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Background: Despite the low spatial resolution of 2D-multisegment late gadolinium enhancement (2D-MSLGE) sequences, it may be useful in uncooperative patients instead of standard 2D single segmented inversion recovery gradient echo late gadolinium enhancement sequences (2D-SSLGE). The aim of the study is to assess the feasibility and comparison of 2D-MSLGE reconstructed with artificial intelligence reconstruction deep learning noise reduction (NR) algorithm compared to standard 2D-SSLGE in consecutive patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). Methods: Fifty-seven patients with known ICM referred for a clinically indicated CMR were enrolled in this study. 2D-MSLGE were reconstructed using a growing level of NR (0%,25%,50%,75%and 100%). Subjective image quality, signal to noise ratio (SNR) and contrast to noise ratio (CNR) were evaluated in each dataset and compared to standard 2D-SSLGE. Moreover, diagnostic accuracy, LGE mass and scan time were compared between 2D-MSLGE with NR and 2D-SSLGE. Results: The application of NR reconstruction ≥50% to 2D-MSLGE provided better subjective image quality, CNR and SNR compared to 2D-SSLGE (p < 0.01). The best compromise in terms of subjective and objective image quality was observed for values of 2D-MSLGE 75%, while no differences were found in terms of LGE quantification between 2D-MSLGE versus 2D-SSLGE, regardless the NR applied. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value and accuracy of 2D-MSLGE NR 75% were 87.77%,96.27%,96.13%,88.16% and 94.22%, respectively. Time of acquisition of 2D-MSLGE was significantly shorter compared to 2D-SSLGE (p < 0.01). Conclusion: When compared to standard 2D-SSLGE, the application of NR reconstruction to 2D-MSLGE provides superior image quality with similar diagnostic accuracy.

Rationale and objectives: A new postprocessing algorithm named adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR)-V has been recently introduced. The aim of this article was to analyze the impact of ASIR-V algorithm on signal, noise, and image quality of coronary computed tomography angiography. Materials and Methods: Fifty consecutive patients underwent clinically indicated coronary computed tomography angiography (Revolution CT; GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI). Images were reconstructed using filtered back projection and ASIR-V 0%, and a combination of filtered back projection and ASIR-V 20%–80% and ASIR-V 100%. Image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated for left main coronary artery (LM), left anterior descending artery (LAD), left circumflex artery (LCX), and right coronary artery (RCA) and were compared between the different postprocessing algorithms used. Similarly a four-point Likert image quality score of coronary segments was graded for each dataset and compared. A cutoff value of P <.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Compared to ASIR-V 0%, ASIR-V 100% demonstrated a significant reduction of image noise in all coronaries (P <.01). Compared to ASIR-V 0%, SNR was significantly higher with ASIR-V 60% in LM (P <.01), LAD (P <.05), LCX (P <.05), and RCA (P <.01). Compared to ASIR-V 0%, CNR for ASIR-V ≥60% was significantly improved in LM (P <.01), LAD (P <.05), and RCA (P <.01), whereas LCX demonstrated a significant improvement with ASIR-V ≥80%. ASIR-V 60% had significantly better Likert image quality scores compared to ASIR-V 0% in segment-, vessel-, and patient-based analyses (P <.01). Conclusions: Reconstruction with ASIR-V 60% provides the optimal balance between image noise, SNR, CNR, and image quality.

Purpose: The high levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) against critical antibiotics in poultry environment are a cause for public health concern for the impact on human health. Intensive rearing conditions for turkeys seem to be associated with increased need for antimicrobial use. As antimicrobial treatments are mostly administered to turkeys via drinking water, we aim to quantify and compare AMR levels in indicator bacteria from turkeys' litter/faeces and drinking water. Methods & Materials: AMR levels in indicator bacteria (E. coli) isolated from litter and from the drinking water pipeline were measured in 28 intensive turkey farms and in 4 organic turkey farms where antimicrobial use is restricted. Subsequently, a selection of 10 farms was categorized in 3 AMR groups: farms with 1) 60% (n = 2) resistance to antibiotics. In all farms, 20 animals were bled for quantification of natural immunity parameters like serum bactericidal activity and lysozyme. Result(s): AMR for a panel of 14 antibiotics was high both in turkey faeces and drinking water, particularly for critical antibiotics, e.g. 80% of isolates was resistant to Ampicillin, Ciprofloxacin and/or Streptomycin. Observed agreement between AMR in water and in litter ranged between 36% and 100% depending on the antibiotics in question. In organic farms, AMR prevalence was lower, but turkeys' immune response was significantly higher (P <0.001) than in intensive farms. No significant associations were found between immunity and AMR groups. Conclusion(s): AMR in intensive turkey production is higher than in organic production, but organic turkeys have higher levels of natural immunity. Moreover, an association between AMR in drinking water and litter exists for some antibiotics.Copyright © 2018

We determined the hepatitis E virus (HEV) seroprevalence and detection rate in commercial swine herds in Italy's utmost pig-rich area, and assessed HEV seropositivity risk in humans as a function of occupational exposure to pigs, diet, foreign travel, medical history and hunting activities. During 2011-2014, 2700 sera from 300 swine herds were tested for anti-HEV IgG. HEV RNA was searched in 959 faecal pools from HEV-seropositive herds and in liver/bile/muscle samples from 179 pigs from HEV-positive herds. A cohort study of HEV seropositivity in swine workers (n = 149) was also performed using two comparison groups of people unexposed to swine: omnivores (n = 121) and vegetarians/vegans (n = 115). Herd-level seroprevalence was 75·6% and was highest in farrow-to-feeder herds (81·6%). Twenty-six out of 105 (24·8%) herds had HEV-positive faecal samples (25 HEV-3, one HEV-4). Only one bile sample tested positive. HEV seropositivity was 12·3% in swine workers, 0·9% in omnivores and 3·0% in vegetarians/vegans. Factors significantly associated with HEV seropositivity were occupational exposure to pigs, travel to Africa and increased swine workers' age. We concluded that HEV is widespread in Italian swine herds and HEV-4 circulation is alarming given its pathogenicity, with those occupationally exposed to pigs being at increased risk of HEV seropositivity.