Postprocessing for skin detection

Skin detectors play a crucial role in many applications: face localization, person tracking, objectionable content screening, etc. Skin detection is a complicated process that involves not only the development of apposite classifiers but also many ancillary methods, including techniques for data preprocessing and postprocessing. In this paper, a new postprocessing method is described that learns to select whether an image needs the application of various morphological sequences or a homogeneity function. The type of postprocessing method selected is learned based on categorizing the image into one of eleven predetermined classes. The novel postprocessing method presented here is evaluated on ten datasets recommended for fair comparisons that represent many skin detection applications. The results show that the new approach enhances the performance of the base classifiers and previous works based only on learning the most appropriate morphological sequences

FRI0191 CRANIAL-LIMITED AND LARGE-VESSEL GIANT CELL ARTERITIS: PRESENTING FEATURES AND OUTCOME

Background:Giant cell arteritis (GCA) comprises two main phenotypes: cranial (C) and large-vessel (LV) disease1. A full baseline steroid-free vascular imaging evaluation is required to properly diagnose LV involvement2Objectives:To compare presenting and prognostic features of LV-GCA and C-GCA patients after an adequate vascular imaging evaluation at baselineMethods:Data from GCA patients followed-up at our Institution were retrospectively collected. Only patients who underwent large-vessel imaging (PET, CTA, MRA) at disease onset or within 1 week after steroid introduction were included. Patients with evidence of LV involvement were classified as LV-GCA. Differences between LV-GCA and C-GCA patients regarding presenting features, treatment, prognosis were evaluated. Non-parametric tests were usedResults:In our cohort, we identified 161/280 patients who underwent LV-imaging study at baseline. Of these, 100 (62.1%) had signs of LV inflammation. Table 1 compares demographic features, diagnostic delay, pre-existing comorbidities and complementary treatment between the 2 groups. Table 2 compares disease features at diagnosis. Mean follow-up was similar between LV- and C-GCA patients (31.8±31.8 vs 27.8±29.1 months; 70% vs 73.8% followed-up ≥12 months). Corrected cumulative prednisone dose (CCPD, grams/months) was equivalent (LV, 0.67±0.57; C, 0.87±1.37; p=0.871). A DMARD was added in 73% of LV- and in 55.7% of C-GCA patients (p=0.027), but, notably, it was introduced at baseline in 52% of LV- vs 23.5% of C-GCA patients (p=0.006). CCPD was equivalent even considering only patients who did not receive DMARDs (LV, 0.92±0.81; C, 0.94±1.18; p=0.522). Frequency of relapses was not significantly different (LV, 51%; C, 57.3%, p=0.515), even when considering only DMARD-receiving patients (LV, 36.1%; C, 38.2%, p=0.833). Aortic aneurysms incidence at 5 years was similar (LV, 17.3%; C, 15.7%; p=0.826). Rate of metabolic and infective complications was similar, in terms of arterial hypertension (LV, 3%; C, 0%, p=0.286), diabetes (2% vs 0%, p=0.524), osteoporotic fractures (7% vs 5%, p=0.742), severe infections (3% vs 3.3%, p=1)Table 1.Demographic features, diagnostic delay, pre-existing comorbidities, and complementary treatment at baseline in LV and C-GCA patientsLV imaging +n=100 (%)LV imaging-n=61 (%)p-valueAge (years)73.2 ± 8.976 ± 8.80.018Sex (female)65 (65)40 (65)1Diagnostic delay (months)3.5 ± 4.62.3 ± 4.90.001Pre-existing comorbidities- CAD3 (3)7 (11.5)0.043- Diabetes4 (4)6 (9.8)0.181- Dyslipidemia17 (17)17 (27.9)0.114- Hypertension42 (42)34 (55.7)0.105- Stroke3 (3)3 (5)0.674- Cancer20 (20)6 (9.8)0.122Ongoing complementary treatment- Antiplatelet18 (18)15 (25)0.322- Anticoagulant1 (1)6 (9.8)0.012- Statin14 (14)14 (23)0.198Table 2.Diseases features at onset in LV and C-GCA patientsLV imaging +n=100 (%)LV imaging-n=61 (%)p-valueTemporal biopsy positive17/31 (55)9(43)0.573Symptoms- Headache65 (65)52 (85)0.006- Jaw claudication22 (22)20 (32.8)0.142- Scalp tenderness31 (31)26 (42.6)0.174- Ocular symptoms14 (14)20 (32.8)0.006- Ischemic optic neuropathy7 (7)17 (27.9)<0.001- Stroke3 (3)0 (0)0.290- Polymyalgia rheumatica42 (42)31 (50.8)0.328- Fever44 (44)12 (19.7)0.002- Fatigue72 (72)21 (34.4)<0.001- Weight loss37 (37)7 (11.5)<0.001- Cough10 (10)1 (1.6)0.053Laboratory findings, mean- C-reactive protein, mg/L80.8 ± 60.865.7 ± 58.20.057- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate76.8 ± 3071.5 ± 270.360- Hemoglobin, g/dL11.4 ± 1.512 ± 1.60.007- Platelet count389.4 ± 116.6366.8 ± 125.20.758Conclusion:LV-GCA patients are younger and suffer of a greater diagnostic delay. Although a greater systemic inflammation seems to be a feature of LV-GCA patients, the vascular prognosis is similar to C-GCA patients, who, conversely, have a greater incidence of ocular complicationsReferences:[1]Dejaco C, et al. Nat Rev Rheumatol (2017)[2]Kermani T, et al. Rheumatology (2019)Disclosure of Interests:Alessandro Tomelleri: None declared, Corrado Campochiaro Speakers bureau: Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, GSK, SOBI, Silvia Sartorelli: None declared, Nicola Farina: None declared, Elena Baldissera Speakers bureau: Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Alpha Sigma, Sanofi, Lorenzo Dagna Grant/research support from: Abbvie, BMS, Celgene, Janssen, MSD, Mundipharma Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, SG, SOBI, Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, SG, and SOB

