Automated diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome using 3D facial image analysis

OBJECTIVES: Use three-dimensional (3D) facial laser scanned images from children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and controls to develop an automated diagnosis technique that can reliably and accurately identify individuals prenatally exposed to alcohol. METHODS: A detailed dysmorphology evaluation, history of prenatal alcohol exposure, and 3D facial laser scans were obtained from 149 individuals (86 FAS; 63 Control) recruited from two study sites (Cape Town, South Africa and Helsinki, Finland). Computer graphics, machine learning, and pattern recognition techniques were used to automatically identify a set of facial features that best discriminated individuals with FAS from controls in each sample. RESULTS: An automated feature detection and analysis technique was developed and applied to the two study populations. A unique set of facial regions and features were identified for each population that accurately discriminated FAS and control faces without any human intervention. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that computer algorithms can be used to automatically detect facial features that can discriminate FAS and control faces.     

UNUSUAL BILIARY FISTULA

Agenesis of gall bladder is a clinical rarity, as most of the diagnoses are made at autopsy. Preoperative diagnosis of this anomaly is fraught with follies. External biliary fistulae are usually result of complications of trauma or biliary surgery. Internal fistulae on the other hand may result from erosion of wall by a stone, cancerous growth or peptic ulcer. Sites of opening of internal fistulae are stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum or colon. These should be suspected if gas shadows are seen in biliary tree.KEY WORDS: Biliary calculi, Choledochogastric fistula, Gall bladder agenesis, Pneumobilia     

Three patterns of cytochrome P450 gene expression during liver maturation in mice

The neonatal period of liver development is an often overlooked phase of development. For instance, ontogeny of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes can markedly affect biotransformation as the liver matures. To systematically examine the ontogenic gene expression patterns of cytochrome P450 genes (P450) in mice, the gene expression profiles of 19 xenobiotic-metabolizing P450 in Cyp1 to 4 families were determined. The mRNA levels in C57BL/6 mouse livers were quantified using branched DNA technology at the following ages: gestational day 17 (2 days before birth) and postnatal days 0, 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45. Among the 13 P450 genes expressed in mouse livers, three distinct ontogenic expression patterns were identified by cluster analysis. Genes in group 1 (Cyp3a16 as well as 3a41b in male) were expressed in the perinatal period, but they were essentially nondetectable by 30 days of age. Genes in group 2 (Cyp2e1, 3a11, and 4a10 as well as 3a41b in female) quickly increased after birth and reached maximal expression levels by day 5. Genes in group 3 (Cyp1a2, 2a4, 2b10, 2c29, 2d22, 2f2, 3a13, and 3a25) were expressed at low levels until days 10 to 15, but they markedly increased at day 20 to a high and stable level. In conclusion, the developmental expression of P450 in mouse liver can be divided into three patterns, suggesting that different mechanisms are responsible for the expression of P450 during liver maturation.