Association of the dominant handgrip strength with the hand dimensions of adult Bangladeshi female laborers

The handgrip strength determines the overall physical health and muscle function of the hand. Nowadays in Bangladesh, female laborers are an important source of work force in many industries. Laborers require more handgrip strength to perform their daily work efficiently. Besides, hand is the part of the body that directly related with handgrip strength, so, the hand dimensions are deemed essential to investigate. Therefore this study is to investigate the association of the dominant handgrip strength with the hand dimensions like hand length, hand breadth, hand span, palm length, palm breadth and wrist breadth of adult Bangladeshi female laborers. Hundred (100) adult female laborers aged between 18 to 45 years, residing in different slums in Dhaka city of Bangladesh were the participants of the present research. Six selected hand dimensions of the right side were measured using the digital slide caliper by direct physical procedure and dominant handgrip strength was measured using a digital handgrip dynamometer. The associations of the dominant handgrip strength with the selected six hand dimensions were tested using Pearson’s correlation coefficient test. The mean value of the dominant handgrip strength of the laborers was 25.6 kg. In present research, the dominant handgrip strength was positively associated with the six selected hand dimensions (hand length, hand breadth, hand span, palm length, palm breadth and wrist breadth). However, the association of dominant handgrip strength with the breadth of hand, palm and wrist reached up to significant level individually. Besides, to get desired success in work of a female laborer, it is important to see the hand anthropometry and handgrip strength, because, better handgrip strength lead to better performance in work. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. 2021, 7 (3), 230-237

Artificial Intelligence in Digital Pathology: What Is the Future? Part 1: From the Digital Slide Onwards

This commentary aims to address the field of Artificial intelligence (AI) in Digital Pathology (DP) both in terms of the global situation and research perspectives. It has four polarities. First, it revisits the evolutions of digital pathology with particular care to the two fields of the digital cytology and the digital histology. Second, it illustrates the main fields in the employment of AI in DP. Third, it looks at the future directions of the research challenges from both a clinical and technological point of view. Fourth, it discusses the transversal problems among these challenges and implications and introduces the immediate work to implement.

Efficient Visualization of Whole Slide Images in Web-based Viewers for Digital Pathology

Context.— Wide adoption of digital pathology requires efficient visualization and navigation in Web-based digital slide viewers, which is poorly defined. Objective.— To define and quantify relevant performance metrics for efficient visualization of cases and slides in digital slide viewers. Design.— With a universal slide viewer used in clinical routine diagnostics, we evaluate the impact of slide caching, compression type, tile, and block size of whole slide images generated from Philips, Leica, and 3DHistech scanners on streaming performance on case, slide, and field of view levels. Results.— Two hundred thirty-nine pathologists routinely reviewed 60 080 whole slide images over 3 months. The median time to open a case's slides from the laboratory information system was less than 4 seconds, the time to change to a slide within the case was less than 1 second, and the time to render the adjacent field of view when navigating the slide was less than one-quarter of a second. A whole slide image's block size and a viewer tile size of 1024 pixels showed best performance to display a field of view and was preferrable over smaller tiles due to fewer mosaic effects. For Philips, fastest median slide streaming pace was 238 ms per field of view and for 3DHistech, 125 ms. For Leica, the fastest pace of 108 ms per field of view was established with block serving without decompression. Conclusions.— This is the first study to systematically assess user-centric slide visualization performance metrics for digital viewers, including time to open a case, time to change a slide, and time to change a field of view. These metrics help to improve the viewer's configuration, leading to an efficient visualization baseline that is widely accepted among pathologists using routine digital pathology.

The Application, Challenges, and Advancement Toward Regulatory Acceptance of Digital Toxicologic Pathology: Results of the 7th ESTP International Expert Workshop (September 20-21, 2019)

With advancements in whole slide imaging technology and improved understanding of the features of pathologist workstations required for digital slide evaluation, many institutions are investigating broad digital pathology adoption. The benefits of digital pathology evaluation include remote access to study or diagnostic case materials and integration of analysis and reporting tools. Diagnosis based on whole slide images is established in human medical pathology, and the use of digital pathology in toxicologic pathology is increasing. However, there has not been broad adoption in toxicologic pathology, particularly in the context of regulatory studies, due to lack of precedence. To address this topic, as well as practical aspects, the European Society of Toxicologic Pathology coordinated an expert international workshop to assess current applications and challenges and outline a set of minimal requirements needed to gain future regulatory acceptance for the use of digital toxicologic pathology workflows in research and development, so that toxicologic pathologists can benefit from digital slide technology.

