Remote Estimation of Video-Based Vital Signs in Emotion Invocation Studies.

The goal of this study is to examine the influence of various imitated and video invoked emotions on the vital signs (respiratory and pulse rates). We also perform an analysis of the possibility to extract signals from sequences acquired with cost-effective cameras. The preliminary results show that the respiratory rate allows for better separation of some emotions than the pulse rate, yet this relation highly depends on a subject. The invoked positive emotion resulted in a respiratory rate difference >1.8 bpm, comparing to the average respiration rate of all neutral results (in 89% of observations). Visual facial expression in many cases was insufficient for emotion recognition (in video based experiment only 11.4% of visual responses were classified as an expected emotion).

Pose-Invariant Face Detection by Replacing Deep Neurons with Capsules for Thermal Imagery in Telemedicine.

The aim of this work was to examine the potential of thermal imaging as a cost-effective tool for convenient, nonintrusive remote monitoring of elderly people in different possible head orientations, without imposing specific behavior on users, e.g., looking toward the camera. Illumination and pose invariant head tracking is important for many medical applications as it can provide information, e.g., about vital signs, sensory experiences, injuries, wellbeing. In the performed experiments, we investigated the influence of different modifications of images (rotation, displacement of facial features, and displacement of facial quarters) on the prediction accuracy. Specifically, two models were tested on the set of collected low-resolution thermal images: Inception V3 Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Hinton's Capsule Network. The preliminary results confirm that the prediction ability of the model based on capsules can deal with different head orientations much better than CNN (for the 45° head rotation Capsule Network achieved ~% accuracy while CNN only 9.5%).

Long Distance Vital Signs Monitoring with Person Identification for Smart Home Solutions.

Imaging photoplethysmography has already been proved to be successful in short distance (below 1m). However, most of the real-life use cases of measuring vital signs require the system to work at longer distances, to be both more reliable and convenient for the user. The possible scenarios that system designers must have in mind include monitoring of the vital signs of residents in nursing homes, disabled people, who can't move, constant support for people regardless of the performed activity (e.g., during sleeping), infants, etc. In this work we verified the possibility of remote pulse estimation at a distance above 5m. Additionally, we integrated the deep learning algorithm for person tracking and identification, even when facial features are not visible. In this way, we enabled the collection of user specific measurements to create personalized vital signs patterns and we provided the support for monitoring of multiple people using one video stream. The preliminary results showed that it is possible to accurately (RMSE $< 2.8$ beats per minute) extract pulse from visible light sequences acquired with a webcam at a distance of 6m after applying a proper image pre-processing algorithm.

The motion influence on respiration rate estimation from low-resolution thermal sequences during attention focusing tasks.

Global aging has led to a growing expectancy for creating home-based platforms for indoor monitoring of elderly people. A motivation is to provide a non-intrusive technique, which does not require special activities of a patient but allows for remote monitoring of elderly people while assisting them with their daily activities. The goal of our study was to evaluate motion performed by a person focused on a specific task and check if this motion disrupts estimation of respiration rate. The preliminary results show that it is possible to reliable estimate respiration rate by focusing attention of a patient on a certain activity. The respiratory rate analyzed for silent reading task was estimated with mean error 0.27 breaths per minute (bpm), while for reading aloud task with 1.18 bpm. The observed head motion during the reading aloud task was 1.5 higher that for silent reading and about two times smaller for a case in which subjects were not focused on any task.

Amniotic band syndrome in dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Amniotic band syndrome (ABS) is a rare disorder which leads to a number of deformities of the fetus body. The treatment depends on the severity of the defect and the extent of the deformity. CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old primigravida with a dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twin pregnancy was diagnosed during the first-trimester ultrasonography with fetal lower part edema of one twin caused by amniotic bands. A selective termination of the affected fetus was performed. The remainder part of the pregnancy was normal. A healthy newborn was delivered at term. After delivering the placenta, the presence of fetus papyraceus was detected. The amniotic bands were unidentifiable in the pathologist's examination. A reliable ultrasonographic diagnosis enables the detecting ABS in early pregnancy. CONCLUSION: In the case of ABS in DCDA twin pregnancy, conducting a selective termination of the affected fetus creates the opportunity for the proper development of the healthy fetus as well as reaching its full maturity. HIPPOKRATIA 2017, 21(1): 46-48.

