• Journal of Information Processing Systems
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.599-613
• /
• 2022

Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy is a representative complication of diabetic patients and is known to be a major cause of impaired vision and blindness. There has been ongoing research on automatic detection of diabetic retinopathy, however, there is also a growing need for research on an automatic severity classification system. This study proposes an automatic detection system for pathological symptoms of diabetic retinopathy such as microaneurysms, retinal hemorrhage, and hard exudate by applying the Faster R-CNN technique. An automatic severity classification system was devised by training and testing a Random Forest classifier based on the data obtained through preprocessing of detected features. An experiment of classifying 228 test fundus images with the proposed classification system showed 97.8% accuracy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
• /
• 2021.10a
• /
• pp.124-126
• /
• 2021

In this study, fundus images were analyzed using an image processing algorithm for diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy, and specific areas such as hard exudate and retinal hemorrhage, which are characteristic of diabetic retinopathy disease using the bit plane technique, were extracted. We propose a system capable of automatic diagnosis by quantifying the characteristics of diabetic retinopathy based on the analyzed fundus image.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.63 no.3
• /
• pp.29.1-29.5
• /
• 2023

An adult raccoon dog with extensive, deep, and contaminated wounds on the right hip and multiple fractures was rescued. The open wound was managed daily by debridement and flushing for 3 weeks. Modified active drainage was then performed, and antibiotics administered according to the antibiotic susceptibility test. After 2 weeks, the exudate disappeared and the drain was removed. After monitoring for 1 month, the animal was released in to the wild. This case shows that even if infection remains, rapid wound repair is possible if appropriate antibiotic selection through regular examination and active drainage are combined.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.64 no.2
• /
• pp.15.1-15.5
• /
• 2024

A 13-year-old, Maltese dog presented with syncope and lethargy. Abdominal ultrasonography demonstrated anechoic peritoneal effusion and hepatic congestion. A focal echogenic round mass compressing the right ventricle and atrium was observed on echocardiography. Cardiac tamponade and right ventricular outflow tract obstruction occurred. On computed tomography, a homogeneous soft-tissue structure compressing the right chamber without contrast enhancement, suspected to be loculated pericardial effusion. During pericardiocentesis, cardiac tamponade was resolved, and irregular pericardial thickening was noted. Pericardial effusion was exudate and gram-positive bacterial colonies were observed on cytology. A diagnosis of fibrinous pericarditis secondary to bacterial infection was established.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.63 no.4
• /
• pp.353-361
• /
• 2007

Background: Malignancies are a common and important causes of exudative pleural effusions. Several tumor markers have been studied because the pleural fluid cytology and pleural biopsy specimens do not provide a diagnosis in a high percentage of malignant effusions. In an attempt to overcome this limitation, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein (CRP) in pleural effusions and serum, which are known to be inflammation markers, were measured to determine if they can differentiate an exudate from trasndate as well as the diverse causes of exudative pleural effusion. Methods: 178 consecutive patients with pleural effusion (malignant 57, tuberculous 51, parapneumonic 31, empyema 5, miscellaneous benign 7, transudative 27)were studied prospectively. The standard parameters of pleural effusion and measured serum and pleural procalcitonin were examined using in immunoluminometric assay. The level of CRP in serum and pleural fluid was determined by turbidimetric immunoassay. Results: The pleural procalcitonin levels in the exudate were significantly higher than those in the transudate, $0.81{\pm}3.09ng/mL$ and $0.12{\pm}0.12ng/mL$, respectively (p=0.007). The pleural CRP levels were significantly higher in the exudate than the transudate, $2.83{\pm}3.31mg/dL$ and $0.74{\pm}0.67mg/dL$, respectively (p<0.001). The pleural procalcitonin levels in the benign effusion were significantly higher than those in the malignant effusion, $1.15{\pm}3.82ng/mL$ and $0.25{\pm}0.92ng/mL$, respectively (p=0.032). The pleural CRP levels were significantly higher in the benign effusion than in the malignant effusion, $3.68{\pm}3.78mg/dL$ and $1.42{\pm}1.54mg/dL$, respectively (p<0.001). The pleural procalcitonin levels in the non-tuberculous effusion were significantly higher than those in the tuberculous effusion, $1.16{\pm}3.75ng/mL$ and $0.13{\pm}0.37ng/mL$, respectively (p=0.008). Conclusion: Measuring the level of procalcitonin and CRP in the pleural fluid is helpful for differentiating between transudates and exudates. In addition, it is useful for differentiating between benign and malignant pleural effusions.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.22-29
• /
• 2007

