A new brain tumor diagnostic model: Selection of textural feature extraction algorithms and convolution neural network features with optimization algorithms.

Brain tumors are one of the most dangerous diseases that affect human health and maybe result in death. Detection of brain tumors can be made by using biopsy. However, this is an invasive procedure. It is an extremely dangerous procedure because it can cause bleeding and damage certain brain functions. For this reason, the type and the stage of the disease can be determined after a detailed examination by medical imaging techniques made by field experts. In this study, a computer-based hybrid diagnostic model with high accuracy rate is proposed to diagnose normal brain and brain having types of tumors from brain images obtained by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. This diagnostic model consists of three stages. In the first stage, the features of the images were obtained with two different traditional methods, which are widely used in the literature, and the results were examined. In the second stage, different convolutional neural networks that can learn comprehensive information about images were used and the results were tested by obtaining the features of the images. In the third stage, all the feature sets that are obtained were combined, and genetic algorithms, particle swarm optimization technique and artificial bee colony optimization techniques were used for feature selection. The common features of the optimization techniques were used only once. Thus, metaheuristic optimization algorithms were used for feature selection and distinctive features of the images appeared. Feature sets were classified using support vector machine kernels. The proposed diagnostic model is better than the directly used methods with an accuracy rate of 98.22%. Consequently, this method can also be used in clinic service to diagnose tumor by using images of brain MRI.

Netherton syndrome associated with idiopathic congenital hemihypertrophy.

Netherton syndrome is a rare genodermatosis comprised of anichthyosiform dermatitis, hair shaft defects, and atopic features. Other problems associated with Netherton syndrome are delayed growth and development, immune abnormalities, recurrent infections, and intermittent aminoaciduria. We describe an 18-month-old girl with Netherton syndrome who had idiopathic congenital hemihypertrophy on her right side with contralateral benign nephromegaly in addition to the characteristic clinical signs of the syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first case of Netherton syndrome associated with idiopathic congenital hemihypertrophy to be reported.

Treatment of arsenical keratosis and Bowen's disease with acitretin.

BACKGROUND: Long-term exposure to arsenic is associated with the development of arsenical keratosis, Bowen's disease, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma. The efficacy of acitretin therapy was examined in two patients with cutaneous arsenical neoplasms. METHODS: Lipid profile, hematological and liver function tests were performed regularly during the therapy at monthly intervals. RESULTS: After the third month of treatment, improvement of lesions of arsenical keratosis and Bowen's disease were observed in both patients. For the first patient who received 1 mg/kg daily acitretin for 10 months nearly total clearing was obtained at the end of therapy. The second patient discontinued the treatment after a period of 5 months because of symptomatic side-effects. During therapy no new lesions and no laboratory side-effects were observed in either patient. CONCLUSIONS: Although these results need to be confirmed by larger, long-term trials, it appears that acitretin is effective in the treatment of Bowen's disease related with arsenic, as well as arsenical keratosis.

Interferon alfa-2a in the treatment of Behçet disease: a randomized placebo-controlled and double-blind study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the therapeutic efficacy of interferon alfa-2a in the treatment of Behçet disease. DESIGN: A randomized placebo-controlled and double-blind study. SETTING: University referral center. PATIENTS: Fifty patients with Behçet disease were involved in the study. INTERVENTION: The patients were given interferon alfa-2a, 6 x 10(6) IU, subcutaneously 3 times per week or placebo for 3 months, and examined clinically at weekly intervals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: For each mucocutaneous lesion and articular symptom, the mean frequency and duration were evaluated during the 3-month pretreatment, treatment, and follow-up periods. Pain for oral and genital ulcers was scored on a scale of 0 to 3. The ocular inflammatory score, the frequency of attacks, and changes in visual acuities for patients with ocular involvement were assessed before the study, at the end of treatment, and during the follow-up periods. In addition, overall responses at the end of the treatment period were graded as follows: complete remission, disappearance of all clinical signs and symptoms during treatment; partial remission, greater than a 50% decrease in the frequency, duration, and severity of pain for oral and genital ulcers and/or a decrease in the severity and frequency of ocular attacks; stable disease, less than a 50% change in the clinical signs and symptoms; and no effect or deterioration, ineffectiveness or worsening of clinical signs and symptoms. RESULTS: Twenty-three interferon alfa-2a- and 21 placebo-treated patients, ranging in age from 16 to 55 years (mean +/- SD age, 32.38 +/- 7.94 years), were evaluable for efficacy. Interferon alfa-2a treatment significantly decreased the duration (P=.02) and pain (P=.01) of oral ulcers and the frequency of genital ulcers (P=.03) and papulopustular lesions (P=.01). The mean frequency and duration of erythema nodosum-like lesions (P=.77 and.27, respectively), thrombophlebitis (P=.29 and.61, respectively), and articular symptoms (P=.92 and.74, respectively) also decreased. But there were no statistically significant differences. An improvement in the severity and the frequency of ocular attacks occurred in 5 of 6 patients in the interferon alfa-2a-treated group and in 1 of 3 patients in the placebo-treated group. Of the 23 patients in the interferon alfa-2a-treated group, 15 responded to treatment (2 complete and 13 partial responses); and of the 21 patients in the placebo group, 3 responded to treatment (3 partial responses) (P<.005). CONCLUSION: Interferon alfa-2a is an effective alternative treatment for Behçet disease, particularly for the management of the mucocutaneous lesions of the disease.