Alterations in mtDNA: a qualitative and quantitative study associated with cervical cancer development.

OBJECTIVE: High-risk human papillomaviruses are the causative agent of cervical carcinogenesis. Additionally, a number of other unknown factors are also instrumental in the development of cancer. The aim of this present study was the analysis of the mutations in the D-loop region of mitochondrial DNA, and 4.997 bp deletion during cervical cancer development. Our research also extended to the relationship between mtDNA copy number, ROS (reactive oxygen species) production and the MnSOD (manganese superoxide dismutase) expression level. METHODS: The study group consisted of postoperative tissues from patients diagnosed with L-SIL, H-SIL and squamous cell cervical carcinomas. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the copy number of the mitochondrial DNA, and MnSOD mRNA expression levels. A PCR amplification and a sequencing of DNA were used for the identification of HPV DNA and mtDNA mutations. RESULTS: A total of 62 point mutations in the D-loop region of mtDNA were found in study patients. The mitochondrial DNA copy number increased during cervical cancer development when compared to the corresponding tissues in the control samples. About 70% of the mtDNA copy number have a 4.997 bp deletion in L-SIL. We also observed an increase in ROS generation during cervical cancer development. CONCLUSION: Alterations in mtDNA both qualitatively (by mutations) and quantitatively (by mtDNA copy number) are associated with cervical cancer developments. High levels of mtDNA copy with a 4.997 bp deletion in L-SIL cells can be associated with the susceptibility of cells to HPV persistent infection and cervical cancer development.

Association of the IGF-I promoter P1 polymorphism with risk of cervical cancer.

Human papillomaviruses (HPV16, HPV18, HPV31, HPV33) are etiological agents in the development of cervical cancer. HPVs infect epithelial cells and depend on epithelial differentiation for the completion of their life cycle. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a potent mitogen involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis of many cell types including normal and transformed epithelial cells. Deregulation of IGF-I expression and action is linked to diverse pathologies including cancer. A polymorphism in the P1 promoter region of the IGF-I gene may directly influence its expression. Using the PCR-SSCP method and sequencing of DNA, we identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at -383(C>T) position of promoter P1 of the IGF-I in 16% of the study HPV-positive women with precancerous and cancerous lesions. In vitro, we observed that the SNP at-383(C>T) site significantly increased the reporter gene expresion in the HepG2 cell line, but not in the HeLa cell line relative to the wild type promoter. It suggests that the studied SNP can change expression of the IGF-I gene in distinct ways in different types of tissues. Deregulation of expression of the IGF-I gene can affect normal epithelium development and in case of HPV infection can potentially disrupt the virus life cycle and stimulate its passage into the oncogenic life cycle or persistent viral infections. Therefore, we propose that SNP C>T at the -383 position of P1 promoter may be one of the helpful prognostic markers in the diagnosis of cervical cancer development of women with persistent infection in the ectocervical epithelium. We have not found any association between the polymorphism CA repeats in the promoter P1 region of the IGF-I gene and suceptibility to HPV infection and cervical cancer development. The (CA)19 allele was the most common in the study of this group of women.

