Dermatology Commons^™

Changes In Nascent Chromatin Structure Regulate Activation Of The Pro-Fibrotic Transcriptome And Myofibroblast Emergence In Organ Fibrosis, Morgan D. Basta, Svetlana Petruk, Ross Summer, Joel Rosenbloom, Peter J. Wermuth, Edward J. Macarak, Alex V. Levin, Alexander Mazo, Janice L. Walker

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Cell reprogramming to a myofibroblast responsible for the pathological accumulation of extracellular matrix is fundamental to the onset of fibrosis. Here, we explored how condensed chromatin structure marked by H3K72me3 becomes modified to allow for activation of repressed genes to drive emergence of myofibroblasts. In the early stages of myofibroblast precursor cell differentiation, we discovered that H3K27me3 demethylase enzymes UTX/KDM6B creates a delay in the accumulation of H3K27me3 on nascent DNA revealing a period of decondensed chromatin structure. This period of decondensed nascent chromatin structure allows for binding of pro-fibrotic transcription factor, Myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A) to nascent DNA. …

Maintenance Of Chronicity Signatures In Fibroblasts Isolated From Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Chronic Wound Dressings Under Culture Conditions, Cristian De Gregorio, Evelyng Catalán, Gabriel Garrido, Pilar Morandé, Jimena Castillo Bennett, Catalina Muñoz, Glenda Cofré, Ya-Lin Huang, Bárbara Cuadra, Paola Murgas, Margarita Calvo, Fernando Altermatt, María Joao Yubero, Francis Palisson, Andrew P. South, Marcelo Ezquer, Ignacia Fuentes

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (RDEB) is a rare inherited skin disease caused by variants in the COL7A1 gene, coding for type VII collagen (C7), an important component of anchoring fibrils in the basement membrane of the epidermis. RDEB patients suffer from skin fragility starting with blister formation and evolving into chronic wounds, inflammation and skin fibrosis, with a high risk of developing aggressive skin carcinomas. Restricted therapeutic options are limited by the lack of in vitro models of defective wound healing in RDEB patients.

RESULTS: In order to explore a more efficient, non-invasive in vitro model for RDEB studies, …

Introduction Of Probiotics To Improve Eczema Symptoms In Children In One Pediatric Primary Care Practice: A Quality Improvement Project, Christie Potter

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Background: There is emerging interest in alternative approaches to treating children with eczema because there is currently no allopathic cure. Non-pharmacological approaches are regarded as generally safe, well tolerated, and cost effective. Eczema is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory, itchy skin condition that adversely affects quality of life in many individuals, including children. Eczema interferes with sleep, leads to secondary skin infections, and causes intractable itching. Topical steroids are the current standard of practice in treating patients but, evidence suggests that they can cause unwanted side effects and can lead to serious systemic reactions. The purpose of this quality improvement project …

Trametinib-Induced Epidermal Thinning Accelerates A Mouse Model Of Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa, Grace Tartaglia, Pyung Hung Park, Michael H. Alexander, Alexander Nyström, Joel Rosenbloom, Andrew P. South

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) patients experience skin and epithelial fragility due to a pathological deficiency in genes associated with epidermal adhesion. Disease severity ranges from post-natal lethality to localized skin involvement with persistent blistering followed by granulation tissue formation and atrophic scarring. We evaluated the potential of utilizing Trametinib, an MEK inhibitor previously shown to target fibrosis, with and without the documented EB-anti-fibrotic Losartan for reducing disease severity in a mouse model of JEB; Lamc2jeb mice. We found that Trametinib treatment accelerated disease onset and decreased epidermal thickness, which was in large part ameliorated by Losartan treatment. Interestingly, a range …

Incidence Of Cutaneous Melanoma And Merkel Cell Carcinoma In Patients With Primary Cutaneous B-Cell Lymphomas: A Population Study Of The Seer Registry, Lauren Banner, Daniel Joffe, Emily Lee, Pierluigi Porcu, Neda Nikbakht

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Introduction: The increased incidence of cutaneous melanoma (CM) and Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) in patients with hematologic malignancies (HM) is well established. While the risk of CM has been assessed in some subtypes of HM including cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, the incidence in patients with primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma (PCBCL) has not been interrogated.

