Integrated Image and Location Analysis for Wound Classification: A Deep Learning Approach

The global burden of acute and chronic wounds presents a compelling case for enhancing wound classification methods, a vital step in diagnosing and determining optimal treatments. Recognizing this need, we introduce an innovative multi-modal network based on a deep convolutional neural network for categorizing wounds into four categories: diabetic, pressure, surgical, and venous ulcers. Our multi-modal network uses wound images and their corresponding body locations for more precise classification. A unique aspect of our methodology is incorporating a body map system that facilitates accurate wound location tagging, improving upon traditional wound image classification techniques. A distinctive feature of our approach is the integration of models such as VGG16, ResNet152, and EfficientNet within a novel architecture. This architecture includes elements like spatial and channel-wise Squeeze-and-Excitation modules, Axial Attention, and an Adaptive Gated Multi-Layer Perceptron, providing a robust foundation for classification. Our multi-modal network was trained and evaluated on two distinct datasets comprising relevant images and corresponding location information. Notably, our proposed network outperformed traditional methods, reaching an accuracy range of 74.79% to 100% for Region of Interest (ROI) without location classifications, 73.98% to 100% for ROI with location classifications, and 78.10% to 100% for whole image classifications. This marks a significant enhancement over previously reported performance metrics in the literature. Our results indicate the potential of our multi-modal network as an effective decision-support tool for wound image classification, paving the way for its application in various clinical contexts

第861回 千葉医学会例会・第1内科教室同門会例会 7.

This article was published in the PLoS ONE [© 2016 Rahman et al.] and the definitive version is available at: http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0161647 The Journal's website is at: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0161647Objectives We evaluated the impact of the Improving Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Survival (IMNCS) project, which is being implemented by BRAC in rural communities in Bangladesh. Methods Four districts received program intervention i.e. trained community health workers to deliver essential maternal, neonatal, and child healthcare and nutrition services while two districts were treated as comparison group. A quasi-experimental study design (compared beforeand-after) was undertaken. Baseline survey was conducted in 2008 among 7200 women followed by end line in 2012 among 4800 women with similar characteristics in the same villages. We evaluated maternal antenatal and post natal checkup, birth plans and delivery, complication and referred cases during antenatal checkup and post natal period, and child health indicators such as birth asphyxia, neonatal sepsis, and its management by the medically trained provider. Findings Increased number (four or more) antenatal visits, skill-birth attended delivery and postnatal visits (three or more) in the intervention group preceding four-year intervention period were observed compare to their counterpart. We noted negative difference-in-difference estimator (-5.0%, P = 0.159) regarding to the all major birth plans i.e. delivery place, birth attendant, and saved money in the comparison areas. Significant reduction of ante-partum and intra-partum complications occurred in the intervention group, contrary complications of such event increased in the comparison areas (-6.3%, P<0.05 and-20.5%, P<0.001 respectively). Referral case to the health centers due to these complications boosted significantly in intervention group than comparison group (2.3%, P<0.01 and 6.6%, P<0.001 respectively). Mother's knowledge of breastfeeding initiation and the practice of initiating breastfeeding within an hour of birth amplified significantly (14.6%, P<0.001 and 8.3%, P<0.001 respectively). We did not find any significant difference regards to the management of low birth weight by the medically trained health care provider and complete vaccination between the intervention and comparison arm. Conclusion Medically trained health care provider assisted community based public health intervention could increase number of antenatal and postnatal visit, thereby could decrease pregnancy associated complications. These interventions may be considered for further up scaling when resources are limited.Publishe

