An Artificial Intelligent System for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis in Whole Slide Images.

In recent years a significant demand to develop computer-assisted diagnostic tools to assess prostate cancer using whole slide images has been observed. In this study we develop and validate a machine learning system for cancer assessment, inclusive of detection of perineural invasion and measurement of cancer portion to meet clinical reporting needs. The system analyses the whole slide image in three consecutive stages: tissue detection, classification, and slide level analysis.

Automated Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis for Improved Clinical Decision Support.

We report on the prediction performance of artificial intelligence components embedded into a telehealth platform underlying a newly established eye screening service connecting metropolitan-based ophthalmologists to patients in remote indigenous communities in Northern Territory and Queensland. Two AI-based components embedded into the telehealth platform were evaluated on retinal images collected from 328 unique patients: an image quality alert system and a diabetic retinopathy detection system. Compared to ophthalmologists, at an individual image level, the image quality detection algorithm was correct 72% of the time, and 85% accurate at a patient level.

A fast and fully automated system for glaucoma detection using color fundus photographs.

This paper presents a low computationally intensive and memory efficient convolutional neural network (CNN)-based fully automated system for detection of glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Using color fundus photographs, the system detects glaucoma in two steps. In the first step, the optic disc region is determined relying upon You Only Look Once (YOLO) CNN architecture.

Capillary vascular density in the retina of hypertensive patients is associated with a non-dipping pattern independent of mean ambulatory blood pressure.

Background: A nocturnal non-dipping pattern has been associated with hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD), morbidity and mortality. Retinal imaging through application of modern technologies including optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) can provide detailed insights into early vascular damage. In this observational study, we investigated the relationship of microscopic vascular density in the retina measured with OCT-A and nocturnal blood pressure (BP) dipping.

Retinal capillary rarefaction is associated with arterial and kidney damage in hypertension.

Microvascular disease and rarefaction are key pathological hallmarks of hypertension. The retina uniquely allows direct, non-invasive investigation of the microvasculature. Recently developed optical coherence tomography angiography now allows investigation of the fine retinal capillaries, which may provide a superior marker of overall vascular damage.

Microvascular changes at different stages of chronic kidney disease.

Patients with progressing chronic kidney disease (CKD) are more likely to experience cardio- and cerebrovascular events than progressing to end-stage renal disease. The authors explored whether retinal microvascular calibers differed with the degree of renal impairment and between the standard and extended optic disk and may serve as a simple additional tool for risk stratification in this highly vulnerable patient cohort. The authors analyzed central retinal arteriolar and venular equivalent calibers (CRAE, CRVE) at different retinal zones (zone B&C) using digital retinal imaging in hypertensive patients with stage 2 (n = 66) or stage 3 CKD (n = 30).

Effect of Pupil Dilation with Tropicamide on Retinal Vascular Caliber.

: The retinal blood vessels reflect changes in the brain's micro-circulation and these changes have been shown to correlate with the incidence of diseases such as stroke, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease. Studies investigating the retinal vasculature routinely use pupil dilation with tropicamide to optimize image acquisition and quality. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of tropicamide on retinal vascular parameters using retinal photography.

Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence-Based Grading of Diabetic Retinopathy in Primary Care.

Importance: There has been wide interest in using artificial intelligence (AI)-based grading of retinal images to identify diabetic retinopathy, but such a system has never been deployed and evaluated in clinical practice.

Objective: To describe the performance of an AI system for diabetic retinopathy deployed in a primary care practice.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Diagnostic study of patients with diabetes seen at a primary care practice with 4 physicians in Western Australia between December 1, 2016, and May 31, 2017.

A Mobile Phone Informational Reminder to Improve Eye Care Adherence Among Diabetic Patients in Rural China: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To determine whether short message service (SMS) reminders improve adherence to scheduled ocular examinations among patients with diabetes in rural China.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Methods: This study enrolled consecutive patients with diabetes scheduled for eye examinations at 5 hospitals in low-income areas of Guangdong, China from March 1, 2015 to May 31, 2016.

Retinal hemorrhage detection by rule-based and machine learning approach.