Benford's law: what does it say on adversarial images?

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are fragile to small perturbations in the input images. These networks are thus prone to malicious attacks that perturb the inputs to force a misclassification. Such slightly manipulated images aimed at deceiving the classifier are known as adversarial images. In this work, we investigate statistical differences between natural images and adversarial ones. More precisely, we show that employing a proper image transformation and for a class of adversarial attacks, the distribution of the leading digit of the pixels in adversarial images deviates from Benford's law. The stronger the attack, the more distant the resulting distribution is from Benford's law. Our analysis provides a detailed investigation of this new approach that can serve as a basis for alternative adversarial example detection methods that do not need to modify the original CNN classifier neither work on the raw high-dimensional pixels as features to defend against attacks

FRI0506 EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF CANAKINUMAB IN ADULT-ONSET STILL'S DISEASE: A SINGLE-CENTER REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE

Background:The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 has a central role in the pathogenesis of adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), a rare auto-inflammatory condition. Anakinra, has been for years the cornerstone of IL-1-blocking therapy in AOSD. More recently, the monoclonal antibody canakinumab, a new agent blocking IL-1, has become availableObjectives:To describe our real-life experience with CNK in a cohort of AOSD patients from a single Italian CenterMethods:AOSD patients diagnosed according to Yamaguchi's criteria followed-up at our Autoinflammatory Unit and treated with CNK for at least 3 months were included. Demographic features, disease characteristics, reasons for CNK introduction, concomitant therapies, variation in systemic steroids dose, adverse events, and response to treatment were retrospectively evaluated. Non-parametric tests were used for statistical comparisonResults:13 patients (5 women; median age 49 years, range 21-74), treated with subcutaneous CNK 4 mg/kg 4-weekly, were identified. Median disease duration before CNK introduction was 12 (6-240) months. After CNK introduction, 2 patients were followed-up for 18 months, 3 for 12 months, 6 for 6 months, 2 for 3 months. CNK was introduced as first-line biologic DMARD in 6 patients. The other 7 patients had been already treated with at least one other bDMARD, for a total of 15 treatment courses (7, anakinra, ANK; 4, tocilizumab; 4, TNF-inhibitors), with a median bDMARD therapy duration of 8 (4-178) months. Previous bDMARDs had been interrupted because of inefficacy (8 cases) or adverse events (AE, 7 cases); of the 7 ANK-treated patients, therapy interruption was due to inefficacy in 3 cases. At CNK introduction, 11 patients were on systemic steroid therapy, prednisone (PDN) equivalent dose 15 (5-80) mg, and 10 were concomitantly receiving a conventional DMARD (7, methotrexate; 2, colchicine; 1, cyclosporine-A).Graphic 1summarizes main clinical features at CNK introduction. After CNK start, a striking and rapid clinical response was observed, as demonstrated by a substantial decrease of modified Pouchot score and a normalization of acute phase reactants after only 3 months (see Table 1 for details). CNK showed also a significant steroid-sparing effect: median PDN dose was reduced to 7.5 (2.5-12.5) mg at month 3 and 5 (0-7.5) mg at month 6; PDN was stopped in 3 patients (1 at month 3, 1 at month 6, 1 at month 12) due to optimal disease control. CNK was temporarily held-off in 3 patients (zoster reactivation, 1; prostatitis, 1; mild leukopenia, 1). We observed no case of primary inefficacyTable 1.Disease activity and blood tests at canakinumab introduction and during follow-upDaily prednisone dosemgBaseline(n=13)3 months(n=13)6 months(n=11)12 months(n=5)18 months(n=2)Pouchot score15 (5-80)7.5 (2.5-12.5)5 (0-7.5)5 (0-7.5)2.5VAS pain3 (2-5)1 (0-2)0 (0-1)00Erythrocyte sedimentation ratemm/h7 (2-10)3 (1-8)2 (1-4)1 (1-2)1C-reactive proteinmg/L42 (8-120)21 (2-69)13 (2-55)14 (2-41)11Ferritinng/mL20.8 (3-180)3.1 (0.5-22.5)1.6 (0.5-8.4)1 (0.3-6.3)0.5Hemoglobing/dL379.5 (161-914)282 (82-552)215 (34-464)177 (77-401)19913.1 (9.4-15.7)13.2 (10.7-15.3)13.8 (11.5-15.5)13.9 (11.3-14.3)13.5Figure 1.Graphic 1 Main clinical features at canakinumab introductionConclusion:Our real-life data confirm that CNK is highly effective and safe in AOSD treatment and has significant steroid-sparing effects. CNK showed its efficacy both as first-line therapy and after other bDMARDs failure, also in patients who have previously failed IL-1 inhibition through ANKReferences:[1] Cavalli G, et al. Treating rheumatological diseases and co-morbidities with interleukin-1 blocking therapies. Rheumatology (2015)[2] Cavalli G, et al. Efficacy of Canakinumab as First-Line Biologic Agent in Adult-Onset Still's Disease. Arthritis Res Ther (2019)Disclosure of Interests:Alessandro Tomelleri: None declared, Corrado Campochiaro Speakers bureau: Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, GSK, SOBI, Giacomo De Luca Speakers bureau: SOBI, Novartis, Celgene, Pfizer, MSD, Nicola Farina: None declared, Elena Baldissera Speakers bureau: Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Alpha Sigma, Sanofi, Giulio Cavalli Speakers bureau: SOBI, Novartis, Pfizer, Lorenzo Dagna Grant/research support from: Abbvie, BMS, Celgene, Janssen, MSD, Mundipharma Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, SG, SOBI, Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, SG, and SOB