COVID-19 Vaccination Intent and Willingness to Pay in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This article reports the intent to receive a SARS-COV-2 vaccine, its predictors and willingness to pay in Bangladesh. We carried out an online cross-sectional survey of 697 adults from the general population of Bangladesh in January 2021. A structured questionnaire was used to assess vaccination intent. The questionnaire included sociodemographic variables and health belief model constructs which may predict vaccination intent. Among the participants, 26% demonstrated a definite intent, 43% probable intent, 24% probable negative, and 7% a definite negative intention. Multivariable logistic regression analyses suggest an association between definite intent and previous COVID-19 infection (OR: 2.86; 95% CI: 1.71-4.78), perceiving COVID-19 as serious (OR: 1.93; 1.04-3.59), the belief that vaccination would make them feel less worried about catching COVID-19 (OR: 4.42; 2.25-8.68), and concerns about vaccine affordability (OR: 1.51; 1.01-2.25). Individuals afraid of the side effects (OR: 0.34; 0.21-0.53) and those who would take the vaccine if the vaccine were taken by many others (OR: 0.44; 0.29-0.67) are less likely to have a definite intent. A definite negative intent is associated with the concern that the vaccine may not be halal (OR: 2.03; 1.04-3.96). Furthermore, 68.4% are willing to pay for the vaccine. The median amount that they are willing to pay is USD 7.08. The study findings reveal that the definite intent to receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among the general population varies depending on their COVID-19-related health beliefs and no significant association was found with sociodemographic variables

Depression among the Non-Native International Undergraduate Students Studying Dentistry in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Bangladesh has been attracting international students with interests in various subjects recently. Every year students from different parts of the world come to study undergraduate and postgraduate courses, mostly at private universities in Bangladesh. This study evaluates the depression status among international students who are studying dentistry in Bangladesh. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among International undergraduate dental students who enrolled in the Bachelor of Dental Surgery program in nine public and private dental colleges in Bangladesh. Participants were selected using a convenience sampling method. A total of 206 students completed the survey where 78.5% of them were female students and 21.5% students were male, and a CES-D 10-item Likert scale questionnaire was used for data collection. The Cronbach alpha for the 10-item CES-D scale for this population is 0.812. RESULTS: The majority of the students (79.5%) are below 24 years of age with a mean age of 23.22 years and standard deviation of 2.3, and are students who cannot communicate well in Bengali (Bangla), about 60% of them have experienced depression. About 77.3% (p < 0.00) of the international students having financial difficulties exhibited depression. The international students who went through financial problems were two times more likely to suffer from depression (OR = 2.38; p-value < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study tried to highlight the struggles faced by international students in Bangladesh studying dentistry. It is evident from the findings that several factors influence students' mental well-being during demanding dental education years

Microbial Metabolite Signaling Is Required for Systemic Iron Homeostasis

45 Pág.Iron is a central micronutrient needed by all living organisms. Competition for iron in the intestinal tract is essential for the maintenance of indigenous microbial populations and for host health. How symbiotic relationships between hosts and native microbes persist during times of iron limitation is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that indigenous bacteria possess an iron-dependent mechanism that inhibits host iron transport and storage. Using a high-throughput screen of microbial metabolites, we found that gut microbiota produce metabolites that suppress hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF-2α) a master transcription factor of intestinal iron absorption and increase the iron-storage protein ferritin, resulting in decreased intestinal iron absorption by the host. We identified 1,3-diaminopropane (DAP) and reuterin as inhibitors of HIF-2α via inhibition of heterodimerization. DAP and reuterin effectively ameliorated systemic iron overload. This work provides evidence of intestine-microbiota metabolic crosstalk that is essential for systemic iron homeostasis.This work was supported by the NIH, United States (grants CA148828 and DK095201 to Y.M.S. and F31 DK11655 to A.J.S.); the University of Michigan Center for Gastrointestinal Research, United States (DK034933); a pilot grant from the University of Michigan, United States-GI Spore (CA130810 to Y.M.S.); the University of Michigan, United States Microbiome Explorer Program, NIAID, United States Novel Alternative Model Systems for Enteric Diseases (NAMSED) consortium (U19AI116482 to M.K.S., J.R.S. and V.B.Y.); NIAID, United States (U01AI124255 to M.K.S. and V.B.Y.) Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, United States Senior Research Award (410234) to N.I.; Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) from The Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR), United States (UL1TR000433) to D.R.H.; The Pennsylvania Department of Health, United States using Tobacco CURE grant to A.D.P.; and the Spanish Ministry of Science Innovation and Universities, Spain (RTA2017-00002-00-00 to J.L.A.).Peer reviewe

