Localization of spots in FISH images of breast cancer using 3-D shape analysis.

The fluorescence in situ (FISH) belongs to the most often used molecular cytogenetic techniques, applied in many areas of diagnosis and research. The analysis of FISH images relies on localization and counting the red and green spots in order to determine HER2 status of the breast cancer samples. The algorithm of spot localization presented in the paper is based on 3-D shape analysis of the image objects. The subsequent regions of the image are matched to the reference pattern and the results of this matching influence localization of spots. The paper compares different shapes of the reference pattern and their efficiency in spot localization. The numerical experiments have been performed on the basis of 12 cases (patients), each represented by three images. Few thousands of cells have been analysed. The quantitative analyses comparing different versions of algorithm are presented and compared to the expert results. The best version of the procedure provides the absolute relative difference to the expert results smaller than 3%. These results confirm high efficiency of the proposed approach to the spot identification. The proposed method of FISH image analysis improves the efficiency of detecting fluorescent signals in FISH images. The evaluation results are encouraging for further testing of the developed automatic system directed to application in medical practice.

ECG beat recognition using fuzzy hybrid neural network.

This paper presents the application of the fuzzy neural network for electrocardiographic (ECG) beat recognition and classification. The new classification algorithm of the ECG beats, applying the fuzzy hybrid neural network and the features drawn from the higher order statistics has been proposed in the paper. The cumulants of the second, third, and fourth orders have been used for the feature selection. The hybrid fuzzy neural network applied in the solution consists of the fuzzy self-organizing subnetwork connected in cascade with the multilayer perceptron, working as the final classifier. The c-means and Gustafson-Kessel algorithms for the self-organization of the neural network have been applied. The results of experiments of recognition of different types of beats on the basis of the ECG waveforms have confirmed good efficiency of the proposed solution. The investigations show that the method may find practical application in the recognition and classification of different type heart beats.

[Pharmaceutical comparability of different therapeutic Echinacea preperations]. / Zur pharmazeutischen Vergleichbarkeit von therapeutisch verwendeten Echinacea-Präparaten.

Cichoric acid and Dodeca 2E, 4E, 8Z, 10E/Z-tetraenoic acid isobutylamide (alkamides 8, 9) are described as immunomodulating active components of Echinacea. We quantified both substances in 25 Echinacea-containing remedies customary in trade. Concerning both active components, we found highly concentrated remedies as well as remedies without any detectable cichoric acid or alkamides. The concentration of both active components varied extremely depending on the type of remedy (homeopathic mother tincture, pressed juice, tablets, spagyric tincture), on the Echinacea-species (Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, Echinacea purpurea) and on the part of the plant (root, herb, whole plant). Moreover, we found large differences between comparable drugs of different manufacturers and between different charges of the same remedy. We recommend that preclinical and clinical studies with Echinacea-containing drugs should always include the quantification of the potentially active components. We are convinced, that in the long term this will help to clarify how the different active components contribute to the immunomodulating effect of Echinacea.

Femoral stress fracture.

The following case report describes the history of a high school football player who complained of right anterior thigh pain, which worsened during the season. The team orthopedic surgeon made an initial diagnosis of a right rectus femoris strain. The athlete was treated and improved quickly. One week later, his condition worsened and he reported signs and symptoms similar to those experienced initially. A follow-up examination by the orthopedic surgeon revealed a femoral stress fracture to the proximal one-third (medial side) of the right femur. We describe the athlete's clinical findings, diagnostic tests, and rehabilitation program. We also discuss the pathophysiology and treatment principles relevant to the management of a femoral shaft stress fracture. The athlete has recovered and has returned to full athletic activity with no complications.

Recognition and classification of colon cells applying the ensemble of classifiers.

The paper presents the application of an ensemble of classifiers for the recognition of colon cells on the basis of the microscope colon image. The solved task include: segmentation of the individual cells from the image using the morphological operations, the preprocessing stages, leading to the extraction of features, selection of the most important features, and the classification stage applying the classifiers arranged in the form of ensemble. The paper presents and discusses the results concerning the recognition of four most important colon cell types: eosinophylic granulocyte, neutrophilic granulocyte, lymphocyte and plasmocyte. The proposed system is able to recognize the cells with the accuracy comparable to the human expert (around 5% of discrepancy of both results).

The decline of mink in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina: the role of contaminants.

Since the 1960s, mink (Mustela vision) populations in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina have declined, especially in the coastal plain. A prior study suggested that the decline may stem from environmental contaminants. Based on water quality data from each state, we identified 17 substances potentially related to the decline: aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, DDD, DDE, DDT, PCBs, chlordane, alpha-BHC, toxaphene, dibenzofuran, copper, chromium, cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury. Mink livers were analyzed for PCB and organochlorine pesticides, and kidneys and femurs were analyzed for metals. Reference sample concentrations from piedmont, mountain, and foothill locations were compared to state coastal plain totals and counties. PCBs for Georgia, dieldrin for South Carolina, and endrin and aldrin for North Carolina were significantly higher than the piedmont reference group. Liver PCB concentrations were higher than those known to cause mink reproductive dysfunction. Mercury concentrations were significantly higher in coastal plain mink from all three states and were in the range of those known to cause impacts to reproduction, growth, and behavior to wild mink. It is unknown what concentrations of cyclodienes cause reduced reproduction or other physiological effects in mink, but the levels reported here probably indicate background concentrations that do not contribute to the decline.

A watershed-based cumulative risk impact analysis: environmental vulnerability and impact criteria.

Swine Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) have received much attention in recent years. As a result, a watershed-based screening tool, the Cumulative Risk Index Analysis (CRIA), was developed to assess the cumulative impacts of multiple CAFO facilities in a watershed subunit. The CRIA formula calculates an index number based on: 1) the area of one or more facilities compared to the area of the watershed subunit, 2) the average of the environmental vulnerability criteria, and 3) the average of the industry-specific impact criteria. Each vulnerability or impact criterion is ranked on a 1 to 5 scale, with a low rank indicating low environmental vulnerability or impact and a high rank indicating high environmental vulnerability or impact. The individual criterion ranks, as well as the total CRIA score, can be used to focus the environmental analysis and facilitate discussions with industry, public, and other stakeholders in the Agency decision-making process.