The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of full-field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT) to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate cartilage degeneration using the qualitative ...evaluation of histology sections as the reference.
Thirty-three human knee cartilage samples of variable degeneration were included in the study. A closely matching histology and FFOCT image was acquired for each sample. The cartilage degeneration was qualitatively evaluated by assigning a grade to each histology and FFOCT image. The relevance of the performed grading was assessed by calculating the intra- and inter-observer reproducibility and calculating the concordance between the histology and FFOCT grades. A near-automatic algorithm was developed to quantitatively characterize the cartilage surface in each image. The correlation between the quantitative results and the reference qualitative histology was calculated.
An almost perfect agreement was achieved for both the intra- and inter-reproducibility of the histology and FFOCT qualitative grading (κ ≥ 0.91). A high and statistically significant level of agreement was measured between the histology and FFOCT grades (W = 0.95, P < 0.05). Strong and statistically significant correlations were measured between the quantitative results and the reference qualitative histology grades (ρ ≥ 0.75, P < 0.05).
We have demonstrated that FFOCT is an alternative approach to conventional optical coherence tomography (OCT) that is as well adapted for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of human cartilage as the reference gold standard – histology. This study constitutes the first promising results towards developing a new diagnostic tool in the field of osteoarthritis.
Various adipose tissue compartments play an important role in the development of cardiometabolic diseases. The quantity of different fat compartments is influenced by genetic and environmental ...factors. The aim of our study was to evaluate the magnitude of genetic and environmental effects on epicardial, subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (EAT, SAT and VAT) quantities in a cohort of adult twin pairs.
In this cross-sectional study we investigated adult twins (57 monozygotic (MZ) and 33 dizygotic (DZ) same-gender twin pairs; 180 twin subjects). We measured EAT volume using electrocardiogram-gated native computed tomography (CT) scan of the heart, and abdominal SAT and VAT areas were quantified between the third and fourth lumbar vertebra on native CT images. We calculated genetic and environmental impact on the size of various adipose tissue compartments by analyzing co-twin correlations in MZ and DZ pairs separately, and furthermore by using genetic structural equation models.
In co-twin analysis, MZ twins had stronger correlations than DZ twins for EAT (r
=0.81, r
=0.32), similar to SAT and VAT quantities (r
=0.80, r
=0.68 and r
=0.79, r
=0.48, respectively). In multi-trait model fitting analysis, the overall contribution of genetic factors to EAT, SAT and VAT volumes were 80%, 78% and 70%, whereas environmental factors were 20%, 22% and 30%, respectively. Common pathway model analyses indicated that none of the EAT, SAT and VAT phenotypes was independent of the other two.
Genetic factors have substantial influence, while environmental factors have only a modest impact on EAT volume, abdominal SAT and VAT quantities. There is a considerable amount of common genetic background influencing the quantities of all three adipose tissue compartments.
Summary
Objectives
: This synopsis presents a selection for the IMIA (International Medical Informatics Association) Yearbook 2016 of excellent research in the broad field of Sensor, Signal and ...Imaging Informatics published in the year 2015, with a focus on Unintended consequences: new problems and new solutions.
Methods
: We performed a systematic initial selection and a double blind peer review process to find the best papers in this domain published in 2015, from the PubMed and Web of Science databases. The set of MesH keywords used was provided by experts.
Results
: The constant advances in medical technology allow ever more relevant diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to be designed. Nevertheless, there is a need to acquire expert knowledge of these innovations in order to identify precociously new associated problems for which new solutions need to be designed and developed.
Objective: This synopsis presents a selection for the IMIA (International Medical Informatics Association) Yearbook 2015 of excellent research in the broad field of Sensor, Signal, and Imaging ...Informatics published in the year 2014, with a focus on patient centered care coordination.
Methods: The two section editors performed a systematic initial selection and a double blind peer review process to select a list of candidate best papers in the domain published in 2014, from the PubMed and Web of Science databases. A set of MeSH keywords provided by experts was used. This selection was peer-reviewed by external reviewers.
Results: The review process highlighted articles illustrating two current trends related to care coordination and patient centered care: the enhanced capacity to predict the evolution of a disease based on patient-specific information can impact care coordination; similarly, better perception of the patient and his treatment could lead to enhanced personalized care with a potential impact on care coordination.
Conclusions: This review shows the multiplicity of angles from which the question of patient-centered care can be addressed, with consequences on care coordination that will need to be confirmed and demonstrated in the future.
Objectives: This synopsis presents a selection for the IMIA (International Medical Informatics Association) Yearbook 2014 of excellent research in the broad field of Sensor, Signal, and Imaging ...Informatics published in the year 2013, with a focus on Big Data and Smart Health Technologies Methods: We performed a systematic initial selection and a double blind peer review process to find the best papers in this domain published in 2013, from the PubMed and Web of Science databases. A set of MeSH keywords provided by experts was used. Results: Big Data are collections of large and complex datasets which have the potential to capture the whole variability of a study population. More and more innovative sensors are emerging, allowing to enrich these big databases. However they become more and more challenging to process (i.e. capture, store, search, share, transfer, exploit) because traditional tools are not adapted anymore. Conclusions: This review shows that it is necessary not only to develop new tools specifically designed for Big Data, but also to evaluate their performance on such large datasets.