The water-soluble materials extracted from fruit bodies and mycelium of H. erinaceum were prepared. In-vitro anticancer activities on cancer cells and In-vivo proliferation effect on mouse peritoneal exudate cell and spleen cell of samples were investigated. Also, nitric oxide (NO) generation of peritoneal exudate cell, IL-2 production capacity of spleen cells and phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages were examined. The water extracts of H. erinaceum suppressed the proliferation of cancer cell (HeLa, Raw264.7, Jurkat, KATO3, EL4, LyD9) with concentration-dependent. The water extract from fruit body showed better suppression effect than that from mycelium in most of cancer cells used. The anticancer effect of water extract of fruits body in the range of 0.01 and 10 mg/ml for Raw 264.7 and EL4 cell lines were the same as the Taxol with one thousandth equivalent of fruit body concentration. Water extracts of fruit body and liquid-cultured products of H. erinaceum induced nitric oxide (NO) generation of peritoneal exudate cell and increased NO generation by stimulus of lipopolysaccharide. Water extracts alone did not induce the proliferation and IL-2 production capacity of spleen cells. However, spleen's proliferation and IL-2 production were induced significantly by the addition of lipopolysaccharide and Con A (concanavalin A) or Con A alone, and the effectiveness of mycelium extract with water were more active than those from fruit body.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.584-594
• /
• 1993

Background: Among the respiratory diseases, there are a lot of cases of pleural effusion. The most common cause is tuberculosis. But the other cause such as lung malignancy is in an increasing tendency because of the development of diagnostic procedure, the decrease of the prevalence of the tuberculosis and the increase of the longevity. We need to know the accurate diagnosis as soon as possible for the correct therapy. Method: A clinical observation was made on 315 cases of pleural effusion seen at Pusan Adventist Hospital, from Jan, 1989 to Dec, 1992. For diagnostic procedure, thoracentesis, lymph node biopsy, bronchoscopy and percutaneous biopsy of the parietal pleura with Cope needle were performed. The following are parameters used in seperating the exudate from the transudate: pleural protein 3.0 g/dl, pleural protein/serum protein ratio 0.5, pleural LDH 200 IU, pleural LDH/serum LDH ratio 0.6, pleural cholesterol 60 mg/dl and pleural cholesterol/serum cholesterol ratio 0.3. Each parameters were compared, and misclassified rate and diagnostic efficiency were calculated. Results: The most common cause of exudate pleurisy was tuberculosis (82.3%) and malignancy was next (12.2%). The chief complaints of pleural effusion were noted as dyspnea (58.7%), chest pain (54.9%), coughing (50.2%) and fever (36.2%). Location of pleural effusion was noted as right side (51.4%), left side (41.3%) and both sides (7.3%). Amount of pleural effusion of the chest X-ray was minimum (46.8%), moderate (40.5%) and maximum (12.7%). Misclassified rates for each parameters in seperating the exudates from the transudates were as follows; protein: 5.2%, pleural protein/serum protein:7.6%, LDH: 13.9%, pleural LDH/serum LDH: 6.9%, cholesterol: 8.0%, pleural cholesterol/serum cholesterol: 5.6%. On the pleural biopsy, the tuberculosis granuloma was 60.8%, malignancy was 13.6%, infection was 2.3% and nonspecific inflammatory reaction was 23.3%. Conclusion: on the basis of the above results, the most common cause of exudative pleurisy was tuberculosis. We think that the plerual cholesterol/serum cholesterol ratio is the most useful supportive parameter in separating the exudates from the transudates. For accurate diagnosis, the pleural biopsy is the first procedure and repeated pleural biopsy of nonspedcific inflammatory reaction is required.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.491-495
• /
• 2005

