Squeeze-MNet: Precise Skin Cancer Detection Model for Low Computing IoT Devices Using Transfer Learning.

Cancer remains a deadly disease. We developed a lightweight, accurate, general-purpose deep learning algorithm for skin cancer classification. Squeeze-MNet combines a Squeeze algorithm for digital hair removal during preprocessing and a MobileNet deep learning model with predefined weights. The Squeeze algorithm extracts important image features from the image, and the black-hat filter operation removes noise. The MobileNet model (with a dense neural network) was developed using the International Skin Imaging Collaboration (ISIC) dataset to fine-tune the model. The proposed model is lightweight; the prototype was tested on a Raspberry Pi 4 Internet of Things device with a Neo pixel 8-bit LED ring; a medical doctor validated the device. The average precision (AP) for benign and malignant diagnoses was 99.76% and 98.02%, respectively. Using our approach, the required dataset size decreased by 66%. The hair removal algorithm increased the accuracy of skin cancer detection to 99.36% with the ISIC dataset. The area under the receiver operating curve was 98.9%.

Minocycline inhibition of photoreceptor degeneration.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether systemic minocycline can protect photoreceptors in experimental retinal detachment (RD). METHODS: Retinal detachment was induced in mice by subretinal injection of sodium hyaluronate, 1.4%. In 1 experiment, mice received daily injections of minocycline (group 1) or saline (group 2). In a second experiment, mice were treated with minocycline or saline beginning 24 hours prior, immediately after, or 24 hours after experimental RD. In both experiments, photoreceptor cell survival and apoptosis were assessed by immunohistochemistry with primary antibodies against photoreceptor cell markers, rod rhodopsin, and cone opsin, and by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin end labeling. RESULTS: Photoreceptor cell apoptosis was detected at day 1 after experimental RD, with apoptotic cells peaking in number at day 3 and dropping by day 7. Treatment with minocycline significantly reduced the number of apoptotic photoreceptor cells associated with RD when given 24 hours before or even 24 hours after RD. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that minocycline may be useful in the treatment of photoreceptor degeneration associated with RD, even when given up to 24 hours after RD. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Use of minocycline in patients with macula-off RD may prevent photoreceptor apoptosis and glial cell proliferation, improving final visual outcomes.

Modified external needle drainage of subretinal fluid in primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: a prospective, consecutive, interventional, single-surgeon study.

PURPOSE: We describe surgical outcomes in a single-surgeon, consecutive series of patients who received scleral buckle placement for primary retinal detachment using a modified external needle drainage technique. METHODS: Eighty-two eyes of 80 patients with primary retinal detachment underwent scleral buckle placement with modified external needle drainage. Preoperative, postoperative, and surgical data were collected. Regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between preoperative clinical data and number of surgeries. RESULTS: The retinal detachment most commonly involved 41% to 50% of the retina. Seventy-six eyes (92.7%) were repaired after 1 surgical procedure, 98.8%, after 2 procedures, and 100%, after 3 procedures. No preoperative clinical variables were found to be significantly correlated with the number of surgeries performed. Vision improved an average of 0.3 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution or 3 lines of vision (P < 0.001). One eye (1.2%) developed a localized subretinal hemorrhage at the drainage site that resolved spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: The modified external needle drainage technique used during scleral buckle placement appears to be safe and effective in patients with primary retinal detachment.

A modified iris repair technique and capsular tension ring insertion in a patient with coloboma with cataracts.

PURPOSE: We describe our successful experience using a capsular tension ring (CTR) and iris repair during cataract surgery in a patient with bilateral coloboma. METHODS: A 67-year-old woman had no history of trauma, but had zonular deficiency and inferonasal iris defects in both eyes. An extracapsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) scleral fixation was performed in the left eye. A CTR was implanted in the right eye through a sclerocorneal incision. After the IOL was placed centrally in the capsular bag, two paracenteses were made at the limbus (5 o'clock and 7 o'clock). A long, straight needle was passed through the 7 o'clock paracentesis site into a angled, blunt tipped 27 gauge needle inserted from the 5 o'clock paracentesis. The two needles were pulled out at 5 o'clock. After inserting the long needle into the blunt tipped needle at 7 o'clock, both were passed back through the 7 o'clock paracentesis site. The needles were pulled out again at the 5 o'clock paracentesis site tied. Equal tension was used to tie both sides. RESULTS: Visual acuity improved to 20/20 in the right eye. CONCLUSIONS: Both capsular tension ring implantation and iris repair was successfully performed at the time of cataract surgery in a coloboma patient, which resulted in improvements in visual function and cosmesis.

E2 of hepatitis C virus inhibits apoptosis.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major causative agent of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, and can be involved in very long chronic infections up to 30 years or more. Therefore, it has been speculated that HCV possesses mechanisms capable of modulating host defense systems such as innate and adaptive immunity. To investigate this virus-host interaction, we generated HCV replicons containing various HCV structural proteins and then analyzed the sensitivity of replicon-containing cells to the apoptosis-inducing agent, TRAIL. TRAIL-induced apoptosis was monitored by cleavage of procaspase-3 and procaspase-9 as well as that of their substrate poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. TRAIL-induced apoptosis was inhibited in cells expressing HCV E2. Moreover, expression of HCV E2 enhanced the colony forming efficiency of replicon-containing cells by 25-fold. Blockage of apoptosis by E2 seems to be related to inhibition of TRAIL-induced cytochrome c release from the mitochondria. Based on these results, we propose that E2 augments persistent HCV infection by blocking host-induced apoptosis of infected cells.

Neovascularization in branch retinal vein occlusion combined with arterial insufficiency.

The aim of this study is to elucidate the association of neovascularization in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) combined with major arterial insufficiency (MAI), compared with BRVO alone. The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts, color photographs, and fluorescein angiograms of 304 patients (308 eyes) who had BRVO from 1990 to 2002 at Hanyang University hospital. Patients with BRVO combined with MAI and patients with BRVO alone were differentiated by angiographic appearance. Of the 308 eyes, 12 (3.9%) had neovascularization, all of which were in the 56 eyes of the MAI group for which the neovascularization rate was 21.4%. Neovascularization in BRVO was more strongly associated with the non-perfusion caused by MAI, rather than with the extent of the non-perfusion area that originated from retinal capillary obstruction. MAI is considered as a risk factor for neovascularization and hence could be a prognostic factor.

Transscleral fixation of a dislocated IOL through sclerotomy.

We describe a technique for knotting a suture to the haptic of a dislocated intraocular lens (IOL) through a sclerotomy site without removing an IOL in 4 patients. The suture was knotted to the haptic from outside the sclera. The remaining suture material was tied together and buried in the sclerotomy site. To prove that we could suture to the haptic safely, experiments were carried out using 4 scleral shells of donor eyes. No complications occurred, and good visual recovery was achieved. In this method, the haptic can be tied safely through the sclerotomy site and reduce the risk for knot-related complications. To our knowledge, this approach has not been reported.