Survival benefits of interventional radiology and surgical teams collaboration during primary trauma surveys: a single-centre retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: A team approach is essential for effective trauma management. Close collaboration between interventional radiologists and surgeons during the initial management of trauma patients is important for prompt and accurate trauma care. This study aimed to determine whether trauma patients benefit from close collaboration between interventional radiology (IR) and surgical teams during the primary trauma survey. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted between 2014 and 2021 at a single institution. Patients were assigned to an embolization group (EG), a surgery group (SG), or a combination group (CG) according to their treatment. The primary and secondary outcomes were survival at hospital discharge compared with the probability of survival (Ps) and the time course of treatment. RESULTS: The analysis included 197 patients, consisting of 135 men and 62 women, with a median age of 56 [IQR, 38-72] years and an injury severity score of 20 [10-29]. The EG, SG, and CG included 114, 48, and 35 patients, respectively. Differences in organ injury patterns were observed between the three groups. In-hospital survival rates in all three groups were higher than the Ps. In particular, the survival rate in the CG was 15.5% higher than the Ps (95% CI: 7.5-23.6%; p < 0.001). In the CG, the median time for starting the initial procedure was 53 [37-79] min and the procedure times for IR and surgery were 48 [29-72] min and 63 [35-94] min, respectively. Those times were significantly shorter among three groups. CONCLUSION: Close collaboration between IR and surgical teams, including the primary survey, improves the survival of severe trauma patients who require both IR procedures and surgeries by improving appropriate treatment selection and reducing the time process.

The effect of participation of interventional radiology team in a primary trauma survey on patient outcome.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the survival benefits of a workflow in which an interventional radiology (IR) team participates in a primary trauma survey on patients with hemodynamically unstable trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted between 2012 and 2019 at a single institution. Patients who underwent an IR procedure as the initial hemostasis were assigned to the hemodynamically stable group (HSG) or hemodynamically unstable group (HUG). The primary and secondary outcomes were survival at hospital discharge compared with the probability of survival (Ps) and the time course. RESULTS: A total of 160 patients (100 men, 60 women; median age, 57.5 years [interquartile range (IQR): 31.5-72 years]) with an injury severity score of 24 (IQR: 13.75-34) were included. A total of 125 patients were included in the HSG group and 35 patients in the HUG group. The observational survival rate was significantly greater than the Ps rate by 4.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6-8.4%; P = 0.005) in HSG and by 24.6% in HUG (95% CI: 16.9-32.3%; P < 0.001). The observational survival rate was significantly greater than Ps in HUG than in HSG (P < 0.001). The median time to initiate IR procedures and the median procedure time in HUG were 54 min [IQR: 45-66 min] and 48 min [IQR: 30-85 min], respectively; both were significantly shorter than those in the HSG. CONCLUSION: A trauma workflow utilizing an IR team in a primary survey is associated with improved survival of patients with hemodynamically unstable trauma when compared with Ps with a shorter time course.

Global Wheat Head Detection 2021: An Improved Dataset for Benchmarking Wheat Head Detection Methods.

The Global Wheat Head Detection (GWHD) dataset was created in 2020 and has assembled 193,634 labelled wheat heads from 4700 RGB images acquired from various acquisition platforms and 7 countries/institutions. With an associated competition hosted in Kaggle, GWHD_2020 has successfully attracted attention from both the computer vision and agricultural science communities. From this first experience, a few avenues for improvements have been identified regarding data size, head diversity, and label reliability. To address these issues, the 2020 dataset has been reexamined, relabeled, and complemented by adding 1722 images from 5 additional countries, allowing for 81,553 additional wheat heads. We now release in 2021 a new version of the Global Wheat Head Detection dataset, which is bigger, more diverse, and less noisy than the GWHD_2020 version.

Global Wheat Head Detection (GWHD) Dataset: A Large and Diverse Dataset of High-Resolution RGB-Labelled Images to Develop and Benchmark Wheat Head Detection Methods.

