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162 results on '"Vignola, S."'

2. Use of focus point for plane acquisition to improve reproducibility in fetal biometry.

Author

Vignola, S., Donadono, V., Cavalli, C., Azzaretto, V., Casagrandi, D., Pandya, P., and Napolitano, R.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the reproducibility of ultrasound measurements of fetal biometry using a 'focus point' to assist the acquisition of the relevant plane. Methods: This was a study of 80 women with a singleton non‐anomalous pregnancy who attended University College London Hospital, London, UK, between 18 and 37 weeks' gestation. Planes to measure head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL) were obtained four times by two different sonographers with different levels of experience, who were blinded to one another; the first set of images was obtained with reference to a standard image, and the second set of images was obtained using the focus point technique. The focus point was defined as a unique fetal anatomical landmark in each plane (cavum septi pellucidi for HC, two‐thirds of the umbilical vein for AC and one of the two extremities of the diaphysis for FL). Once identified, the focus point was maintained in view while the sonographer rotated the probe along three axes (x, y, z) to acquire the relevant plane. Sonographers were either in training or had > 3000 scans worth of experience. Intra‐ and interobserver reproducibility were assessed using Bland–Altman plots, and absolute values and percentages for mean difference and 95% limits of agreement (LoA) were reported. Results: Overall reproducibility was good, with all 95% LoA < 8%. Reproducibility was improved by use of the focus point compared with the standard technique for both intraobserver comparison (95% LoA, < 4% vs < 6%) and interobserver comparison (95% LoA, < 7% vs < 8%). These findings were independent of sonographer seniority and plane acquired. Conclusions: Reproducibility of fetal biometry assessment is improved with use of the focus point for plane acquisition, regardless of sonographer experience. We propose that this method should be implemented in clinical practice and training programs in fetal biometry. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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25. Engineering Applications on the eInfrastructure: The Case of Telecommunication Measurement Instrumentation

Author

Berruti, L, Davoli, Franco, Perrando, M, Vignola, S, and Zappatore, Sandro

Subjects
Grid Infrastructure, Service Oriented Architecture, Remote Instrumentation Services, Service (systems architecture), business.industry, Computer science, computer.internet_protocol, Context (language use), General Medicine, Service-oriented architecture, Remote instrumentation, Scientific Equipment, Instrumentation (computer programming), Telecommunications, business, computer
Abstract

Remote Instrumentation Services can provide unprecedented boost to the generalized use of sophisticated and costly scientific equipment, and foster the diffusion of eScience applications. However, this paradigm does not only apply to large-scale laboratories and devices, but it can be fruitfully employed even with smaller and relatively widespread measurement instrumentation adopted in engineer- ing applications. In this context, we consider the case of telecommunication measurements, and of their execution within the eInfrastruc- ture, by using a subset of the service capabilities. We highlight some specific aspects of this environment, and we present an application example and some performance evaluation results.

Published
2009
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29. 'Broadcast Transmission of Pyramidal Video Streams over Satellite Channels'

Author

Celandroni N., Davoli F., Ferro E., Vignola S., and Zappatore S.

Subjects
Satellite, ComputingMethodologies_IMAGEPROCESSINGANDCOMPUTERVISION, Pyramidal video coder, Data_CODINGANDINFORMATIONTHEORY, Broadcast transmission
Abstract

The operation of a pyramidal hierarchical video coder over a rain-faded satellite channel is considered, by examining the effects of fade attenuation and noise over video streaming transmission in a laboratory environment. The characteristics of the satellite channel have been reproduced accurately, and both hierarchical and non-hierarchical coding strategies have been implemented and compared, in objective and subjective terms. The analysis confirms that the flexibility of the pyramidal encoders might be exploited to derive receiver-driven decisions in a broadcast environment.

