Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir for early-stage HCV infection cost effective

2018 ◽  
Vol 809 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-36
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Hcv Infection

Review of Various Tasks Performed in the Preprocessing Phase of a Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis System

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-426
Author(s):  
Muhammad Nadeem Ashraf ◽  
Muhammad Hussain ◽  
Zulfiqar Habib
Keyword(s):  
Diabetic Retinopathy ◽  
Blood Vessels ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Spherical Shape ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Lesion Detection ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Cad System ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Optic Discs

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of blindness in diabetic patients. The increasing population of diabetic patients and difficulty to diagnose it at an early stage are limiting the screening capabilities of manual diagnosis by ophthalmologists. Color fundus images are widely used to detect DR lesions due to their comfortable, cost-effective and non-invasive acquisition procedure. Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD) of DR based on these images can assist ophthalmologists and help in saving many sight years of diabetic patients. In a CAD system, preprocessing is a crucial phase, which significantly affects its performance. Commonly used preprocessing operations are the enhancement of poor contrast, balancing the illumination imbalance due to the spherical shape of a retina, noise reduction, image resizing to support multi-resolution, color normalization, extraction of a field of view (FOV), etc. Also, the presence of blood vessels and optic discs makes the lesion detection more challenging because these two artifacts exhibit specific attributes, which are similar to those of DR lesions. Preprocessing operations can be broadly divided into three categories: 1) fixing the native defects, 2) segmentation of blood vessels, and 3) localization and segmentation of optic discs. This paper presents a review of the state-of-the-art preprocessing techniques related to three categories of operations, highlighting their significant aspects and limitations. The survey is concluded with the most effective preprocessing methods, which have been shown to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the CAD systems.

scholarly journals Comparison of saliva with healthcare workers- and patient-collected swabs in the diagnosis of COVID-19 in a large cohort

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitnala Sasikala ◽  
Yelamanchili Sadhana ◽  
Ketavarapu Vijayasarathy ◽  
Anand Gupta ◽  
Sarala Kumari Daram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
Detection Sensitivity ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Qrt Pcr ◽  
Asymptomatic Patients ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Background A considerable amount of evidence demonstrates the potential of saliva in the diagnosis of COVID-19. Our aim was to determine the sensitivity of saliva versus swabs collected by healthcare workers (HCWs) and patients themselves to assess whether saliva detection can be offered as a cost-effective, risk-free method of SARS-CoV-2 detection. Methods This study was conducted in a hospital involving outpatients and hospitalized patients. A total of 3018 outpatients were tested. Of these, 200 qRT-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2-positive patients were recruited for further study. In addition, 101 SARS-CoV-2-positive hospitalized patients with symptoms were also enrolled in the study. From outpatients, HCWs collected nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS), saliva were obtained. From inpatients, HCWs collected swabs, patient-collected swabs, and saliva were obtained. qRT-PCR was performed to detect SARS-CoV-2 by TAQPATH assay to determine the sensitivity of saliva detection. Sensitivity, specificity and positive/negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) of detecting SARS-CoV-2 were calculated using MedCalc. Results Of 3018 outpatients (asymptomatic: 2683, symptomatic: 335) tested by qRT-PCR, 200 were positive (males: 140, females: 60; aged 37.9 ± 12.8 years; (81 asymptomatic, 119 symptomatic). Of these, saliva was positive in 128 (64%); 39 of 81 asymptomatic (47%),89 of 119 symptomatic patients (74.8%). Sensitivity of detection was 60.9% (55.4–66.3%, CI 95%), with a negative predictive value of 36%(32.9–39.2%, CI 95%).Among 101 hospitalized patients (males:65, females: 36; aged 53.48 ± 15.6 years), with HCW collected NPS as comparator, sensitivity of saliva was 56.1% (47.5–64.5, CI 95%), specificity 63.5%(50.4–75.3, CI95%) with PPV of 77.2% and NPV of 39.6% and that of self-swab was 52.3%(44–60.5%, CI95%), specificity 56.6% (42.3–70.2%, CI95%) with PPV 77.2% and NPV29.7%. Comparison of positivity with the onset of symptoms revealed highest detection in saliva on day 3 after onset of symptoms. Additionally, only saliva was positive in 13 (12.8%) hospitalized patients. Conclusion Saliva which is easier to collect than nasopharyngeal swab is a viable alternate to detect SARS-COV-2 in symptomatic patients in the early stage of onset of symptoms. Although saliva is currently not recommended for screening asymptomatic patients, optimization of collection and uniform timing of sampling might improve the sensitivity enabling its use as a screening tool at community level.

