Vortex Formation in the Cardiovascular System will recapitulate the current knowledge about the vortex formation in the cardiovascular system, from mechanics to cardiology. This can facilitate the interaction between basic scientists and clinicians on the topic of the circulatory system. The book begins with a synopsis of the fundamentals aspects of fluid mechanics to give the reader the essential background to address the proceeding chapters. Then the fundamental elements of vortex dynamics will be discussed, explaining the conditions for their formation and the rules governing their dynamics. The main equations are accompanied by mathematical models. Cardiovascular vortex formation is first analyzed in physiological, healthy conditions in the heart chambers and in the large arterial vessels. The analysis is initially presented with an intuitive appeal grounded on the physical phenomena and a focus on its clinical significance.In the proceeding chapters, the knowledge gained from either clinical or basic science literature will be discussed. The corresponding mathematical elements will finally be presented to ensure the adequate diligence. The proceeding chapters ensue to the analysis of pathological conditions, when the reader may have developed the ability to recognize normal from abnormal vortex formation phenomenon. Pathological vortex formation represents vortices that develop at sites where normally laminar flow should exist, e.g. stenosis and aneurisms. This analysis naturally leads to the interaction of vortices due to the surgical procedures with respect to prediction of changes in vortex formation. The existing techniques, from medical imaging to numerical simulations, to explore vortex flows in the cardiovascular systems will also be described. The presentations are accompanied by the mathematical definitions can that be understandable for reader without the advanced mathematical background, while an interested reader with more advanced knowledge in mathematics can be referred to references for further quantitative analyses. The book pursues the objective to transfer the fundamental vortex formation phenomena with application to the cardiovascular system to the reader. This book will be a valuable support for physicians in the evaluation of vortex influence on diagnosis and therapeutic choices. At the same time, the book will provide the rigorous information for research scientists, either from medicine and mechanics, working on the cardiovascular circulation incurring with the physics of vortex dynamics.

Automatic image analysis has become an important tool in many fields of biology, medicine, and other sciences. Since the first edition of Image Analysis: Methods and Applications, the development of both software and hardware technology has undergone quantum leaps. For example, specific mathematical filters have been developed for quality enhancement of original images and for extraction of specific features of interest. Also, more complex programs have been developed for the analysis of object forms in distinguishing cancer cells from normal tissue cells. Just as significant, three-dimensional analysis of proteins, organelles, or macroscopic objects is even more complex. In addition, recent space-based experiments have optimized techniques for the extraction of movement parameters of numerous motile objects.

The second edition of Image Analysis: Methods and Applications addresses all these new developments. Moreover, two new chapters have been added. One focuses on images on the internet, and the other discusses microscope image restoration. These chapters add significantly to the existing body of information on Internet communication protocol and environment as well as to that on image file formats considerations. The materials also include a list of internet Web sites that pertain to digital images and software along with those that relate to image processing.

With these considerations in mind, Image Analysis: Methods and Application, Second Edition is of incalculable value to professionals, academics, and users of all aspects of image analysis in biology and other areas of science.

Digestive diseases have always been a major threat to global health. Despite the rapid advances in various diagnostic modalities, many a time the final verdict can be elusive and present a diagnostic challenge for the attending doctor. The book presents 50 real life cases to illustrate an evidence based approach for the diagnosis, investigation and management of gastrointestinal diseases commonly encountered in everyday practice, with a special focus on the interpretation of endoscopic and radiological images. This book provides a pragmatic approach for medical students, residents, specialist trainees and specialists alike who have an interest in gastroenterology. Other healthcare providers, such as general practitioners, nurses and dieticians, will also benefit from these case illustrations. The authors of this book are based at the Institute of Digestive Disease, Chinese University of Hong Kong. This institute has contributed to major breakthroughs that have improved the clinical management of digestive diseases including, but not limited to, the advent of endoscopic therapies and minimally invasive surgery, molecular diagnostic tools for cancers and inflammatory bowel disease, and the development of novel treatments for acid peptic disease and viral hepatitis.

