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Mutemwa, Muyowa. "A Mobile Deaf-to-hearing communication aid for medical diagnosis." University of the Western Cape, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/2964.
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>Magister Scientiae - MScMany South African Deaf people use their mobile phones for communication with SMSs yet they would prefer to converse in South African Sign Language. Deaf people with a capital `D' are different from deaf or hard of hearing as they primarily use sign language to communicate. This study explores how to design and evaluate a prototype that will allow a Deaf person using SASL to tell a hearing doctor how s/he is feeling and provide a way for the doctor to respond. A computer{based prototype was designed and evaluated with the Deaf people in a previous study. Results from the user trial of the computer{based mock{up indicated that Deaf users would like to see the prototype on a cell phone. Those user trial results, combined with our own user survey results conducted with Deaf people, are used as requirements. We built a prototype for a mobile phone browser by embedding SASL videos inside XHTML pages using Adobe Flash. The prototype asks medical questions using SASL videos. These questions are arranged in an organized way that helps in identifying a medical problem. The answers to the questions are then displayed in English and shown to the doctor on the phone. A content authoring tool was also designed and implemented. The content authoring tool is used for populating the prototype in a context free manner allowing for plug and play scenarios such as a doctor's office, Department of Home A airs or police station. A focus group consisting of Deaf people was conducted to help in the design and pilot trial of the system. A final user trial was conducted with more than thirty Deaf people and the results are presented and analyzed. Data is collected with questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and video recordings. The results indicate that most of the Deaf people found the system easy to learn, easy to navigate through, did not get lost and understood the sign language in the videos on the mobile phone. The hand gestures and facial expressions on the sign language videos were clear. Most of them indicated they would like to use the system for free, and that the system did not ask too many questions. Most of them were happy with the quality of the sign language videos on the mobile phone and would consider using the system in real life. Finally they felt their private information was safe while using the system. Many South African Deaf people use their mobile phones for communication with SMSs yet they would prefer to converse in South African Sign Language. Deaf people with a capital `D' are different from deaf or hard of hearing as they primarily use sign language to communicate. This study explores how to design and evaluate a prototype that will allow a Deaf person using SASL to tell a hearing doctor how s/he is feeling and provide a way for the doctor to respond. A computer{based prototype was designed and evaluated with the Deaf people in a previous study. Results from the user trial of the computer{based mock{up indicated that Deaf users would like to see the prototype on a cell phone. Those user trial results, combined with our own user survey results conducted with Deaf people, are used as requirements. We built a prototype for a mobile phone browser by embedding SASL videos inside XHTML pages using Adobe Flash. The prototype asks medical questions using SASL videos. These questions are arranged in an organized way that helps in identifying a medical problem. The answers to the questions are then displayed in English and shown to the doctor on the phone. A content authoring tool was also designed and implemented. The content authoring tool is used for populating the prototype in a context free manner allowing for plug and play scenarios such as a doctor's office, Department of Home A airs or police station. A focus group consisting of Deaf people was conducted to help in the design and pilot trial of the system. A final user trial was conducted with more than thirty Deaf people and the results are presented and analyzed. Data is collected with questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and video recordings. The results indicate that most of the Deaf people found the system easy to learn, easy to navigate through, did not get lost and understood the sign language in the videos on the mobile phone. The hand gestures and facial expressions on the sign language videos were clear. Most of them indicated they would like to use the system for free, and that the system did not ask too many questions. Most of them were happy with the quality of the sign language videos on the mobile phone and would consider using the system in real life. Finally they felt their private information was safe while using the system.
South Africa
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Green, Deborah. "Immunomodulation in metastatic melanoma : an aid to diagnosis and treatment." Thesis, University of London, 2010. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.518116.
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Shi, Yangyu. "Infrared Imaging Decision Aid Tools for Diagnosis of Necrotizing Enterocolitis." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/40714.
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Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the most severe digestive tract emergencies in neonates, involving bowel edema, hemorrhage, and necrosis, and can lead to serious complications including death. Since it is difficult to diagnose early, the morbidity and mortality rates are high due to severe complications in later stages of NEC and thus early detection is key to the treatment of NEC. In this thesis, a novel automatic image acquisition and analysis system combining a color and depth (RGB-D) sensor with an infrared (IR) camera is proposed for NEC diagnosis. A design for sensors configuration and a data acquisition process are introduced. A calibration method between the three cameras is described which aims to ensure frames synchronization and observation consistency among the color, depth, and IR images. Subsequently, complete segmentation procedures based on the original color, depth, and IR information are proposed to automatically separate the human body from the background, remove other interfering items, identify feature points on the human body joints, distinguish the human torso and limbs, and extract the abdominal region of interest. Finally, first-order statistical analysis is performed on thermal data collected over the entire extracted abdominal region to compare differences in thermal data distribution between different patient groups. Experimental validation in a real clinical environment is reported and shows encouraging results.
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Elhawary, Haytham. "MRI compatible mechatronic devices to aid medical diagnosis and intervention." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/11321.
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The excellent soft tissue contrast of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) makes it an invaluable tool for guiding and monitoring interventional procedures. This has encouraged the development of MR compatible manipulators capable of combining the high precision and repeatability of robotic systems with the image capabilities of MRI. A system capable of performing transrectal prostate biopsy inside a high field 1.5T MRI scanner was developed to improve the pathological diagnosis of prostate cancer. The 5 DOF device is actuated using piezoceramic motors and can position an endorectal probe inside of the rectum in order to align a biopsy needle to a target position in the prostate. A specially developed MR pulse sequence was capable of tracking two passive fiducials in the head of the endorectal probe, and could thus update the image scan planes to always include the biopsy needle. Phantom tests demonstrate the needle target accuracy was always within the \pm3mm limit specified in the requirements. A preliminary clinical trial has been performed with the manipulator showing a very successful outcome. A second system developed was able to position limbs at a desired orientation within the confined space of a closed bore scanner in order to exploit the magic angle effect to aid diagnosis of tendinous and other muskoloskeletal injury. The 3 DOF device can position tendons in the hand, knee and ankle, proving to be very versatile. The system kinematics were derived such that the device can locate the target tissue as close as possible to the isocentre, while avoiding collision between the patient anatomy and the scanner bore. Preliminary clinical trials with healthy volunteers were performed, where the signal at the Achilles tendon was measured as a function of orientation, showing clear magic angle effects in accordance with the theory.
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Wenzel, Virginia. "Use of electronic health records to aid in pediatric obesity diagnosis." Thesis, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1601009.
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Background: Obesity has recently been classified by the American Medical Association (AMA) as a disease which, if unrecognized and unaddressed in childhood, causes multiple medical and psychological complications that can impact both personal and population health. Unprecedented funding is being invested in electronic health records to improve quality, safety, and delivery of healthcare and reduce healthcare costs. Scant literature has evaluated the use of aids in the electronic health record (EHR) to identify obesity.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent the tools available in an EHR for automatic Body Mass Index (BMI) calculation based on height and weight documentation are used by pediatricians to correctly identify obesity in children. Secondary objectives were to evaluate quality of data input (discrete vs. free text) and see if there is any variation in rates of identification among patients of different socio-demographic characteristics and trainees of different levels.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review for patients aged 2–18 years seen for a well-child visit at New York Presbyterian Hospital between January 2011 and January 2014, where it is standard practice at these visits to take height and weight measurements. The EHR automatically populates these values onto growth curves, converting them into BMI with percentiles. Standardized definitions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2010 were used to qualify overweight and obese based on BMI. We determined the percentage of patients who were overweight or obese (based on CDC percentiles) that had the diagnosis identified by the pediatrician, and then assessed the quality of data input. We assessed laboratory follow up and referrals for all patients, and assessed for demographic differences among patients properly and not properly documented by providers as obese or overweight.
Results: We reviewed 700 charts in total. Inclusion criteria were all of the patients who had a BMI between 85–95% (these were grouped as overweight) and a BMI over 95% (obese). 209 patients were overweight or obese and therefore eligible for inclusion. Of the 209 clinically overweight/obese children, 72.2% had some form of documentation of this diagnosis, although the diagnosis was documented more often in the obese vs. overweight child. The diagnosis was most often captured electronically in the free text progress note. Over half of clinically overweight/obese children aged ≥8 years did not receive follow-up standard laboratory testing, and only about one-quarter of clinically overweight/obese children had documented in-office nutrition guidance. Diagnosis of overweight was higher in females, but it was almost twice as likely that an obese male would be documented as such. Results showed no identification variation based on age or race/ethnicity. There was no difference in recognition of obesity/overweight based on postgraduate year (PGY) or nurse practitioner (NP) status.
Conclusion: Despite its importance as a public health priority for children, automatic calculation of BMI by use of an EHR led to documentation by a provider as a child being overweight/obese only three quarters of the time. This study suggests that despite increasing focus on using EHRs to improve individual and population health, including for obesity, clinical decision support remains underutilized.
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Tehrani, Hamid. "Can the SIAscope aid in the diagnosis of non-melanoma skin cancer?" Thesis, University of East Anglia, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.430601.
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Newman, Hannah. "Reimagining autism : how drama environments can aid the diagnosis and understanding of autism." Thesis, University of Kent, 2018. https://kar.kent.ac.uk/69565/.
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Using the practical approaches developed for the research project, Imagining Autism, the PhD investigates whether engagement in a play-based drama environment can help aid the diagnostic process and understanding of autism. The research has used drama workshops to see if these can enhance the profile of strengths, difficulties and differences obtained in a more traditional clinical diagnostic assessment. The exploratory study also seeks to see whether the ADOS (the clinical assessment tool) can be completed in a different environment and if there is agreement between the two settings on these scores. In addition to this, what supplementary information may be provided about the individuals because of their engagement in this drama environment. Eight participants (aged 3 - 11 years) were recruited through the NHS and had gone through the clinical assessment. They engaged in the arctic environment twice, where they encountered puppets, props and full-body characters e.g. the slapstick snowman, in play-based interactions with trained practitioners. The sessions were documented and analysis occurred afterwards, using a novel coding framework, and additional information obtained from parents and practitioners. These were then compared to the clinical assessment scores and reports, to test the hypotheses. Both qualitative and quantitative analysis will compare the two sets of information from the different environments, seeking to present a more holistic and rounded view, focusing not only on the difficulties but also on the strengths of the individual.
