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Biomedical subjects

S Pavlopoulos

Publications and source records attributed to S Pavlopoulos.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Secure and efficient health data management through multiple watermarking on medical images.

The landscape of healthcare delivery and medical data management has significantly changed over the last years, as a result of the significant advancements in information and communication technologies. Complementary and/or alternative solutions are needed to meet the new challenges, especially regarding security of the widely distributed sensitive medical information. Digital watermarking is a recently established research area with many applications; nevertheless, the potential of this technology to contribute value-added services to medical information management systems has only recently started to be realized by the research community. The paper presents a review of research efforts in the area of medical-oriented watermarking and proposes a wavelet-based multiple watermarking scheme; this scheme aims to address critical health information management issues, including origin and data authentication, protection of sensitive data, and image archiving and retrieval. In accordance with the strict limitations applying to medical images, the scheme allows the definition of a region of interest (ROI) whose diagnostic value is protected, since the only additional information embedded therein aims at integrity control. The robustness of the method is enhanced through a form of hybrid coding, which includes repetitive embedding of BCH encoded watermarks. The experimental results on different medical imaging modalities demonstrate the efficiency and transparency of the watermarking scheme.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

Feasibility study of the use of similarity maps in the evaluation of oncological dynamic positron emission tomography images.

A preliminary study is presented on the potential role of similarity mapping (SM) in the evaluation of oncological dynamic 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography studies, mainly in lesion localisation and detectability. Similarity maps were calculated using previously described (correlation coefficient (COR) and normalised correlation coefficient (NCOR)) and newly introduced similarity measures (sum of squares coefficient (SSQ), squared sum coefficient (SQS), sum of cubes coefficient (SC) and cubed sum coefficient (CS)). The results were evaluated using simulated and clinical data. The study revealed that the best-suited similarity measure for such applications was the CS similarity coefficient, which provided the best parametric images, delineating structures of interest and supporting the visual interpretation of data sets. It was shown that SM and standardised uptake value (SUV) images had comparable diagnostic performance, although SM was able to offer additional time-related information in a single image. For the case of colorectal recurrences (17 cases), the measured contrast values for the CS and SUV images were 2.36 +/- 0.47 and 4.12 +/- 0.42, respectively, whereas, for three cases of giant cell tumours, these values were 11.6 +/- 2.1 and 11.9 +/- 1.8, respectively.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗
PubMed2005

A feasibility study of a personalized, internet-based compliance system for chronic disease management.

This paper describes a feasibility study on an Internet-based compliance system to provide personalized care for patients suffering from chronic diseases. Relevant medical trials from three different European countries provided preliminary evidence of the feasibility of the system and its efficacy in helping patients to manage their diseases at home. The study discusses further improvements not only for the C-Monitor system, but also for other Internet-based health-care services.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2005

An integrated computer supported acquisition, handling, and characterization system for pigmented skin lesions in dermatological images.

This paper describes an integrated prototype computer-based system for the characterization of skin digital images. The first stage includes an image acquisition arrangement designed for capturing skin images, under reproducible conditions. The system processes the captured images and performs unsupervised image segmentation and image registration utilizing an efficient algorithm based on the log-polar transform of the images' Fourier spectrum. Border- and color-based features, extracted from the digital images of skin lesions, were used to construct a classification module for the recognition of malignant melanoma versus dysplastic nevus. Different methods, drawn from the fields of artificial intelligence (neural networks) and statistical modeling (discriminant analysis), were used in order to find the best classification rules and to compare the results of different approaches to the problem.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

Purification and mass spectroscopic analysis of human CB1 cannabinoid receptor functionally expressed using the baculovirus system.

The cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) cannabinoid receptor is an essential component of the cannabinergic system. It has been recognized as a therapeutic target for treating numerous diseases and is currently receiving considerable attention by the pharmaceutical community. Target-based drug design, utilizing three-dimensional information of receptor structure and ligand-binding motifs, requires significant amounts of purified protein. To facilitate the purification of CB1, we have expressed the receptor fused to various epitope tags using the baculovirus expression system. In addition, expression levels and ligand-binding profiles corresponding to the expressed fusion proteins have been compared. C-terminal histidine (His)-tagged CB1 gave a Bmax higher than most other systems previously reported in the literature, and was selected for subsequent metal affinity chromatography purification and mass spectroscopic (MS) analysis. Moreover, cells expressing C-terminal His-tagged CB1 were shown to inhibit forskolin-stimulated cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) production in a concentration-dependent manner in the presence of CP-55,940, confirming the expressed receptor's functional characteristics. A Western blot analysis of the purified receptor showed several forms of CB1, the most abundant being a 57 kDa monomeric protein. The purified CB1 preparations were subjected to protein digestion followed by MS. Fragments corresponding to >70% of the receptor were identified by this method, confirming the identity and purity of the expressed protein. The work presented here demonstrates that epitope-tagged CB1 can be expressed in sufficient amounts and purified to homogeneity for MS analysis. Moreover, these results will serve as a basis for future experiments aimed at characterizing the ligand-binding domains using covalently reacting receptor probes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Purification and mass spectroscopic analysis of human CB2 cannabinoid receptor expressed in the baculovirus system.

