| 1. |
- Baumann, Stefan, et al.
(author)
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Gender differences in the diagnostic performance of machine learning coronary CT angiography-derived fractional flow reserve -results from the MACHINE registry
- 2019
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In: European Journal of Radiology. - : ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD. - 0720-048X .- 1872-7727. ; 119
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: This study investigated the impact of gender differences on the diagnostic performance of machine-learning based coronary CT angiography (cCTA)-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR mL ) for the detection of lesion-specific ischemia. Method: Five centers enrolled 351 patients (73.5% male) with 525 vessels in the MACHINE (Machine leArning Based CT angiograpHy derIved FFR: a Multi-ceNtEr) registry. CT-FFRML and invasive FFR amp;lt;= 0.80 were considered hemodynamically significant, whereas cCTA luminal stenosis amp;gt;= 50% was considered obstructive. The diagnostic performance to assess lesion-specific ischemia in both men and women was assessed on a per-vessel basis. Results: In total, 398 vessels in men and 127 vessels in women were included. Compared to invasive FFR, CT-FFRML reached a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 78% (95%CI 72-84), 79% (95%CI 73-84), 75% (95%CI 69-79), and 82% (95%CI: 76-86) in men vs. 75% (95%CI 58-88), 81 (95%CI 72-89), 61% (95%CI 50-72) and 89% (95%CI 82-94) in women, respectively. CT-FFRML showed no statistically significant difference in the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) in men vs. women (AUC: 0.83 [95%CI 0.79-0.87] vs. 0.83 [95%CI 0.75-0.89], p = 0.89). CT-FFRML was not superior to cCTA alone [AUC: 0.83 (95%CI: 0.75-0.89) vs. 0.74 (95%CI: 0.65-0.81), p = 0.12] in women, but showed a statistically significant improvement in men [0.83 (95%CI: 0.79-0.87) vs. 0.76 (95%CI: 0.71-0.80), p = 0.007]. Conclusions: Machine-learning based CT-FFR performs equally in men and women with superior diagnostic performance over cCTA alone for the detection of lesion-specific ischemia.
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| 2. |
- Albrecht, Inka, et al.
(author)
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Development of autoantibodies against muscle-specific FHL1 in severe inflammatory myopathies
- 2015
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In: Journal of Clinical Investigation. - : AMER SOC CLINICAL INVESTIGATION INC. - 0021-9738 .- 1558-8238. ; 125:12, s. 4612-4624
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mutations of the gene encoding four-and-a-half LIM domain 1 (FHL1) are the causative factor of several X-linked hereditary myopathies that are collectively termed FHL1-related myopathies. These disorders are characterized by severe muscle dysfunction and damage. Here, we have shown that patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) develop autoimmunity to FHL1, which is a muscle-specific protein. Anti-FHL1 autoantibodies were detected in 25% of IIM patients, while patients with other autoimmune diseases or muscular dystrophies were largely anti-FHL1 negative. Anti-FHL1 reactivity was predictive for muscle atrophy, dysphagia, pronounced muscle fiber damage, and vasculitis. FHL1 showed an altered expression pattern, with focal accumulation in the muscle fibers of autoantibody-positive patients compared with a homogeneous expression in anti-FHL1-negative patients and healthy controls. We determined that FHL1 is a target of the cytotoxic protease granzyme B, indicating that the generation of FHL1 fragments may initiate FHL1 autoimmunity. Moreover, immunization of myositis-prone mice with FHL1 aggravated muscle weakness and increased mortality, suggesting a direct link between anti-FHL1 responses and muscle damage. Together, our findings provide evidence that FHL1 may be involved in the pathogenesis not only of genetic FHL1-related myopathies but also of autoimmune IIM. Importantly, these results indicate that anti-FHL1 autoantibodies in peripheral blood have promising potential as a biomarker to identify a subset of severe IIM.
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| 3. |
- Tesche, Christian, et al.
