Software and Hardware Complexes for Human Cell Karyotyping (Karyotype Identification and Morphological Analysis: New Data< Methods and Hardware)

Tech Area / Field

• MED-OTH/Other/Medicine
• BIO-CGM/Cytology, Genetics and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology

Status
3 Approved without Funding

Registration date
08.10.1996

Leading Institute
NPO Lutch, Russia, Moscow reg., Podolsk

Supporting institutes

• Medical Radiological Scientific Center, Russia, Kaluga reg., Obninsk

Collaborators

• Universal System and Technology, Inc., USA, VA, Fairfax\nUniversité de Paris XII, France, Liesant\nRadiation Effects Research Foundation, Japan, Hiroshima\nUniversity of Cambridge / Department of Pathology, UK, Cambridge

Project summary

At present, in solving medical problems, conjugated with aftereffects of large-scale radiation accidents such as those at Chernobyl NPP, Cheliabinsk and others, one of major objectives, calling for urgent meeting, is to develop methods and technical tools for medico-genetic monitoring of population, suffered from radiation accidents and other

adverse environmental factors. Such a monitoring includes analyzing the chromosome aberrations within the human cells for biological dosimetry and for assessments of genetic and carcinogenic risk, as well as comprises examination of morphological specimens to verify the oncological disease diagnoses. The large scale of the population examination and its long-term character call for creation of reliable techniques to obtain, store, analyze and transmit images per «state-of-the-art» computer technology.

Since the Chernobyl accident first days, the MRRC RAMS accumulated a vast material on determination of personal absorbed irradiation dose for victims by methods of physical and biological dosimetry; on revealing, diagnosing and treating the thyroid gland cancer of children; on creation of a National Radiation Epidemic Register. A join work together with the SIA «Lutch», having a great experience in developments of software/hardware complexes for medicine, will allow, within short terms, realize the present project objective: to create unique database of cytogenetic and morphological images of the human cells and, to develop a high-efficiency technology for computer-assisted analyzing the human cell chromosome aberrations.

Technical Approach

In performing the chromosome analysis, the computer processing is applied to a black-and-white image, which is input into a computer by a telecamera. To carry out experiments, there are used: light microscope fluorescent microscope. For comparative analysis, a karyotyping instrument CYTOSCAN (Applied Imaging firm, England) is employed. In morphology analyzing, color images are computer-processed. For ordering the storage of textual and graphical information, the latter is organized as a database (DB) the creation of Application Programs Pack (APP) for the chromosome analysis, of a management system for the databases, will be implemented using the languages of Pascal, C++, Assembler. Drives on compact disks (CD-ROM) will be used for storing the image databases.

Anticipated Results

After realization the project, the following science & technology issues are expected: creation of a comparatively cheap APP for automating the chromosome analysis, allowing to obtain desirable results with a minimal set of hardware; building of automated medical workplaces (MWP) for cytogeneticist and morphologist; development and implementation of an interactive cytogeneticist workplace (ICWP), allowing to reveal, along with ordinary chromosome disorders, especially hazardous disorders, linked to long-lived instability of genome of offspring, underdone the cells' damaging effect. The creation of MWP on input of thyroid gland cancer morphological images and organization DB will essentially shorten the time, required for selection of microscopic images for sampling assessing the archives material, will allow, using a radio-oncological computer network, to take consultations from leading experts per communication, to systemize the database itself.

Potential Role of Foreign Partners

Experience exchange with foreign partners in the area of the methodology of the project topical guideline; discussion on the gained results.