IMPACT magazinePub Date : 2023-04-14DOI: 10.21820/23987073.2023.2.62
I-Fang Chung
{"title":"Deep learning in detecting tumor spread through air spaces","authors":"I-Fang Chung","doi":"10.21820/23987073.2023.2.62","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21820/23987073.2023.2.62","url":null,"abstract":"Lung cancer is a leading cause of death on a global scale. Professor I-Fang Chung leads a team of researchers at the Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, investigating how machine learning can help predict the risk of tumour recurrence\u0000 following lung cancer surgery. The standard treatment for early-stage lung cancer patients is complete surgical resection of the tumour but disease recurrence within the first five years following surgery is common. The route of this recurrence is usually tumour spread through the air spaces\u0000 (STAS) and the presence of STAS has recently been identified as a risk factor for recurrence of tumours. The researchers are exploring the importance of STAS and how targeting this phenomenon and using machine learning methods to aid in the analysis of medical imaging of diseased tissues can\u0000 help in predicting the recurrence risk of post-surgery lung cancer patients. Dr Yi-Chen Yeh, a pathologist from the Taipei Veterans General Hospital, is working with Chung to employ a variety of deep-learning object detection methodologies to detect STAS in pathology images. Regions of interest\u0000 (ROI) images extracted from pathology whole slide images (WSI) are marked and annotated, which provides location information for STAS. Deep learning object detection methods are used to train a model which can find STAS, then additional techniques including using pre-trained model parameters,\u0000 augmenting random image data and modifying loss function are used to improve the detection rates for the model. Their model helps pathologists identify STAS and accurately predicts patient outcomes.","PeriodicalId":88895,"journal":{"name":"IMPACT magazine","volume":"35 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86611159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
IMPACT magazinePub Date : 2023-04-14DOI: 10.21820/23987073.2023.2.36
Kyohei Oyama
{"title":"Development of Biodegradable Small Diameter Vascular Graft","authors":"Kyohei Oyama","doi":"10.21820/23987073.2023.2.36","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21820/23987073.2023.2.36","url":null,"abstract":"Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of death on a global scale. Treatment options include revascularisation, but achieving a successful vascular graft requires using one with a diameter of less than 4mm and there is no artificial vascular graft at such a small diameter available.\u0000 Scientists are interested in developing biodegradable artificial vascular grafts that can help overcome challenges associated with CHD. Associate Professor Kyohei Oyama and his team in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Japan, are currently working on two main\u0000 projects: Creating a biodegradable small diameter vascular graft; and developing a heart regeneration treatment via endogenous cardiac myocyte proliferation. In developing a biodegradable small diameter vascular graft, the researchers hope to benefit patients that require the revascularisation\u0000 of small vessels and also positively impact young patients who are still growing. The team also hope that the discoveries made through this research might lead to advances in other organ regeneration. When it comes to the need to recover lost cardiac tissue, this is unable to regenerate as\u0000 cardiac myocytes (muscle cells) have no ability to proliferate. Oyama and the team are investigating the mechanism that limits this proliferation ability with a view to activating it. If cardiac myocyte proliferation can be activated during the revascularisation of CHD, then the damaged heart\u0000 can be completely cured and the possibility of heart failure eliminated.","PeriodicalId":88895,"journal":{"name":"IMPACT magazine","volume":"98 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79254679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
IMPACT magazinePub Date : 2023-04-14DOI: 10.21820/23987073.2023.2.30
Tomonari Murakami