Methods: Here we evaluated the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of CM and MCC in 5,179 PCBCL patients compared to approximately 1.5 billion individuals in the general population using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Among patients with PCBCL, we identified subgroups that were at increased …

Alopecia In Patients With Collagen Vi-Related Myopathies: A Novel/Unrecognized Scalp Phenotype, Michela Starace, Francesca Pampaloni, Francesca Bruni, Federico Quadrelli, Stephano Cedirian, Carlotta Baraldi, Cosimo Misciali, Alberto Di Martino, Patrizia Sabatelli, Luciano Merlini, Bianca Maria Piraccini

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Collagen VI-related myopathies are characterized by severe muscle involvement and skin involvement (keratosis pilaris and impaired healing with the development of abnormal scars, especially keloids). Scalp involvement and hair loss have not been reported among cutaneous changes associated with collagen VI mutations. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical, trichoscopic, and histological findings of the scalp changes in patients affected by COL VI mutations and to estimate their prevalence. Patients with Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy were enrolled and underwent clinical and trichoscopic examinations and a scalp biopsy for histopathology. Five patients were enrolled, and all complained of …

High Expression Of Talin-1 Is Associated With Tumor Progression And Recurrence In Melanoma Skin Cancer Patients., Yasaman Rezaie, Fahimeh Fattahi, Baharnaz Mashinchi, Kambiz Kamyab Hesari, Sahar Montazeri, Elham Kalantari, Zahra Madjd, Leili Saeednejad Zanjani

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Talin-1 as a component of multi-protein adhesion complexes plays a role in tumor formation and migration in various malignancies. This study investigated Talin-1 in protein levels as a potential prognosis biomarker in skin tumors.

METHODS: Talin-1 was evaluated in 106 skin cancer (33 melanomas and 73 non-melanomas skin cancer (NMSC)) and 11 normal skin formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples using immunohistochemical technique on tissue microarrays (TMAs). The association between the expression of Talin-1 and clinicopathological parameters, as well as survival outcomes, were assessed.

RESULTS: Our findings from data minings through bioinformatics tools indicated dysregulation of Talin-1 in mRNA levels …

Apremilast For Generalized Granuloma Annulare: A Case Series Of Eight Patients, Tory Starzyk

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Sunscreen Is Not Just For White People: Church-Based Sunscreen Education For Black Women, Lauren Mitchell

DNP Projects

Significance and Background: African American women are an undeserved population in healthcare, particularly regarding skin cancer prevention. The lack of education and misinformation surrounding skin cancer has resulted in general mistrust of the healthcare system amongst African Americans. Proper education on sunscreen use and skin cancer screening is essential to prevent late diagnosis of skin cancer and to promote prevention efforts.

Purpose: This quality improvement project utilized evidence-based practice to provide education on the proper use of sunscreen and skin cancer screening to African American women in a faith-based setting in Southern Connecticut.

Methods: A pre-survey was conducted to assess …

Sharprazor: Automatic Removal Of Hair And Ruler Marks From Dermoscopy Images, Reda Kasmi, Jason Hagerty, Reagan Harris Young, Norsang Lama, Januka Nepal, Jessica Miinch, William V. Stoecker, R. Joe Stanley

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Background: The removal of hair and ruler marks is critical in handcrafted image analysis of dermoscopic skin lesions. No other dermoscopic artifacts cause more problems in segmentation and structure detection. Purpose: The aim of the work is to detect both white and black hair, artifacts and finally inpaint correctly the image. Method: We introduce a new algorithm: SharpRazor, to detect hair and ruler marks and remove them from the image. Our multiple-filter approach detects hairs of varying widths within varying backgrounds, while avoiding detection of vessels and bubbles. The proposed algorithm utilizes grayscale plane modification, hair enhancement, segmentation using tri-directional …

Misinformation Regarding Monkeypox On Tiktok, Madison Meyer, Rajaa Shoukfeh, Dilara Turks, Geoffrey Potts