Robust detection of hemorrhages (HMs) in color fundus image is important in an automatic diabetic retinopathy grading system. Detection of the hemorrhages that are close to or connected with retinal blood vessels was found to be challenge. However, most methods didn't put research on it, even some of them mentioned this issue.

Content Design and System Implementation of a Teleophthalmology System for Eye Disease Diagnosis and Treatment and Its Preliminary Practice in Guangdong, China.

Background: We have developed a new telemedicine system for comprehensive eye examination, diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening, and eye disease diagnosis and treatment. The novel points of the system include a tablet application for facilitating doctor's examination and diagnosis process, a comprehensive eye examination component, and integrated treatment planning and recording.

Methods: The system provided a new service model through one ophthalmological center linking with multiple remote and rural hospitals for eye care in Guangdong province, China.

Utility of Ward-Based Retinal Photography in Stroke Patients.

Background: Improvements in acute care of stroke patients have decreased mortality, but survivors are still at increased risk of future vascular events and mitigation of this risk requires thorough assessment of the underlying factors leading to the stroke. The brain and eye share a common embryological origin and numerous similarities exist between the small vessels of the retina and brain. Recent population-based studies have demonstrated a close link between retinal vascular changes and stroke, suggesting that retinal photography could have utility in assessing underlying stroke risk factors and prognosis after stroke.

Establishing an indigenous tele-eye care service.

We describe the establishment of a new tele-eye care solution over a Broadband Satellite service, connecting metropolitan-based ophthalmologists to patients with eye conditions in rural and remote Australia. A trial of the service demonstrates the ability of the telehealth system to close the gap in access to eye care services for adult Australians living in under-served rural and remote communities, preventing needless blindness.

End-user acceptance of a cloud-based teledentistry system and Android phone app for remote screening for oral diseases.

Objective This study aimed to evaluate users' acceptance of a teledentistry model utilizing a smartphone camera used for dental caries screening and to identify a number of areas for improvement of the system. Methods A store-and-forward telemedicine platform "Remote-I" was developed to assist in the screening of oral diseases using an image acquisition Android app operated by 17 teledental assistants. A total of 485 images (five images per case) were directly transmitted from the Android app to the server.

A proof-of-concept evaluation of a cloud-based store-and-forward telemedicine app for screening for oral diseases.

Objective: It is widely considered that telemedicine can make positive contributions to dental practice. This study aimed to evaluate a cloud-based telemedicine application for screening for oral diseases.

Methods: A telemedicine system, based on a store-and-forward method, was developed to work as a platform for data storage.

Development and Practice of Store-and-Forward Telehealth Systems in Ophthalmology Dental and Emergency.

Store-and-forward (S&F) telehealth system has been becoming an increasing application in remote medical consultations. In this paper, we will introduce three novel S&F telehealth systems we developed for ophthalmological, dental and emergency applications. We will explain the general system architecture of the S&F systems.

A pilot study of a mobile-phone-based home monitoring system to assist in remote interventions in cases of acute exacerbation of COPD.

We conducted a six-month feasibility study of a mobile-phone-based home monitoring system, called M-COPD. Patients with a history of moderate Acute Exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) were given a mobile phone to record major symptoms (dyspnoea, sputum colour and volume), minor symptoms (cough and wheezing) and vital signs. A care team remotely monitored the recorded data and provided clinical interventions.

Retinal video recordings at different compression levels: a novel video-based imaging technology for diabetic retinopathy screening.

Background: To evaluate the optimal compression level of retinal color digital video recordings, a novel video-based imaging technology, in screening for diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Design: Evaluation of a diagnostic technique.

Methods: A total of 36 retinal videos, captured using EyeScan (Ophthalmic Imaging System), were compressed from original uncompressed file size of 1 GB (gigabyte) to four different compression levels-100 MB (megabyte) (Group 1); 30 MB (Group 2); 20 MB (Group 3); and 5 MB (Group 4).

Retinal vascular biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease.

The earliest detectable change in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the buildup of amyloid plaque in the brain. Early detection of AD, prior to irreversible neurological damage, is important for the efficacy of current interventions as well as for the development of new treatments. Although PiB-PET imaging and CSF amyloid are the gold standards for early AD diagnosis, there are practical limitations for population screening.