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  • 1.
    Aasa, Ulrika
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Section of Physiotherapy.
    Bengtsson, Victor
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Section of Physiotherapy.
    Berglund, Lars
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Section of Sports Medicine.
    Öhberg, Fredrik
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Variability of lumbar spinal alignment among power- and weightlifters during the deadlift and barbell back squat2022In: Sports Biomechanics, ISSN 1476-3141, E-ISSN 1752-6116, Vol. 21, no 6, p. 707-717Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    The aims of the study were to evaluate the relative and absolute variability of upper (T11-L2) and lower (L2-S2) lumbar spinal alignment in power- and weightlifters during the deadlift and back squat exercises, and to compare this alignment between the two lifting groups. Twenty-four competitive powerlifters (n = 14) and weightlifters (n = 10) performed three repetitions of the deadlift and the back squat exercises using a load equivalent to 70% of their respective one-repetition maximum. The main outcome measures were the three-dimensional lumbar spinal alignment for start position, minimum and maximum angle of their spinal alignment, and range of motion measured using inertial measurement units. Relative intra-trial reliability was calculated using the two-way random model intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and absolute reliability with minimal detectable change (MDC). The ICC ranged between 0.69 and 0.99 and the MDC between 1 degrees-8 degrees for the deadlift. Corresponding figures for the squat were 0.78-0.99 and 1 degrees-6 degrees. In all participants during both exercises, spinal adjustments were made in both thoracolumbar and lumbopelvic areas in all three dimensions. In conclusion, when performing three repetitions of the deadlift and the squat, lumbar spinal alignment of the lifters did not change much between repetitions and did not differ significantly between power- and weightlifters.

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  • 2. Abdukalikova, Anara
    et al.
    Kleyko, Denis
    Osipov, Evgeny
    Wiklund, Urban
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Detection of Atrial Fibrillation From Short ECGs: Minimalistic Complexity Analysis for Feature-Based Classifiers2018In: 2018 Computing in Cardiology Conference (CinC), IEEE, 2018Conference paper (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    In order to facilitate data-driven solutions for early detection of atrial fibrillation (AF), the 2017 CinC conference challenge was devoted to automatic AF classification based on short ECG recordings. The proposed solutions concentrated on maximizing the classifiers F-1 score, whereas the complexity of the classifiers was not considered. However, we argue that this must be addressed as complexity places restrictions on the applicability of inexpensive devices for AF monitoring outside hospitals. Therefore, this study investigates the feasibility of complexity reduction by analyzing one of the solutions presented for the challenge.

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  • 3.
    Adjeiwaah, Mary
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Quality assurance for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in radiotherapy2019Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    The use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the radiotherapy (RT) treatment planning workflow is increasing. MRI offers superior soft-tissue contrast compared to Computed Tomography (CT) and therefore improves the accuracy in target volume definitions. There are, however concerns with inherent geometric distortions from system- (gradient nonlinearities and main magnetic field inhomogeneities) and patient-related sources (magnetic susceptibility effect and chemical shift). The lack of clearly defined quality assurance (QA) procedures has also raised questions on the ability of current QA protocols to detect common image quality degradations under radiotherapy settings. To fully implement and take advantage of the benefits of MRI in radiotherapy, these concerns need to be addressed.

    In Papers I and II, the dosimetric impact of MR distortions was investigated. Patient CTs (CT) were deformed with MR distortion vector fields (from the residual system distortions after correcting for gradient nonlinearities and patient-induced susceptibility distortions) to create distorted CT (dCT) images. Field parameters from volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) treatment plans initially optimized on dCT data sets were transferred to CT data to compute new treatment plans. Data from 19 prostate and 21 head and neck patients were used for the treatment planning. The dCT and CT treatment plans were compared to determine the impact of distortions on dose distributions. No clinically relevant dose differences between distorted CT and original CT treatment plans were found. Mean dose differences were < 1.0% and < 0.5% at the planning target volume (PTV) for the head and neck, and prostate treatment plans, respectively. 

    Strategies to reduce geometric distortions were also evaluated in Papers I and II. Using the vendor-supplied gradient non-linearity correction algorithm reduced overall distortions to less than half of the original value. A high acquisition bandwidth of 488 Hz/pixel (Paper I) and 488 Hz/mm (Paper II) kept the mean geometric distortions at the delineated structures below 1 mm. Furthermore, a patient-specific active shimming method implemented in Paper II significantly reduced the number of voxels with distortion shifts > 2 mm from 15.4% to 2.0%.

    B0 maps from patient-induced magnetic field inhomogeneities obtained through direct measurements and by simulations that used MR-generated synthetic CT (sCT) data were compared in Paper III. The validation showed excellent agreement between the simulated and measured B0 maps.

    In Paper IV, the ability of current QA methods to detect common MR image quality degradations under radiotherapy settings were investigated. By evaluating key image quality parameters, the QA protocols were found to be sensitive to some of the introduced degradations. However, image quality issues such as those caused by RF coil failures could not be adequately detected.

    In conclusion, this work has shown the feasibility of using MRI data for radiotherapy treatment planning as distortions resulted in a dose difference of less than 1% between distorted and undistorted images. The simulation software can be used to produce accurate B0 maps, which could then be used as the basis for the effective correction of patient-induced field inhomogeneity distortions and for the QA verification of sCT data. Furthermore, the analysis of the strengths and weaknesses in current QA tools for MRI in RT contribute to finding better methods to efficiently identify image quality errors.

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  • 4.
    Adjeiwaah, Mary
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Bylund, Mikael
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Lundman, Josef A.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Söderström, Karin
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Oncology.
    Zackrisson, Björn
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Oncology.
    Jonsson, Joakim H.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Garpebring, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Nyholm, Tufve
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Dosimetric Impact of MRI Distortions: A Study on Head and Neck Cancers2019In: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, ISSN 0360-3016, E-ISSN 1879-355X, Vol. 103, no 4, p. 994-1003Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Purpose: To evaluate the effect of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (MRI) geometric distortions on head and neck radiation therapy treatment planning (RTP) for an MRI-only RTP. We also assessed the potential benefits of patient-specific shimming to reduce the magnitude of MR distortions for a 3-T scanner.

    Methods and Materials: Using an in-house Matlab algorithm, shimming within entire imaging volumes and user-defined regions of interest were simulated. We deformed 21 patient computed tomography (CT) images with MR distortion fields (gradient nonlinearity and patient-induced susceptibility effects) to create distorted CT (dCT) images using bandwidths of 122 and 488 Hz/mm at 3 T. Field parameters from volumetric modulated arc therapy plans initially optimized on dCT data sets were transferred to CT data to compute a new plan. Both plans were compared to determine the impact of distortions on dose distributions.

    Results: Shimming across entire patient volumes decreased the percentage of voxels with distortions of more than 2 mm from 15.4% to 2.0%. Using the user-defined region of interest (ROI) shimming strategy, (here the Planning target volume (PTV) was the chosen ROI volume) led to increased geometric for volumes outside the PTV, as such voxels within the spinal cord with geometric shifts above 2 mm increased from 11.5% to 32.3%. The worst phantom-measured residual system distortions after 3-dimensional gradient nonlinearity correction within a radial distance of 200 mm from the isocenter was 2.17 mm. For all patients, voxels with distortion shifts of more than 2 mm resulting from patient-induced susceptibility effects were 15.4% and 0.0% using bandwidths of 122 Hz/mm and 488 Hz/mm at 3 T. Dose differences between dCT and CT treatment plans in D-50 at the planning target volume were 0.4% +/- 0.6% and 0.3% +/- 0.5% at 122 and 488 Hz/mm, respectively.

    Conclusions: The overall effect of MRI geometric distortions on data used for RTP was minimal. Shimming over entire imaging volumes decreased distortions, but user-defined subvolume shimming introduced significant errors in nearby organs and should probably be avoided.

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  • 5.
    Adjeiwaah, Mary
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Bylund, Mikael
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Lundman, Josef A.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Thellenberg Karlsson, Camilla
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Oncology.
    Jonsson, Joakim H.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Nyholm, Tufve
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics. Medical Radiation Physics, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Quantifying the Effect of 3T Magnetic Resonance Imaging Residual System Distortions and Patient-Induced Susceptibility Distortions on Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning for Prostate Cancer2018In: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, ISSN 0360-3016, E-ISSN 1879-355X, Vol. 100, no 2, p. 317-324Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Purpose: To investigate the effect of magnetic resonance system- and patient-induced susceptibility distortions from a 3T scanner on dose distributions for prostate cancers.

    Methods and Materials: Combined displacement fields from the residual system and patient-induced susceptibility distortions were used to distort 17 prostate patient CT images. VMAT dose plans were initially optimized on distorted CT images and the plan parameters transferred to the original patient CT images to calculate a new dose distribution.

    Results: Maximum residual mean distortions of 3.19 mm at a radial distance of 25 cm and maximum mean patient-induced susceptibility shifts of 5.8 mm were found using the lowest bandwidth of 122 Hz per pixel. There was a dose difference of <0.5% between distorted and undistorted treatment plans. The 90% confidence intervals of the mean difference between the dCT and CT treatment plans were all within an equivalence interval of (−0.5, 0.5) for all investigated plan quality measures.

    Conclusions: Patient-induced susceptibility distortions at high field strengths in closed bore magnetic resonance scanners are larger than residual system distortions after using vendor-supplied 3-dimensional correction for the delineated regions studied. However, errors in dose due to disturbed patient outline and shifts caused by patient-induced susceptibility effects are below 0.5%.

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  • 6.
    Adjeiwaah, Mary
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences.
    Garpebring, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences.
    Nyholm, Tufve
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Quality Assurance for MRI in Radiotherapy: Sensitivity Analysis of Current MethodsManuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
  • 7.
    Adjeiwaah, Mary
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Garpebring, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Nyholm, Tufve
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Sensitivity analysis of different quality assurance methods for magnetic resonance imaging in radiotherapy2020In: Physics and Imaging in Radiation Oncology, E-ISSN 2405-6316, Vol. 13, p. 21-27Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background and purpose: There are currently no standard quality assurance (QA) methods for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in radiotherapy (RT). This work was aimed at evaluating the ability of two QA protocols to detect common events that affect quality of MR images under RT settings.

    Materials and methods: The American College of Radiology (ACR) MRI QA phantom was repeatedly scanned using a flexible coil and action limits for key image quality parameters were derived. Using an exploratory survey, issues that reduce MR image quality were identified. The most commonly occurring events were introduced as provocations to produce MR images with degraded quality. From these images, detection sensitivities of the ACR MRI QA protocol and a commercial geometric accuracy phantom were determined.