Waterfront Development for Sustainable Urban Planning: A Case Study on Bhairab River, Khulna

Urban waterfronts have inevitable linkage with sustainable urban living. To ensure sustainable urban development, waterfronts of the cities must be considered carefully while planning for an urban area. This study aimed at finding out the existing problems of waterfront areas of Bhairab River in Khulna city and thereby proposes some effective recommendations to improve the condition of the waterfront areas. Moreover, this study aims at pointing out the importance of waterfronts in urban perspective and how they influence urban development in aesthetic and economic issues. Performing questionnaire survey this study collected data on social, economic and environmental factors of influencing or representing the waterfront area (e.g. economic condition, income, savings, housing condition, education level, encroachment, waterlogging). Results of SWOT analysis showed the major strengths, weakness, opportunity and threats of the area. The major strength is the income generated from industries and the weakness is the excessive disposal of industrial wastes. The approved Detailed Area Plan (DAP) 2018 of Khulna Development Authority (KDA) has proposed a well decorated railway and tourist information center. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were carried out to develop a conception about the study area and socio-economic condition of its local people. The study found that waterfront areas in Khulna city face a number of problems (e.g. pollution, waterlogging, encroachment, inadequate recreational facilities). Considering existing condition this study provided some policy recommendation subdividing the study area into five zones to organize existing land use following proper planning standards. Consequently, waterfronts in Khulna city will be attractive places for people and that will contribute to the sustainable development of the city

Microbubbles as Self-Propelling Motors

Self-powered active micro/nanomotors have gained significant research attention in the scientific community due to their unique dynamics and emergent behaviors in response to various external stimuli. In recent years, different prototypes of micro/nanomotors have been investigated extensively for various fundamental studies and useful applications. Enzyme powered motors have emerged as ideal platforms for realizing various biological applications due to their multifunctionality and specificity in operation under complex conditions. However, most enzyme powered motors developed so far suffer from issues pertaining to their integration with biological systems due to retention of their synthetic components. With an aim to design a micromotor completely devoid of non-biological components, the present study reports the fabrication of a catalase driven, bovine serum albumin shelled microbubble motor. In substrate-rich environments, these ‘active’ microbubbles have been found to undergo substrate concentration dependent enhanced diffusion, just like their single enzyme counterparts. Brownian dynamics simulations have also been carried out to estimate the average force generated per catalytic turnover over the motor surface. Interestingly, it was found that these active microbubbles also possess the ability to transfer energy to their surroundings. The experiments were carried out within a three-dimensional setup that offered an advantage over the commonly used quasi two-dimensional systems, as it could enable researchers to probe micro/nanomotor dynamics and associated energy transfer profiles in more in vivo like settings

Influence of protein nativity on the stability of bovine serum albumin coated microbubbles

Summary: Protein-coated microbubbles have become one of the emerging platforms in biomedical research as theranostic agents. In recent years, microbubbles have been extensively used as ultrasound contrast agents and carriers of molecular cargoes, pertaining to which several studies have focused on tuning the properties of these bubbles to achieve a higher degree of biocompatibility and extended stability. Synthesis of microbubbles has so far been traditionally carried out with pre-heated proteins like bovine serum albumin (BSA) as shell coatings, owing to the ease in making BSA crosslinked structures through disulfide bridge formation. We, however, have performed experiments to demonstrate that air core microbubbles formed with native BSA are more stable compared with those formed using denatured BSA. The experimental observations have been supported with analytical modeling and computational studies, which offer insights into the effect of BSA conformation in stabilizing the microbubbles shells and prolonging their lifetimes