Combined segmentation and classificationbased approach to automated analysis of biomedical signals obtained from calcium imaging

Automated screening systems in conjunction with machine learning-based methods are becoming an essential part of the healthcare systems for assisting in disease diagnosis. Moreover, manually annotating data and hand-crafting features for training purposes are impractical and time-consuming. We propose a segmentation and classification-based approach for assembling an automated screening system for the analysis of calcium imaging. The method was developed and verified using the effects of disease IgGs (from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis patients) on calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis. From 33 imaging videos we analyzed, 21 belonged to the disease and 12 to the control experimental groups. The method consists of three main steps: projection, segmentation, and classification. The entire Ca2+ time-lapse image recordings (videos) were projected into a single image using different projection methods. Segmentation was performed by using a multi-level thresholding (MLT) step and the Regions of Interest (ROIs) that encompassed cell somas were detected. A mean value of the pixels within these boundaries was collected at each time point to obtain the Ca2+ traces (time-series). Finally, a new matrix called feature image was generated from those traces and used for assessing the classification accuracy of various classifiers (control vs. disease). The mean value of the segmentation F-score for all the data was above 0.80 throughout the tested threshold levels for all projection methods, namely maximum intensity, standard deviation, and standard deviation with linear scaling projection. Although the classification accuracy reached up to 90.14%, interestingly, we observed that achieving better scores in segmentation results did not necessarily correspond to an increase in classification performance. Our method takes the advantage of the multi-level thresholding and of a classification procedure based on the feature images, thus it does not have to rely on hand- crafted training parameters of each event. It thus provides a semi-autonomous tool for assessing segmentation parameters which allows for the best classification accuracy

Total antioxidant and oxidant status in obese children without insulin resistance

Objective: Oxidative stress in obese children may lead in adulthood serious conditions such as coronary heart diseases or type 2 diabetes mellitus. In childhood oxidative stress is associated with insulin resistance or extreme obesity. In this study, we aimed to evaluate oxidative stress status in moderately obese children without insulin resistance. Methods: A total of 38 obese children (21 male, 17 female) without insulin resistance, mean aged 9.4±3.8 years) and 51 normal weight children (25 male, 26 female) as the control group, mean aged 9.3±3.9 years) were enrolled to the study. Total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured and oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. Results: The results reveal that obese children had lower TAC than normal weight children (2,27±0,28 vs. 2.76±0.35 mmol Trolox Eq./L; p<0,001). There was no statistical difference between obese and control groups regarding TOS (6,08±3,63 vs 5.25±4.16 μmol H2O2 Eq./L; p=0.333). OSI was higher in obese group (2.65±1.52 vs 1.92±1.56; p=0.029) Conclusion: Balance between oxidant and antioxidant system is disrupted due to the reduced TAC even in moderately obese children without insulin resistance. Further studies should also be performed to evaluate the beneficial effects of dietary intake of antioxidants in these children

Aggresive Aneurysmal Bone Cyst Two Case Report

Two cases of an aggresive aneurysmal bone cyst that involved the distal femur and forearm in 20-year-old men were presented. The recurrence of the aggressive aneurysmal bone cyst with severe infection in the femur in spite of total excision caused deterioration of the extremity circulation. Hip disarticulation was applied for the treatment. The second case with an alytic expansile lesion involving the 2/3 of the right ulna was surgically treated by total excision and reconstruction of the ulna by using the ipsilateral fibula. At the 2-year follow-up, the patient had complete incorporation of the fibular graft. The differential diagnosis of the aneurysmal bone cyst from the local aggressive and malignant tumor and different treatment options were discussed with the literature

The effects of preoperative non-invasive cardiac tests on delay to surgery and subsequent mortality in elderly patients with hip fracture

WOS: 000370181500007PubMed ID: 25881693OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of preoperative cardiac tests on the surgical treatment plan and subsequent effects on mortality in elderly patients with hip fracture. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 116 patients aged 60 years or above who underwent hip fracture surgery between 2010-2013 were evaluated. Of the patients with similar preoperative clinical risk factors, 20 patients with additional preoperative cardiac tests such as echocardiography or thalium scintigraphy constituted Group 1, whereas 28 patients without additional cardiac tests constituted Group 2. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 21 statistical package software. Normal distribution of the data was determined by the Shapiro-Wilk test and histography. Intergroup and mortality comparisons were performed by Mann-Whitney U, Yates-corrected chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: The mean time between fracture and operation was 6 days (range, 4-14) in Group 1, and 2 days (range, 0-3) in Group 2. There was a significant difference in time-to-operation between the groups (p < 0.001). The age and gender distribution of both groups were homomgenous (p = 0.64, p = 1.0). Both groups were comparable in terms of fracture type, treatment, and anesthesia (p = 0.36, p = 0.42, p = 1.0). At the end of 1 year, six (30%) patients in Group 1 and three (10.7%) patients in Group 2 were deceased. Both groups were comparable in terms of mortality (p = 0.137). There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of complications (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Unnecessary cardiac tests in elderly patients with hip fracture led to a delay in their surgery, yet did not change their cardiac treatment plan. This delay in obtaining hip fracture surgery increases complication rates, hospitalization duration, and costs