Liver metastases are a frequent and often fatal occurrence in cancer patients, particularly those with malignancies of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. While recent improvements in surgical techniques and a more aggressive approach to resection of liver metastases have improved long term survival for some patients, most patients with hepatic metastases still succumb to their disease. To improve these dismal statistics, a better understanding of the biology of liver metastasis, particularly the early stages that can be targeted for prevention, is essential.

Once cancer cells enter the liver, several different scenarios may occur. The cancer cells may be immediately destroyed by local defence mechanisms, they may enter a state of dormancy as solitary cells and never produce a metastasis, initiate a short-lived process of proliferation that is aborted before a metastasis is established or actively proliferate to form macrometastases. The chapters in Part I of this book provide insight into the cellular/molecular mechanisms that determine which of these scenarios prevails. Written by experts researchers in the filed of metastasis, these chapters provide state-of-the art reviews on the cellular and molecular processes that impact the early stages of the metastatic process. The unique microenvironment of the liver, its various anatomical, cellular and molecular features and the impact they have on metastasis are highlighted. In addition, the role of inflammation (pre-existing and tumor-induced), host innate and adaptive immune responses, cytokines, chemokines, growth factors and the unique molecular signatures of metastatic tumor cells are reviewed with an underscoring of the translational implications of the current state of knowledge.

Against this background, the chapters in Part II of the book provide critical reviews on major aspects of the clinical management of hepatic metastases. These include imaging strategies, surgical and chemotherapeutic treatment approaches and the use of targeted biological therapeutics such as anti-angiogenic drugs as treatment modalities.

By combining information on biological and clinical aspects of liver metastasis, this volume will serve as an excellent resource for scientists, clinicians, clinician/ scientists and trainees in the domains of oncology, surgical oncology, hepatobiliary physiology and radiology. "

The second edition of this volume provides up-to-date methods on the main methodological aspects of functional MRI (fMRI), applying fMRI to the study of central nervous system, and future evolutions of fMRI techniques. fMRI: Method and Protocols, Second Edition guides the reader through chapters on basic knowledge for the understanding of the technical aspects of fMRI, overview of the main results derived from the application of fMRI to the study of healthy individuals, application of fMRI to assess the role of brain plasticity in the major neurological and psychiatric conditions, and novel approaches for the integration of fMRI data. Concise and easy-to-use, fMRI: Method and Protocols, Second Edition aims to be useful to clinicians and researchers with a user-friendly summary of the field and necessary background ensuring further successful studies.

With the increasing interest in the experimental and clinical application of molecular imaging many institutions create research groups or interdisciplinary centers focussing on the complex development process of this new methodology. The aim for this textbook of molecular imaging is to provide an up to date review of this rapidly growing field and to discuss basic methodological aspects necessary for the interpretation of experimental and clinical results. Emphasis is placed on the interplay of imaging technology and probe development, since the physical properties of the imaging approach need to be closely linked with the biologic application of the probe (i.e. nanoparticles and microbubbles). Various chemical strategies are discussed and related to the biologic applications. Reporter-gene imaging is being addressed not only in experimental protocols, but also first clinical applications are discussed. Finally, strategies of imaging to characterize apoptosis and angiogenesis are described and discussed in the context of possible clinical translation.

Effective stroke therapy can be improved through real-time monitoring of the neurological and cardiovascular responses to treatment. This requires crucial knowledge on behalf of both the sonographer and stroke physician to make the best decisions for the patient so as to minimize the damage caused by the original stroke and the risk of further stroke.

"Cerebrovascular Ultrasound in Stroke Prevention and Treatment, Second Edition, " takes a practical approach to the examination of patients, the interpretation of ultrasound studies and the application of cerebrovascular ultrasound in the development of management and treatment studies, assisting neurologists, radiologists, and ultrasonographers in stroke therapy.

