ABSTRACT
Objectives@#Various techniques for dorsal hand vein (DHV) pattern extraction have been introduced using small datasets with poor and inconsistent segmentation. This work compared manual segmentation with our proposed hybrid automatic segmentation method (HHM) for this classification problem. @*Methods@#Manual segmentation involved selecting a region-of-interest (ROI) in images from the Bosphorus dataset to generate ground truth data. The HHM combined histogram equalization and morphological and thresholding-based algorithms to localize veins from hand images. The data were divided into training, validation, and testing sets with an 8:1:1 ratio before training AlexNet. We considered three image augmentation strategies to enlarge our training sets. The best training hyperparameters were found using the manually segmented dataset. @*Results@#We obtained a good test accuracy (91.5%) using the model trained with manually segmented images. The HHM method showed slightly inferior performance (76.5%). Considerable improvement was observed in the test accuracy of the model trained with the inclusion of automatically segmented and augmented images (84%), with low false acceptance and false rejection rates (0.00035% and 0.095%, respectively). A comparison with past studies further demonstrated the competitiveness of our technique. @*Conclusions@#Our technique can be feasible for extracting the ROI in DHV images. This strategy provides higher consistency and greater efficiency than the manual approach.
ABSTRACT
Alcoholic extract and various fractions of Achyranthes aspera leaves, traditionally used in Pakistan for treatment of infectious diseases was screened for in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity. The chloroform and butanol fractions were found to be the most active among the fractions, showing considerable antibacterial activity against Shigella flexneri and Escherichia coli. The highest activity was found in the ethylacetate fraction [17 mm zone of inhibition] against gram-negative [Salmonella typhi] bacteria, with MIC value as 0.29 mg/mL. In antifungal screening, moderate activity was shown by the chloroform fraction [50 % inhibition] against Microsporum cams, with MIC value as 0.25mg/mL. Considerable level of antifungal activity was depicted by crude extract, hexane and butanol fractions against Aspergillus flavus and Microsporum canis. The ability of various extracts of Achyranthes aspera to inhibit different strains of fungi and bacteria indicates its potential use for the treatment of microbial infections
Subject(s)
Plant Extracts , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Antifungal Agents , Amaranthaceae , Plant LeavesABSTRACT
Objective: To study frequency of patterns and manners of asphyxial deaths autopsied at LiaquatUniversity Hospital
Study Design: Retrospective study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Office of Police Surgeon-Medico legal section, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro/Hyderabad from January 2010 to December2014
Materials and Methods: Medicolegal files of autopsy were studied retrospectively. 135 files were finalized after scrutiny of 2033 autopsies. Causes, types and patterns of asphyxia were noted. Essential data was noted in a pre-designed proforma for study purpose. Data variables were analyzed on Microsoft excel and Statistix8.1 using appropriate statistical tests. P value of
Results: One hundred and thirty five cases of asphyxial deaths [out of 2033 autopsies] were studied. Age [mean +/- SD] was noted as 49.7 +/- 8.9 years. Of 135 cases, 65.9% [n=89] were male and 34.07% [n=46] were female [X[2]=112.5 p=0.0001]. 28.1% and 8.14% of cases showed ligature and manual strangulation respectively. Hanging, drowning, traumatic asphyxia and throttling were noted in 42.21%, 12.59%, 5.18% and 3.7% respectively. Suicidal deaths in 29.6%, homicidal in 57.03% and accidental asphyxial deaths were observed in 13.33%
Conclusion: Homicidal and suicidal deaths of hanging and strangulation seemed to be the major contributing causes of asphyxial deaths
ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess acute poisoning and its medicolegal aspects in patients presenting at a tertiary care hospitalofSindh
Study Design:Observational Study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at Liaquat University Hospital Jamshoro/Hyderabad from April 2014 to June 2015
Materials and Methods: 240 cases of acute poisoning were studied presenting at the outpatient departments and emergency wards of the Liaquat University Hospital Jamshoro/Hyderabad. Acute poisoning cases were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Tools used for gathering information were the; information obtained from attendants/relatives, history of patients him/herself, clinical presentation, clinical signs and symptoms, laboratory findings and moreover response to anti poisoning therapy. Data was analyzed on statix software 8.1 [USA]. Data was analyzed using student`s t-test and Chi-square test for continuous and categorical variables respectively. P-value
Results: Of 240 subjects, 147 [61.25%] were male and 93 [38.75%] were female. [p=0.01]. Most of study subjects belong to low social class in present study. Mean age of subjects was 45 +/- 7.7 years. Male outnumbered to female as regards the acute poisoning [p=0.001]. Acute poisoning for suicide purpose was noted in 54.1 % [n=130] of study subjects. Kachasharab, organophosphate and diazepam were the most commonly used agents for poisoning purpose
Conclusion: Acute poisoning is increasing due to commonly available poisons such as drugs and pesticides. The public sector authorities should take measures for the proper implementation of handling of drugs, poisons and pesticides
ABSTRACT
In present study, the anti-inflammatory potential of three medicinal plants, Xanthium strumarium, Achyranthes aspera and Duchesnea indica were evaluated, using both in vitro and in vivo assays. Carrageenan induced hind paw edema model was used to carry out the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity, while for in vitro screening lipoxygenase inhibition assay was used. Crude extract of all the selected plants depicted significant [p
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The current study was undertaken to estimate the concentration of micronutrients [Zn, Fe, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cd, Cr, Co, Sb and Mn], macronutrients [Na, Ca and K] and essential life nutrients [proteins, fats, carbohydrates and ascorbic acid] along with ash, fiber and moisture contents. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was employed for the analysis of micronutrients while flame photometry for macronutrients. For proximate analysis [proteins, fats, carbohydrates, ash, fibers and moisture], Association of Official Analytical Chemists methods [AOAC] were used and titration method for ascorbic acid determination. It is evident from the results that the crude extract and its fractions accumulate significant concentrations of both micro and macro nutrients. The significant quantities of essential life nutrients like proteins, fats, carbohydrates and ascorbic acid along with ash, fiber and moisture contents were also found in extracts. It is concluded that the extracts of rhizomes accumulated significant quantities of life indispensible nutrients and validated the ethnobotanical uses of the plant as tonic and energizer
ABSTRACT
History of Asphyxial death is as old as human history. Homicide is oldest crime in human civilization and was started from murder of abel by the hand of cane. Homicide can be done by using mechanical asphyxia like, throatling, smoothering, and hanging. Similarly suicide can be done by means of hanging where throatling by one self is rare. In small children, old and feeble people smoothering is choice of homicide. Retrospective study. This study was carried out in the office of additional police surgeon and Forensic Medicine Department of Ghulam Muhammad Mehar Medical College Sukkur [GMMMC], of asphyxial death from 2007 to 2010. This retrospective study includes results of hundred autopsy examination carried out in the office of additional police surgeon and Forensic Medicine Department of Ghulam Muhammad Mehar Medical college Sukkur [GMMMC], of asphyxial death. Total period of study was four Years so that from 2007 to 2010. The study revealed that the individual in the third decade of life are maximally involved the ligature was a single loop in 77.7% cases and multiple in 22.3% cases. The most frequent non specific sign was congestion seen in 70% cases and petecheal haemorrhage in 78% cases. The hyoid bone was fractured in 30 cases. The associated injuries found were physical and sexual in nature in 73% of cases. The vast majority of cases of asphyxial death were as a result of strangulation, both manual and by means of rope [ligature]. Associated injuries of physical nature were present in 68% of cases. This reveals the cruelty of the criminals towards human being