{"title":"Elucidating of the formation process of hierarchical networks in the visual cortex of mice","authors":"Tomonari Murakami","doi":"10.21820/23987073.2023.2.30","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21820/23987073.2023.2.30","url":null,"abstract":"Among the complex connections in the brain are those in the cortical areas that control vision. There are research gaps concerning the visual neural network and its formation, and the early stages of corticocortical connection development. Assistant Professor Tomonari Murakami, The\u0000 University of Tokyo, is working to uncover unknowns in the field of neural circuit development. In his studies he is using mice models as, in mice, some of the development of neural circuits within the visual system occurs postnatally. Murakami is exploring, on a molecular level, the details\u0000 of the developmental processes involved in the formation of inter-regional connections. To do this, he is using comprehensive molecular expression analysis and genetic manipulation before and after the formation of the connections between the V1 and higher visual cortices. Subsequently, he\u0000 and his team will build upon this work, investigating whether the developmental strategy used in the visual system of mice is common with that of primates using marmoset monkeys. The researchers are using optogenetics to clarify the information propagation pathway of visual information and\u0000 plan to continue to clarify how the mammalian brain processes visual information and how the neural network composed of the higher visual cortex is formed during development. Ultimately, this will deepen understanding of the human brain.","PeriodicalId":88895,"journal":{"name":"IMPACT magazine","volume":"198 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83519780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
IMPACT magazinePub Date : 2023-04-14DOI: 10.21820/23987073.2023.2.39
T. Iwai
{"title":"Diagnosis of strangulated bowel obstruction using blood DNA-degrading enzyme activity","authors":"T. Iwai","doi":"10.21820/23987073.2023.2.39","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21820/23987073.2023.2.39","url":null,"abstract":"Strangulated bowel obstruction (StBO) is an abdominal emergency that can be fatal if left untreated. However, it can be difficult to diagnose due to a lack of consensus regarding the diagnosis of StBO based on blood biochemistry or arterial blood gases, inconsistencies with imaging\u0000 used in diagnosis and a lack of definitive features that definitively point to StBO. Assistant Professor Takuma Iwai, Nippon Medical School, Japan, is leading a team of researchers developing a novel method to easily diagnose StBO using peripheral blood. This will help with diagnosis, improve\u0000 outcomes and save lives. In this work, Iwai is applying his longstanding experience in laparoscopic surgery and chemotherapy for gastrointestinal cancers. The researchers are investigating how Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) can be used in StBO diagnosis. This began with research on the treatment of\u0000 colorectal cancer utilising cfDNA, which led to the discovery that the length of cfDNA fragments present in blood is indicative of various forms of cellular death â–“ and that variations in DNA fragment length also result in differences in enzymatic degradation activity.\u0000 This led Iwai and the team to posit that cfDNA may also prove beneficial in the diagnosis of StBO, which is characterised by a disturbance in blood flow.","PeriodicalId":88895,"journal":{"name":"IMPACT magazine","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87948770","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
IMPACT magazinePub Date : 2023-04-14DOI: 10.21820/23987073.2023.2.24
Emiko Yokozeki, Kohji Yamamoto
{"title":"Creation of a conceptual model for understanding subtle reactions of children with severe physical and mental disabilities","authors":"Emiko Yokozeki, Kohji Yamamoto","doi":"10.21820/23987073.2023.2.24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21820/23987073.2023.2.24","url":null,"abstract":"Advances in medical technology have assisted with the provision of care for children with severe physical and mental disabilities, helping to improve and maintain their living standards, and enabling a high level of care to be given at home. But there remains a burden on the families\u0000 delivering care, particularly when communication is difficult. Researchers in the Society 5.0 Study Group, Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Shikoku University, Japan, are exploring the potential of information and communication technology (ICT) to be used to improve the quality of care\u0000 for children with severe physical and mental disabilities. The researchers are developing a conceptual model for understanding the subtle reactions of children, including the sensing of biological reactions such as facial muscle movement. The goal is to better understand the reactions of children\u0000 with severe disabilities, leading to improved levels of care and benefiting the families of patients. Dr Emiko Yokozeki leads the team. She has three decades of nursing experience and is a member of the Society 5.0 Research Society, which is chaired by Professor Kohji Yamamoto and promotes\u0000 research with the aim of creating a society where everyone can live safely and comfortably by utilising innovation.","PeriodicalId":88895,"journal":{"name":"IMPACT magazine","volume":"55 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90391374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
IMPACT magazinePub Date : 2023-04-14DOI: 10.21820/23987073.2023.2.33
Genta Ito, N. Utsunomiya‐Tate
