scholarly journals Disruptive Technology Enabled Healthcare 4.0 Model for Lesion Identification with Reduced Latency

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 329-343
Keyword(s):  
Early Detection ◽  
Ct Scan ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Biomedical Application ◽  
Learning Algorithms ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Images ◽  
Lesion Detection ◽  
Disruptive Technology ◽  
X Rays

Advancement and innovations in technology have resulted in ease of accessibility and availability of resources, resulting in an increased liability on health-care services. However, the application of healthcare services in rural and undeveloped areas remains a foremost challenge, despite the investments made, largely due to unreliable communication infrastructures. Machine learning (ML) has witnessed a terrific amount of attention over the last few years in the field of medical imaging research for the lesion detection through a biomedical application such as Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI), CT scan, X-rays and Ultrasound etc. Normally, an MRI or CT scan are used by the experts to produce images of the soft tissue of the human body. Early detection of the lesion is a crucial part of follow-up care after completion of primary treatment. The goal is to reduce the mortality rate by early detection and treating the disease while it is still curable assuming a more effective salvage surgery and treatment. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the automated classification learning algorithms to identify lesion; indicates how learning algorithms have been applied to biomedical applications from data acquisition to image retrieval and from segmentation to disease prediction. This paper provides a brief overview of recent innovations and challenges associated with learning algorithms applied to medical image processing and analysis. Lastly, the paper concludes with a concise discussion and tries to predict direction for upcoming trends on more advanced research studies on lesion detection.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 on cancer diagnosis and management in Slovenia – preliminary results

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vesna Zadnik ◽  
Ana Mihor ◽  
Sonja Tomsic ◽  
Tina Zagar ◽  
Nika Bric ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Cancer Control ◽  
Routine Data ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Diagnosis And Management ◽  
Outpatient Visits ◽  
And Control

AbstractBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the provision and use of healthcare services throughout the world. In Slovenia, an epidemic was officially declared between mid-March and mid-May 2020. Although all non-essential health care services were put on hold by government decree, oncological services were listed as an exception. Nevertheless, as cancer control depends also on other health services and additionally major changes in people’s behaviour likely occurred, we aimed to analyse whether cancer diagnosis and management were affected during the COVID-19 epidemic in Slovenia.MethodsWe analysed routine data for the period November 2019 through May 2020 from three sources: (1) from the Slovenian Cancer Registry we analysed data on pathohistological and clinical practice cancer notifications from two major cancer centres in Ljubljana and Maribor; (2) from the e-referral system we analysed data on all referrals in Slovenia issued for oncological services, stratified by type of referral; and (3) from the administrative data of the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana we analysed data on outpatient visits by type as well as on diagnostic imaging performed.ResultsCompared to the November 2019 – February 2020 average, the decrease in April 2020 was about 43% and 29% for pathohistological and clinical cancer notifications; 33%, 46% and 85% for first, control and genetic counselling referrals; 19% (53%), 43% (72%) and 20% (21%) for first (and control) outpatient visits at the radiotherapy, surgery and medical oncology sectors at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, and 48%, 76%, and 42% for X-rays, mammograms and ultrasounds performed at the Institute, respectively. The number of CT and MRI scans performed was not affected.ConclusionsSignificant drops in first referrals for oncological services, first visits and imaging studies performed at the Institute, as well as cancer notifications in April 2020 point to a possibility of a delayed cancer diagnosis for some patients during the first surge of SARS-CoV-2 cases in Slovenia. The reasons for the delay cannot be ascertained with certainty and could be linked to health-seeking behaviour of the patients, the beliefs and practices of doctors and/ or the health system management during the epidemic. Drops in control referrals and control visits were expected and are most likely due to the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana postponing non-essential follow-ups through May 2020.

