippocampus, cortex, cerebellum, hypothalamus, pons-medulla, and mesencephalon. Repeated induction of seizures caused a decrease in KCC2 protein content in the inferior colliculus and hippocampus and an increase in the pons-medulla. When compared to controls, the basal ß2-GABAAR subunit in the GASH:Sal was overexpressed in the inferior colliculus, rest of the mesencephalon, and cerebellum, whereas basal ß3 subunit levels were lower in the inferior colliculus and rest of the mesencephalon. Repeated seizures increased ß2 both in the inferior colliculus and in the hypothalamus and ß3 in the hypothalamus. No differences in the KCC2 gene-coding region were found between GASH:Sal and wild-type hamsters. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that GABAergic system functioning is impaired in the GASH:Sal strain, and repeated seizures seem to aggravate this dysfunction. These results have potential clinical relevance and support the validity of employing the GASH:Sal strain as a model to study the neurochemistry of genetic reflex epilepsy. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Genetic and Reflex Epilepsies, Audiogenic Seizures and Strains: From Experimental Models to the Clinic".

Automatic Detection and Classification of Pole-Like Objects for Urban Cartography Using Mobile Laser Scanning Data.

Mobile laser scanning (MLS) is a modern and powerful technology capable of obtaining massive point clouds of objects in a short period of time. Although this technology is nowadays being widely applied in urban cartography and 3D city modelling, it has some drawbacks that need to be avoided in order to strengthen it. One of the most important shortcomings of MLS data is concerned with the fact that it provides an unstructured dataset whose processing is very time-consuming. Consequently, there is a growing interest in developing algorithms for the automatic extraction of useful information from MLS point clouds. This work is focused on establishing a methodology and developing an algorithm to detect pole-like objects and classify them into several categories using MLS datasets. The developed procedure starts with the discretization of the point cloud by means of a voxelization, in order to simplify and reduce the processing time in the segmentation process. In turn, a heuristic segmentation algorithm was developed to detect pole-like objects in the MLS point cloud. Finally, two supervised classification algorithms, linear discriminant analysis and support vector machines, were used to distinguish between the different types of poles in the point cloud. The predictors are the principal component eigenvalues obtained from the Cartesian coordinates of the laser points, the range of the Z coordinate, and some shape-related indexes. The performance of the method was tested in an urban area with 123 poles of different categories. Very encouraging results were obtained, since the accuracy rate was over 90%.

Tonic Seizure Status Epilepticus Triggered by Valproate in a Child with Doose Syndrome.

Antiepileptic drugs may occasionally increase seizure frequency or eliciting de novo seizure occurrence; the underlying mechanism of these effects is not known. The potential adverse effects of valproic acid in myoclonic astatic epilepsy have been noted by experienced clinicians in various different regions of the world, but this important observation has not been sufficiently reported. We present the case of tonic status epilepticus in an 8-year-old boy with Doose syndrome related to valproic acid. Valproic acid, such as others antiepileptic drugs, is liable to produce paradoxical effects such as the atypical seizures we report. We emphasize the importance for the management of acute seizures in an intensive care unit setting and increase awareness of the acute toxic effects of antiepileptic drugs.

Unveiling differences between patients with acute coronary syndrome with and without ST elevation through fingerprinting with CE-MS and HILIC-MS targeted analysis.

Differences in the degree and severity of Acute Coronary Syndrome, associated to differences in the electrocardiogram, together with blood tests of biomarkers classify patients for diagnosis and treatment. Cases where the electrocardiogram and/or biomarkers are not conclusive still appear, and there is a need for complementary biomarkers for routine determinations. Metabolomics approaches with blind fingerprinting could reveal differences in metabolites, which must be confirmed by means of targeted determinations. CE-MS and HILIC-MS are well suited for the determination of highly polar compounds, like those from to the intermediate metabolism, altered due to acute stress induced by myocardial infarction. Serum from patients with ST-elevated and non-ST elevated myocardial infarction was collected at intensive care and emergency units, and fingerprinted with CE-MS. Data pretreatment and analysis showed up carnitine-related compounds and amino acids differentially present in both groups. Acylcarnitines and amino acids were then quantitatively measured with HILIC-MS-QqQ. The significance of the differences and the sensitivity/specificity of each compound were individually evaluated. The ratio of free carnitine to acylcarnitines, together with the ratios of acetylcarnitine to betaine, to threonine, and to citrulline, showed high significance and area under the curve in the respective receiver operating characteristic curves. This study opens new possibilities for defining new sets of biomarkers for refining the diagnosis of the patients with difficult classification.

