Real-time sleep apnea detection using wavelet packet transform and support vector machines

Sleep apnea events as obstructive, central, mixed, or hypopnea are characterized by frequent breathing cessations or reduction in upper airflow during sleep. An advanced method for analyzing the patterning of biomedical signals to recognize obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea is presented. In the aim to extract characteristic parameters, which will be used for classifying the above-stated (obstructive, central, mixed) sleep apnea and hypopnea, the proposed method is based, first, on the analysis of polysomnopraphy signals such as electrocardiogram signal (ECG) and electromyogram (EMG) and then classification of (obstructive, central, mixed) sleep apnea and hypopnea. The analysis is carried out using the wavelet transform technique in order to extract characteristic parameters, whereas classification is carried out by applying the SVM (support vector machine) technique. The obtained results show good recognition rates using characteristic parameters

Semantic Segmentation of Medical Images with Deep Learning: Overview

Semantic segmentation is one of the biggest challenging tasks in computer vision, especially in medical image analysis, it helps to locate and identify pathological structures automatically. It is an active research area. Continuously different techniques are proposed. Recently Deep Learning is the latest technique used intensively to improve the performance in medical image segmentation. For this reason, we present in this non-systematic review a preliminary description about semantic segmentation with deep learning and the most important steps to build a model that deal with this problem

Welcome to Medical Technologies Journal

Welcome to Medical Technologies Journal MTJ. MTJ is an international peer-reviewed journal and an interdisciplinary one focusing on relevant innovations on medical technologies and findings relative to medicine. This editorial presents the global initiative of the journal in a nutshell. It is also dedicated to welcoming contributions to the journal and for introducing the first issue

Hematology and Digital Image Processing: Watershed Transform-Based Methodology for Blood Cell Counting Using the WT-MO Algorithm

Background: Most diseases can be detected by routine examination, even if they are in the initial phase. Currently, one of the most requested medical laboratory tests is that which allows detecting from bacterial infections until leukemias. However, for less favored populations, this examination can be seen as having a high cost. Methods: Thus, this study introduces an algorithm of segmentation of images capable of detecting and counting red blood cells and leukocytes present in digital images of blood smear. The methodology was named by WT-MO, once it relies on the concepts of Watershed Transform and Morphological Operations. The experiments were conducted in the MATLAB software simulation environment, where 25 images were used in order to evaluate the accuracy, processing time, and execution time of the WT-MO algorithm. Results: The results show that the WT-MO methodology presents high accuracy, reaching 96% and 92% in the red blood cell and leukocyte counts, respectively; reliability and low processing time, reaching an average processing time and execution time, achieving from 0.74 to 2.17 seconds. Therefore, the WT-MO algorithm can be seen as the first step in making laboratory tests more accessible to populations in underdeveloped and developing countries. Conclusion: The WT-MO methodology helps not only disadvantaged populations gain access to low-cost, high-reliability tests but also has excellent potential for use in laboratories in developed countries

Telemedicine and e-health in Algeria facing challenges in medical practice

The Algerian health system operates in a demographic, economic, environmental, and societal specific context to meet the challenges of epidemiological transition. Development of information and communication technologies in this atmosphere allow telemedicine and e-health emergence in the vast country of Algeria. Thus, the country may face these challenges by including them in a national telemedicine plan and making a major focus of global action for the prevention and control of prevalent diseases. The interest to adopt this tool in daily practice stems from an improvement in the quality of communication between practitioners and in the doctor–patient relationship with a possibility of quick access to care and more efficient care pathways. Thus, national goals in fight plans against diseases will be achieved. Telemedicine and e-health projects that methodologically well-defined, respecting regulations and using all means and all available resources, including WHO mobile health, are to be designed and implemented in all areas, especially in the national plan against not-communicated diseases, maternal and child health, old aging health, and mental health. This approach will integrate telemedicine in the health care system whose inevitable implementation can be done on solid foundations and will be actively supported by SATeS

Highlighting the achievements of the fourth International Congress on Health Sciences and Medical Technologies

This is an editorial reporting the fourth International Congress on Health Sciences and Medical Technologies ICHSMT. After the success of three versions of the international congress ICHSMT, The fourth congress was established from 5 to 7 December 2019 at Tlemcen, Algeria. With the cooperation of University of Tlemcen, Knowledge Kingdom Publishing and other partners, the congress attracted an important number of researchers from several domains and affiliations. Aiming to contributing the scientific progress and the promotion of the community of health sciences and medical technologies. The congress was established virtually and in-person which challenged the political and technical problems.&nbsp

Genotyping of MEFV and SAA1 Genes and Their Correlation to the AA-Amyloidosis Development