    Results: Machine-specific action limits for key image quality parameters set at mean&#xB1;3&#x3C3;" role="presentation" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline-block; line-height: normal; font-size: 16.2px; word-spacing: normal; overflow-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; position: relative;">mean±3σ were comparable with the ACR acceptable values. For the geometric accuracy phantom, provocations from uncorrected gradient nonlinearity effects and a piece of metal in the bore of the scanner resulted in worst distortions of 22.2 mm and 3.4 mm, respectively. The ACR phantom was sensitive to uncorrected signal variations, electric interference and a piece of metal in the bore of the scanner but could not adequately detect individual coil element failures.

    Conclusions: The ACR MRI QA phantom combined with the large field-of-view commercial geometric accuracy phantom were generally sensitive in identifying some common MR image quality issues. The two protocols when combined may provide a tool to monitor the performance of MRI systems in the radiotherapy environment.

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  • 8.
    Adjeiwaah, Mary
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences.
    Lundman, Josef A.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences.
    Garpebring, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences.
    Nyholm, Tufve
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Bylund, Mikael
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences.
    Technical Note: Comparison between simulated and measured B0 field maps of head and neck MRIManuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
  • 9.
    af Bjerkén, Sara
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Integrative Medical Biology (IMB). Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Neurosciences.
    Axelsson, Jan
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics. Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå Centre for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI).
    Larsson, Anne
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Diagnostic Radiology.
    Flygare, Carolina
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Diagnostic Radiology.
    Remes, Jussi
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Diagnostic Radiology.
    Strandberg, Sara
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Diagnostic Radiology.
    Eriksson, Linda
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Neurosciences.
    Bäckström, David C.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Neurosciences.
    Jakobson Mo, Susanna
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Diagnostic Radiology. Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå Centre for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI).
    Reliability and validity of visual analysis of [18F]FE-PE2I PET/CT in early Parkinsonian disease2023In: Nuclear medicine communications, ISSN 0143-3636, E-ISSN 1473-5628, Vol. 44, no 5, p. 397-406Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Objective: [18F]FE-PE2I (FE-PE2I) is a new radiotracer for dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging with PET. The aim of this study was to evaluate the visual interpretation of FE-PE2I images for the diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinsonian syndrome (IPS). The inter-rater variability, sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy for visual interpretation of striatal FE-PE2I compared to [123I]FP-CIT (FP-CIT) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was evaluated.

    Methods: Thirty patients with newly onset parkinsonism and 32 healthy controls with both an FE-PE2I and FP-CIT were included in the study. Four patients had normal DAT imaging, of which three did not fulfil the IPS criteria at the clinical reassessment after 2 years. Six raters evaluated the DAT images blinded to the clinical diagnosis, interpreting the image as being ‘normal’ or ‘pathological’, and assessed the degree of DAT-reduction in the caudate and putamen. The inter-rater agreement was assessed with intra-class correlation and Cronbach’s α. For calculation of sensitivity and specificity, DAT images were defined as correctly classified if categorized as normal or pathological by ≥4/6 raters.

    Results: The overall agreement in visual evaluation of the FE-PE2I- and FP-CIT images was high for the IPS patients (α = 0.960 and 0.898, respectively), but lower in healthy controls (FE-PE2I: α = 0.693, FP-CIT: α = 0.657). Visual interpretation gave high sensitivity (both 0.96) but lower specificity (FE-PE2I: 0.86, FP-CIT: 0.63) with an accuracy of 90% for FE-PE2I and 77% for FP-CIT.

    Conclusion: Visual evaluation of FE-PE2I PET imaging demonstrates high reliability and diagnostic accuracy for IPS.

  • 10.
    Aksu, Fatih
    et al.
    Humanitas University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Milan, Italy.
    Gelardi, Fabrizia
    Humanitas University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy.
    Chiti, Arturo
    Humanitas University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy.
    Soda, Paolo
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics. Humanitas University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Milan, Italy; Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Research Unit of Computer Systems and Bioinformatics, Rome, Italy.
    Early Experiences on using Triplet Networks for Histological Subtype Classification in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer2023In: 2023 IEEE 36th International Symposium on Computer-Based Medical Systems (CBMS): Proceedings / [ed] João Rafael Almeida; Myra Spiliopoulou; Jose Alberto Benitez Andrades; Giuseppe Placidi; Alejandro Rodríguez González; Rosa Sicilia; Bridget Kane, IEEE, 2023, p. 832-837Conference paper (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate among tumours and an accurate pathological assessment is crucial to deliver personalized treatments to patients. The gold standard for pathological assessment requires invasive procedures, which are not always possible and might cause clinical complications. Therefore, in the last years, efforts have been directed towards the development of machine and deep learning approaches for virtual biopsy, which leverage routinely collected CT scans. However, in many cases, the available datasets are limited in size, an issue that limits the training of any model. In this paper, we investigate if triplet networks can cope with this limitation: they are a class of neural networks that uses the same weights while working in tandem on three different input vectors to minimize the loss function. In particular, on a dataset including 87 CT scans collected from patients suffering from non-small cell lung cancer, we experimentally compare triplet networks against plain deep networks when performing histological subtype classification. The results show that the former outperforms the latter in almost all experiments.

  • 11.
    Alenius Dahlqvist, Jenny
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Paediatrics.
    Karlsson, Marcus
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Wiklund, Urban
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Hörnsten, Rolf
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Clinical Physiology.
    Rydberg, Annika
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Paediatrics.
    Handheld ECG in analysis of arrhythmia and heart rate variability in children with Fontan circulation2014In: Journal of Electrocardiology, ISSN 0022-0736, E-ISSN 1532-8430, Vol. 47, no 3, p. 374-382Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background: Our aim was to evaluate the intermittent use of a handheld ECG system for detecting silent arrhythmias and cardiac autonomic dysfunction in children with univentricular hearts. Methods: Twenty-seven patients performed intermittent ECG recordings with handheld devices during a 14-day period. A manual arrhythmia analysis was performed. We analyzed heart rate variability (HRV) using scatter plots of all interbeat intervals (Poincare plots) from the total observation period. Reference values of HRV indices were determined from Holter-ECGs in 41 healthy children. Results: One asymptomatic patient had frequent ventricular extra systoles. Another patient had episodes with supraventricular tachycardia (with concomitant palpitations). Seven patients showed reduced HRV. Conclusions: Asymptomatic arrhythmia was detected in one patient. The proposed method for pooling of intermittent recordings from handheld or similar devices may be used for detection of arrhythmias as well as for cardiac autonomic dysfunction.

  • 12.
    Alenius Dahlqvist, Jenny
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Paediatrics.
    Karlsson, Marcus
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Wiklund, Urban
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Hörnsten, Rolf
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Clinical Physiology.
    Strömvall-Larsson, Eva
    Division of Cardiology, Department of Paediatrics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden.
    Berggren, Håkan
    Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Paediatrics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden.
    Hanseus, Katarina
    Department of Paediatrics, Children’s Hospital, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
    Johansson, Sune
    Paediatric Cardiac Surgical Unit, Children’s Hospital, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
    Rydberg, Annika
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Paediatrics.
    Heart rate variability in children with fontan circulation: lateral tunnel and extracardiac conduit2012In: Pediatric Cardiology, ISSN 0172-0643, E-ISSN 1432-1971, Vol. 33, no 2, p. 307-315Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    The technique in Fontan surgery has developed from the lateral tunnel (LT) toward the extracardiac conduit (EC) used to reduce long-term complications such as atrial arrhythmia and sinus node dysfunction. Heart rate variability (HRV) examines cardiac nervous activity controlling the sinus node. This study aimed to investigate HRV in a cohort of children with univentricular hearts, focusing on the relation between HRV and surgical procedure. For 112 children with Fontan circulation, HRV was analyzed using power spectral analysis. Spectral power was determined in three regions: very-low-frequency (VLF), low-frequency (LF), and high-frequency (HF) regions. Patients were compared with 66 healthy controls subject. Patients with LT were compared with patients who had EC. The children with Fontan circulation showed a significantly reduced HRV including total power (P < 0.0001), VLF (P < 0.0001), LF (P < 0.0001), and HF (P = 0.001) compared with the control subjects. The LT and EC patients did not differ significantly. Reduced HRV was found in both the LT and EC patients. In terms of HRV reduction, EC was not superior to LT.

  • 13.
    Alenius Dahlqvist, Jenny
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Paediatrics.
    Sunnegårdh, Jan
    Department of Cardiology, The Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
    Hanséus, Katarina
    Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Children Heart Center, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
    Strömvall Larsson, Eva
    Department of Cardiology, The Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
    Nygren, Anders
    Department of Cardiology, The Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
    Dalén, Magnus
    Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
    Berggren, Håkan
    Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Children's Heart Center, The Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg , Sweden.
    Johansson Ramgren, Jens
    Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Children´s Heart Center, Skånes University Hospital Lund, Sweden.
    Wiklund, Urban
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Rydberg, Annika
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Paediatrics.
    Pacemaker treatment after Fontan surgery: a Swedish national study2019In: Congenital Heart Disease, ISSN 1747-079X, E-ISSN 1747-0803, Vol. 14, no 4, p. 582-589Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Objective: Fontan surgery is performed in children with univentricular heart defects. Previous data regarding permanent pacemaker implantation frequency and indications in Fontan patients are limited and conflicting. We examined the prevalence of and risk factors for pacemaker treatment in a consecutive national cohort of patients after Fontan surgery in Sweden.

    Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all Swedish patients who underwent Fontan surgery from 1982 to 2017 (n = 599).

    Results: After a mean follow‐up of 12.2 years, 13% (78/599) of the patients with Fontan circulation had received pacemakers. Patients operated with the extracardiac conduit (EC) type of total cavopulmonary connection had a significantly lower prevalence of pacemaker implantation (6%) than patients with lateral tunnel (LT; 17%). Mortality did not differ between patients with (8%) and without pacemaker (5%). The most common pacemaker indication was sinus node dysfunction (SND) (64%). Pacemaker implantation due to SND was less common among patients with EC. Pacemaker implantation was significantly more common in patients with mitral atresia (MA; 44%), double outlet right ventricle (DORV; 24%) and double inlet left ventricle (DILV; 20%). In contrast, patients with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum and hypoplastic left heart syndrome were significantly less likely to receive a pacemaker (3% and 6%, respectively).

