Sub-millimeter precise photon interaction position determination in large monolithic scintillators via convolutional neural network algorithms.

In this work, we present the development and application of a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based algorithm to precisely determine the interaction position ofγ-quanta in large monolithic scintillators. Those are used as an absorber component of a Compton camera (CC) system under development for ion beam range verification via prompt-gamma imaging. We examined two scintillation crystals: LaBr3:Ce and CeBr3. Each crystal had dimensions of 50.8 mm × 50.8 mm × 30 mm and was coupled to a 64-fold segmented multi-anode photomultiplier tube (PMT) with an 8 × 8 pixel arrangement. We determined the spatial resolution for three photon energies of 662, 1.17 and 1.33 MeV obtained from 2D detector scans with tightly collimated137Cs and60Co photon sources. With the new algorithm we achieved a spatial resolution for the CeBr3 crystal below 1.11(8) mm and below 0.98(7) mm for the LaBr3:Ce detector for all investigated energies between 662 keV and 1.33 MeV. We thereby improved the performance by more than a factor of 2.5 compared to the previously used categorical average pattern algorithm, which is a variation of the well-established k-nearest neighbor algorithm. The trained CNN has a low memory footprint and enables the reconstruction of up to 104events per second with only one GPU. Those improvements are crucial on the way to future clinicalin vivoapplicability of the CC for ion beam range verification.

Acute immune trobocytopenic purpura in pregnant adolescent.

OBJECTIVE: The article reviews the causes of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy and the basic examination scheme. Further, it deals in more details with diagnosis of immune thromocytopenic purpura (ITP) and presents a case report of a rare case of acute severe ITP in pregnant adolescent. DESIGN: Review article and case report. SETTINGS: Department Obstet/Gynecol Uni J. A. Purkyně and Masaryk´s Hospital, Ústí nad Labem; Children and adolescent dep. Hospital Most; Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion Prague; Department of Children Med. Uni J. A. Purkyně and Masaryk´s Hospital, Ústí nad Labem; Department of Clinic Hematology Masaryk´s Hospital, Ústí nad Labem; Department of Neonatology Uni J. A. Purkyně and Masaryk´s Hospital, Ústí nad Labem. METHODS: Based on a review of the published papers, general rules for diagnosis, treatment, fetal risks, pregnancy management and labor in women with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) are given. Further we present the case of a 16-year-old pregnant girl with an acute severe form of ITP not responding to corticosteroid treatment who underwent twice critical decline of platelets up to 1×109 and repeatedly it was necessary to access the application of IVIG and Azathioprim (Imuran) was also used in her treatment. Pregnancy was unplanned terminated for dg. placental abortion in gestational age 32+4.The girl of 1740 g/42 cm was born with Apgar score 10-10-10 with no signs of thrombocytopenia. Surgery and postoperative course in the mother without complications. The newborn was discharged from the hospital into home care at a gestational age of 36+1 along with his mother. RESULTS: We present a case of acute severe form of ITP in pregnancy with a successful though somewhat dramatic end. CONCLUSIONS: These rare cases are demanding in terms of logistical, personnel and material provision. The aim of the treatment is to achieve a satisfactory maturity of the fetus, the treatment is financially demanding and is not without risks. Therefore, these cases should only be dealt with at Perinatology Centers in close cooperation with hematologists and neonatologists.

[Pregnancy in women with congenital bleeding disorder]. / Gravidita u pacientek s vrozenou krvácivou chorobou.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: To highlight the risks associated with pregnancy at women with von Willebrand´s disease or hemophilia. Introduce the rules of multidisciplinary prenatal and peripartal care to minimalize these risks. The article is accompanied by case report where maladministration led to fatal consequences for the newborn. DESIGN: Review and case report.Seatings: Department Obstetric and Gynecology UJEP and Masaryk´s Hospital Ústí n/Labem, Institute Haematology and Blood Transfer Prague, Children´s Haemato-onkology Clinic University Hospital Prague Motol.Coclusions: The pregnancy in both above-mentioned diseases is risky. The close multidisciplinary collaboration is required.