Medical Student Research Symposium

TikTok is the newest and most popular form of social media for young audiences around the world. Healthcare professionals can present medical information to all audiences in an engaging and short-length video manner. Our study evaluates the reliability of Monkeypox-related information presented on TikTok. We assessed the quality of the information presented using DISCERN, a peer-reviewed tool used for the evaluation of health information presented to consumers. Findings from our study suggest physicians, members of the healthcare field, and non-medical individuals post videos supplying viewers with information that is rated unreliable. Physicians and other healthcare professionals should prioritize providing reliable …

Inhibitors Of Histone Deacetylase And Mcl-1 Synergistically Reduce Proliferation In Malignant Melanoma, Mehrnoosh Ghafouri, Chester Gauss, Yue Xi Phd, William Azkoul Ii Md, Abby Knudsen, Jordan Zuckerman, Sharon K. Michelhaugh Phd, Sandeep Mittal Md, Andrew M. Fribley Phd

Medical Student Research Symposium

Melanoma is a skin cancer that arises in melanocytes; it is the fifth most common cancer in the United States with approximately 100,000 new cases per year. Current treatments for malignant melanoma are surgical excision, radiation therapy and systemic therapy; however, the five-year survival rate for patients with stage IV is 29.8%. There is an urgent unmet clinical need to investigate novel treatments for these patients. Panobinostat is an orally available histone deacetylase inhibitor used in several hematologic malignancies, but it was ineffective as a single agent against melanoma in Phase 1. To address the insufficiency of options for melanoma …

Sun Protection Intervention For Urban Youth, Erika Polanco, Jordan Tall, Erin Caris, Arjun Muralidharan, Michael Escobar, Sofia Howson, Jason Liu, Alyssa Goodwin, Steven Daveluy

Medical Student Research Symposium

Introduction:

Skin cancer is less prevalent in persons with darker skin color compared to those with light skin, but contrarily is associated with greater mortality rates. Experts agree this is primarily due to late detection. Challenges in early detection include low public awareness, uncommon presentation, lower index of suspicion among health care providers, and decreased access to specialty care. To address some of these barriers, we designed a survey-based study to discover current beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes of urban youth towards sun protection before and after an educational intervention.

Methods:

In 2022, 17 children living in metro Detroit …

Whole Transcriptome-Based Skin Virome Profiling In Typical Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis Reveals Α-, Β-, And Γ-Hpv Infections, Amir Hossein Saeidian, Leila Youssefian, Mahtab Naji, Hamidreza Mahmoudi, Samantha M Barnada, Charles Huang, Karim Naghipoor, Amir Hozhabrpour, Jason S Park, Flavia Manzo Margiotta, Fatemeh Vahidnezhad, Zahra Saffarian, Kambiz Kamyab-Hesari, Mohammad Tolouei, Niloofar Faraji, Seyyede Zeinab Azimi, Ghazal Namdari, Parvin Mansouri, Jean-Laurent Casanova, Vivien Béziat, Emmanuelle Jouanguy, Jouni Uitto, Hassan Vahidnezhad

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

HPVs are DNA viruses include approximately 450 types that are classified into 5 genera (α-, β-, γ-, μ-, and ν-HPV). The γ- and β-HPVs are present in low copy numbers in healthy individuals; however, in patients with an inborn error of immunity, certain species of β-HPVs can cause epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV), manifesting as recalcitrant cutaneous warts and skin cancer. EV presents as either typical or atypical. Manifestations of typical EV are limited to the skin and are caused by abnormal keratinocyte-intrinsic immunity to β-HPVs due to pathogenic sequence variants in TMC6, TMC8, or CIB1. We applied a transcriptome-based computational pipeline, …

Potential Chemical Risks From Tattoos And Their Relevance To Military Health Policy In The United States, James D. Blando, Blas A. Guigni

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

We summarize and consolidate disparate sources of information about the practice of tattooing and its potential implications for military population health and policy. Each branch of the United States military has policies about tattoos for service members, but these have varied over time and do not cover health protection. The number of veterans receiving disability payments and the cost of those payments has been rising over time; the broad category of skin conditions accounts for 11% of disability claims. Any additional factor, such as tattoos that may increase the occurrence of adverse skin reactions, can substantially impact veteran benefit expenses …

A Rare Presentation Of Secondary Multiple Miliary Osteoma Cutis, Ana Duarte-Summers, Anna Bistline, Viral Patel, Elizabeth Jones