    Conclusions: Thirteen percent of Fontan patients received a permanent pacemaker, most frequently due to SND. EC was associated with a significantly lower prevalence of pacemaker than LT. Permanent pacemaker was more common in patients with MA, DORV, and DILV.

  • 14.
    Alenius Dahlqvist, Jenny
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Paediatrics.
    Wiklund, Urban
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Karlsson, Marcus
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Hanséus, Katarina
    Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Children Heart Centre, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
    Strömvall Larsson, Eva
    Department of Cardiology, The Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
    Johansson Ramgren, Jens
    Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Children´s Heart Center, Skånes University Hospital Lund, Sweden.
    Berggren, Håkan
    Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Children's Heart Center, The Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
    Rydberg, Annika
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Paediatrics.
    Changes in Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability During Surgical Stages to Completed Fontan Circulation2021In: Pediatric Cardiology, ISSN 0172-0643, E-ISSN 1432-1971, Vol. 42, no 5, p. 1162-1169Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Arrhythmia is related to heart rate variability (HRV), which reflects the autonomic nervous regulation of the heart. We hypothesized that autonomic nervous ganglia, located at the junction of the superior vena cava’s entrance to the heart, may be affected during the bidirectional Glenn procedure (BDG), resulting in reduced HRV. We aimed to investigate changes in heart rate and HRV in a cohort of children with univentricular heart defects, undergoing stepwise surgery towards total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC), and compare these results with healthy controls. Twenty four hours Holter-ECG recordings were obtained before BDG (n = 47), after BDG (n = 47), and after total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) (n = 45) in patients and in 38 healthy controls. HRV was analyzed by spectral and Poincaré methods. Age-related z scores were calculated and compared using linear mixed effects modeling. Total HRV was significantly lower in patients before BDG when compared to healthy controls. The mean heart rate was significantly reduced in patients after BDG compared to before BDG. Compared to healthy controls, patients operated with BDG had significantly reduced heart rate and reduced total HRV. Patients with TCPC showed reduced heart rate and HRV compared with healthy controls. In patients after TCPC, total HRV was decreased compared to before TCPC. Heart rate was reduced after BDG procedure, and further reductions of HRV were seen post-TCPC. Our results indicate that autonomic regulation of cardiac rhythm is affected both after BDG and again after TCPC. This may be reflected as, and contribute to, postoperative arrhythmic events.

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  • 15.
    Alenius Dahlqvist, Jenny
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Paediatrics.
    Wiklund, Urban
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Karlsson, Marcus
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Hanséus, Katarina
    Strömvall-Larsson, Eva
    Nygren, Anders
    Eliasson, Håkan
    Rydberg, Annika
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Paediatrics.
    Sinus node dysfunction in patients with Fontan circulation: could heart rate variability be a predictor for pacemaker implantation?2019In: Pediatric Cardiology, ISSN 0172-0643, E-ISSN 1432-1971, Vol. 40, no 4, p. 685-693Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Sinus node dysfunction (SND) causes significant morbidity in patients after Fontan surgery. Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects the autonomic regulation of the heart, and changes in HRV have been associated with SND in adults. We aimed to study whether changes in HRV could be detected in 24-h electrocardiographic (ECG) recordings in Fontan patients with SND. We compared HRV results from two patient groups; patients with Fontan circulation who later required a pacemaker due to severe SND (n = 12) and patients with Fontan circulation and SND, without indication for pacemaker treatment (n = 11), with two control groups; patients with Fontan circulation without SND (n = 90) and healthy controls (n = 66). The Poincare plot index SD2 (representing changes in heart rate over 24-h) and the very low-frequency (VLF) HRV component were significantly higher in both SND groups, both compared with healthy controls and patients with Fontan circulation without SND. In SND patients with pacemakers, SD2 and VLF were slightly reduced compared to SND patients without pacemaker (p = 0.06). In conclusion, in Fontan patients with SND the HRV is significantly higher compared to healthy controls and Fontan patients without SND. However, in patients with severe SND requiring pacemaker, SD2 and VLF tended to be lower than in patients with SND without pacemaker, which could indicate a reduced diurnal HRV in addition to the severe bradycardia. This is a small study, but our results indicate that HRV analysis might be a useful method in the follow-up of Fontan patients regarding development of SND.

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  • 16.
    Ali, Hazrat
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Umander, Johannes
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Rohlén, Robin
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Grönlund, Christer
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    A Deep Learning Pipeline for Identification of Motor Units in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound2020In: IEEE Access, E-ISSN 2169-3536, Vol. 8, p. 170595-170608Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Skeletal muscles are functionally regulated by populations of so-called motor units (MUs). An MU comprises a bundle of muscle fibers controlled by a neuron from the spinal cord. Current methods to diagnose neuromuscular diseases and monitor rehabilitation, and study sports sciences rely on recording and analyzing the bio-electric activity of the MUs. However, these methods provide information from a limited part of a muscle. Ultrasound imaging provides information from a large part of the muscle. It has recently been shown that ultrafast ultrasound imaging can be used to record and analyze the mechanical response of individual MUs using blind source separation. In this work, we present an alternative method - a deep learning pipeline - to identify active MUs in ultrasound image sequences, including segmentation of their territories and signal estimation of their mechanical responses (twitch train). We train and evaluate the model using simulated data mimicking the complex activation pattern of tens of activated MUs with overlapping territories and partially synchronized activation patterns. Using a slow fusion approach (based on 3D CNNs), we transform the spatiotemporal image sequence data to 2D representations and apply a deep neural network architecture for segmentation. Next, we employ a second deep neural network architecture for signal estimation. The results show that the proposed pipeline can effectively identify individual MUs, estimate their territories, and estimate their twitch train signal at low contraction forces. The framework can retain spatio-temporal consistencies and information of the mechanical response of MU activity even when the ultrasound image sequences are transformed into a 2D representation for compatibility with more traditional computer vision and image processing techniques. The proposed pipeline is potentially useful to identify simultaneously active MUs in whole muscles in ultrasound image sequences of voluntary skeletal muscle contractions at low force levels.

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  • 17.
    Ali, Hazrat
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
    Umander, Johannes
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Rohlén, Robin
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Röhrle, Oliver
    Stuttgart Center for Simulation Technology (SC SimTech), University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany; Institute for Modelling and Simulation of Biomechanical Systems, Chair for Computational Biophysics and Biorobotics, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.
    Grönlund, Christer
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Modelling intra-muscular contraction dynamics using in silico to in vivo domain translation2022In: Biomedical engineering online, E-ISSN 1475-925X, Vol. 21, no 1, article id 46Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background: Advances in sports medicine, rehabilitation applications and diagnostics of neuromuscular disorders are based on the analysis of skeletal muscle contractions. Recently, medical imaging techniques have transformed the study of muscle contractions, by allowing identifcation of individual motor units’ activity, within the whole studied muscle. However, appropriate image-based simulation models, which would assist the continued development of these new imaging methods are missing. This is mainly due to a lack of models that describe the complex interaction between tissues within a muscle and its surroundings, e.g., muscle fbres, fascia, vasculature, bone, skin, and subcutaneous fat. Herein, we propose a new approach to overcome this limitation.

    Methods: In this work, we propose to use deep learning to model the authentic intramuscular skeletal muscle contraction pattern using domain-to-domain translation between in silico (simulated) and in vivo (experimental) image sequences of skeletal muscle contraction dynamics. For this purpose, the 3D cycle generative adversarial network (cycleGAN) models were evaluated on several hyperparameter settings and modifcations. The results show that there were large diferences between the spatial features of in silico and in vivo data, and that a model could be trained to generate authentic spatio-temporal features similar to those obtained from in vivo experimental data. In addition, we used diference maps between input and output of the trained model generator to study the translated characteristics of in vivo data.

    Results: This work provides a model to generate authentic intra-muscular skeletal muscle contraction dynamics that could be used to gain further and much needed physiological and pathological insights and assess and overcome limitations within the newly developed research feld of neuromuscular imaging.

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  • 18. Almby, K. E.
    et al.
    Abrahamsson, N.
    Lundqvist, M. H.
    Hammar, U.
    Thombare, K.
    Panagiotou, A.
    Karlsson, F. A.
    Sundbom, M.
    Wiklund, Urban
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Eriksson, J. W.
    Effects of GLP-1 receptor activation on counterregulatory responses during hypoglycaemia after gastric bypass surgery: no evidence for GLP-1 as a counterregulatory hormone2019In: Diabetologia, ISSN 0012-186X, E-ISSN 1432-0428, Vol. 62, p. S416-S416Article in journal (Other academic)
  • 19. Almby, Kristina E.
    et al.
    Abrahamsson, Niclas
    Lundqvist, Martin H.
    Hammara, Ulf
    Thombare, Ketan
    Panagiotou, Amalia
    Karisson, F. Anders
    Sundbom, Magnus
    Wiklund, Urban
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Eriksson, Jan W.
    Effects of GLP-1 on counter-regulatory responses during hypoglycemia after GBP surgery2019In: European Journal of Endocrinology, ISSN 0804-4643, E-ISSN 1479-683X, Vol. 181, no 2, p. 161-171Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore the role of GLP-1 receptor activation on the counter-regulation and symptoms of hypoglycemia in subjects who have undergone gastric bypass surgery (GBP).

    Design: Experimental hyperinsulinemic–hypoglycemic clamp study.

    Methods: Twelve post-GBP subjects participated in a randomized cross-over study with two hyperinsulinemic, hypoglycemic clamps (glucose nadir 2.7 mmol/L) performed on separate days with concomitant infusions of the GLP-1 analog exenatide or with saline, respectively. Continuous measurements of metabolites and counter-regulatory hormones as well as assessments of heart rate variability and symptoms of hypoglycemia were performed throughout the clamps.

    Results: No effect of GLP-1 receptor activation on counter-regulatory hormones (glucagon, catecholamines, cortisol, GH) or glucose infusion rate was seen, but we found indications of a downregulation of the sympathetic relative to the parasympathetic nerve activity, as reflected in heart rate variability. No significant differences in symptom of hypoglycemia were observed.

    Conclusions/interpretation: Short-term exposure to a GLP-1 receptor agonist does not seem to impact the counter-regulatory hormonal and metabolic responses in post-GBP subjects during hypoglycemic conditions, suggesting that the improvement in symptomatic hypoglycemia post-GBP seen following treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists may be mediated by mechanism not directly involved in counter-regulation.