Dermoscopy is a noninvasive skin imaging technique that uses optical magnification and either liquid immersion or cross-polarized lighting to make subsurface structures more easily visible when compared to conventional clinical images. It allows for the identification of dozens of morphological features that are particularly important in identifying malignant melanoma. Dermoscopy Image Analysis summarizes the state of the art of the computerized analysis of dermoscopy images. The book begins by discussing the influence of color normalization on classification accuracy and then: Investigates gray-world, max-RGB, and shades-of-gray color constancy algorithms, showing significant gains in sensitivity and specificity on a heterogeneous set of images Proposes a new color space that highlights the distribution of underlying melanin and hemoglobin color pigments, leading to more accurate classification and border detection results Determines that the latest border detection algorithms can achieve a level of agreement that is only slightly lower than the level of agreement among experienced dermatologists Provides a comprehensive review of various methods for border detection, pigment network extraction, global pattern extraction, streak detection, and perceptually significant color detection Details a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system for melanomas that features an inexpensive acquisition tool, clinically meaningful features, and interpretable classification feedback Presents a highly scalable CAD system implemented in the MapReduce framework, a novel CAD system for melanomas, and an overview of dermatological image databases Describes projects that made use of a publicly available database of dermoscopy images, which contains 200 high-quality images along with their medical annotations Dermoscopy Image Analysis not only showcases recent advances but also explores future directions for this exciting subfield of medical image analysis, covering dermoscopy image analysis from preprocessing to classification.

Radiology to me is an art more than a science; an art of imaging the human body, and an art of extracting information from an image. Radiology today is a vital specialty that almost no other medical specialty can work without. Congenital anomalies and syndromes are complex subjects in all medical specialties. They require knowledge of the normal anatomy and of the embryological basis of organogenesis. The importance of recognizing a congenital malformation or an anomaly, which can be the tip of an iceberg of a more complex syndrome, is to prevent future manifestations of a s- drome if possible or to reduce its severity. Due to this concept, I had an interest in studying how to use the radiological modalities in diagnosing congenital malfor- tions as early as possible. Although radiology offers very powerful tools for diag- sis, the basics of medicine are still the main tools to be used for diagnosis. History, observation, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations are essential elements for diagnosis, which need to be used before radiology investigations are initiated. The idea of this book is based on a simple principle: it is to link radiology to these basic medical tools. The book is written for junior radiologists, radiology students, and doctors interested in congenital malformations and syndromes in any specialty. Each disease is represented with a de? nition, description, etiology, diagnostic cri- ria, main symptoms, and its typical diagnostic radiological features on the modern radiological modalities available today.

This comprehensive and self-contained text presents the fundamentals of optical imaging from the viewpoint of both ray and wave optics, within a single volume. Comprising three distinct parts, it opens with an introduction to electromagnetic theory, including electromagnetic diffraction problems and how they can be solved with the aid of standard numerical methods such as RCWA or FDTD. The second part is devoted to the basic theory of geometrical optics and the study of optical aberrations inherent in imaging systems, including large-scale telescopes and high-resolution projection lenses. A detailed overview of state-of-the-art optical system design provides readers with the necessary tools to successfully use commercial optical design software. The final part explores diffraction theory and concludes with vectorial wave propagation, image formation and image detection in high-aperture imaging systems. The wide-ranging perspective of this important book provides researchers and professionals with a comprehensive and rigorous treatise on the theoretical and applied aspects of optical imaging.

Ophthalmic Imaging serves as a reference for the practicing ophthalmic imager. Ophthalmic imaging combines photography and diagnostic imaging to provide insight into not only the health of the eye, but also the health of the human body as a whole. Ophthalmic photographers are specialists in imaging through and in the human eye, one of the only parts of the body where the circulation and nervous system is visible non-invasively. With technical perspective as context, this book will provide instructional techniques as well as the background needed for problem solving in this exciting field. The book covers all aspects of contemporary ophthalmic imaging and provides image support to ophthalmologists and sub-specialties including retinal specialists, corneal specialists, neuro-ophthalmologists, and ocular oncologists. This text serves as a reference for the practicing ophthalmic imager, or to imagers just getting started in the field.

