Malaria remains a global health concern, with 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths being reported by the WHO in 2022. Traditional diagnostic methods often struggle with inconsistent stain quality, lighting variations, and limited resources in endemic regions, making manual detection time-intensive and error-prone. This study introduces an automated system for analyzing Romanowsky-stained thick blood smears, focusing on image quality evaluation, leukocyte detection, and malaria parasite classification.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCutaneous leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that poses significant diagnostic challenges due to the variability of results and reliance on operator expertise. This study addresses the development of a system based on machine learning algorithms to detect spp. parasite in direct smear microscopy images, contributing to the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAirway obstruction is a possible sequela following reconstruction of the nose after Mohs excision of skin cancers. While the principles and goals of tissue replacement after Mohs micrographic surgery are well-established, less attention has been paid to the evaluation of the nasal airway after reconstruction. Reconstructive planning begins with understanding the risk factors associated with the development of nasal valve compromise.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFspecies are the main cause of snake bites in rural communities of tropical developing countries of Central and South America. Envenomation by snakes is characterized by prominent local inflammation, hemorrhage and necrosis as well as systemic hemostatic disturbances. These pathological effects are mainly caused by the major toxins of the viperidae venoms, the snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfluenza A virus poses significant public health challenges due to its high mutation rate and zoonotic potential. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is crucial for monitoring and characterizing these viruses. Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) and Illumina next-generation sequencing platforms are commonly used, with ONT being advantageous for its long-read capabilities, portability, and unique ability to access raw data in real-time during sequencing, making it suitable for rapid outbreak responses.
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