Fibra em Gramíneas Forrageiras Tropicais.

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Using of essential oils in the treatment of mice infected with Trypanosoma evansi

Objective. This study aimed to test the effectiveness of copaiba, andiroba and aroeira essential oils for controlling trypanosomosis by Trypanosoma evansi with mice as experimental model. Materials and methods. Sixty-six mice were divided into eleven groups (A to L) with six animals each. Group A was the unique composed by healthy and uninfected animals (negative control). Animals in groups B to L were inoculated with 0.1 mL of blood containing 2.7 x 106 trypanosomes. Group B was used as a positive control without treatment. In experiment were tested copaiba (C, D and E), andiroba (F, G and H) and aroeira (I, J and L) oils at doses of 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 mL kg-1 to infected mice (T. evansi). Results. These protocols did not provide curative efficacy; however, the mice treated with highest dose of copaiba showed a significant increase in the longevity when compared others groups. Conclusions. Previously in our studies, these essential oils have shown trypanocidal activity in vitro, but when they were tested in vivo in mice infected with T. evansi, this trypanocidal activity, or the curative effect was not found, being only able to prolong the lifespan of the animals treated with copaiba oil

In vitro effect of seven essential oils on the reproduction of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus

AbstractThe acaricidal effect of seven essential oils was examined in vitro against the cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus). Engorged female ticks were manually collected in farms of Southern Brazil and placed into petri dishes (n=10) in order to test the following oils: juniper (Juniperus communis), palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii), cedar (Cedrus atlantica), lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), ginger (Zingiber officinale), geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) and bergamot (Citrus aurantium var bergamia) at concentrations of 1%, 5%, and 10% each. A control group was used to validate the tests containing Triton X-100 only. Treatment effectiveness was measured considering inhibition of tick oviposition (partial or total), egg’s weight, and hatchability. C. martinii, C. citratus and C. atlantica essential oils showed efficacy higher than 99% at all concentrations tested. In addition, J. communis, Z. officinale, P. graveolens, and C. aurantium var bergamia oils showed efficiency ranging from 73% to 95%, depending on the concentration tested, where higher concentrations showed greater efficacy. It was concluded that essential oils can affect tick reproduction in vitro by inhibiting oviposition and hatchability

RESVERATROL INCLUSION COMPLEX WITH β-CYCLODEXTRIN (RCD): CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF TOXICITY IN WISTAR RATS

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterise the resveratrol inclusion complex with β-cyclodextrin (RCD) and evaluate their toxicity in wistar rats.Methods: The RCD were prepared in ultra-turrax. For characterization of the RCD were used: Fourier transform infra-red Spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction. The RCD and others 4 treatments were performed by the chronic oral administration in 35 rats during 60 ds. After the treatments they were euthanized and the serum blood were collected to analyzed some hemogram and biochemical parameters including aspartyl aminotransferase (AST); alanine aminotransferase (AST); phosphatase alkaline (ALP); total bilirubin (TB); direct bilirubin (DB); total protein (TP); total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), calcium, iron and phosphate using fully automated biochemistry analyzer.Results: The characterization results indicated a successful formation of the RCD. All hematological parameters analysed were within the normal values in all the groups. Furthermore, the hemogram and biochemical parameters were significantly (P&gt;0.05) similar to the control group.Conclusion: The daily oral administration during 60 d of RCD are not harmful on blood parameters of Wistar rats. Thus, RCD can be used safely for treatment of some metabolic diseases