Ridgecounter: A program for obtaining semi-automated finger ridge counts

Finger ridge count is a valuable quantitative phenotype used in a wide range of biological and anthropological research. However, the scoring of the phenotype is both labour intensive and error prone. This paper describe a freely available software program, RIDGECOUNTER, that can be used to obtain ridge counts from digitized prints (either collected using a digital fingerprint scanner or scanned from an inked print). The program yields semi-automated ridge counts and logs the location of the user-selected core and delta points to aid in the training of new researchers and ensure the repeatability of count. In a validity study of 451 prints, the semi-automated ridge counts of digital prints showed good agreement (r?=?0.957) with traditional manual counts of inked-rolled prints (which were obtained 2 years apart and counted by different researchers). In a reliability study of 200 prints, semi-automated ridge counts derived from digital prints collected at two different time points also showed good agreement (r?=?0.962) (the prints were obtained 2 years apart and counted by the same researcher). Although designed for use with fingerprints, the program is suitable for use with palm, foot or toe prints using user-defined landmarks.     

Health-related quality of life in children with immunoglobulin A nephropathy – results of a multicentre national study

IntroductionImmunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) may lead to end stage renal disease and severely affect patient functioning and wellbeing. The aim of the study was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children and adolescents with IgAN, and compare HRQoL in relation to the disease course, social status and psychological factors, such as expressing anger and perceived personal competence.Material and methodsThe multicentre cross-sectional study included 51 patients ≥ 8 years from 7 paediatric nephrology centres in Poland. Psychometric analysis was performed using the Kidscreen-52 questionnaire to evaluate HRQoL, the Anger Expression Scale to evaluate the severity of anger and the Personal Competence Scale to measure general perception of personal competence.ResultsMean age of patients was 14.54 ±3.69 years; duration since the diagnosis of IgAN was 4.98 ±3.9 years. Patients with IgAN rated their psychological wellbeing as significantly worse compared to healthy peers (p < 0.05). The presence of proteinuria was associated with significantly worse physical wellbeing (58.72 ±18.45 vs. 74.44 ±22.97; p < 0.05). Current therapy (steroids/immunosuppressive drugs) had no effect on HRQoL in the study group. Perceived personal competence was rated high by 49% of children in the study group. Children with IgAN were characterized by lower intensity of expressed anger (p < 0.001) and significantly higher intensity of suppressed anger (p < 0.01) compared to reference ranges. Severity of expressed anger correlated positively with the parent relations and school environment dimensions of HRQoL.ConclusionsWe found lower HRQoL in regard to physical and psychological wellbeing in a group of Polish children with IgAN compared to healthy peers. HRQoL should be monitored in this patient group.     

Predictors of Coronary and Carotid Atherosclerosis in Patients with Severe Degenerative Aortic Stenosis

Background. Patients with degenerative aortic stenosis (AS) exhibit elevated prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and internal carotid artery stenosis (ICAS). Our aim was to investigate prevalence of significant CAD and ICAS in relation to demographic and cardiovascular risk profile among patients with severe degenerative AS.Methods. We studied 145 consecutive patients (77 men and 68 women) aged 49-91 years (median, 76) with severe degenerative AS who underwent coronary angiography and carotid ultrasonography in our tertiary care center. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of either significant CAD (n=86) or ICAS (n=22).Results. The prevalence of significant CAD or ICAS was higher with increasing number of traditional risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, smoking habit) and decreasing renal function. We found interactions between age and gender in terms of CAD (p=0.01) and ICAS (p=0.06), which was confirmed by multivariate approach. With the reference to men with a below-median age, the prevalence of CAD or ICAS increased in men aged >76 years (89% vs. 55% and 28% vs. 14%, respectively), whereas the respective percentages were lower in older vs. younger women (48% vs. 54% and 7% vs. 17%).Conclusions. In severe degenerative AS gender modulates the association of age with coronary and carotid atherosclerosis with its lower prevalence in women aged >76 years compared to their younger counterparts. This may result from a hypothetical “survival bias”, i.e., an excessive risk of death in very elderly women with severe AS and coexisting relevant coronary or carotid atherosclerosis.     

