The KNee OsteoArthritis Prediction (KNOAP2020) challenge: An image analysis challenge to predict incident symptomatic radiographic knee osteoarthritis from MRI and X-ray images.

OBJECTIVES: The KNee OsteoArthritis Prediction (KNOAP2020) challenge was organized to objectively compare methods for the prediction of incident symptomatic radiographic knee osteoarthritis within 78 months on a test set with blinded ground truth. DESIGN: The challenge participants were free to use any available data sources to train their models. A test set of 423 knees from the Prevention of Knee Osteoarthritis in Overweight Females (PROOF) study consisting of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray image data along with clinical risk factors at baseline was made available to all challenge participants. The ground truth outcomes, i.e., which knees developed incident symptomatic radiographic knee osteoarthritis (according to the combined ACR criteria) within 78 months, were not provided to the participants. To assess the performance of the submitted models, we used the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROCAUC) and balanced accuracy (BACC). RESULTS: Seven teams submitted 23 entries in total. A majority of the algorithms were trained on data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. The model with the highest ROCAUC (0.64 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.57-0.70)) used deep learning to extract information from X-ray images combined with clinical variables. The model with the highest BACC (0.59 (95% CI: 0.52-0.65)) ensembled three different models that used automatically extracted X-ray and MRI features along with clinical variables. CONCLUSION: The KNOAP2020 challenge established a benchmark for predicting incident symptomatic radiographic knee osteoarthritis. Accurate prediction of incident symptomatic radiographic knee osteoarthritis is a complex and still unsolved problem requiring additional investigation.

A simple analytic method for estimating T2 in the knee from DESS.

PURPOSE: To introduce a simple analytical formula for estimating T2 from a single Double-Echo in Steady-State (DESS) scan. METHODS: Extended Phase Graph (EPG) modeling was used to develop a straightforward linear approximation of the relationship between the two DESS signals, enabling accurate T2 estimation from one DESS scan. Simulations were performed to demonstrate cancellation of different echo pathways to validate this simple model. The resulting analytic formula was compared to previous methods for T2 estimation using DESS and fast spin-echo scans in agar phantoms and knee cartilage in three volunteers and three patients. The DESS approach allows 3D (256×256×44) T2-mapping with fat suppression in scan times of 3-4min. RESULTS: The simulations demonstrated that the model approximates the true signal very well. If the T1 is within 20% of the assumed T1, the T2 estimation error was shown to be less than 5% for typical scans. The inherent residual error in the model was demonstrated to be small both due to signal decay and opposing signal contributions. The estimated T2 from the linear relationship agrees well with reference scans, both for the phantoms and in vivo. The method resulted in less underestimation of T2 than previous single-scan approaches, with processing times 60 times faster than using a numerical fit. CONCLUSION: A simplified relationship between the two DESS signals allows for rapid 3D T2 quantification with DESS that is accurate, yet also simple. The simplicity of the method allows for immediate T2 estimation in cartilage during the MRI examination.

Synthesis and evaluation of uterine relaxant activity for a novel series of substituted p-hydroxyphenylethanolamines.

Novel racemic 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(substituted phenoxy)-2-hydroxy-1-propyl]aminopropan-1-ol hydrochlorides (9a-h) were synthesized by condensing racemic 1-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-aminopropan-1-ol hydrochloride (6) with substituted aryloxymethyloxiranes (8a-h) in DMF in presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate and then reacting with dry hydrogen chloride gas. They were evaluated for uterine relaxant activity in vitro on isolated rat uterus and in vivo in pregnant rats. Their cAMP releasing potential was studied using rat uterus tissue homogenates by cAMP [3H] assay and cardiac stimulant potential was evaluated in dog. All compounds exhibited potent uterine relaxant activity in vitro and produced a significant delay in the onset of labour in pregnant rats; their cAMP releasing potential was higher than isoxsuprine hydrochloride except for 9b and 9c. Finally insignificant cardiac stimulant potential was noted for these compounds when compared to isoxsuprine hydrochloride.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of racemic 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(substituted phenoxy)-2-hydroxy-1-propyl]amino-1-propanol hydrochlorides as novel uterine relaxants.

Novel 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(substituted phenoxy)-2-hydroxy-1-propyl]amino-1-propanol hydrochlorides were designed based on the pharmacophore for potent uterine relaxant activity and by utilizing the principles of structural hybridization. The designed molecules were synthesized as racemates by a novel route and were evaluated for uterine relaxant activity in vitro on isolated rat uterus and in vivo in pregnant rats. Their cAMP-releasing potential was studied using rat uterus tissue homogenates by the cAMP [(3)H] assay, and cardiac stimulant potential was evaluated on isolated guinea pig right atrium. All compounds exhibited potent uterine relaxant activity in vitro and produced a significant delay in the onset of labour in pregnant rats; their cAMP-releasing potential was slightly less, while their cardiac stimulant potential was insignificant as compared to isoxsuprine hydrochloride.