Background and PurposeStent-assisted coiling was initially invented for wide-neck aneurysms, but is now used for smaller berry aneurysms. The aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficiency of stent-assisted coiling with conventional coiling in treatment of intracranial aneurysms.MethodsA meta-analysis of studies that compared stent-assisted coiling with coiling only was conducted by searching English literatures via Pubmed, Medline and Cochrane Library databases without restricting the publication year. The primary outcomes in this study were immediate occlusion, progressive thrombosis rate, all-complication rate and angiographic recurrence. The secondary outcomes examined were packing density, mortality, permanent complication and thromboembolic complication rate.ResultsTen retrospective cohort studies were included. There is currently only one unfinished randomized study. Although the stent-assisted coiling group tended to show a lower initial occlusion rate than that of the coiling-only group (57.6% versus 68.7%; OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.30–1.44; P = 0.30), it achieved a significantly higher progressive thrombosis rate during follow up compared to that of the coiling only group (37.5% versus 19.4%; OR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.95–3.86; P<0.00001) and a significantly lower recurrence rate (16.2% versus 34.4%; OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.25–0.49; P<0.00001). With respect to safety concerns, the all-complication rate (17.6% versus 15.9%; OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.77–1.62; P = 0.56), mortality rate (9.1% versus 2.6%; OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 0.68–7.82; P = 0.18), permanent complication rate (5.6% versus 3.9%; OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 0.96–2.41; P = 0.08) and thromboembolic complication rate (4.2% versus 4.9%; OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.41–2.38; P = 0.97) did not show significant difference between the two groups.ConclusionsStent-assisted coiling has a lower recurrence rate than conventional coiling. Analysis of complication events did not show any significant difference between the two methods. Despite the findings reported herein, further validation by well-designed prospective studies is needed.

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In this article, we review the algorithms for rotation, scaling and translation (RST) invariant image watermarking. There are mainly two categories of RST invariant image watermarking algorithms. One is to rectify the RST transformed image before conducting watermark detection. Another is to embed and detect watermark in an RST invariant or semi-invariant domain. In order to help readers understand, we first introduce the fundamental theories and techniques used in the existing RST invariant image watermarking algorithms. Then, we discuss in detail the work principles, embedding process, and detection process of the typical RST invariant image watermarking algorithms. Finally, we analyze and evaluate these typical algorithms through implementation, and point out their advantages and disadvantages.

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In patients with persistent AF, elevated plasma NT-proBNP concentrations combined with low LAAFV were associated with rhythm outcome after AF ablation; however, LAAFV was the only independent predictor of CA efficacy in patients with paroxysmal AF.

In this paper, we review the algorithms for rotation, scaling and translation (RST) invariant image watermarking. There are mainly two categories of RST invariant image watermarking algorithms. One is to resynchronize the RST transformed image before conducting watermark extraction. Another is to embed and extract watermark in an RST invariant or semi-invariant domain. We discuss in detail the work principles of the typical RST invariant image watermarking algorithms, analyze the performance of these typical algorithms through implementation and point out their advantages and disadvantages.