Background: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is the most common autoinflammatory disease caused by recessive mutations in the MEFV gene. If not treated, FMF patients may develop renal AA-amyloidosis that leads to renal failure and death. Both mutations and polymorphisms in MEFV and SAA1 genes, respectively, have been associated with AA-amyloidosis in several populations. In Algeria, as FMF is still under-estimate and misdiagnosed, genetic data on renal complication are largely lacking. We thus explored the contribution of MEFV and SAA1 loci in the development of amyloidosis in Algerian patients with FMF.  Methods: This study included 64 unrelated FMF patients (21 without and 43 with renal amyloidosis) and 13 healthy controls. The entire exon 10 was sequenced after PCR amplification to detect MEFV mutations. Genotypes of SAA1 locus (SAA1.1, SAA1.5, and SAA1.3) were determined by PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism). Results: Analyze of MEFV gene showed that the percentage of homozygous for p.M694I mutation was significantly higher in patients with amyloidosis compared to patients without amyloidosis (p=0.032). The SAA1.1/1.1 genotype was significantly predominant in patients with amyloidosis compared to those without AA-amyloidosis (p=0.001) and controls (0.001). The SAA1.5/1.5 genotype was identified only in patients without amyloidosis and controls. The most patients with renal complications were homozygous for p.M694I and SAA1.1 alleles. Conclusion: Our data suggest a positive correlation between the p.M694I/M694I and SAA1.1/1.1 genotypes and the development of AA-amyloidosis secondary to FMF in Algerian patients

Measuring academic achievement based on selected exam subjects: The exam scores of medical technologist students

Background : It is necessary to conduct classes effectively for new medical technologist students. To develop effective lectures for university students, academic achievement based on selected exam subjects and the exam scores of medical technology students were analyzed. Methods : This study is a prospective cohort study. This study focused on 99 students who entered university in 2015 as medical technology students, and the exam results of the 99 students over four years were analyzed. We examined the following: 1) The subjects selected for the university entrance exam; 2) the grades from all four years of university; 3) the graduation exam results at the end of the senior year; and 4) the medical technology national exam scores. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS version 22 that included t-tests and a Pearson correlation analysis. Results :The subjects selected for the entrance examination affected the average score of the national exam (which is held in Febrary), and the scores of the graduation test (held before the national exam) and the national exam were highly correlated (r=0.79, p=0.00) Conclusion : Student study support should be provided immediately after enrollment, especially for students who have not taken the biology exam. We identified a high correlation between the scores for the graduation exam, which is held in December of the senior year, and the national exam, which takes place the following February. Those who failed the graduation exam at this university cannot take the national exam, which is required for the students to be able to graduate

Prediction of senior year medical students who do not pass the graduation exam by logistic analysis using data on gender, experience of repetition, and results of previous exams

Background. The number of students who must repeat an academic year due to an inability to attain enough credits has been increasing in Japan. It is important for universities to be able to identify these students in advance to ensure that they pass their examinations without need of repetition. In this study, we tried to predict the likelihood of students’ repetition of their senior year using the factors of gender, experience of repetition up to the junior year, and scores on tests conducted four times before their graduation exam in the senior year. Methods.Seventy-three students belonging to the senior class of a medical technology college in Tokyo were studied. The students were divided into three groups: Group 1, composed of students who passed the graduation exam on the first attempt (n=35); Group 2, composed of students who failed to pass the graduation exam at the first attempt, but passed the graduation re-exam (n=26); and Group 3, composed of students who did not pass the graduation exam or the re-exam (n=12). Results.We found that gender was not a factor of senior-year repetition. Students who had experienced of repetition prior to junior year tended to be six times more likely to fail the graduation exam than those who did not (OR=6.52, 95% CI: 1.17 – 32.44, P=0.03). Low scores on Test 4, administered two months before the graduation exam, were associated with students who fail to pass the graduation exam (OR=15.2, 95% CI: 3.29 – 70.14, P=0.00). The graduation exam score was associated with students who fail to pass the re-exam (OR=55.2, 95% CI: 1.13 – 2679.86, P=0.04). Conclusion.This study suggests that we need to support senior-year students based on the results of pre-graduation testing, and we need to increase support for students with repetition experience before junior year

The management of the colorectal cancer: Perspectives

Background: The progress of scientific research gives new tracks to be exploited for the management of the colorectal cancers whose the molecular profile study became fundamental. Aim: the aim of this study was to compare the management of the colorectal cancer in our patients to the current international recommendations. Subjects and methods: In a retrospective study, we analysed 256 files between January, 2015 and September 2019. All the adenocarcinoma of colon and rectum were included. Our patients were divided into two groups: 161 patients with colorectal cancer (63%) and 95 patients with rectum cancer (37%). We studied if the management of the disease was actually compliant to the international recommendations. Results: Our study showed that the colorectal cancer occured most frequently in young population,  with 45,5% in patients aged more than 60 years, 44% between 40 -60 years and 10 were  under 40 years. The tumor was in T3 or more stage in 40,3% for colon cancer and 68,4% for rectum cancer. Elsewhere, none of the patients benefited from a molecular profile study of his tumor. Discussion:The colorectal cancer is diagnosed  in relatively young population with 54,5% of patients aged less than 60 years among whom 10% are less than 40, which explains the diagnostic delay. This delay is also due to the lack of a screening in general population and  high risk subjects. Moreover, the absence of  a molecular examination has a negative impact on the treatment and on the screening in the  apparented,  especially in case of tumor with micro satellite instability. Conclusion: In order to improve the prognosis of the colorectal cancers in our patients, a screening adapted to the groups at risk has to be implemented and a molecular profil examination achived so that evolution and therapeutics perspectives could be set