Performance and Analysis of a U-Net Model for Automated Skin Lesion Segmentation

A greater proportion of people are affected by skin cancer, particularly melanoma, which has a higher tendency to metastasize. For Dermatologist, Visual inspections are most challenging & complex task for melanoma detection. To solve this problem, dermoscopic images are analyzed and segmented. Due to the sensitivity involved in surgical operations, existing techniques are unable to achieve higher accuracy. As a result, computer-aided systems are essential to detect & segment dermoscopic images.     In this paper, for segmentation 5000 skin images were taken from the HAM10000 dataset. Prior to segmentation, preprocessing is done by resizing images. A novel U Net structure is a fully convolutional network is presented & implemented using up-sampling and down-sampling technique with Rectified Linear Units (ReLU) for activation functions. The outcomes of proposed methodology shows performance improvement for skin-lesion segmentation with 94.7 % pixel accuracy & 89.2 % dice coefficient compared with existing KNN & SVM techniques

Gab Adapter Proteins as Therapeutic Targets for Hematologic Disease

The Grb-2 associated binder (Gab) family of scaffolding/adaptor/docking proteins is a group of three molecules with significant roles in cytokine receptor signaling. Gabs possess structural motifs for phosphorylation-dependent receptor recruitment, Grb2 binding, and activation of downstream signaling pathways through p85 and SHP-2. In addition, Gabs participate in hematopoiesis and regulation of immune response which can be aberrantly activated in cancer and inflammation. The multifunctionality of Gab adapters might suggest that they would be too difficult to consider as candidates for “targeted” therapy. However, the one drug/one target approach is giving way to the concept of one drug/multiple target approach since few cancers are addicted to a single signaling molecule for survival and combination drug therapies can be problematic. In this paper, we cover recent findings on Gab multi-functionality, binding partners, and their role in hematological malignancy and examine the concept of Gab-targeted therapy

The Dictators’ Digital Dilemma: When Do States Disconnect Their Digital Networks?

When do governments decide to interfere with the Internet, and why? While many observers celebrate the creative use of digital media by activists and civil society leaders, there are a significant number of incidents involving government-led Internet shutdowns. Governments have offered a range of reasons for interfering with digital networks, employed many tactics, and experienced both costs and benefits in doing so.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117569/1/2011_Howard-Agarwal-Hussain_Brookings.pd

Ethnomedicinal Plants Used for Oral Health in Ramshehar Tehsil of District Solan, Himachal Pradesh

The present study was conducted in the Ramshehar tehsil of district Solan (H.P.) to record and compile the traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge used by the local inhabitants for oral health care. A total of 40 ethnomedicinal plants belonging to 25 families were reported from the study area. Direct interviews, group discussions, and pre-tested questionnaires from the respondents were used in the documentation of data. Most of the plant species reported from the study area belong to Fabaceae and Moraceae (4 species each), followed by the Euphorbiaceae, Lamiaceae and Rutaceae (3 species each). Maximum plant species collected from the study area were trees (50%), followed by shrubs (35%), herbs (12%) and climbers (3%). The twigs (34%) were the most used plant parts followed by leaves (18%) and latex (14%) for oral health care

Traditional Psychoacoustic Model and Daubechies Wavelets for Enhanced Speech Coder Performance

Speech compression techniques based on traditional psychoacoustic model have been proposed by many researchers. We have suggested Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) supported by the same psychoacoustic model for speech compression. This paper presents a traditional psychoacoustic model to process equal partitions of total bandwidth spectrum of audio signal frequency to reduce redundancy by filtering out the tones and noise masker in speech signal. Here, the uniform filter banks are used for efficient computations and selection of appropriate threshold level for better compression of Discrete Wavelet Transformed coefficients. Daubechies wavelet filter bank is a nonlinear and asymmetric wavelet filter bank. It is equivalent to cochlear filter of human hearing system. The resemblance between Daubechies Filter Bank and our hearing system is used to develop the novel speech coder. Results have shown better performance in terms of compression factor (CF) and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) as compare to the methods suggested earlier

Maternal factors associated with low birth weight babies

Background: To identify and evaluate various maternal factors associated with low birth weight babies delivered at term and to find out prevalence of LBW babies delivered at term at Dhiraj hospital.Methods: A single arm cross-sectional observational study was conducted in obstetrics & gynaecology department of Dhiraj Hospital, from June 2021 to December 2021. A total 250 patients fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled. Data was collected from the labour room register statistics as reference for comparison. Maternal factors like-maternal age, parity, anemia, booking status, pregnancy induced hypertension, ante-natal iron and protein supplements, tobacco addiction, placenta previa, gender of newborn etc were studied. Data were analyzed with the help of chi-square test and were also presented by visual diagrams.Results: From the study, the prevalence of LBW at term in Dhiraj hospital was around 22.36%. Out of 250 in sample group, 63.6% mothers were anemic. Almost over 50% mothers with LBW had not taken regular iron supplements. Around 67% mothers not adequately visited (4 antenatal visits) hospital during antenatal period. Primipara mothers (58%) associated more with LBW babies than Multipara (42%). Pregnancy induced hypertension and placenta previa significantly affects birth weight. Around 30% LBW show maternal history of tobacco addiction.Conclusions: Although the prevalence of LBW in India has declined over the past decade, it remains still high. Anemia is the most important modifiable factors contributing birth weight. Iron and Protein supplementation need to be attention to prevent LBW. A comprehensive global strategy is required to reduce LBW which must include multiple elements: improving maternal status, treating PIH (or other associated condition), and providing adequate maternal care

