Identification of hemodynamically stable patients with acute pulmonary embolism at high risk for death: external validation of different models

Background: The optimal strategy for identification of hemodynamically stable patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) at risk for death and clinical deterioration remains undefined. Objectives: We aimed to assess the performances of currently available models/scores for identifying hemodynamically stable patients with acute, symptomatic PE at risk of death and clinical deterioration. Methods: This was a prospective multicenter cohort study including patients with acute PE (NCT03631810). Primary study outcome was in-hospital death within 30 days or clinical deterioration. Other outcomes were in-hospital death, death, and PE-related death, all at 30 days. We calculated positive and negative predictive values, c-statistics of European Society of Cardiology (ESC)-2014, ESC-2019, Pulmonary Embolism Thrombolysis (PEITHO), Bova, Thrombo-embolism lactate outcome study (TELOS), fatty acid binding protein, syncope and tachicardia (FAST), and National Early Warning Scale 2 (NEWS2) for the study outcomes. Results: In 5036 hemodynamically stable patients with acute PE, positive predictive values for the evaluated models/scores were all below 10%, except for TELOS and NEWS2; negative predictive values were above 98% for all the models/scores, except for FAST and NEWS2. ESC-2014 and TELOS had good performances for in-hospital death or clinical deterioration (c-statistic of 0.700 and 0.722, respectively), in-hospital death (c-statistic of 0.713 and 0.723, respectively), and PE-related death (c-statistic of 0.712 and 0.777, respectively); PEITHO, Bova, and NEWS2 also had good performances for PE-related death (c-statistic of 0.738, 0.741, and 0.742, respectively). Conclusion: In hemodynamically stable patients with acute PE, the accuracy for identification of hemodynamically stable patients at risk for death and clinical deterioration varies across the available models/scores; TELOS seems to have the best performance. These data can inform management studies and clinical practice

A PULP-based parallel power controller for future exascale systems

Power management of digital circuits is raising of importance in a broad spectrum of computing domains. High-performance computing systems as the effect of the stop of Dennard's scaling have become power and thermal limited. In this manuscript, we evaluate the feasibility of using an open-source RISC-V based power controller for the high-performance computing market

Prevalence of post mortem lesions recorded in the largest Italian rabbit slaughterhouse over a fifteen-years period (2003-2017)

&lt;p&gt;The present research was aimed at evaluating the prevalence of gross lesions in condemned rabbit carcasses by analysing data recorded in a large Italian slaughterhouse. From 2003 until 2017, a total of 103 080 019 rabbits were processed: 101 722 673 were finishing rabbits and 1 357 346 were breeding females. A total of 742 397 carcasses were condemned due to lesions. Condemned carcasses from young rabbits (n=545 070) evidenced: 33.6% enteritis, 31.5% subcutaneous abscesses, 29.7% cachexia and 3.84% lung disease. Among breeding rabbits (n=197 327) there were 38.9% cachexia, followed by 35.8% uterine pathologies (breeding females), 14.9% subcutaneous abscesses, 5.42% ulcerative pododermatitis, 2.61% chronic nephritis and 2.47% lung disease. Regarding season-related lesions, for growing rabbits the total prevalence of lesions and diseases was the highest in winter (enteritis increased in winter, but subcutaneous abscesses were higher in summer). Rabbit does showed the highest prevalence of subcutaneous abscesses in summer and ulcerative pododermatitis in winter. From 2003 to 2017, the overall number of condemned carcasses doubled in both categories, with a sharp increase from 2012 till 2017. The prevalence of lesions among slaughtered rabbits differed between growing and breeding categories, which was attributable to different farming conditions, physiological status and slaughter age. Based on the above-mentioned findings, better management strategies at different stages of the rabbit production chain seem to be a necessary way to manage resulting waste and address possible economic concerns.&lt;/p&gt;</jats:p

Prevalence of post mortem lesions recorded in the largest Italian rabbit slaughterhouse over a fifteen-years period (2003-2017)