  • 20.
    Almby, Kristina E.
    et al.
    Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Katsogiannos, Petros
    Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Pereira, Maria J.
    Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Anders Karlsson, F.
    Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Sundbom, Magnus
    Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Wiklund, Urban
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Kamble, Prasad G.
    Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Eriksson, Jan W.
    Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Time course of metabolic, neuroendocrine, and adipose effects during 2 years of follow-up after gastric bypass in patients with type 2 diabetes2021In: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, ISSN 0021-972X, E-ISSN 1945-7197, Vol. 106, no 10, p. E4049-E4061Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Context: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) markedly improves glycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), but underlying mechanisms and changes over time are incompletely understood.

    Objective: Integrated assessment of neuroendocrine and metabolic changes over time inT2D patients undergoing RYGB.

    Design and Setting: Follow-up of single-center randomized study.

    Patients: Thirteen patients with obesity andT2D compared to 22 healthy subjects.

    Interventions: Blood chemistry, adipose biopsies, and heart rate variability were obtained before and 4, 24, and 104 weeks post-RYGB.

    Results: After RYGB, glucose-lowering drugs were discontinued and hemoglobin A1c fell from mean 55 to 41 mmol/mol by 104 weeks (P < 0.001). At 4 weeks, morning cortisol (P < 0.05) and adrenocorticotropin (P = 0.09) were reduced by 20%. Parasympathetic nerve activity (heart rate variability derived) increased at 4 weeks (P < 0.05) and peaked at 24 weeks (P < 0.01). C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells were rapidly reduced (P < 0.01). At 104 weeks, basal and insulin-stimulated adipocyte glucose uptake increased by 3-fold vs baseline and expression of genes involved in glucose transport, fatty acid oxidation, and adipogenesis was upregulated (P < 0.01). Adipocyte volume was reduced by 4 weeks and more markedly at 104 weeks, by about 40% vs baseline (P < 0.01).

    Conclusions: We propose this order of events: (1) rapid glucose lowering (days); (2) attenuated cortisol axis activity and inflammation and increased parasympathetic tone (weeks); and (3) body fat and weight loss, increased adipose glucose uptake, and whole-body insulin sensitivity (months-years; similar to healthy controls).Thus, neuroendocrine pathways can partly mediate early glycemic improvement after RYGB, and adipose factors may promote long-term insulin sensitivity and normoglycemia.

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  • 21.
    Almby, Kristina E.
    et al.
    Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Diabetes and Metabolism, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Lundqvist, Martin H.
    Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Diabetes and Metabolism, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Abrahamsson, Niclas
    Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Diabetes and Metabolism, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Kvernby, Sofia
    Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Fahlström, Markus
    Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Pereira, Maria J.
    Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Diabetes and Metabolism, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Gingnell, Malin
    Department of Neurosciences and Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Karlsson, F Anders
    Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Diabetes and Metabolism, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Fanni, Giovanni
    Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Diabetes and Metabolism, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Sundbom, Magnus
    Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Wiklund, Urban
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Haller, Sven
    Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
    Lubberink, Mark
    Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Wikström, Johan
    Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Eriksson, Jan W.
    Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Diabetes and Metabolism, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
    Effects of Gastric Bypass Surgery on the Brain: Simultaneous Assessment of Glucose Uptake, Blood Flow, Neural Activity, and Cognitive Function During Normo- and Hypoglycemia2021In: Diabetes, ISSN 0012-1797, E-ISSN 1939-327X, Vol. 70, no 6, p. 1265-1277Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    While Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery in obese individuals typically improves glycemic control and prevents diabetes, it also frequently causes asymptomatic hypoglycemia. Previous work showed attenuated counterregulatory responses following RYGB. The underlying mechanisms as well as the clinical consequences are unclear. In this study, 11 subjects without diabetes with severe obesity were investigated pre- and post-RYGB during hyperinsulinemic normo-hypoglycemic clamps. Assessments were made of hormones, cognitive function, cerebral blood flow by arterial spin labeling, brain glucose metabolism by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography, and activation of brain networks by functional MRI. Post- versus presurgery, we found a general increase of cerebral blood flow but a decrease of total brain FDG uptake during normoglycemia. During hypoglycemia, there was a marked increase in total brain FDG uptake, and this was similar for post- and presurgery, whereas hypothalamic FDG uptake was reduced during hypoglycemia. During hypoglycemia, attenuated responses of counterregulatory hormones and improvements in cognitive function were seen postsurgery. In early hypoglycemia, there was increased activation post- versus presurgery of neural networks in brain regions implicated in glucose regulation, such as the thalamus and hypothalamus. The results suggest adaptive responses of the brain that contribute to lowering of glycemia following RYGB, and the underlying mechanisms should be further elucidated.

  • 22. Alrifaiy, Ahmed
    et al.
    Borg, Johan
    Lindahl, Olof A.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics. Department of Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering, Luleå University of Technology; CMTF, Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Luleå and Umeå, Sweden; Department of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics, Luleå University of Technology.
    Ramser, Kerstin
    A lab-on-a-chip for hypoxic patch clamp measurements combined with optical tweezers and spectroscopy-first investigations of single biological cells2015In: Biomedical engineering online, E-ISSN 1475-925X, Vol. 14, article id 36Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    The response and the reaction of the brain system to hypoxia is a vital research subject that requires special instrumentation. With this research subject in focus, a new multifunctional lab-on-a-chip (LOC) system with control over the oxygen content for studies on biological cells was developed. The chip was designed to incorporate the patch clamp technique, optical tweezers and absorption spectroscopy. The performance of the LOC was tested by a series of experiments. The oxygen content within the channels of the LOC was monitored by an oxygen sensor and verified by simultaneously studying the oxygenation state of chicken red blood cells (RBCs) with absorption spectra. The chicken RBCs were manipulated optically and steered in three dimensions towards a patch-clamp micropipette in a closed microfluidic channel. The oxygen level within the channels could be changed from a normoxic value of 18% O-2 to an anoxic value of 0.0-0.5% O-2. A time series of 3 experiments were performed, showing that the spectral transfer from the oxygenated to the deoxygenated state occurred after about 227 +/- 1 s and a fully developed deoxygenated spectrum was observed after 298 +/- 1 s, a mean value of 3 experiments. The tightness of the chamber to oxygen diffusion was verified by stopping the flow into the channel system while continuously recording absorption spectra showing an unchanged deoxygenated state during 5400 +/- 2 s. A transfer of the oxygenated absorption spectra was achieved after 426 +/- 1 s when exposing the cell to normoxic buffer. This showed the long time viability of the investigated cells. Successful patching and sealing were established on a trapped RBC and the whole-cell access (Ra) and membrane (Rm) resistances were measured to be 5.033 +/- 0.412 M Omega and 889.7 +/- 1.74 M Omega respectively.

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  • 23. Alrifaiy, Ahmed
    et al.
    Lindahl, Olof A
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics. Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Ramser, Kerstin
    Polymer-based microfluidic devices for pharmacy, biology and tissue engineering2012In: Polymers, E-ISSN 2073-4360, Vol. 4, no 3, p. 1349-1398Article, review/survey (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    This paper reviews microfluidic technologies with emphasis on applications in the fields of pharmacy, biology, and tissue engineering. Design and fabrication of microfluidic systems are discussed with respect to specific biological concerns, such as biocompatibility and cell viability. Recent applications and developments on genetic analysis, cell culture, cell manipulation, biosensors, pathogen detection systems, diagnostic devices, high-throughput screening and biomaterial synthesis for tissue engineering are presented. The pros and cons of materials like polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), glass, and silicon are discussed in terms of biocompatibility and fabrication aspects. Microfluidic devices are widely used in life sciences. Here, commercialization and research trends of microfluidics as new, easy to use, and cost-effective measurement tools at the cell/tissue level are critically reviewed.

  • 24.
    Ambarki, Khalid
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Hallberg, Per
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Jóhannesson, Gauti
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Ophthalmology.
    Lindén, Christina
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Ophthalmology.
    Zarrinkoob, Laleh
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Clinical Neuroscience.
    Wåhlin, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics. Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå Centre for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI).
    Birgander, Richard
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Diagnostic Radiology.
    Malm, Jan
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Clinical Neuroscience.
    Eklund, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Clinical Neuroscience.
    Blood flow of ophthalmic artery in healthy individuals determined by phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging2013In: Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, ISSN 0146-0404, E-ISSN 1552-5783, Vol. 54, no 4, p. 2738-2745Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    PURPOSE: Recent development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers new possibilities to assess ocular blood flow. This prospective study evaluates the feasibility of phase-contrast MRI (PCMRI) to measure flow rate in the ophthalmic artery (OA) and establish reference values in healthy young (HY) and elderly (HE) subjects.

    METHODS: Fifty HY subjects (28 females, 21-30 years of age) and 44 HE (23 females, 64-80 years of age) were scanned on a 3-Tesla MR system. The PCMRI sequence had a spatial resolution of 0.35 mm per pixel, with the measurement plan placed perpendicularly to the OA. Mean flow rate (Qmean), resistive index (RI), and arterial volume pulsatility of OA (ΔVmax) were measured from the flow rate curve. Accuracy of PCMRI measures was investigated using a vessel-phantom mimicking the diameter and the flow rate range of the human OA.

    RESULTS: Flow rate could be assessed in 97% of the OAs. Phantom investigations showed good agreement between the reference and PCMRI measurements with an error of <7%. No statistical difference was found in Qmean between HY and HE individuals (HY: mean ± SD = 10.37 ± 4.45 mL/min; HE: 10.81 ± 5.15 mL/min, P = 0.655). The mean of ΔVmax (HY: 18.70 ± 7.24 μL; HE: 26.27 ± 12.59 μL, P < 0.001) and RI (HY: 0.62 ± 0.08; HE: 0.67 ± 0.1, P = 0.012) were significantly different between HY and HE.

    CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the flow rate of OA can be quantified using PCMRI. There was an age difference in the pulsatility parameters; however, the mean flow rate appeared independent of age. The primary difference in flow curves between HE and HY was in the relaxation phase of the systolic peak.