The prevalence of leptotrichia amnionii in cervical swabs of HPV positive and negative women.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Leptotrichia amnionii in cervical swabs of women and its possible correlation with HPV infection and the stage of cervical cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 139 cervical swabs from healthy women with normal cytology, with dysplastic changes and with cervical cancer were tested for the presence of L.amnionii and high-risk HPV DNA by PCR methods. RESULTS: L. amnionii was found in normal vaginal flora and in women with bacterial vaginosis (BV), which suggests that it may be oportunistic pathogen. L. amnionii infection was diagnosed in 13.7% (19/139). Statistical analysis showed that there was positive association (p < 0.01) between the presence of L.amnionii in women with cervical cancer (38.5%) and its presence in women without cancer (11.1%). On the other hand, there was no statistically significant association between L.amnionii and HPV infections. CONCLUSION: The data presented in this study show for the first time the prevalence of L. amnionii infection in cervical specimens collected from 2004-2006 in Poznan and Lublin, Poland, and its association with HPV infection and the stage of carcinogenesis of the cervix.

Analysis of expression and structure of the TSG101 gene in cervical cancer cells.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-mediated transformation of human epithelial cells has been recognized as a multi-step process in which additional unknown factors and (epi)genetic events are required. The tumor susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101) was discovered in mouse NIH3T3 fibroblast cells as a gene whose functional knockout leads to transformation. TSG101 protein is involved in a variety of important biological functions, such as ubiquitination, transcriptional regulation, endosomal trafficking, virus budding, proliferation and cell survival. It is suggested that TSG101 is an important factor for maintaining cellular homeostasis and that perturbation of TSG101 functions leads to cell transformation. Interestingly, a recent report showed up- or down-regulation of TSG101 in several human malignancies. At present, the role of TSG101 in cervical tumorigenesis is unexplained. TSG101 expression in tumors, where carcinogenesis is connected with viral infection, and a mechanism of TSG101 expression regulation in cancer cells are also unknown. The aim of our study was to estimate the TSG101 mRNA and protein level in cervical cancer and non-tumor epithelial cells. We also analyzed the TSG101 coding and promoter sequence using the PCR-SSCP technique and methylation pattern of the TSG101 promoter. Our real-time PCR and Western blot analysis showed decreased TSG101 mRNA and protein level in cervical cancer tissue in comparison to normal (non-tumor) HPV(-) and HPV16(+) epithelial cells. Our results suggest that TSG101 down-regulation in cervical cancer cells is not regulated by genetic or epigenetic events. However, we detected novel single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter of this gene.

Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and herpes simplex virus 2 in cervical carcinoma associated with human papillomavirus detected in paraffin-sectioned samples.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of occurrence of HPV and co-infection: Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis and HSV-2 in cervical cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 570 paraffin-sectioned samples of patients with cervical cancer. In order to identify viral and bacterial DNA in DNA isolated from archival, postoperative material, PCR analysis was performed using starters complementary to various types of HPV, HSV-2 and C. trachomatis. RESULTS: In patients with squamous cell cervical cancer the presence of 33 types of HPV was found in 90% (468/520). HPV 16 infections occurred in 69.4% (325/468), while HPV 18 infections were present in 30.5% (143/468) of cases. In the control group C. trachomatis and HSV-2 were observed in four cases (4/50), which constitute 8.0%. In the tissue sections from patients with squamous cell cervical carcinoma, C. trachomatis was identified in 26% (135/520) and HSV-2 in 28% (145/520). In the group of patients with adenocarcinoma C. trachomatis infections were found in 24% (12/50) and herpes virus was identified in 30% (15/50). Statistically significantly higher frequency of occurrence of HSV-2 and C. trachomatis was observed in paraffin-sectioned samples for patients with invasive cervical cancer compared to the control group, without neoplastic lesions (p < 0.05). No correlation was found between frequency of occurrence of HPV and C. trachomatis and of HPV and HSV-2 detected in paraffin-sectioned samples for cervical carcinoma.

Chlamydia trachomatis and herpes simplex virus 2 infection in vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia associated with human papillomavirus.

