City Research Online

Abstract

This work describes an algorithm developed to quantify the effects of low dose radiation on the cardiac endothelial cells with the final objective of inferring how radiation may potentially initiate cardiovascular disease in post radiotherapy-treated patients. The effects are investigated by using an in-vitro co-culture cellular matrix, consisting of endothelial cells on a base of fibroblasts, which in time begin to form capillary (tubular) like structures. A range of radiation doses (0.2-16 Gray (Gy)) was applied to different samples and the effects observed. The automatic segmentation is validated against a set of manual segmented images with satisfactory results presenting a correct classification of 0.93; classification is the measure of comparison between two sets of images, specified as a number from 0 to 1, whereby 1 denotes 100% similarity whilst 0 refers to 0% similarity. Measurements related to geometrical parameters were further obtained. It was found during the course of this project, the largest observable change in endothelial cell structure was found after exposure to 0.2 Grays of radiation.

Publication Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Subjects:	Q Science > QA Mathematics
Departments:	School of Science & Technology > Mathematics School of Science & Technology > Computer Science > giCentre

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