  • 25.
    Ambarki, Khalid
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Israelsson, Hanna
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Neurology.
    Wåhlin, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Birgander, Richard
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Diagnostic Radiology.
    Eklund, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Malm, Jan
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Neurology.
    Brain ventricular size in healthy elderly: comparison between evans index and volume measurement.2010In: Neurosurgery, ISSN 0148-396X, E-ISSN 1524-4040, Vol. 67, no 1, p. 94-99Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: A precise definition of ventricular enlargement is important in the diagnosis of hydrocephalus as well as in assessing central atrophy. The Evans index (EI), a linear ratio between the maximal frontal horn width and the cranium diameter, has been extensively used as an indirect marker of ventricular volume (VV). With modern imaging techniques, brain volume can be directly measured. OBJECTIVE: To determine reference values of intracranial volumes in healthy elderly individuals and to correlate volumes with the EI. METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging (3 T) was performed in 46 healthy white elderly subjects (mean age +/- standard deviation, 71 +/- 6 years) and in 20 patients (74 +/- 7 years) with large ventricles according to visual inspection. VV, relative VV (RVV), and EI were assessed. Ventricular dilation was defined using VV and EI by a value above the 95th percentile range for healthy elderly individuals. RESULTS: In healthy elderly subjects, we found VV = 37 +/- 18 mL, RVV = 2.47 +/- 1.17%, and EI = 0.281 +/- 0.027. Including the patients, there was a strong correlation between EI and VV (R = 0.94) as well as between EI and RVV (R = 0.95). However, because of a wide 95% prediction interval (VV: +/-45 mL; RVV: +/- 2.54%), EI did not give a sufficiently good estimate of VV and RVV. CONCLUSION: VV (or RVV) and the EI reflect different properties. The exclusive use of EI in clinical studies as a marker of enlarged ventricles should be questioned. We suggest that the definition of dilated ventricles in white elderly individuals be defined as VV >77 mL or RVV >4.96 %. Future studies should compare intracranial volumes with clinical characteristics and prognosis.

  • 26.
    Ambarki, Khalid
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics. Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Physics (CMTF).
    Lindqvist, Tomas
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Diagnostic Radiology. Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Physics (CMTF).
    Wåhlin, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics. Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Physics (CMTF).
    Petterson, E
    Warntjes, JBM
    Birgander, Richard
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Diagnostic Radiology.
    Malm, Jan
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Clinical Neuroscience.
    Eklund, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics. Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Physics (CMTF).
    Evaluation of automatic measurement of the intracranial volume based on quantitative MR imaging2012In: American Journal of Neuroradiology, ISSN 0195-6108, E-ISSN 1936-959X, Vol. 33, no 10, p. 1951-1956Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Brain size is commonly described in relation to ICV, whereby accurate assessment of this quantity is fundamental. Recently, an optimized MR sequence (QRAPMASTER) was developed for simultaneous quantification of T1, T2, and proton density. ICV can be measured automatically within minutes from QRAPMASTER outputs and a dedicated software, SyMRI. Automatic estimations of ICV were evaluated against the manual segmentation.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 19 healthy subjects, manual segmentation of ICV was performed by 2 neuroradiologists (Obs1, Obs2) by using QBrain software and conventional T2-weighted images. The automatic segmentation from the QRAPMASTER output was performed by using SyMRI. Manual corrections of the automatic segmentation were performed (corrected-automatic) by Obs1 and Obs2, who were blinded from each other. Finally, the repeatability of the automatic method was evaluated in 6 additional healthy subjects, each having 6 repeated QRAPMASTER scans. The time required to measure ICV was recorded.

    RESULTS: No significant difference was found between reference and automatic (and corrected-automatic) ICV (P > .25). The mean difference between the reference and automatic measurement was -4.84 ± 19.57 mL (or 0.31 ± 1.35%). Mean differences between the reference and the corrected-automatic measurements were -0.47 ± 17.95 mL (-0.01 ± 1.24%) and -1.26 ± 17.68 mL (-0.06 ± 1.22%) for Obs1 and Obs2, respectively. The repeatability errors of the automatic and the corrected-automatic method were <1%. The automatic method required 1 minute 11 seconds (SD = 12 seconds) of processing. Adding manual corrections required another 1 minute 32 seconds (SD = 38 seconds).

    CONCLUSIONS: Automatic and corrected-automatic quantification of ICV showed good agreement with the reference method. SyMRI software provided a fast and reproducible measure of ICV.

  • 27.
    Ambarki, Khalid
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences. Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Physics (CMTF).
    Petr, J.
    Wahlin, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics. Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå Centre for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI).
    Wirestam, R.
    Zarrinkoob, Laleh
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå Centre for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI).
    Malm, Jan
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå Centre for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI).
    Eklund, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics. Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Physics (CMTF).
    Partial Volume Correction of Cerebral Perfusion Estimates Obtained by Arterial Spin Labeling2015In: 16th Nordic-Baltic Conference on Biomedical Engineering: 16. NBC & 10. MTD 2014 joint conferences. October 14-16, 2014, Gothenburg, Sweden, 2015, Vol. 48, p. 17-19Conference paper (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Arterial Spin labeling (ASL) is a fully non-invasive MRI method capable to quantify cerebral perfusion. However, gray (GM) and white matter (WM) ASL perfusions are difficult to assess separately due to limited spatial resolution increasing the partial volume effects (PVE). In the present study, ASL PVE correction was implemented based on a regression algorithm in 22 healthy young men. PVE corrected perfusion of GM and WM were compared to previous studies. PVE-corrected GM perfusion was in agreement with literature values. In general, WM perfusion was higher despite the use of PVE correction.

  • 28.
    Ambarki, Khalid
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Wåhlin, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Birgander, Richard
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Diagnostic Radiology.
    Eklund, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Malm, Jan
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Clinical Neuroscience.
    MR imaging of brain volumes: evaluation of a fully automatic software2011In: American Journal of Neuroradiology, ISSN 0195-6108, E-ISSN 1936-959X, Vol. 32, no 2, p. 408-412Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Automatic assessment of brain volumes is needed in researchand clinical practice. Manual tracing is still the criterionstandard but is time-consuming. It is important to validatethe automatic tools to avoid the problems of clinical studiesdrawing conclusions on the basis of brain volumes estimatedwith methodologic errors. The objective of this study was toevaluate a new commercially available fully automatic softwarefor MR imaging of brain volume assessment. Automatic and expertmanual brain volumes were compared.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR imaging (3T, axial T2 and FLAIR) was performed in 41 healthyelderly volunteers (mean age, 70 ± 6 years) and 20 patientswith hydrocephalus (mean age, 73 ± 7 years). The softwareQBrain was used to manually and automatically measure the followingbrain volumes: ICV, BTV, VV, and WMHV. The manual method hasbeen previously validated and was used as the reference. Agreementbetween the manual and automatic methods was evaluated by usinglinear regression and Bland-Altman plots.

    RESULTS: There were significant differences between the automatic andmanual methods regarding all volumes. The mean differences wereICV = 49 ± 93 mL (mean ± 2SD, n = 61), BTV = 11± 70 mL, VV = –6 ± 10 mL, and WMHV = 2.4± 9 mL. The automatic calculations of brain volumes tookapproximately 2 minutes per investigation.

    CONCLUSIONS: The automatic tool is promising and provides rapid assessmentof brain volumes. However, the software needs improvement beforeit is incorporated into research or daily use. Manual segmentationremains the reference method.

  • 29.
    Andersen, Leon
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine.
    Appelblad, Micael
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine.
    Wiklund, Urban
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Sundström, Nina
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Svenmarker, Staffan
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine.
    Our initial experience of monitoring the autoregulation of cerebral blood flow during cardiopulmonary bypass2023In: The journal of extra-corporeal technology, ISSN 0022-1058, Vol. 55, no 4, p. 209-217Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is believed to be relatively constant within an upper and lower blood pressure limit. Different methods are available to monitor CBF autoregulation during surgery. This study aims to critically analyze the application of the cerebral oxygenation index (COx), one of the commonly used techniques, using a reference to data from a series of clinical registrations.

    METHOD: CBF was monitored using near-infrared spectroscopy, while cerebral blood pressure was estimated by recordings obtained from either the radial or femoral artery in 10 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. The association between CBF and blood pressure was calculated as a moving continuous correlation coefficient. A COx index > 0.4 was regarded as a sign of abnormal cerebral autoregulation (CA). Recordings were examined to discuss reliability measures and clinical feasibility of the measurements, followed by interpretation of individual results, identification of possible pitfalls, and suggestions of alternative methods.

    RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Monitoring of CA during cardiopulmonary bypass is intriguing and complex. A series of challenges and limitations should be considered before introducing this method into clinical practice.

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  • 30.
    Andersson, Jonas
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    [Book review] The Physics of CT Dosimetry – CTDI and Beyond, by Robert L. Dixon2020In: Physica medica (Testo stampato), ISSN 1120-1797, E-ISSN 1724-191X, Vol. 69, p. 126-126Article, book review (Other academic)
  • 31.
    Andersson, Jonas
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics. Norrlands universitetssjukhus.
    Fysik och teknik: konventionell planar röntgen2013In: Nuklearmedicin / [ed] Sven-Ola Hietala, Katrine Åhlström Riklund, Lund: Studentlitteratur AB, 2013, 2, p. 40-46Chapter in book (Other academic)
  • 32.
    Andersson, Jonas
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Ion recombination in liquid ionization chambers: development of an experimental method to quantify general recombination2013Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    An experimental method (the two-dose-rate method) for the correction of general recombination losses in liquid ionization chambers has been developed and employed in experiments with different liquids and radiation qualities. The method is based on a disassociation of initial and general recombination, since an ionized liquid is simultaneously affected by both of these processes.

    The two-dose-rate method has been compared to an existing method for general recombination correction for liquid ionization chambers, and has been found to be the most robust method presently available.

    The soundness of modelling general recombination in liquids on existing theory for gases has been evaluated, and experiments indicate that the process of general recombination is similar in a gas and a liquid. It is thus reasonable to employ theory for gases in the two-dose-rate method to achieve experimental corrections for general recombination in liquids. There are uncertainties in the disassociation of initial and general recombination in the two-dose-rate method for low applied voltages, where initial recombination has been found to cause deviating results for different liquids and radiation qualities.

    Sensitivity to ambient electric fields has been identified in the microLion liquid ionization chamber (PTW, Germany). Experimental data may thus be perturbed if measurements are conducted in the presence of ambient electric fields, and the sensitivity has been found to increase with an increase in the applied voltage. This can prove to be experimentally limiting since general recombination may be too severe for accurate corrections if the applied voltage is low.

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    Ion recombination in liquid ionization chambers (kappa)
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    Ion recombination in liquid ionization chambers (omslag)
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    Ion recombination in liquid ionization chambers (spikblad)
  • 33.
    Andersson, Jonas
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Radiation Dosimetry for CBCT – Quality Control and Applied Dosimetry2015Conference paper (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    The use of Cone Beam CT (CBCT) devices in health care has increased in recent years. Unfortunately, this trend has not been followed by a standardization of dose metrics for Quality Control (QC), or a necessary evolution of applied dosimetry for assessment of patient dose.

