Assessment of experimental OpenCV tracking algorithms for ultrasound videos

This study aims to compare the tracking algorithms provided by the OpenCV library to use on ultrasound video. Despite the widespread application of this computer vision library, few works describe the attempts to use it to track the movement of liver tumors on ultrasound video. Movements of the neoplasms caused by the patient`s breath interfere with the positioning of the instruments during the process of biopsy and radio-frequency ablation. The main hypothesis of the experiment was that tracking neoplasms and correcting the position of the manipulator in case of using robotic-assisted surgery will allow positioning the instruments more precisely. Another goal of the experiment was to check if it is possible to ensure real-time tracking with at least 25 processed frames per second for standard definition video. OpenCV version 4.5.0 was used with 7 tracking algorithms from the extra modules package. They are: Boosting, CSRT, KCF, MedianFlow, MIL, MOSSE, TLD. More than 5600 frames of standard definition were processed during the experiment. Analysis of the results shows that two algorithms-CSRT and KCF-could solve the problem of tumor tracking. They lead the test with 70% and more of Intersection over Union and more than 85% successful searches. They could also be used in real-time processing with an average processing speed of up to frames per second in CSRT and 100 + frames per second for KCF. Tracking results reach the average deviation between centers of neoplasms to 2 mm and maximum deviation less than 5 mm. This experiment also shows that no frames made CSRT and KCF algorithms fail simultaneously. So, the hypothesis for future work is combining these algorithms to work together, with one of them-CSRT-as support for the KCF tracker on the rarely failed frames.

[Epithelial-stromal interactions in pancreatic adenocarcinoma: the role of stroma in disease progression]

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common and difficult to treat form of pancreas cancer. PDAC and other solid cancers contain both tumor cells and normal connective tissue cells called stromal cells, which are responsible for the excess production of extracellular matrix. It is known that in more than 90% of PDAC tumors and in many other types of cancer, mutations of the KRAS gene are observed, the reciprocal signaling of which has been shown between tumor and stromal cells in vitro. Pancreatic stromal stellate cells are considered precursors of activated or tumor-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are an increasing population of cells that proliferate in situ or are recruited into the tumor. CAFs are a heterogeneous population of stromal fibroblasts with different molecular profiles that change during tumorigenesis. Both immunosuppressive and immunosuppressive subsets of CAFs can coexist in the stroma of a single tumor. Based on the heterogeneity of the intertumor stroma, attempts are being made to classify PDAC and predict the course of the disease.

[Resection of S1 root schwannoma with extravertebral retroperitoneal spread via posterior median and laparoscopic approach]

The authors report simultaneous surgical treatment of the right S1 root schwannoma with extravertebral retroperitoneal spread. Well-equipped operating theatre, professional experience and multidisciplinary approach involving neurosurgeons and abdominal surgeons ensure total minimally invasive simultaneous resection of schwannoma via posterior median and laparoscopic approach.

[Cancer of terminal part of common bile duct in a patient with heterotaxy syndrome]

Case report is devoted to successful pancreatectomy for cancer of terminal part of common bile duct in a patient with heterotaxy syndrome. The main difficulties during dissection of pancreaticoduodenal complex arose due to anatomical disorientation and the lack of standard topographic and anatomical landmarks. Preoperative computed tomography with assessment of visceral vessel anatomy is essential in all patients with biliopancreaticoduodenal tumors. If heterotaxy syndrome is suspected, additional examination is required to detect other potential abnormalities and prepare for unusual situation.

Laser-induced fluorescent visualization and photodynamic therapy in surgical treatment of glial brain tumors

High-grade gliomas have a diffuse and infiltrative nature of the growth of tumor cells, due to which the achievement of radical resection is difficult. Surgical resection completeness of brain tumors is an important factor in prolonging the life of patients. An accurate definition of tumor boundaries and residual fluorescent regions is impossible due to imperfections of the equipment used for fluorescent imaging. 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is a precursor of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in humans and is clinically used to detect and treat tumors. Currently, fluorescence-guided surgery with PpIX used a surgical microscope with an excitation wavelength in the blue spectrum range. Because of its low ability to penetrate into biological tissue, blue light is ineffective for providing high-quality fluorescent navigation. Also, when performing an operation using radiation in the blue spectrum range, the photosensitizer's surface layer (PS) often bleaches out, which leads to frequent errors. The use of red light emission makes it possible to slow down the PS bleaches out due to the absorption properties of PpIX, but this task is technically more complicated and requires highly sensitive cameras and specialized optical filters. The new two-channel video system for fluorescent navigation has a radiation source in the red range of the spectrum, the penetration depth of which is greater than the blue light, which makes it possible to increase the depth of probing into biological tissues. The study's clinical part involved 5 patients with high grade glioma and 1 patient with low grade glioma: grade III oligodendrogliomas (2), grade IV glioblastomas (3), and grade II diffusion astrocytoma (1).