Barriers to Early Detection of Breast Cancer Among Women Living in Poverty

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nihal Gördes Aydoğdu ◽  
Zuhal Bahar
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Breast Cancer Mortality ◽  
Clinical Breast Examination ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Absolute Poverty ◽  
Inhibiting Factors ◽  
Clinical Breast

Objective: Early detection and screening are the most effective means to reduce breast cancer mortality in all populations. In this study, the inhibiting factors in the applications of qualitative research methods used for early diagnosis of breast cancer among poor women were identified.Material and methods: Through focus group interviews, 40 women ranging between 20-60 years of age, meeting the absolute poverty criteria, without regular breast self-examination, clinical breast examination and mammography were recruited for the study. A conventional content analysis method was used in the data analysis. Interviews were recorded using a voice recorder, and the average duration of the interviews was 53 minutes.Results: Factors inhibiting women's behaviors regarding early detection of breast cancer were identified as, respectively; individual attitudes and beliefs, provision of healthcare services and, cultural factors.Conclusion: According to the data achieved, we concluded that, initiatives should be planned in order to reduce the inhibiting factors in the breast cancer screening behaviors of women living in poverty. In addition, health policies concerning provision of health care services should be revised.

scholarly journals Promoting lung cancer awareness, help-seeking and early detection: a systematic review of interventions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad M Saab ◽  
Serena FitzGerald ◽  
Brendan Noonan ◽  
Caroline Kilty ◽  
Abigail Collins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Decision Aids ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Cancer Awareness ◽  
Early Presentation ◽  
Symptom Awareness

Summary Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer death. Barriers to the early presentation for LC include lack of symptom awareness, symptom misappraisal, poor relationship with doctors and lack of access to healthcare services. Addressing such barriers can help detect LC early. This systematic review describes the effect of recent interventions to improve LC awareness, help-seeking and early detection. This review was guided by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Electronic databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC, APA PsycARTICLES, APA PsycInfo and Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection were searched. Sixteen studies were included. Knowledge of LC was successfully promoted in most studies using educational sessions and campaigns. LC screening uptake varied with most studies successfully reducing decision conflicts using decision aids. Large campaigns, including UK-based campaign ‘Be Clear on Cancer’, were instrumental in enhancing LC awareness, promoting help-seeking and yielding an increase in chest X-rays and a decrease in the number of individuals diagnosed with advanced LC. Multimodal public health interventions, such as educational campaigns are best suited to raise awareness, reduce barriers to help-seeking and help detect LC early. Future interventions ought to incorporate targeted information using educational resources, face-to-face counselling and video- and web-based decision aids.

Development of a new method for early detection of clinical undetectable sternum instability using the CT-scan

2010 ◽  
Vol 58 (S 01) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Malamutmann ◽  
J Skamel ◽  
K Matyssek ◽  
C Vöckelmann ◽  
M Chares ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Detection ◽  
Ct Scan ◽  
New Method

A Review of Various Machine Learning Techniques for Brain Tumor Detection from MRI Images

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 937-945
Author(s):  
Aaishwarya Sanjay Bajaj ◽  
Usha Chouhan
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Ct Scan ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Tumor Detection ◽  
Machine Learning Techniques ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Detection Techniques ◽  
The Brain

Background: This paper endeavors to identify an expedient approach for the detection of the brain tumor in MRI images. The detection of tumor is based on i) review of the machine learning approach for the identification of brain tumor and ii) review of a suitable approach for brain tumor detection. Discussion: This review focuses on different imaging techniques such as X-rays, PET, CT- Scan, and MRI. This survey identifies a different approach with better accuracy for tumor detection. This further includes the image processing method. In most applications, machine learning shows better performance than manual segmentation of the brain tumors from MRI images as it is a difficult and time-consuming task. For fast and better computational results, radiology used a different approach with MRI, CT-scan, X-ray, and PET. Furthermore, summarizing the literature, this paper also provides a critical evaluation of the surveyed literature which reveals new facets of research. Conclusion: The problem faced by the researchers during brain tumor detection techniques and machine learning applications for clinical settings have also been discussed.

