DCBIOSTEC 2016 Abstracts


Full Papers
Paper Nr: 1
Title:

Content based Image Retrieval Databases Classification with Brain Event Related Potential

Authors:

Rodrigo Prior Bechelli

Abstract: This paper evaluates and compile information related to Electroencephalography (EEG) used as a pattern to classify a Content Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) system based on an Event Related Potential (ERP) as an input data vector to classify an image database. The Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) is used as a method to present multiple images to obtain a series of P300 brain response and specify the duality of target or non- target images (oddball paradigm).
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Paper Nr: 3
Title:

Design of a Breath Analysis Device for Self-monitoring and Remote Health-care

Authors:

D. Germanese, M. D'Acunto and O. Salvetti

Abstract: Technique as new as promising, breath analysis enables the monitoring of biochemical processes in human body in a non-invasive way. This is why it is drawing, more and more, the attention of scientific community: many studies have been addressed in order to find a correlation between breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and several diseases. Despite its potential, breath analysis is still far from being used in clinical practice. These are some of the principal reasons: (i)high costs for the standard analytical instrumentation; (ii)need of specialized personnel for the interpretation of the results; (iii)lack of standardized procedures to collect breath samples. Our aim is to develop a device, which we call Wize Sniffer (WS), based on commercial gas sensors, which is: (i)able to analyse breath gases in real time; (ii)portable; (iii)low-cost; (iv)easy-to-use also for non-specialized personnel. Another aim is to foster homecare, that means promote the purchase and the use, also in home environment, of such device. The Wize Sniffer is composed of three modules: signal measurement, signal conditioning and signal processing. To satisfy the goal of developing a device by using low-cost technology, its core is composed of an array of commercial, low cost, semiconductor-based gas sensors, and a widely employed open source controller: an Arduino board. To promote the use of such device also in home environment, and foster its daily use, it is programmed in order to send breath test results also to a remote pc: the pc of user’s physician, for example. In addition, the design of the Wize Sniffer is based on a modular configuration, thus enabling to change the type of the gas sensors according to the breath molecules to be detected. In this case, we focus our attention to the prevention of cardio-metabolic risk, for which the healthcare systems are registering an exponential growth of social costs, by monitoring those dangerous habits for cardio-metabolic risk itself.
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Paper Nr: 4
Title:

Study of a Low-cost Sensitive Point-of-Care Testing System using Screen Printed Biosensors for Early Biomarkers Detection Related to Alzheimer Disease

Authors:

Sarah Tonello, Mauro Serpelloni, Nicola Francesco Lopomo, Giulia Abate, Daniela Uberti and Emilio Sardini

Abstract: Among neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer Disease (AD) represents one of the most serious pathology, for which an early diagnosis is still missing. A peculiar expression of an altered conformational isoform of p53 protein was reported to be a biomarker able to distinguish AD subjects from healthy population, quantifiable using a blood-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In order to overcome ELISA limitations related to reliability and to improve sensitivity, this study aimed to realize a low cost highly sensitive portable point-of-care (PoC) testing system based on screen printed electrochemical sensors (SPES). The development of the platform specifically included both the design of the sensing probe and of the electronic circuit devoted to the conditioning and acquisition of the transduced electric signal. In particular, silver, carbon and silver-silver chloride were selected respectively to realize conductive tracks, working and counter electrodes, reference electrode in a three-electrodes configuration focusing on Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV). The conditioning circuit was designed following the scheme for a common potentiostat, and produced as a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). Initial testing of the circuit were performed recording changes in the conductivity of NaCl solution and quantifying electrodes coating with antibodies using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) principle. Preliminary results obtained with saline solution, showed the ability of the circuit to give the best response corresponding to low changes in NaCl concentration (sensitivity 13 mA/(mg/ml)), suggesting a good sensitivity of the platform. Results from EIS showed the ability of the circuit to discriminate between different concentrations of antibodies coatings (sensitivity 70 mA/µg). The study is on-going and after a proper calibration, the circuit is intended to be optimized to quantify unknown concentration of unfolded p53 in samples of real patients, compared results with the one from ELISA analysis, aiming to realize a low cost, easy usable and highly precise platform.
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Paper Nr: 5
Title:

Development and Application in Clinical Routine of Computer Aided Detection (CAD) Algorithms for the Identification of Pulmonary Nodules

Authors:

Alberto Traverso

Abstract: Lung Cancer is one of the main public health issues in developed countries, accounting for about 19% and 28% of cancer-related deaths in Europe and the United States of America, respectively, with a five-year survival rate of only 10-16%. Computed Tomography (CT) has been shown to be the most sensitive imaging modality for the detection of small pulmonary nodules. The identification of early stage pathological Regions of Interests (ROIs) in low dose high resolution CT scans is a very difficult and time consuming task for radiologists, because of the large number (300/500) of noisy 2D slices to be analyzed. In order to support radiologists, researchers have started developing Computer Aided Detection (CAD) algorithms to be applied to CT scans. Several studies reported an improvement in the sensitivity of radiologists when assisted by CAD systems. So far, the most common way to make CAD algorithms available in the clinical routine of health facilities is thedeployment of standalone workstations, usually equipped with a vendor-dependent Graphic User Interface (GUI). This approach presents several drawbacks, such as the high fixed cost of the software licenses, hardware and the obsolescence of both. In this paper we present a PHD project aiming at: developing and improving CADs for automatic detection of pulmonary nodules and their features, spreading the usage of CADs inside clinical practice, investigating the impact of CAD algorithms on the performance of radiodioligsts when assisted by CADs during clinical practice. In relation to the first goal we present some of the recent challenges related to the improvement of CADs, like for example the possiblity to predict the maglignancy of a nodule starting from some computed feature of the nodule itself. In the second part we analyze the big issues that have been limitating the diffusion of CADs in clinical practice and we propose a possible solution to tackle them. In the third part we propose some observer studies in order, not only to investigate the impact of CAD on the performance of radioligsts, but also to determine the most to insert CADs in clinical practice.
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Paper Nr: 6
Title:

Healthcare Software Process Model - Doctoral Consortium

Authors:

Marie Travers

Abstract: Software can provide opportunities for innovation and competitive differentiation. There are challenges to this, for example software in products increases complexity and, in turn, can compromise quality. By improving process efficiencies, industries are able to focus on areas such as innovation and reduce time to market. Health Information Systems (HIS) are used in healthcare to make decisions on: -Diagnosis and treatment -Financial and administrative matters -Best practices -Manipulation of clinical data which needs to be secure, accurate and timely Developing Health Information Systems (HIS) is a complex task for a number of reasons. For example healthcare mistakes can have serious consequences that can affect patients’ lives as well as having a high financial cost all within a highly regulated industry Currently there is no comprehensive methodology for developing HIS. Relevant HIS regulations state what needs to be done to comply but not how. Technology is evolving quickly.
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