Augmented decision-making for acral lentiginous melanoma detection using deep convolutional neural networks.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have achieved high-level performance of melanoma detection using convolutional neural networks (CNNs). However, few have described the extent to which the implementation of CNNs improves the diagnostic performance of the physicians. OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed at developing a CNN for detecting acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) and investigating whether its implementation can improve the initial decision for ALM detection made by the physicians. METHODS: A CNN was trained using 1072 dermoscopic images of acral benign nevi, ALM and intermediate tumours. To investigate whether the implementation of CNN can improve the initial decision for ALM detection, 60 physicians completed a three-stage survey. In Stage I, they were asked for their decisions solely on the basis of dermoscopic images provided to them. In Stage II, they were also provided with clinical information. In Stage III, they were provided with the additional diagnosis and probability predicted by the CNN. RESULTS: The accuracy of ALM detection in the participants was 74.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 72.6-76.8%) in Stage I and 79.0% (95% CI, 76.7-81.2%) in Stage II. In Stage III, it was 86.9% (95% CI, 85.3-88.4%), which exceeds the accuracy delivered in Stage I by 12.2%p (95% CI, 10.1-14.3%p) and Stage II by 7.9%p (95% CI, 6.0-9.9%p). Moreover, the concordance between the participants considerably increased (Fleiss-κ of 0.436 [95% CI, 0.437-0.573] in Stage I, 0.506 [95% CI, 0.621-0.749] in Stage II and 0.684 [95% CI, 0.621-0.749] in Stage III). CONCLUSIONS: Augmented decision-making improved the performance of and concordance between the clinical decisions of a diverse group of experts. This study demonstrates the potential use of CNNs as an adjoining, decision-supporting system for physicians' decisions.

Combined analysis of the MspI and XbaI polymorphisms in intron 22 of the factor VIII gene for detection of hemophilia A in a Korean population.

To determine the usefulness of MspI/int22h-1 (intron 22 homologous region-1) polymorphism of the factor VIII gene for molecular genetic diagnosis of hemophilia A in the Korean population, MspI/intron 22 and XbaI/intron 22 polymorphisms were analyzed in 101 unrelated Korean families with severe hemophilia A. The expected heterozygosity rates of MspI/int22h-1 and XbaI/int22h-1 polymorphisms were 49.5 and 43.6%, respectively; these polymorphisms were not in complete linkage disequilibrium. Combined analysis using both polymorphisms provided an informative rate of 66.3%. These results suggest that PCR analysis of the MspI/int22h-1 polymorphism of the factor VIII gene would be useful for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia A in the Korean population.

Characteristics of the pulse wave in patients with chronic gastritis and the healthy in Korean medicine.

Chronic gastritis is a disease that occurs in one in every 10 persons in Korea. Endoscopic examination is needed to diagnose chronic gastritis in western medicine, but it causes patients pain, long period of examinations and financial burden. In KM (Korean Medicine), on the other hand, it can be known whether stomach is abnormal or not through a pulse diagnosis. The 'Guan' position of the right wrist is related to a stomach in KM. Thus, the pulse wave of the right-hand "Guan" of patients with chronic gastritis and the healthy were measured. Then, the diagnostic parameter and features to distinguish between the patients with chronic gastritis and the healthy were discovered. Through P-H curve, consequently, it can be concluded that the pulse waves of patients with chronic gastritis appear as a floating pulse, whereas the pulse waves of the healthy appear as a normal pulse.

Implementation and performance evaluation of mobile ad hoc network for Emergency Telemedicine System in disaster areas.

So far we have developed Emergency Telemedicine System (ETS) which is a robust system using heterogeneous networks. In disaster areas, however, ETS cannot be used if the primary network channel is disabled due to damages on the network infrastructures. Thus we designed network management software for disaster communication network by combination of Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) and Wireless LAN (WLAN). This software maintains routes to a Backbone Gateway Node in dynamic network topologies. In this paper, we introduce the proposed disaster communication network with management software, and evaluate its performance using ETS between Medical Center and simulated disaster areas. We also present the results of network performance analysis which identifies the possibility of actual Telemedicine Service in disaster areas via MANET and mobile network (e.g. HSDPA, WiBro).

pH-dependent release property of alginate beads containing calcium carbonate particles.

