Circulating thyroid hormones and clinical parameters of heart failure in men.

Heart failure (HF) is a multiple hormonal deficiency syndrome which includes alterations in the serum concentration of thyroid hormones (TH). This cross-sectional study enrolled 215 male patients hospitalised for acute HF. Data on cardiovascular risk factors, chronic medications, cardiac function assessed by echocardiography, and clinical parameters of HF were prospectively collected. The independent predictive association of TH with all investigated parameters of the HF severity were assessed. The patient's mean age was 74.4 years, 57.2% had arterial hypertension, 54.0% were consuming alcohol, and 42.3% were diabetics. Multivariate analysis revealed that total triiodothyronine (TT3) was an independent predictor of greater left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; ß = 0.223, p = 0.008), less progressed left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD; ß = - 0.271, p = 0.001) and lower N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP; ß = - 0.365, p < 0.001). None of the TH other than TT3 was associated with LVDD or NT-proBNP, whereas free triiodothyronine (ß = - 0.197, p = 0.004), free thyroxine (ß = - 0.223, p = 0.001) and total thyroxine (ß = - 0.140, p = 0.041) were inversely associated with LVEF. The present study suggests that, among TH, serum TT3 level is most closely associated with echocardiographic, laboratory and clinical parameters of the severity of HF in men.

Head-tracking as an interface device for image control in digital pathology: a comparative study / Reconocimiento facial como interfaz de usuario para el manejo de la imagen en patología digital: un estudio comparativo

BACKGROUND: Inasmuch as the conventional mouse is not an ideal input device for digital pathology, the aim of this study was to evaluate alternative systems with the goal of identifying a natural user interface (NUI) for controlling whole slide images (WSI). DESIGN: Four pathologists evaluated three webcam-based, head-tracking mouse emulators: Enable Viacam (eViacam, CREA Software), Nouse (JLG Health Solutions Inc), and Camera Mouse (CM Solutions Inc). Twenty WSI dermatopathological cases were randomly selected and examined with Image Viewer (Ventana, AZ, USA). The NASA-TLX was used to rate the perceived workload of using these systems and time was recorded. In addition, a satisfaction survey was used. RESULTS: The mean total time needed for diagnosis with Camera Mouse, eViacam, and Nouse was 18'57", 19'37" and 22'32", respectively (57/59/68seconds per case, respectively). The NASA-TLX workload score, where lower scores are better, was 42.1 for eViacam, 53.3 for Nouse and 60.62 for Camera Mouse. This correlated with the pathologists' degree of satisfaction on a scale of 1-5: 3.4 for eViacam, 3 for Nouse, and 2 for Camera Mouse (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Head-tracking systems enable pathologists to control the computer cursor and virtual slides without their hands using only a webcam as an input device. - Of the three software solutions examined, eViacam seems to be the best of those evaluated in this study, followed by Nouse and, finally, Camera Mouse. - Further studies integrating other systems should be performed in conjunction with software developments to identify the ideal device for digital pathology

INTRODUCCIÓN: Considerando que el ratón convencional no es el controlador ideal en patología digital, el objetivo del estudio fue evaluar sistemas alternativos y tratar de identificar una interfaz natural de usuario para controlar preparaciones digitalizadas. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Cuatro patólogos evaluaron tres emuladores de ratón con reconocimiento facial a través de webcam: eViacam, Nouse y Camera Mouse. Se seleccionaron 20 casos digitalizados de dermatopatología aleatoriamente para su diagnóstico, empleando el software Image Viewer (Ventana, AZ, USA). Se utilizó el sistema NASA-TLX para registrar la carga de trabajo percibida y se grabaron los tiempos. Adicionalmente, se empleó un cuestionario de satisfacción. RESULTADOS: El tiempo medio requerido para diagnosticar con Camera Mouse, eViacam y Nouse fue de 18'57", 19'37"y 22'32", respectivamente (57/59/68 segundos por caso, respectivamente). La carga de trabajo NASA-TLX, donde registros menores implican menor carga, fue de 42,1 para eViacam, 53,3 para Nouse y 60,62 para Camera Mouse, correlacionándose con el grado de satisfacción de los patólogos en una escala de 1-5: 3,4 para eViacam (3,4), Nouse (3) y Camera Mouse (2) (p < 0,05). CONCLUSIONES: El reconocimiento facial posibilita a los patólogos el control del cursor y las preparaciones virtuales sin utilizar las manos, empleando únicamente una webcam como dispositivo de entrada. - De los tres sistemas, eViacam es el mejor software evaluado en este estudio, seguido de Nouse y, finalmente, de Camera Mouse. - Deben ser desarrollados estudios adicionales, integrando otros sistemas, en conjunción con el desarrollo de software para alcanzar el sistema ideal en patología digital

Head-tracking as an interface device for image control in digital pathology: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Inasmuch as the conventional mouse is not an ideal input device for digital pathology, the aim of this study was to evaluate alternative systems with the goal of identifying a natural user interface (NUI) for controlling whole slide images (WSI). DESIGN: Four pathologists evaluated three webcam-based, head-tracking mouse emulators: Enable Viacam (eViacam, CREA Software), Nouse (JLG Health Solutions Inc), and Camera Mouse (CM Solutions Inc). Twenty WSI dermatopathological cases were randomly selected and examined with Image Viewer (Ventana, AZ, USA). The NASA-TLX was used to rate the perceived workload of using these systems and time was recorded. In addition, a satisfaction survey was used. RESULTS: The mean total time needed for diagnosis with Camera Mouse, eViacam, and Nouse was 18'57", 19'37" and 22'32", respectively (57/59/68seconds per case, respectively). The NASA-TLX workload score, where lower scores are better, was 42.1 for eViacam, 53.3 for Nouse and 60.62 for Camera Mouse. This correlated with the pathologists' degree of satisfaction on a scale of 1-5: 3.4 for eViacam, 3 for Nouse, and 2 for Camera Mouse (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Head-tracking systems enable pathologists to control the computer cursor and virtual slides without their hands using only a webcam as an input device. - Of the three software solutions examined, eViacam seems to be the best of those evaluated in this study, followed by Nouse and, finally, Camera Mouse. - Further studies integrating other systems should be performed in conjunction with software developments to identify the ideal device for digital pathology.

A novel simulator model and standardized assessment tools for fine needle aspiration cytology training.

OBJECTIVES: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is an invaluable diagnostic procedure for evaluation of lesions; however, acquisition of diagnostic material is dependent on the skill of the practitioner. We report a novel patient simulator for teaching the FNA procedure and structured assessment tools for educators and learners. METHODS: We created a novel simulator model for FNA training, employed a standardized teaching module, and assessed procedure utility in medical students. Groups of students completed training using a commercial version of the model, and underwent structured evaluation using an Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) form, and the Debriefing Assessment for Simulation in Healthcare (DASH) tool. RESULTS: In the initial phase, 178 students rated the training workshop between valuable and essential (4.2 on a 5-point Likert scale). In the second phase, for students evaluated with the OSATS form, the mean overall score was 33 out of 50 (range 26-43). The areas of weakness for the participants were: (a) compression after the FNA procedure, (b) completion of the informed consent, and (c) correct explanation of the procedure to the patient. For the group of students that completed the DASH questionnaire, the results were: 6.2 (assessment by students) and 6.7 (assessment by instructor) out of a maximum of 7. CONCLUSION: A realistic simulation model, in combination with a standardized training program with formal assessment methods is a valuable tool to teach FNA. We here describe a process for teaching the FNA procedure to interested educators and learners.