The detection of wheat heads in plant images is an important task for estimating pertinent wheat traits including head population density and head characteristics such as health, size, maturity stage, and the presence of awns. Several studies have developed methods for wheat head detection from high-resolution RGB imagery based on machine learning algorithms. However, these methods have generally been calibrated and validated on limited datasets. High variability in observational conditions, genotypic differences, development stages, and head orientation makes wheat head detection a challenge for computer vision. Further, possible blurring due to motion or wind and overlap between heads for dense populations make this task even more complex. Through a joint international collaborative effort, we have built a large, diverse, and well-labelled dataset of wheat images, called the Global Wheat Head Detection (GWHD) dataset. It contains 4700 high-resolution RGB images and 190000 labelled wheat heads collected from several countries around the world at different growth stages with a wide range of genotypes. Guidelines for image acquisition, associating minimum metadata to respect FAIR principles, and consistent head labelling methods are proposed when developing new head detection datasets. The GWHD dataset is publicly available at http://www.global-wheat.com/and aimed at developing and benchmarking methods for wheat head detection.

Mapping of a major QTL associated with protein content on chromosome 2B in hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

A quantitative trait locus (QTL) controlling wheat grain protein content (GPC) and flour protein content (FPC) was identified using doubled haploid (DH) lines developed from a cross between the hard red winter wheat variety 'Yumechikara' with a high protein content used for bread making, and the soft red winter wheat 'Kitahonami' with a low protein content used for Japanese white salted noodles. A single major QTL, QGpc.2B-yume, was identified on the short arm of wheat chromosome 2B for both the GPC and FPC over 3 years of testing. QGpc.2B-yume was mapped on the flanking region of microsatellite marker Xgpw4382. The DH lines grouped by the haplotype of the closest flanking microsatellite marker Xgpw4382 showed differences of 1.0% and 1.1% in mean GPC and FPC, respectively. Yield-component-related traits were not affected by the haplotype of QGpc.2B-yume, and major North American hard red winter wheat varieties showed the high-protein haplotype. Unlike Gpc-B1 derived from tetraploid wheat, QGpc.2B-yume has no negative effects on yield-component-related traits and should be useful for wheat breeding to increase GPC and FPC.

Mapping a QTL conferring resistance to Fusarium head blight on chromosome 1B in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and the development of cultivars with FHB resistance is the most effective way to control the disease. Yumechikara is a Japanese hard red winter wheat cultivar that shows moderate resistance to FHB with superior bread-making quality. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for FHB resistance in Yumechikara, we evaluated doubled haploid lines derived from a cross between Yumechikara and a moderate susceptible cultivar, Kitahonami, for FHB resistance in a 5-year field trial, and we analyzed polymorphic molecular markers between the parents. Our analysis of these markers identified two FHB-resistance QTLs, one from Yumechikara and one from Kitahonami. The QTL from Yumechikara, which explained 36.4% of the phenotypic variation, was mapped on the distal region of chromosome 1BS, which is closely linked to the low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit gene Glu-B3 and the glume color gene Rg-B1. The other QTL (from Kitahonami) was mapped on chromosome 3BS, which explained 11.2% of the phenotypic variation. The close linkage between the FHB-resistance QTL on 1BS, Glu-B3 and Rg-B1 brings an additional value of simultaneous screening for both quality and FHB resistance using the glume color.

Dough properties and bread-making quality-related characteristics of Yumechikara near-isogenic wheat lines carrying different Glu-B3 alleles.

We investigated the relationships of three allelic variations in Glu-B3 (ab, g, and h) with dough properties and bread-making quality-related characteristics using near-isogenic lines (NILs) of 'Yumechikara' that commonly carry Glu-A1a, Glu-B1b, Glu-D1d, Glu-A3f, Glu-B3ab and Glu-D3a. Measurement of peak time (PT) in a 2-g mixograph indicated that Glu-B3g was the most effective for a strong dough property, followed by Glu-B3ab, with Glu-B3h being the least effective. The results of measurement of mixing time during bread-making were similar to those for PTs, i.e., the lines carrying Glu-B3g showed the longest mixing time, followed by those of Glu-B3ab, and those of Glu-B3h showed the shortest mixing time. Since two parameters of bread-making quality, loaf volume (LV) and specific loaf volume (SLV), were affected by flour protein contents in all groups of the Glu-B3 genotype, we compared the effects of the three Glu-B3 alleles on those parameters using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to remove the effect of protein content. The results indicated that the Glu-B3h group showed the largest SLV, followed by the Glu-B3ab group, and the Glu-B3g group showed the smallest SLV. These results suggest that the introduction of Glu-B3h into 'Yumechikara' makes it possible to breed varieties with good bread-making quality-related characteristics.