Zooming for cells: Tele-education of histopathology residents during the COVID-19 pandemic

The recent COVID-19 pandemic moved education into the virtual world. We surveyed the effectiveness of conducting virtual tutorials via Zoom with attached microscope for pathology residents. Eleven respondents from the Department of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital completed the survey. Many noted that the clarity of the slide images was equal to that of the usual slide sessions (91%). The audio reception was acceptable (100%). We found that 93% were satisfied with using Zoom, with 18% showing high satisfaction. We see this technology as a good add-on to face-to-face teaching, as it allows participation of residents posted away from teaching hospitals, and that this method of instruction should be kept as we move past the pandemic and its restrictions. We also see this as an alternative to the use of scanned digital slides, as not all teaching centers have a digital slide scanner, in addition to the issues of viewing restriction and storage of digital slides that need to be considered.

Four-Year Experience of Digital Slide Telepathology for Intraoperative Frozen Section Consultations in a Two-Site French Academic Department of Pathology

Objectives To share our experience with digital slide telepathology for intraoperative frozen section consultations (IOCs) and to describe its evolution over time by reporting performance metrics and addressing organizational and economic aspects. Methods Since 2013, a technician has been alone at the surgical site. At the other site, the pathologist opens the digital slide from a local server via the intranet. Three periods were compared: a 6-month period of conventional IOC (period 1), a 24-month period of telepathology at 6 months after implementation (period 2), and a 12-month period of telepathology at 3.5 years after implementation (period 3). Results In total, 87 conventional IOCs and 464 and 313 IOCs on digital slides were performed respectively during periods 1, 2, and 3; mean turnaround time was 27, 36, and 38 minutes, respectively, and there were a mean number of 1.1, 1.1, and 1.3 slides, respectively, per IOC. Diagnostic accuracy was achieved in 95.4%, 92.7%, and 93.9%, respectively, of IOCs (not significant). The additional cost is in the same range as the cost of urgent transport by courier. Conclusions Developing IOC with digital slides is a challenge but is necessary to optimize medical time in the current context of pathologist shortage and budget restrictions.

Can a digital slide scanner and viewing technique assist the visual scoring for the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay?

The cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome (CBMNcyt) assay is a comprehensive method to measure DNA damage, cytostasis and cytotoxicity caused by nutritional, radiation and chemical factors. A slide imaging technique has been identified as a new method to assist with the visual scoring of cells for the CBMNcyt assay. A NanoZoomer S60 Digital Pathology slide scanner was used to view WIL2-NS cells treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and measure CBMNcyt assay biomarkers using a high-definition desktop computer screen. The H2O2-treated WIL2-NS cells were also scored visually using a standard light microscope, and the two visual scoring methods were compared. Good agreement was found between the scoring methods for all DNA damage indices (micronuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear buds) and nuclear division index with correlation R values ranging from 0.438 to 0.789, P < 0.05. Apoptotic and necrotic cell frequency was lower for the NanoZoomer scoring method, but necrotic frequency correlated well with the direct visual microscope method (R = 0.703, P < 0.0001). Considerable advantages of the NanoZoomer scoring method compared to direct visual microscopy includes reduced scoring time, improved ergonomics and a reduction in scorer fatigue. This study indicates that a digital slide scanning and viewing technique may assist with visual scoring for the CBMNcyt assay and provides similar results to conventional direct visual scoring.

Detection of Intestinal Protozoa in Trichrome-Stained Stool Specimens by Use of a Deep Convolutional Neural Network

ABSTRACT Intestinal protozoa are responsible for relatively few infections in the developed world, but the testing volume is disproportionately high. Manual light microscopy of stool remains the gold standard but can be insensitive, time-consuming, and difficult to maintain competency. Artificial intelligence and digital slide scanning show promise for revolutionizing the clinical parasitology laboratory by augmenting the detection of parasites and slide interpretation using a convolutional neural network (CNN) model. The goal of this study was to develop a sensitive model that could screen out negative trichrome slides, while flagging potential parasites for manual confirmation. Conventional protozoa were trained as “classes” in a deep CNN. Between 1,394 and 23,566 exemplars per class were used for training, based on specimen availability, from a minimum of 10 unique slides per class. Scanning was performed using a 40× dry lens objective automated slide scanner. Data labeling was performed using a proprietary Web interface. Clinical validation of the model was performed using 10 unique positive slides per class and 125 negative slides. Accuracy was calculated as slide-level agreement (e.g., parasite present or absent) with microscopy. Positive agreement was 98.88% (95% confidence interval [CI], 93.76% to 99.98%), and negative agreement was 98.11% (95% CI, 93.35% to 99.77%). The model showed excellent reproducibility using slides containing multiple classes, a single class, or no parasites. The limit of detection of the model and scanner using serially diluted stool was 5-fold more sensitive than manual examinations by multiple parasitologists using 4 unique slide sets. Digital slide scanning and a CNN model are robust tools for augmenting the conventional detection of intestinal protozoa.