Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons^™

To Develop A Clinically Friendly Multi-Segment Kinematic And Kinetic Foot Model And Test It On Pre-/Post-Hto Patients With Medial Knee Osteoarthritis And Knee Varus, Songlin Zhu

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study aims to develop a clinically useful multi-segment foot model that will enable the analysis of foot kinematics and kinetics in an optical motion capture laboratory setting. This study will also test the new multi-segment foot model on patients with knee osteoarthritis and varus knee alignment that is corrected by high tibial osteotomy (HTO). The multi-segment foot model divides the foot into four functional segments: the hindfoot, midfoot, forefoot and hallux. An X-Z-Y-Cardan angle rotation convention was used to determine intersegmental dorsi/plantar flexion, inversion/eversion, and internal/external rotation. Joint moments, joint powers and medio-longitudinal arch (MLA) height/length ratio were also …

Automation Through Deep-Learning To Quantify Ventilation Defects In Lungs From High-Resolution Isotropic Hyperpolarized 129xe Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Tuneesh Kaur Ranota

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Obstructive lung diseases are characterized by heterogenous ventilation. Hyperpolarized ¹²⁹Xe gas lung magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can examine lung ventilation heterogeneity by acquiring high-resolution isotropic images. The current gold standard of semi-automated (SA) segmentation can be used to quantify non-isotropic ¹²⁹Xe lung images to generate ventilation defect percent (VDP), however, this method is not suitable for analysis of isotropic voxel ¹²⁹Xe images due to the large number of slices. Therefore, we used a fully automated deep learning-based (DL) lung algorithm to calculate VDP from isotropic images. SNR, SA and DL-based VDP were calculated, showing a strong positive …

Predicting Dissatisfaction With Total Knee Arthroplasty, Joseph S. Munn

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a common and effective treatment for end-stage osteoarthritis. However, approximately 20% of patients are consistently found to be dissatisfied or unsure of their satisfaction with their TKA at 1-year post-surgery. Two strategies for reducing dissatisfaction have appeared in the literature. The first aims to reduce the number of dissatisfied patients who will undergo surgery by identifying patients likely to be dissatisfied pre-surgery. The second aims to implement interventions that improve patient satisfaction by generating realistic expectations for outcomes and by association improving met expectations scores. It may be possible to improve the performance of these …

Machine Learning Towards General Medical Image Segmentation, Clara Tam

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The quality of patient care associated with diagnostic radiology is proportionate to a physician's workload. Segmentation is a fundamental limiting precursor to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Advances in machine learning aims to increase diagnostic efficiency to replace single applications with generalized algorithms. We approached segmentation as a multitask shape regression problem, simultaneously predicting coordinates on an object's contour while jointly capturing global shape information. Shape regression models inherent point correlations to recover ambiguous boundaries not supported by clear edges and region homogeneity. Its capabilities was investigated using multi-output support vector regression (MSVR) on head and neck (HaN) CT images. Subsequently, …

Clinical Application Of 3d Ultrasound In Neonatal Intraventricular Hemorrhage, Priyanka Roy

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Preterm neonates are at risk for intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and subsequent post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH). A well-accepted interventional therapy for PHH is ventricular tap (VT). Permanent treatment, ventriculo peritoneal shunt surgery (VPS) is required in the case of some neonates under some conditions (weight, immunological status, CSF protein level) who receive multiple interventions. The objective of this study was to apply a 3D ultrasound system clinically to determine CSF volume within the ventricle, to guide the neurosurgeon regarding the amount of CSF should be removed during every intervention, which lateral ventricle is better to intervene and to predict the possibilities of …

Voice Analysis With Iphones: A Low Cost Experimental Solution, Benjamin Van Der Woerd

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background:

Acoustic voice analysis requires a resource intensive setup, including a soundproof booth. This project evaluates smartphone microphone and recording environment impacts on voice sample collection for acoustic voice analysis. A proprietary analysis algorithm is presented for validation.

Methods:

Microphone and recording environment were evaluated using previously collected voice samples presented in four conditions to test two microphones and two recording environments. Prospective samples were used to test the proprietary algorithm, whereby samples were analyzed using this and Praat.

Results:

Microphone and recording environment had small, clinically unimportant impacts on most measurements. The proprietary algorithm reliably analyzed sustained vowels, with …

A Randomized Controlled Trial Of A Modified Cystoscopy Technique, Khalil Hetou

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction

Pain, anxiety and embarrassment are well documented feelings in patients undergoing ambulatory diagnostic cystoscopy. In this study, we explored utilizing Peak-end theory in improving pain perception in patients undergoing diagnostic cystoscopy.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a randomized clinical trial at the London Health Sciences Center for patients undergoing an ambulatory diagnostic cystoscopy for the first time. Males and females as well as allocation ratios were 1:1. The control arm received a standard cystoscopy. In the intervention arm the cystoscope was left for additional 2 minutes without further manipulation in the bladder before scope removal. The primary outcome was …

In Vivo Tracking Of Tumour Associated Macrophages In Breast Cancer With Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Ashley V. Makela

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction: The environment in which a tumour exists and functions is called the tumour microenvironment (TME). In breast cancer, the presence of tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) in the TME is associated with tumour aggressiveness and poor outcomes. Despite evidence for a link between TAM content and outcome, there are few strategies to measure TAMs and no in vivo approach. Iron or fluorine-19 (¹⁹F)-based MRI can be used to detect macrophages post intravenous injection of either an iron or perfluorocarbon (PFC) agent. Iron-based MRI is sensitive but difficult to quantify. ¹⁹F MRI is specific and signal is proportional …

Kallikrein-Related Peptidases Are Dysregulated In Pleomorphic Adenoma, Matthew D. Morrison

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Objectives: Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common benign salivary gland tumor. Kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) have been identified as biomarkers in many human tumors and may influence tumor behavior. We investigated KLK1-15 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and proteins in PA specimens to determine a KLK expression profile for this tumor.