Ophthalmic Imaging serves as a reference for the practicing ophthalmic imager. Ophthalmic imaging combines photography and diagnostic imaging to provide insight into not only the health of the eye, but also the health of the human body as a whole. Ophthalmic photographers are specialists in imaging through and in the human eye, one of the only parts of the body where the circulation and nervous system is visible non-invasively. With technical perspective as context, this book will provide instructional techniques as well as the background needed for problem solving in this exciting field. The book covers all aspects of contemporary ophthalmic imaging and provides image support to ophthalmologists and sub-specialties including retinal specialists, corneal specialists, neuro-ophthalmologists, and ocular oncologists. This text serves as a reference for the practicing ophthalmic imager, or to imagers just getting started in the field.

Of the research areas devoted to biomedical sciences, the study of the brain remains a field that continually attracts interest due to the vast range of people afflicted with debilitating brain disorders and those interested in ameliorating its effects. To discover the roots of maladies and grasp the dynamics of brain functions, researchers and practitioners often turn to a process known as brain source localization, which assists in determining the source of electromagnetic signals from the brain. Aiming to promote both treatments and understanding of brain ailments, ranging from epilepsy and depression to schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease, the authors of this book provide a comprehensive account of current developments in the use of neuroimaging techniques for brain analysis. Their book addresses a wide array of topics, including EEG forward and inverse problems, the application of classical MNE, LORETA, Bayesian based MSP, and its modified version, M-MSP. Within the ten chapters that comprise this book, clinicians, researchers, and field experts concerned with the state of brain source localization will find a store of information that can assist them in the quest to enhance the quality of life for people living with brain disorders.

With the development of rapidly increasing medical imaging modalities and their applications, the need for computers and computing in image generation, processing, visualization, archival, transmission, modeling, and analysis has grown substantially. Computers are being integrated into almost every medical imaging system. Medical Image Analysis and Informatics demonstrates how quantitative analysis becomes possible by the application of computational procedures to medical images. Furthermore, it shows how quantitative and objective analysis facilitated by medical image informatics, CBIR, and CAD could lead to improved diagnosis by physicians. Whereas CAD has become a part of the clinical workflow in the detection of breast cancer with mammograms, it is not yet established in other applications. CBIR is an alternative and complementary approach for image retrieval based on measures derived from images, which could also facilitate CAD. This book shows how digital image processing techniques can assist in quantitative analysis of medical images, how pattern recognition and classification techniques can facilitate CAD, and how CAD systems can assist in achieving efficient diagnosis, in designing optimal treatment protocols, in analyzing the effects of or response to treatment, and in clinical management of various conditions. The book affirms that medical imaging, medical image analysis, medical image informatics, CBIR, and CAD are proven as well as essential techniques for health care.

Imaging informatics is a complex and historically rapidly changing field, knowledge of which is central to the practice of all imaging specialists. This convenient pocket guide provides the foundations of knowledge in informatics, allowing radiographers in training and in practice, assistant practitioners and other allied health professionals to understand, use and develop more efficient ways of imaging that will in turn deliver improved patient care.

This book offers the first comprehensive overview of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in decision support systems for diagnosis based on medical images, presenting cutting-edge insights from thirteen leading research groups around the world. Medical imaging offers essential information on patients' medical condition, and clues to causes of their symptoms and diseases. Modern imaging modalities, however, also produce a large number of images that physicians have to accurately interpret. This can lead to an "information overload" for physicians, and can complicate their decision-making. As such, intelligent decision support systems have become a vital element in medical-image-based diagnosis and treatment. Presenting extensive information on this growing field of AI, the book offers a valuable reference guide for professors, students, researchers and professionals who want to learn about the most recent developments and advances in the field.

This comprehensive reference work details the latest developments in fluorescence imaging and related biological quantification. It explores the most recent techniques in this imaging technology through the utilization and incorporation of quantification analysis which makes this book unique. It also covers super resolution microscopy with the introduction of 3D imaging and high resolution fluorescence. Many of the chapter authors are world class experts in this medical imaging technology.