Alginate bead containing calcium carbonate particle were prepared by dropping the suspension of alginate/calcium carbonate (4/1, w/w) into aqueous solution of CaCl(2) (0.1 M). The pH-dependent release property of the bead was observed for 12 h using blue dextran as a model drug. The release increased up to 4 h in a saturation manner. When no calcium carbonate was contained, the release exhibited no marked variation with pH and the values were 27-39%. On the other hand, in case calcium carbonate was included in the matrix of alginate beads, intensive release(40-50%) was achieved in acidic and neutral conditions and the degrees of release were suppressed in alkali conditions and the values were approximately 20%. The pH-sensitive release property is possibly because the particles of calcium carbonate embedded in the matrix of beads were leached out in acidic and neutral conditions, leaving cavities in the matrix. The cavities are likely to be main pathways for the release of blue dextran.

Placenta hominis protects osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats.

In China, Japan, and Korea, placenta hominis extracts (PHEs) are used clinically for the treatment of osteoporosis. The anti-osteoporotic effect of PHEs was studied. The trabecular bone area and thickness in OVX rats decreased by 50% from those in sham-operated rats; these decreases were completely inhibited by administration of PHEs for 7 weeks. Osteoclast numbers and the osteoblast surface were enhanced in OVX rats, but PHEs had no effect on these phenomena. Serum phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase in OVX rats increased compared to those in sham-operated rats, but the increases were not affected by the administration of PHEs. Thyroxine (T4) level was stimulated in OVX rats. The extracts inhibited the T4 level in the OVX rats. These results strongly suggest that PHEs be effective in preventing the development of bone loss induced by OVX in rats.

Using neural network to recognize human emotions from heart rate variability and skin resistance.

The purpose of this paper is to estimate emotions using Neural network and the changes in activities of autonomic nervous system(ANS). Since ANS cannot be controlled artificially, we presumed that the changes in emotions would be reflected to the changes in ANS. In order to observe those changes, we provided the subjects with some video clips which can induce a variety of emotions and measured the changes in ANS, especially in Heart Rate Variability(HRV) and in Galvanic Skin Response(GSR). With those analyzed results from the experiments, we established an algorithm based on Neural network, finally we could reach the estimating rate of 80.2%

Performance Evaluation of Telemedicine System based on multicasting over Heterogeneous Network.

For appropriate diagnosis, medical image such as high quality image of patient's affected part and vital signal, patient information, and teleconferencing data for communication between specialists will be transmitted. After connecting patient and specialist the center, sender acquires patient data and transmits to the center through TCP/IP protocol. Data that is transmitted to center is retransmitted to each specialist side that accomplish connection after being copied according to listener's number from transmission buffer. At transmission of medical information data in network, transmission delay and loss occur by the change of buffer size, packet size, number of user and kind of networks. As there lies the biggest delay possibility in ADSL, buffer Size should be established by 1Mbytes first to minimize transmission regionalism and each packet's size must be set accordingly to MTU Size in order to improve network efficiency by maximum. Also, listener's number should be limited by less than 6 people. Data transmission consisted smoothly all in experiment result in common use network- ADSL, VDSL, WLAN, LAN-. But, possibility of delay appeared most greatly in ADSL that has the most confined bandwidth. To minimize the possibility of delay, some adjustment is needed such as buffer size, number of receiver, packet size.

Prevention of bone loss in ovariectomized rats: the effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts.