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Carey, Duane Owen. "The development of novel adjuncts to aid in the diagnosis of Epithelial Misplacement." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2013. http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/8425.
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Epithelial Misplacement (EM) is a benign phenomenon that occurs within polyps most commonly associated with the sigmoid colon. It is brought about because of the colons convulsive nature and this forces a polyps surface epithelium into its submucosa and also causes bleeding. This is problematic as the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) uses positive Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test results to identify patients that require pathological review. As EM polyps bleed, they get selected for assessment and this results in them being sectioned and stained. In these cross sections, submucosal glandular tissue will be found that looks like it has formed due to metastatic mechanisms. This can lead to ambiguous diagnoses that will cause some patients to undergo unnecessary surgery. It is postulated that this can be prevented if the continuity of the EM samples could be measured. This is because only in the EM cases will the submucosal epithelial tissue remain in continuity with the surface. To test this, volumes representative of 9 samples of cancer and 13 cases of EM were segmented and their number of 26 three dimensional (3D) connected components were recorded. These were used with the 99% confidence limits of the two tailed Mann Whitney U Statistic and tested the null hypothesis that the cancer cases were as connected as the EM samples. In this instance, no significant differences were found and so the benefit of measuring the connectivity of these pathologies is questionable. It was because of this that Immunohistochemical (IHC) alternatives were considered. It was found that Collagen IV antibody staining correctly differentiated nine samples of EM from ten cases of cancer. The Mann Whitney U Statistic found this to be highly significant, p < 0.001, and future investigations should concentrate on automating this analysis. Although, Collagen IV provided a good classification it relied upon the subjective assessment of a pathologist. Therefore, the use of epithelial specific IR spectra was also investigated and this enabled the eleven EM and nine cancer cases that were investigated to be accurately classified 80% of the time upon cross validation. The collection of epithelial specific spectra relied upon a novel digital staining technique that has much application within future research. This study demonstrates that the intermodal registration of complementary modalities is of benefit to the disease classification problem. This technique has potential to be used in the correct identification of EM but more work is required.
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Maynard, S. J. "Use of body surface mapping to aid the diagnosis of myocardial infarction and ischaemia." Thesis, Queen's University Belfast, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.368624.
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Ferris, Patrick James. "Development of a rapid method to aid in the diagnosis of catheter-associated infections." Thesis, University of Surrey, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.288642.
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Pole, Glyn. "Application of magnetic fields to aid the detection and diagnosis of induction motor drive faults." Thesis, Cardiff Metropolitan University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10369/846.
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A novel approach to the collection of fault related data associated with induction motor drives is presented. The stator to rotor magnetic flux of an induction motor is monitored by a number of strategically positioned search coils, each wound around a single stator pole. The data collected is in the form of time records of the induced voltage in the coils and is subsequently used to form the data base for a fault detection and diagnosis strategy. Voltage waveforms obtained from a single coil and from two coils connected in series are obtained whilst the system is subjected to a range of applied electro-mechanical faults. The applied faults are applied both to the mechanical load and to the induction motor itself. A comparison is made of the efficacy of using two search coils compared to employing a single coil for fault detection. The fault related data is collected under both steady-state and accelerating running conditions. Strictly the acceleration period waveforms are non-stationary, however, since the time dependant frequency changes are relatively slow, the author applied the FFT technique to both steady-state derived data and the acceleration period derived data. Processing is carried out on both the time domain and the corresponding frequency domain data. The non-stationary nature of the acceleration period records is taken into account and the Wigner-Ville technique is employed to establish a time-frequency-distribution. Amplitude-time-frequency 3-D representations are produced, from which the amplitude versus time activity of a typical acceleration period component frequency is presented.
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Underwood, Gary Lloyd. "Diabetes Aid a system for the diagnosis and management of diabetes using a Palm Pilot /." [Gainesville, Fla.] : University of Florida, 2001. http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/UFE0000361.
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Thesis (M.S.)--University of Florida, 2001.Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 52 p.; also contains graphics. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.
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Michalek, Amanda Lee. "Screening for perfectionism in female athletes : an aid in determining patterns of disordered eating?" Scholarly Commons, 2007. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/661.
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Eating disorders are prevalent among female athletes, particularly those involved in lean sports, which put greater emphasis on a slim physique. Because of the negative --- physical and emotional consequences associated with disordered eating, it is essential that such behavior be detected and treated early. However, it may be difficult to identify symptoms of disordered eating among female athletes, perhaps due to perfectionism. Individuals scoring high in perfectionism may be more self-critical of mistakes and thus more likely to conceal such behavior. The present study combined the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS) with the Athletic Mileu Direct Questionnaire (AMDQ), in an effort to determine whether the combined use of a perfectionism and disordered eating inventory would better identify those at risk for disordered eating. Both questionnaires were compared to the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) and results indicated that both AMDQ and FMPS scores correlated positively with EDE global scores. Type of sport did not result in a significant correlation with disordered eating scores, although potential explanations are discussed.
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Toullec, Alexis. "Dispositif d’aiguille fibrée pour la spectroscopie de fluorescence endogène de lésions mammaires et pulmonaires ex vivo et in vivo ; vers le développement d'une méthode d’ histopathologie in situ." Thesis, Université Paris-Saclay (ComUE), 2018. http://www.theses.fr/2018SACLS154/document.
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Le troisième Plan Cancer lancé en 2013 désigne la précocité du diagnostic comme l'un des enjeux majeurs pour l'amélioration de la prise en charge des patients. Malgré l’essor des modalités et des performances de l’imagerie médicale, il reste des défis à relever pour l’aide au diagnostic et optimiser le recourt à la biopsie.L’imagerie photonique et spécialement la fluorescence résolue spectralement a déjà été éprouvée pour la caractérisation ex vivo des tumeurs mammaires et pulmonaires, sans agent de contraste ou traitement des échantillons. Notre objectif est de caractériser les capacités d'un dispositif médical innovant, développé au laboratoire, utilisant une aiguille fibrée de faible calibre pour l’analyse spectrale de la fluorescence endogène de ces lésions in situ. Nos premiers travaux dans le cadre d’études précliniques et cliniques ont montré des différences significatives de signatures spectrales entre tumeurs bénignes et malignes ex vivo et in vivo. Nos résultats ont également mis en évidence les limites d’utilisation du dispositif, en termes de spécificité, pour certains types de lésions.Une étude secondaire a été entreprise sur des tumeurs mammaires afin d'identifier les entités tissulaires majeures à l'origine des signatures spectrales obtenues avec notre dispositif fibré. L'imagerie spectrale en microscopie confocale et seconde harmonique (SHG), en multiphoton, ont été mises en œuvre afin d’établir une cartographie de biomarqueurs endogènes des tissus mammaires. Nous avons confronter ses résultats aux données obtenues avec le dispositif d'aiguille fibrée afin de pouvoir le positionner non seulement comme une aide au diagnostic mais aussi comme une méthode prometteuse pour l’histopathologie in situThe third Cancer Plan, launched in 2013, identifies early diagnosis as one of the major challenges for improving patient care. Despite the growth in medical imaging modalities and performance, challenges remain in diagnosis aid and optimizing the use of biopsy.Photonic imaging and especially spectrally resolved fluorescence has already been tested for the ex vivo characterization of breast and lung tumors, without contrast agent or sample processing. Our goal is to characterize the capabilities of an innovative medical device, developed in the laboratory, using a low-caliber fibered needle for the spectral analysis of the endogenous fluorescence of these lesions in situ. Our early work in preclinical and clinical studies showed significant differences in spectral signatures between benign and malignant tumors ex vivo and in vivo. Our results also highlighted the limits the device, in terms of specificity, for certain types of lesions.Another study was conducted on mammary tumors in order to identify the major tissue entities at the origin of the spectral signatures obtained with our fibered device. Spectral imaging in confocal and second harmonic microscopy (SHG), in multiphoton, has been implemented in order to establish a mapping of endogenous biomarkers of mammary tissues. We compare its results with the data obtained with the fibered needle device in order to position it not only as an aid to diagnosis but also as a promising method for in situ histopathology
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Wakerley, Eleanor. "The use of squiggling : a play technique as a diagnostic aid in the assessment of secondary school-age children with Asperger syndrome." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/2930.
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Winnicott’s (1968, 1993) play technique squiggling was piloted as a measure of creative thinking abilities and a potential diagnostic aid in the assessment of Asperger syndrome. The internal consistency and inter-rater reliability of squiggling was found to be acceptable. Mixed results were found between the six subscales in terms of concurrent validity with the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT: Torrance, Bal & Safter, 2008). Squiggling subscales Elaboration and Imagination showed signs of psychometric strength. However, Fluency and Originality require revision. Concurrent validity of the subscales Flexibility and Integration were not established. A matched-participants design enabled testing of hypothesised differences in creative thinking abilities with children with Asperger syndrome using the TTCT (Torrance et al., 2008): Abstractedness, Fluency, Originality, Integration, Elaboration, Resistance to Premature Foreclosure and Flexibility. Children with Asperger syndrome demonstrated a significantly higher level of elaboration and abstract imagination in their drawings relative to a comparison group of typically-developing children matched on age, visual motor integration ability and non-verbal IQ. Findings indicate partial support for the Weak Central Coherence Theory (Shah and Frith, 1983) and Leslie’s (1987) Meta-Representational Deficit hypothesis. Children with Asperger syndrome demonstrated understanding and expression of abstract concepts as graphical representations, thereby supporting their use in clinical assessments and interventions. No support was found for the Executive Dysfunction Theory (Pennington & Ozonoff, 1996) or for the Hyper-Systemising Theory (Baron-Cohen, 2006). Some limitations include the heterogeneity of the clinical group, and the possible confounding effects of verbal intellectual abilities, extrinsic rewards and performance anxiety. Major strengths of the study include a successful matching procedure and the finding of group differences with large effect sizes on particular creative thinking abilities.