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Recent Advances In Centrifugal Spinning And Their Applications In Tissue Engineering, Shaik Merkatur Hakim Marjuban, Musfira Rahman, Syeda Sharmin Duza, Mohammad Boshir Ahmed, Dinesh K Patel, Md Saifur Rahman, Karen Lozano

Journal Articles

Over the last decade, researchers have investigated the potential of nano and microfiber scaffolds to promote wound healing, tissue regeneration, and skin protection. The centrifugal spinning technique is favored over others due to its relatively straightforward mechanism for producing large quantities of fiber. Many polymeric materials have yet to be investigated in search of those with multifunctional properties that would make them attractive in tissue applications. This literature presents the fundamental process of fiber generation, and the effects of fabrication parameters (machine, solution) on the morphologies such as fiber diameter, distribution, alignment, porous features, and mechanical properties. Additionally, a brief …

Demographic Data Associated With Digital Inequity Reported In Patient-To-Provider Teledermatology Studies In The United States From 2011 To 2021: Scoping Review, John Miller, Patrick Ioffreda, Shannon Nugent, Elizabeth Jones

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Background: Patient-to-provider teledermatology relies on a patient’s access to technology to ensure a successful visit. However, access to broadband internet and technology varies across populations in the United States—leading to the digital divide. While teledermatology has been recognized as a model to improve access, little is known about how often demographic data associated with digital inequity are captured in studies. Objective: Given the expansion of teledermatology over the past decade, we sought to determine how often demographic data associated with digital inequity are reported in patient-to-provider teledermatology studies. Methods: A scoping literature review search was conducted using the search term …

Teledermatology In Medical Student, Postgraduate Trainee, And Global Dermatology Education: A Systematic Review, Heli Patel, Rishab Revankar, Aly Valliani, Nikita Revankar, Shivani Yerigeri, Nadine Kaskas, Benjamin Stoff

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

BACKGROUND: In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, medical students and residents in the U.S. and globally have gained more exposure to teledermatology, both for the purposes of clinical practice and education.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a systematic review to assess outcomes from teledermatology interventions for dermatology trainees in the U.S. and globally in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA).

METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL for articles written in English and published database inception to November 20, 2022.

RESULTS: In total, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Outcomes reported ranged broadly from …

Multiple Fibrofolliculomas Within A Fibrous Cephalic Plaque In A Patient With Tuberous Sclerosis, Justin Raman, Annie Jin, Jennifer J. Parker, Conor M. Vickers, Daniela M. Proca, Sylvia Hsu, Jason B. Lee

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Atezolizumab-Induced Psoriasiform Drug Eruption Successfully Treated With Ixekizumab: A Case Report And Literature Review, Laura Gleason, E Hunter, Alexa J. Cohen, Jayson Suriano, Neda Nikbakht

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Immune-related cutaneous adverse events (ircAE) are commonly seen with immune checkpoint inhibitors such as atezolizumab. Atezolizumab-induced psoriasis has been previously reported as an ircAE, especially in patients with pre-existing psoriasis. The severity of the reaction influences treatment of the cutaneous eruption. Biologics should be considered as a treatment option for severe refractory psoriasiform eruptions even in patients with complex medical conditions like chronic infections and malignancy. This is the first reported case of successful treatment of atezolizumab-induced psoriasiform eruption with ixekizumab, a neutralizing IL17A monoclonal antibody, to the best of our knowledge. Herein, we present a 63-year-old man with a …

Reduced Spag17 Expression In Systemic Sclerosis Triggers Myofibroblast Transition And Drives Fibrosis, Paulene Sapao, Elisha D O Roberson, Bo Shi, Shervin Assassi, Brian Skaug, Fred Lee, Alexandra Naba, Bethany E Perez White, Carlos Córdova-Fletes, Pei-Suen Tsou, Amr H Sawalha, Johann E Gudjonsson, Feiyang Ma, Priyanka Verma, Dibyendu Bhattacharyya, Mary Carns, Jerome F Strauss, Delphine Sicard, Daniel J Tschumperlin, Melissa I Champer, Paul J Campagnola, Maria E Teves, John Varga

