Computer aided analysis of epi-illumination and transillumination images of skin lesions for diagnosis of skin cancers.

Skin lesion pigmentation area from surface, or, epi-illumination (ELM) images and blood volume area from transillumination (TLM) images are useful features to aid a dermatologist in the diagnosis of melanoma and other skin cancers in early curable stages. However, segmentation of these areas is difficult. In this work, we present an automatic segmentation tool for ELM and TLM images that also provides additional choices for user selection and interaction with adaptive learning.

Multispectral optical imaging of skin-lesions for detection of malignant melanomas.

Optical imaging of skin-lesions for early detection and management of the most fatal skin-cancer malignant melanoma is of significant interest in mass screening of skin-lesions with high-risk population. Surface illumination based optical imaging methods such as epiluminescence light microscopy (ELM) through "Dermascopy" has shown a significant potential in improving early diagnosis of malignant melanomas. Limitations of surface reflectance based imaging systems have been realized in analyzing images for important vascular and depth dependent information.

Tumor blood flow measured by perfusion computed tomography and 15O-labeled water positron emission tomography: a comparison study.

Objectives: To compare blood flow measurements of tumors assessed by perfusion computed tomography (pCT) and the clinical gold standard of 15O-labeled water positron emission tomography (15O-PET).

Methods: Blood flows were estimated by pCT (4-row multidetector, CT Perfusion 3.1) and 15O-PET (Posicam, first-pass model) in 14 patients with solid tumors, totaling 22 index tumors and 57 matched pairs of examinations.

Tumor blood flow measured by PET dynamic imaging of first-pass 18F-FDG uptake: a comparison with 15O-labeled water-measured blood flow.

Unlabelled: PET molecular imaging of 15O-labeled water is the gold standard for measuring blood flow in humans. However, this requires an on-site cyclotron to produce the short-lived 15O tracer, which is cost-prohibitive for most clinical PET centers. The purpose of this study was to determine if the early uptake of 18F-FDG could be used to measure regional blood flow in tumors in the absence of 15O-water.

SVM-based texture classification and application to early melanoma detection.

We have recently developed a decision support system for early skin cancer detection that relies on analysis of the pigmentation characteristics of a skin lesion, detected using crosspolarization imaging, and the increased vasculature associated with malignant lesions that is detected using transillumination imaging. Current system uses size difference based on lesion physiology and achieves great overall accuracy (86.9%).

Uptake of a fluorescent deoxyglucose analog (2-NBDG) in tumor cells.

Purpose: A new fluorescent analog of D -glucose was recently developed by [Yoshioka K, Takahashi H, Homma T, Sato M, Ki Bong O, Nemoto Y, Matsuoka H (1996) A novel fluorescent derivative of glucose applicable to the assessment of glucose uptake activity of Escherichia coli. Biochim Biophys Acta 1289:5-9] and shown to be transported into normal cells. The purpose of this preliminary study was to assess the use of this fluorescent 2-deoxyglucose analog, 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diaxol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxyglucose (2-NBDG), as a sensitive probe for monitoring glucose uptake into malignant tumor cells.

DermLite II: an innovative portable instrument for dermoscopy without the need of immersion fluids.

The DermLite II is an improvement on a previous instrument allowing for dermoscopy to be carried out without the need of immersion oil. It consists of a magnifying lens encircled by light-emitting diodes that can be adjusted for polarization or can be customized by the manufacturer to produce colors of specific wavelengths for visualizing pigmentation and structures of various dermal depths. This new version of the DermLite makes it very convenient for the evaluation of not just pigmented lesions, but nonpigmented skin cancers, scalp disease, and vascular patterns.

Quantitative analysis of biomarkers defines an optimal biological dose for recombinant human endostatin in primary human tumors.

Purpose: In a recent study, we presented preliminary evidence for biological activity in a Phase I dose-finding study (15-600 mg/m(2)) of recombinant human endostatin in patients with refractory solid tumors. Here, we conducted additional biomarker analyses to correlate changes in tumor biology with dose.

Experimental Design: Excisional tumor biopsies were obtained at baseline and after 56 days of endostatin therapy.

Combined intense lifestyle and pharmacologic lipid treatment further reduce coronary events and myocardial perfusion abnormalities compared with usual-care cholesterol-lowering drugs in coronary artery disease.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if combined intense lifestyle and pharmacologic lipid treatment reduce myocardial perfusion abnormalities and coronary events in comparison to usual-care cholesterol-lowering drugs and whether perfusion changes predict outcomes.

Background: Lifestyle and lipid drugs separately benefit patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: A total of 409 patients with CAD, who underwent myocardial perfusion imaging by dipyridamole positron emission tomography at baseline and after 2.

Development of biologic markers of response and assessment of antiangiogenic activity in a clinical trial of human recombinant endostatin.

Purpose: Angiogenesis is a target for the treatment of cancer and other diseases, and its complex biology suggests that establishing the appropriate dose and schedule for antiangiogenic treatment will require extensive study. We present the initial results of a dose-finding clinical trial of recombinant human endostatin (rh-Endo) that examined potential surrogates for response to antiangiogenic therapy.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-five patients were treated with escalating doses of rh-Endo.

Phase I study of recombinant human endostatin in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Purpose: Endostatin, a 20-kd fragment of collagen XVIII, is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis. We evaluated recombinant human endostatin (rh-Endo) in a phase I trial designed to assess safety, pharmacokinetics, and serum markers of angiogenesis in patients with solid tumors.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-six patients were enrolled onto a dose-finding trial of rh-Endo administered as an intravenous bolus over a 20-minute period once daily.

Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Brain Glucose Metabolism: A Preliminary Study.

We measured (15)O water uptake and [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in four depressed individuals before electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and 24 h after completion of a series of six to 11 bilateral ECT treatments. Studies of radioactive uptake were done using positron emission tomography, with FDG as a measure for glucose metabolism and with oxygen-15-labeled water as a measure for cerebral blood flow. The four patients showed decreased uptake of FDG in the frontal cortex after ECT treatment.