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Okafor, Chika Chukwunonso. "Detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis IgG by a conductometric biosensor an aid in diagnosis of Johne's disease /." Diss., Connect to online resource - MSU authorized users, 2008.
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Chen, Beichen, and Amy Jinxin Chen. "PCA based dimensionality reduction of MRI images for training support vector machine to aid diagnosis of bipolar disorder." Thesis, KTH, Skolan för elektroteknik och datavetenskap (EECS), 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-259621.
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This study aims to investigate how dimensionality reduction of neuroimaging data prior to training support vector machines (SVMs) affects the classification accuracy of bipolar disorder. This study uses principal component analysis (PCA) for dimensionality reduction. An open source data set of 19 bipolar and 31 control structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) samples was used, part of the UCLA Consortium for Neuropsychiatric Phenomics LA5c Study funded by the NIH Roadmap Initiative aiming to foster breakthroughs in the development of novel treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders. The images underwent smoothing, feature extraction and PCA before they were used as input to train SVMs. 3-fold cross-validation was used to tune a number of hyperparameters for linear, radial, and polynomial kernels. Experiments were done to investigate the performance of SVM models trained using 1 to 29 principal components (PCs). Several PC sets reached 100% accuracy in the final evaluation, with the minimal set being the first two principal components. Accumulated variance explained by the PCs used did not have a correlation with the performance of the model. The choice of kernel and hyperparameters is of utmost importance as the performance obtained can vary greatly. The results support previous studies that SVM can be useful in aiding the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and that the use of PCA as a dimensionality reduction method in combination with SVM may be appropriate for the classification of neuroimaging data for illnesses not limited to bipolar disorder. Due to the limitation of a small sample size, the results call for future research using larger collaborative data sets to validate the accuracies obtained.Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur dimensionalitetsreduktion av neuroradiologisk data före träning av stödvektormaskiner (SVMs) påverkar klassificeringsnoggrannhet av bipolär sjukdom. Studien använder principalkomponentanalys (PCA) för dimensionalitetsreduktion. En datauppsättning av 19 bipolära och 31 friska magnetisk resonanstomografi(MRT) bilder användes, vilka tillhör den öppna datakällan från studien UCLA Consortium for Neuropsychiatric Phenomics LA5c som finansierades av NIH Roadmap Initiative i syfte att främja genombrott i utvecklingen av nya behandlingar för neuropsykiatriska funktionsnedsättningar. Bilderna genomgick oskärpa, särdragsextrahering och PCA innan de användes som indata för att träna SVMs. Med 3-delad korsvalidering inställdes ett antal parametrar för linjära, radiala och polynomiska kärnor. Experiment gjordes för att utforska prestationen av SVM-modeller tränade med 1 till 29 principalkomponenter (PCs). Flera PC uppsättningar uppnådde 100% noggrannhet i den slutliga utvärderingen, där den minsta uppsättningen var de två första PCs. Den ackumulativa variansen över antalet PCs som användes hade inte någon korrelation med prestationen på modellen. Valet av kärna och hyperparametrar är betydande eftersom prestationen kan variera mycket. Resultatet stödjer tidigare studier att SVM kan vara användbar som stöd för diagnostisering av bipolär sjukdom och användningen av PCA som en dimensionalitetsreduktionsmetod i kombination med SVM kan vara lämplig för klassificering av neuroradiologisk data för bipolär och andra sjukdomar. På grund av begränsningen med få dataprover, kräver resultaten framtida forskning med en större datauppsättning för att validera de erhållna noggrannheten.
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Hellström, Karlsson Rebecca. "Aiding Remote Diagnosis with Text Mining." Thesis, KTH, Människa och Kommunikation, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-215760.
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The topic of this thesis is on how text mining could be used on patient-reported symptom descriptions, and how it could be used to aid doctors in their diagnostic process. Healthcare delivery today is struggling to provide care to remote settings, and costs are increasing together with the aging population. The aid provided to doctors from text mining on patient descriptions is unknown.Investigating if text mining can aid doctors by presenting additional information, based on what patients who write similar things to what their current patient is writing about, could be relevant to many settings in healthcare. It has the potential to improve the quality of care to remote settings and increase the number of patients treated on the limited resources available. In this work, patient texts were represented using the Bag-of-Words model and clustered using the k-means algorithm. The final clustering model used 41 clusters, and the ten most important words for the cluster centroids were used as representative words for the cluster. An experiment was then performed to gauge how the doctors were aided in their diagnostic process when patient texts were paired with these additional words. The results were that the words aided doctors in cases where the patient case was difficult and that the clustering algorithm can be used to provide the current patient with specific follow-up questions.Ämnet för detta examensarbete är hur text mining kan användas på patientrapporterade symptombeskrivningar, och hur det kan användas för att hjälpa läkare att utföra den diagnostiska processen. Sjukvården har idag svårigheter med att leverera vård till avlägsna orter, och vårdkostnader ökar i och med en åldrande population. Idag är det okänt hur text mining skulle kunna hjälpa doktorer i sitt arbete. Att undersöka om läkare blir hjälpta av att presenteras med mer information, baserat på vad patienter som skriver liknande saker som deras nuvarande patient gör, kan vara relevant för flera olika områden av sjukvården. Text mining har potential att förbättra vårdkvaliten för patienter med låg tillgänglighet till vård, till exempel på grund av avstånd. I detta arbete representerades patienttexter med en Bag-of-Words modell, och klustrades med en k-means algoritm. Den slutgiltiga klustringsmodellen använde sig av 41 kluster, och de tio viktigaste orden för klustercentroider användes för att representera respektive kluster. Därefter genomfördes ett experiment för att se om och hur läkare blev behjälpta i sin diagnostiska process, om patienters texter presenterades med de tio orden från de kluster som texterna hörde till. Resultaten från experimentet var att orden hjälpte läkarna i de mer komplicerade patientfallen, och att klustringsalgoritmen skulle kunna användas för att ställa specifika följdfrågor till patienter.
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Doherty, Neil Francis. "Knowledge-based approaches to fault diagnosis : the development, implementation, evaluation and comparison of knowledge-based systems, incorporating deep and shallow knowledge, to aid in the diagnosis of faults in complex hydro-mechanical devices." Thesis, University of Bradford, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/4374.
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The use of knowledge-based systems to aid in the diagnosis of faults in physical devices has grown considerably since their introduction during the 1970s. The majority of the early knowledge-based systems incorporated shallow knowledge, which sought to define simple cause and effect relationships between a symptom and a fault, that could be encoded as a set of rules. Though such systems enjoyed much success, it was recognised that they suffered from a number of inherent limitations such as inflexibility, inadequate explanation, and difficulties of knowledge elicitation. Many of these limitations can be overcome by developing knowledge-based systems which contain deeper knowledge about the device being diagnosed. Such systems, now generally referred to as model-based systems, have shown much promise, but there has been little evidence to suggest that they have successfully made the transition from the research centre to the workplace. This thesis argues that knowledge-based systems are an appropriate tool for the diagnosis of faults in complex devices, and that both deep and shallow knowledge have their part to play in this process. More specifically this thesis demonstrates how a wide-ranging knowledge-based system for quality assurance, based upon shallow knowledge, can be developed, and implemented. The resultant system, named DIPLOMA, not only diagnoses faults, but additionally provides advice and guidance on the assembly, disassembly, testing, inspection and repair of a highly complex hydro-mechanical device. Additionally it is shown that a highly innovative modelbased system, named MIDAS, can be used to contribute to the provision of diagnostic, explanatory and training facilities for the same hydro-mechanical device. The methods of designing, coding, implementing and evaluating both systems are explored in detail. The successful implementation and evaluation of the DIPLOMA and MIDAS systems has shown that knowledge-based systems are an appropriate tool for the diagnosis of faults in complex hydro-mechanical devices, and that they make a beneficial contribution to the business performance of the host organisation. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the most effective and comprehensive knowledge-based approach to fault diagnosis is one which incorporates both deep and shallow knowledge, so that the distinctive advantages of each can be realised in a single application. Finally, the research has provided evidence that the model-based approach to diagnosis is highly flexible, and may, therefore, be an appropriate technique for a wide range of industrial applications.
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Doherty, Neil F. "Knowledge-based approaches to fault diagnosis. The development, implementation, evaluation and comparison of knowledge-based systems, incorporating deep and shallow knowledge, to aid in the diagnosis of faults in complex hydro-mechanical devices." Thesis, University of Bradford, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/4374.
Full textAbstract:
The use of knowledge-based systems to aid in the diagnosis of faults in physical
devices has grown considerably since their introduction during the 1970s. The
majority of the early knowledge-based systems incorporated shallow knowledge,
which sought to define simple cause and effect relationships between a symptom and
a fault, that could be encoded as a set of rules. Though such systems enjoyed much
success, it was recognised that they suffered from a number of inherent limitations
such as inflexibility, inadequate explanation, and difficulties of knowledge elicitation.
Many of these limitations can be overcome by developing knowledge-based systems
which contain deeper knowledge about the device being diagnosed. Such systems,
now generally referred to as model-based systems, have shown much promise, but
there has been little evidence to suggest that they have successfully made the
transition from the research centre to the workplace.
This thesis argues that knowledge-based systems are an appropriate tool for the
diagnosis of faults in complex devices, and that both deep and shallow knowledge
have their part to play in this process. More specifically this thesis demonstrates how
a wide-ranging knowledge-based system for quality assurance, based upon shallow
knowledge, can be developed, and implemented. The resultant system, named
DIPLOMA, not only diagnoses faults, but additionally provides advice and guidance
on the assembly, disassembly, testing, inspection and repair of a highly complex
hydro-mechanical device. Additionally it is shown that a highly innovative modelbased
system, named MIDAS, can be used to contribute to the provision of
diagnostic, explanatory and training facilities for the same hydro-mechanical device.
