Lung nodule segmentation in computed tomography image

The key process to detect the Lung cancer is the critical observation on the CT scan images where the visual inspection carefully analysis the geometrical features of blob shaped objects found inside the lung region. This traditional approach becomes tedious for the clinical experts when analyzing large amount of CT images and courses to introduce error in the prediction of the cancer nodules. Further the detection of blobs touching the inner wall of the chest is very challenging task and most of the proposed methods are time consuming due to the complex architecture of the algorithms. Therefore, in this paper a computer vision solution is proposed to automatically localize the lung nodules and to overcome the difficulties found in the earlier methods. Experimentation is conducted on CT scan data and shows promising results in the localization of the lung nodules

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome in North Queensland - a case controlled review of clinical and molecular determinants

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) is an uncommon but important complication of invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) disease. A number of clinical risk factors and molecular markers have been linked with STSS. We report here a case controlled review looking specifically at cases of STSS from North Queensland, between 1996 and 2005. All isolates obtained were cultured from sterile sites. Of these, there were 25 cases which fulfilled the criteria for STSS. These were matched for age, sex and ethnicity with 31 cases of invasive GAS without STSS. Indigenous patients represented 16% of the group. Mortality was significantly higher (28%) in the STSS group. Necrotising fasciitis and an elevated serum creatinine on admission were significantly associated with STSS. There was no significant difference in the presence of risk factors or mean total white cell count in both groups. There was also no significant difference in the presence of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins a, c, g, h and ssa, prtF1, mean internalization efficiency, biotypes or emm types, in isolates involved. Although not statistically significant, there was a trend for prtF2 to be associated with STSS

Q Fever awareness and risk profiles among agricultural show attendees

Funding: Research activities were supported, in part, by the University of New England Faculty of Medicine and Health Discretionary Funds. Open access publishing facilitated by University of New England, as part of the Wiley ‐ University of New England agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.Objective : To assess awareness and risk of Q fever among agricultural show attendees.  Setting : University of New England's Farm of the Future Pavilion, 2019, Sydney Royal Agricultural Show.  Participants : Participants were ≥18 years, fluent in English, Australian residents, and gave their informed consent.  Main Outcome Measures : Participants reported whether they had ever heard of Q fever and then completed the ‘Q Tool’ (www.qfevertool.com), which was used to assess participants' demographics and risk profiles. Cross-tabulations and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between these factors.  Results : A total of 344 participants were recruited who, in general, lived in major NSW cities and were aged 40–59 years. 62% were aware of Q fever. Living in regional/remote areas and regular contact with livestock, farms, abattoirs and/or feedlots increased the likelihood of Q fever awareness. Direct or indirect contact with feral animals was not associated with Q fever awareness after controlling for the latter risk factors. 40% of participants had a high, 21% a medium, and 30% a low risk of exposure. Slightly less than 10% reported a likely existing immunity or vaccination against Q fever. Among those who were not immune, living in a regional or remote area and Q fever awareness were independently associated with increased likelihood of exposure.  Conclusions : Awareness of Q fever was relatively high. Although 61% of participants had a moderate to high risk of exposure to Q fever, they had not been vaccinated. This highlights the need to explore barriers to vaccination including accessibility of providers and associated cost.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

The Burkholderia pseudomallei intracellular 'TRANSITome'

Prokaryotic cell transcriptomics has been limited to mixed or sub-population dynamics and individual cells within heterogeneous populations, which has hampered further understanding of spatiotemporal and stage-specific processes of prokaryotic cells within complex environments. Here we develop a 'TRANSITomic' approach to profile transcriptomes of single Burkholderia pseudomallei cells as they transit through host cell infection at defined stages, yielding pathophysiological insights. We find that B. pseudomallei transits through host cells during infection in three observable stages: vacuole entry; cytoplasmic escape and replication; and membrane protrusion, promoting cell-to-cell spread. The B. pseudomallei 'TRANSITome' reveals dynamic gene-expression flux during transit in host cells and identifies genes that are required for pathogenesis. We find several hypothetical proteins and assign them to virulence mechanisms, including attachment, cytoskeletal modulation, and autophagy evasion. The B. pseudomallei 'TRANSITome' provides prokaryotic single-cell transcriptomics information enabling high-resolution understanding of host-pathogen interactions

Examination of trafficking of phagocytosed colloid particles in neutrophils using synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM)

Synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) can localise chemical elements at a subcellular level. 99mTechnetium stannous (TcSn) colloid is taken up by phagocytes via a Complement Receptor 3 mediated phagocytic process. In the current study, XFM was used to examine the intracellular trafficking of TcSn colloid in neutrophils. XFM was performed on TcSn colloid, and neutrophils labelled with TcSn colloid, in whole blood. We developed a set of pixel by pixel analysis and mapping techniques incorporating cluster analysis that allowed us to differentiate neutrophils and artefactual contaminants, and we examined the changes in element distribution that accompany neutrophil phagocytosis of TcSn colloid. Sn became associated with half the neutrophils. Within cells, Sn colocalised with iron (Fe) and sulphur (S), and was negatively associated with calcium (Ca). Despite the high sensitivity of XFM, Tc was not detected. XFM can help clarify the intracellular processes that accompany neutrophil phagocytosis. The subcellular colocalisation of Sn with Fe is consistent with fusion of the colloid-containing phagosome with neutrophil granules. The association of Sn with S suggests that proteins rich in S-containing amino acids are present in the phagosome. The negative colocalisation with Ca indicates that ongoing maturation of the TcSn colloid phagosome is no longer calcium dependent one hour after phagocytosis

Il controllo degli acquerelli nel restauro mediante controlli non distruttivi

The C-terminal region of the M-protein of Streptococcus pyogenes is a major target for vaccine development. The major feature is the C-repeat region, consisting of 35-42 amino acid repeat units that display high but not perfect identity. SV1 is a S. pyogenes vaccine candidate that incorporates five 14mer amino acid sequences (called J14i variants) from differing C-repeat units in a single recombinant construct. Here we show that the J14i variants chosen for inclusion in SV1 are the most common variants in a dataset of 176 unique M-proteins. Murine antibodies raised against SV1 were shown to bind to each of the J14i variants present in SV1, as well as variants not present in the vaccine. Antibodies raised to the individual J14i variants were also shown to bind to multiple but different combinations of J14i variants, supporting the underlying rationale for the design of SV1. A Lewis Rat Model of valvulitis was then used to assess the capacity of SV1 to induce deleterious immune response associated with rheumatic heart disease. In this model, both SV1 and the M5 positive control protein were immunogenic. Neither of these antibodies were cross-reactive with cardiac myosin or collagen. Splenic T cells from SV1/CFA and SV1/alum immunized rats did not proliferate in response to cardiac myosin or collagen. Subsequent histological examination of heart tissue showed that 4 of 5 mice from the M5/CFA group had valvulitis and inflammatory cell infiltration into valvular tissue, whereas mice immunised with SV1/CFA, SV1/alum showed no sign of valvulitis. These results suggest that SV1 is a safe vaccine candidate that will elicit antibodies that recognise the vast majority of circulating GAS M-types