BACKGROUND: The role of viral and bacterial co-infection is stressed in VIN. A view that VIN is a sexually transmitted disease made the area of research larger and stimulated scientists to seek other sexually transmitted factors, among which Chlamydia trachomatis and Herpes simplex are frequently examined. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of occurrence of HPV DNA and the frequency of co-infection with Herpes virus type 2 and Chlamydia trachomatis in VIN. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We identified archival diagnostic phase tissue specimens from 41 cases of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia III. From the same paraffin blocks containing material from the margins of surgical sections during vulvectomy, normal epithelial tissue fragments were collected. They constituted the control group. Lesion characteristics were examined in comparison with the presence of HPV DNA, HSV-2 and Chlamydia trachomatsis. Identification was performed using PCR. RESULTS: In the study group HPV infection was found in 75.6% of cases. In 73% of cases it was HPV 16. In the control group we found HPV 16 DNA in only one case (2.43%). In the HPV positive study group HPV 16 was found in 30 (30/31) cases. In only one case (1/31) it was HPV 18 type. In the study group of 41 cases with VIN, HSV-2 infection was found in six cases (14.63%). In comparison with the control group (9.75%) the difference was not statistically significant. The frequency of occurrence of Chlamydia trachomatis in the analyzed study material was 14.63% (6/41) and in the control group it was 9.75% (4/41). The difference was not statistically significant. Statistical analyses of correlations between the occurrence of DNA HPV and HSV-2 as well as of HPV and Chlamydia trachomatis showed no correlation in either case. CONCLUSION: No correlation was found between the frequency of occurrence of HPV and HSV-2 and HPV and Chlamydia trachomatis in either group.

Apoptosis of HeLa cell lines incubated with retinol.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate a soluble form of APO-1/Fas antigen in supernatants from HeLa cell line culture after 24 and 72 h of incubation with selected retinoic acid concentrations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HPV18-positive cell lines were cultivated with All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) at concentrations of 1 x 10(-6) and 1 x 10(-9) M. The cultures were incubated for 24 and 72 h. A control culture with 3 microl of DMSO was incubated under identical conditions. The concentrations of soluble APO-1/Fas antigen in cell culture supernatants were estimated using an ELISA method. RESULTS: The culture with 72-h incubation with retinoic acid proved to be toxic to cells and was excluded from the analysis. The results obtained showed a significantly lower concentrations of soluble APO-1/Fas antigen in supernatants from cell lines incubated with retinol for 24 h than in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The higher concentrations of soluble APO-1/Fas antigen in supernatants from the HeLa cell line without retinol may constitute a protective mechanism of the cells infected with the virus before undergoing Fas/FasL-dependent apoptosis. Lower concentrations of sAPO-1/Fas antigen in the supernatant from HeLa cell culture incubated with retinol may suggest that mechanisms protecting infected cells against Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis become defective under the influence of retinol. Our studies confirm that Vitamin A and its analogues inhibit the proliferation of cells associated with HPV infection and suggest promising effects of retinoid therapy in inhibiting the progression of early cervical lesions to cancer.

The pathophysiology of HOX genes and their role in cancer.

The HOM-C clustered prototype homeobox genes of Drosophila, and their counterparts, the HOX genes in humans, are highly conserved at the genomic level. These master regulators of development continue to be expressed throughout adulthood in various tissues and organs. The physiological and patho-physiological functions of this network of genes are being avidly pursued within the scientific community, but defined roles for them remain elusive. The order of expression of HOX genes within a cluster is co-ordinated during development, so that the 3' genes are expressed more anteriorly and earlier than the 5' genes. Mutations in HOXA13 and HOXD13 are associated with disorders of limb formation such as hand-foot-genital syndrome (HFGS), synpolydactyly (SPD), and brachydactyly. Haematopoietic progenitors express HOX genes in a pattern characteristic of the lineage and stage of differentiation of the cells. In leukaemia, dysregulated HOX gene expression can occur due to chromosomal translocations involving upstream regulators such as the MLL gene, or the fusion of a HOX gene to another gene such as the nucleoporin, NUP98. Recent investigations of HOX gene expression in leukaemia are providing important insights into disease classification and prediction of clinical outcome. Whereas the oncogenic potential of certain HOX genes in leukaemia has already been defined, their role in other neoplasms is currently being studied. Progress has been hampered by the experimental approach used in many studies in which the expression of small subsets of HOX genes was analysed, and complicated by the functional redundancy implicit in the HOX gene system. Attempts to elucidate the function of HOX genes in malignant transformation will be enhanced by a better understanding of their upstream regulators and downstream target genes.

