Malaria Detection Using Advanced Deep Learning Architecture

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The early diagnosis and treatment of malaria are crucial for reducing morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in developing countries where the disease is prevalent. In this article, we present a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture for detecting malaria from blood samples with a 99.68% accuracy. Our method outperforms the existing approaches in terms of both accuracy and speed, making it a promising tool for malaria diagnosis in resource-limited settings. The CNN was trained on a large dataset of blood smears and was able to accurately classify infected and uninfected samples with high sensitivity and specificity. Additionally, we present an analysis of model performance on different subtypes of malaria and discuss the implications of our findings for the use of deep learning in infectious disease diagnosis

Malaria Detection Using Advanced Deep Learning Architecture

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The early diagnosis and treatment of malaria are crucial for reducing morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in developing countries where the disease is prevalent. In this article, we present a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture for detecting malaria from blood samples with a 99.68% accuracy. Our method outperforms the existing approaches in terms of both accuracy and speed, making it a promising tool for malaria diagnosis in resource-limited settings. The CNN was trained on a large dataset of blood smears and was able to accurately classify infected and uninfected samples with high sensitivity and specificity. Additionally, we present an analysis of model performance on different subtypes of malaria and discuss the implications of our findings for the use of deep learning in infectious disease diagnosis

Electrocardiography versus Echocardiography in Severe Aortic Stenosis with the Consideration of Coexistent Coronary Artery Disease

(1) Background: Coexistent coronary artery disease (CAD) might influence the ability of electrocardiogram (ECG) to identify echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (ECHO-LVH) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). We aimed to assess the relation between ECG–LVH (by the Sokolov–Lyon or Cornell criteria) and ECHO-LVH considering coexistent CAD. (2) Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 74 patients (36 males) with severe AS who were hospitalized in the University Hospital in Cracow from 2021 to 2022. (3) Results: ECHO-LVH was present in 49 (66%) patients, whereas 35 (47.3%) patients had ECG-LVH. There was no difference between the rate of ECG-LVH in patients with vs. without ECHO-LVH. Single-vessel and multi-vessel CAD were diagnosed by invasive coronary angiography in 18% and 11% of patients, respectively. The sensitivity of the classical ECG-LVH criteria with regard to ECHO-LVH was low, reaching at best 41% for the Sokolov–Lyon and Cornell criteria. The results were similar and lacked a pattern when considering patients without significant stenosis, with single- and multi-vessel disease separately. Correlations between the left ventricular mass index and ECG-derived parameters were weak and present solely for the Lewis index (r = 0.31), R wave’s amplitude >1.1 mV in aVL (r = 0.36), as well as the Cornell (r = 0.32) and Sokolov–Lyon (r = 0.31) voltage criteria (p (4) Conclusions: The sensitivity of classical ECG criteria for echocardiographic LVH in severe AS is low, regardless of coexistent CAD or its angiographic extent

Experience with optical coherence tomography enhanced by a novel software (Ultreon<SUP>™</SUP> 1.0 Software) - the first one hundred cases

Introduction: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) intravascular imaging including the latest version Ultreon™ 1.0 Software (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA, USA), not only improve patients prognosis, but also facilitates improved percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare procedure related decision making, procedural indices, clinical outcomes according to the extent of stent expansion and assess risk factors of underexpansion in patients treated with PCI using OCT. Methods: The study comprised 100 patients, which were divided in groups according to the extent of stent expansion: <90 (29 patients) and ≥90% (71 patients). Comparison of OCT parameters, selected clinical and procedural characteristics was performed between groups. We assessed clinical outcomes during the follow-up: major adverse cardiovascular events and risk factors of stent underexpansion. Results: Patients from the stent underexpansion group were treated more often in the past with percutaneous peripheral interventions (p = 0.02), no other significant differences being noted in general characteristics, procedural characteristics or clinical outcomes comparing both groups. Significant predictors of stent underexpansion assessed by simple linear univariable analysis included: hypercholesterolemia, obstructive bronchial diseases and treatment with inhalators, family history of cardiovascular disease, PCI of other than the left main coronary artery, stent and drug-eluting stent implantation, PCI without drug-eluting balloon, paclitaxel antimitotic agent, greater maximal stent diameter and lower mean Euroscore II value. Univariable logistic regression analysis revealed a correlation between stent underexpansion and greater creatinine serum concentration before [OR: 0.97, 95%CI: 0.95–0.99, p = 0.01)] and after PCI [OR: 0.98, 95%CI: 0.96–0.99, p = 0.02)]. Conclusions: Based on the presented analysis, the degree of stent expansion is not related to the selected procedural, OCT imaging indices and clinical outcomes. Logistic regression analysis confirmed such a relationship for creatinine level