The methods of designing, coding, implementing and evaluating both systems are
explored in detail.
The successful implementation and evaluation of the DIPLOMA and MIDAS
systems has shown that knowledge-based systems are an appropriate tool for the
diagnosis of faults in complex hydro-mechanical devices, and that they make a
beneficial contribution to the business performance of the host organisation.
Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the most effective and comprehensive
knowledge-based approach to fault diagnosis is one which incorporates both deep and
shallow knowledge, so that the distinctive advantages of each can be realised in a
single application. Finally, the research has provided evidence that the model-based
approach to diagnosis is highly flexible, and may, therefore, be an appropriate
technique for a wide range of industrial applications.Science and Engineering Research Council, and Alvey Directorate
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McCall, Louise 1965. "Can continuing medical education in general practice psychiatry aid GPs to deal with common mental disorders ? : a study of the impact on doctors and their patients." Monash University, Faculty of Education, 2001. http://arrow.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/8363.
Full text
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Brown, Davina. "'The emerging butterfly' : how can a boy considered likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis at age 5 be provided with a different developmental experience? : an extensive clinical exploration with an under 5 boy with an anticipated diagnosis of ADHD, and his journey towards health with the aid of intensive psychotherapy." Thesis, University of East London, 2011. http://roar.uel.ac.uk/1858/.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis explores the issue of ADHD and its diagnosis in the very young. Also one of my tasks has been to illustrate how offering a four year old boy intensive psychotherapy can be very beneficial for his emotional development and general well being. The detailed analysis of clinical material and commentary covering four phases are explored and further discussion is presented that question whether there is a distinct link between a lack of early containment and ADHD symptomology. The first three phases chart the boy’s gradual progress whilst receiving intensive psychotherapy over the period of one year. The fourth phase documents what happened after the first year of treatment. ADHD origins and symptomology are described as are the more controversial aspects of diagnosis and treatment. The possibility of knee-jerk diagnosis is thought about as is the ADHD symptomology of the parent. A grounded theory qualitative research methodology is applied. The grounded theory approach allowed for the emergence of a theme around the boy’s different uses of the room in his unconscious search for a container to help his manage his internal anxiety. Recommendations for Service, Clinical and Research are offered. It is the authors hope that this research will contribute to the knowledge base of child psychotherapy and aid other professionals who work with challenging young children who have ADHD symptomology.
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Bouazizi, Emna. "Traitement de signal et modélisation pour l'analyse de la fragmentation du sommeil." Electronic Thesis or Diss., Toulon, 2019. http://www.theses.fr/2019TOUL0006.
Full textAbstract:
Plusieurs quantificateurs de fragmentation du sommeil ont été proposés tels que l'indice de Fragmentation du Sommeil (IFS) et l'indice Pondéré de Fragmentation du Sommeil (IPFS). Mais, ces indices se contentent de quantifier la fragmentation du sommeil et ne proposent pas de seuil à partir duquel le sommeil peut être considéré comme fragmenté. D'où provient la nécessité de construire un modèle mathématique et/ou numérique de l'analyse de la fragmentation du sommeil fournissant aux spécialistes du sommeil une aide au diagnostic. En se basant sur trois paramètres du sommeil (le nombre de changement de stades (SSS ), le taux de micro-éveils (MAR), le nombre d'éveils intra-sommeil (ISA)) et à partir d'une base de données de 111 PSG avec 55 sujets sains et 56 patients avec une suspicion du syndrome d'apnée de sommeil obstructif (OSAS) qui sont diagnostiqués par neufs praticiens hospitaliers, nous avons construit pour chaque praticien un modèle mathématique et trois modèles automatiques. L'accord, selon l'indice de Kappa Cohen, entre le diagnostic de chaque clinicien et celui du modèle correspondant, varie du modéré au presque parfaitSeveral sleep fragmentation quantifiers have been proposed, such as the Micro--Arousal Index and the sleep fragmentation Index (SFI). However, these indexes are just satisfied with quantifying sleep fragmentation without providing a threshold from which the sleep can be considered as fragmented. From where cornes the necessity to construct a mathematical or/and a numerical model for sleep fragmentation analysis, that can be a diagnosis aid for sleep specialists. Therefore, based on three main sleep characteristics (the Sleep Stages Shifts (SSS), the Micro Arousal Rate (MAR) and the Intra Sleep Awakenings (ISA)) and from a database of 111 PSG, consisting of 55 healthy adults and 56 adult patients with a suspicion of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), and diagnosed by nine clinicians, we have design, for each clinician one mathematical and three computational models in order to modelize his diagnosis. Thus, it is shown that the agreement between each clinician's diagnosis and each corresponding model according to the Cohen's Kappa Index goes from moderate to almost perfect
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Dallet, Corentin. "Caractérisation locale de la propagation de l’onde d’activation cardiaque pour l’aide au diagnostic des tachycardies atriales et ventriculaires : application à l’imagerie électrocardiographique non-invasive." Thesis, Bordeaux, 2017. http://www.theses.fr/2017BORD0757/document.
Full textAbstract:
Les tachycardies ventriculaires (TV) et atriales (TA) sont les arythmies les plus fréquemment diagnostiquées en clinique. En vue d’ablater les tissus pathologiques, deux techniques de diagnostic sont utilisées : la cartographie électro-anatomique pour un diagnostic précis à l’aide d’électrogrammes (EGM) mesurés par cathéters intracardiaques et repérés sur la géométrie tridimensionnelle (3-D) de la cavité étudiée ; et l’imagerie électrocardiographique non-invasive (ECGi) pour une vision globale de l’arythmie, avec des EGM reconstruits mathématiquement à partir des électrocardiogrammes et des géométries cardio-thoraciques 3-D obtenues par CT-Scan. Les TV et TA sont alors diagnostiquées en étudiant les cartes d’activation qui sont des représentations des temps de passage locaux de l’onde d’activation sur la géométrie 3-D cardiaque. Cependant, les zones de ralentissement favorisant les TV et TA, et leurs motifs de propagation spécifiques n’y sont pas facilement identifiables. Ainsi, la caractérisation locale de la propagation de l’onde d’activation peut être utile pour améliorer le diagnostic. L’objet de cette thèse est le développement d’une méthode de caractérisation locale de la propagation de l’onde d’activation. Pour cela, un champ vectoriel de vitesse est estimé et analysé. La méthode a en premier lieu été validée sur des données simulées issues de modélisation, puis appliquée 1) à des données cliniques issues de l’ECGi pour la localisation des cicatrices d’infarctus et pour améliorer le diagnostic des TA; et 2) sur des données obtenues par cartographie électro-anatomique pour caractériser les zones pathogènesVentricular (VT) and atrial (AT) tachycardias are some of the most common clinical cardiac arrhythmias. For ablation of tachycardia substrates, two clinical diagnosis methods are used : electro-anatomical mapping for an accurate diagnosis using electrograms (EGMs) acquired with intracardiac catheters and localized on the three-dimensional (3-D) mesh of the studied cavities ; and non-invasive electrocardiographic imaging (ECGi) for a global view of the arrhythmia, with EGMs mathematically reconstructed from body surface electrocardiograms and the 3-D cardio-thoracic meshes obtained with CT-scan. VT and AT are diagnosed studying activation time maps ; that are 3-D representations of the transit time of the activation wavefront on the cardiac mesh. Nevertheless, slow conduction areas, a well-known pro-arrhythmic feature for tachycardias, and the tachycardias specific propagation patterns are not easily identifiable with these maps. Hence, local characterization of the activation wavefront propagation can be helpful for improving VT and AT diagnosis. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a method to locally characterize the activation wavefront propagation. For that, a conduction velocity vector field is estimated and analyzed. The method was first validated on a simulated database from computer models, then applied to 1) a clinical database obtained from ECGi to localize infarct tissues and improve AT diagnosis ; and 2) a clinical database acquired with electro-anatomical mapping systems to define pathological areas
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Mandache, Diana. "Cancer Detection in Full Field Optical Coherence Tomography Images." Electronic Thesis or Diss., Sorbonne université, 2022. http://www.theses.fr/2022SORUS370.
Full textAbstract:
Le cancer est une des principales cause de décès dans le monde et donc un problème majeur de santé publique. Plusieurs techniques d'imagerie biomédicale servent à la recherche et aux efforts cliniques pour améliorer le pronostic du patient. Nous étudions l'utilisation d'une nouvelle famille de techniques d'imagerie, la tomographie par cohérence optique plein champ statique et dynamique, qui permet une analyse du tissu plus rapide que la technique de référence en histopathologie. Afin de faciliter l'interprétation de cette nouvelle imagerie, nous développons plusieurs méthodes exploratoires basées sur des données issues d'études cliniques. Nous proposons une méthode analytique pour une meilleure caractérisation du signal interférométrique dynamique brut, ainsi que de multiples méthodes d'aide au diagnostic à partir des images. Pour cela, des réseaux neuronaux convolutifs ont été exploités sous différents paradigmes: (i) apprentissage entièrement supervisé, dont la capacité de prédiction dépasse la performance du pathologiste; (ii) apprentissage par instances multiples, qui permet de surmonter le manque d’annotations d’experts; (iii) apprentissage contrastif, qui exploite la multi-modalité des données. Nous portons une grande attention à la validation et au décryptage des modèles boîte noire pour garantir leur bonne généralisation et enfin trouver des biomarqueurs spécifiquesCancer is a leading cause of death worldwide making it a major public health concern. Different biomedical imaging techniques accompany both research and clinical efforts towards improving patient outcome. In this work we explore the use of a new family of imaging techniques, static and dynamic full field optical coherence tomography, which allow for a faster tissue analysis than gold standard histology. In order to facilitate the interpretation of this new imaging, we develop several exploratory methods based on data curated from clinical studies. We propose an analytical method for a better characterization of the raw dynamic interferometric signal, as well as multiple diagnostic support methods for the images. Accordingly, convolutional neural networks were exploited under various paradigms: (i) fully supervised learning, whose prediction capability surpasses the pathologist performance; (ii) multiple instance learning, which accommodates the lack of expert annotations; (iii) contrastive learning, which exploits the multi-modality of the data. Moreover, we highly focus on method validation and decoding the trained "black box" models to ensure their good generalization and to ultimately find specific biomarkers
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Sanchez, Jean. "Aide au diagnostic de défauts des transformateurs de puissance." Phd thesis, Université de Grenoble, 2011. http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01017179.