The cannabinergic system is present in a variety of organs and tissues that perform a wide range of essential physiologic functions making it an inherently important therapeutic target for drug discovery. In order to augment our knowledge regarding the interactions between cannabinoid receptors (CBs) and their ligands, efficient and effective tools are essential for robust expression and purification of these membrane-bound proteins. In this report, we describe a suitable method for purification of the human cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) to a qualitative and quantitative level sufficient for mass spectral analysis. We utilized a baculovirus expression system, incorporating several epitope tags to facilitate purification and to ameliorate the effect the tags have on CB2 expression and function. Expressed protein encoded by a carboxy (C)-terminal His-tagged CB2 construct displayed a B(max) value of 9.3 pmol/mg with a K(D) of 7.30 nM using [3(H)]CP-55(940), a standard cannabinoid radioligand, and was selected for subsequent purification experiments. Western blot analysis of purified membrane protein yielded several forms of CB2, the most abundant being a 41 kDa peptide. A second protein species was observed with an apparent molecular weight of 46 kDa representing a glycosylated form of CB2. In addition, a CB2 homodimer was also identified. The purified receptor was subjected to mass spectroscopic analysis to confirm its identity and purity. Mass spectra corresponding to the intracellular, extracellular and transmembrane domains were obtained. These experiments exemplify the importance of high-level expression systems when developing membrane-bound protein purification strategies. This work will aid in the identification of receptor-ligand binding sites, the characterization of molecular features involved in receptor activation, and the elucidation of the CB2 receptor tertiary structure.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Multi-purpose HealthCare Telemedicine Systems with mobile communication link support.

The provision of effective emergency telemedicine and home monitoring solutions are the major fields of interest discussed in this study. Ambulances, Rural Health Centers (RHC) or other remote health location such as Ships navigating in wide seas are common examples of possible emergency sites, while critical care telemetry and telemedicine home follow-ups are important issues of telemonitoring. In order to support the above different growing application fields we created a combined real-time and store and forward facility that consists of a base unit and a telemedicine (mobile) unit. This integrated system: can be used when handling emergency cases in ambulances, RHC or ships by using a mobile telemedicine unit at the emergency site and a base unit at the hospital-expert's site, enhances intensive health care provision by giving a mobile base unit to the ICU doctor while the telemedicine unit remains at the ICU patient site and enables home telemonitoring, by installing the telemedicine unit at the patient's home while the base unit remains at the physician's office or hospital. The system allows the transmission of vital biosignals (3-12 lead ECG, SPO2, NIBP, IBP, Temp) and still images of the patient. The transmission is performed through GSM mobile telecommunication network, through satellite links (where GSM is not available) or through Plain Old Telephony Systems (POTS) where available. Using this device a specialist doctor can telematically "move" to the patient's site and instruct unspecialized personnel when handling an emergency or telemonitoring case. Due to the need of storing and archiving of all data interchanged during the telemedicine sessions, we have equipped the consultation site with a multimedia database able to store and manage the data collected by the system. The performance of the system has been technically tested over several telecommunication means; in addition the system has been clinically validated in three different countries using a standardized medical protocol.

Data Compression↗
PubMed2001

Effect of wavelet compression on data transmission in a multipurpose wireless telemedicine system.

We have developed a novel emergency telemedicine system which allows the transmission of physiological data (electrocardiogram, oximetry, blood pressure and temperature) and still images of the patient. The transmission is performed through wireless links using either GSM mobile phones or satellite. Because of the low bandwidth available through these links, data compression is required to allow realtime transmission of electrocardiographic (ECG) data. A new integrated design approach for an optimal zonal wavelet compression (OZWC) method was implemented for the ECG data. The performance of the mobile system with compressed ECG data segments was evaluated in terms of the percentage root-mean-square difference and visual inspection. The optimum wavelet algorithm achieved a maximum compression ratio of 18:1 with low distortion.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2001

XML and the VITAL standard: the document-oriented approach for open telemedicine applications.

