Edge artificial intelligence wireless video capsule endoscopy.

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract diseases are responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide, including colorectal cancer, which has shown a rising incidence among adults younger than 50. Although this could be alleviated by regular screening, only a small percentage of those at risk are screened comprehensively, due to shortcomings in accuracy and patient acceptance. To address these challenges, we designed an artificial intelligence (AI)-empowered wireless video endoscopic capsule that surpasses the performance of the existing solutions by featuring, among others: (1) real-time image processing using onboard deep neural networks (DNN), (2) enhanced visualization of the mucous layer by deploying both white-light and narrow-band imaging, (3) on-the-go task modification and DNN update using over-the-air-programming and (4) bi-directional communication with patient's personal electronic devices to report important findings. We tested our solution in an in vivo setting, by administrating our endoscopic capsule to a pig under general anesthesia. All novel features, successfully implemented on a single platform, were validated. Our study lays the groundwork for clinically implementing a new generation of endoscopic capsules, which will significantly improve early diagnosis of upper and lower GI tract diseases.

Decreases in resting plasma beta-endorphin and depression scores after endurance training.

That endurance training changes resting plasma beta-endorphin (BE) at the same time that there are improvements in non-clinical depression was tested in medically healthy middle-aged men (40-60 years). Subjects were self-selected based on compliance into treatment (T, n = 10) and placebo (P, n = 6) groups. T attended an eight month fitness program. P had less than 50% attendance in the program. Treadmill tests at the pre and post program were used to estimate the Physical Fitness Score (PFS). The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was used to measure depression. All psychological scores were within non-pathological, normal limits. BE was measured with the subjects fasting and resting in the early morning. BE, detected by radioimmunoassay, decreased (p less than .005) from pre 48.53 +/- 3.32 (SE) to post 31.73 +/- 4.43 pg/ml in T. The MMPI depression score also decreased in T (p less than .05) from pre 58.90 +/- 2.81 (SE) to post 53.20 +/- 1.48 T-score units. In contrast, the PFS increased in T (p less than .005) from pre 254.57 +/- 18.62 (SE) to post 304.94 +/- 15.95 PFS units. No pre to post program changes were detected in P. In conclusion, endurance training of eight months duration appeared to decrease the resting plasma BE concentrations and the MMPI depression scores of the middle-aged men in the present study.

Beta-endorphin and components of emotionality discriminate between physically active and sedentary men.

Differences between physically active and sedentary men were tested by profile comparison. The study identifies the relative importance of circulating beta-endorphin (BE), atherosclerotic disease risk (ADR) index, and selected components of emotionality in discriminating between physically active and sedentary men. The subjects were psychologically normal and medically healthy middle-aged men. Jogging activity was the subject classification criterion. The data were collected on selected physiological (treadmill), biochemical (blood collected from resting subjects), and psychological (Eysenck and MMPI) variables. The physical fitness score (PFS) was used as an index of fitness. Physically active men with a high PFS (n = 21), when compared to the sedentary men with a low PFS (n = 15), exhibited lower basal plasma BE, lower ADR, lower anxiety index (AI), and lower MMPI depression score (D). Canonical correlation analysis showed that PFS and BE in one set were correlated with D and neuroticism (NS) in another set of variables. Discriminant function analysis showed that the AI was the most powerful discriminator between the physically active and sedentary men, followed by BE and NS. Interestingly, BE and NS exhibited the same magnitude of discrimination power. The ADR exhibited less discrimination power, relative to AI, BE, and NS. In conclusion, the physically active men, compared to the sedentary men in this study, exhibited lower basal plasma BE, which appeared to be associated with less atherosclerotic disease risk, less neuroticism, less anxiety, and less depression.

Beta-endorphin and components of depression as powerful discriminators between joggers and sedentary middle-aged men.

UNLABELLED: This study identifies the relative importance of resting plasma beta-endorphin, used as a marker of perceived stress, and components of non-clinical depression that discriminate between physically active joggers and sedentary men. The profiles of joggers (n = 10) and sedentary (n = 10) middle-aged men (40-60 yr) were compared. The jogger group had been running about 20 miles per week for at least 3 yr. RESULTS: as expected, the joggers exhibited greater physical fitness, but lower circulating beta-endorphin (measured with the subjects at rest). The joggers also exhibited greater emotional stability (Eysenck scores), and lower depression (MMPI Scale 2 scores). In addition, the joggers had lower scores on MMPI subscales of depression: subjective depression, physical malfunctioning, mental dullness, and brooding. Multivariate discriminant function analyses showed that subjective depression, beta-endorphin, and physical malfunctioning were powerful discriminators between the jogger and sedentary groups. IN CONCLUSION: (1) subjective depression appeared to be the MMPI component of depression that most powerfully discriminated between joggers and sedentary middle-aged men in this study. (2) Lower beta-endorphin may be an adaptation to exercise training and was related to greater emotional stability and lower depression, especially lower subjective depression. (3) The lower beta-endorphin in the jogger group may be related to lower perceived stress in the joggers, relative to the sedentary group.