Preparation of calcium- and magnesium-fortified potato starches with altered pasting properties.

Calcium- and magnesium-fortified potato starches were prepared by immersion in various concentrations of CaCl2 and MgCl2 aqueous solutions, respectively. The pasting properties, i.e., peak viscosity and breakdown, of all the starches obtained above were analyzed using a Rapid Visco Analyzer. Furthermore, the gelatinization properties and in vitro digestibility of the representative calcium- and magnesium-fortified starches were tested. The maximum calcium content of the fortified potato starches was as high as 686 ppm with the addition of a high-concentration CaCl2 solution, while the calcium content of the control potato starch was 99 ppm. The magnesium content increased from 89 to 421 ppm by treatment of the potato starch with an MgCl2 solution. Markedly lower values of peak viscosity and breakdown were observed in calcium- and magnesium-fortified potato starches than in the control potato starch. However, the gelatinization temperature and enthalpy as well as resistant starch content of calcium- and magnesium-fortified potato starches were similar to those of the control potato starch. It is concluded that potato starches with altered pasting properties can be easily manufactured by the use of solutions containing high levels of calcium and magnesium.

Evaluation of fresh pasta-making properties of extra-strong common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

The relationship between characterictics of flour of common wheat varieties and fresh pasta-making qualitites was examined, and the fresh pasta-making properties of extra-strong varieties that have extra-strong dough were evaluated. There was a positive correlation between mixing time (PT) and hardness of boiled pasta, indicating that the hardness of boiled pasta was affected by dough properties. Boiled pasta made from extra-strong varieties, Yumechikara, Hokkai 262 and Hokkai 259, was harder than that from other varieties and commercial flour. There was a negative correlation between flour protein content and brightness of boiled pasta. The colors of boiled pasta made from Yumechikara and Hokkai 262 grown under the condition of standard manuring culture were superior to those of boiled pasta made from other varieties. Discoloration of boiled pasta made from Yumechikara grown under the condition of heavy manuring culture was caused by increase of flour protein content. On the other hand, discoloration of boiled pasta made from Hokkai 262 grown under the condition of heavy manuring culture was less than that of boiled pasta made from Yumechikara. These results indicate that pasta made from extra-strong wheat varieties has good hardness and that Hokkai 262 has extraordinary fresh pasta-making properties.

Relationship between the mismatch of 123I-BMIPP and 201Tl myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography and autonomic nervous system activity in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between the mismatch of thallium-201(Tl) and iodine-123-beta-methyl-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and autonomic nervous system activity in myocardial infarction (MI) patients. The subjects were 40 patients (34 males, 6 females) who underwent examinations by 123I-BMIPP and 201Tl myocardial SPECT imaging and 24-hour Holter monitoring within a 3-day period 3 weeks after the onset of their first MI. R-R intervals were analyzed every hour over a period of 24 hours by fast Fourier transformation (FFT). High frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) were defined as markers of cardiac vagal activity in the former and the LF/HF ratio as sympathetic activity. Greater or more extensive decreases in the BMIPP image than that in the Tl image were defined as a positive mismatch. Patients were divided into positive and negative mismatch groups of 20 patients each. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in age, sex, site of infarction, max CK (creatine kinase), max CK-MB, or left ventricular ejection fraction. The incidences of clinical signs suggesting residual myocardial ischemia were significantly greater in the positive than in the negative mismatch group (P < 0.05). The mean values for HF over the entire 24-hour period and over the 5-hour nocturnal period (0-5 AM) in the positive mismatch group were both significantly lower than those in the negative mismatch group (P < 0.001 in both groups). The 24-hour mean HF and mean nighttime HF in patients with signs of residual ischemia were both significantly lower than in those without signs of residual ischemia in the positive mismatch group (P < 0.05 in both groups). The mean LF/HF ratio for both the entire 24-hour and the nocturnal period in the positive mismatch group were significantly higher than those in the negative mismatch group (P < 0.001, P < 0.05, respectively). The daily profile of hourly HF measurements was significantly lower in the positive mismatch group than in the negative mismatch group (P < 0.02). The mean values of HF for 24-hour and 5-hour periods were significantly lower in patients with signs of residual ischemia in the positive mismatch group than in those with signs of residual ischemia in the negative mismatch group (P < 0.01, P < 0.02, respectively). There were no significant differences between the patients with signs of residual ischemia in the negative mismatch group and those without signs of residual ischemia in the positive and negative mismatch group with regard to the mean values of HF and the LF/HF ratio measured every hour for 24 hours and 5 hours. It is concluded from the present study that the findings of a mismatch on 123I-BMIPP and 201Tl myocardial SPECT 3 weeks after a first acute myocardial infarction with uncomplicated moderate or severe heart failure and decreased heart rate variability are related to residual myocardial ischemia. A combined assessment of heart rate variability in 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring and perfusion-metabolism mismatch in 123I-BMIPP and 201Tl myocardial SPECT is useful for determining residual myocardial ischemia in the follow-up of those with acute myocardial infarction.