Journal Articles

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a clinically heterogeneous fibrotic disease with no effective treatment. Myofibroblasts are responsible for unresolving synchronous skin and internal organ fibrosis in SSc, but the drivers of sustained myofibroblast activation remain poorly understood. Using unbiased transcriptome analysis of skin biopsies, we identified the downregulation of SPAG17 in multiple independent cohorts of patients with SSc, and by orthogonal approaches, we observed a significant negative correlation between SPAG17 and fibrotic gene expression. Fibroblasts and endothelial cells explanted from SSc skin biopsies showed reduced chromatin accessibility at the SPAG17 locus. Remarkably, mice lacking Spag17 showed spontaneous skin fibrosis with increased …

Expert Opinions And Clinical Experiences With Chlormethine Gel As Maintenance Treatment For Patients With Mycosis Fungoides, Larisa Geskin, Christiane Querfeld, Emmilia Hodak, Neda Nikbakht, Evangelia Papadavid, Marco Ardigò, Ulrike Wehkamp, Martine Bagot

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Maintenance treatment can be recommended for patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) whose disease responds to primary treatment. While positive outcomes have been observed in small studies with maintenance therapy, there is a lack of practical guidelines and agreement on when and how maintenance therapy for MF should be approached. In this article, we discuss expert opinions and clinical experiences on the topic of maintenance therapy for patients with MF, with a focus on chlormethine gel. Ideally, patients should have a durable response before initiating maintenance therapy. The definition of and required duration of durable response are topics that are open …

Racial Differences In Perceived Risk And Sunscreen Usage, Rebecca Fliorent, Alicia Podwojniak, Lianne Adolphe, Katharine Milani

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Faculty Scholarship

Background Although White individuals have higher incidence of melanoma, clinical outcomes are worse among patients with skin of color. This disparity arises from delayed diagnoses and treatment that are largely due to clinical and sociodemographic factors. Investigating this discrepancy is crucial to decrease melanoma-related mortality rates in minority communities. A survey was used to investigate the presence of racial disparities in perceived sun exposure risks and behaviors. Methods A survey consisting of 16 questions was deployed via social media to assess skin health knowledge. Over 350 responses were recorded, and the extracted data were analyzed using statistical software. Results Of …

Inherited Human Itk Deficiency Impairs Ifn-Γ Immunity And Underlies Tuberculosis, Masato Ogishi, Rui Yang, Rémy Rodriguez, Dominic P Golec, Emmanuel Martin, Quentin Philippot, Jonathan Bohlen, Simon J Pelham, Andrés Augusto Arias, Taushif Khan, Manar Ata, Fatima Al Ali, Flore Rozenberg, Xiao-Fei Kong, Maya Chrabieh, Candice Laine, Wei-Te Lei, Ji Eun Han, Yoann Seeleuthner, Zenia Kaul, Emmanuelle Jouanguy, Vivien Béziat, Leila Youssefian, Hassan Vahidnezhad, V Koneti Rao, Bénédicte Neven, Claire Fieschi, Davood Mansouri, Mohammad Shahrooei, Sevgi Pekcan, Gulsum Alkan, Melike Emiroğlu, Hüseyin Tokgöz, Jouni Uitto, Fabian Hauck, Jacinta Bustamante, Laurent Abel, Sevgi Keles, Nima Parvaneh, Nico Marr, Pamela L Schwartzberg, Sylvain Latour, Jean-Laurent Casanova, Stéphanie Boisson-Dupuis

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Inborn errors of IFN-γ immunity can underlie tuberculosis (TB). We report three patients from two kindreds without EBV viremia or disease but with severe TB and inherited complete ITK deficiency, a condition associated with severe EBV disease that renders immunological studies challenging. They have CD4+ αβ T lymphocytopenia with a concomitant expansion of CD4-CD8- double-negative (DN) αβ and Vδ2- γδ T lymphocytes, both displaying a unique CD38+CD45RA+T-bet+EOMES- phenotype. Itk-deficient mice recapitulated an expansion of the γδ T and DN αβ T lymphocyte populations in the thymus and spleen, respectively. Moreover, the patients' T lymphocytes secrete small amounts of IFN-γ in …

