Search

Analysis of bone marrow aspirates (BMA) is an essential step in the diagnosis of hematological disorders. This analysis is usually performed based on visual examination of the samples under a conventional optical microscope, which involves a labor-intensive process, limited by clinical experience and subject to high observer variability. In this work, we present a comprehensive digital system that enables BMA analysis for cell type counting and differentiation in an efficient and objective manner. This system not only provides an accessible and simple method to digitize, store and analyze BMA samples remotely, but is also supported by an artificial intelligence (AI) pipeline that accelerates the differential cell counting (DCC) process and reduces inter-observer variability. It has been designed to integrate AI algorithms with the daily clinical routine and can be used in any regular hospital workflow., Horizon 2020, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España), Sociedad Española de Hematología y Hemoterapia, Comunidad de Madrid, Depto. de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Fac. de Farmacia, FALSE, inpress

Microscopy plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of numerous diseases. However, the need for trained microscopists and pathologists, the complexity of pathology, and the accessibility and affordability of the technology can hinder the provision of rapid and high-quality diagnoses and healthcare. In this work, we present an affordable, 3D-printed, portable, robotic, mobile-based slide scanning microscope. The proposed device is composed of electronic, mechanical, and optical modules operated via smartphone with a control app. The device is connected and fully integrated with a telemedicine web platform, where digitized microscopy images can be remotely visualized and analyzed. The robotic scanner, which has approximately 1-µm resolution, has been evaluated in two clinical scenarios with histology and stool samples. The results showed sufficient image quality for performing a proper diagnosis in all cases under study., Depto. de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Fac. de Farmacia, TRUE, pub

Background: Current World Health Organization recommendations for the management of malaria include the need for a parasitological confrmation prior to triggering appropriate treatment. The use of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria has contributed to a better infection recognition and a more targeted treatment. Nevertheless, low-density infections and parasites that fail to produce HRP2 can cause false-negative RDT results. Microscopy has traditionally been the methodology most commonly used to quantify malaria and characterize the infecting species, but the wider use of this technique remains challenging, as it requires trained personnel and processing capacity. Objective: In this study, the feasibility of an on-line system for remote malaria species identifcation and diferentia‑ tion has been investigated by crowdsourcing the analysis of digitalized infected thin blood smears by non-expert observers using a mobile app. Methods: An on-line videogame in which players learned how to diferentiate the young trophozoite stage of the fve Plasmodium species has been designed. Images were digitalized with a smartphone camera adapted to the ocular of a conventional light microscope. Images from infected red blood cells were cropped and puzzled into an on-line game. During the game, players had to decide the malaria species (Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium knowlesi) of the infected cells that were shown in the screen. After 2 months, each player’s decisions were analysed individually and collectively. Results: On-line volunteers playing the game made more than 500,000 assessments for species diferentiation. Statistically, when the choice of several players was combined (n>25), they were able to signifcantly discriminate Plasmodium species, reaching a level of accuracy of 99% for all species combinations, except for P. knowlesi (80%). Non-expert decisions on which Plasmodium species was shown in the screen were, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spanish Society of Hematology and Hemotherapy, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid Regional Government, Spain’s Science, Innovation & Universities Ministry, Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, European Regional Development Funds, Amazon Web Services, Fundación Renta Corporación, Ashoka, Depto. de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Fac. de Farmacia, TRUE, pub

Background. Current World Health Organization recommendations for the management of malaria include the need for a parasitological confirmation prior to triggering appropriate treatment. The use of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria has contributed to a better infection recognition and a more targeted treatment. Nevertheless, low-density infections and parasites that fail to produce HRP2 can cause false-negative RDT results. Microscopy has traditionally been the methodology most commonly used to quantify malaria and characterize the infecting species, but the wider use of this technique remains challenging, as it requires trained personnel and processing capacity. Objective. In this study, the feasibility of an on-line system for remote malaria species identification and differentiation has been investigated by crowdsourcing the analysis of digitalized infected thin blood smears by non-expert observers using a mobile app. Methods. An on-line videogame in which players learned how to differentiate the young trophozoite stage of the five Plasmodium species has been designed. Images were digitalized with a smartphone camera adapted to the ocular of a conventional light microscope. Images from infected red blood cells were cropped and puzzled into an on-line game. During the game, players had to decide the malaria species (Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium knowlesi) of the infected cells that were shown in the screen. After 2 months, each player’s decisions were analysed individually and collectively. Results. On-line volunteers playing the game made more than 500,000 assessments for species differentiation. Statistically, when the choice of several players was combined (n > 25), they were able to significantly discriminate Plasmodium species, reaching a level of accuracy of 99% for all species combinations, except for P. knowlesi (80%). Non-expert decisions on which Plasmodium species was shown in the scre

En este trabajo se hace una investigación de la tecnología de impresión 3D mediante fotopolimerización de resinas, usando un proyector DLP como fuente de luz. El objetivo es conocer todas las especificaciones que ha de cumplir una máquina de éstas características para llevar a cabo de manera satisfactoria el proceso de construcción de una pieza. Para ello, se hace un estudio preliminar de la técnica, examinando un equipo de impresión 3D DLP comercial, y una vez que se tiene el conocimiento necesario de los rasgos del proceso, se procede al desarrollo iterativo de un prototipo funcional, capaz de ejecutar el proceso con éxito, pero con las capacidades de modificación suficientes como para llevar a cabo experimentos de innovación en la tecnología. El desarrollo se lleva a cabo en abierto, publicando los desarrollos a medida que se efectúan. Con este enfoque se pretende aprovechar las ventajas de la investigación descentralizada, de las que dio ejemplo el desarrollo del Proyecto RepRap: Un proyecto destinado a diseñar una impresora 3D de extrusión de filamento, que cualquier persona se pudiera construir a partir de piezas impresas por impresoras 3D de las mismas características, y materiales fáciles de obtener. Así, este proyecto tiene adicionalmente otro objetivo estratégico que consiste en el estímulo del ecosistema de impresión 3D de fuente abierta, que en este momento carece apenas de diseños de fuente abierta de impresoras 3D mediante fotopolimerización de resinas. Efectuando una estrategia así se busca fomentar la difusión del conocimiento acerca de la tecnología de impresión 3D DLP y crear así un interés por ésta, que finalmente desembocaría en la aparición de una demanda que, para entonces, la empresaestaría preparada para cubrir. Como la técnica consiste en un caso particular de la tecnología de impresión 3D que aún no ha terminado de proliferar en el mercado, y el conocimiento acerca de ésta no está extendido; en este documento se introducen de manera gradual