Contribution of a new electrophysiologic test to Morton's neuroma diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Morton's neuroma causes metatarsalgia due to the interdigital neuropathy. The small nerve diameter compromises their evaluation in image studies. To overcome this problem we propose a new electrophysiological test. METHODS: We conducted a prospective case-control study performing a orthodromic electroneurography using subdermal electrodes in controls and patients to assess the validity. Additionally all patients were tested with magnetic resonance. Some patients required surgery and subsequent histological evaluation. RESULTS: The new ENG procedure showed higher sensitivity and specificity. Methodological standardization was easy and the test was well tolerated by the subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Our test demonstrated remarkable diagnostic efficiency, and also was able to identify symptomatic patients undetected by magnetic resonance, which underlines the lack of correlation between the size and intensity of the lesion. This new electrophysiological method appears to be a highly sensitivity, well-tolerated, simple and low-cost for Morton's neuroma diagnosis.

General Direct Anticancer Effects of Deer Growing Antler Extract in Several Tumour Cell Lines, and Immune System-Mediated Effects in Xenograft Glioblastoma.

Deer antlers are the fastest growing tissue. Because they are based on proto-oncogenes, to avoid the risk of cancer, antlers evolved strong anticancer mechanisms, and thus their extract (DVA) is effective also against the few human tumours studied so far. We assessed whether DVA is a general anticancer compound by testing the direct effects in cells of different tumours: glioblastoma (GBM; lines U87MG and U251), colorectal (CRC; lines DLD-1, HT-29, SW480, and SW620), breast cancer (BRCA; lines MCF7, SKBR3, and PA00), and leukaemia (THP-1). DVA reduced the viability of tumours but not healthy cells (NHC; lines 293T and HaCaT). Mobility decreased at least for the longest test (72 h). Intraperitoneal/oral 200 mg DVA/kg administration in GBM xenograft mice for 28 d reduced tumour weight by 66.3% and 61.4% respectively, and it also reduced spleen weight (43.8%). In addition, tumours treated with DVA showed symptoms of liquefactive necrosis. Serum cytokines showed DVA up-regulated factors related to tumour fighting and down-regulated those related to inducing immune tolerance to the tumour. DVA shows general anticancer effects in the lines tested and, in GBM mice, also strong indirect effects apparently mediated by the immune system. DVA may contain a future anticancer medicine without secondary effects.

Ulnar nerve thickness at the elbow on longitudinal ultrasound view in control subjects.

INTRODUCTION: Ulnar mononeuropathy at the elbow is the second most frequent neuropathy in humans. Diagnosis is based on clinical and electrophysiological criteria and, more recently, also on ultrasound. Cross-sectional ultrasound is currently the most valued, although longitudinal ultrasound allows assessment of the entire affected trajectory of the nerve in a single view, but always in a straight line with no changes in direction, as in the extended elbow. The main aim of this work is to propose normative values ​​for longitudinal ultrasound of the ulnar nerve at the elbow. METHODS: The neurological exploration of upper extremity, and electrophysiological and ultrasound parameters at the elbow of ulnar nerve were evaluated in 76 limbs from 38 asymptomatic subjects. RESULTS: The diameters of the nerve as well as the distal and proximal areas were larger at the proximal region of the ulnar groove, and even more so in older individuals. In most of these elderly subjects, we found a small, non-significant slowdown in motor conduction velocity at the elbow with respect to the forearm (less than 5 m/s). CONCLUSIONS: We observed a good correlation between the longitudinal and cross-sectional ultrasounds of the ulnar nerve at the elbow. Longitudinal ultrasound proved to be sensitive, reliable, simple and rapid, but its greatest contribution was allowing the visualization of the entire nerve trajectory in an integrated way, providing an image with good definition of the outline, proportions and intraneural characteristics of the nerve.

Seizures regulate the cation-Cl- cotransporter NKCC1 in a hamster model of epilepsy: implications for GABA neurotransmission.