{"title":"Ongoing collaborative project for building a symbiotic society with dementia: the analysis of Alzheimerâ–™s pathogenic changes by 'ageing' of disease-relevant proteins.","authors":"Genta Ito, N. Utsunomiya‐Tate","doi":"10.21820/23987073.2023.2.33","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21820/23987073.2023.2.33","url":null,"abstract":"In Japan, the ageing society correlates to a significant burden of care for elderly people with dementia. Researchers are exploring the epidemiology of the disease, as well as the social aspects. This includes understanding what a well-functioning society encompassing people with dementia\u0000 looks like. Professor Naoko Utsunomiya-Tate, Laboratory Head at the Laboratory of Biomolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Pharma-Sciences, Teikyo University, Japan, is engaged in two key research strands: â–˜Building a symbiotic society with dementiaâ–™ and â–˜Biophysical\u0000 and structural chemical research on the racemisation of the pathogenic protein in the onset process of Alzheimerâ–™s diseaseâ–™. Utsunomiya-Tate envisions a symbiotic society in which people with dementia arenâ–™t tucked away in care homes\u0000 and healthcare facilities but, rather, well integrated into, and respected by, society. She and her team are working to develop diagnostic, preventative and treatment measures and anticipate possible issues in advance of implementing these in society in order to develop solutions. Utsunomiya-Tate\u0000 is collaborating with Senior Assistant Professor Genta Ito and an interdisciplinary team of researchers to identify pathogenic protein variants that suppress fibrillisation and aggregate formation, to elucidate the mechanism underlying the cell-to-cell transfer of Tau aggregates, and to develop\u0000 gene therapy targeting the etiological proteins of dementia. The team also aims to understand how D-isomerisation of the amino acids constituting amyloid β and Tau protein is involved in the process of their fibrillisation and aggregation.","PeriodicalId":88895,"journal":{"name":"IMPACT magazine","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73495283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
IMPACT magazinePub Date : 2023-04-14DOI: 10.21820/23987073.2023.2.53
Toshihide Tanaka
{"title":"Investigation of the effect and prediction factors of bevacizumab on immunoregulation in glioblastoma","authors":"Toshihide Tanaka","doi":"10.21820/23987073.2023.2.53","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21820/23987073.2023.2.53","url":null,"abstract":"Glioblastoma (GB) is one of the most common and malignant tumours that originates in the brain. It has a high likelihood of recurrence and a poor survival rate. Professor Toshihide Tanaka, Chief Medical Officer, Jikei University School of Medicine, conducts translational research based\u0000 on clinical samples of glioblastoma tumours obtained from brain tumour surgery procedures as well as animal studies. He heads up a multidisciplinary team focused on the design and selection of personalised treatments for hypervascular malignant gliomas. In their current project, the researchers\u0000 are investigating the use of Bevacizumab (Bev), a monoclonal antibody that targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF enhances tumour growth by changing the surrounding environment to one more favourable for tumour growth. The effect of Bev on cancers is transient and the mechanisms\u0000 of resistance to Bev are yet to be investigated in detail. The researchers are therefore seeking to discover predictive biomarkers of microenvironment-targeted therapy for GB. In order to investigate the effect and prediction factors of Bev on immunoregulation in GB, Tanaka and the team perform\u0000 in situ observations using histological techniques including immunohistochemistry using tumour tissues from patients who have undergone surgical resection. The researchers have been able to demonstrate a decrease in microvascular density and an improvement in the tumour microenvironment after\u0000 treatment with Bev.","PeriodicalId":88895,"journal":{"name":"IMPACT magazine","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84046749","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
IMPACT magazinePub Date : 2023-04-14DOI: 10.21820/23987073.2023.2.4
L. Annette