Image analysis of remesothelialization following chemical wounding of cultured human peritoneal mesothelial cells: the role of hyaluronan synthesis.

BACKGROUND: To understand what happens during the wound healing process of the mesothelium, we have developed an in vitro wounding model of cultured human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) utilizing an image acquisition and analysis system. Using this system, cell mobility and hyaluronan synthesis were quantified and their interrelationship discussed. METHODS: 1N NaOH was used to create circular wounds in cultured HPMC monolayers, which were then exposed for 30 minutes to the peritoneal dialysis solutions or fetal calf serum (FCS)-free M199 culture medium, followed by incubation with 0.3% FCS/M199 culture medium for up to 96 hours. Digitalized microscopic date was captured every 30 minutes to quantify the wound healing process. In separate experiments, the HPMC monolayers were stained with biotin-conjugated hyaluronan-binding protein (B-HABP) at a regular time interval. RESULTS: Centripetal migration of the HPMCs into the wound area was the predominant process involved in wound repair with proliferation playing a secondary role. Two noticeable observations were made from the digital video movies: (1) cell mobility varied and was dependent upon the morphology and location of the cell relative to the wound edge, and (2) cell migration continued even after wound closure. Staining for B-HABP was confined to the remesothelialized area when wound closure was complete at 24 hours. At 48 hours after wound closure, the stained area was even more visible, although somewhat diffuse; thereafter, staining was reduced to almost background levels. CONCLUSION: The cell culture model of wound healing used in our study has enabled us to demonstrate quantitative image data of the cellular processes that occur during wound healing. We have been able to continuously observe cell migration, proliferation, and transformation. Synthesis and subsequent decomposition of hyaluronan appears to be related to the mobility of the wounded and intact HPMCs in this model system.

Experimental proof of contamination of blood components by (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan caused by filtration with cellulose filters in the manufacturing process.

The level of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in blood is a diagnostic index of fungal infection because it is released from the fungal cell wall. However, high levels of plasma (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in patients administered blood components may give false positive results. High levels of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan have been detected in blood components. We suspected that (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan from cellulose filters had been eluted into blood components by filtration in the manufacturing process. To investigate the contamination of blood components by (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan from cellulose filters, in vitro experiments were performed by using six cellulose filters and a nylon filter. Human serum albumin (HSA) solution (100 ml) was flowed through each filter after rinsing with 100 ml of distilled water, and (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in each fraction was determined by Fungitec G test MK. The concentration of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan eluted from cellulose filters in 100-ml distilled water fractions ranged from 6 to 207 pg/ml, and that of HSA fractions ranged from 33 to 20,784 pg/ml. These data showed that remarkably higher (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan levels were detected in HSA fractions flowed through cellulose filters in spite of advance rinsing with 100 ml of distilled water. In the case of a nylon filter, (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan was not eluted in either fraction. These results indicate that (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan contamination in blood components is caused by filtration with cellulose filters in the manufacturing process.