    The European Federation of Organisations in Medical Physics (EFOMP) has drafted a report on the property of QC for CBCT devices. The report contains objective, practical and unifying methodology for QC of CBCT used in oral radiology, radiotherapy, interventional radiology and guided surgery. The dose metrics discussed include the Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDI), Kerma-Area Product (KAP) and detector incident air kerma. The report concludes that KAP-meters are preferable for QC as long as they can be mounted on the X-ray tube housing. Otherwise measurements of detector incident kerma seem to offer a practical solution for QC.

    The European Radiation Dosimetry Group (EURADOS) are preparing a literature review on patient dose from various applications of CBCT, which will in part be included in the EFOMP report. Most studies on patient dose from CBCT examinations and interventional procedures are based on thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) measurements in Rando phantoms. While helpful to the community, these studies yield substantial uncertainty when applied in the clinical reality of medical physicists working with justification and optimization. Applied dosimetry for CBCT needs to evolve and adopt recent theoretical advances to allow robust estimates of patient dose.

  • 34.
    Andersson, Jonas
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    TG246 On Patient Dose From Diagnostic Radiation: Acceptance Testing and Dose Measurements with CT2014In: 56th AAPM Annual Meeting and Exhibition 2014, Austin, TX, USA, July 20-24 (2014), 2014Conference paper (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Radiation dose from diagnostic and interventional use of ionizing radiation continues to be a focus of the regulatory, accreditation and standards organizations in the US and Europe. A Joint AAPM/EFOMP effort has been underway in the past year – having the goal to assist the clinical medical physicist with communicating optional and varied approaches in estimating (and validating) patient dose. In particular, the tools provided by DICOM Radiation Dose Structured Reports, either by themselves or as part of a networked data repository of dose related information are a rich source of actionable information. The tools of the medical physicist have evolved to include using DICOM data in meaningful ways to look at patient dose with respect to imaging practices. In addition to how accurate or reproducible a dose value is (totally necessary and our traditional workspace) it is now being asked how reproducible (patient to patient, device to device) are the delivered doses? Clinical medical physicists are best equipped to assist our radiology and technologist colleagues with this effort. The purpose of this session is to review the efforts of TG246 - bringing forward a summary content of the TG246 Report including specific dose descriptors for CT and Fluoroscopy – particularly in a focus of leveraging the RDSR as a means for monitoring good practices according to the ALARA principle. Additionally, rapidly evolving technologies for more refined dose estimates are now in use. These will be presented as they look to having highly patient specific dose estimates in automated use.

  • 35.
    Andersson, Jonas
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Bednarek, Daniel R.
    State University of New York, 875 Ellicott St, NY, Buffalo, United States.
    Bolch, Wesley
    University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, FL, Gainesville, United States.
    Boltz, Thomas
    Orange Factor Imaging Physicists, 4035 E Captain Dreyfus Ave, AZ, Phoenix, United States.
    Bosmans, Hilde
    University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium.
    Gislason-Lee, Amber J.
    University of Leeds, Worsley Building, Clarendon Way, Leeds, United Kingdom.
    Granberg, Christoffer
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Hellström, Max
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Kanal, Kalpana
    University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific Street, WA, Seattle, United States.
    McDonagh, Ed
    Joint Department of Physics, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Fulham Road, London, United Kingdom.
    Paden, Robert
    Mayo Clinic, 5777 East Mayo Blvd, AZ, Phoenix, United States.
    Pavlicek, William
    Mayo Clinic, 13400 E Shea Blvd., AZ, Scottsdale, United States.
    Khodadadegan, Yasaman
    Progressive Insurance, Customer Relation Management, 6300 Wilson Mills Rd., Mayfield Village, OH, United States.
    Torresin, Alberto
    Niguarda Ca'Granda Hospital, Via Leon Battista Alberti 5, Milano, Italy.
    Trianni, Annalisa
    Udine University Hospital, Piazzale S. Maria Della Misericordia, n. 15, Udine, Italy.
    Zamora, David
    University of Washington Medical Center, 6852 31st Ave NE, WA, Seattle, United States.
    Estimation of patient skin dose in fluoroscopy: summary of a joint report by AAPM TG357 and EFOMP2021In: Medical physics (Lancaster), ISSN 0094-2405, Vol. 48, no 7, p. e671-e696Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background: Physicians use fixed C-arm fluoroscopy equipment with many interventional radiological and cardiological procedures. The associated effective dose to a patient is generally considered low risk, as the benefit-risk ratio is almost certainly highly favorable. However, X-ray-induced skin injuries may occur due to high absorbed patient skin doses from complex fluoroscopically guided interventions (FGI). Suitable action levels for patient-specific follow-up could improve the clinical practice. There is a need for a refined metric regarding follow-up of X-ray-induced patient injuries and the knowledge gap regarding skin dose-related patient information from fluoroscopy devices must be filled. The most useful metric to indicate a risk of erythema, epilation or greater skin injury that also includes actionable information is the peak skin dose, that is, the largest dose to a region of skin.

    Materials and Methods: The report is based on a comprehensive review of best practices and methods to estimate peak skin dose found in the scientific literature and situates the importance of the Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) standard detailing pertinent information contained in the Radiation Dose Structured Report (RDSR) and DICOM image headers for FGI devices. Furthermore, the expertise of the task group members and consultants have been used to bridge and discuss different methods and associated available DICOM information for peak skin dose estimation.

    Results: The report contributes an extensive summary and discussion of the current state of the art in estimating peak skin dose with FGI procedures with regard to methodology and DICOM information. Improvements in skin dose estimation efforts with more refined DICOM information are suggested and discussed.

    Conclusions: The endeavor of skin dose estimation is greatly aided by the continuing efforts of the scientific medical physics community, the numerous technology enhancements, the dose-controlling features provided by the FGI device manufacturers, and the emergence and greater availability of the DICOM RDSR. Refined and new dosimetry systems continue to evolve and form the infrastructure for further improvements in accuracy. Dose-related content and information systems capable of handling big data are emerging for patient dose monitoring and quality assurance tools for large-scale multihospital enterprises.

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  • 36.
    Andersson, Jonas
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Johansson, Erik
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Tölli, Heikki
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    On the property of measurements with the PTW microLion chamber in continuous beam2012In: Medical physics (Lancaster), ISSN 0094-2405, Vol. 39, no 8, p. 4775-4787Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Purpose: The performance of liquid ionization chambers, which may prove to be useful tools in the field of radiation dosimetry, is based on several chamber and liquid specific characteristics. The present work investigates the performance of the PTW microLion liquid ionization chamber with respect to recombination losses and perturbations from ambient electric fields at various dose rates in continuous beams.

    Methods: In the investigation, experiments were performed using two microLion chambers, containing isooctane (C8H18) and tetramethylsilane (Si(CH3)4) as the sensitive media, and a NACP-02 monitor chamber. An initial activity of approximately 250 GBq 18F was employed as the radiation source in the experiments. The initial dose rate in each measurement series was estimated to 1.0 Gy min-1 by Monte Carlo simulations and the measurements were carried out during the decay of the radioactive source. In the investigation of general recombination losses, employing the two-dose-rate method for continuous beams, the liquid ionization chambers were operated at polarizing voltages 25, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 300 V. Furthermore, measurements were also performed at 500 V polarizing voltage in the investigation of the sensitivity of the microLion chamber to ambient electric fields.

    Results: The measurement results from the liquid ionization chambers, corrected for general recombination losses according to the two-dose-rate method for continuous beams, had a good agreement with the signal to dose linearity from the NACP-02 monitor chamber for general collection efficiencies above 70%. The results also displayed an agreement with the theoretical collection efficiencies according to the Greening theory, except for the liquid ionization chamber containing isooctane operated at 25 V. At lower dose rates, perturbations from ambient electric fields were found in the microLion chamber measurement results. Due to the perturbations, measurement results below an estimated dose rate of 0.2 Gy min-1 were excluded from the present investigation of the general collection efficiency. The perturbations were found to be more pronounced when the chamber polarizing voltage was increased.

    Conclusions: By using the two-dose-rate method for continuous beams, comparable corrected ionization currents from experiments in low- and medium energy photon beams can be achieved. However, the valid range of general collection efficiencies has been found to vary in a comparison between experiments performed in continuous beams of 120 kVp x-ray, and the present investigation of 511 keV annihilation photons. At very high dose rates in continuous beams, there are presently no methods that can be used to correct for general recombination losses and at low dose rates the microLion chamber may be perturbed by ambient electric fields. Increasing the chamber polarizing voltage, which diminishes the general recombination effect, was found to increase the microLion chamber sensitivity to ambient electric fields. Prudence is thus advised when employing the microLion chamber in radiation dosimetry, as ambient electric fields of the strength observed in the present work may be found in many common situations. Due to uncertainties in the theoretical basis for recombination losses in liquids, further studies on the underlying theories for the initial and general recombination effect are needed if liquid ionization chambers are to become a viable option in high precision radiation dosimetry.

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  • 37.
    Andersson, Jonas
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Kaiser, Franz-Joachim
    Gómez, Faustino
    Jäkel, Oliver
    Pardo-Montero, Juan
    Tölli, Heikki
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    A comparison of different experimental methods for general recombination correction for liquid ionization chambers2012In: Physics in Medicine and Biology, ISSN 0031-9155, E-ISSN 1361-6560, Vol. 57, no 21, p. 7161-7175Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Radiation dosimetry of highly modulated dose distributions requires a detector with a high spatial resolution. Liquid filled ionization chambers (LICs) have the potential to become a valuable tool for the characterization of such radiation fields. However, the effect of an increased recombination of the charge carriers, as compared to using air as the sensitive medium has to be corrected for. Due to the presence of initial recombination in LICs, the correction for general recombination losses is more complicated than for air-filled ionization chambers. In the present work, recently published experimental methods for general recombination correction for LICs are compared and investigated for both pulsed and continuous beams. The experimental methods are all based on one of two approaches, either measurements at two different dose rates (two-dose-rate methods), or measurements at three different LIC polarizing voltages (three-voltage methods). In a comparison with the two-dose-rate methods, the three-voltage methods fail to achieve accurate corrections in several instances, predominantly at low polarizing voltages and dose rates. However, for continuous beams in the range of polarizing voltages recommended by the manufacturer of the LICs used, the agreement between the different methods is generally within the experimental uncertainties. For pulsed beams, the agreement between the methods is poor. The inaccuracies found in the results from the three-voltage methods are associated with numerical difficulties in solving the resulting equation systems, which also make these methods sensitive to small variations in the experimental data. These issues are more pronounced for the case of pulsed beams. Furthermore, the results suggest that the theoretical modelling of initial recombination used in the three-voltage methods may be a contributing factor to the deviating results observed.