Background: The balance between the activity of the Na+/K+/Cl- cotransporter (NKCC1) that introduces Cl- into the cell and the K+/Cl- cotransporter (KCC2) that transports Cl- outside the cell is critical in determining the inhibitory or excitatory outcome of GABA release. Mounting evidence suggests that the impairment of GABAergic inhibitory neurotransmission plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of epilepsy, both in patients and animal models. Previous studies indicate that decreased KCC2 expression is linked to audiogenic seizures in GASH/Sal hamsters, highlighting that Cl- imbalance can cause neuronal hyperexcitability. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the Na+/K+/Cl- cotransporter NKCC1 is also affected by audiogenic seizures and could, therefore, play a role in neuronal hyperexcitability within the GASH/Sal epilepsy model. Methods: NKCC1 protein expression in both the GASH/Sal strain and wild type hamsters was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting techniques. Brain regions examined included cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, inferior colliculus and pons-medulla oblongata, which were evaluated both at rest and after sound-inducing seizures in GASH/Sal hamsters. A complementary analysis of NKCC1 gene slc12a2 expression was conducted by real-time PCR. Finally, protein and mRNA levels of glutamate decarboxylase GAD67 were measured as an indicator of GABA release. Results: The induction of seizures caused significant changes in NKCC1 expression in epileptic GASH/Sal hamsters, despite the similar brain expression pattern of NKCC1 in GASH/Sal and wild type hamsters in the absence of seizures. Interestingly, the regulation of brain NKCC1 by seizures demonstrated regional specificity, as protein levels exclusively increased in the hippocampus and hypothalamus. Complementary real-time PCR analysis revealed that NKCC1 regulation was post-transcriptional only in the hypothalamus. In addition, seizures also modulated GAD67 mRNA levels in a brain region-specific manner. The increased GAD67 expression in the hippocampus and hypothalamus of the epileptic hamster brain suggests that NKCC1 upregulation overlaps with GABA release in these regions during seizures. Conclusions: Our results indicate that seizure induction causes dysregulation of NKCC1 expression in GASH/Sal animals, which overlaps with changes in GABA release. These observations provide evidence for the critical role of NKCC1 in how seizures affect neuronal excitability, and support NKCC1 contribution to the development of secondary foci of epileptogenic activity.

Mathematical modelling of the waning of anti-RBD IgG SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers after a two-dose BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination.

Background: After exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and/or vaccination there is an increase in serum antibody titers followed by a non-linear waning. Our aim was to find out if this waning of antibody titers would fit to a mathematical model. Methods: We analyzed anti-RBD (receptor binding domain) IgG antibody titers and the breakthrough infections over a ten-month period following the second dose of the mRNA BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNtech.) vaccine, in a cohort of 54 health-care workers (HCWs) who were either never infected with SARS-CoV-2 (naïve, nHCW group, n=27) or previously infected with the virus (experienced, eHCW group, n=27). Two mathematical models, exponential and power law, were used to quantify antibody waning kinetics, and we compared the relative quality of the goodness of fit to the data between both models was compared using the Akaik Information Criterion. Results: We found that the waning slopes were significantly more pronounced for the naïve when compared to the experienced HCWs in exponential (p-value: 1.801E-9) and power law (p-value: 9.399E-13) models. The waning of anti-RBD IgG antibody levels fitted significantly to both exponential (average-R2: 0.957 for nHCW and 0.954 for eHCW) and power law (average-R2: 0.991 for nHCW and 0.988 for eHCW) models, with a better fit to the power law model. In the nHCW group, titers would descend below an arbitrary 1000-units threshold at a median of 210.6 days (IQ range: 74.2). For the eHCW group, the same risk threshold would be reached at 440.0 days (IQ range: 135.2) post-vaccination. Conclusion: Two parsimonious models can explain the anti-RBD IgG antibody titer waning after vaccination. Regardless of the model used, eHCWs have lower waning slopes and longer persistence of antibody titers than nHCWs. Consequently, personalized vaccination booster schedules should be implemented according to the individual persistence of antibody levels.

Influence of past infection with SARS-CoV-2 on the response to the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in health care workers: Kinetics and durability of the humoral immune response.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are an invaluable resource against COVID-19. Current vaccine shortage makes it necessary to prioritize distribution to the most appropriate segments of the population. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study of 63 health care workers (HCWs) from a General Hospital. We compared antibody responses to two doses of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine between HCWs with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection (experienced HCWs) and HCWs without previous infection (naïve HCWs). FINDINGS: Seven days after the first vaccine dose, HCWs with previous infection experienced a 126-fold increase in antibody levels (p<0·001). However, in the HCW naïve group, response was much lower and only five showed positive antibody levels (>50 AU). After the second dose, no significant increase in antibody levels was found in experienced HCWs, whereas in naïve HCWs, levels increased by 16-fold (p<0·001). Approximately two months post-vaccination, antibody levels were much lower in naïve HCWs compared to experienced HCWs (p<0·001). INTERPRETATION: The study shows that at least ten months post-COVID-19 infection, the immune system is still capable of producing a rapid and powerful secondary antibody response following one single vaccine dose. Additionally, we found no further improvement in antibody response to the second dose in COVID-19 experienced HCWs. Nonetheless, two months later, antibody levels were still higher for experienced HCWs. These data suggest that immune memory persists in recovered individuals; therefore, the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in this group could be postponed until immunization of the remaining population is complete.

Anti-tumour activity of deer growing antlers and its potential applications in the treatment of malignant gliomas.