Methods: Fresh frozen PA tissue specimens (n = 26) and matched controls were subjected to RT-qPCR to detect KLK1-15 mRNA. Expression of KLK1, KLK12, KLK13 and KLK8 proteins were then evaluated via immunostaining techniques. Statistical analyses were performed with the level of significance set at P < .05.

Results: We observed downregulation …

Developments In Pet-Mri For Radiotherapy Planning Applications, John Christian Patrick

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The hybridization of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) provides the benefit of soft-tissue contrast and specific molecular information in a simultaneous acquisition. The applications of PET-MRI in radiotherapy are only starting to be realised. However, quantitative accuracy of PET relies on accurate attenuation correction (AC) of, not only the patient anatomy but also MRI hardware and current methods, which are prone to artefacts caused by dense materials. Quantitative accuracy of PET also relies on full characterization of patient motion during the scan. The simultaneity of PET-MRI makes it especially suited for motion correction. However, quality assurance …

Development And Optimization Of 19f-Mri For Tracking Cellular Therapeutics, Jeffrey M. Gaudet

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction: This thesis aims to advance magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for imaging cellular therapeutics. Traditional, proton-based, MRI provides detailed anatomical images, particularly of soft tissue. However, in order to obtain information at a cellular level specialized imaging agents are required to detect the cells of interest. Perfluorocarbons containing non-radioactive fluorine-19 (¹⁹F) are both biologically safe and MR sensitive. Methods: Pre-clinical ¹⁹F-MRI was implemented on a Varian 9.4T MRI scanner, using a dual ¹⁹F/¹H-tuned birdcage volume coil. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) were pre-labeled with a commercial, FDA approved ¹⁹F-perfluorocarbon emulsion, then implanted intramuscularly into …

Characterization And Personalization Of Botulinum Toxin Type A Therapy For Upper Limb Tremor In Parkinson Disease And Essential Tremor Patients Using Multi-Sensor Kinematic Technology, Olivia Samotus

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Tremor commonly affects the upper extremities in essential tremor (ET) and Parkinson disease (PD) patients where many experience functional disability and ultimately seek therapy. As ET and PD tremor features overlap and clinical assessment is challenging due to its highly complex nature, misdiagnosis is common resulting in unsuitable therapies and prognosis. Current treatment options for ET and PD tremor include pharmacotherapy, focal therapy with botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injections, and surgical interventions which provide modest relief of tremor. However, such therapies are commonly associated with significant adverse events and lack long-term efficacy and tolerability. Hence lack of standardized, objective …

Feasibility Of Using Arterial Spin Labeling For Detecting Longitudinal Changes In Cerebral Blood Flow, Tracy Ssali

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The ability of the perfusion MRI technique, arterial spin labeling (ASL), to quantify cerebral blood flow (CBF) makes it attractive for longitudinal studies of changes in brain function, such as those related to chronic pain. However, ASL's poor spatial resolution makes image alignment between sessions difficult, leading to increased variance and greater Type-I errors. In addition, variability due to differences in basal blood flow between sessions and confounding effects such as the arterial transit time (ATT) have the potential to reduce reproducibility over time. The focus of this thesis is to investigate the ability of ASL to detect long-term changes …

Short Term Sensory And Vascular Responses To Physical Agent Modalities And Exercise In Healthy Volunteers And Patients With Distal Radius Fracture., Shaguftha Shaik

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Currently, there is weak evidence on the effectiveness of different rehabilitation regimens following distal radius fracture (DRF). This thesis evaluated sensory and vascular effects of exercise, thermal and ultrasound interventions that can be used in the mobilization phase (cast removal) after DRF.

Methods

• This thesis includes 3 studies. The first study compared responses to Immersion in Cold water Evaluation (ICE) in the DRF and uninjured hands. Skin blood flow (Sbf), skin temperature (temp.) and sensory perception thresholds (sPT) at 2000Hz for A –beta fibres and at 5 Hz for C fibres were obtained before, immediately after ICE and 10 min …

Coherent Scatter Computed Tomography For Core Composition Analysis Of Intact Kidney Stones - Prospective Clinical Study, Cristian Dihel

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Urolithiasis is the presence of urinary calculi (urinary stones) at any level along the excretory system. Establishing accurate and complete mineral composition of the stones is one of the main factors in deciding the best steps for therapy and recurrence prevention.

Currently, infrared spectroscopy (IRS) and x-ray diffractometry (XRD) provide bulk composition results of urinary calculi in powdered form. Clinicians use the results to prescribe medical and dietary measures to restore the physiologic chemical balance of urine or rather alter it for the purpose of decreasing the crystallization rate of single or multiple minerals. As current methods have been shown …

Targeted Intracellular Therapeutic Delivery Using Liposomes Formulated With Multifunctional Fast Proteins, Rae L. Nesbitt

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in North American men and there is no treatment currently available which offers a clear survival advantage to patients with prostate cancer. We studied liposomes formulated with the fusion-associated small transmembrane (FAST) protein, p14. In this study, we hypothesized that therapeutics delivered in molecular targeted fusogenic liposomes will increase intracellular delivery and specificity for prostate cancer. We demonstrated that liposomes formulated with p14-bombesin significantly increased the delivery of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) into human prostate cancer (PC-3) cells compared to either standard liposomes or non-targeted fusogenic liposomes. Delivery of FITC to benign prostate hyperplasia …