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•Elicitation of adequate compression approaches for biosignals.•Development of selected compression algorithms in common framework.•Proposal of novel extensions aiming to enhance ...performance.•Comprehensive evaluation using real EEG and ECG datasets.•Through analysis and elaboration on critical advantages by proposed algorithms.
During the last few years, medical research areas of critical importance such as Epilepsy monitoring and study, increasingly utilize wireless sensor network technologies in order to achieve better understanding and significant breakthroughs. However, the limited memory and communication bandwidth offered by WSN platforms comprise a significant shortcoming to such demanding application scenarios. Although, data compression can mitigate such deficiencies there is a lack of objective and comprehensive evaluation of relative approaches and even more on specialized approaches targeting specific demanding applications. The research work presented in this paper focuses on implementing and offering an in-depth experimental study regarding prominent, already existing as well as novel proposed compression algorithms. All algorithms have been implemented in a common Matlab framework. A major contribution of this paper, that differentiates it from similar research efforts, is the employment of real world Electroencephalography (EEG) and Electrocardiography (ECG) datasets comprising the two most demanding Epilepsy modalities. Emphasis is put on WSN applications, thus the respective metrics focus on compression rate and execution latency for the selected datasets. The evaluation results reveal significant performance and behavioral characteristics of the algorithms related to their complexity and the relative negative effect on compression latency as opposed to the increased compression rate. It is noted that the proposed schemes managed to offer considerable advantage especially aiming to achieve the optimum tradeoff between compression rate-latency. Specifically, proposed algorithm managed to combine highly completive level of compression while ensuring minimum latency thus exhibiting real-time capabilities. Additionally, one of the proposed schemes is compared against state-of-the-art general-purpose compression algorithms also exhibiting considerable advantages as far as the compression rate is concerned.
The main goal of our phantom study was to compare the precision of adjustable periurethral balloons positioning depending whether the guidance was obtained by retrovision or rigid cystoscopy.
A ...navigation guidance system was used to localize the introduction mandrel which was equipped with tracking targets. Two ideal sites of implantation were predefined and recorded into the navigation system. The two points were placed symmetrically to the phantom reproducing the urethra. Four different users were asked to position the tip of the introduction mandrel as close as possible to the ideal site of implantation with the help of each method of guidance. For each attempt, the distance (mm) between the tip of the introduction mandrel and the ideal position was recorded by the navigation system.
For each method of guidance, a total of 20 attempts on each side were made by direct puncture on one side and a symmetrical contralateral puncture. For direct puncture, the median distances were 5.20 (±3.96) and 4.38 (±1.55) mm with rigid cystoscopy and retrovision respectively (P=0.29). For symmetrical contralateral puncture, the median distance were 7,19 (±3,78) and 6,86 (±2,76) mm with rigid cystoscopy and retrovision respectively (P=0,32) CONCLUSION: This study could not demonstrate any significant difference between the two guidance systems. Nevertheless, it showed that navigation guidance system could be used to compare the precision of surgical interventions.
4.
Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) comprise a rapidly expanding research domain incorporating various diverse ICT aspects. Consequently, such systems are characterized by high degree of heterogeneity ...regarding communication, hardware and software technologies. Additionally, a high number of challenges must be tackled before such horizontal architectures can yield useful services, that can be exploited by todays and future consumer electronics and respective vertical domains. Aiming to address such objectives, this paper proposes a holistic end-to-end CPS architecture based on message passing communication technologies able to support the inherent complexity of respective deployments spanning several areas of applied industrial research and development. In this context, this paper aims to serve as a roadmap on how existing, prominent technologies from different domains can be effectively integrated and address all changes while be applied in diverse application demands. This is achieved by analytically presenting the proposed ATLAS infrastructure emphasizing on integration of prominent consumer electronics technologies. Finally, the deployment of the proposed solution in different verticals is presented, highlighting i) the applicability of the system and ii) a resource conservative behavior advocating the integration with nowadays COTS embedded systems.
This synopsis presents a selection for the IMIA (International Medical Informatics Association) Yearbook 2013 of excellent research in the broad field of Sensor, Signal, and Imaging Informatics ...published in the year 2012.
We performed a systematic initial selection and a double blind peer review process to find the best papers in this domain published in 2012, from the PubMed and Web of Science databases. A set of MeSH keywords provided by experts was used.
Current research in the field of sensor signal and imaging informatics is based on innovative sensors from which relevant information (signal and imaging) can be acquired and integrated into workflow based or patient based models. This rich environment can help the medical staff in carrying out more optimal care. The demonstration of the added value of such innovations is more and more performed through evidence-based evaluations.
The best paper selection of articles on sensors, signal, and imaging informatics illustrates the wide spectrum covered by this field in 2012, and the attention paid to evaluations.
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