Physical inactivity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: data from twenty-one countries in a cross-sectional, international study

OBJECTIVE: Regular physical activity is associated with decreased morbidity and mortality. Traditionally, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been advised to limit physical exercise. We studied the prevalence of physical activity and associations with demographic and disease-related variables in patients with RA from 21 countries. METHODS: The Questionnaires in Standard Monitoring of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (QUEST-RA) is a cross-sectional study that includes a self-report questionnaire and clinical assessment of nonselected consecutive outpatients with RA who are receiving usual clinical care. Frequency of physical exercise (>or=30 minutes with at least some shortness of breath, sweating) is queried with 4 response options: >or=3 times weekly, 1-2 times weekly, 1-2 times monthly, and no exercise. RESULTS: Between January 2005 and April 2007, a total of 5,235 patients from 58 sites in 21 countries were enrolled in QUEST-RA: 79% were women, >90% were white, mean age was 57 years, and mean disease duration was 11.6 years. Only 13.8% of all patients reported physical exercise>or=3 times weekly. The majority of the patients were physically inactive with no regular weekly exercise: >80% in 7 countries, 60-80% in 12 countries, and 45% and 29% in 2 countries, respectively. Physical inactivity was associated with female sex, older age, lower education, obesity, comorbidity, low functional capacity, and higher levels of disease activity, pain, and fatigue. CONCLUSION: In many countries, a low proportion of patients with RA exercise. These data may alert rheumatologists to motivate their patients to increase physical activity levels.     

Semi-automated identification of cones in the human retina using circle Hough transform

A large number of human retinal diseases are characterized by a progressive loss of cones, the photoreceptors critical for visual acuity and color perception. Adaptive Optics (AO) imaging presents a potential method to study these cells in vivo. However, AO imaging in ophthalmology is a relatively new phenomenon and quantitative analysis of these images remains difficult and tedious using manual methods. This paper illustrates a novel semi-automated quantitative technique enabling registration of AO images to macular landmarks, cone counting and its radius quantification at specified distances from the foveal center. The new cone counting approach employs the circle Hough transform (cHT) and is compared to automated counting methods, as well as arbitrated manual cone identification. We explore the impact of varying the circle detection parameter on the validity of cHT cone counting and discuss the potential role of using this algorithm in detecting both cones and rods separately.OCIS codes: (100.0100) Image processing, (170.3880) Medical and biological imaging, (110.1080) Active or adaptive optics, (170.4470) Ophthalmology     

Left ventricular assist device support reverses altered cardiac expression and function of natriuretic peptides and receptors in end-stage heart failure

OBJECTIVE: Atrial (ANP) and B-type natriuretics peptides (BNP) via their guanylyl cyclase-A (GC-A) receptor not only regulate arterial blood pressure and volume but also exert local antihypertrophic, antifibrotic and lusitropic effects in the heart. To elucidate whether cardiac hypertrophy/insufficiency and reversal is associated with changes in the local responsiveness to NPs, we compared the mRNA expression of ANP, BNP and receptors and the responsiveness of GC-A to ANP in left ventricular tissue obtained from 10 patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) before and after hemodynamic unloading by left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support. METHODS AND RESULTS: Quantitative "real time" RT-PCR demonstrated that the mRNA expression levels of ANP, BNP and the NP-metabolizing NPR-C receptor were both markedly increased in human failing hearts. GC-A mRNA expression levels were not different from nonfailing hearts, but cGMP production by GC-A in response to ANP was nearly abolished. Reversal of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy during LVAD support was accompanied by normalization of ANP, BNP and NPR-C mRNA levels and a significant recovery of GC-A responsiveness to ANP. CONCLUSION: In CHF patients, increased local clearance by NPR-C receptors and diminished responsiveness of cardiac GC-A might impair the local antihypertrophic effects of natriuretic peptides and contribute to the progression of cardiac hypertrophy and insufficiency. Reverse remodeling during LVAD support reverses these changes and can thereby recuperate the local protective effects of ANP and BNP.     

Association of coronary atherosclerosis with insulin resistance in patients with impaired glucose tolerance

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the role of insulin resistance (IR) in the development of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with impaired glucose tolerance. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group consisted of 42 patients with impaired glucose tolerance. Based upon coronary angiography the patients were divided into group A--with prior myocardial infarction and critical coronary stenosis (n=20) and group B--without prior myocardial infarction and without critical coronary stenosis (n=22). In each patient glucose disposal rate (GDR) during metabolic clamp, insulinaemia in the fasting state and during the clamp, glycaemia during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), BMI and body mass composition were measured. The groups did not differ in age, BMI, percent fat content and distribution, and blood pressure. Fasting insulinaemia (56.7 microU/ml) was higher in group A than in group B (22.3 microU/ml). GDR in group A (2.96 mg/kg b.m./min) was lower than in group B (5.36 mg/kg b.m./min). There was a negative correlation between the number of critically narrowed coronary vessels and GDR in group A. GDR below 3.97 mg/kg b.m./min was found, based on regression analysis, to be a powerful risk factor for myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between IR and severity of coronary atherosclerosis implies its unfavourable role in the development of atherosclerosis. The present findings indicate a negative role of IR in the development of myocardial infarction and suggest that it is an independent risk factor, which identifies high-risk patients requiring treatment that would increase tissue insulin sensitivity.