Volume 1, Issue 1

Volume 1, Issue 1

Research Article
Open Access
A survey on the application of deep learning in knee joint cartilage ultrasound image segmentation
Jintao Duan
Jintao Duan
School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.
,
Miao Zhou
Miao Zhou
Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Nanjing 213164, Jiangsu Province, China.
,
Yuxiang Wang
Yuxiang Wang
School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.
,
Fangfang Chen
Fangfang Chen
School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.
,
Liangqing Lin
Liangqing Lin
The First Hospital of Putian, Putian 351100, Fujian Province, China.
,
Qinghua Wu
Qinghua Wu
The First Hospital of Putian, Putian 351100, Fujian Province, China.
,
Haipo Cui
Haipo Cui
h_b_cui@163.com
School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.
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Objectives: The femoral cartilage in the knee joint is prone to degenerative changes and injuries, often requiring Magnetic Resonance Imaging as the diagnostic gold standard. However, due to the high cost and limited availability of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, ultrasound is explored as a viable alternative. This paper presents a comprehensive review of current deep learning (DL) strategies for knee femoral cartilage segmentation in ultrasound images, focusing on commonly used datasets, data preprocessing techniques, and state-of-the-art DL models. Methods: We systematically reviewed the literature from major medical and engineering databases, summarizing key contributions to knee femoral cartilage segmentation. We focused on (1) the scarcity of large-scale public ultrasound datasets and its impact on model training, (2) popular DL architectures (e.g., U-Net variants, Mask Region-based Convolutional Neural Network), and (3) evaluation techniques, particularly the Dice Similarity Coefficient. We also examined image preprocessing and data augmentation strategies aimed at mitigating data insufficiency. Results: Our review shows that U-Net and its variants (e.g., Siam U-Net, U-Net++) commonly achieve competitive Dice Similarity Coefficient values (around 0.70–0.80) for knee cartilage segmentation, despite the limitations in training data. Advanced networks like Mask Region-based Convolutional Neural Network, when combined with robust image preprocessing and transfer learning (e.g., using COCO/ImageNet pretrained weights), can improve Dice Similarity Coefficient by over 20%. However, the absence of standardized public datasets limits direct comparisons between studies and affects reproducibility. Conclusion: DL holds significant potential for accurate and cost-effective femoral cartilage segmentation in knee joint ultrasound images, offering a feasible alternative or complement to Magnetic Resonance Imaging-based assessments. However, challenges remain due to the lack of large-scale, open-access ultrasound datasets and inconsistent evaluation protocols. Future work should focus on establishing public benchmarks, refining novel network architectures, and enhancing real-time clinical deployment to foster wider adoption and greater clinical impact.
Review Article
Open Access
Application of traditional methods and deep learning in breast ultrasound image segmentation
Fangfang Chen
Fangfang Chen
School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.
,
Miao Zhou
Miao Zhou
Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Nanjing 213164, Jiangsu Province, China.
,
Jintao Duan
Jintao Duan
School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.
,
Yuxiang Wang
Yuxiang Wang
School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.
,
Liangqing Lin
Liangqing Lin
The First Hospital of Putian, Putian 351100, Fujian Province, China.
,
Wenhui Guo
Wenhui Guo
wendyguo17@outlook.com
School of Anesthesiology, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
,
Yongchu Hu
Yongchu Hu
Adsfoxcn@sina.com.cn
The Department of Anesthesiology, Long March Hospital, Shanghai 200003, China.
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Breast ultrasound image segmentation is vital in medical imaging, enabling precise delineation of tissues and lesions, which contributes to the diagnosis and treatment of breast diseases. This article reviews both traditional methods and recent advancements in deep learning techniques for breast ultrasound image segmentation. The discussion begins by highlighting the significance of image segmentation in breast disease diagnosis and its background within medical imaging. Traditional segmentation methods, such as thresholding, edge detection, and region growing, are examined, with an analysis of their applications and limitations in breast ultrasound segmentation. Subsequently, the focus shifts to deep learning approaches, including classic models like Convolutional Neural Networks, Fully Convolutional Networks, and U-Net, along with their improved algorithms. These methods learn hierarchical features directly from raw data, reducing reliance on manual preprocessing. U-Net, in particular, is highlighted as the benchmark for medical image segmentation due to its efficient data usage and ability to preserve fine-grained details. Comparative analysis demonstrates the advantages of deep learning in enhancing segmentation accuracy, reducing noise, and handling complex texture structures. The article concludes by summarizing current achievements and challenges in the field, while offering an outlook on the future developments aimed at advancing breast ultrasound image segmentation for improved diagnosis and treatment of breast diseases.

Review Article
Open Access
Application of U-Net and its variants in ultrasound image segmentation
Yuxiang Wang
Yuxiang Wang
School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.
,
Miao Zhou
Miao Zhou
Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Nanjing 213164, China.
,
Fangfang Chen
Fangfang Chen
School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.
,
Jintao Duan
Jintao Duan
School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.
,
Liangqing Lin
Liangqing Lin
Anesthesiology, The First Hospital of Putian, Putian 351100, China.
,
Qinghua Wu
Qinghua Wu
Anesthesiology, The First Hospital of Putian, Putian 351100, China.
,
Wenhui Guo
Wenhui Guo
School of Anesthesiology, Second Military Medical University/Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
,
Haipo Cui
Haipo Cui
h_b_cui@163.com
School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.
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Ultrasonography plays an important role in the fields of obstetrics, gynecology, cardiology, and hepatology, as well as ultrasound-guided nerve blocks, interventional therapy, and surgical navigation due to its non-invasive, real-time imaging and radiation-free characteristics. Recently, with the advancement of artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning algorithms have brought significant innovations to ultrasound imaging technology in the medical field. U-Net is widely recognized as one of the most commonly used deep learning models in medical image processing. This paper explores the application of the U-Net family of models in ultrasound imaging. The network architecture of the original U-Net, comprising encoder and decoder components, is first delineated. Next, classical variants, such as U-Net++, Attention U-Net, and ResU-Net, are introduced. The application of U-Net models in ultrasound and their segmentation performance are then reviewed, with Dice coefficients highlighted as the primary evaluation metric. Finally, the paper provides a comparative analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the U-Net family of models.
Review Article
Open Access
Research progress of the biological clock gene in pancreatic cancer
Haoran Huang
Haoran Huang
University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China.
,
Ge Yu
Ge Yu
Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China.
,
Rong Wan
Rong Wan
rong.wan@shgh.cn
University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China.
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Biological clock genes, which regulate the body’s circadian rhythm, play a crucial role in pancreatic cancer development. The abnormal expression of these genes is closely associated with malignant proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy. Several biological clock genes in pancreatic cancer tissues contribute to tumor progression by modulating key signaling pathways. Moreover, disruptions in circadian clock genes are significantly linked to poor prognosis and may serve as diagnostic markers and prognostic indicators. This review summarizes recent research on the regulatory mechanisms of biological clock genes in pancreatic cancer, emphasizing their potential clinical applications as diagnostic markers, therapeutic targets, and prognostic tools. These findings may lead to new approaches for personalized pancreatic cancer treatment.

Medical Artificial Intelligence
ISSN: 2957-5524
ZENTIME PUBLISHING CORPORATION LIMITED