Toward establishing telepsychology guideline: Turning the challenges of COVID-19 into opportunity (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed M. J. Alqahtani
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Psychological Services ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Governance Model ◽  
Provision Of Services ◽  
Temporary Response

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has obstructed the classical practices of psychological assessment and intervention via face-to-face interaction. Patients and all health professionals have been forced to isolate and become innovative to continue receiving and providing exceptional healthcare services while minimizing the risk of exposure to, or transmission of, COVID-19. OBJECTIVE This document is proposed initially as a guide to the extraordinary implementation of telepsychology in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and to extend its implementation to use fundamentally as the main guideline for telepsychology services in Saudi Arabia and other Arabic communities. METHODS A professional task force representing different areas of professional psychology reviewed, summarized, and documented methods, policies, procedures, and other resources to ensure that the recommendations and evidence reviews were valid and consistent with best practices. RESULTS The practice of telepsychology involves the consideration of legal and professional requirements. This paper provides a guideline and recommendations for procedural changes that are necessary to address psychological services as we transition to telepsychology, as well as elucidates and demonstrates practical telepsychology frameworks, procedures, and proper recommendations for the provision of services during COVID-19. It adds a focused examination and discussion related to factors that could influence the telemedicine guideline, such as culture, religion, legal matters, and how clinical psychologists could expand their telepsychology practice during COVID-19 and after, seeking to produce broadly applicable guidelines for the practice of telepsychology. Professional steps in practical telemedicine were illustrated in tables and examples. CONCLUSIONS Telepsychology is not a luxury or a temporary response. Rather, it should be considered part of a proactive governance model to secure a continuity of mental health care services. Arabic communities could benefit from this guideline to telepsychology as an essential protocol for providing mental health services during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health Care Services and EU Competition Law

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Okeoghene Odudu
Keyword(s):  
Market Power ◽  
Healthcare Service ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Competition Law ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
System Matrix ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Care Services

This chapter investigates how, within a number of European Union (EU) Member States, competition law has been used to address problems of market power in the healthcare services sector. It summarizes the relevant EU and national competition laws and considers the experience of applying those laws to providers of healthcare services. The chapter is chiefly concerned with healthcare services in England, although examples are drawn for other EU Member States. Examination of the English experience provides a view of the use of competition law to address market power problems in most elements of the health system matrix. The chapter then considers three challenges that emerge from that experience of using competition law to address problems of market power in healthcare service markets. The first challenges the applicability of competition law to healthcare service providers operating in each or every element of the healthcare system matrix. The second, accepting applicability, questions the appropriateness of the substantive rules to healthcare services. The third, a battle of authority and autonomy, considers whether decisions made by healthcare service providers should be subject to external review and the type of review that competition law offers.

scholarly journals Early Detection Methods for Silicosis in Australia and Internationally: A Review of the Literature

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 8123
Author(s):  
Emma K. Austin ◽  
Carole James ◽  
John Tessier
Keyword(s):  
Early Detection ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Detection Method ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Occupational Lung Disease ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Growing Body ◽  
Future Work

Pneumoconiosis, or occupational lung disease, is one of the world’s most prevalent work-related diseases. Silicosis, a type of pneumoconiosis, is caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust. Although silicosis can be fatal, it is completely preventable. Hundreds of thousands of workers globally are at risk of being exposed to RCS at the workplace from various activities in many industries. Currently, in Australia and internationally, there are a range of methods used for the respiratory surveillance of workers exposed to RCS. These methods include health and exposure questionnaires, spirometry, chest X-rays, and HRCT. However, these methods predominantly do not detect the disease until it has significantly progressed. For this reason, there is a growing body of research investigating early detection methods for silicosis, particularly biomarkers. This literature review summarises the research to date on early detection methods for silicosis and makes recommendations for future work in this area. Findings from this review conclude that there is a critical need for an early detection method for silicosis, however, further laboratory- and field-based research is required.

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