Automatic Segmentation of Psoriasis Skin Images Using Adaptive Chimp Optimization Algorithm-Based CNN

Psoriasis is a severe skin disease that is surveyed outwardly by dermatologists. In recent years, computer vision is the major solution for diagnosing the psoriasis skin disease by segmenting the infected skin images. Besides, many researchers had presented efficient machine learning techniques for segmenting the psoriasis skin images. Nevertheless, accuracy and time consumption of the model are further to be improved. Thus, in this work, we present adaptive chimp optimization algorithm (AChOA)-based convolutional neural network (CNN) which is introduced for automatic segmentation of psoriasis skin images. After pre-processing, the input images are segmented using AChOA-CNN model where weight and bias values of CNN are optimized with the AChOA. The search ability of ChOA is enhanced by adapting the chaotic sequence based on tent map. At final, from the segmented output images, artifacts are removed by applying the threshold module. From the simulation, we attain 97% of accuracy.

Correlative light and electron microscopy using cathodoluminescence from nanoparticles with distinguishable colours

Correlative light and electron microscopy promises to combine molecular specificity with nanoscale imaging resolution. However, there are substantial technical challenges including reliable co-registration of optical and electron images, and rapid optical signal degradation under electron beam irradiation. Here, we introduce a new approach to solve these problems: imaging of stable optical cathodoluminescence emitted in a scanning electron microscope by nanoparticles with controllable surface chemistry. We demonstrate well-correlated cathodoluminescence and secondary electron images using three species of semiconductor nanoparticles that contain defects providing stable, spectrally-distinguishable cathodoluminescence. We also demonstrate reliable surface functionalization of the particles. The results pave the way for the use of such nanoparticles for targeted labeling of surfaces to provide nanoscale mapping of molecular composition, indicated by cathodoluminescence colour, simultaneously acquired with structural electron images in a single instrument.

School based adolescent care services: a district model

OBJECTIVE

To study the perceived problems of higher secondary school students in a district and to document the effect of a family life and life skill education package.

METHODS

A survey was conducted among 11501 adolescents belonging to 103 higher secondary schools in Thiruvananthapuram district, using Teenage Screening Questionnaire-Trivandrum (TSQ-T). Family life and life skill education package was given to class XI students and post intervention evaluation of improvement in knowledge level was assessed after 6 months by a structured pre-tested self-administered questionnaire.

RESULTS

61.2% adolescents reported scholastic problem, 22.1% family related problems, 31.9% personal problems and 15.2% adjustment problems, with boys reporting higher percentage. 65.8% reported body image related problems, 26.4% had dental, 21.3% ENT and 16.2% had dermatological complaints. Among girls 50.2% reported menstrual problems. 506 adolescents volunteered for medical check-up and 1247 for detailed psychological assessment. Family life and life skill education package showed consistent improvement in knowledge even after a gap of 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The study results showed that a school based adolescent care service programme is effective and feasible.

Protective Effect of Bauhinia purpurea on Gentamicin-induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the ethanol extract of leaves of Bauhinia purpurea and unripe pods of Bauhinia purpurea for its protective effects on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Nephrotoxicity was induced in Wistar rats by intraperitoneal administration of gentamicin 100 mg/kg/d for eight days. Effect of concurrent administration of ethanol extract of leaves of Bauhinia purpurea and unripe pods of Bauhinia purpurea at a dose of 300 mg/kg/d given by oral route was determined using serum creatinine, serum uric acid, blood urea nitrogen and serum urea as indicators of kidney damage. The study groups contained six rats in each group. It was observed that the ethanol extract of leaves of Bauhinia purpurea and unripe pods of Bauhinia purpurea significantly protect rat kidneys from gentamicin-induced histopathological changes. Gentamicin-induced glomerular congestion, blood vessel congestion, epithelial desquamation, accumulation of inflammatory cells and necrosis of the kidney cells were found to be reduced in the groups receiving the leaf and unripe pods extract of Bauhinia purpurea along with gentamicin. The extracts also normalized the gentamicin-induced increase in serum creatinine, serum uric acid and blood urea nitrogen levels. This is also evidenced by the histopathological studies.

