Lung Cancer Detection Using Image Segmentation by means of Various Evolutionary Algorithms

The objective of this paper is to explore an expedient image segmentation algorithm for medical images to curtail the physicians’ interpretation of computer tomography (CT) scan images. Modern medical imaging modalities generate large images that are extremely grim to analyze manually. The consequences of segmentation algorithms rely on the exactitude and convergence time. At this moment, there is a compelling necessity to explore and implement new evolutionary algorithms to solve the problems associated with medical image segmentation. Lung cancer is the frequently diagnosed cancer across the world among men. Early detection of lung cancer navigates towards apposite treatment to save human lives. CT is one of the modest medical imaging methods to diagnose the lung cancer. In the present study, the performance of five optimization algorithms, namely, k-means clustering, k-median clustering, particle swarm optimization, inertia-weighted particle swarm optimization, and guaranteed convergence particle swarm optimization (GCPSO), to extract the tumor from the lung image has been implemented and analyzed. The performance of median, adaptive median, and average filters in the preprocessing stage was compared, and it was proved that the adaptive median filter is most suitable for medical CT images. Furthermore, the image contrast is enhanced by using adaptive histogram equalization. The preprocessed image with improved quality is subject to four algorithms. The practical results are verified for 20 sample images of the lung using MATLAB, and it was observed that the GCPSO has the highest accuracy of 95.89%

Integrating CDS/ISIS Databases with Greenstone Digital Library Software (GSDL)

CDS/ISIS is an advanced non-numerical information storage and retrieval software developed by UNESCO since 1985 to satisfy the need expressed by many institutions, especially in developing countries, to be able to streamline their information processing activities by using modern (and relatively inexpensive) technologies. CDS/ISIS is available for MS-DOS, Windows and Unix operating system platforms. The formatting language of CDS/ISIS is one of its several strengths. It is not only used for formatting records for display but is also used for creating customized indexes. CDS/ISIS by itself does not facilitate in publishing its databases on the Internet nor does it facilitate in publishing on CD-ROMs. However, numbers of open source tools are now available, which enables in publishing CDS/ISIS databases on the Internet and also on CD-ROMs. In this paper, we have discussed the ways and means of integrating CDS/ISIS databases with GSDL, an open source digital library (DL) software

Integrating CDS/ISIS Databases with Greenstone Digital Library Software (GSDL)

CDS/ISIS is an advanced non-numerical information storage and retrieval software developed by UNESCO since 1985 to satisfy the need expressed by many institutions, especially in developing countries, to be able to streamline their information processing activities by using modern (and relatively inexpensive) technologies [1]. CDS/ISIS is available for MS-DOS, Windows and Unix operating system platforms. The formatting language of CDS/ISIS is one of its several strengths. It is not only used for formatting records for display but is also used for creating customized indexes. CDS/ISIS by itself does not facilitate in publishing its databases on the Internet nor does it facilitate in publishing on CD-ROMs. However, numbers of open source tools are now available, which enables in publishing CDS/ISIS databases on the Internet and also on CD-ROMs. In this paper, we have discussed the ways and means of integrating CDS/ISIS databases with GSDL, an open source digital library (DL) software

Clinico-pathological study of colonoscopic biopsies in patients with chronic diarrhea

Background: Colonoscopic biopsy is important in the diagnosis and treatment of suspected colonic diseases as it is a diagnostic procedure of choice for patients with chronic diarrhea lasting for several weeks to months. Main objective of the study were to establish colonoscopic biopsy as an effective tool in the diagnosis of chronic diarrhea and to evaluate normal and abnormal mucosal colonoscopic biopsy in the contribution of differential diagnosis in chronic diarrhea patients.Methods: The present study was conducted over a period of 2 years from November 2013 to October 2015 in the Department of Pathology, Andhra medical college, Visakhapatnam. This study included 104 colonoscopic biopsies with clinical history of chronic diarrhea.Results: Out of 104 biopsies evaluated, specific diagnoses were 41 (39.42%) and nonspecific diagnoses were 63 (60.57%). This study showed male preponderance (67% of cases) with average age of 40.5 years (6-84years), remaining 33% female cases had average age 45 years (16-65 years). Out of 41 specific histological diagnoses made, majority of them were malignancies   seen in the age group of 51-60 years and inflammatory bowel disease seen in the age group of 30-40 years.Conclusions: The importance of colonoscopic biopsies lies especially in some chronic diarrhea patients with normal colonoscopy as in present study which contributed the more specific diagnosis like lymphocytic colitis, eosinophilic colitis, ulcerative colitis and pseudo membranous colitis and nonspecific cases to be followed up regularly.

Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on parotid saliva flow in patients with hyposalivation

Context: In recent days, we have come across an increase incidence of dry mouth as a side effects of drugs and in order to bring an awareness about a simple non- invasive method to increase the salivary flow, we have used TENS which in many way is beneficial to patients with metabolic disorders. Aims and Objectives: The aim is to assess the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on salivary gland function in patients with hyposalivation. Subjects and Methods: The present study included total of 25 subjects with complaint of hyposalivation. Written informed consent was obtained from all the participants. Subjects with pacemakers, autoimmune diseases, pregnancy, and history of salivary gland pathology were excluded from the study. Subjects were asked to refrain from eating, drinking, chewing gum, smoking, and oral hygiene procedures for at least 1 h before the appointment. Unstimulated saliva was collected using modified Carlson Crittenden cup placed over the Stenson's duct bilaterally for 5 min and measured. TENS pads were placed over the parotid region and were activated. The intensity control switch was adjusted for patient's comfort. The intensity was turned up 1 increment at a time at 5 s intervals until the optimal intensity level was reached and stimulated saliva was then collected for 5 min using the modified Carlson Crittenden cup and measured. Any increase in parotid salivary flow (SF) with electrostimulation was considered a positive finding. Statistical Analysis Used: A paired t-test, evaluating mean changes in stimulated versus unstimulated SF rates, was applied to look for statistically significant differences using PASW 18.0 for Windows. An independent sample t-test was performed to note difference between genders. Results: There was significant increase in parotid SF in 19 of 25 patients after transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Males showed more salivary secretion when compared to females. Conclusions: From the results of the study and within limitations of the study, it can be concluded that TENS was effective in increasing the SF rate in hyposalivatory patients with residual saliva. TENS was less effective in patients who are under xerogenic drugs. Thus, TENS may be an ever-growing armamentarium in the management of salivary gland hypofunction when other therapies have failed or are contraindicated