[EN] The present research was aimed at evaluating the prevalence of gross lesions in condemned rabbit carcasses by analysing data recorded in a large Italian slaughterhouse. From 2003 until 2017, a total of 103 080 019 rabbits were processed: 101 722 673 were finishing rabbits and 1 357 346 were breeding females. A total of 742 397 carcasses were condemned due to lesions. Condemned carcasses from young rabbits (n=545 070) evidenced: 33.6% enteritis, 31.5% subcutaneous abscesses, 29.7% cachexia and 3.84% lung disease. Among breeding rabbits (n=197 327) there were 38.9% cachexia, followed by 35.8% uterine pathologies (breeding females), 14.9% subcutaneous abscesses, 5.42% ulcerative pododermatitis, 2.61% chronic nephritis and 2.47% lung disease. Regarding season-related lesions, for growing rabbits the total prevalence of lesions and diseases was the highest in winter (enteritis increased in winter, but subcutaneous abscesses were higher in summer). Rabbit does showed the highest prevalence of subcutaneous abscesses in summer and ulcerative pododermatitis in winter. From 2003 to 2017, the overall number of condemned carcasses doubled in both categories, with a sharp increase from 2012 till 2017. The prevalence of lesions among slaughtered rabbits differed between growing and breeding categories, which was attributable to different farming conditions, physiological status and slaughter age. Based on the above-mentioned findings, better management strategies at different stages of the rabbit production chain seem to be a necessary way to manage resulting waste and address possible economic concerns.The research was entirely founded by the Department of Animal Medicine, Productions and Health, Viale Dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro- PD (Italy)Conficoni, D.; Cullere, M.; Lago, N.; Alberghini, L.; Rossin, T.; Dalle Zotte, A.; Giaccone, V. (2020). Prevalence of post mortem lesions recorded in the largest Italian rabbit slaughterhouse over a fifteen-years period (2003-2017). World Rabbit Science. 28(1):39-47. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2020.11530OJS3947281Coudert P., Rideaud P., Vyrag G., Cerrone, A. 2006. Pasteurellosis in rabbits. In: Recent Advances in Rabbit Sciences, Maettens, L., Coudert, P. (Eds.).Cost 848. ILVO Ed, Belgium, 147-162. Avalilable at: https://world-rabbit-science.com/Documents/Cost848.pdf. Accessed June 2019.Cullere M., Dalle Zotte A. 2018. Rabbit meat production and consumption: state of knowledge and future perspectives. Meat Sci., 143: 137-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2018.04.029Dalle Zotte A., Szendrő Zs. 2011. The role of rabbit meat as functional food. Meat Sci., 88: 319-331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2011.02.017EFSA. 2005. The impact of the current housing and husbandry systems on the health and welfare of farmed domestic rabbits. EFSA J. 267: 1-31. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2005.267Engebretsen K.A., Johansen J.D., Kezic S., Linneberg A., Thyssen J.P. 2016. The effect of environmental humidity and temperature on skin barrier function and dermatitis. J. Eur. Acad. Dermatology Venereol., 30: 223-249. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.13301European Commission, 2002. REGULATION (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 - laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption. Off. J. Eur. Communities, 1-95. https://doi.org/10.1007/88-470-0409-8_2European Commission. Directorate-General For Health And Food Safety DG (SANTE), 2017. Overview report Commercial Rabbit Farming in the European Union. https://doi.org/10.2772/62174Ferreira A., Monteiro J.M., Vieira-Pinto M. 2014. The importance of subcutaneous abscess infection by Pasteurella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus as a cause of meat condemnation in slaughtered commercial rabbits. World Rabbit Sci., 22: 311-317. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2014.2238Kozák A., Večerek V., Steinhauserová I., Chloupek P., Pištěková V. 2018. Results of slaughterhouse carcass classification (capable for human consumption, capable for processing and ondemned) in selected species of food animals. Vet. Med. (Praha), 47: 26-31. https://doi.org/10.17221/5799-vetmedMatics Zs., Cullere M., Dalle Zotte A., Szendrő K., Szendrő Zs., Odermatt M., Atkári T., Radnai I., Nagy I., Gerencsér Zs. 2018. Effect of cage and pen housing on the live performance, carcass and meat quality traits of growing rabbits. Ital. J. Anim. Sci., 33: 321-332. https://doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2018.1532329Petracci M., Bianchi M., Biguzzi G., Cavani C. 2010. Preslaughter risk factors associated with mortality and bruising in rabbits. World Rabbit Sci., 18: 219-228. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2010.781Princz Z., Dalle Zotte A., Radnai I., Bíró-Németh E., Matics Zs., Gerencsér Zs., Nagy I., Szendrő Zs. 2008. Behaviour of growing rabbits under various housing conditions. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 111: 342-356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2007.06.013Rampin F., Piccirillo A., Schiavon E., Poppi L., Grilli G. 2008. Detection of pathological lesions in slaughtered rabbits. Ital. J. Anim. Sci., 7: 105-111. https://doi.org/10.4081/ijas.2008.105Rosell J.M., de la Fuente L.F. 2009. Culling and mortality in breeding rabbits. Prev. Vet. Med., 88: 120-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2008.08.003Rosell J.M., de la Fuente L.F. 2008. Health and body condition of rabbit does on commercial farms. In Proc.: 9th World Rabbit Congress. 10-13 June, Verona, Italy, 1065-1070.Rosell J.M., De La Fuente L.F., Badiola J.I., De Fernandez L.D., Casal J., Saco M. 2009. Study of urgent visits to commercial rabbit farms in Spain and Portugal during 1997-2007. World Rabbit Sci., 17: 127-136. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2009.652Sokołowski D., Sosada K. 2004. [The season's influence on the prevalence of bacterial hand infection]. Wiad. Lek. 57, 449-452. http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/15765760 .Szkucik K., Paszkiewicz W., 2010. Morbid traits and qualitative changes in rabbits slaughtered in Poland between 2000-2010. Med. Wet., 67: 690-693.Tantiñá M., Rosell J.M., Facchin E., 2000. Salud Pública. In: Enfermedades del Conejo. Rosell, J.M. (Ed.), Vol 1, Ch. IX, Ediciones Mundi-Prensa, Madrid, Spain, 465-513.European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. 2004. Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004. Off. J. Eur. Union 2003, 8.Voslarova E., Večerek V., Bedanova I., Vecerkova L. 2018. Mortality in rabbits transported for slaughter. Anim. Sci. J., 89: 931-936. https://doi.org/10.1111/asj.1300