(author)
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Influence of Coronary Calcium on Diagnostic Performance of Machine Learning CT-FFR Results From MACHINE Registry
- 2020
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In: JACC Cardiovascular Imaging. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. - 1936-878X .- 1876-7591. ; 13:3, s. 760-770
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVESThis study was conducted to investigate the influence of coronary artery calcium (CAC) score on the diagnostic performance of machine-learning-based coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography (cCTA)-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR).BACKGROUNDCT-FFR is used reliably to detect lesion-specific ischemia. Novel CT-FFR algorithms using machine-learning artificial intelligence techniques perform fast and require less complex computational fluid dynamics. Yet, influence of CAC score on diagnostic performance of the machine-learning approach has not been investigated.METHODSA total of 482 vessels from 314 patients (age 62.3 +/- 9.3 years, 77% male) who underwent cCTA followed by invasive FFR were investigated from the MACHINE (Machine Learning based CT Angiography derived FFR: a Multi-center Registry) registry data. CAC scores were quantified using the Agatston convention. The diagnostic performance of CT-FFR to detect lesion-specific ischemia was assessed across all Agatston score categories (CAC 0, >0 to <100, 100 to <400, and >=$400) on a per-vessel level with invasive FFR as the reference standard.RESULTSThe diagnostic accuracy of CT-FFR versus invasive FFR was superior to cCTA alone on a per-vessel level (78% vs. 60%) and per patient level (83% vs. 73%) across all Agatston score categories. No statistically significant differences in the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, or specificity of CT-FFR were observed across the categories. CT-FFR showed good discriminatory power in vessels with high Agatston scores (CAC >= 400) and high performance in low-to-intermediate Agatston scores (CAC >0 to <400) with a statistically significant difference in the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) (AUC: 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.57 to 0.85] vs. 0.85 [95% CI: 0.82 to 0.89], p = 0.04). CT-FFR showed superior diagnostic value over cCTA in vessels with high Agatston scores (CAC >= 400: AUC 0.71 vs. 0.55, p = 0.04) and low-to-intermediate Agatston scores (CAC >0 to <400: AUC 0.86 vs. 0.63, p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSMachine-learning-based CT-FFR showed superior diagnostic performance over cCTA alone in CAC with a significant difference in the performance of CT-FFR as calcium burden/Agatston calcium score increased. (Machine Learning Based CT Angiography Derived FFR: a Multicenter, Registry [MACHINE] NCT02805621). (C) 2020 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.
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| 4. |
- Uckert, S, et al.
(author)
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Cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate-phosphodiesterase isoenzymes in human vagina: Relation to nitric oxide synthase isoforms and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing nerves
- 2005
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In: Urology. - : Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam.. - 0090-4295 .- 1527-9995. ; 65:3, s. 604-610
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the distribution of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) phosphodiesterases (PDEs) in relation to nitric oxide synthase isoforms and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in specimens of the human vagina. Nitric oxide and VIP, mediating biologic signals through cGMP and cAMP, have been assumed to be involved in the control of vaginal smooth muscle.METHODS: Immunohistochemical techniques were applied to sectioned specimens of the human vaginal wall to evaluate the presence of the PDE isoenzymes 3, 4, 5, and 10 in relation to neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS), and VIP.RESULTS: Immunoreactivity (IR) for cAMP-degrading PDE-4 was observed in the vaginal nonvascular smooth musculature, as well as in the wall of subepithelial arteries. VIP-IR nerves innervated the smooth muscle portion of the vaginal wall and also formed a subepithelial network. Immunoreactivity specific for PDE-5 was also registered in vascular and nonvascular vaginal smooth muscle. Immunosignals for eNOS were detected in the endothelial lining of arteries containing PDE-5-IR smooth muscle cells. These arteries were supplied by nNOS-IR nerve fibers. PDE-10-IR smooth muscle cells were located in muscle bundles of the vaginal wall.CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed immunoreactivity specific for PDE-4, PDE-5, and PDE-10 in the vascular and nonvascular smooth muscle of the vagina. Immunosignals for PDE-4 and PDE-5 were also observed in close proximity to nNOS-IR or VIP-IR nerve fibers or to eNOS-IR endothelial cells. The distribution of PDEs may indicate a role of these enzymes in the control of the function of the human vagina.