  • 38.
    Andersson, Jonas
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Nyholm, Tufve
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Ceberg, Crister
    Almén, Anja
    Bernhardt, Peter
    Fransson, Annette
    Olsson, Lars E.
    Artificial intelligence and the medical physics profession - A Swedish perspective2021In: Physica medica (Testo stampato), ISSN 1120-1797, E-ISSN 1724-191X, Vol. 88, p. 218-225Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background: There is a continuous and dynamic discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) in present-day society. AI is expected to impact on healthcare processes and could contribute to a more sustainable use of resources allocated to healthcare in the future. The aim for this work was to establish a foundation for a Swedish perspective on the potential effect of AI on the medical physics profession.

    Materials and methods: We designed a survey to gauge viewpoints regarding AI in the Swedish medical physics community. Based on the survey results and present-day situation in Sweden, a SWOT analysis was performed on the implications of AI for the medical physics profession.

    Results: Out of 411 survey recipients, 163 responded (40%). The Swedish medical physicists with a professional license believed (90%) that AI would change the practice of medical physics but did not foresee (81%) that AI would pose a risk to their practice and career. The respondents were largely positive to the inclusion of AI in educational programmes. According to self-assessment, the respondents’ knowledge of and workplace preparedness for AI was generally low.

    Conclusions: From the survey and SWOT analysis we conclude that AI will change the medical physics profession and that there are opportunities for the profession associated with the adoption of AI in healthcare. To overcome the weakness of limited AI knowledge, potentially threatening the role of medical physicists, and build upon the strong position in Swedish healthcare, medical physics education and training should include learning objectives on AI.

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  • 39.
    Andersson, Jonas
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Pavlicek, William
    Patient organ dose with computed tomography - a review of present methodology and DICOM information: executive summary of the joint report of AAPM task group 246 and EFOMP2016In: ECR 2016 Book of Abstracts, 2016, Vol. 7, no 1, article id B0303Conference paper (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Purpose: The justification and optimisation of medical imaging employing ionizing radiation have been intensely discussed in recent years, particularly for computed tomography (CT). A key point in this discussion is the estimation of patient dose, which commonly employs radiation output metrics developed for quality assurance and no patient specific information. Such patient dose estimates are of limited value, and more refined methods needs to be promoted and provided to the community.

    Methods and Materials: AAPM Task Group 246 was formed in 2013, and in a joint venture with EFOMP charged with summarizing present methodology and DICOM information available for estimating patient dose with computed tomography.

    Results: The Joint Report of AAPM Task Group 246 and EFOMP is a comprehensive resource for the clinical medical physicist. The possibilities of patient specific dosimetry from the Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDIvol), to the Size-Specific Dose Estimates (SSDE) and advanced Monte Carlo methods are discussed together with available DICOM information, as well as practical examples on how patient dose estimates can be achieved. The report also summarizes important factors contributing to the uncertainty in patient dose estimates and gives examples of achievable confidence intervals.

    Conclusion: The SSDE and Monte Carlo methods can together with detailed scanner, examination and patient specific DICOM information offer refined estimates of patient dose for justification and optimisation of CT examinations. Given the present robustness of available methods AAPM Task Group 246 and EFOMP recommend that all reports of patient dose should be accompanied by estimates of the associated uncertainty.

  • 40.
    Andersson, Jonas
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Pavlicek, William
    Al-Senan, Rani
    Bolch, Wesley
    Bosmans, Hilde
    Cody, Dianna
    Dixon, Robert
    Colombo, Paola
    Dong, Frank
    Edyvean, Sue
    Jansen, Jan
    Kanal, Kalpana
    Leng, Shuai
    Liang, Qing
    McCullough, Cynthia
    McDonagh, Ed
    McNitt-Gray, Michael
    Paden, Robert
    Rehani, Madan
    Samei, Ehsan
    Sechopoulos, Ioannis
    Supanich, Mark
    Theodorakou, Christine
    Tian, Xiaoyu
    Torresin, Alberto
    Trianni, Annalisa
    Zamora, David
    Zanca, Federica
    Estimating Patient Organ Dosewith Computed Tomography: A Review of Present Methodologyand Required DICOM Information: A Joint Report ofAAPM Task Group 246 and the European Federationof Organizations for Medical Physics (EFOMP)2019Report (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    The purpose of this report is (1) to summarize the current state of the art in estimating organ doses from CT examinations and (2) to outline a road map for standardized reporting of essential parameters necessary for estimation of organ doses from CT imaging in the DICOM standard. To address these purposes, the report includes a comprehensive discussion of (1) the various metrics, concepts, and methods that may be used to achieve estimates of patient organ dose and (2) the DICOM standard for CT.

    This Joint Report of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Task Group 246 and the European Federation of Organizations for Medical Physics (EFOMP) contains three major sections and an appendix. Section 2 (with additional material in the appendix) provides a review of basic CT dosimetry metrics, their uses and limitations in the context of organ dosimetry, and the DICOM information currently associated with parameters that affect CT dose metrics and, consequently, organ dose estimates. Section 3 provides an overview of present and emerging organ dose estimation methods reported in the literature, e.g., for the lens of the eye, breast tissue, colon, and skin. Finally, the report concludes with section 4, which provides a discussion on the sources and magnitudes of uncertainty for different organ dose estimation methods.

    Ongoing efforts to facilitate routine standardized estimation of patient organ doses from CT are dependent, in large part, on the availability of the DICOM Radiation Dose Structured Report (RDSR), which provides a host of information pertinent to radiation dose calculations. This report, therefore, includes detailed information on DICOM header content in CT images and how it can be used in organ dose estimation. The RDSR markedly expands the abilities of the clinical medical physicist to estimate doses at the patient, device, and protocol level

  • 41.
    Andersson, Jonas
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Medicine.
    Sjöström, Lars-Göran
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Medicine.
    Karlsson, Marcus
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Wiklund, Urban
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Hultin, Magnus
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Anaesthesiology.
    Karpe, Fredrik
    Olsson, Tommy
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Medicine.
    Dysregulation of subcutaneous adipose tissue blood flow in overweight postmenopausal women2010In: Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause, ISSN 1072-3714, E-ISSN 1530-0374, Vol. 17, no 2, p. 365-371Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    OBJECTIVE: A putative link between abdominal obesity and metabolic-vascular complications after menopause may be due to a decreased adipose tissue blood flow (ATBF). The present work aimed to analyze possible changes in ATBF with being overweight and menopausal and its putative link to endothelial dysfunction and autonomic nervous system balance.

    METHODS: Forty-three healthy women were classified into four groups according to weight and menopause status. The ATBF was measured by xenon washout while fasting and after oral glucose intake. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine was used as a marker of endothelial function and heart rate variability-estimated autonomic nervous system activity.

    RESULTS: Fasting ATBF was decreased in both overweight groups (P = 0.044 and P = 0.048) versus normal-weight premenopausal women. Normal-weight and overweight postmenopausal women exhibited lower maximum ATBF compared with normal-weight premenopausal women (P = 0.015 and P = 0.001, respectively), and overweight postmenopausal women exhibited lower maximum ATBF compared with normal-weight postmenopausal women (P = 0.003). A negative correlation was found between fasting ATBF and asymmetric dimethylarginine (P = 0.015), whereas maximum ATBF was negatively associated with sympathetic-parasympathetic nervous system balance (ratio of the power of the low frequency to the power of the high frequency; P = 0.002).

    CONCLUSIONS: Loss of ATBF flexibility in overweight postmenopausal women may contribute to the metabolic dysfunction seen in this group of women.

  • 42.
    Andersson, Jonas
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Tölli, Heikki
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Application of the two-dose-rate method for general recombination correction for liquid ionization chambers in continuous beams2011In: Physics in Medicine and Biology, ISSN 0031-9155, E-ISSN 1361-6560, Vol. 56, no 2, p. 299-314Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    A method to correct for the general recombination losses for liquid ionization chambers in continuous beams has been developed. The proposed method has been derived from Greening's theory for continuous beams and is based on measuring the signal from a liquid ionization chamber and an air filled monitor ionization chamber at two different dose rates. The method has been tested with two plane parallel liquid ionization chambers in a continuous radiation x-ray beam with a tube voltage of 120 kV and with dose rates between 2 and 13 Gy min-1. The liquids used as sensitive media in the chambers were isooctane (C8H18) and tetramethylsilane (Si(CH3)4). The general recombination effect was studied using chamber polarizing voltages of 100, 300, 500, 700 and 900 V for both liquids. The relative standard deviation of the results for the collection efficiency with respect to general recombination was found to be a maximum of 0.7 % for isooctance and 2.4 % for tetramethylsilane. The results are in excellent agreement with Greening's theory for collection efficiencies over 90 %. The measured and corrected signals from the liquid ionization chambers used in this work are in very good agreement with the air filled monitor chambers with respect to signal to dose linearity.

  • 43.
    Andersson, Jonas
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Tölli, Heikki
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Modeling ion recombination in liquid ionization chambers: Improvement and analysis of the two-dose-rate method2017In: Medical physics (Lancaster), ISSN 0094-2405, Vol. 44, no 11, p. 5977-5987Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Purpose: The use of liquid ionization chambers can provide useful information to endeavors with radiation dosimetry for highly modulated beams. Liquid ionization chambers may be particularly suitable for computed tomography applications where conventional ionization chambers do not present a high enough sensitivity for the spatial resolution required to characterize common X-ray beams. Due to the sensitivity, which leads to high charge densities, liquid ionization chambers can suffer from large recombination losses leading to degradation in signal to dose rate linearity. To solve this problem, a two-dose-rate method for general recombination correction has been proposed for liquid ionization chambers. However, the valid range of recombination losses that the method can accurately account for has been found to vary depending on radiation quality. The present work provides an in-depth analysis of the performance of the two-dose-rate method. Furthermore, the soundness of applying gas theory to liquids is investigated by using the two-dose-rate method.

    Methods: In the present work, the two-dose-rate method for general recombination correction of liquid ionization chambers used in continuous beams is studied by employing theory for gas-filled ionization chambers. An approximate relation for the general collection efficiency containing a material-specific parameter that is traceable to liquids has been derived for theoretical and experimental investigation alongside existing theory. Furthermore, the disassociation between initial and general recombination in the method is analyzed both theoretically and experimentally.