Release of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan from depth-type membrane filters and their in vitro effects on proinflammatory cytokine production.

To clarify the origin of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in blood products and assess the biological activity of filter extracts, we evaluated (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan extraction from depth filters used to process blood products and their in vitro effects on proinflammatory cytokine production from macrophages. Cellulose or nylon filters were analyzed for (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan using the Fungitec G test. To evaluate the biological activity of the filter extracts, Mono Mac 6 cells (a human macrophage cell line) were cultured with filter extracts with or without lipopolysaccharide, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) concentrations in the culture media were measured. (1-->3)-beta-D-Glucan was released from seven cellulose filters but the nylon filter level was undetectable. Proinflammatory cytokine production ranged from 74.3% to 119.0% of the control for TNF-alpha and 81.2% to 115.9% for IL-1beta. TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels were low without lipopolysaccharide. The data indicate that (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in blood products is contaminated with the depth filters and that these filter extracts modulate proinflammatory cytokine production from macrophages.

Drug interaction between mosapride and erythromycin without electrocardiographic changes.

QT prolongation and torsades de pointes have been documented in patients administered cisapride and its blocking of potassium channels in myocytes has been suggested as the mechanism. An interaction with cytochrome P450 CYP3A4 inhibitor drugs like macrolide and azole antifungals is also thought to be a possible mechanism. Since mosapride has characteristics similar to cisapride, we examined the effects of mosapride on the electrocardiogram and pharmacokinetics before and after its coadministration with erythromycin. Ten healthy male volunteers were repeatedly administered mosapride 15 mg/day for 7 days followed by coadministration with erythromycin 1200 mg/day for 7 days. Coadministration with erythromycin resulted in a 1.6-fold increase in the Cmax of mosapride and prolongation of t(1/2) from 1.6 to 2.4 hours, indicating the inhibition of mosapride metabolism. However, there were no significant differences in the QT interval and QTc between mosapride alone and concomitant use with erythromycin. There was no correlation between the electrocardiographic parameters and plasma mosapride concentrations, and no case exceeded the upper limit of the normal range of QTc. Although there was a certain pharmacokinetic interaction between mosapride and erythromycin, their coadministration did not affect the electrocardiogram at all, indicating a reduced likelihood of severe clinical adverse events like QT prolongation and torsades de pointes.

Positive (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in blood components and release of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan from depth-type membrane filters for blood processing.

BACKGROUND: The false-positive elevation of plasma (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan level, a serodiagnostic test for deep-seated mycosis, is suspected in patients administered with blood components. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: (1-->3)-beta-D-Glucan and endotoxin levels in blood components consisting of 12 albumins, 8 immunoglobulins, and 3 blood coagulation factors were measured by fungal infection tests (Fungitec G-test, Seikagaku Co.; the Wako WB003 test, Wako Pure Chemical Industries; and the Endospec ES test, Seikagaku Co.). In vitro release of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan from the depth-type filters made by cellulose membrane to process blood components was analyzed through an in vitro filtration process as a source of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in blood components. RESULTS: The amounts of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in blood components ranged from 0 to 7510 pg per mL in the Fungitec G-test, with wide variations among brands. The positive rates over 20 pg per mL were 75 percent in albumin solutions, 40 percent in blood coagulation factors, and 63 percent in immunoglobulin solutions. (1-->3)-beta-D-Glucan levels released from the five depth filters ranged from 5 to 2516 pg per mL. The (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan level in filtration fluid was decreased by rinsing with distilled water, but rebounded again during the albumin filtration process. CONCLUSION: Depth filters are considered the source of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan content in some blood components.

Hyponatremic-hypertensive syndrome associated with renovascular hypertension: a case report.

Renovascular hypertension occasionally manifests clinically as electrolyte disorders and albuminuria in addition to elevated blood pressure. A 49-year-old man who had renovascular hypertension also had severe hypokalemia, hyponatremia, polyuria and polydipsia that were treated by an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and resection of an atrophic kidney with a compromised blood supply. This is a case of hyponatremic-hypertensive syndrome related to renovascular hypertension and occurring as an additional abnormality.