Full textAbstract:
Les transformateurs de puissance sont des éléments clés des systèmes électriques. Leurs défaillances sont très coûteuses, principalement à cause de la non-disponibilité du service électrique qu'elles entraînent. L'évaluation rapide et précise de défauts internes des transformateurs est en conséquence un facteur clé d'une exploitation efficace et sûre. Un tel diagnostic est généralement établi par un expert humain qui fait corréler différents types d'informations telles que des résultats d'essais électriques ou chimiques, le déclenchement de protections ou l'historique de l'appareil... Cette thèse présente une méthode d'aide au diagnostic de défauts originale qui reprend, en les formalisant, la démarche et la capitalisation d'expérience de l'expert. Les informations disponibles sur le transformateur à étudier sont mises en correspondance avec le système proposé de manière systématique. Des hypothèses de défaut sont alors formulées et un degré de confiance calculé pour chacune d'elle. Pour améliorer la confiance en certaines de ces hypothèses la méthode recherche, et propose, de renseigner des informations utiles pouvant améliorer le diagnostic. Il progresse ainsi jusqu'à ce que la confiance d'au moins une hypothèse soit suffisante pour l'utilisateur. Le système peut de plus évoluer efficacement dans le temps en prenant facilement en compte de nouveaux types d'essais ou de nouvelles informations pouvant être discriminants dans un diagnostic, et ainsi améliorer les diagnostics futurs automatiquement.
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Barreto, Linara Souza da Costa. "Shell para desenvolvimento de sistemas especialistas na área de saúde." Universidade Federal do Amazonas, 2007. http://tede.ufam.edu.br/handle/tede/4467.
Full textAbstract:
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CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
The expert systems are computational tools built from argument of strong methods in artificial intelligence. This argument states that the resolution of complex problems is only possible when specific knowledge of the nature of the problem to be solved is known. The construction of expert systems in addition to be a very complex task involves a precious expenditure of time. Due to this, there are tolls called Shell that allow rapid prototyping of an expert system, demonstrating or not the viability of a Integral System construction. In this work, the main concern was to develop a Shell that was used with priority, but not exclusively, to diagnosis applications in medicine. In this sense, the system has been provided with the ability to handle linguistic data, data like image and numeric interval data (expressed by ranges of values: a x b). The possibility of working with numerical interval data and with multivalued variables is the main difference between Shell proposed in this work compared to other publications found in literature. In order to be possible to deal with interval data, a specific inference algorithm that incorporates an unification algorithm was developed. It has been given to the system the treatment of uncertainty through certainty factors. There is the possibility of working with multiples targets simultaneously. In the results, an original system was developed for atherosclerosis diagnostics that uses rules with interval variables and a system for AIDS treatment that uses multivalued variables. Moreover, the uncertainty treatment in the Shell proposed is compared with the uncertainty treatment in two other systems nationally developed. As a conclusion, the great application of the proposed system is highlighted, which allows the diagnosis in areas so varied that ranges from radiology to laboratory diagnosis.
Os sistemas especialistas são ferramentas computacionais construídas a partir do argumento dos métodos fortes em inteligência artificial. Esse argumento afirma que a resolução de problemas complexos só é possível quando se dispõem de conhecimentos específicos sobre a natureza do problema a ser resolvido. A construção dos sistemas especialistas, além de ser uma tarefa assaz complexa, envolve o dispêndio de tempo. Devido a isso, dispõe-se de ferramentas denominadas de Núcleo de Sistemas Especialistas (NSE) ou Shell, que permitem a prototipagem rápida de um Sistema Especialista, demonstrando ou não a viabilidade da construção de um Sistema Integral. Neste trabalho, a principal preocupação foi desenvolver um NSE que fosse utilizado de forma prioritária, mas não exclusiva, para aplicações diagnósticas em medicina. Nesse sentido, dotou-se o sistema da capacidade de lidar com dados literais, dados tipo imagem e dados numéricos intervalares (dados expressos por meio de faixas de valores: a x b). A possibilidade de trabalhar com dados numéricos intervalares e com variáveis multivaloradas é o principal diferencial entre o NSE proposto neste trabalho em relação a outras publicações. Para tornar possível o tratamento de dados intervalares, desenvolveu-se um algoritmo de inferência próprio que incorpora algoritmo de unificação também original. Dotou-se o sistema de um tratamento da incerteza por meio de fatores de certeza. Existe a possibilidade de trabalhar-se com múltiplas metas simultaneamente. Nos resultados, desenvolveu-se um sistema original para diagnóstico da aterosclerose que utiliza regras com variáveis intervalares, um sistema para tratamento da AIDS que utiliza variáveis multivaloradas. Compara-se, outrossim, o tratamento da incerteza no NSE proposto com o tratamento da incerteza em outros dois sistemas desenvolvidos nacionalmente. Como conclusão, destaca-se o amplo espectro de aplicações do sistema proposto, que permite o diagnóstico em áreas tão variadas que vão desde a radiologia à diagnóstico com dados laboratoriais.
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Busse, Harald, Tim Riedel, Nikita Garnov, Gregor Thörmer, Thomas Kahn, and Michael Moche. "Targeting accuracy, procedure times and user experience of 240 experimental MRI biopsies guided by a clinical add-on navigation system." Universitätsbibliothek Leipzig, 2015. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:15-qucosa-176108.
Full textAbstract:
Objectives: MRI is of great clinical utility for the guidance of special diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. The majority of such procedures are performed iteratively (\"in-and-out\") in standard,
closed-bore MRI systems with control imaging inside the bore and needle adjustments outside the bore. The fundamental limitations of such an approach have led to the development of various assistance techniques, from simple guidance tools to advanced navigation systems. The purpose of this work was to thoroughly assess the targeting accuracy, workflow and usability of a clinical add-on navigation solution on 240 simulated biopsies by different
medical operators.
Methods: Navigation relied on a virtual 3D MRI scene with real-time overlay of the optically tracked biopsy needle. Smart reference markers on a freely adjustable arm ensured proper registration.
Twenty-four operators – attending (AR) and resident radiologists (RR) as well as medical students (MS) – performed well-controlled biopsies of 10 embedded model targets (mean diameter: 8.5 mm, insertion depths: 17-76 mm). Targeting accuracy, procedure times and 13 Likert scores on system performance were determined (strong agreement: 5.0).
Results: Differences in diagnostic success rates (AR: 93%, RR: 88%, MS: 81%) were not significant. In contrast, between-group differences in biopsy times (AR: 4:15, RR: 4:40, MS: 5:06 min: sec) differed significantly (p<0.01). Mean overall rating was 4.2. The average operator would use the system again (4.8) and stated that the outcome justifies the extra effort (4.4). Lowest agreement was reported for the robustness against external perturbations (2.8).
Conclusions: The described combination of optical tracking technology with an automatic MRI registration appears to be sufficiently accurate for instrument guidance in a standard (closed-bore) MRI environment. High targeting accuracy and usability was demonstrated on a relatively large number of procedures and operators. Between groups with different expertise there were significant differences in experimental procedure times but not in the number of successful
biopsies.
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Silvagni, Paul Anthony. "Comparative pathology and diagnosis of domoic acid toxicity /." For electronic version search Digital dissertations database. Restricted to UC campuses. Access is free to UC campus dissertations, 2003. http://uclibs.org/PID/11984.
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Boucher, Arnaud. "Recalage et analyse d’un couple d’images : application aux mammographies." Thesis, Paris 5, 2013. http://www.theses.fr/2013PA05S001/document.