[Simultaneous surgery for complicated giant post-traumatic phrenic hernia in a patient with morbid obesity and diabetes mellitus type II]

Surgical treatment of post-traumatic right-sided phrenic hernia is associated with certain technical difficulties due to topographic and anatomical features. Morbid obesity combined with diabetes mellitus type II is one of the main factors complicating any surgical thoracic or abdominal surgery and further rehabilitation. We report simultaneous surgery for complicated post-traumatic right-sided phrenic hernia in a patient with morbid obesity and diabetes mellitus type II. Surgical correction of giant phrenic hernia facilitated further effective treatment of morbid obesity and concomitant diabetes mellitus type II.

[Multidisciplinary approach to surgical treatment of patients with superficial abdominal obesity]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze an effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery with simultaneous abdominoplasty in patients with superficial abdominal obesity.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Laparoscopic abdominal, retroperitoneal and pelvic surgery with simultaneous abdominoplasty was performed in 25 patients with body mass index >40 kg/m².

RESULTS

Surgery time and intraoperative blood loss were significantly higher after simultaneous surgery (p<0.05). However, these differences did not influence postoperative period. Duration of analgesic therapy, activation of patients and length of hospital-stay, as well as overall postoperative morbidity were similar in both groups (p>0.05). Simultaneous abdominoplasty resulted significantly better quality of life according to almost all parameters (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

According to certain indications, abdominoplasty is advisable as the first stage of simultaneous surgery in patients with large subcutaneous fat apron after bariatric surgery or in those with primary superficial abdominal obesity. The positive aspects of abdominoplasty are simplification of laparoscopic stage, reduced intra-abdominal pressure in postoperative period, excellent and good aesthetic effect and improved quality of life.

The comparison of the process of manual and robotic positioning of the electrode performing radiofrequency ablation under the control of a surgical navigation system

This study is aimed at the comparison of the process of manual and robotic positioning of the electrode performing radiofrequency ablation under the control of a surgical navigation system. The main hypothesis of this experiment was that the use of a collaborative manipulator (KUKA iiwa) will allow to position the active part of the electrode relative to the center of the tumor more accurately and from the first attempt. We also monitor the stability of the electrode′s velocity during insertion and consider some advantages in ergonomics using the robotic manipulator. We use three more criteria to compare the surgeon's and robotic performance, unlike other studies, where only the target point's accuracy criterion is observed. The main idea is to examine the movement parameters of the electrode that can lead to potential patient trauma. Sphere-shaped tumor phantoms measuring 8 mm in diameter were filled with contrast and inserted in bovine livers. 10 livers were used for the robotic experiment and an equal quantity for manual surgery. The livers were encased in silicone phantoms designed to imitate the liver position in a real patient's abdominal cavity. Analysis of CT data gave the opportunity to find the entry and the target point for each tumor phantom. This data was loaded into a surgical navigation system that was used to track and record the position of the RF-electrode during the operation for further analysis. The standard deviation of points from the programmed linear trajectory totaled in the average 0.3 mm for the robotic experiment and 2.33 mm for the manual operation with a maximum deviation of 0.55 mm and 7.99 mm respectively. Standard deviation from the target point was 2.69 mm for the collaborative method and 2.49 mm for the manual method. The average velocity was 2.97 mm/s for the manipulator and 3.12 mm/s for the manual method, but the standard deviation of the velocity relative to the value of the average velocity was 0.66 mm/s and 3.05 mm/s respectively. Thus, in two criteria out of three, the manipulator is superior to the surgeon, and equality is established in one. Surgeons also noticed advantages in ergonomics performing the procedure using the manipulator. This experiment was produced as part of the work on the developing of a robotic multifunctional surgical complex. We can confirm the potential advantages of using collaborative robotic manipulators for minimally invasive surgery in case of practice for cancer treatment.

[Confocal laser endomicroscopy of the upper digestive tract: history of development and screening]

Confocal laser endomicroscopy is an endoscopic diagnostic technique developed for real-time histological diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases. This review is devoted to analysis of confocal laser endomicroscopy in diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases, especially for screening or monitoring of gastrointestinal neoplasia.

[The role of CO2-laser in scarring management]

AIM

To assess the role of CO2-laser in treatment of various scars and to determine the indications for its application.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

It has been carried out a prospective analysis of treatment of 218 patients with scars of different duration, locations and anatomic areas with the use of CO2-laser for the period 2011-2017. POSAS scale and sonography were used for analysis.

RESULTS

1. Laser therapy is not effective for scarring-related functional defects (contractures, ectropion, microstomia), when surgery is indicated. 2. The outcomes of treatment (both surgical and laser) depend on the time of existence of the scars rather their cause and anatomical region. 3. Laser therapy is not effective enough for formed scars existing over 12 months. 4. Laser therapy is effective for immature scars, especially indicated for cicatricial deformation when the aesthetics cannot be repaired with traditional surgery.