[Burkitt lymphoma in pregnancy--case report]. / Burkittuv lymfom v tehotenství--kazuistika.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to show the possible variations of early symptoms of haematological malignity during pregnancy and to summarize data about treatment modalities and possible management of gravidity in case of the disease. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and gynaecology, Charles University, 2nd Medical Faculty; 1st internal clinic - department of hematology, Charles University, 1st Medical Faculty, Prague. METHODS: Pubmed database was searched between years 1989 and 2009. The data we used focused on non- Hodgkin's lymphomas diagnosed during pregnancy, especially on Burkitt lymphoma. The treatment modalities, neonate outcomes and prognosis of the mothers were emphasised. CONCLUSION: The diagnostics of haematological malignities in pregnancy is difficult. The most frequent symptoms are subfebris, fever of unknown etiology, lymphadenopathy, night sweats, infirmity and the weight lost. According to the literature the Burkitt lymphoma is potencialy currable disease during pregnancy. The close cooperation of the gynecologists and hematooncologists and the individualization of treatment based on the stage of pregnancy, localization of the tumorous mass and the agresivity of disease is needed.

Adhesive bowel strangulation after caesarean section, the rare puerperal complication.

Caesarean section is the most frequent abdominal operation carried out in obstetric practice. Parturients undergoing this operation are still exposed to a substantial rate of short- and long-term complications. The incidence of re-laparotomy after caesarean section is 0.12-0.70%. The most common indication for re-laparotomy is intra-abdominal bleeding, uterine atony, eventration, haematoma in the muscle and intra-abdominal abscesses. We present the case report of an unusual life-threatening complication of caesarean section that led to re-laparotomy. Caesarean section rate has been continually increasing globally in the last few decades, thus we also have to take into account unusual complications e.g. intestinal complication.

Identification of the novel allele HLA-A*9237 in peripheral blood of a bone marrow donor.

The new HLA-A*9237 differs from HLA-A*020601 by one nonsynonymous nucleotide exchange at codon 127 (AAA to AAC).

[The effect of substitution therapy on the birth weight of the newborn, its postpartum adaptation, trophic and course of the neonatal abstinence syndrome]. / Vliv substitucní terapie na porodní hmotnost novorozence, poporodní adaptaci, trofiku a prubeh abstinencního syndromu novorozence.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the effect of substitution therapy on the birth weight of the newborn, its postpartum adaptation and course of the neonatal abstinence syndrome. DESIGN OF THE STUDY: A three-year prospective study. SETTING: The Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Teaching Hospital and the 2nd Medical Faculty of the Charles University, Prague. METHODS: This prospective study was carried out in the period of 2005-2007. Included in the study were heroin-addicted pregnant women and pregnant women who undergoing methadone and buprenorphine substitution therapy. During the 3 years we followed-up 47 heroin-addicted women and 60 women under substitution therapy for prenatal screening. Of this number, 36 pregnant women were methadone-substituted and 24 buprenorphine-substituted. Individual groups were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test. Correlation of dichotomic variables was evaluated by means of longlinear models. Calculations were done by means of NCSS 2002 statistical software (Number Cruncher Statistical Systems, Kaysville, UT, USA). RESULTS: Statistically birth weight of newborns was significantly lowest in the group of heroin-addicted women as compared to the group receiving substitution with buprenorphine p<0.01 and as compared to the group of methadone-substituted patients p<0.05. Having monitores changes in the placenta the statistically highest number of changes was exhibited by heroin users, both when compared to methadone users (p<0.01) and buprenorphine users (p<0.001). The highest statistically significant number of newborns with IUGR symptoms were born to heroin-addicted women. The lowest Apgar score was recorded in all three evaluations in the group of buprenorphine users and the highest in methadone-substituted women. CONCLUSION: Substitution therapy provides pregnant women with the possibility of social stabilization, adaptation, and adequate prenatal care. With regard to the fact that methadone substitution protracts the newborn's abstinence syndrome, attention has been recently focused on substitution with buprenorphine that seems to be a more considerate option, from this point of view.

[Socioeconomic datas, the course of pregnancy and delivery in opioid-addicted women and women under substitution therapy]. / Socioekonomická data, prubeh tehotenství a porodu u zen záivislých na opioidech a na substitucní terapii.