A recent study showed that antlers have evolved a high rate of growth due to the expression of proto-oncogenes and that they have also evolved to express several tumour suppressor genes to control the risk of cancer. This may explain why deer antler velvet (DAV) extract shows anti-tumour activity. The fast growth of antler innervation through the velvet in close association to blood vessels provides a unique environment to study the fast but non-cancerous proliferation of heterogeneous cell populations. We set out to study the anti-cancer effect of DAV in glioblastoma (GB) cell lines in comparison with temozolomide, a chemotherapeutic drug used to treat high-grade brain tumours. Here we report, for the first time, that DAV extract from the tip, but not from mid-parts of the antler, exhibits an anti-tumour effect in GB cell lines (T98G and A172) while being non-toxic in non-cancerous cell lines (HEK293 and HACAT). In T98G cells, DAV treatment showed reduced proliferation (37.5%) and colony-formation capacity (84%), inhibited migration (39%), induced changes in cell cycle progression, and promoted apoptosis. The anticancer activity of DAV extract as demonstrated by these results may provide a new therapeutic strategy for GB treatment.

Gastrointestinal manifestations in Satoyoshi syndrome: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Satoyoshi syndrome (SS) [OMIM 600705; ORFHA 3130] is a multisystemic disease with a probable autoimmune basis, whose main symptoms are muscle spasms, alopecia, diarrhea and skeletal alterations. Chronic diarrhea may be severe and result in malnutrition, anemia, growth retardation, cachexia, disability and even death. However, to date, no review of the digestive symptoms has been carried out. METHODS: A search was performed in MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science databases. Cases of SS, without language or date restrictions, were recorded. Sixty-seven cases of SS were found up until December 2019. Thirty-nine cases described gastrointestinal manifestations. RESULTS: Chronic diarrhea was the main digestive symptom (92.3%). Other symptoms such as abdominal pain (15.4%), nausea (7.7%) and vomiting (7.7%), were less frequent. The D-xylose test was positive in 10 out of 12 patients, and 9 out of 13 cases showed a flattened oral glucose tolerance test suggesting carbohydrate malabsorption. Antinuclear antibodies were detected in 8 out of 16 cases. Antibodies to stomach or duodenum tissue lysates were also detected by Western blot. Histological data revealed predominantly lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate that can affect any section of the digestive tract. In 6 out of 10 patients, diarrhea improved with a treatment regimen that included corticosteroids. Other treatments, such as methotrexate, carbohydrate restricted diets or otilonium bromide, improved digestive symptoms in isolated patients. Improvement of symptoms up to three years of follow-up has been described. None of the three patients who died had received corticosteroids or immunosuppressants. CONCLUSION: Chronic diarrhea with malabsorption is one of the most disabling symptoms in SS. The early recognition of this disease is essential for immunosuppressive treatment and a better outcome.

Treatment of Satoyoshi syndrome: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Satoyoshi syndrome is a multisystemic rare disease of unknown etiology, although an autoimmune basis is presumed. Its main symptoms are: painful muscle spasms, diarrhea, alopecia and skeletal abnormalities. Clinical course without treatment may result in serious disability or death. A review of treatment and its response is still pending. RESULTS: Sixty-four cases of Satoyoshi syndrome were published between 1967 and 2018. 47 cases described the treatment administered. Drugs used can be divided into two main groups of treatment: muscle relaxants/anticonvulsants, and corticosteroids/immunosuppressants. Dantrolene improved muscle symptoms in 13 out of 15 cases, but not any other symptoms of the disease. Other muscle relaxants or anticonvulsant drugs showed little or no effect. 28 out of 30 cases responded to a regimen that included costicosteroids. Other immunosuppressive drugs including cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, methotrexate, tacrolimus and cyclophosphamide were used to decrease corticosteroid dose or improve efficacy. Immunoglobulin therapy was used in nine patients and four of them obtained a favorable response. CONCLUSION: Corticosteroids was the most widely treatment employed with the best results in Satoyoshi syndrome. Further studies are needed to determine optimal dose and duration of corticosteroids as well as the role of other immunosuppressants and immunoglobulin therapy. Genetic or autoimmune markers will be useful to guide future therapies.

Detection of human vital signs in hazardous environments by means of video magnification.

In cases of natural disasters, epidemics or even in dangerous situations like an act of terrorism, battle fields, a shooting or a mountain accident, finding survivors is a challenge. In these kind of situations it is sometimes critical to know if a person has vital signs or not, without the need to be in contact with the victim, thus avoiding jeopardizing the lives of the rescue workers. In this work, we propose the use of video magnification techniques to detect small movements in human bodies due to breathing that are invisible to the naked eye. Two different video magnification techniques, intensity-based and phase-based, were tested. The utility of these techniques to detect people who are alive but injured in risk situations was verified by simulating a scene with three people involved in an accident. Several factors such as camera stability, distance to the object, light conditions, magnification factor or computing time were analyzed. The results obtained were quite positive for both techniques, intensity-based method proving more adequate if the interest is in almost instant results whereas the phase-based method is more appropriate if processing time is not so relevant but the degree of magnification without excessive image noise.