The preventive effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts (SMEs) on the progress of bone loss induced by ovariectomy (OVX) was studied in rats. We measured body weight and bone histomorphometry in sham, OVX or SMEs-administered OVX rats. From light microscopic analyses, a porous or erosive appearances were observed on the surface of trabecular bone of tibia in OVX rats, whereas those of the same bone in sham rats and in SMEs-administered rats were composed of fine particles. The trabecular bone area and trabecular thickness in OVX rats decreased by 50% from those in sham rats, these decreases were completely inhibited by administration of SMEs for 7 weeks. In this study, the mechanical strength in femur neck was significantly enhanced by the treatment of SMEs for 7 weeks. In OVX rats, free T3 was normal in all cases, whereas free T4 was significantly increased. Although there was no difference between OVX and SMEs-administered rats in T3 level, we have found significant difference between them in T4 level. These results strongly suggest that SMEs are effective in preventing the development of bone loss induced by OVX in rats.

Development of a new signal processing algorithm based on independent component analysis for single channel ECG data.

In this paper, we proposed a new signal processing algorithm based on independent component analysis (ICA) for single channel ECG data. For the application ICA to single channel data, mixed (multi-channel) signals are constructed by adding some delay to original data. By ICA, signal enhancement is acquired. For validation of usefulness of this signal, QRS complex detection was accompanied. In QRS detection process, Hilbert transform and wavelet transform were used and good QRS detection efficacy was obtained. Furthermore, a signal, which could not be filtered properly using existing algorithm, also had better signal enhancement. In future, we need to study on the algorithm optimization and simplification.

Yuk-Hap-Tang induces apoptosis by intervening mn-SOD in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells.

Yuk-Hap-Tang (YHT) induces cell death in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells. Caspase-3, -6 and -9 were markedly activated in HeLa cells treated with YHT. The preferred substrate for caspase-3 cysteine protease, PARP, was cleaved to its 85-kDa cleavage product. YHT increased the amount of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, and the pro-apoptotic protein, Bax. Although p53 has been reported to accumulate in cancer cells in response to anticancer agents, the p53 expression level was not changed in HeLa cells treated with YHT. Manganese (Mn)-TBAP, a mitochondria-specific SOD mimetic agent and NAC/GSH (N-acetyl cysteine/ reduced glutathione) reduced the YHT-induced cytotoxicity and decreased the number of the YHT-induced apoptotic cells. Furthermore, YHT reduced the expression of Mn-SOD protein and its activity in HeLa cells. The data demonstrate that YHT induces the apoptosis of human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells by intervening Mn-SOD.

Cyclic-AMP inhibits nitric oxide-induced apoptosis in human osteoblast: the regulation of caspase-3, -6, -9 and the release of cytochrome c in nitric oxide-induced apoptosis by cAMP.

Nitric oxide (NO) induces apoptotic cell death and cAMP has a significantly protective effect on NO-induced cytotoxicity in human osteoblasts, MG-63 cells. Treatment with S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) (0.6 mM) resulted in genomic DNA fragmentation, characteristic of apoptosis. However, concomitant incubation of the cells with either DBcAMP or forskolin markedly inhibited SNAP-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, pretreatment of MG-63 cells with H-89 or KT5720, which is known to inhibit cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), abolished the protective effect of DBcAMP and forskolin on SNAP-induced apoptosis. In this study, we explored the involvement of caspases in the regulatory mechanism of SNAP-induced apoptosis by cAMP. Our data show that DBcAMP or forskolin blocked SNAP-induced caspase-3-like cysteine protease activation and that H-89, a PKA inhibitor, reversed the cAMP-induced regulatory effect of caspase-3 like protease. Consistent with the results, cAMP inhibited the proteolytic cleavage of caspase-3, -6, -9 and cytochrome c release to cytoplasm. The inhibition of caspase-3 activation did not block SNAP-induced cytochrome c release to cytoplasm, suggesting that caspase-3 activation may occur downstream of cytochrome c release. In summary, these findings show that the exposure of MG-63 cells to cAMP analogs renders them more resistant to NO-induced damage and suggests the presence of regulatory mechanisms of the cell death pathway by cAMP in which caspase-3, -6, and -9 and cytochrome c release serves to mediate NO-induced apoptosis.