OBJECTIVE: Mapping of the socioeconomic background of opioid-addicted pregnant women and women included in substitution therapy. Determination of the effect of substitution on the course of pregnancy and delivery in drug-addicted pregnant women. DESIGN OF THE STUDY: A three-year prospective study. SETTING: The Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Teaching Hospital and the 2nd Medical Faculty of the Charles University Prague. METHODS: During the 3 years we followed-up 47 heroin-addicted women and 60 women under substitution therapy for prenatal screening. Of this number, 36 pregnant women were methadone-substituted and 24 buprenorphine-substituted. All women were screened for socioeconomic indicators, for duration of pregnancy, weight gain during pregnancy, number of visits in the prenatal centre, complications associated with intravenous application of drugs and the way of delivery. Individual groups were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test. Correlation of dichotomic variables was evaluated by means of longlinear models. Calculations were done by means of NCSS 2002 statistical software. RESULTS: Statistically, the age of heroin-dependent women is significantly lower as compared to women receiving substitution therapy. Unemployment was statistically significantly higher in the group using heroin as compared to both groups of women receiving substitution therapy (p < 0.001). Attending the prenatal centre were all buprenorphine-substituted women, 14 of 44 heroin-addicted women and 32 of 36 methadone-ubstituted women. Statistically no significant difference was found when comparing duration of pregnancy of heroin-addicted women and the buprenorphine- or methadone substituted women. Weight gain during pregnancy was statistically significantly higher in the buprenorphine users as compared to the heroin users (p < 0.01) as well as with the methadone users (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Clients in substitution programme stabilized in the long run often start to work, complete their education and are able to be involved in normal social activities. In these women, pregnancy is significantly more often wanted and planned, as well. As a result they have a responsible approach to the prenatal care.

[Ursodeoxycholic acid, S-adenosyl-L-methionine and their combinations in the treatment of gestational intrahepatic cholestasis (ICP)]. / Kyselina ursodeoxycholová, S-adenosyl-L-metionin a jejich kombinace v lécbe tehotenské intrahepatálnfí cholestázy (ICP).

UNLABELLED: SEATING: Department of Obstet. Gynecol., 2nd Medical School Charles University and Teaching Hospital Motol, Prague, Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Prague, Department of Clin. Bioch. General Teaching Hospital and 1st Medical School, Charles University Prague, Czech Republic. AIM OF THE STUDY: To compare the efficacy of the monotherapy with ursodeoxycholic acid and S- adenosyl-L-methione with combined effect of both drugs in the treatment in pregnant women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. METHODOLOGY: All women with singleton pregnancy at <36 weeks of gestation with moderate or severe form of ICP during January 1999 to June 2005 were enrolled. All were randomly assigned oral ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) 3 x 250 mg daily or 500mg S-adenosyl-L-methione (SAMe) twice daily in slow running infusion for twelve days ongoing oral 500 mg twice daily until delivery. Haematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated every week. Intensive monitoring of the fetus with cardiotocography and utrasound were accompanied. RESULTS: Of the 78 women enrolled, 25 received SAMe and 26 UDCA monotherapy. 27 women received combined therapy with both drugs. At enrolment, gestational age, duration of therapy, parity and biochemical characteristics were similar in the groups. All types of therapy improve the pruritus. The combined therapy and the monotherapy with UDCA led to improving of the serum concentrations of bile acids, asparate aminotranspherase, alanine aminotranspherase compared with monotherapy with SAMe. The differencies were statisticaly significant (p>0.01). The combined therapy led to quicker decrease of serum concentrations of bile acids and transaminases compared with UDCA monotherapy, however the results are only of borderline statistical significance. Gestational age at the time of labor and rate of prematurity were similar in all groups. No adverse effects were noted on the fetuses or neonates with either therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Ursodeoxycholic acid is effective in improving the biochemical parametres during the treatment of ICP. There is probably the synergistic effect with S adenosyl-L-methione. Whether the successful treatment influence the conditions of the fetus is not clear. The good perinatal outocome is probably more due to the precise monitoring of the intrauterine well-being of the fetus.

[Reimplantation of heart valve prosthesis at the 25th week of gestation]. / Reimplantace umelé srdecní chlopne ve 25. týdnu tehotenství.

OBJECTIVE: Pregnancy in a woman with thrombosis of heart valve prosthesis at the 25th week of gestation and fetal death during reimplantation of prosthesis with the use of extracorporeal circulation. SUBJECT: Case report. SETTING: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 2nd Medical Faculty of Charles University, Motol Hospital, Prague. SUBJECT AND METHOD: Patient L. S., 24 years old, first pregnancy, admitted to coronary heart unit at the 25th week of gestation with a blocked heart valve prosthesis, NYHA IV, left heart failure, and pulmonary edema. There was an insufficient anticoagulation therapy during pregnancy and a thrombosis of the prosthetic heart valve was suspected from that reason. Reimplantation of a prosthetic heart valve with the use of extracorporeal circulation was indicated in spite of a possible risk for the fetus. The thrombosis was confirmed during cardio surgical operation and a change of the prosthesis was successfully performed. After the patient was converted to extracorporeal circulation, bradycardia and intrauterine fetal death occurred. With regard to the patient's coagulation and circulatory instability, further management was necessary because of fetal death--termination of pregnancy by minor caesarean section was the only alternative. Six hours later an 850 g weight dead fetus was delivered. There were no serious complications during the postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Reimplantation of a prosthetic heart valve from vital indication was performed at the 25th week of gestation. After conversion of mother to extracorporeal circulation, fetal death occurred. The patients was released with satisfactory cardiopulmonal compensation.

