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Image-based morphometric scoring systems such as the RENAL and PADUA scores are useful to evaluate the complexity of partial nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The main aim of this study was to develop a new imaging software to enable an automatic detection and a 3D visualization of RCC from CT angiography (CTA) and to address the feasibility to use it to evaluate the features of the RENAL and the PADUA scores.A training dataset of 210 patients CTA-scans manually segmented was used to train a deep learning algorithm to develop the automatic detection and 3D-visualization of RCC. A trained operator blindly assessed the RENAL and PADUA scores on a testing dataset of 41 CTA from patients with RCC using a commercialized semi-automatic software (ground truth) and the new automatic software. Concordance between the two methods was evaluated.The median PADUA score was 9 (7-11) and the renal score was 8 (5.5-9). The automatic software enabled to automatically detect the tumoral kidney and provided a 3D-visualization in all cases, with a computational time less than 20 seconds. Concordances for staging the anatomical features of the RENAL scores were respectively: 87.8% for radius, 85.4% for exophytic rate, 82.9% for location to the polar lines and 92.7% for the antero-posterior location. For the PADUA scores, concordances were 90.2% for tumor size, 85.4% for exophytic rate, 87.8% for polar location and 100% for renal rim.By enabling an automatic 3D-visualization of tumoral kidney, this software could help to calculate morphometric scores, save time and improve reproducibility for clinicians.

Streetlamp illumination disturbs the natural physiological processes and circadian rhythms of living organisms, including photosynthesizing "citizens". The light-emitting diode (LED) technology has replaced high-pressure sodium lamps. Therefore, the effects of LED streetlamps on urban trees need to be elucidated as these new lamps have a different light spectrum (with a peak in the blue and red regions of the spectrum, i.e., highly efficient wavebands for photosynthesis) compared to older technologies. To address the above-mentioned issue, two widely utilised tree species in the urban environment, including Platanus × acerifolia (P) and Tilia platyphyllos (T), were grown with or without the effect of LED streetlamps using two realistic illumination intensities (300 and 700 μmol m

Aminoglycoside antibiotics induce caspase-dependent apoptotic death in cochlear hair cells. Apoptosis, a regulated form of cell death, can be induced by many stressors, which activate signaling pathways that result in the controlled dismantling of the affected cell. The caspase family of proteases is activated in the apoptotic signaling pathway and is responsible for cellular destruction. The initiator caspase-9 and the effector caspase-3 are both activated in chick cochlear hair cells following aminoglycoside exposure. We have analyzed caspase activation in the avian cochlea during gentamicin-induced hair cell death to compare two different methods of caspase detection: caspase antibodies and CaspaTag kits. Caspase antibodies bind to the cleaved activated form of caspase-9 or caspase-3 in specific locations in fixed tissue. CaspaTag is a fluorescent inhibitor that binds to a reactive cysteine residue on the large subunit of the caspase heterodimer in unfixed tissue. To induce cochlear hair cell loss, 1-2 week-old chickens received a single injection of gentamicin (300 mg/kg). Chicks were sacrificed 24, 30, 42, 48, 72, or 96 h after injection. Cochleae were dissected and labeled for activated caspase-9 or caspase-3 using either caspase-directed antibodies or CaspaTag kits. Ears were co-labeled with either phalloidin or myosin VI to visualize hair cells and to determine the progression of cochlear damage. The timing of caspase activation was similar for both assays; however, caspase-9 and caspase-3 antibodies labeled only those cells currently undergoing apoptotic cell death. Conversely, CaspaTag-labeled all the cells that have undergone apoptotic cell death and ejection from the sensory epithelium, in addition to those that are currently in the cell death process. This makes CaspaTag ideal for showing an overall pattern or level of cell death over a period of time, while caspase antibodies provide a snapshot of cell death at a specific time point.

Objective : To examine the prevalence, characteristics, and costs of hospitalization and re-hospitalization of diabetic and non-diabetic patients in La Plata, Argentina, and to compare the data with those of developed countries. Research design and methods : We studied all in-hospital registries of diabetic patients enrolled in a health maintenance organization of the Province of Buenos Aires (IOMA, November 1996). For each diabetic patient (127 persons), the characteristics of two other hospitalized non-diabetic patients matched by age and gender were simultaneously recorded. Results : Of the 2200 recorded hospitalizations, 5.8% were for diabetic patients, accounting for 10.5% of the hospitalization cost. Cardiovascular diseases were the major cause of hospitalization in both groups. The per capita hospitalization cost of diabetic patients was significantly higher: US$ 1628.5±1754.0 versus US$ 833±842; P =0.00002. Percent re-hospitalizations were five and a half times higher in diabetic patients ( P =0.0001), and significantly associated with history of severe episodes of acute (odds ratio: 3.61; 95% CI: 1.11–11.70; P =0.03) and chronic (odds ratio: 4.26; 95% CI: 1.60–11.29; P =0.004) complications. Conclusions : The combination of higher and longer hospitalization rates and frequent re-hospitalizations resulted in increased costs for our diabetic population. Implementation of care programs based on education (for physicians and patients) could effectively decrease current and future costs of the disease.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and metabolic changes observed immediately and 3 months after daily Yoga practices in a group of people with diabetes mellitus (DM). The study included sixteen women (3 with Type 1 DM, 12 with Type 2 DM, and 1 with type 2 DM treated with insulin; mean age 61 ± 11 years; DM history 21 ± 14 years) attending the Physical Activity Program at CENEXA ‐ Center of Experimental and Applied Endocrinology (UNLP-CONICET, PAHO/WHO