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| 5. |
- Ueckert, S., et al.
(author)
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Expression and distribution of the transient receptor potential cationic channel ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) in the human vagina
- 2015
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In: International journal of impotence research. - : Nature Publishing Group: Open Access Hybrid Model Option B. - 0955-9930 .- 1476-5489. ; 27:1, s. 16-19
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The transient receptor potential cationic channel type A1 (TRPA1), belonging to a superfamily of cationic membrane channels, has been suggested to act as mechano- and pain sensor and, thus, to play a role in neurotransmission in the human body, including the urogenital tract While the expression of TRPA1 has been investigated in a variety of tissues, up until today no Study has addressed the expression and distribution in the female genital tract. The present study aimed to investigate the expression and distribution of TRPA1 protein in human vaginal tissue, Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) Was applied in order to identify messenger ribonuleic acid specifically encoding for TAPA/A1. The distribution of TRPA1 in relation to the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and the signaling peptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was examined by means of imnnunohistocheitical methods (double-antibody technique, laser fluorescence microscopy). RT-PCR analysis revealed the expression of mRNA encoding sequences specific for TRPA in the vaginal Wall and epithelium Immunostaining related to TRPA1 was observed in the basal epithelium and in slender Varicose nerve fibers transversing the subepithelial and stromal space of the Vaginal sections. In addition, these fibers presented immunoreactivity specific for nNOS or CGRP The Smooth:musculature of the vaginal wall, and small vessels interspersing the tissue did not present Signals related to TRPA1, The findings indicate that TRPA1 might be involved in afferent neurotransmission in the vagina and work synergistically together with the nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway.
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| 6. |
- Ueckert, S., et al.
(author)
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Protein kinase enzymes in the human vagina-relation to key mediators of the cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP pathways
- 2017
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In: International journal of impotence research. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 0955-9930 .- 1476-5489. ; 29:4, s. 127-131
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aside from phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzymes,,protein kinases (cAK=cyclic AMP-binding protein kinase, CGK=cyclic GMP-binding protein kinase) have also been identified as important receptors for cyclic nucleotides. A significance of protein kinases in the control of the function of the male and female reproductive tract has been suggested; however,up until today, only a few approaches have addressed these enzymes in female genital tissues: The present study aimed to investigate by means of biochemical and immunohistochemical methods the expression of cAK and cGK. The distribution of cAK(I) and cGK(I) in relation to the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and PDE type 4 (PDE4) was also evaluated. Cytosolic supernatants prepared from specimens of vaginal wall smooth muscle or epithelium were subjected to anion exchange chromatography and the activities of cAK and cGK(I) measured. To evaluate the distribution of cAK(I) and cGK(I) in relation to VIP, CGRP and PDE4, immunohistochemistry was conducted in sections of the human vaginal wall (full-wall specimens). Activities representing cGK(I) and cAK(I) were resolved from the chromatography column. Staining specific for cAK(la) was identified in both vascular and non-vascular vaginal smooth musculature, immunoreactivity for cGK(113) was observed in the smooth muscle and endothelium of small arteries interspersing the sections. cAK(I alpha)-positive vessels were found innervated by slender varicose nerve fibers presenting the expression of VIP and CGRP. These arteries also expressed PDE4. Localization of cAK and cGK in close relation to key mediators of the cyclic AMP (PDE4, VIP) and cyclic GMP (CGRP) pathways indicate that both signaling systems may synergistically work together in human vaginal tissue.
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