[Left ventricular dysfunction in Churg-Strauss syndrome]. / Linksventrikuläre Dysfunktion im Rahmen von Churg-Strauss-Syndrom.

Churg-Strauss syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by hypereosinophilia and a systemic vasculitis occurring inpatients with asthma and allergic rhinitis. Vasculitis commonly affects the lungs, the heart, the skin, and the peripheral nervous system. Cardiac involvement is characterized by acute and constrictive pericarditis, myocarditis and endocarditis, as well as ischemic cardiomyopathy. Endomyocardial fibrosis similar to Loeffler's syndrome has been rarely described. In the presented case, a 43 year old man with a history of allergy and asthma suffered from increasing dyspnea, fever, pulmonary infiltates and cardiomyopathy. Laboratory studies were notable for marked hypereosinophilia. In a bronchoscopic lavage and transbronchial biopsy eosinophilic infiltrates accompanied by vasculitis were found, Churg-Strauss syndrome was diagnosed. Echocardiogram showed endomyocardial deposits in the apex of the right ventricle, right ventricular function was normal particular in the basal segments. The left ventricle was slightly enlarged and left ventricular function was impaired. The diastolic mitral in-flow showed a restrictive pattern. Additionally, a pericardial effusion was observed without signs of tamponade. The patient received corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide and cardiomyopathy-specific therapy and showed a marked improvement after 4 months.

[Pregnancy in myelodysplastic syndrome]. / Gravidita pri myelodysplastickém syndromeu.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the influence of myelodysplastic syndromee (MDS) on the course of pregnancy and delivery. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Gynecological and Obstetric Department 1st Medical Faculty Charles University and General Faculty Hospital, Prague. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The authors analyze their experience with the course of pregnancy and delivery in a patient with MDS and refractory anaemia who was treated on account of the disease for several years before pregnancy in the Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion. Pregnancy was not associated with progression of the basic disease and complications which developed during pregnancy were not associated with MDS. Pregnancy was terminated in this patient on account of preeclampsia gravis per sectionem caesarean by delivery of a healthy foetus. CONCLUSION: The example draws attention to a serious haematological disease while during pregnancy and delivery deterioration of the basic disease was not observed.

[Placental and umbilical cord changes in drug-addicted women]. / Placentární a pupecníkové zmeny u zen závislých na tvrdých drogách.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to gauge the impact of drugs on placental changes in heroin and pervitin addict pregnant women as one of the influence factors supporting the lower birth-weight of the neonate. DESIGN OF THE STUDY: Prospective study. SETTING: The Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics and the Department of Pathology of the General Teaching Hospital and the 1st Medical Faculty of Charles University in Prague. METHODS: The drugs-addict pregnant women were included in the study in the period between January 1998 till the end of the year 2000. We succeeded to concentrate in total 39 drug abused pregnant women and 39 their placentas and umbilical cords were examined (19 heroin and 20 pervitin addict). The placentas were sent for the histological examination in total without the chemical fixation. There were 3 placental samples, 2 cord and 2 membranes samples examined. The controls groups were formed by non-abused pregnant women and their placentas by method of accidental choice. RESULTS: We found the statistically significant higher incidence of placental and cords abnormalities in among the addict women compared to their non abused controls (P < 0.05). In heroin addict group in 16 from 19 cases were the abnormalities present. We registrated increased intervillous and perivillous microfibrin deposits (6 times), an increased number of trophoblastic proliferation buds (7 times) increased vascularization of the villi (7 times) mikrovilli (6 times) and their necrosis (5 times). In umbilical cord we enregistered in 3 cases the only one artery, in two case the thrombosis of the vein. In 5 cases we also found the signs of infection. In pervitin addict group we registered placental changes in 9 from 20 cases. The majority of them presented as increased microfibrin deposits on the surface and also in the choriotic board (9 times), in five cases we enregistered the intervillous haemorrhage manifested in 2 cases clinically as abruption of placenta. The placental changes participate in low birth weight of neonates, IUGR and the abbreviation of the gestational duration. CONCLUSION: The microscopic changes in placenta is the expression of the circulatory disorder during the attack of the drug. They are not four-square specific, rather quantitatively expressed. In heroin abused women is the incidence of placental changes much more higher comparing to pervitin-addict. Heroin led more frequently to preterm labour, lower birth-weight and IUGR. The pervitin-addict mothers are higher risk of placental abruption.