DNA adducts in squamous cell cervical carcinomas associated with HPV infection.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was qualitative and quantitative evaluation of DNA adducts in squamous cell cervical carcinomas associated with oncogenic HPV infection. MATERIAL: The study material consisted of oncogenic tissue collected during the surgeries of seven women aged 37 to 52 who were undergoing surgical treatment due to squamous cell cervical carcinoma. The control group consisted of 3 tissue fragments from morphologically normal cervix collected from patients undergoing surgery due to uterine myomas. METHODS: DNA from the tissues was isolated using Genomic Prep Plus kit from A&A Biotechnology, Austria. Amplification reactions detecting HPV DNA presence in the tissue fragments were performed using specific starters allowing for amplification of conservative genome fragments within L1, E6 and E7 Papilloma viruses. After extraction, the DNA specimens underwent enzymatic digestion to nucleotides and marked on the 5' end using gamma32P-post labeling technique. Division and quantitative evaluation of DNA adducts was performed using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on PEI-cellulose plates. Qualitative radioactivity measurements were performed using Bio-Imaging analyzer in quantitative mode. RESULTS: In all fragments, including the control, HPV 16 and/or 18 DNA was found. Mean adduct content in cervical carcinoma tissues was 289 adducts per 10(9) nucleotides and was higher than mean adduct content in control tissues (57 adducts per 10(9) nucleotides). CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that the content of DNA adducts in squamous cell cervical cancer associated with HPV infection may serve as a molecular marker of oncogenesis in this organ.

A rare case of pregnancy and delivery of a healthy neonate by a woman with microprolactinoma and review of the literature.

A rare case of a term-pregnancy and delivery in a patient with microprolactinoma is presented. The patient had been treated with bromocriptine since she was 17 due to primary amenorrhea for 60 months with short intervals. Pharmacological tests with dopamine antagonists and X-ray diagnostics revealed the presence of microprolactinoma. The patient was constantly under specialist endocrinological care and the level of prolactin in her blood serum was continuously being monitored. After getting pregnant she was placed under strict gynecological scrutiny with special attention devoted to the developing fetus and possible congenital defects. The patient continued receiving bromocriptine therapy up to the 16th week of pregnancy. In the course of pregnancy in the 26th week, a circular suture was placed on the uterine cervix due to symptoms of isthmus-cervical insufficiency. In the 38th week of pregnancy a cesarean (C) section was performed and a healthy child in good general condition (Apgar score 10) was born. The child weighed 2,900 grams.

Content of folic acid and free homocysteine in blood serum of human papillomavirus-infected women with cervical dysplasia.

The authors estimated the concentrations of folic acid and free homocysteine in the blood serum of women with CIN III (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-Burghard's classification) infected with DNA HPV (human papillomaviruses) of type 16 and/or 18. The control group consisted of 49 patients with normal cytological smears without HPV infection. Types 16 and/or 18 DNA HPV were found in 50 patients. This women qualified for the studied group. The sequence of DNA HPV type 16 and/or 18 was identified with the PCR method (polymerase chain reaction). The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was employed to evaluate the levels of folic acid and free homocysteine in the blood serum of the examined patients. Significantly lower levels of folic acid and higher levels of free homocysteine were observed in the blood serum of HPV-positive patients with CIN III. The correlation was found between serum concentrations of folic acid and free homocysteine in both groups.