This paper describes an effort to create a common, document-oriented architecture for the interchange of medical data in healthcare telemedicine applications. Key components are: The VITAL standard specifying a common (medical device independent) representation of Vital Signs Information and the Extensible Markup Language (XML) specifying the document specifications form, an architecture that, in aggregate, define the semantics and structural constraints necessary for the exchange of vital signs and related medical data. The modelling and design technique for the described application has been the Unified Modelling Language (UML). The XMI (XML Metadata Interchange Format) of the Object Management Group (OMG) provided the meta-model for this application, for sharing objects using XML, via the transfer of the application's UML model to XML documents and DTDs.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

Mobile Medical Data (MOMEDA)--a Personalized Medical Information System.

MOMEDA is a two-years project supported by the European Commission (Telematics Applications Programme of DGXIII--Health Care Sector). The main objectives of the project are the development of a compact personal information terminal for hospital and home care environments that could be used by patients and a demonstrator that allows the consulting physician to access electronic patient record data from outside the hospital, using a hand held companion device connected to GSM network. Special attention is paid to a Personalized Medical Information System (PMIS) which will allow patients to access customized disease-specific information material that will enable them to fully understand in a simple and constructive form what their medical problem is, what the planned procedures are, what lifestyle they should follow during and after their hospitalization, thus becoming more qualified partners in the recovery process. Considering the fact that in most cases informed and educated patients are usually satisfied patients when the treatment is finished, patient satisfaction can be also accomplished. The design considerations for the PMIS system are presented and the implementation is discussed.

Computer Security↗
PubMed2000

Vital signs monitoring from home with open systems.

This study investigates the applicability of a novel codification scheme based on two healthcare informatics standards (namely the VITAL (ENV 13734) and DICOM Sup. 30 Waveform Interchange) in addressing the robust interchange of waveform and medical data in remote healthcare applications. To further address system validation and clinical acceptance issues, pilots were set-up between home-monitoring stations and a hospital-based telemedicine consultation center. The pilots focused in assessing applicability, technical feasibility and performance of the proposed codification scheme based on the two standards. This paper presents the system and services requirements as studied for a home-care application, the design goals for the preservation of security stature, the practical issues of validation and the results of integrating these codification schemes into a commercial patient connected device.

Computer Systems↗
PubMed1998

Determination of anandamide amidase activity using ultraviolet-active amine derivatives and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

Anandamide amidase catalyzes the hydrolysis of anandamide (AEA) to arachidonic acid (AA) and ethanolamine (EA). Recently, we published a method for determining anandamide amidase activity based on the measurement of arachidonic acid with direct UV detection at 204 nm. However, this method cannot be used to determine the hydrolysis of non-UV-active AEA analogs. It also cannot be used to study AEA amidase inhibitors that contain the arachidonic acid tail, and which are also enzyme substrates. Here we report a novel, more general method for measuring amidase activity by o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) precolumn derivatization and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The hydrolysis product, ethanolamine, after separation from protein was derivatized with OPA to form a UV-active isoindole derivative which was then detected at 230 nm. The detection limit for derivatized ethanolamine was 1.0 pmol and retention times were typically less than 8 min. Our new method can detect non-UV-active analogs through derivatization of the amine product. It can thus be used after careful selection of the HPLC conditions in competition experiments between AEA and AEA analogs possessing different head groups. The most effective competitive inhibitor tested was (R)-N-(1-methyl-2-hydroxyethyl)arachidonylamide (AM356), which is resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis and yet inhibits AEA hydrolysis in a competition experiment by 43%. Moreover, this method offers several advantages over existing methodologies using radioisotopes or solvent extraction procedures. Our work to date has shown that small structural changes in the AEA molecule can result in significant variation in both affinity and turnover rate for each analog with respect to AEA amidase.

Amidohydrolases↗
PubMed1998

Conformational studies on a diastereoisomeric pair of tricyclic nonclassical cannabinoids by NMR spectroscopy and computer molecular modeling.

