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Aims: This prospective, single-center study sought to assess to what extent there is interference between the hybrid technique of single-photon emission tomography-computed tomography with technetium99m-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime–labeled leukocytes (99mTc-HMPAO-SPECT/CT) and antimicrobial therapy in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). Methods and results: During the years 2015–2019, we enrolled 205 consecutive adults with suspected IE, all underwent 99mTc-HMPAO-SPECT/CT. The study population was divided into those who had received antimicrobial therapy up to 30 days prior to 99mTc-HMPAO-SPECT/CT (group 1, n = 96) and those who had not (group 2, n = 109). Patients were prospectively observed for 12 ± 10 months. Group 1 presented higher positive predictive values (91.89% vs. 60.00%, = 0.001), and decreased negative predictive values (77.97% vs. 90.54%, P = 0.04). Patients treated with antimicrobial therapy displayed false-negative 99mTc-HMPAO-SPECT/CT results more often [odds ratio (OR), 4.63; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.41–15.23, P =.01], particularly when intravenous (OR 5.37; 95% CI 1.73–16.62, P =.004), definite (OR 9.43; 95% CI 2.65–33.51, P =.001), and combination antibiotic regimens (OR 8.1; 95% CI 2.57–25.64, P =.001) had been administered. Conclusion: Prior antibiotic therapy affects 99mTc-HMPAO-SPECT/CT diagnostic properties. Patients treated with antimicrobial therapy display false-negative 99mTc-HMPAO-SPECT/CT results more often, especially if intravenous, definite, or combination regimens are administered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This was a prospective, single-center study designed to assess the prognostic value of the hybrid technique of single photon emission tomography and computed tomography with the application of technetium99m-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime–labelled autologous leukocytes (99mTc-HMPAO-SPECT/CT) in patients with cardiac device-related infective endocarditis (CDRIE). CDRIE entails the risk of complications and an increase in mortality rates, both in-hospital and long-term. The prognostic value of 99mTc-HMPAO-SPECT/CT in the course of CDRIE has not been evaluated so far. The project enrolled 103 consecutive patients with suspected CDRIE, all of whom underwent 99mTc-HMPAO-SPECT/CT. The resulting scans were then classified as positive if the presence of abnormal tracer uptake involving cardiac and intravascular sections of the device electrodes was found. Patients were prospectively observed for a mean time of 17.48 ± 11.9 months. All-cause mortality, in-hospital mortality, and complete hardware removal were assessed, followed by a composite endpoint including complications, namely embolic events, new onset heart failure, uncontrolled infection, renal replacement therapy, reoperation, new heart rhythm, and conduction disturbances. In the analysis, despite a noticeable trend, all-cause mortality rates were not found to be statistically significantly higher among the 35 patients who registered positive results using 99mTc-HMPAO-SPECT/CT for CDRIE (group 1) than among the 68 patients from group 2 whose 99mTc-HMPAO-SPECT/CT results were negative (20% vs. 10.3%, respectively; p = 0.14). However, group 1 did present higher in-hospital mortality (11.4% vs. 0%, respectively; odds ratio: 19.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02 to 374.70), an increased rate of complications (43% vs. 9%, respectively; hazard ratio [HR]: 5.9; 95% CI: 2.27 to 15.20), and underwent hardware removal more frequently (57% vs. 16%, respectively; HR: 4.3; 95% CI: 2.07 to 19.08). In patients with suspected CDRIE, positive 99mTc-HMPAO-SPECT/CT results were associated with increased rates of in-hospital mortality and complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We construct an adaptive estimator of a density function on d dimensional unit sphere S d (d ≥ 2), using a new type of spherical frames. The frames, or as we call them, stereografic wavelets are obtained by transforming a wavelet system, namely Daubechies, using some stereographic operators. We prove that our estimator achieves an optimal rate of convergence on some Besov type class of functions by adapting to unknown smoothness. Our new construction of stereografic wavelet system gives us a multiresolution approximation of L 2 (S d) which can be used in many approximation and estimation problems. In this paper we also demonstrate how to implement the density estimator in S 2 and we present a finite sample behavior of that estimator in a numerical experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Unionidae mussels produce large biomass and reach high density in freshwater habitats, little is known about their ecology. We studied the distribution of 5 species of freshwater unionids in a eutrophic floodplain lake, on transects, along the lake shore and across the depth gradient. The clam distribution within the water body was not random: all species form a crowded zone along the lake shore, showing the highest