Full textAbstract:
Dans le monde de la recherche, l’analyse du signal et plus particulièrement d’image, est un domaine très actif, de par la variété des applications existantes, avec des problématiques telles que la compression de données, la vidéo-surveillance ou encore l’analyse d’images médicales pour ne prendre que quelques exemples. Le mémoire s’inscrit dans ce dernier domaine particulièrement actif. Le nombre d’appareils d’acquisition existant ainsi que le nombre de clichés réalisés, entraînent la production d’une masse importante d’informations à traiter par les praticiens. Ces derniers peuvent aujourd’hui être assistés par l’outil informatique. Dans cette thèse, l’objectif est l’élaboration d’un système d’aide au diagnostic, fondé sur l’analyse conjointe, et donc la comparaison d’images médicales. Notre approche permet de détecter des évolutions, ou des tissus aberrants dans un ensemble donné, plutôt que de tenter de caractériser, avec un très fort a priori, le type de tissu cherché.Cette problématique permet d’appréhender un aspect de l’analyse du dossier médical d’un patient effectuée par les experts qui est l’étude d’un dossier à travers le suivi des évolutions. Cette tâche n’est pas aisée à automatiser. L’œil humain effectue quasi-automatiquement des traitements qu’il faut reproduire. Avant de comparer des régions présentes sur deux images, il faut déterminer où se situent ces zones dans les clichés. Toute comparaison automatisée de signaux nécessite une phase de recalage, un alignement des composantes présentes sur les clichés afin qu’elles occupent la même position sur les deux images. Cette opération ne permet pas, dans le cadre d’images médicales, d’obtenir un alignement parfait des tissus en tous points, elle ne peut que minimiser les écarts entre tissus. La projection d’une réalité 3D sur une image 2D entraîne des différences liées à l’orientation de la prise de vue, et ne permet pas d’analyser une paire de clichés par une simple différence entre images. Différentes structurations des clichés ainsi que différents champs de déformation sont ici élaborés afin de recaler les images de manière efficace.Après avoir minimisé les différences entre les positions sur les clichés, l’analyse de l’évolution des tissus n’est pas menée au niveau des pixels, mais à celui des tissus eux-mêmes, comme le ferait un praticien. Afin de traiter les clichés en suivant cette logique, les images numériques sont réinterprétées, non plus en pixels de différentes luminosités, mais en motifs représentatifs de l’ensemble de l’image, permettant une nouvelle décomposition des clichés, une décomposition parcimonieuse. L’atout d’une telle représentation est qu’elle permet de mettre en lumière un autre aspect du signal, et d’analyser sous un angle nouveau, les informations nécessaires à l’aide au diagnostic.Cette thèse a été effectuée au sein du laboratoire LIPADE de l’Université Paris Descartes (équipe SIP, spécialisée en analyse d’images) en collaboration avec la Société Fenics (concepteur de stations d’aide au diagnostic pour l’analyse de mammographies) dans le cadre d’un contrat CifreIn the scientific world, signal analysis and especially image analysis is a very active area, due to the variety of existing applications, with issues such as file compression, video surveillance or medical image analysis. This last area is particularly active. The number of existing devices and the number of pictures taken, cause the production of a large amount of information to be processed by practitioners. They can now be assisted by computers.In this thesis, the problem addressed is the development of a computer diagnostic aided system based on conjoint analysis, and therefore on the comparison of medical images. This approach allows to look for evolutions or aberrant tissues in a given set, rather than attempting to characterize, with a strong a priori, the type of fabric sought.This problem allows to apprehend an aspect of the analysis of medical file performed by experts which is the study of a case through the comparison of evolutions.This task is not easy to automate. The human eye performs quasi-automatically treatments that we need to replicate.Before comparing some region on the two images, we need to determine where this area is located on both pictures. Any automated comparison of signals requires a registration phase, an alignment of components present on the pictures, so that they occupy the same space on the two images. Although the characteristics of the processed images allow the development of a smart registration, the projection of a 3D reality onto a 2D image causes differences due to the orientation of the tissues observed, and will not allow to analyze a pair of shots with a simple difference between images. Different structuring of the pictures and different deformation fields are developed here to efficiently address the registration problem.After having minimized the differences on the pictures, the analysis of tissues evolution is not performed at pixels level, but the tissues themselves, as will an expert. To process the images in this logic, they will be reinterpreted, not as pixels of different brightness, but as patterns representative of the entire image, enabling a new decomposition of the pictures. The advantage of such a representation is that it allows to highlight another aspect of the signal, and analyze under a new perspective the information necessary to the diagnosis aid.This thesis has been carried out in the LIPADE laboratory of University Paris Descartes (SIP team, specialized in image analysis) and in collaboration with the Society Fenics (designer of diagnosis aid stations in the analysis of mammograms) under a Cifre convention. The convergence of the research fields of those teams led to the development of this document
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Strauss, Julius (Julius Y. ). "Abdominal vacuum lift as an aid to diagnosing abdominal adhesions." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36695.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2006.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 18-22).
The internal organs are designed to move freely and slide over one another during normal body movement. The abdominal organs, however, have a tendency to adhere to the abdominal cavity (peritoneum) and other abdominal organs after surgery or infection. These adhesions can cause pain, discomfort , inflammation, anxiety, depression, problems with conception, trouble eating, and decreased immune function. There are around 300,000 hospital admissions in the U.S. every year for patients due to adhesions.. Part of the problem is that there is no suitable method to diagnose adhesions. Recently there have been a number of studies which suggest that measuring visceral slides under ultrasound using exaggerated respiration may prove to be very promising in diagnosing adhesions non invasively. Yet there are still weaknesses in the predictive power of these procedures. For such procedures to be successfully implemented into clinical medicine and offer non invasive methods to diagnosing adhesions, they must first be able to offer higher percentage predictive values. We have worked on a number of models of an external abdominal vacuum system which we believe will increase the accuracy and predictive values of measuring visceral slides under ultrasound using exaggerated respiration.
by Julius Strauss.
S.B.
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Akhras, Michael S. "Nucleic Acid Based Pathogen Diagnostics." Doctoral thesis, KTH, Skolan för bioteknologi (BIO), 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-4684.
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Pathogenic organisms are transmitted to the host organism through all possible connected pathways, and cause a myriad of diseases states. Commonly occurring curable infectious diseases still impose the greatest health impacts on a worldwide perspective. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation partnered with RAND Corporation to form the Global Health Diagnostics Forum, with the goal of establishing and interpreting mathematical models for what effects a newly introduced point-of-care pathogen diagnostic would have in developing countries. The results were astonishing, with potentially millions of lives to be saved on an annual basis. Golden standard for diagnostics of pathogenic bacteria has long been cultureable medias. Environmental biologists have estimated that less than 1% of all bacteria are cultureable. Genomic-based approaches offer the potential to identify all microbes from all the biological kingdoms. Nucleic acid based pathogen diagnostics has evolved significantly over the past decades. Novel technologies offer increased potential in sensitivity, specificity, decreased costs and parallel sample management. However, most methods are confined to core laboratory facilities. To construct an ultimate nucleic acid based diagnostic for use in areas of need, potential frontline techniques need to be identified and combined. The research focus of this doctoral thesis work has been to develop and apply nucleic acid based methods for pathogen diagnostics. Methods and assays were applied to the two distinct systems i) screening for antibiotic resistance mutations in the bacterial pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and ii) genotype determination of the cancer causative Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The first part of the study included development of rapid, direct and multiplex Pyrosequencing nucleic acid screenings. With improved methodology in the sample preparation process, we could detect an existence of multiple co-infecting HPV genotypes at greater sensitivities than previously described, when using the same type of methodology. The second part of the study focused on multiplex nucleic acid amplification strategies using Molecular Inversion Probes with end-step Pyrosequencing screening. The PathogenMip assay presents a complete detection schematic for virtually any known pathogenic organism. We also introduce the novel Connector Inversion Probe, a padlock probe capable of complete gap-fill reactions for multiplex nucleic acid amplifications.Patogena organismer smittas till värd organismen genom alla möjliga kontaktnätverk och skapar en mångfald olika sjukdomstillstånd. Dock är det fortfarande vanligt förekommande behandlingsbara infektiösa sjukdomar som orsakar den största hälsoförlusten, sett från ett globalt perspektiv. Bill och Melinda Gates Stiftelsen samarbetade med RAND kooperation för att forma “The Global Health Diagnostics Forum”. Deras mål var att etablera och analysera matematiska modeller för vilka effekter en ny diagnostisk metod utrustat för fältarbete skulle ha i utvecklingsländer. Resultaten var häpnadsveckande, med potentiellt miljoner av liv som skulle kunna räddas på en årlig basis. Den etablerade standarden för diagnostik av patogena bakterier har länge varit kultiveringsmedia baserad. Miljö specialiserade biologer har estimerat att mindre än 1 % av alla bakterie arter går att kultivera. Dock erbjuder genetiska analyser potentialen att kunna identifiera alla mikrober från alla de biologiska rikena. Nukleinsyrebaserade diagnostiska metoder har märkbart förbättrats över de senaste årtionden. Nya tekniker erbjuder utökad sensitivitet, selektivitet, sänkta kostnader och parallella analyser av patient prover. Dock är de flesta metoderna begränsade till standardiserade laboratoriemiljöer. För att konstruera en väl fungerande diagnostisk fältutrustning för användning i problem områden, behöver världsledande tekniker identifieras och kombineras. Fokuseringsområdet för denna doktorsavhandling har varit att utveckla och utföra nukleinsyrebaserade metoder för patogen diagnostik. Metoder och experimentella utförande applicerades på två distinkta system i) sökning av antibiotika resistens relaterade mutationer i den patogena bakterien Neisseria gonorrhoeae och ii) genotypning av det cancer orsakande Humana Papillomaviruset (HPV). Den första delen av studien inriktade sig mot utveckling av snabba, direkta och multiplexa Pyrosekvenserings baserade nukleinsyreanalyser. Med förbättrad provprepareringsmetodologi kunde vi detektera multipla HPV infektioner med högre sensitivitet än vad tidigare beskrivits med liknande metodologi. Den andra delen av studien fokuserades på multiplexa nukleinsyre amplifikationer med “Molecular Inversion Probe” tekniken med sista steg Pyrosekvenserings analys. “PathogenMip assay” erbjuder ett komplett detektionsprotokoll för alla kända patogena organismer. Vi introducerar även den nya “Connector Inversion Probe”, en “Padlock Probe” kapabel att genomföra kompletta gap fyllningar för multiplex nukleinsyre amplifiering.
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Schwarz, Emanuel. "Molecular diagnostic aids for neuropsychiatric disorders." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2009. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.611585.
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Fasih, Ahmed. "Modeling and fault diagnosis of automotive lead-acid batteries." Connect to resource, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1811/6534.
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Thesis (Honors)--Ohio State University, 2006.Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages: contains 94 p.; also includes graphics. Includes bibliographical references (p. 92-94). Available online via Ohio State University's Knowledge Bank.
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Zarkadis, George. "An intelligent decision support system for acid-base diagnosis." Thesis, City University London, 1989. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.235504.
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Suozzo, Christopher. "Lead-Acid Battery Aging and State of Health Diagnosis." The Ohio State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1212002134.
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Gurney, David Andrew. "Development and implementation of regional platelet diagnostic laboratory in order to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of inherited platelet function disorders." Thesis, University of Portsmouth, 2012. https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/development-and-implementation-of-regional-platelet-diagnostic-laboratory-in-order-to-enhance-the-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-inherited-platelet-function-disorders(d2bf09b6-16c1-4dcb-8eaa-61c3167d9fc9).html.
