A Fuzzy Logic Based Novel Signature Verification System on Bank Cheque with Fractal Dimensions and Connected Components

Signature plays its authorization role in almost every document. Proper care should be taken for the verification of the genuineness of the signature in legal documents. Signature verification scheme can be online or offline based on the acquisition type. A novel method for offline signature verification in bank cheques is proposed. It is found out that using fractal dimensions for verification purpose improves the accuracy rate. Also the fundamentals of offline signature verification process are discussed. The proposed system uses connected Components Labeling, Fractal Dimensions and Fuzzy Logic for signature verification. The signature is scanned and preprocessed. Using connected components labeling, the signature is split into regions and each region is labeled uniquely. Feature values for each labeled regions are extracted and normalised. Fractal dimensions of signature images are calculated. Extracted feature values and fractal dimensions are compared with the feature values of the sample signatures for its genuineness. Fuzzy classifies the genuine and forged signatures correctly to its fullest extent. Some signatures may have more noise or it may be complex for the system to identify or classify. Those signatures may need some manual intervention. The proposed verification system shows very good results with good sensitivity and specificity. It has an accuracy of maximum 50%

An Unexpected Finding of Hepatosplenomegaly in a Pediatric Patient

Gaucher disease (GD) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder. It is characterized by a deficiency of lysosomal glucocerebrosidase, which results in the accumulation of glycosphingolipid substrates, primarily glucosylceramide, in the phagocyte system. In GD Type 1, the liver, spleen, and bone marrow are typically affected. We report the case of a 7-year-old female with GD Type 1 who presented with hepatosplenomegaly detected incidentally following a motor vehicle accident. She was found to have concomitant thrombocytopenia and Erlenmeyer flask deformities of her lower limbs. Diagnosis was made on the basis of very low leukocyte β-glucocerebrosidase activity and elevated plasma chitotriosidase. DNA mutation studies revealed both c.1226A\u3eG and c.116_1505 deletion (exons 3-11). The patient is currently managed with biweekly intravenous imiglucerase (Cerezyme) replacement therapy. She demonstrated resolution of thrombocytopenia and hepatosplenomegaly at 2-year follow-up. Physicians must consider this rare diagnosis in children presenting with hepatosplenomegaly to prompt timely management

Eight-Year-Old Girl with Hepatomegaly

CASE DESCRIPTION An 8-year-old girl was referred for abdominal pain and elevated liver transaminases. She was previously healthy and was not on any medications. There was no prior history of blood transfusions, toxin exposures or parenteral nutrition. Her parents were nonconsanguineous, and of French and Irish descent. Her family has no history of liver diseases but maternal and paternal grandparents have elevated cholesterol. Her weight was 25.5 kg (27th percentile), height 127 cm (21st percentile) and body mass index (BMI) was 15.8 kg/m2 (42nd percentile). On abdominal examination, both liver and spleen were enlarged. There was no scleral icterus or abnormal skin findings or xanthomatosis. Her liver enzymes revealed elevated transaminases. Total bilirubin was high at 32.7

Change in hematologic indices over time in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease treated with azathioprin

Azathioprine leads to changes in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and white blood cell (WBC) indices reflecting efficacy or toxicity. Understanding the interactions between bone marrow stem cells and azathioprine could highlight abnormal response patterns as forerunners for hematologic malignancies. This study gives a statistical description of factors influencing the relationship between MCV and WBC in children with inflammatory bowel disease treated with azathioprine. We found that leukopenia preceded macrocytosis. Macrocytosis is therefore not a good predictor of leukopenia. Further studies will be necessary to determine the subgroup of patients at increased risk of malignancies based on bone marrow response. © 2010 Soman et al., publisher and licensee Adis Data Information BV

Change in hematologic indices over time in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease treated with azathioprine

Azathioprine leads to changes in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and white blood cell (WBC) indices reflecting efficacy or toxicity. Understanding the interactions between bone marrow stem cells and azathioprine could highlight abnormal response patterns as forerunners for hematologic malig-nancies. This study gives a statistical description of factors influencing the relationship between MCV and WBC in children with inflammatory bowel disease treated with azathioprine. We found that leukopenia preceded macro¬cytosis. Macrocytosis is therefore not a good predictor of leukopenia. Further studies will be necessary to determine the subgroup of patients at increased risk of malignancies based on bone marrow response

Hyoscine butylbromide versus acetaminophen for nonspecific colicky abdominal pain in children: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Less than two-thirds of children with abdominal pain in the emergency department receive analgesia. We sought to determine whether hyoscine butylbromide was superior to acetaminophen for children with nonspecific colicky abdominal pain. METHODS: We randomly allocated children aged 8-17 years with nonspecific colicky abdominal pain who presented to the pediatric emergency department of London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario to receive hyoscine butylbromide, 10 mg given orally, or acetaminophen, 15 mg/kg given orally (maximum 975 mg). We considered the minimal clinically important difference for the primary outcome (self-reported pain at 80 min) to be 13 mm on a 100 mm visual analogue scale. Secondary outcomes included administration of rescue analgesia, adverse effects and pain score less than 30 mm at 80 minutes. RESULTS: A total of 236 participants (120 in the hyoscine butylbromide group and 116 in the acetaminophen group) were included in the trial. The mean visual analogue scale scores at 80 minutes were 29 mm (standard deviation [SD] 26 mm) and 30 mm (SD 29 mm) with hyoscine butylbromide and acetaminophen, respectively (adjusted difference 1, 95% confidence interval -7 to 7). Rescue analgesia was administered to 4 participants (3.3%) in the hyoscine butylbromide group and 1 participant (0.9%) in the acetaminophen groups ( INTERPRETATION: Hyoscine butylbromide was not superior to acetaminophen in this setting. Both agents were associated with clinically important pain reduction, and either can be considered for children presenting to the emergency department with nonspecific colicky abdominal pain

Is focal active colitis of greater clinical significance in pediatric patients? A retrospective review of 68 cases with clinical correlation.

Focal active colitis (FAC) is a histopathologic finding of uncertain clinical significance in individual patients. In adults, infection accounts for approximately 50%, Crohn\u27s disease (CD) for 0-13%, and 20%-30% are idiopathic. One previous study of 29 cases of pediatric FAC showed a 28% rate of CD. This study reviewed a larger cohort of pediatric patients to determine what proportion had IBD, and whether an amount or pattern of inflammation could predict IBD. Sixty-eight patients aged ≤18years with FAC were identified and reviewed. Patients with a prior diagnosis of IBD or chronic colitis in the index biopsies were excluded. Slides were assessed for a number of inflammatory criteria. Clinical data and final diagnoses were recorded. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations and Fisher\u27s exact χ2 analyses. Sixteen patients (24%) had a final diagnosis of IBD. When cases with terminal ileal (TI) inflammation were excluded, 6 of 54 patients had a final diagnosis of IBD (11%). A final diagnosis of IBD was significantly associated with crypt abscesses and elevated serum inflammatory markers. IBD was significantly associated with TI inflammation. An amount or pattern of inflammation that could be used to predict IBD was not determined. This study demonstrated a 24% rate of IBD in pediatric patients with FAC; however, when patients with associated TI inflammation were excluded, the rate was 11%, similar to reported rates in adults. FAC in pediatric patients without terminal ileal inflammation does not appear to warrant more aggressive follow-up