Identifying and Classifying an Ovarian Cyst using SCBOD (Size and Count-Based Ovarian Detection) Algorithm in Ultrasound Image

Polycystic ovaries are a sign of increasing infertility in the female population worldwide. An excessive number of follicle formations leads to polycystic ovarian syndromes. It affects the female reproductive cycle and leads to disorders such as cardiovascular issues, diabetes mellitus, and cancer. Calculating the number of follicles and detecting the follicle size is still challenging due to time complexity. Since the size of follicles and the greater number mislead the detection of the ovarian type in the ultrasound image. The ultrasound images contain more speckle noise, making the ovarian follicles difficult to see manually. A new convenient method is proposed for the detection of follicles and ovary classification is based on the measurement of size and the count of each follicle. In this paper, the work is divided into four steps, the first step preprocessing the ultrasound image. In the second step, the segmentation process is applied for object selection and separation process using an improved watershed algorithm. In the third step, based on the geometrical and statistical features the object is recognized by SCBOD accurately using various parameters such as size, count, mean, standard deviation, etc., Finally, an SVM classifier is used for classification to conclude the Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) and Non- PCOS. This algorithm is proposed to the physician to find the ovarian follicles rapidly, which will offer accurate performance and is more effective in execution by adopting the SCBOD (Size and Count-based Object Detection) method

PEMILIHAN METODE PENGURANGAN NOISE PADA CITRA ULTRASONOGRAFI OVARIUM

Pengurangan noise merupakan upaya untuk memperbaiki kualitas citra yang akan memudahkan tahapan selanjutnya dalam pengolahan citra. Noise Reduction atau mengurangi noise untuk menghasilkan citra lebih baik sehingga informasi data citra tidak hilang dan citra dapat diintepretasikan oleh mata manusia. Penelitian ini menggunakan data gambar ultrasonografi ovarium untuk membantu menganalisa kondisi kesehatan ovarium perempuan. Gambar ultrasonografi ovarium biasanya terdapat noise, metode pengurangan noise yang akan digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah Median Filtering dan Adaptive Median Filtering. Hasil filtering dari 2 metode tersebut akan dibandingkan menggunakan Mean Square Error(MSE) dan Peak Signal To Noise Ratio(PNSR). Ukuran kernel untuk Median Filtering dan Adaptive Median Filtering dipilih sebagai 3x3, 5x5, dan 7x7. Penelitian ini menghasilkan metode filtering dengan kinerja terbaik yaitu Adaptive Median Filtering dengan ukuran window 5x5 yang ditunjukan dari nilai Mean Square Error dan Peak Signal To Noise Ratio

A longitudinal study of the experiences and psychological well-being of Indian surrogates

Study question: What is the psychological well-being of Indian surrogates during and after the surrogacy pregnancy? Summary answer: Surrogates were similar to a matched group of expectant mothers on anxiety and stress. However, they scored higher on depression during and after pregnancy. What is known already: The recent ban on trans-national commercial surrogacy in India has led to urgent policy discussions regarding surrogacy. Whilst previous studies have reported the motivations and experiences of Indian surrogates no studies have systematically examined the psychological well-being of Indian surrogates, especially from a longitudinal perspective. Previous research has shown that Indian surrogates are motivated by financial payment and may face criticism from their family and community due to negative social stigma attached to surrogacy. Indian surrogates often recruited by agencies and mainly live together in a “surrogacy house.” Study design, size, duration: A longitudinal study was conducted comparing surrogates to a matched group of expectant mothers over two time points: (a) during pregnancy (Phase1: 50 surrogates, 70 expectant mothers) and (b) 4–6 months after delivery (Phase 2: 45 surrogates, 49 expectant mothers). The Surrogates were recruited from a fertility clinic in Mumbai and the matched comparison group was recruited from four public hospitals in Mumbai and Delhi. Data collection was completed over 2 years. Participants/materials, setting, methods: Surrogates and expectant mothers were aged between 23 and 36 years. All participants were from a low socio-economic background and had left school before 12–13 years of age. In-depth faceto-face semi-structured interviews and a psychological questionnaire assessing anxiety, stress and depression were administered in Hindi to both groups. Interviews took place in a private setting. Audio recordings of surrogate interviews were later translated and transcribed into English. Main results and the role of chance: Stress and anxiety levels did not significantly differ between the two groups for both phases of the study. For depression, surrogates were found to be significantly more depressed than expectant mothers at phase 1 (p = 0.012) and phase 2 (p = 0.017). Within the surrogacy group, stress and depression did not change during and after pregnancy. However, a non-significant trend was found showing that anxiety decreased after delivery (p = 0.086). No participants reported being coerced into surrogacy, however nearly all kept it a secret from their wider family and community and hence did not face criticism. Surrogates lived at the surrogate house for different durations. During pregnancy, 66% (N = 33/50) reported their experiences of the surrogate house as positive, 24% (N = 12/50) as negative and 10% (N = 5/50) as neutral. After delivery, most surrogates (66%, N = 30/45) reported their experiences of surrogacy to be positive, with the remainder viewing it as neutral (28%) or negative (4%). In addition, most (66%, N = 30/45) reported that they had felt “socially supported and loved” during the surrogacy arrangement by friends in the surrogate hostel, clinic staff or family. Most surrogates did not meet the intending parents (49%, N = 22/45) or the resultant child (75%, N = 34/45). Limitations, reasons for caution: Since the surrogates were recruited from only one clinic, the findings may not be representative of all Indian surrogates. Some were lost to follow-up which may have produced sampling bias. Wider implications of the findings: This is the first study to examine the psychological well-being of surrogates in India. This research is of relevance to current policy discussions in India regarding legislation on surrogacy. Moreover, the findings are of relevance to clinicians, counselors and other professionals involved in surrogacy. Trial registration number: N/A

