A New Smartphone-Based Optic Nerve Head Biometric for Verification and Change Detection

Purpose: Lens adapted smartphones are being used regularly instead of ophthalmoscopes. The most common causes of preventable blindness in the world, which are glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, can develop asymptomatic changes to the optic nerve head (ONH) especially in the developing world where there is a dire shortage of ophthalmologists but ubiquitous mobile phones. We developed a proof-of-concept ONH biometric (application [APP]) to use as a routine biometric on a mobile phone. The unique blood vessel pattern is verified if it maps on to a previously enrolled image. Methods: The iKey APP platform comprises three deep neural networks (DNNs) developed from anonymous ONH images: the graticule blood vessel (GBV) and the blood vessel specific feature (BVSF) DNNs were trained on unique blood vessel vectors. A non-feature specific (NFS) baseline ResNet50 DNN was trained for comparison. Results: Verification reached an accuracy of 97.06% with BVSF, 87.24% with GBV and 79.8% using NFS. Conclusions: A new ONH biometric was developed with a hybrid platform of ONH algorithms for use as a verification biometric on a smartphone. Failure to verify will alert the user to possible changes to the image, so that silent changes may be observed before sight threatening disease progresses. The APP retains a history of all ONH images. Future longitudinal analysis will explore the impact of ONH changes to the iKey biometric platform. Translational Relevance: Phones with iKey will host ONH images for biometric protection of both health and financial data. The ONH may be used for automatic screening by new disease detection DNNs

Optimum imaging strategies for advanced prostate cancer: ASCO guideline

PURPOSE Provide evidence- and expert-based recommendations for optimal use of imaging in advanced prostate cancer. Due to increases in research and utilization of novel imaging for advanced prostate cancer, this guideline is intended to outline techniques available and provide recommendations on appropriate use of imaging for specified patient subgroups. METHODS An Expert Panel was convened with members from ASCO and the Society of Abdominal Radiology, American College of Radiology, Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, American Urological Association, American Society for Radiation Oncology, and Society of Urologic Oncology to conduct a systematic review of the literature and develop an evidence-based guideline on the optimal use of imaging for advanced prostate cancer. Representative index cases of various prostate cancer disease states are presented, including suspected high-risk disease, newly diagnosed treatment-naïve metastatic disease, suspected recurrent disease after local treatment, and progressive disease while undergoing systemic treatment. A systematic review of the literature from 2013 to August 2018 identified fully published English-language systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses, reports of rigorously conducted phase III randomized controlled trials that compared $ 2 imaging modalities, and noncomparative studies that reported on the efficacy of a single imaging modality. RESULTS A total of 35 studies met inclusion criteria and form the evidence base, including 17 systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis and 18 primary research articles. RECOMMENDATIONS One or more of these imaging modalities should be used for patients with advanced prostate cancer: conventional imaging (defined as computed tomography [CT], bone scan, and/or prostate magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) and/or next-generation imaging (NGI), positron emission tomography [PET], PET/CT, PET/MRI, or whole-body MRI) according to the clinical scenario

MicroRNA Regulation of Human Protease Genes Essential for Influenza Virus Replication

Influenza A virus causes seasonal epidemics and periodic pandemics threatening the health of millions of people each year. Vaccination is an effective strategy for reducing morbidity and mortality, and in the absence of drug resistance, the efficacy of chemoprophylaxis is comparable to that of vaccines. However, the rapid emergence of drug resistance has emphasized the need for new drug targets. Knowledge of the host cell components required for influenza replication has been an area targeted for disease intervention. In this study, the human protease genes required for influenza virus replication were determined and validated using RNA interference approaches. The genes validated as critical for influenza virus replication were ADAMTS7, CPE, DPP3, MST1, and PRSS12, and pathway analysis showed these genes were in global host cell pathways governing inflammation (NF-κB), cAMP/calcium signaling (CRE/CREB), and apoptosis. Analyses of host microRNAs predicted to govern expression of these genes showed that eight miRNAs regulated gene expression during virus replication. These findings identify unique host genes and microRNAs important for influenza replication providing potential new targets for disease intervention strategies

RNAi of 5 host protease genes down-regulated influenza virus replication.

<p>A: A549 cells were reverse transfected with 50 nM of siRNA (SMARTpool) specific for the indicated genes (ADAMTS7, CPE, DPP3, MST1, PRSS12). After 48 hours, cytotoxicity was determined by adenylate kinase (AK) release. Cells treated with the siTOX control were considered 100% cytotoxic and all values were normalized to siTOX. RLU = relative luciferase units. * p<0.05 vs siNEG, ** p<0.01 vs siNEG, ***p<0.005 vs siNEG; siTOX vs all samples: p<0.001 (not shown). Line shows 20% of siTOX control. B: A549 cells were reverse transfected with 50 nM of siRNA (SMARTpool) specific for the indicated genes (ADAMTS7, CPE, DPP3, MST1, PRSS12). After 48 hours, cells were infected with A/WSN/33 at an MOI of 0.001. 48 hours post-infection, cells were fixed in 4% formaldehyde and stained with an anti-NP (green) monoclonal antibody followed by counterstain with DAPI (blue.) Positive (+) control: siMEK, negative (−) control: siNEG. Magnification is 20× (bar is 100 microns). C: Cells were transfected with 100 nM of a novel siRNA targeting a different seed site from the SMARTpool used in the primary screen and infected as in B. After 48 hours of infection, cellular supernatant was tested for infectious virus production by a modified TCID₅₀. Data is expressed as TCID₅₀/ml. Data is representative of two independent experiments. (*p<0.05 vs siNEG).</p

RNAi of individual host protease genes down-regulates replication of a clinical influenza isolate.

<p>A549 cells were reverse transfected with 100 nM of the novel siRNA targeting siADAMTS7, siCPE, siDPP3, siMST1, and siPRSS12. After 48 hours, cells were infected with A/New Caledonia/20/99 at an MOI of 0.1 in the presence of 1 ug/ml TPCK-trypsin. After 48 hours of infection, cellular supernatant was tested for infectious virus production by a modified TCID₅₀. Data is expressed as TCID₅₀/ml. Data is representative of two independent experiments. (*p<0.05 vs. siNEG).</p