In partial thickness burn injuries, silver sulfadiazine cream 1%(SSD, $Silvadene^{(R)}$) is the most commonly used topical agent worldwide. But silver sulfadiazine cream 1% has no exudate absorption property. Usually after escar is removed from wound surface, $Silvadene^{(R)}$ is changed to saline wet gauze dressing to promote epithelization. $Aquacel^{(R)}$(ConvaTec, UK) is a 100% sodium carboxymethylcellulose Hydrofiber material. It absorbs exudates directly into the hydrofibers by vertical wicking which allows rapid uptake of liquid into the fibers. The absorbed exudate fluid can be distributed to the entire dressing rather than just over the wound surface, which results in larger fluid absorption capacity. From April, 2003 to July, 2004 a study was done with 40 patients who had variable partial thickness burns. $Aquacel^{(R)}$ dressing was compared in 21 cases to silver sulfadiazine cream 1% and saline wet gauze dressings in 19 cases. In the $Aquacel^{(R)}$ cases, the average healing time on the face was $5.36{\pm}1.69$ a day; on the hands was $8.46{\pm}2.15$ a day; and, on the neck was $6.0{\pm}2.0$ a day. With the $Silvadene^{(R)}$ and Saline wet gauze dressing, the average healing time on the face was $6.44{\pm}1.74$ a day; on the hands was $13.79{\pm}5.35$ a day; and, on the neck was $11.17{\pm}3.31$ a day. As a result, the $Aquacel^{(R)}$ group showed a shorter healing time compared to the $Silvadene^{(R)}$ and saline wet gauze dressing group and patients were satisfied because of less pain and improved comfort. In conclusion, $Aquacel^{(R)}$ is a better choice for partial thickness burn injuries because of shorter healing time, less pain and more confortable dressing.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.302-307
• /
• 2014

Many rhizobacteria can promote plant growth through various direct or indirect mechanisms, and their production of phytohormones such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) may have pronounced effects on growth and development of plants. Rhizobacterial strain isolated from rhizosphere of foxtail (Setaria viridis), Acinetobacter sp. SW5 produced 118.1 mg/L of IAA and 4.5 mg/L of gibberellin ($GA_3$) in brain heart broth medium at 2 and 1 day of incubation, respectively. In a pot test the lengths of stem and root and fresh weight of the germinated tomato seedlings treated with Acinetobacter sp. SW5 significantly increased by 26.3, 33.3, and 105.3%, respectively compared to those of the uninoculated control in 12 weeks of cultivation. When the root exudate secreted from tomato seedlings was analyzed by HPLC, 3.75 ng mg tomato $root^{-1}$ of tryptophan which is an IAA precursor was detected. Acinetobacter sp. SW5 could produce $4.06{\mu}M$ of IAA from root exudate from 8 tomato seedlings. Together with the capability of growth of Acinetobacter sp. SW5 in the tomato root exudates, this IAA secreted by bacteria might contribute to enhance the growth of tomato plants.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.359-368
• /
• 2011

Purpose: Aquacel Ag$^{(R)}$ is a hydrofiber wound dressing integrated with ionic silver. Sorbact$^{(R)}$ is a hydrophobiccoated dressing that uses the hydrophobic interaction with microbes. In this study, we compared the wound healing effects and the antibacterial effects of Medifoam$^{(R)}$, Betadine soaked, Aquacel Ag$^{(R)}$ and Sorbact$^{(R)}$ dressings against MRSA-infected wounds. Methods: Eighty rats were divided into four groups: Medifoam$^{(R)}$; Betadine soaked; Aquacel Ag$^{(R)}$; and Sorbact$^{(R)}$. A $1.5{\times}1.5cm$ square full-thickness wound was made on the dorsum of each rat and infected with MRSA. Twenty-four hours thereafter, each dressing was applied to the wound and changed every other day. One, 3, 7, 11 and 15 days after the wound infection, swab culture grade, wound bed appearance score, and wound defect size change were evaluated, and 7 and 15 days after, histologic evaluation was compared between the groups. Results: The bacteria load of wounds in the Sorbact$^{(R)}$ group decreased earlier than in the other groups. The wound bed appearance score of the Sorbact$^{(R)}$ group also increased quicker, compared with the other groups. However, the size of wounds of the Aquacel Ag$^{(R)}$ group decreased more rapidly, compared with other groups. From the histologic point of view, there was no significant difference between Betadine soaked, Aquacel Ag$^{(R)}$ and Sorbact groups. Conclusion: The hydrophobic dressing using Sorbact$^{(R)}$ showed a more rapid reduction in the MRSA load and an elevation in the wound bed appearance score, but a slower decrease in wound size change due to detachment of wound bed tissue when the dressing was eliminated in the low exudate wound. The silver-containing hydrofiber dressing using Aquacel Ag$^{(R)}$ was more effective in ultimate wound size reduction, but some debris was trapped in the wound tissue and induced foreign body reaction in the high exudate wound. Thus, ongoing selection process of treatment based on the evaluation of the infectious wound state will be very important.