{"title":"Elevating global health together","authors":"L. Annette","doi":"10.21820/23987073.2023.2.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21820/23987073.2023.2.4","url":null,"abstract":"The World Health Summit (WHS) is an international meeting for experts to discuss the most important issues facing global health care. The 2022 event was co-hosted by WHO, with more than 300 speakers and over 40 WHO experts. In his opening ceremony speech, WHO Director- General Tedros\u0000 Adhanom Ghebreyesus drew links between the first summit in 2009, which was the year of the H1N1 pandemic and todayâ–™s backdrop of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He said that the theme of the 2022 WHS is â–˜taking global health to a new levelâ–™\u0000 through a shared response and commitment, a new global architecture and a new global approach. He explained that this requires a new agreement based on â–˜a common vision, a new global health architecture that is coherent and inclusive, and a new global approach that prioritizes\u0000 promoting health and preventing disease, rather than only treating the sickâ–™. As such, a new agreement or global accord will be established, ensuring nations of the world commit to bringing this vision to life. Ghebreyesus said that this global accord will â–˜provide\u0000 an essential framework and foundation for other initiatives to keep the world safeâ–™ and will be based on a shared commitment to solidarity and equity, with countries working together rather than in competition with each other. Indeed, the countries will be involved in negotiating\u0000 the agreement and it will be implemented according to their respective national laws.","PeriodicalId":88895,"journal":{"name":"IMPACT magazine","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91238942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
IMPACT magazinePub Date : 2023-04-14DOI: 10.21820/23987073.2023.2.9
Mari Kinoshita
{"title":"Research for Community Oriented Approach for Comprehensive Healthcare in Emergency Situations (COACHES)","authors":"Mari Kinoshita","doi":"10.21820/23987073.2023.2.9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21820/23987073.2023.2.9","url":null,"abstract":"Japan has a high prevalence of natural disasters and it is essential that local and national governments and other organisations develop effective means of handling the impacts of disasters and the resulting emergencies. A research team led by Professor Mari Kinoshita based within the\u0000 Faculty of Nursing at the University of Kochi in Japan has helped propose a system called the Community Oriented Approach for Comprehensive Healthcare in Emergency Situations (COACHES) that has the potential to be implemented across Japan and lead to more effective and efficient responses\u0000 to the impacts of disasters and emergencies. Kinoshita has identified shortfalls with current methods of accumulating information about a disaster affected population and, through COACHES, wants to detect hidden or missed data and provide a whole picture of the situation to be able to provide\u0000 more optimised relief. COACHES provides information to relief personnel that is vital in an emergency situation, including data on where the affected people are located and how they are doing at the present time, which enables rescue and relief teams to prioritise according to the most urgent\u0000 need. Data is recorded so that it can be reviewed and analysed later, enabling continuous improvements.","PeriodicalId":88895,"journal":{"name":"IMPACT magazine","volume":"124 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83530389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
IMPACT magazinePub Date : 2023-04-14DOI: 10.21820/23987073.2023.2.45
K. Nakagawa
{"title":"Elucidation of gastric motor function caused by gastroesophageal reflux in Rumination syndrome","authors":"K. Nakagawa","doi":"10.21820/23987073.2023.2.45","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21820/23987073.2023.2.45","url":null,"abstract":"Rumination syndrome (RS) is a disease of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract characterised by repeated regurgitation of recently digested food back into the mouth. It can be difficult to distinguish from gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and it is likely that many RS patients are\u0000 treated for GERD due to being misdiagnosed. Assistant Professor Kenichiro Nakagawa is leading a team of experts based in the Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan, investigating the causes of gastroesophageal reflux. The researchers have already\u0000 found that RS and GERD are very different in terms of pathology. They are using high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) as a diagnostic tool to comprehensively assess the motor function and bolus transit of food through the oesophagus. They are also utilising oesophageal multichannel intraluminal\u0000 impedance-pH (MII-pH) monitoring to assess the pH of targeted oesophageal and gastric regions of the GI tract. In doing so, the team can pinpoint gastroesophageal reflux patterns, in turn highlighting the differences in gastroesophageal reflux patterns between RS and GERD patients and healthy\u0000 control subjects. Using oesophagogastric scintigraphy, the researchers can compare the ratio of regurgitated food during gastroesophageal reflux in their three test groups, analysing where the food residue in RS and GERD patients and healthy control subjects localises in the proximal stomach.","PeriodicalId":88895,"journal":{"name":"IMPACT magazine","volume":"74 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86061399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}