Statistical investigation into technology not only provides a better understanding of the intrinsic features of the technology (analysis), but also leads to an improved design of the technology (synthesis). Physical principles and mathematical procedures of medical imaging technologies have been extensively studied during past decades. However, less work has been done on the statistical aspects of these techniques. Statistics of Medical Imaging fills this gap and provides a theoretical framework for statistical investigation into medical imaging technologies. Features Describes physical principles and mathematical procedures of two medical imaging techniques: X-ray CT and MRI Presents statistical properties of imaging data (measurements) at each stage in the imaging processes of X-ray CT and MRI Demonstrates image reconstruction as a transform from a set of random variables (imaging data) to another set of random variables (image data) Presents statistical properties of image data (pixel intensities) at three levels: a single pixel, any two pixels, and a group of pixels (a region) Provides two stochastic models for X-ray CT and MR image in terms of their statistics and two model-based statistical image analysis methods Evaluates statistical image analysis methods in terms of their detection, estimation, and classification performances Indicates that X-ray CT, MRI, PET and SPECT belong to a category of imaging: the non-diffraction computed tomography Rather than offering detailed descriptions of statistics of basic imaging protocols of X-ray CT and MRI, this book provides a method to conduct similar statistical investigations into more complicated imaging protocols.

This unique and comprehensive atlas by an expert practioner provides an innovative pictorial guide to flexible bronchoscopy, one of the most exciting and challenging procedures in respiratory medicine today. Includes the very latest procedures and techniques Comprehensive coverage, guides you through the range of anatomical and pathological possibilities A step-by-step guide to the use of bronchoscopic techniques, interpretation of images and differential diagnoses Integrates naked eye, bronchoscopic and radiological anatomy to give you a thorough understanding of the procedure Numerous full colour illustrations and sound practical advice make this a key text for learning and refining your technique The book will be invaluable to those training in respiratory medicine, plus also specialist respiratory nurses and practising pulmonologists who wish to expand their practice and knowledge of the technique.

Multiple advanced neuroimaging applications in various neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), vascular dementia (VaD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are covered in this book. Relatively novel techniques such as integrated PET/MRI and independent component analysis (ICA)-based dual regression (DR) methods were developed to capture multi-level molecular/functional and structural/microstructural as well as high-order inter-network coordination abnormalities. For instance, both PET dopamine transporter and striatal binding ratio reductions in the caudate and putamen were found in PD, consistent with the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) fractional anisotropy (FA) reduction and fMRI voxel-mirrored homotopic correlation (VMHC) in the substantia nigra (swallow tail sign signature of PD). Furthermore, dopamine storage and pathway labeled with the vesicular monoamine transporter tracer identified decreased densities in the bilateral mesial temporal cortex, caudate, orbitofrontal cortex, left frontal and occipital cortices, consistent with the morphological atrophy, functional connectivity and conductivity deficits in PD. Similarly in FTD patients, the advanced MRI methods such as ICA-DR, VMHC, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) as well as PET tracer for amyloid accumulation and FDG glucose uptake identified typical brain atrophy, structural dis-connectivity, glucose hypometabolism, higher neuropathological burden, lower interhemispheric correlation as well as disrupted intra- and inter-network modulation in the orbitofrontal and anterior temporal cortices together with insular and frontoparietal networks, with the cerebellum and dorsolateral attentional network as typical compensations. Functional and structural abnormalities had further been elucidated in the VaD dependent participants and autistic children. For instance, both lower FA and VMHC, brain atrophy and functional connectivity deficits, demyelination, axonal degeneration and white matter integrity damage in several white matter tracts were present in the dependent compared to independent participants in VaD data cohort. Increased neuronal activity with higher global fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (fALFF) in the conventional and slow-wave sub-band was confirmed with less efficiency of systematic integration in VaD dependent group. Moreover, in ASD compared to controls, regional gray matter volume and cortical thickness in all four brain lobes increased, whereas white matter volume were decreased in addition to the lower temporal, visual and superior frontal but higher inferior and dorsolateral prefrontal cortical functional connectivities exhibited in ASD. The differences in each type of disease could also be revealed with the same imaging method based on either unique region or distinct brain circuit inter-connection, using VMHC, ICA-DR, DTI, VBM, fALFF and graph-theory based small-worldness analysis. In this book, we have developed and generalized conventional and advanced imaging methodologies to several common neurodegenerative diseases. For instance, we have identified the unique imaging signature for each disease type and the underlying neuropathological mechanism connections with conductivity, structural and microstructural connectivity, intra- and inter-network correlation, systematic integration and efficiency analyses. Our objective, comprehensive and confirmative results indicated great potential in utilizing these quantifications for accurate disease classification and staging. With solid imaging evidence, thorough analysis and generalized applications, this book should capture the interests of readers in the broad fields of brain science, disease diagnosis and effective treatment.