Procedure-related differences and clinical outcomes in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention assisted by optical coherence tomography between new and earlier generation software (Ultreon™ 1.0 software vs. AptiVue™ software)

(1) Introduction: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) intravascular imaging facilitates percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Software for OCT is being constantly improved, including the latest version Ultreon™ 1.0 Software (U) (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA, USA). In the current analysis, we aim to compare processing results, procedural indices as well as clinical outcomes in patients treated via PCI. This was conducted using earlier generation OCT imaging software versions (non-U) and the newest available one on the market (U). (2) Methods: The study comprised 95 subsequent and not selected patients (55 processed with U and 40 non-U). The non-U processings were transferred for evaluation by U software, while the comparison of OCT parameters, selected clinical and procedural indices was performed between groups. We further assessed clinical outcomes during the follow-up period, i.e., major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and predictors of stent expansion. (3) Results: We did not detect any differences in general features between either of the assessed groups at baseline. Non-U software was more often used for bare-metal stenting (p = 0.004), while PCIs in the U group demanded a greater number of stents (p = 0.03). The distal reference of external elastic lamina (EEL) diameter was greater in the non-U group (p = 0.02) with no concurrent differences in minimal (p = 0.27) and maximal (p = 0.31) stent diameter. It was also observed that MACE was more frequently observed in the non-U group (p = 0.01). Neither univariable (estimate: 0.407, 95%CI: (−3.182) − 3.998, p = 0.82) nor multivariable (estimate: 2.29, 95%CI: (−4.207) − 8.788, p = 0.5) analyses demonstrated a relationship between the type of software and stent expansion. (4) Conclusions: Improvement in the software for image acquisition and processing of OCT is not related to stent expansion. The EEL diameter is preferably used to select the distal stent diameter in newer software

Implementation of Microcirculation Examination in Clinical Practice—Insights from the Nationwide POL-MKW Registry

Background and Objectives: The assessment of coronary microcirculation may facilitate risk stratification and treatment adjustment. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients’ clinical presentation and treatment following coronary microcirculation assessment, as well as factors associated with an abnormal coronary flow reserve (CFR) and index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) values. Materials and Results: This retrospective analysis included 223 patients gathered from the national registry of invasive coronary microvascular testing collected between 2018 and 2023. Results: The frequency of coronary microcirculatory assessments in Poland has steadily increased since 2018. Patients with impaired IMR (≥25) were less burdened with comorbidities. Patients with normal IMR underwent revascularisation attempts more frequently (11.9% vs. 29.8%, p = 0.003). After microcirculation testing, calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were added more often for patients with IMR and CFR abnormalities, respectively, as compared to control groups. Moreover, patients with coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD, defined as CFR and/or IMR abnormality), regardless of treatment choice following microcirculation assessment, were provided with trimetazidine (23.2%) and dihydropyridine CCBs (26.4%) more frequently than those without CMD who were treated conservatively (6.8%) and by revascularisation (4.2% with p = 0.002 and 0% with p Conclusions: The frequency of coronary microcirculatory assessments in Poland has steadily increased. Angina symptoms were not associated with either IMR or CFR impairment. After microcirculation assessment, patients with impaired microcirculation, expressed as either low CFR, high IMR or both, received additional pharmacotherapy treatment more often