density at ca. 0.5 m depth. The distribution of the most numerous species changed along the shore in Anodonta anatina and Unio pictorum but not in A. cygnea , whose numbers remained constant. The population numbers of the most numerous species showed a positive correlation with silt layer thickness. The generalized model of all the analyzed factors influencing the unionids’ distribution confirmed this relation and indicated a trade-off between water depth and distance from bank, which might be responsible for the occurrence of the zone at some optimum depth. Unionids have an important influence on freshwater ecosystem functions, thus their zonation implies that their functions are also spatially structured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Numerous open trials have demonstrated the beneficial clinical effects of aspirin desensitization (AD) in patients with aspirin-induced asthma (AIA). These beneficial effects might be attributable to aspirin's potent anti-inflammatory properties, but that supposition requires further corroboration. Objective We sought to compare the clinical and biochemical responses to chronic oral AD in 20 patients with AIA and 14 patients with aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA). All of the patients had chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis, and these responses were investigated in a pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Methods Twelve patients with AIA and 6 patients with ATA were randomly assigned to receive 624 mg of aspirin, and 8 patients with AIA and 8 patients with ATA received placebo. Both aspirin and placebo were administered once daily for 6 months. Nasal symptoms, Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT20) scores, peak nasal inspiratory flows, Asthma Control Questionnaire scores, spirometric parameters, peak expiratory flows, blood eosinophilia, and corticosteroid doses were assessed on a monthly basis. Levels of urinary leukotriene E 4 and the stable plasma prostaglandin (PG) D 2 metabolite 9α,11β-PGF2 were evaluated at baseline and after 1, 3, 5, and 6 months. Results Only the patients with AIA subjected to AD reported improvements in smell and reductions in sneezing and nasal blockade. The SNOT20 and Asthma Control Questionnaire scores of these patients decreased, and their peak nasal inspiratory flows increased. The dosages of inhaled corticosteroids were reduced. There were no changes in leukotriene E 4 or 9α,11β-PGF 2 levels after AD. Conclusion The clinically beneficial effects of AD on nasal and bronchial symptoms occurred only in the patients with AIA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The problem of testing hypothesis that a density function has no more than derivatives versus it has more than derivatives is considered. For a solution, the norms of wavelet orthogonal projections on some orthogonal “differences” of spaces from a multiresolution analysis is used. For the construction of the smoothness test an asymptotic distribution of a smoothness estimator is used. To analyze that asymptotic distribution, a new technique of enrichment procedure is proposed. The finite sample behavior of the smoothness test is demonstrated in a numerical experiment in case of determination if a density function is continuous or discontinuous. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Introduction: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is associated with the risk of both arterial and venous thrombosis. However, it is not known which factors might determine the location of thrombosis. Materials and Methods: To retrospectively characterize factors associated with the risk of arterial thrombosis in a cohort of APS patients. Analysis included laboratory and clinical criteria of APS, together with classical cardiovascular risk factors and the possible role of platelet integrin α2β1 (807 C/T) and αIIbβ3 (PI A1/2) genetic polymorphisms. We enrolled 163 APS patients (123 women and 40 men aged 21-75; mean age 43years); 78 suffered from arterial thrombosis. Results: There were no significant differences in the frequency or titers of different antiphospholipid antibodies with the exception of slightly increased frequency of IgG anticardiolipin antibodies (ACL) in the arterial thrombosis group. Livedo reticularis was observed significantly more often in the arterial thrombosis group, particularly in stroke patients. In univariate analysis arterial thrombosis was associated with male gender (OR-2,201; p=0,033), arterial hypertension (OR-2,81; p=0,002) and hypercholesterolemia (OR-3,69; p=0,001). On multivariate analysis arterial hypertension (OR=1,78; p=0,008) and hypercholesterolemia (OR=2,001; p=0,002) remained as independent risk factors for arterial thrombosis. Platelet glycoprotein polymorphisms studied did not show any significant associations with arterial thrombosis in APS patients. Conclusions: Among APS patients those with ACL IgG antibodies, having livedo reticularis, and suffering from hypertension an hypercholesterolemia are at the increased risk of arterial thrombosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]