The use of platelet-rich biopolymers in the enhancement of synthetic scaffolds for ligament tissue engineering applications

Introduction: Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee is a common injury among athletes, leading to instability of the knee. Due to the poor healing capacity of this ligament, reconstruction is currently the only suitable method of treatment. At present, material for reconstruction is most often harvested from the donor’s patellar tendon, which can lead to issues with donor site morbidity and further knee instability. This has led to the development of synthetic ligaments, which have demonstrated varying levels of success. Xiros Ltd. (Leeds) have developed a woven polyethylene terephthalate (PET) ligament prosthesis able to induce tissue formation in vivo. However, tissue induction is slow, leaving the material exposed to abrasive forces upon implantation, which eventually leads to graft failure. Objective: To assess whether a hybrid construct, composed of the Xiros PET ligament and a platelet-rich biopolymer coating, can enhance synovial cell proliferation, infiltration and expression of extracellular matrix genes, which may indicate promotion of tissue induction. Methods: Primary bovine synovial cell (bSC) cultures were established from the metatarsophalangeal joints of 12-18 month old bovines. Venous blood was taken from healthy human donors and platelet-rich and platelet-poor plasma fractions were extracted. 3D cell-seeded hybrid ligament constructs were fabricated by seeding bSCs onto sections of Xiros Ltd. PET scaffold before coating them with various combinations of plasma, collagen and alginate. Cells were monitored within coated constructs using confocal microscopy, DNA content analysis and Live/dead staining. Biopolymers were characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and rheology. Coating longevity was assessed using light microscopy image analysis. Cyclic tensile strain (5% strain at a frequency of 1 Hz) was applied to the three most promising coated constructs using an in-house house developed bioreactor, and qRT-PCR was used to measure changes in expression of ligament and non-ligament associated genes. The effect of cyclic tensile strain on tPA and PAI-1 gene expression was analysed using qRT-PCR and secreted PAI-1 protein was assessed using Western blot. Results: Alginate-based coatings demonstrated the greatest stability, but significantly inhibited cell infiltration and proliferation. In contrast both plasma and collagen coatings had poor longevity, but promoted cell infiltration, in comparison with the non-coated control scaffold. All constructs supported good cell viability. PDGF-AB and IGF-1 release from coatings occurred up to 3 days. Changes in expression of ECM and transcription factor genes were inconsistent between donors. Cyclic tensile strain increased cell proliferation in all constructs. The longevity of the 100% plasma (P100) coating was greatly enhanced by the application of cyclic tensile strain, leading to selection of this construct for final studies. Strain induced no change in tPA gene expression but caused a significant upregulation of PAI-1 gene expression and protein secretion, indicating a possible mechanism of enhanced coating longevity. Increasing the platelet density of the P100 coating had no significant effect on cell proliferation nor transcription of ECM genes. Discussion: This study has demonstrated that bovine synovial cell-seeded 3D hybrid ligament constructs composed of the Xiros Ltd. PET scaffold and a biopolymer coating, can be successfully fabricated, and are compatible with the cyclic strain bioreactor utilised for this work. The 100% plasma-coated construct was the most successful candidate due to its ability to promote cellular infiltration, as well as its superior longevity when subjected to cyclic tensile strain. Application of cyclic tensile strain to cell-seeded constructs resulted in upregulation of PAI-1, which may have contributed to this increase in coating longevity. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the potential of a PET-fibrin construct for ligament regeneration purposes, and indicate the importance of regular exercise of the knee immediately following ACL reconstruction. Further studies should focus on the behaviour of this construct in vivo