Evaluation of DNA mismatch repair system in cervical dysplasias and invasive carcinomas related to HPV infection.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to answer the question whether the products of hMSH2 and hMLH1 genes take part in the mutation track of cervical carcinoma. METHODS: IgG1 monoclonal antibodies (Pharmingen) detecting epitopes characteristic of hMLH1 and hMSH2 were used in the present study. The value of the half-quantitative H-score coefficient was calculated. Its threshold value was 0.4. Identification of 16 and 18 HPV types was performed by PCR. RESULTS: An intensified hMLH1 protein expression was observed both in the squamous epithelial carcinomas and cervical adenocarcinomas (H-score of 1.44 and 0.98, respectively) as compared to the control (H-score of 0.9). However, a decreased expression of hMSH2 protein was observed in the analysed cases of carcinoma (0.9 and 0.7) as compared to the control group (1.2). An intensified expression in G3 for hMLH1 and higher hMLH1 in comparison to hMSH2 was observed. CONCLUSIONS: 1. A considerable expression of hMLH1 and hMLH1 proteins was observed in the tissues with invasive cervical carcinoma not only within epithelial but also in stromal cells. 2. More intense expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 was observed in invasive carcinomas and CIN than in the non-neoplastic cervical tissue lesions (erosion). 3. A stronger expression was observed for the hMLH1 than for the hMSH2 proteins--contrary to the cases of carcinomas of the uterine corpus and endometrial carcinoma.

[PCR and Digene Hybride Capture System I in identification of human papillomavirus]. / Zastosowanie metody PCR oraz Digene Hybride Capture System I do identyfikacji DNA wirusów Papilloma.

We have analyzed and compared two different systems used in identification of DNA HPV. 100 samples obtained from patients with I degree and II degree Papanicolaou smears and 200 from patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia were analyzed. The obtained data indicate higher sensitivity of the PCR method compared to Digene Hybride Capture System.

Relationship between HPV infection of the cervix and blood serum levels of steroid hormones among pre- and postmenopausal women.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are frequently present in anogenital lesions but little is known about their role in carcinogenesis. There are steroid hormone response elements in virus genomes that influence expression patterns of viral genes. Activity of the elements may contribute to development of neoplasia in case of hormone level anomalies. Our study was to determine whether the presence of HPV DNA in cervical smears correlates with abnormal levels, of steroid hormones in blood serum. One hundred women aged 40-62 participated in the tests and were divided into two groups: premenopausal and postmenopausal (45 and 55 individuals, respectively). Presence of HPV DNA in cervical smears was detected by PCR and Southern blot hybridisation. Progesterone and estradiol levels in blood serum were measured by radioimmunoassay. Our study showed a higher prevalence of HPV DNA in women with higher levels of progesterone in blood serum. A relationship between hormone level and HPV DNA prevalence should alert clinicians about using hormone contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy.

[Frequency of human papillomavirus-herpes simplex-cytomegalovirus and Chlamydia trachomatis infection in genital tracts of sexual partners]. / Czestosc wystepowania infekcji wirusowych brodawczaka ludzkiego, opryszczki plciowej, cytomegalii oraz chlamydia trachomatis w narzadach plciowych partnerów seksualnych.

OBJECTIVES: Much attention is given nowadays to the role of Human Papillomavirus, Herpes simplex virus, Cytomegalovirus, and Chlamydia trachomatis--infections in cervical carcinogenesis. Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex and Chlamydia trachomatis are now thought to be teratogenic to humans. DESIGN: We investigated the prevalence of HPV, HSV, CMV and Chlamydia trachomatis in genital tracts of sexual partners. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 90 sexual partners were qualified for the research. Examination smears were taken with the dacron swab from the vaginal part of the uterine cervix, cervical canal, the lower vagina from women and from fossa navicularis penis in men. In the group of 67 men we have investigated semen as well. HPV, HSV, CMV and Chlamydia trachomatis were identified using PCR (Polymerse Chain Reaction)--method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In 48% of investigated sexual partners we proved the presence of Human Papillomavirus, in 2.2% of women and 2.9% of men--Cytomegalovirus and in 11.1% of women and 14.9% of men--Chlamydia trachomatis. In the investigated biological material we did not find any HSV infection.