Nosologic imaging and its value for childhood brain tumours Essay

Nosologic imaging and its value for childhood brain tumours - Essay Example According to the research findings a latest technique has been established to develop brain nosologic images based on magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Nosologic images give a summary of the distinct lesions and tissues presence in a sole image. This is through pixel or voxel color coding in relation to the assigned histopathological class. The technique proposed utilizes advanced methods that cuts across image processing, recognition of patterns, segments and classification of brain tumors. For better understanding of how it functions, here is an illustration. For purposes of segmentation, a brain atlas that is registered in conjunction with an abnormal tissue that is subject -specific is retrieved from magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) data. Subsequently, abnormal tissue detected is categorized based on pattern recognition supervised methods. In addition to that, there is computation of class probabilities for the ab normal segmented region. The new technique in comparison to former approaches is extremely flexible. Moreover, it has the capability of exploiting spatial information resulting to nosologic images that are improved. The combination of MRSI and MRI presents a new method of producing nosologic images exhibiting high resolution. Nosologic images with high resolution represent class probabilities and tumor heterogeneity which aid clinicians in making of decisions (Luts et al 2008, p.1). MRSI as a Powerful Diagnostic Tool In the current world, magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) has been proved to be a diagnostic tool that is non-invasive and remarkably powerful. For instance, its ability of detecting metabolites has been extremely constructive in routine radiologic practices. This is because, it avails essential biochemical information regarding the organism molecule under investigation. In addition to that, magnetic resonance spectroscopy data has been helpful in various te chniques such as tissue segmentation. The data has played a critical role in a variety of biomedical applications such as tissue volume quantification, pathologies localization, pre-surgical diagnosis improvement, therapy planning and surgical approach optimization. These applications are significant in solving diverse segmentation problems. For better understanding of various techniques of solving segmentation problems, they have been split into various categories. These are such as, classifiers, thresholding, region growing, models of Markov random field and artificial neural networks. However, Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) has been proposed to be a reliable and fast technique for tissue segmentation. CCA is a technique founded on statistical method. Canonical Correlation Analysis has the capability of exploiting simultaneously the spatial and spectral information. The information characterizes the data of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI). CCA is successful i n the application of functional data of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The data has been useful in map sensor, cognitive and motor functions to brain specific areas. Thus, Canonical Correlation Analysis has been adopted for processing of magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging data for purposes of detecting regions with homogeneous tissue. The regions are such as the sample characterized tumor region. The achievement of ultimate goal is reached via the combination of magnetic resonance spectroscopic spectral-spatial provided information and a subspace signal suitable for spectrum modeling of the tissue type characteristic, whose presence might be in an investigated organ and detection is needed. Canonical Correlation Analysis through the utilization of correlation coefficient quantifies the correlation between dual variable sets, and the spectra magnitude of the data measured and subspace signal. Afterwards, there is exploitation of the coefficients for

Female genital mutilation and the practice of midwifery Dissertation

Female genital mutilation and the practice of midwifery - Dissertation Example The practices of FGM seem to be barbaric and cruel to Western society and in societies that hold such practices are done with the belief that there is a benefit to stealing the sexual arousal mechanisms from women in order to make them less carnal and more proper. The difficulty comes in trying to honour cultures for their beliefs while motivating them to change those beliefs because of false and dangerous consequences where female sex organs are concerned. Midwifery requires the acceptance of beliefs in concert with the application of good medical and traditional knowledge where childbirth is concerned. Consulting and caring for women who have had FGM requires sensitivity to the cultural beliefs with a firm understanding of how such procedures affect women in reference to their procreative lives. Psychological and medical knowledge is necessary to treat women with both respect and dignity despite any converse beliefs on the subject. While ideally it would be beneficial to abolish th e act of FGM, at this point in time it is still a potential problem that might arise when caring from patients from certain cultures or who come from a history of traumatic circumstances that ended in FGM. The following research proposal will explore the potential for a project in which the subject of FGM is examined through victims of the procedures, through the medical consequences that midwives face when dealing with patients who are victims of FGM, and through examining the balance between the victimisation of women and the cultural belief systems that must be honoured and respected while finding ways to deal with the consequences and offer reparative solutions where possible. 1.2 Background Female genital mutilation, also known as... From this research it is clear that female genital mutilation, also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, has been defined by the World Health Organisation as â€Å"all procedures that involve the partial or total removal of female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons†. Unlike male circumcision, there are no health benefits to female circumcision and often contribute to urination difficulties or difficulty in childbirth later in life. The procedure most often will occur between the ages of birth and 15 and is considered a violation against women by world organisations across agencies. There are an estimated 100 to 140 million women who live with the consequences of the procedure with 92 million living on the African continent. There are four major types of FGM. These types are as follows: †¢ Clitoridectomy: partial or total removal of the clitoris (a small, sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals) and, in very rare cases, only the prepuce (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoris). †¢ Excision: partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora (the labia are "the lips" that surround the vagina). †¢ Infibulation: narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the inner, or outer, labia, with or without removal of the clitoris. †¢ Other: all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.