[Identification of high risk patients with severe, but asymptomatic aortic stenosis]. / Identifizierung von Hochrisikopatienten bei schwerer, aber symptomfreier Aortenstenose.

Whether asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis benefit from surgery remains unclear. We report our data recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine on the natural history of this disease and predictors of outcome.

Presence of human beta- and gamma-herpes virus DNA in Hodgkin's disease.

Herpes viruses have been implicated in the etiology of Hodgkin's disease (HD). We studied the prevalence of human cytomegalovirus (CMV), human herpes viruses type-6 (HHV-6), type-7 (HHV-7) and type 8 (HHV-8) DNA in up to 88 Hodgkin's disease biopsies in comparison to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) and reactive lesions served as controls. CMV and HHV-6 were found in 8/86 (9%) and 11/88 (13%) HD cases, respectively, by nested primer PCR. Except for three cases harbouring HHV-6 type-B, only HHV-6 type-A was detected in HD. HHV-7 was observed by nested PCR in 33/88 (38%) HD cases and was already detectable in 15/88 (17%) HD cases by a single-round PCR indicating elevated virus copy numbers. Seven of these cases showed co-infection with HHV-6, and 11 cases were found to contain EBV DNA. 7/8 CMV-positive HD cases also harboured EBV DNA. HHV-8 DNA was not detected by single round or nested PCR in any HD case investigated. Thus, CMV, HHV-6, and HHV-7 were present in small proportions of HD cases, with frequent co-infection of HHV-6 and HHV-7, and frequent association with EBV. In contrast to EBV, beta-herpes viruses are therefore unlikely to have a role in the aetiology of HD. Rather, the presence of these viruses seems to reflect impaired immunological surveillance.

Predictors of outcome in severe, asymptomatic aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Whether to perform valve replacement in patients with asymptomatic but severe aortic stenosis is controversial. Therefore, we studied the natural history of this condition to identify predictors of outcome. METHODS: During 1994, we identified 128 consecutive patients with asymptomatic, severe aortic stenosis (59 women and 69 men; mean [+/-SD] age, 60+/-18 years; aortic-jet velocity, 5.0+/-0.6 m per second). The patients were prospectively followed until 1998. RESULTS: Follow-up information was available for 126 patients (98 percent) for a mean of 22+/-18 months. Event-free survival, with the end point defined as death (8 patients) or valve replacement necessitated by the development of symptoms (59 patients), was 67+/-5 percent at one year, 56+/-5 percent at two years, and 33+/-5 percent at four years. Five of the six deaths from cardiac disease were preceded by symptoms. According to multivariate analysis, only the extent of aortic-valve calcification was an independent predictor of outcome, whereas age, sex, and the presence or absence of coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia were not. Event-free survival for patients with no or mild valvular calcification was 92+/-5 percent at one year, 84+/-8 percent at two years, and 75+/-9 percent at four years, as compared with 60+/-6 percent, 47+/-6 percent, and 20+/-5 percent, respectively, for those with moderate or severe calcification. The rate of progression of stenosis, as reflected by the aortic-jet velocity, was significantly higher in patients who had cardiac events (0.45+/-0.38 m per second per year) than those who did not have cardiac events (0.14+/-0.18 m per second per year, P<0.001), and the rate of progression of stenosis provided useful prognostic information. Of the patients with moderately or severely calcified aortic valves whose aortic-jet velocity increased by 0.3 m per second or more within one year, 79 percent underwent surgery or died within two years of the observed increase. CONCLUSIONS: In asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis, it appears to be relatively safe to delay surgery until symptoms develop. However, outcomes vary widely. The presence of moderate or severe valvular calcification, together with a rapid increase in aortic-jet velocity, identifies patients with a very poor prognosis. These patients should be considered for early valve replacement rather than have surgery delayed until symptoms develop.