scholarly journals Breast Thermograms Asymmetry Analysis using Gabor filters

2021 ◽  
Vol 309 ◽  
pp. 01109
Author(s):  
Priyanka Yadlapalli ◽  
Madhavi K Reddy ◽  
Sunitha Gurram ◽  
J Avanija ◽  
K Meenakshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Gabor Filters ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Svm Classifier ◽  
Infrared Thermal Imaging ◽  
Younger Women ◽  
Early Diagnosis Of Cancer ◽  
Diagnosis Of Cancer

Women are far more likely than males to acquire breast cancer, and current research indicates that this is entirely avoidable. It is also to blame for higher death rates among younger women compared to older women in nearly all developing nations. Medical imaging modalities are continuously in need of development. A variety of medical techniques have been employed to detect breast cancer in women. The most recent studies support mammography for breast cancer screening, although its sensitivity and specificity remain suboptimal, particularly in individuals with thick breast tissue, such as young women. As a result, alternative modalities, such as thermography, are required. Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI), as it is known, detects and records temperature changes on the skin’s surface. Thermography is well-known for its non-invasive, painless, cost-effective, and high recovery rates, as well as its potential to identify breast cancer at an early stage. Gabor filters are used to extract the textural characteristics of the left and right breasts. Using a support vector machine, the thermograms are then classified as normal or malignant based on textural asymmetry between the breasts (SVM). The accuracy achieved by combining Gabor features with an SVM classifier is around 84.5 percent. The early diagnosis of cancer with thermography enhances the patient’s chances of survival significantly since it may detect the disease in its early stages.

scholarly journals Point-of-care serodiagnostic test for early-stage Lyme disease using a multiplexed paper-based immunoassay and machine learning

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyou-Arm Joung ◽  
Zachary S. Ballard ◽  
Jing Wu ◽  
Derek K. Tseng ◽  
Hailemariam Teshome ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Diagnostic Algorithm ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Optimal Subset ◽  
Antigen Peptide ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Threshold Tuning

ABSTRACTCaused by the tick-borne spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, Lyme disease (LD) is the most common vector-borne infectious disease in North America and Europe. Though timely diagnosis and treatment are effective in preventing disease progression, current tests are insensitive in early-stage LD, with a sensitivity <50%. Additionally, the serological testing currently recommended by the US Center for Disease Control has high costs (>$400/test) and extended sample-to-answer timelines (>24 hours). To address these challenges, we created a cost-effective and rapid point-of-care (POC) test for early-stage LD that assays for antibodies specific to seven Borrelia antigens and a synthetic peptide in a paper-based multiplexed vertical flow assay (xVFA). We trained a deep learning-based diagnostic algorithm to select an optimal subset of antigen/peptide targets, and then blindly-tested our xVFA using human samples (N(+) = 42, N(−)= 54), achieving an area-under-the-curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of 0.950, 90.5%, and 87.0% respectively, outperforming previous LD POC tests. With batch-specific standardization and threshold tuning, the specificity of our blind-testing performance improved to 96.3%, with an AUC and sensitivity of 0.963 and 85.7%, respectively.

Quality Assurance Methods Applied For Exposed-Aggregate Concrete Pavement Construction

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Glinicki ◽  
Michal Glinicki
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Traffic Noise ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Special Treatment ◽  
Aggregate Concrete ◽  
Adverse Weather ◽  
Pavement Construction

The exposed aggregate pavement technology for construction of concrete highways is used in European countries, including Poland, mostly for heavy trafficked roads. It is mainly a two-lift slip-form technology with a special treatment of the top surface after the final smoothing operation. This is a demanding technology that leaves a little margin for mistakes. When properly done the pavement layer with exposed aggregates ensures designed skid resistance for vehicle wheels even in adverse weather conditions without excessive traffic noise. The challenge is to provide its cost-effective long term performance including both the adequate roughness and the desired smoothness of the pavement. The paper presents tools and methods for construction quality assurance specific for exposed aggregate concrete pavements. Required monitoring of the stability of concrete mix properties is discussed. The importance of concrete curing is analyzed in respect to the long term durability in wet-freeze regions with heavy use of deicing salts. Macrotexture assessment at the early stage of pavement construction is seen as the key factor for assurance of the proper skidding resistance. Local evaluation of smoothness is also a useful approach to assure the target IRI. Examples of quality assurance efforts applied on concrete highways recently constructed in Poland are presented.