Early Resolution of Heyde's Syndrome following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

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Biomarkers of pituitary macroadenomas aggressive behaviour: a conventional MRI and DWI 3T study

OBJECTIVE: Pituitary macroadenomas (PAs) are usually defined as benign intracranial tumors. However, they may present local aggressive course. High Ki67 labelling index (LI) values have been related to an aggressive tumor behavior. A recent clinicopathological classification of PA based on local invasiveness and proliferation indexes, divided them in groups with different prognosis. We evaluated the utility of conventional MRI (cMRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), in predicting the Ki67- LI according the clinicopathological classification. METHODS: 17 patients (12 M and 5 F) who underwent surgical removal of a PA were studied. cMRI features, quantification of T1W and T2W signal intensity, degree of contrast uptake (enhancement ratio, ER) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were evaluated by using a 3 T scan. Statistics included Mann-Whitney test, Spearman's test, and receiver operating characteristic analysis. A value of p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant for all the tests. RESULTS: Negative correlations were observed between Ki-67 LI, ADCm (ρ = - 0.67, p value = 0.005) and ER values (ρ = -0.62; p = 0.008). ER values were significantly lower in the proliferative PA group (p = 0.028; p = 0.017). ADCm showed sensitivity and specificity of 90 and 85% respectively into predict Ki67-LI value. A value of ADCm ≤0, 711 x 10-6 mm2 emerged as a cut-off of a value of Ki67-LI ≥ 3%. CONCLUSION: Adding quantitative measures of ADC values to cMRI could be used routinely as a non-invasive marker of specific predictive biomarker of the proliferative activity of PA. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Routinely use of DWI on diagnostic work-up of pituitary adenomas may help in establish the likely biological aggressive lesions

Assessment of chicken breast shelf life based on bench-top and portable near-infrared spectroscopy tools coupled with chemometrics

Objectives: Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a rapid technique able to assess meat quality even if its capability to determine the shelf life of chicken fresh cuts is still debated, especially for portable devices. The aim of the study was to compare bench-top and portable NIR instruments in discriminating between four chicken breast refrigeration times (RT), coupled with multivariate classifier models. Materials and Methods: Ninety-six samples were analysed by both NIR tools at 2, 6, 10 and 14 days post mortem. NIR data were subsequently submitted to partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and canonical discriminant analysis (CDA). The latter was preceded by double feature selection based on Boruta and Stepwise procedures. Results: PLS-DA sorted moderate separation of RT theses, while shelf life assessment was more accurate on application of Stepwise-CDA. Bench-top tool had better performance than portable one, probably because it captured more informative spectral data as shown by the variable importance in projection (VIP) and restricted pool of Stepwise-CDA predictive scores (SPS). Conclusions: NIR tools coupled with a multivariate model provide deep insight into the physicochemical processes occurring during storage. Spectroscopy showed reliable effectiveness to recognise a 7-day shelf life threshold of breasts, suitable for routine at-line application for screening of meat quality

Multivariate and machine learning models to assess the heat effects on honey physicochemical, colour and NIR data

We evaluated the effects of pre-processing thermal treatments on the physicochemical, colour and near-infrared (NIR) spectral data of 30 honey samples. The trial was settled as a bi-factorial experimental design that considered nine experimental groups according to the fixed effects of heating treatment and honey phase: none, mild (39 \ub0C for 30\u2032) and high heating (55 \ub0C for 24 h) per crystallised, bi-phase and liquid honey samples. Increasing temperatures significantly modified moisture, hydroxymethylfurfural content and lightness. The multivariate classifier models showed that NIR data of warmed crystallised and bi-phase honeys were significantly different from that of the untreated ones, while they sorted a similar assignment for all the liquid samples. The support vector machine model confirmed that the highest tested temperature represented a bias in the informative feature of NIR data, if they would be used in further analytical assessment of the intrinsic qualities of crystallised or bi-phase honey