This book deals with the latest achievements in the field of optical coherent microscopy. While many other books exist on microscopy and imaging, this book provides a unique resource dedicated solely to this subject. Similarly, many books describe applications of holography, interferometry and speckle to metrology but do not focus on their use for microscopy. The coherent light microscopy reference provided here does not focus on the experimental mechanics of such techniques but instead is meant to provide a users manual to illustrate the strengths and capabilities of developing techniques. The areas of application of this technique are in biomedicine, medicine, life sciences, nanotechnology and materials sciences.

This book is an essential resource describing a wide range of approaches and technologies in the areas of quantitative EEG (QEEG) and neurotherapy including neurofeedback and neuromodulation approaches. It emphasizes practical, clinically useful methods, reported by experienced clinicians who have developed and used these approaches first hand. These chapters describe how the authors approach and use their particular combinations of technology, and how clients are evaluated and treated. This resource, which is encyclopedic in scope, provides a valuable and broad, yet sufficiently detailed account, to help clinicians guide the future directions in client assessment and neurotherapeutic treatment. Each contribution includes literature citations, practical information related to clinical interventions, and clinical outcome information.

Gamma cameras are traditionally large devices that are situated in nuclear medicine departments, but recent advances in detector design have enabled the production of compact gamma cameras that allow nuclear imaging at the patient bedside and in the operating theatre. Gamma Cameras for Interventional and Intraoperative Imaging is the first book to cover this new area of imaging, and provides a unique insight into the experimental and clinical use of small field of view gamma cameras in hospitals. This book explores advances in the design and operation of compact gamma cameras and conducts a thorough review of current SFOV systems, before exploring the clinical applications of the technology. It is an essential reference for surgeons, operating theatre staff, clinical scientists (medical physicists), technologists, nuclear physicians and radiologists whose patients could benefit from this technology.

This books provides an excellent survey of and introduction to new methods of biological imaging and sensing. The main topics discussed are cell imaging, multiphoton microscopy for biomedical studies, molecular imaging, infrared imaging, biomedical magnetic imaging and microscopy with laser-trapped particles. The book also deals with nanosurgery with light, the effects of ultrasound on tissue, diagnostics, near- and far-infrared transmission of biomedical information, and cell sensors. This book will be a valuable resource for both medical doctors and biophysicists.

For centuries the analysis of the heart rhythm has belonged to the foundations of medical art. We know that doctors in ancient Tibet used the interpretation of the heart rate to draw prognostic conclusions-somehow a modern rationale-that deserves further attention. The rapid advancement of science is providing more and more information about the details, but the subatomic resolution of structures hides the risk and the complex procedures are fragmented into static impressions. The same has happened to the ECG. The revolutionary development, acknowledged by the Nobel Prize for Einthoven, ledfromtheanalysisofthedynamicheartratetothestaticanalysisofthe heartstream curve. It is only with the ECG Holter recording over longer periods that the cardiologists rediscovered the old dynamic. With the continuous recording of the heart rate and its periodicity, it became accessible to a new dimension, a dim- sion that requires technically well-de?ned foundations for accurate data coll- tion, detailed knowledge of the electrocardiologic particularities of arrhythmia, and medical knowledge for the translation of the results into a diagnostic synthesis. With the ECG Holter the issue is no longer just to detect an arrhythmia, but also to determine dynamic circumstance in which the critical event occurred. In fact, we investigate the trigger, the event, and the context, and we have to integrate all of that information within the clinical picture, from the pathology right through to the symptom-indeed a multi-dimensional task.