Dermatologic Manifestations Of Rheumatic Disease: Cutaneous Manifestations Of Vasculitides, Julianna S. Kang, Julia Nunley, Tiffany Ho, Mavra Masood, Fnu Nutan, Beth Rubinstein

Open and Affordable Course Content at VCU

Cutaneous Manifestations of Vasculitides is a Powerpoint based learning module that begins with the definition of terms and findings often found in vasculitis, followed by a review of several systemic vasculitides, highlighting how characteristic cutaneous lesions may be predictive of the vessel of involvement as well as the associated histologic changes. Moreover, significant clinical and laboratory findings utilized to make the correct diagnosis will be emphasized. This module is not meant to be an exhaustive review of vasculitis, but to serve as an introduction to understanding disease processes and how systemic vasculitis and skin findings interrelate.

It is part of …

Dermatologic Manifestations Of Rheumatic Disease: Malignant Cutaneous Tumors, Divya Shan, Julianna S. Kang, Allison Cinats, Julia R. Nunley, Beth Rubinstein

Open and Affordable Course Content at VCU

Malignant Cutaneous Tumors is a Powerpoint-based learning module that focuses on skin cancers. It begins with the definition of terms and findings, followed by a review of several clinical cases. The goal of the module is to provide the students with the ability to differentiate the most common types of skin cancer and precancerous lesions and gain an awareness of cutaneous lymphomas. This module will include images and clinical findings from diverse skin tones to prepare students to identify cutaneous findings in a heterogeneous patient population. This module is not a comprehensive review of skin cancers but an introduction to …

A Delphi Consensus To Identify Perioperative Antibiotic Prescribing Best Practices In Mohs Surgery, Cari Carpenter Bs, Ba, Glenn Goldman Md, Katelyn Shea Md

Larner College of Medicine Fourth Year Advanced Integration Teaching/Scholarly Projects

Abstract: Surgical site infections (SSI) make a significant global contribution to morbidity, mortality, and cost while remaining one of the most preventable causes of healthcare-associated infection. Perioperative antibiotics are a mainstay of prevention, but antibiotics are also associated with cost, risk, and increasing resistance. Dermatology is responsible for more oral antibiotic prescriptions than any other discipline. Despite a trend toward conservative prescribing practices and antibiotic stewardship in dermatology overall, antibiotic prescriptions in dermatologic surgery continue to increase, with a notable rise in short-term perioperative prescribing. There is currently a lack of evidence-based perioperative antibiotic prescribing guidelines within the dermatology literature. …

Skin Lesion Segmentation In Dermoscopic Images With Noisy Data, Norsang Lama, Jason Hagerty, Anand Nambisan, Ronald Joe Stanley, William Van Stoecker

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We Propose a Deep Learning Approach to Segment the Skin Lesion in Dermoscopic Images. the Proposed Network Architecture Uses a Pretrained Efficient Net Model in the Encoder and Squeeze-And-Excitation Residual Structures in the Decoder. We Applied This Approach on the Publicly Available International Skin Imaging Collaboration (ISIC) 2017 Challenge Skin Lesion Segmentation Dataset. This Benchmark Dataset Has Been Widely Used in Previous Studies. We Observed Many Inaccurate or Noisy Ground Truth Labels. to Reduce Noisy Data, We Manually Sorted All Ground Truth Labels into Three Categories — Good, Mildly Noisy, and Noisy Labels. Furthermore, We Investigated the Effect of Such …

Virtual Surgical Planning In Craniomaxillofacial Surgery: A Structured Review, Kaye Verlarde, Rentor Cafino, Armando Isla Jr., Karen Mae Ty, Xavier-Lewis Palmer, Lucas Potter, Larry Nadorra, Luchin Valrian Pueblos, Lemuel Clark Velasco

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Craniomaxillofacial (CMF) surgery is a challenging and very demanding field that involves the treatment of congenital and acquired conditions of the face and head. Due to the complexity of the head and facial region, various tools and techniques were developed and utilized to aid surgical procedures and optimize results. Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) has revolutionized the way craniomaxillofacial surgeries are planned and executed. It uses 3D imaging computer software to visualize and simulate a surgical procedure. Numerous studies were published on the usage of VSP in craniomaxillofacial surgery. However, the researchers found inconsistency in the previous literature which prompted the …