XIII International Congress in Animal Hygiene, June 17-21, 2007, Tartu, Estonia "Animal health, animal welfare and biosecurity" : proceedings. Volume 1

KonverentsikogumikOn behalf of both the Organising Committee and the Scientific Committee, I am pleased to welcome you in Tartu, Estonia, to participate at the XIII International Congress of the International Society for Animal Hygiene (ISAH). The ISAH (www.isah-soc.org) was founded in 1970 and has today members from 48 countries throughout the world. ISAH can be considered as a group of scientists contributing to efficient, sustainable animal farming with healthy animals, providing wholesome food in a sound environment. Veterinarians and non-veterinary academic scientists (animal science, agricultural economics, engineers, microbiologists, public health professionals, epidemiologists etc., etc) and respective professionals in animal husbandry, who work and/or do research and education in the field of animal hygiene, can apply for a membership of ISAH, and are most welcome to attend ISAH congresses. The first ISAH congress was held in Budapest in 1973. The last ISAH main congress took place in Warsaw, Poland in 2005 and the last in-between symposium in Saint-Malo, France in 2004. Starting from Warsaw congress in 2005, the ISAH, considering the need for a more flexible and frequent exchange of scientific and practical knowledge, organizes its congresses every second year. The present, XIII ISAH congress in Tartu, Estonia, in June 17–21, 2007 is organised under the device "Animal health, animal welfare and biosecurity”. The scientific programme, trying to follow the scope of the ISAH and receive the feedback from modern animal husbandry and food production, concentrates with more profoundness on the following subjects: interaction between the environment and health and welfare of individual animal and herds; managing animal health in large dairy units; ensuring animal welfare during transportation and slaughter; economical implications considering animals’ health; possibilities of precision livestock farming in maintaining good health and welfare of animals; measures for prevention the development and spread of diseases and pathogens in animals including those posing risk to human health (zoonoses); food safety relevant infections and contaminations such as residues in food derived from animals; influence of the animal production on the environment and public health. The Proceedings from the XIII ISAH Congress are herewith presented. The papers on lectures from invited speakers, oral and poster presentations from 11 parallel sessions are included in this excellent compilation. In general, the printed contribution to the ISAH-2007 congress illustrates clearly the broad scientific field of the ISAH and related to it activities. I hereby would like to express my most sincere gratitude in the address of ISAH-2007 organising and scientific committees. Special thanks go to Frens Conference Services for their excellent organizational and technical contribution and to AS Triip for their outstanding printing job of these proceedings. We also appreciate different companies and organisations for their considerable financial support which gave us the opportunity to keep the registration fees affordable. Finally, we thank all participants, contributors, chairpersons, organisational and technical assistants for your considerable efforts – you made the ISAH-2007 in Tartu real success. We wish you all interesting and pleasant congress and enjoyable stay in Tartu. A. Aland Editor Chairman of the ISAH-2007 Organising Committe

Pig Genomics and Genetics

In this Special Issue, we present the state of the art in the field of pig genetics and genomics, including the identification of gene candidates linked to important pig traits and to nutritional modifications, with the aim of collecting the most recent advances. The published manuscripts focused on high-throughput methodologies, such as RNA sequencing, ATAC-seq, MACE-seq, chip-seq, and RRBS, and covered other fields of pig genetics. The pig (Sus scrofa) is the most common large mammal in the world. The Sus genus includes domestic pig and wild boar. Since the draft reference genome sequence of S. scrofa was assembled in 2012, the processes of identification of genes related to important phenotypic traits and of search of genetic markers for pig selection have been significantly refined. In addition, the newest wide-range high-throughput techniques, including microarrays, next-generation sequencing, and the recent PacBio sequencing platform providing ultra-long sequencing reads, allow identifying gene mutations and gene candidates throughout the whole genome, transcriptome, or epigenome and estimating quantitative traits important for breeding as well as the genetic backgrounds of inherited diseases

Biological and Pharmacological Activity of Plant Natural Compounds

Phytotherapy is probably the oldest form of medicine; however, it represents a new therapeutic tool for healthcare workers. Indeed plants are an infinite source of novel molecules, with countless possible combinations. This collection of articles (a Special Issue from Molecules) brings together the most up-to-date studies on the use of plant-derived compounds, ranging from their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects to the revision of the prominent literature