CONCLUSION

Application of CO2-laser in scars treatment with regard to its real efficiency determines the effectiveness of therapy.

BALANCE OF Thl/Th2/Th9/Thl7/Th22 CYTOKINES IN POST-OPERATION PERIOD IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT TUMOR OF LIVER

AIM

Evaluate cytokine status in patients with malignant liver cells after surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

33 patients aged 35 to 76 years were included into the study. Blood was obtained before the operation and in the post-operation period: after 6 and 24 hours and at day 7 Cytokine profile (IL-Ib, IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-12p70, IL-4, IL-5,IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-9, I-17a, IL-22) was evaluated using Multiplex- 13 system (Bender MedSystems, Austria).

RESULTS

In patients levels of all the studied cytokines (Thl/Th2/Th9/Thl7/Th22) were already increased before the operations, that gives evidence of the presence of an inflammatory proc- ess connected with activation of immune system effectors.

CONCLUSION

Disbalance of cytokine system helper cells resulting in functional and organic alterations through induction of the "cytokine storm" may aggravate the state of these patients. Further studies on the correction of cytokine system in these patients are thus needed.

[Role of octreotide and prednisolone in prophylactic of poshepatectomy liver failure. Experimental study]

AIM

Comparative morphologic assessment of the liver tissue response to the preoperative infusion of octreotide and prednisolon after the major hepatic resection was studied in rats.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

25 male Wistar rats weighing 230--280 g were used. All rats underwent 70--80% hepatectomy. The rats were divided into three groups according to the infusions before hepatectomy: group 1 (n=7) -- received octreotide, group 2 (n=8) -- prednisolone, group 3 (n=10) -- 0.9% saline solution as the control. Histologic features of the remnant liver were evaluated in the sacrificied rats after 72 hours post-hepatectomy.

RESULTS

In the group 1 we observed more rapid decrease of edema and tendency to the accelerated regeneration process of hepatocytes.

CONCLUSION

Octreotide infusion before the major hepatic resection may have protective effect on hepatocytes and accelerate the regeneration in the remnant liver.

[Bioimpedance analysis in medicine]

This review covers the problems of using of bioimpedancemetry in medicine. This method is currently becoming more widely used for diagnostics of various pathological disorders. The advantages and disadvantages of non-invasive and invasive bioelectrical impedance analysis were described. It was revealed that the results of invasive bioimpedancemetry were more accurate in comparison with the results of non-invasive bioimpedancemetry, and changed due to morphological damages of tissues. This review provides an overview of the practicability of more extensive using of invasive bioelectrical impedance analysis in medicine.

[Confocal laser endomicroscopy in the diagnosis of diseases of biliary ducts]

Are clinical observations of various diseases of the bile ducts, including cholangiocarcinoma, developed with chronic diseases pancreato-biliary zone. Reflected the complexity of instrumental diagnostics at an early stage of the disease. For the first time at the given pathology diagnostic purposes was applied the method of probe confocal laser endomicroscopy allowed in all cases to clarify and verify the diagnosis. Describes the technique of the research, its results are compared with other diagnostic methods. The authors suggest that in the diagnosis of pancreatic and biliary zone method probe confocal laser endomicroscopy can be crucial in inefficiency or uninformative other methods.

[Biochemical aspects of the influence of antiorthostatic hypokinesia on the experimental peritonitis]

Eighty white rats were divided into 4 groups: (1) vivarium control, (2) antiorthostatic hypokinesia (AH), (3) peritonitis alone, and (4) AH with peritonitis. Effects of AH were achieved by putting rats on a special stand for a period of 14 days, followed by the formation of peritonitis. After that biochemical parameters of blood samples have been investigated. Combination effects of microgravity and peritonitis is unidirectional and have mutual weights. As illustrated in some cases two-fold increase in the level of the studied parameters in comparison with the control and vivarium peritonitis. Comparative assessment of peritonitis severity revealed that simulated effects of microgravity turn the peritonitis into more complicated forms.

[Physiological effects of microgravity as risk factors of diseases during space flight]

This paper considers to physiological effects of microgravity affecting different organs systems such as cardiovascular, neurohumoral, immune, and musculoskeletal systems. These physiologic changes suggest adverse influence with pathological processes during space flight and associated with high risk of morbidity of cosmonauts.

[Sacral anesthesia in surgical treatment of soft tissues neoplasms of the lower extremities]

The experience with sacral anesthesia in surgical treatment of soft tissues' benign and malignant neoplasms of the lower extremities was analyzed. Benign tumors were the indications for surgical treatment in 19 patients, malignant tumors - in 11 patients. Various methods of sacral anesthesia are described, indications for this type of anesthesia and obtained results are discussed. It is concluded that sacral anesthesia in surgical treatment of soft tissues neoplasms of the lower extremities provides adequate anesthesia even without other types of anesthetic protection.