Published
2005

31. Levels of soluble CD27 in sera and synovial fluid and its expression on memory T cells in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritides

Author

Gattorno M, Prigione I, Vignola S, Falcini F, Chiesa S, Fabio Morandi, Picco P, Buoncompagni A, Martini A, and Pistoia V

Subjects
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Adolescent, Child, Preschool, Synovial Fluid, Humans, Joints, Child, Flow Cytometry, Immunologic Memory, Arthritis, Juvenile, Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7
Abstract

CD27 is a member of tumour necrosis factor receptor family. Its expression is predominantly confined to mature lymphocytes and is strongly enhanced after cell activation. Shedding of the CD27 from the surface of activated cells is related to their effector phase. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the levels of soluble CD27 in sera and synovial fluids, together with its expression on circulating and synovial fluid (SF) memory T cells, in children with JIA.Sera from 40 patients with active JIA were studied for soluble CD27. Paired SF samples were available in 20 patients. Sera from 12 age-matched patients affected with various acute infectious diseases and 12 age-matched healthy subjects were used as controls. In 8 JIA patients freshly isolated circulating and SF lymphocytes were stained for CD27 in CD4+CD45 RO+ T cell subpopulation and analyzed by cytometry.Soluble CD27 serum levels were significantly higher in patients with polyarticular JIA and acute systemic infectious diseases than in patients with active oligoarticular or healthy controls. Both polyarticular and oligoarticular JIA patients showed increased levels of soluble CD27 in SF when compared with paired serum samples (p = 0.01). In all the patients tested a significant enrichment of CD27- T cells was seen in the SF (median 39.5%, range 18-56%) when compared to paired CD4+CD45RO+ peripheral lymphocytes (median 19.5%, range 5-43%; p = 0.01).A clear enrichment of CD4+ memory SF T cells with a CD27-phenotype is observed when compared to correspondent circulating T lymphocytes. This issue is conceivably related to re-activation and recruitment of memory T cells to the site of inflammation, and to the subsequent expansion of a subpopulation of "effector" memory T cells.

Published
2003

32. MPEG-2 video encoded sequences over a satellite channel operating in Ka Band: a laboratory experience

Author

Celandroni N., Davoli F., Ferro E., Vignola S., Zappatore S., and Zinicola A.

Subjects
Satellite, H.261, Fade, Measurements, MPEG, Data_CODINGANDINFORMATIONTHEORY
Abstract

The results of experimental tests conducted to investigate the effect of channel errors on the quality of MPEG-2 encoded video sequences at the receiving decoder are reported and discussed. A comparison is included with H.261 operating in similar conditions. The chosen video sequence is tested also under dynamically varying fading conditions, recreated from real data

Published
2003

33. An experimental study on the quality of service of video encoded sequences over an emulated rain-faded satellite channel

Author

Celandroni N., Davoli F., Ferro E., Vignola S., Zappatore S., and Zinicola A.

Subjects
Video encoded, Fading, Satellite channel, QoS, Data_CODINGANDINFORMATIONTHEORY
Abstract

Video coding techniques, widely used in videoconferencing and streaming applications over the Internet, may face degradation in performance when traversing satellite channels. The aim of the present paper is to provide objective measurements of the quality of video encoded sequences for two of the most popular video coders in this setting (namely, H.261 and MPEG-2), after transmission over faded satellite channels. In particular, the emphasis is on the Ka band, which is becoming an attractive alternative for commercial applications, but is more prone to quality degradation than the currently widely used Ku band. In order to test the behaviour of the coders in repeatable experimental conditions and over different data link platforms, two transmission chains have been implemented in the laboratory, by careful emulation of the required environment. The data link layer has been based on HDLC-like and DVB protocols, respectively. The experiments have been performed in the presence of additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN), and by using fading patterns derived by real world data. The results obtained highlight some often neglected aspects in the behaviour of the coders under examination, both in relation to their comparative performance and to their adaptability to different underlying data link protocols.

Published
2003

38. Increased gut permeability in juvenile chronic arthritides. A multivariate analysis of the diagnostic parameters

Author

Picco, P., Marco Gattorno, Marchese, N., Vignola, S., Sormani, Mp, Barabino, A., and Buoncompagni, A.

Subjects
Male, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Sensitivity and Specificity, Arthritis, Juvenile, Lactulose, Permeability, Reference Values, Child, Preschool, Multivariate Analysis, Humans, Female, Mannitol, Spinal Diseases, Intestinal Mucosa, Child
Abstract