IS DOSE TITRATION REQUIRED FOR ANTIHYPERTENSIVE AGENTS IN GERIATRIC DIABETIC PATIENTS?

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the antihypertensive drug usage and dosage differences between geriatric and non-geriatric diabetics with reference to the duration of hypertension and creatinine clearance (Crcl).Methods: In this observational study, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were grouped into geriatric (age ≥60 years) and non-geriatric (age <60 years). Patients' demographic data, duration of hypertension, drugs prescribed, and serum creatinine were recorded after the patients had a stabilized antihypertensive dose for 6 months. Crcl was calculated using Cockcroft–Gault formula. The dosages of antihypertensives were converted into equivalent doses for easy comparison within a group. For angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), enalapril was considered as prototype, and for angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) losartan, beta-blocker atenolol, and calcium channel blockers (CCBs), amlodipine was considered as prototype. Univariate analysis was done for comparison of drug doses between groups.Results: A total of 336 diabetics with hypertension were included, of which 252 were geriatric and 84 non-geriatric. Duration of hypertension was expectedly longer in the geriatric group (8.40±7.26 vs. 5.46±5.67; p=0.001). Systolic blood pressure was higher in geriatrics (137.14±13.51 vs. 133.38±12.49; p=0.01). When adjusted for the duration of hypertension and Crcl, there were no significant differences in the mean converted equivalent doses of beta-blockers, CCBs, ARBs, and hydrochlorothiazide between geriatrics and non-geriatrics. However, statistically significant lower converted equivalent doses of all ACEIs were needed in geriatrics compared to non-geriatrics, when adjusted for duration of hypertension and Crcl. Enalapril required 20.57% and ramipril required 18.36% dose reduction in geriatrics compared to non-geriatrics.Conclusion: A 20% dosage reduction is needed for ACEIs in the elderly

An evaluation of the utility of routine laboratory monitoring of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): a retrospective review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>No consensus evidence-based guidelines for the routine laboratory monitoring of children with JIA receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) exist. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical utility of routine laboratory monitoring of hemoglobin, transaminases, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and urinalysis in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) receiving NSAIDs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The medical records of 91 children with JIA followed between 1996 and 2006 were retrospectively reviewed for laboratory results and clinically significant adverse effects attributed to NSAID use. Laboratory abnormalities were documented, with potential adverse clinical sequelae, including if NSAID use was discontinued.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Abnormal laboratory results were recorded for 24 of 91 patients. Nearly all abnormalities were mild and not associated with adverse clinical sequelae. All patients but one continued to receive NSAID therapy after the abnormality was detected.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although detection of abnormal laboratory values occurred while on NSAIDs, these abnormalities did not correlate with adverse clinical signs and symptoms. The routine monitoring of laboratory tests in asymptomatic children treated with NSAIDs is of questionable utility.</p

The Role of Tobacco, Alcohol, and Obesity in Neoplastic Progression to Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: A Prospective Study of Barrett's Esophagus

Background: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) incidence in many developed countries has increased dramatically over four decades, while survival remains poor. Persons with Barrett's esophagus (BE), who experience substantially elevated EA risk, are typically followed in surveillance involving periodic endoscopy with biopsies, although few progress to EA. No medical, surgical or lifestyle interventions have been proven to safely lower EA risk. Design: We investigated whether smoking, obesity or alcohol could predict progression to EA in a prospective cohort of 411 BE patients. Data were collected during personal interview. Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) were estimated using Cox regression. Results: 39% had body mass index (BMI) over 30 and 64% had smoked cigarettes. Main analyses focused on those with at least 5 months of follow-up (33,635 person-months), in whom 45 developed EA. Risk increased by 3% per year of age (trend p-value 0.02), with approximate doubling of risk among males. EA risk increased with smoking pack-years (trend p-value 0.04) and duration (p-value 0.05). Compared to never-smokers, the HR for those in the highest pack-year tertile was 2.29 (95%CI 1.04–5.07). No association was found with alcohol or BMI, whereas a suggestion of increased risk was observed in those with higher waist-hip ratio, especially among males. Conclusion: EA risk significantly increased with increasing age and cigarette exposure. Abdominal obesity, but not BMI, was associated with a modest increased risk. Continued follow-up of this and other cohorts is needed to precisely define these relationships so as to inform risk stratification and preventive interventions