Distinct frequency preferences of different types of rat hippocampal neurones in response to oscillatory input currents

1. Coherent network oscillations in several distinct frequency bands are seen in the hippocampus of behaving animals. To investigate how different neuronal types within this network respond to oscillatory inputs we made whole-cell current clamp recordings from three different types of neurones in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices: pyramidal cells, fast-spiking interneurones and horizontal interneurones, and recorded their response to sinusoidal inputs at physiologically relevant frequencies (1-100 Hz). 2. Pyramidal neurones showed firing preference to inputs at theta frequencies (range 2-7 Hz; n = 30). They showed subthreshold resonance in the same frequency range (2-7 Hz; mean 4.1 +/- 0.4 Hz; n = 19). 3. Interneurones differed in their firing properties. Horizontal interneurones in the stratum oriens showed firing preference to inputs at theta frequencies (range 1.5-10 Hz; n = 10). These interneurones also showed resonance at low frequencies (range 1-5 Hz; mean 2.4 +/- 0.5 Hz; n = 7). In contrast, fast-spiking interneurones with cell bodies in the pyramidal cell layer fired preferentially at input frequencies in the gamma band (range 30-50 Hz; n = 10/12). These interneurones showed resonance at beta-gamma frequencies (10-50 Hz; mean 26 +/- 5 Hz; n = 7/8). 4. Thus, in the hippocampus, different types of neurones have distinct frequency preferences. Therefore, in the CA1 layer of the hippocampal network, a compound oscillatory input may be segregated into distinct frequency components which are processed locally by distinct types of neurones.

Malignant hepatic tumours in children: incidence, clinical features and aetiology

Congenital defects and other disorders have been reported in association with malignant liver tumours. In order to assess their significance, a population-based survey was undertaken on children aged less than 15 years diagnosed with malignant liver tumours during the 30 years 1957-1986. The cases were identified from information collected by the West Midlands Regional Children's Tumour Registry. Pertinent data were extracted from their clinical records, and the original biopsy and any necropsy material were reviewed by a panel of three paediatric pathologists. Of the 50 eligible cases registered, eight were excluded because histology review showed that they had non-malignant conditions (3) or malignancies of extrahepatic origin (4) or because no pathological material was available (1). The diagnoses in the remaining 42 cases were hepatoblastoma (27), hepatocellular carcinoma (3), rhabdomyosarcoma (6), rhabdoid tumour (3) and yolk sac tumour (3). The incidence of primary malignant liver tumours was 1.20 per 10(6) person years and that of the hepatoblastoma sub-group was 0.77 (average childhood population of the West Midlands for the time period being 1,166,500). The presenting clinical, radiological and biochemical features were similar to those reported in other series and the ethnic and social class distributions were unremarkable compared with the local population. Congenital defects or other possibly related features were present in nine (21%) patients. Our results, taken with other reports, suggest that hepatoblastoma is a malignant tumour related to maldevelopment, possibly associated with 11p or 5q mutations, whereas hepatocellular carcinoma is more usually a complication of metabolic and other disorders which lead to cirrhosis.

Cloacogenic polyps--clinical and pathological features

Two cases of cloacogenic polyp are described. These polyps have been previously reported by American authors (Lobert & Appleman 1981), but the entity has not been described in the British literature.

Cocktail stick injury: a fatal outcome

Images

Gangliorhabdomyosarcoma: a histopathological and immunohistochemical study of three cases

A histopathological and immunoperoxidase study on three cases of genitourinary gangliorhabdomyosarcoma using a spectrum of conventional staining methods and antibodies against myoglobin, neuron-specific enolase and S-100 protein is presented. The results of the study have shown that differentiated myoblasts, ganglion cells and Schwann cells reacted positively with the particular antisera, but the majority of undifferentiated cells were negative. From the immunopathology results it was not possible to determine whether the undifferentiated cells were precursors of neural cells or myoblasts; the histological appearance resembled that of mesenchymal cells commonly seen in rhabdomyosarcomas. Theories concerning the origin of these tumours from neural crest ectomesenchyme or from neural crest and somitic mesenchyme are considered. Further study is needed to establish their histogenesis.