    Results: The results indicate that liquids and gases share general recombination characteristics, where the liquids investigated (isooctane and tetramethylsilane) to a large extent mimic the behavior theoretically expected in gases. Furthermore, it is shown that the disassociation between initial and general recombination in the two-dose-rate method is an approximation that depends on the relation between initial recombination and the collecting electric field strength at the dose rates used.

    Conclusions: Due to the approximation used to separate initial and general recombination the valid range of collection efficiencies for the two-dose-rate method will not only depend on the model used to describe general recombination but also on the type of liquid and radiation beam quality. As there is no robust theory for initial recombination in liquids to apply, the valid range of general collection efficiencies for the two-dose-rate method should be experimentally evaluated for each radiation dosimetry application.

  • 44.
    Andersson, Jonas
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Tölli, Heikki
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    The Use of Liquid Ionization Chambers in Radiation Dosimetry2012In: World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering May 26-31, 2012 Beijing, China / [ed] Mian Long, Springer, 2012Conference paper (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Liquid ionization chambers (LICs) have found applications in many fields in radiation dosimetry, e.g. IMRT, hadron therapy, brachytherapy and computed tomography. The wide range of applications is made possible due to the high sensitivity of LICs, allowing them to be manufactured with small physical dimensions of the chamber body and the effective measurement volume. Furthermore, the commonly used liquids (such as isooctane) have radiation absorption characteristics similar to water, introducing only small fluence perturbation effects as compared to conventional dosimeters. The small dimension of the effective measurement volume is beneficial for the quantification of radiation beams with steep gradients, while retaining a high measurement signal with good statistical properties. However, the interpretation of measurement results is not straight-forward due to several factors influencing their performance. Here, the main problems are recombination effects and particle type- and energy dependence, which may cause severe non-linear effects. The loss of measurement signal in LICs is due to both initial and general recombination. In the present work it is shown that the general recombination effect can be treated with in a similar manner as for air-filled ionization chambers, while there are currently no theories that adequately describe the initial recombination effect for LICs. Furthermore, the relationship between energy dependence and recombination losses in LICs are evaluated at different radiation qualities. Recently developed methods for the correction of general recombination losses in LICs are discussed and their validity evaluated.

  • 45.
    Andersson, Kennet
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Assessment of cerebrospinal fluid system dynamics: novel infusion protocol, mathematical modelling and parameter estimation for hydrocephalus investigations2011Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    Patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) have a disturbance in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) system. The treatment is neurosurgical – a shunt is placed in the CSF system. The infusion test is used to assess CSF system dynamics and to aid in the selection of patients that will benefit from shunt surgery. The infusion test can be divided into three parts: a mathematical model, an infusion protocol and a parameter estimation method. A non-linear differential equation is used to mathematically describe the CSF system, where two important parameters are the outflow conductance (Cout) and the Pressure Volume Index (PVI). These are used both for clinical and research purposes. The analysis methods for the non-linear CSF system have limited the infusion protocols of presently used infusion investigations. They come with disadvantages such as long investigation time, no estimation of PVI and no measure of the reliability of the estimates.

    The aim of this dissertation was to develop and evaluate novel methods for infusion protocols, mathematical modelling and parameter estimation methods for assessment of CSF system dynamics.

    The infusion protocols and parameter estimation methods in current use, constant pressure infusion (CPI), constant infusion and bolus infusion, were investigated. The estimates of Cout were compared, both on an experimental set-up and on 20 INPH patients. The results showed that the bolus method produced a significantly higher Cout than the other methods. The study suggested a method with continuous infusion for estimating Cout and emphasized that standardization of Cout measurement is necessary.

    The non-linear model of the CSF system was further developed. The ability to model physiological variations that affect the CSF system was incorporated into the model and it was transformed into a linear time-invariant system. This enabled the use of methods developed for identification of such systems. The underlying model for CSF absorption was discussed and the effect of baseline resting pressure (Pr) in the analysis on the estimation of Cout was explored using two different analyses, with and without Pr.

    A novel infusion protocol with an oscillating pressure pattern was introduced. This protocol was theoretically better suited for the CSF system characteristics. Three new parameter estimation methods were developed. The adaptive observer was developed from the original non-linear model of the CSF system and estimated Cout in real time. The prediction error method (PEM) and the robust simulation error (RSE) method were based on the transformed linear system, and they estimated both Cout and PVI with confidence intervals in real time. Both the oscillating pressure pattern and the reference CPI protocol were performed on an experimental set-up of the CSF system and on 47 hydrocephalus patients. The parameter estimation methods were applied to the data, and the RSE method produced estimates of Cout that were in good agreement with the reference method and allowed for an individualized and considerably reduced investigation time.

    In summary, current methods have been investigated and a novel approach for assessment of CSF system dynamics has been presented. The Oscillating Pressure Infusion method, which includes a new infusion protocol, a further developed mathematical model and new parameter estimation methods has resulted in an improved way to perform infusion investigations and should be used when assessing CSF system dynamics. The advantages of the new approach are the pressure-regulated infusion protocol, simultaneous estimation of Cout and PVI and estimates of reliability that allow for an individualized investigation time.

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  • 46.
    Andersson, Kennet
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Novel infusion method for measurement of CSF dynamicsManuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
  • 47.
    Andersson, Kennet
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Manchester, I. R.
    Laurell, Katarina
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Clinical Neuroscience.
    Cesarini, K. Giuliana
    Malm, Jan
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Clinical Neuroscience.
    Eklund, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics. Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Physics (CMTF).
    Measurement of CSF dynamics with oscillating pressure infusion2013In: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, ISSN 0001-6314, E-ISSN 1600-0404, Vol. 128, no 1, p. 17-23Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Introduction Infusion tests are used to diagnose and select patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) for shunt surgery. The test characterizes cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and estimates parameters of the cerebrospinal fluid system, the pressure-volume index (PVI) and the outflow conductance (Cout). The Oscillating Pressure Infusion (OPI) method was developed to improve the test and reduce the investigation time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the new OPI method by comparing it with an established reference method. Methods Forty-seven patients (age 71.2 +/- 8.9years) with communicating hydrocephalus underwent a preoperative lumbar infusion investigation with two consecutive infusion protocols, reference (42min) and new (20min), that is, 94 infusion tests in total. The OPI method estimated Cout and PVI simultaneously. A real-time analysis of reliability was applied to investigate the possibility of infusion time reduction. Results The difference in Cout between the methods was 1.2 +/- 1.8l/s/kPa (Rout=-0.8 +/- 3.5mmHg/ml/min), P<0.05, n=47. With the reliability analysis, the preset 20min of active infusion could have been even further reduced for 19 patients to between 10 and 19min. PVI was estimated to 16.1 +/- 6.9ml, n=47. Conclusions The novel Oscillating Pressure Infusion method produced real-time estimates of Cout including estimates of reliability that was in good agreement with the reference method and allows for a reduced and individualized investigation time.

  • 48.
    Andersson, Kennet
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Manchester, Ian R
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Andersson, Nina
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Shiriaev, Anton
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Malm, Jan
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Neurology.
    Eklund, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Assessment of cerebrospinal fluid outflow conductance using an adaptive observer-experimental and clinical evaluation2007In: Physiological Measurement, ISSN 0967-3334, E-ISSN 1361-6579, Vol. 28, no 11, p. 1355-1368Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) patients have a disturbance in the dynamics of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) system. The outflow conductance, C, of the CSF system has been suggested to be prognostic for positive outcome after treatment with a CSF shunt. All current methods for estimation of C have drawbacks; these include lack of information on the accuracy and relatively long investigation times. Thus, there is a need for improved methods. To accomplish this, the theoretical framework for a new adaptive observer (OBS) was developed which provides real-time estimation of C. The aim of this study was to evaluate the OBS method and to compare it with the constant pressure infusion (CPI) method. The OBS method was applied to data from infusion investigations performed with the CPI method. These consisted of repeated measurements on an experimental set-up and 30 patients with suspected INPH. There was no significant difference in C between the CPI and the OBS method for the experimental set-up. For the patients there was a significant difference, −0.84 ± 1.25 µl (s kPa)−1, mean ± SD (paired sample t-test, p < 0.05). However, such a difference is within clinically acceptable limits. This encourages further development of this new real-time approach for estimation of the outflow conductance.

  • 49.
    Andersson, Kennet
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Manchester, Ian R
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Malm, Jan
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Neurology.
    Eklund, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Physics (CMTF). Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Real-time estimation of cerebrospinal fluid system parameters via oscillating pressure infusion2010In: Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing, ISSN 0140-0118, E-ISSN 1741-0444, Vol. 48, no 11, p. 1123-1131Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Hydrocephalus is related to a disturbed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) system. For diagnosis, lumbar infusion test are performed to estimate outflow conductance, C (out), and pressure volume index, PVI, of the CSF system. Infusion patterns and analysis methods used in current clinical practice are not optimized. Minimizing the investigation time with sufficient accuracy is of major clinical relevance. The aim of this study was to propose and experimentally evaluate a new method, the oscillating pressure infusion (OPI). The non-linear model of the CSF system was transformed into a linear time invariant system. Using an oscillating pressure pattern and linear system identification methods, C (out) and PVI with confidence intervals, were estimated in real-time. Forty-two OPI and constant pressure infusion (CPI) investigations were performed on an experimental CSF system, designed with PVI = 25.5 ml and variable C (out). The ARX model robustly estimated C (out) (mean C (out,OPI) - C (out,CPI) = 0.08 μl/(s kPa), n = 42, P = 0.68). The Box-Jenkins model proved most reliable for PVI (23.7 ± 2.0 ml, n = 42). The OPI method, with its oscillating pressure pattern and new parameter estimation methods, efficiently estimated C (out) and PVI as well as their confidence intervals in real-time. The results from this experimental study show potential for the OPI method and supports further evaluation in a clinical setting.

  • 50.
    Andersson, Kennet
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Suhr, Ole B.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Medicine.
    Faes, Luca
    Wiklund, Urban
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiation Physics.
    Directed coherence analysis in patients with severe autonomic dysfunction2014In: 2014 8th conference of the European Study Group on Cardiovascular Oscillations (ESGCO), IEEE conference proceedings, 2014, p. 167-168Conference paper (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Many different approaches have been applied to analyse the coupling between cardiovascular signals. This study evaluated the use of directed coherence, based on multivariate autoregressive modelling, for analysis of cardiovascular signals in patients with transthyretin amyloidosis, a rare disease where severe autonomic dysfunction is common.

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