This study was aimed at evaluating intestinal permeability (IP) in patients with oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (o-JIA), spondyloarthropathy (SpA) associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other forms of juvenile-onset chronic arthritiis (OIA) using the lactulose/mannitol (L/M) test in comparison with other non-invasive parameters of gut involvement.A series of 26 children affected with o-JIA and 14 with either SpA/IBD or OIA were assessed for IP. The urinary L/M ratio was measured by gas chromatography. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), and faecal alpha 1 antitrypsin concentrations were also evaluated. Ten o-JIA patients displayed active arthritis while in 16 the disease was under control. Among the OIA patients, 11 were affected with psoriatic arthritis and the remaining 3 with chronic reactive arthritis. 14 patients with SpA-IBD had active synovitis or spine inflammation. 14 eo-pJCA and 22 OIA and SpA-IBD patients, respectively, were receiving NSAID therapy.The mean L/M ratios for the Spa-IBD (0.07 +/- 0.02, mean +/- SD), OIA (0.05 +/- 0.02) and o-JIA (0.04 +/- 0.02) patients were significantly higher (p0.001, p = 0.022 and p = 0.01, respectively) than those found in controls (0.02 +/- 0.01). Logistic regression analysis disclosed a positive correlation between the L/M ratio and the presence of gastrointestinal manifestations (p = 0.011). The type of disease (p = 0.28), the disease activity in the JCA patient group (p = 0.24) and NSAID administration (p = 0.210) did not seem to significantly influence the L/M ratio.All of the subtypes of juvenile chronic arthritides that we studied displayed an increased IP. Hence, gut wall inflammation (albeit asymptomatic) may also be present in o-JIA patients. The SpA-IBD patients with gastrointestinal symptoms displayed the highest mean L/M ratio values. The L/M test seemed to correlate with histopathological features of the gut mucosa. The L/M ratio was shown to be a highly sensitive but poorly specific test for predicting gut inflammatory disease compared to other non-invasive screening tests.

Published
2001

39. Functional type 1 regulatory T cells develop regardless of FOXP3 mutations in patients with IPEX syndrome.

Author

Passerini, L, Di Nunzio, S, Gambineri, E, Cecconi, M, Seidel, Mg, Cazzola, G, Perroni, L, Tommasini, A, Vignola, S, Guidi, Luisa, Roncarolo, Mg, Bacchetta, R., Guidi, Luisa (ORCID:0000-0003-3320-7094), Passerini, L, Di Nunzio, S, Gambineri, E, Cecconi, M, Seidel, Mg, Cazzola, G, Perroni, L, Tommasini, A, Vignola, S, Guidi, Luisa, Roncarolo, Mg, Bacchetta, R., and Guidi, Luisa (ORCID:0000-0003-3320-7094)

Published
2011

49. Exploring oral health and hygiene practices in the Algonquin community of Rapid Lake, Quebec.

Author

Naidu, A., Macdonald, M-E., Carnevale, F. A., Nottaway, W., Thivierge, C., and Vignola, S.

Abstract

Introduction: Early childhood caries (ECC), a disease characterized by tooth decay in the primary teeth of children, has become particularly burdensome in Aboriginal communities in Canada. Prevalence estimates of ECC range between 50% and 100%. Most concerning are the severe cases of ECC that require treatment with restorative surgery under general anesthesia. These surgeries often displace children and families from their local communities to specialty hospitals for treatment; further, they are very costly to dental insurance payers such as the government. This study used community-based participatory research (CBPR) to explore oral health and hygiene practices in the Algonquin community of Rapid Lake, Quebec. A key goal of the study was to create a culturally adapted activity to promote children's oral health and hygiene practices. Methods: Focused ethnography was used to explore oral health beliefs and practices, and factors related to child oral health promotion with community members. Participants included children, parents, educators, healthcare workers, youth workers and elders. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants. Following, two focus group interviews were conducted: one with parents and one with school children. All data were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed iteratively using thematic analysis. Preliminary findings were then used to develop oral health promoting activities for children in the community. These activities were designed in collaboration with community workers. Results: Three main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) a gap existed between oral health knowledge and oral health behaviors; (2) challenges for oral health promotion included attitudes and beliefs, access, and priorities; and (3) parents needed to be further integrated into health promotion strategies. Key outcomes included: (1) the development of Eagles & Otters, a game designed to increase children's oral health knowledge; (2) an activity sheet to promote child oral health behaviors in the home; and (3) increased capacity in oral health promotion in local youth, community research partners and the student researcher. Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight the importance of both local and broader systemic interventions to promote children's oral health. At the local level, child oral health and hygiene was promoted through the development of activities designed to increase children's oral health knowledge and behaviors both at school and in the home where parents were directly implicated. Systemic level interventions are needed to address factors related to the social determinants of health, including cultural traditions, economic security, food security, and housing status. These factors contribute to overall health and enable the necessary conditions to promote and sustain oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2014

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