Design of a PC-based multimedia telemedicine system for brain function teleconsultation.

During time-critical brain surgery, the detection of developing cerebral ischemia is particularly important because early therapeutic intervention may reduce the mortality of the patient. The purpose of this system is to provide an efficient means of remote teleconsultation for the early detection of ischemia, particularly when subspecialists are unavailable. The hardware and software design architecture for the multimedia brain function teleconsultation system including the dedicated brain function monitoring system is described. In order to comprehensively support remote teleconsultation, multi-media resources needed for ischemia interpretation were included: EEG signals, CSA, CD-CSA, radiological images, surgical microscope video images and video conferencing. PC-based system integration with standard interfaces and the operability over the Ethernet meet the cost-effectiveness while the modular software was customized with a diverse range of data manipulations and control functions necessary for shared workspace and standard interfaces.

Cloning and characterization of the Hansenula polymorpha homologue of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MNN9 gene.

A gene homologous to Saccharomyces cerevisiae MNN9 has been cloned and characterized in the methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha. This gene was cloned from a H. polymorpha genomic DNA library using the S. cerevisiae MNN9 gene as a probe. The H. polymorpha MNN9 homologue (HpMNN9) contained a 1062 bp open reading frame encoding a predicted protein of 354 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 58% and 51% identity, respectively, with the S. cerevisiae and Candida albicans Mnn9 proteins. Disruption of HpMNN9 leads to phenotypic effects suggestive of cell wall defects, including detergent sensitivity and hygromycin B sensitivity. The hygromycin B sensitivity of S. cerevisiae mnn9 null mutant was complemented in the presence of the HpMNN9 gene. The DNA sequence of the H. polymorpha homologue has been submitted to GenBank with the Accession No. AF264786.

Antiosteoporotic activity of Dae-Bo-Won-Chun in ovariectomized rats.

The preventive effect of the herbal formulation, "Dae-Bo-Won-Chun" (DBWC), on the progress of bone loss induced by ovariectomy (OVX) was studied in rats. From light microscope analyses, porous or erosive appearances were observed on the surface of trabecular bone of tibia in ovariectomized rats, whereas those of the same bone in sham-operated rats were composed of fine particles. The trabecular bone area and trabecular thickness in ovariectomized rats decreased by 50% from those in sham-operated rats, these decreases were completely inhibited by administration of DBWC at a concentration of 10 mg/kg per day for 7 weeks. The mechanical strength of the neck of the femur was decreased by ovariectomy, and this was significantly suppressed by the administration of DBWC. Serum phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and thyroxine levels in ovariectomized rats increased compared with those in sham-operated rats, and increases were completely inhibited by the administration of DBWC. These results strongly suggest that DBWC is effective in preventing the development of bone loss induced by ovariectomy in rats.

Cell surface display of salmobin, a thrombin-like enzyme from Agkistrodon halys venom on Escherichia coli using ice nucleation protein.

Cell surface display on Escherichia coli using ice nucleation protein was performed in order to develop a new expression system for recombinant eukaryotic proteins. Salmobin, the thrombin-like enzyme obtained from Korean snake (Agkistrodon halys) venom was displayed on the surface of Escherichia coli fused to the C-terminus of the ice nucleation protein (INP), an outer membrane protein of Pseudomonas syringae. The thrombin cleavage site was inserted between salmobin and INP. The presence of salmobin on the bacterial cell surface was verified by SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, whole cell ELISA, and immunofluorescence microscopy. After thrombin cleavage the thrombin-like enzyme activity of recombinant salmobin was tested and verified. We concluded that INP-based cell surface display can be used as a novel expression system for eukaryotic proteins.

Three-dimensional geometric modeling of the cochlea using helico-spiral approximation.