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This project sets out to create a reference laboratory service capable of detecting platelet function disorders using the latest techniques and based on the most current research. Platelet function disorders are difficult to diagnose due to differing phenotypic presentation and multiple causative agents. Platelet research has moved rapidly over the past decade and has included new reagents, analysers and techniques in the way platelet function disorders are diagnosed. A forward-looking diagnostic laboratory needs translate this ongoing research into routine laboratory practice, whilst ensuring that techniques used in the laboratory comply with the current guidelines and performed in a standardised and scientifically rigorous way. Literature searches were used to develop a pre-analytical questionnaire and this has been adopted. It has proved to be an important tool for standardisation of the pre-analytical procedure which is now in use at other diagnostic centres. New light transmission aggregation equipment and agonists have been introduced, standardised and reference ranges generated, driven by evidence based practice. Reagent comparison studies have been undertaken to asses’ cost-effectiveness of the assays in the laboratory. Platelet nucleotide reference ranges have been generated and are in use. The flow cytometric analysis of glycoproteins has been brought ‘in-house’, has been standardised, and is now being offered as a routine assay to specialist haematology clinical staff, improving the service the laboratory offers. This work has enabled an extended range of assays available to the laboratory and now has capacity for specialist testing of inherited platelet disorders. This together with expert clinical staff creates the scientific and technical environment required for the establishment of a specialist regional referral centre. The reputation of the laboratory has been additionally enhanced, through presentations and collaborations with manufacturers, other healthcare scientists and professional bodies. All these improvements based on strong scientific research and rigorous application have enabled the patient to undergo a thorough investigation with the minimum of inconvenience and enabled the health care provider to utilise resources more effectively.
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Adeniyi, Vincent Oladele. "Maternal knowledge and attitude to early infant HIV diagnosis." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/79938.
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Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The global targets of zero deaths from AIDS-related illness by the year 2015 can only be met if all HIV infected infants can be diagnosed and initiated on anti-retroviral therapy as early as four to six weeks. WHO/UNICEF reported in 2010 that only 8% of eligible infants were tested worldwide. There seems to be more attention directed towards service delivery and less attention on empowering mothers to make voluntary decision to access the services. The influence of maternal knowledge of infant HIV infection and the impact on the attitude towards knowing the status of their children so early in life remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge and attitude of the HIV positive mothers to early infant diagnosis in order to make strategic recommendations to the health authorities on how to scale up the services in the various health facilities. A qualitative study was conducted in two health centres in King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This qualitative study drew in-depth interview with twenty-four HIV positive mothers/ exposed infants’ pair attending the immunization clinics. The results obtained were presented to two focus groups for discussion and validation of findings. Thematic analysis explored the emerging themes relevant to the objective of the study and health authorities. The study found that there is a high level of awareness about infant HIV infection. Majority of the participants were aware of MTCT of HIV and the timing of transmission (pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding). Majority of the participants were aware about the protection offered by maternal exposure to ARVs however, only few participants knew about the risk of transmission despite ARV use. Majority of the participants did not know the right time to bring their infant for HIV test. Majority of the participants never thought about HIV test for their infant as early as six weeks. Majority of the mothers have fears about bringing their infants for HIV test so early. They have concerns about recommending early infant diagnosis to other children in their community due to the perceived disclosure of their own status. The study found that despite good knowledge of mothers about infant HIV infection and prevention methods, the knowledge about early infant diagnosis is lacking. The attitude of the mothers to knowing the status of their infant so early in life is challenging for them. The health authorities have more work to do to empower these mothers with knowledge about early infant diagnosis and early ART initiation to increase the chances of survival of HIV infected infants.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die internasionale mikpunt van geen sterftes weens vigsverwante siektes teen die jaar 2015 kan slegs bereik word as alle MIV-besmette babas reeds op vier tot ses weke gediagnoseer word en antiretrovirale terapie (ART) ontvang. Die WGO/UNICEF het in 2010 berig dat slegs 8% van babas wat getoets moet word, in werklikheid wêreldwyd getoets is. Dit blyk dat meer aandag aan dienslewering en minder aan die bemagtiging van moeders om die vrywillige besluit om van die dienste gebruik te maak, geskenk word. Die invloed van moeders se kennis op MIV-besmetting van babas en die impak op die houding teenoor kennis van die status van hul kinders op so ’n vroeë ouderdom is steeds onbekend. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die kennis en houding van MIV-positiewe moeders rakende vroeë diagnose van babas te ondersoek ten einde strategiese aanbevelings aan die gesondheidsowerhede te maak oor verbetering van die dienste in die onderskeie gesondheidsfasiliteite. ’n Kwalitatiewe studie is in twee gesondheidsentrums in King Sabata Dalindyebo-munisipaliteit in die provinsie Oos-Kaap, Suid-Afrika, onderneem. Dit het diepte-onderhoude met 24 MIV-positiewe moeders/blootgestelde babas wat die immuniseringsklinieke besoek het, behels. Die resultate is aan twee fokusgroepe vir bespreking en bekragtiging van die bevindings voorgelê. Tydens ’n tematiese ontleding is die temas wat aan die lig gekom het wat betrekking het op die doelstellings van die studie en gesondheidsowerhede ondersoek. Daar is gevind dat daar ’n hoë vlak bewustheid van MIV-besmetting van babas is. Die meerderheid van die deelnemers was bewus van moeder-na-kind-oordrag van MIV en die tydsberekening van oordrag (swangerskap, geboorte en borsvoeding). Die meerderheid van die deelnemers was ook bewus van die beskerming wat gebied word deur die moeder se blootstelling aan ART, maar net ’n paar deelnemers het egter geweet van die risiko van oordrag ongeag die gebruik van ART. Die meerderheid van die deelnemers het nie geweet wat die korrekte tyd is om hul baba vir ’n MIV-toets te bring nie. Die meerderheid het nog nooit ’n MIV-toets vir hul baba voor die ouderdom van ses weke oorweeg nie. Die meerderheid van die moeders was bang om hul babas so vroeg reeds vir MIV te laat toets. Hulle is begaan oor die aanbeveling van vroeë diagnose vir ander mense in hul gemeenskap weens die waargenome bekendmaking van hul eie status. Die studie het bevind dat ongeag moeders se grondige kennis van MIV-besmetting van babas en voorsorgmaatreëls, daar ’n gebrek aan kennis oor vroeë diagnose van babas is. Die houding van die moeders teenoor kennis van die status van hul baba op so ’n vroeë ouderdom hou vir hulle ’n uitdaging in. Die gesondheidsowerhede moet hulle daarop toespits om hierdie moeders sonder kennis oor vroeë diagnose van babas en vroeë nakoming van ART te bemagtig ten einde MIV-besmette babas se kanse op oorlewing te verhoog.
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Wallace, Vincent Patrick. "Spectrophotometry for the assessment of pigmented skin lesions." Thesis, Institute of Cancer Research (University Of London), 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.266622.
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Green, Brett James. "Detection and diagnosis of fungal allergic sensitisation." University of Sydney, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/978.
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Doctor of Philosophy(PhD),Airborne fungi are ubiquitous in the environment and human exposure is inevitable. Such fungi differ greatly in their taxonomic, physical, ecological and pathogenic characteristics. Currently, 69 000 species have been taxonomically classified and more than 80 of these are recognised to be aeroallergen sources. Many strategies have evolved to sample, identify and interpret fungal exposure to these species, however no strategy serves all purposes as exposure is a complex and dynamic process confounded by spatial, temporal and geographic variations in airborne counts, in addition to the inadequacies of the immunodiagnostic techniques available. To date, the interpretation of personal exposure and sensitisation to fungal allergens has been restricted to a few select species and the contribution of other genera, airborne hyphae and fragmented conidia to allergic disease are all poorly understood. The aim of the thesis was to utilize the Halogen Immunoassay (HIA) to diagnose fungal allergic sensitisation, to investigate the distribution and factors influencing allergens of fungi in the air and to understand what is actually inhaled in exposure settings. The novelty of the HIA derives from its unique ability to provide allergen sources that are actively secreted by the collected fungal spores and hyphae, which are bound to protein binding membranes (PBM) and then immunoprobed. In Chapter 2, the HIA was compared to the commercial in vitro Pharmacia UniCap assay (CAP) and the in vivo skin prick test (SPT), using 30 sera from subjects SPT positive to Aspergillus fumigatus and/or Alternaria alternata and 30 who were SPT negative to these fungi but sensitised to non-fungal allergens. Sera were analysed by CAP and the HIA against A. alternata, A. fumigatus, Cladosporium herbarum and Epicoccum purpurascens and compared statistically. Between 3% and 7% of SPT negative sera were identified to have specific IgE towards A. fumigatus and A. iv alternata, respectively. For the SPT positive sera, significant associations were found between the HIA and CAP scores for all fungal species tested (P<0.0001). Correlations between the HIA and SPT however, were weakly correlated for A. alternata (rs = 0.44, P<0.05) but not for A. fumigatus. In Chapter 3, personal exposure to indoor fungal aerosols was examined using the HIA to identify the fungal components that people were allergic to. Personal air sampling pumps (PASs) collected airborne fungal propagules onto PBMs for 2.5 hours indoors (n=21). Collected fungi were incubated overnight in a humid chamber to promote the germination of conidia. The membranes were then immunostained with pooled human Alternaria species-positive sera. All air samples contained fungal hyphae that expressed soluble allergens and were significantly higher in concentration than counts of conidia of individual well-characterised allergenic genera. Approximately 25% of all hyphae expressed detectable allergen compared to non-stained hyphae (P<0.05) and the resultant localisation of immunostaining was heterogeneous among hyphae. Fungal conidia of ten genera that were previously uncharacterised as allergen sources accounted for 8% of the total conidia that demonstrated IgE binding. In Chapter 4, the number and identity of fungi inhaled by 34 adults in an outdoor community setting was measured over 2 hour periods by people wearing Intra-nasal air samplers (INASs) and compared to fungal counts made with a Burkard spore trap and filter air samplers worn on the lapel. Using INAS, the most prevalent fungi inhaled belonged to soil borne spores of Alternaria, Arthrinium, Bipolaris, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Epicoccum, Exserohilum, Fusarium, Pithomyces, Spegazzinia, Tetraploa and Xylariaceae species, in addition to hyphal fragments. These results showed that inhaled exposure in most people varied in a 2-fold range with 10-fold outliers. In addition, the INAS and personal air filters agreed more with each other than with Burkard spore trap counts. The analysis was further confounded by different sampling efficiencies, locations of devices and ability to visualise and count fungal propagules. In Chapter 5, a double immunostaining technique based on the HIA was developed and applied to the conidia, hyphae and fungal fragments of A. alternata, A. fumigatus and Penicillium chrysogenum to discriminate between sources of allergens, v using IgE and to identify the fungi, using a fungal-specific antibody. The localisation of immunostaining was heterogeneous between both conidia and the state of germination with greater concentrations of double immunostaining detected following germination for each fungal species (P<0.0001). Fragmented A. alternata hyphae and morphologically indiscernible fragments could be identified for the first time using this technique. In Chapter 6, the factors affecting the release of allergen from the spores of eleven different species were studied. For nine of eleven species, between 5.7% and 92% of spores released allergen before germination. Ungerminated spores of P. chrysogenum and Trichoderma viride did not release detectable allergen. After germination, all spores that germinated eluted allergen from their hyphae. Upon germination there was a significant increase in the percentage of spores eluting detectable allergen (P<0.0001) and the localisation of allergen along the hyphae varied between species. Increased elution of allergen post germination might be a common feature of many species of allergenic fungi following inhalation. Additionally, Chapter 6 explored the extent to which inhaled spores or hyphae germinate after deposition in the nasal cavity and thus cause exposure to allergens. Twenty subjects had their noses lavaged at three separate intervals, (1) at the beginning of the experiment, (2) after one hour indoors and (3) after one hour outdoors. The recovery of spores and hyphal fragments from the nasal cavity varied between individuals and was significantly greater after outdoor exposures. Germinated fungal spores were recovered often in high concentrations for Aspergillus-Penicillium species, however the proportion between ungerminated and germinated spores were much lower for other genera recovered. Conclusions: Our analysis of cultured and wild-type fungi presents a new paradigm of natural fungal exposure, which in addition to commonly recognized species, implicates airborne hyphae, fragmented conidia and the conidia of a much more diverse range of genera as airborne allergens. Exposure is heterogeneous between individuals in the same geographic locality and the spectrum of fungal genera inhaled differs with the method of analysis. Many of the spores inhaled are likely to be allergenic, however upon germination there is an increased elution of allergen and this might be a common vi feature of many fungal species following inhalation. This project also provides novel techniques to diagnose fungal allergy by immunostaining wild-type fungi to which a patient is exposed with the patient’s own serum. Such an immunoassay combines environmental with serological monitoring on a patient specific basis and potentially avoids many problems associated with extract variability, based on the performance of current diagnostic techniques for fungal allergy.