scholarly journals Study of clinical profile of cervical cancer patients: a hospital based study

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 4873
Author(s):  
Preeti Umate ◽  
Dhuldev S. Thengal ◽  
Dhundiraj Kurdukar
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Past History ◽  
Clinical Stage ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Educational Status ◽  
Clinical Staging ◽  
Common Symptom ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Quality Cancer Care

Background: As a consequence of growing and ageing populations, developing countries are disproportionately affected by the increasing number of cancers. Though the situation in India is gradually improving there still exists a disparity between the availability of quality cancer care. With this view, the present study was planned to undertake in this tertiary care institute to find out symptoms, clinical staging, complications and management of cases of carcinoma of cervix.Methods: This was a prospective observational study of carcinoma of cervix carried out at a tertiary care hospital catering services to the people of Maharashtra and neighbouring states. A thorough history including presenting complaints, demographic details, educational status and occupational details, details of menstrual and obstetric history along with any significant past history were recorded on a standard proforma.Results: Most common symptom was per vaginal bleeding which was found in 29 (69.04%). In the present study almost two third of cases i.e. 28 (66.6%) had advanced stage (IIB, III, IV) at the time of admission while the number of cases diagnosed at early stage were only 14 (33.3%). For Wertheim’s hysterectomy, most commonly used approach was transperitoneal 08 (61.53%) while 05 (38.46%) were operated by extraperitoneal approach. Pelvic lymph nodes were positive in 03 (23.07%).Conclusions: A high proportion of patients presented in stages III and IV. This emphasizes the need for early detection of Gynecological cancers in our population. Accordingly, the importance of detection of the pre-clinical stage of the diseases by considering the possibility of initiating cost-effective screening measures needs to be emphasized. 

scholarly journals Hepatitis C virus enhances Rubicon expression, leading to autophagy inhibition and intracellular innate immune activation

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuto Shiode ◽  
Hayato Hikita ◽  
Satoshi Tanaka ◽  
Kumiko Shirai ◽  
Akira Doi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Late Stage ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Abstract Autophagy, a degradation system, works to maintain cellular homeostasis. However, as the impact of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on hepatocyte autophagy and its effect on HCV replication remain unclear, we examined them. HCV infection suppressed late-stage autophagy and increased Rubicon. siRNA-mediated knockdown of Rubicon promoted autophagy in HCV-infected cells. In Huh-7 cells harbouring the HCV replicon, Rubicon knockdown downregulated the expression of type 1 interferon (IFN)-related genes and upregulated HCV replication. Rubicon overexpression or administration of bafilomycin A1 or chloroquine, an inhibitor of late-stage autophagy, suppressed autophagy and activated the type 1 IFN pathway. On the other hand, Atg7 knockout suppressed early-stage autophagy and did not activate the type 1 IFN pathway. In livers of humanized liver chimeric mice, HCV infection increased Rubicon and enhanced type 1 IFN signalling. Elimination of HCV in the mice reduced the increase in Rubicon due to HCV infection. The expression levels of Rubicon and IFN-stimulated genes in chronic hepatitis C patients were higher than those in non-B, non-C hepatitis patients. HCV infection increased Rubicon and suppressed hepatocyte autophagy, leading to activation of the intracellular immune response. Rubicon induction is involved in HCV replication via activation of the intracellular immune response.

scholarly journals The Use of Biomarkers in Early Diagnostics of Pancreatic Cancer

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lumir Kunovsky ◽  
Pavla Tesarikova ◽  
Zdenek Kala ◽  
Radek Kroupa ◽  
Petr Kysela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radical Surgery ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Locally Advanced ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Solid Malignancies ◽  
Late Detection ◽  
Resistance To Chemotherapy

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal solid malignancies with increasing incidence. The poor prognosis is due to the aggressive nature of the tumor, late detection, and the resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. A radical surgery procedure is the only treatment that has been shown to improve the 5-year survival rate to 20-25%. However, the majority of patients (80-85%) are diagnosed with locally advanced or metastatic disease and just 15-20% patients are diagnosed in an early stage allowing them to undergo the potentially curative surgical resection. The early detection of PDAC without the use of invasive methods is challenging and discovery of a cost-effective biomarker with high specificity and sensitivity could significantly improve the treatment and survival in these patients. In this review, we summarize current and newly examined biomarkers in early PDAC detection.

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