In this paper, the three-dimensional geometry of the human cochlea is modeled by the helico-spiral seashell model. The 3-D helico-spiral model, the generalized representation of the Archimedian spiral model, provides a framework for measuring cochlear features based on consistent estimation of model parameters. Nonlinear least square minimization based algorithms are developed for the identification of rotation, center and intrinsic parameters of the helico-spiral representation. Two algorithms are designed for the rotation axis aligned to the modiolar axis: one is more susceptible in the presence of noise, while the other allows applicability to two-dimensional data sets. The estimated center and intrinsic parameters allow the calculation of length, height and angular positions needed for frequency mapping of multichannel cochlear implant electrodes. Model performance is evaluated with numerically synthesized curves with different levels of added random noise, histologic data and real human cochlear spiral computed tomography data.

Genomic structure of ornithine carbamoyltransferase gene from Canavalia lineata.

The nucleotide sequences of the complete ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OCT) gene containing 3,964 bp 3' region and 1,701 bp promoter region were determined from Canavalia lineata leaves. The exons range in size from 131 bp to 390 bp, while the introns range in size from 102 bp to the relatively large size of 1,465 bp; all the splicing junctions followed the conserved GT/AG rule. The transcription initiation site is located 12 bp upstream of the ATG translation initiation site and 69 bp downstream of TATA-box. The regulatory elements located in the 1,701 bp 5' upstream region are GT-1, GATA motif, I-box, SBF-1, Nit2 etc. The structure of the OCT gene from C. lineata was compared with Arabidopsis thaliana, in which two genes consist of 5 exons and 4 introns. The nucleotide sequence of exons and deduced amino acid sequence exhibits 70% and 69% homology, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences show identical conserved "HPXQ" box, carbamoyl phosphate and ornithine binding sites. The introns of C. lineata OCT gene are larger than those of A. thaliana, except for intron 3. Genomic DNA blot analysis showed that a single ornithine-dependent OCT gene exists in the C. lineata genome.

Characterization of glk, a gene coding for glucose kinase of Corynebacterium glutamicum.

The glk gene from Corynebacterium glutamicum was isolated by complementation using Escherichia coli ZSC113 (ptsG ptsM glk). We sequenced a total of 3072 bp containing the 969-bp open reading frame encoding glucose kinase (Glk). The glk gene has a deduced molecular mass of 34.2 kDa and contains a typical ATP binding site. Comparison with protein sequences revealed homologies to Glk from Streptomyces coelicolor (43%) and Bacillus megaterium (35%). The glk gene in C. glutamicum was inactivated on the chromosome via single crossover homologous recombination and the resulting glk mutant was characterized. Interestingly, the C. glutamicum glk mutant showed poor growth on rich medium such as LB medium or brain heart infusion medium in the presence or absence of glucose, fructose, maltose or sucrose as the sole carbon source. Growth yield was reduced significantly when maltose was used as the sole carbon source using minimal medium. The growth defect of glk mutant on rich medium was complemented by a plasmid-encoded glk gene. A chromosomal glk-lacZ fusion was constructed and used to monitor glk expression, and it was found that glk was expressed constitutively under all tested conditions with different carbon sources.

Three-dimensional modeling and visualization of the cochlea on the Internet.

Three-dimensional (3-D) modeling and visualization of the cochlea using the World Wide Web (WWW) is an effective way of sharing anatomic information for cochlear implantation over the Internet, particularly for morphometry-based research and resident training in otolaryngology and neuroradiology. In this paper, 3-D modeling, visualization, and animation techniques are integrated in an interactive and platform-independent manner and implemented over the WWW. Cohen's template shape with mean cross-sectional areas of the human cochlea is extended into a 3-D geometrical model. Also, spiral computer tomography data of a patient's cochlea is digitally segmented and geometrically represented. The cochlear electrode array is synthesized according to its specification. Then, cochlear implantation is animated with both idealized and real cochlear models. Insertion length, angular position, and characteristic frequency of individual electrodes are estimated online during the virtual insertion. The optimization of the processing parameters is done to demonstrate the feasibility of this technology for clinical applications.