Among the nonclassical cannabinoids, CP-55,244 (4), which incorporates an axial 14 beta-hydroxymethyl group, is pharmacologically 30 times more potent than its prototype CP-47,497 (2) and 300 times more potent than delta 9-THC (1). It has a high degree of stereoselectivity (about 120:1) with respect to its diastereoisomer, CP-97,587 (5), which differs structurally by having the 14-hydroxymethyl group equatorial. Conformational studies of 4 and 5 were carried out using 2D NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling in order to define and compare the similarities and differences between them. Specific structural features of interest are the conformation of the 1',1'-dimethylheptyl (DMH) side chain, the conformation of the cyclohexyl rings, the orientation of the phenolic ring (A ring) relative to the cyclohexyl ring (C ring), and the orientation of the hydroxymethyl group as well as the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Our results show that the conformations of the phenolic hydroxyl (Ph-OH) and DMH side chain for 4 are similar to those of 2. The proton of the phenolic hydroxyl is pointing away from the C ring while the DMH chain randomly adopts one of four dynamically averaged conformers in which it is almost perpendicular to the plane of the aromatic ring. The relative orientation of the A and C rings is such that the two rings interconvert between two low-energy conformations. Compound 5 prefers the conformer with the Ph-OH pointing toward the alpha-face of the cyclohexyl ring, while for 4, there is an increased preference for the conformer where the Ph-OH is directed toward the beta face. This may be due to intramolecular H-bonding between the Ph-OH and the axial 14 beta-hydroxymethyl group of 4 that stabilizes this conformation. Hydrogen bonding between the Ph-OH and the equatorial-14 alpha-hydroxymethyl of 5 was not detected. Thus, the orientation of the aliphatic hydroxyl group with respect to the D ring in 4 and 5 may play an important role with regard to the pharmacophoric requirements of the two analogs for the cannabinoid receptor and provide an explanation for the observed differences in their biological properties.

Cannabinoids↗
PubMed1998

A novel emergency telemedicine system based on wireless communication technology--AMBULANCE.

Recent studies conclude that early and specialized prehospital management contributes to emergency case survival. We have developed a portable medical device that allows telediagnosis, long distance support, and teleconsultation of mobile healthcare providers by expert physicians. The device allows the transmission of vital biosignals and still images of the patient from the emergency site to the consultation site using the GSM mobile telephony network. The device can telematically "bring" an expert specialist doctor at the site of the medical emergency, allow him/her to evaluate patient data, and issue directions to the emergency personnel on treatment procedures until the patient is brought to be hospital. Legal reasons mandated the inclusion at the consultation site of a multimedia database able to store and manage the data collected by the system. The performance of the system has been validated in four different countries using a controlled medical protocol and a set of 100 patients per country treated has been collected and analyzed.

Emergency Medical Services↗
PubMed1998

Design and development of a multimedia database for emergency telemedicine.

Recent studies conclude that early and specialised pre-hospital patient management contributes to emergency cases survival. Recent developments in telecommunication and medical informatics by means of telemedicine can be extremely useful to accomplish such tasks in a cost-effective manner. Along that direction, we have designed a portable device for emergency telemedicine. This device is able to telematically "bring" the expert doctor at the emergency site, have him perform an accurate diagnosis, and subsequently direct the Emergency Medical Technicians on how to treat the patient until he arrives to the hospital. The need for storing and archiving all data being interchanged during the telemedicine sessions is very crucial for clinical, legal and administrative purposes. For this, we have developed a multimedia database able to store and manage the data collected by the AMBULANCE system. The database was equipped with a user-friendly graphical interface to enable use from computer naive users. Furthermore, the database has the possibility to display, in an standard way, ECG's, X-ray, CT and MRI images. The application is password protected with a three-level hierarchy access for users with different privileges. The scope of this application is to enhance the capabilities of the doctor on duty for a more precise and prompt diagnosis. The application has the ability to store audio files related to each emergency case and still images of the scene. Finally, this database can become a useful multimedia tool which will work together with the AMBULANCE portable device, the HIS and the PACS of the hospital. The system has been validated in selected non-critical cases and proved to be functional and successful in enhancing the ability of the doctor's on duty for prompt and accurate diagnosis and specialised pre-hospital treatment.

Ambulances↗
PubMed1997

Phase information in visual evoked potentials.

The Visual Evoked Potential (VEP) is an electrophysiological commonly used test in investigating various neurophysiological disorders. Through the years many methods have been developed, but there are not many objective criteria in distinguishing a normal VEP waveform from an abnormal. In this communication we use the phase characteristics of the power spectrum as a criterion of distinguishing normals and abnormals. From our analysis, it was shown that the phase spectrum of a VEP has a certain periodicity in the 0- to 40-Hz region. By studying these periodicities we were able to determine the range of the period that characterizes normal and abnormal populations and to establish an experimental method for objectively examining any kind of VEP waveforms.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1997

An augmented reality system for health care provision via telematics support.

We are developing a prototype portable health care support device for Emergency Telemedicine. This device can telematically "bring" a specialist doctor at the site of a medical emergency, allow him to evaluate patient data and issue directions to the emergency personnel on treatment procedures until the patient is brought to hospital. The portable device is carried by a paramedic technician in "wearable" form, allowing the technician to perform his normal duties while communicating with the specialist at the hospital site. This augmented reality system allows for maximum utilisation of available resources and offers a complete, practical solution for increasing survival rates before and during the transportation of accident victims to hospital.

Emergency Medical Services↗