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Teather, B. A. "The design of statistical based aids for the diagnosis of cerebral disease." Thesis, De Montfort University, 1986. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.370916.
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Ngo, Darius. "Fault diagnosis in a system where information is poor." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.300725.
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Nguyen, Paul. "Aide informatique au diagnostic des lombalgies." Nantes, 1993. http://www.theses.fr/1993NANT057M.
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Salsbury, Timothy I. "Fault detection and diagnosis in HVAC systems using analytical models." Thesis, Loughborough University, 1996. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/7337.
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Faults that develop in the heat exchanger subsystems in air-conditioning installations can lead to increased energy costs and jeopardise thermal comfort. The sensor and control signals associated with these systems contain potentially valuable information about the condition of the system, and energy management and control systems are able to monitor and store these signals. In practice, the only checks made are to verify set-points are being maintained and that certain critical variables remain within predetermined limits. This approach may allow the detection of certain abrupt or catastrophic faults, but degradation faults often remain undetected until their effects become quite severe. This thesis investigates the appropriateness of using mathematical models to track the development of degradation faults. An approach is developed, which is based on the use of analytical models in conjunction with a recursive parameter estimation algorithm. A subset of the parameters of the models, which are closely related to faults, is estimated recursively. Significant deviations in the values of the estimated parameters from nominal values, which represent `correct operation', are used as an indication that the system has developed a fault. The extent of the deviation from the nominal values is used as an estimate of the degree of fault. This thesis develops the theory and examines the robustness of the parameter estimator using simulation-based testing. Results are also presented from testing the fault detection and diagnosis scheme with data obtained from a simulated air-conditioning system and from a full size test installation.
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Davis, Andrew. "Symptoms of Self-Image: Medical Diagnosis in Contemporary Narrative." Thesis, Boston College, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/2345/bc-ir:108086.
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Thesis advisor: Laura TannerIllness touches all of us, both directly and indirectly, and to respond to a reality with physical and psychological ramifications, we turn to diagnosis for answers. The role of diagnosis is to place a name upon a bodily disorder, giving a patient some idea of what has gone wrong in his or her body, and how life may change. At its essence, diagnosis renders a mysterious set of symptoms into a tangible, understandable disease that can, ideally, be recognized and treated. Yet this perspective can seem strangely simplistic. How can a single word or phrase encapsulate the variable and far-reaching effects of illness on the complicated lives we live? And what are the effects of the application of the phrase to a patient’s life: a comforting awareness, an estrangement from healthy society, or something in between?
Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2018
Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences
Discipline: Departmental Honors
Discipline: English
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Ayatse, James Ortese Ioruza. "Studies on the clinical significance of a new protein, urine protein 1 (alpha-2 glycomicroglobulin)." Thesis, University of Surrey, 1987. http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/847214/.
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The use of plasma proteins for the diagnosis and management of various diseases in humans has been known since the days of Hippocrates. Recently, a new protein, Urine protein 1 (UP1), has been isolated by Dakopatts Immunoglobulin, Copenhagen, from patients with renal tubular dysfunction. This study reports an investigation into the clinical significance of the protein. The purification, antibody production and semi-characterisation of the protein has also been undertaken. A sensitive, reproducible enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay has been set up and validated for the estimation of UP1. UP1 has been shown to be a stable, negative, low molecular weight (LMW) glycoprotein, with alpha-2 electrophoretic mobility on cellulose acetate. It is suggested that the protein be called alpha-2 glycomicroglobulin (a[2]GM). a[2]GM has been shown to be synthesised in the liver, and, like many other LMW proteins, cleared by the glomeruli, reabsorbed and catabolised mainly by the proximal convoluted tubules. It shows no acute phase reaction, and its serum levels are not significantly affected by pathological states such as myeloma, Hodgkins disease, leukaemia and teratoma, unless there is associated impairment in renal function. Patients with end-stage renal failure showed the highest serum increases. Serum levels of a[2GM were not found to be significantly affected by haemodialysis. Clinically, a[2]GM has been shown to be useful in the diagnosis and assessment of the course of progression of renal disease. It has also been demonstrated that a[2]GM has great potential in the identification, characterisation and monitoring of rejection episodes, and in the assessment of allograft function. Compared to other LMW plasma proteins, a[2]GM indicated clearly superior sensitivity and may be useful in monitoring tubular function in cancer patients on cisplatin chemotherapy. a[2]GM has also been shown to be a useful analyte in the assessment of early renal tubular involvement in diabetics.
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Van't, Hoff W. G. "Cystinosis : the diagnosis and treatment." Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 1994. https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/cystinosis--the-diagnosis-and-treatment(99b73f67-2549-469e-acaf-23707eefa96b).html.
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The use of a cystine binding protein assay to establish the diagnosis of cystinosis was investigated. The assay has a lower limit of detection of 0.03μmol/l, is linear to a concentration of 1.5μmol/l and has a coefficient of variation of 1.7 and 15.0% between 0.05 and 0.6μmol/l. In 32 patients the mean ± SD pre-treatment leucocyte cystine concentration was 5.78 ± 2.49 nmol 1/2 cystine per mg protein (controls 0.10 ± 0.05). The median polymorphonuclear leucocyte cystine concentration in a group of 24 obligate heterozygotes was 0.55 (range 0.23 - 1.79) nmol 1/2 cystine per mg protein (controls 0.10, range 0.04 - 0.38). The effects of single doses of phosphocysteamine solution, rectal cysteamine gel, intravenous cysteamine and a cysteamine capsule were studied in 10 patients with cystinosis. No significant diurnal variation in leucocyte cystine was found. Compared with the intravenous dose, cysteamine was poorly absorbed from rectal gel (21% bioavailability) but well absorbed after administration of either oral phosphocysteamine solution (73% bioavailability) or a cysteamine capsule (50% bioavailability). Oral phosphocysteamine (10mg/kg cysteamine base), intravenous cysteamine (5mg/kg) and cysteamine capsule (15mg/kg) significantly reduced the mean leucocyte cystine with maximal depletion 1-3 hours after the dose. At 12 hours the mean leucocyte cystine was significantly lower than the pre-treatment level in each of these studies. Rectal cysteamine did not significantly reduce the mean leucocyte cystine concentration. In conclusion, phosphocysteamine suspension may be administered 12 hourly. Rectal cysteamine administration is feasible but higher doses are required before efficacy can be judged. A cysteamine capsule may prove to be a viable alternative to oral phosphocysteamine. 59 patients have received cysteamine and/or phosphocysteamine in the UK up to May 1990. In the 44 pre-transplant patients, cysteamine did not prevent a decline in glomerular renal function but a normal growth rate was maintained.
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Edvinsson, Benjamin. "Molecular diagnosis of infection with Toxoplasma gondii in immunocompromised patients /." Stockholm, 2006. http://diss.kib.ki.se/2006/91-7140-877-0/.
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Wouters, d'Oplinter Isabelle de. "The diagnosis of chlamydia trachomatis using non-amplified nucleic acid techniques." Thesis, Open University, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.397998.
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Charbonnaud, Philippe. "Aide au diagnostic curatif multimodèle et multiraisonnement." Bordeaux 1, 1991. http://www.theses.fr/1991BOR10602.
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