Vessel enhancement filtering in three-dimensional MR angiograms using long-range signal correlation

Small vessels in three-dimensional MR angiograms have low visibility in maximum-intensity projection images because of their low contrast. In a previous study, we had two nonlinear filters that appeared to give significant improvement in small vessel detail. In this paper, we report on a generalization of this filter that allows a more general modeling of the vessels and a more complete suppression of background. One implementation of the general filter gave a vessel mean contrast-to-noise ratio that is 2.52 and 3.51 times higher than the vessel mean contrast-to-noise ratio obtained using our previously reported maximum-minimum (max-min) filter and cross- section filter, respectively.     

教学医院学科人才绩效评价体系的构建与应用研究

目的：建立临床医学院学科人才绩效评价体系，促进临床医学院人才建设，提高学科人才管理水平。方法：运用系统方法、层次分析方法、专家咨询法、权值因子判断表法等建立绩效评价指标体系，并在某临床医学院实测应用，反馈验证评价体系的可靠性和科学性。结果：经实测应用，此体系对学科人才的评估总分呈正态分布，一、二级指标区分度较高，三级指标独立性强，其变量间相关率(经偏相关纠正)为2．67％。结论：此评价体系有较强的可靠性和科学性，具有一定的创新性，能综合评价学科人才的绩效水平。     

In vivo comparison of two through-plane MR velocity mapping methods: Fast fourier encoding and phase mapping

Magnetic resonance imaging maps of velocity were acquired with a 1.5-T system in 10 subjects in a plane perpendicular to the main pulmonary artery. Velocity images were successively acquired with a method developed from Fourier-encoding velocity imaging (FEVI) principles with eight gradient steps and one excitation, and with two-point phase-subtraction mapping. Reconstruction in FEVI was implemented by zero-filling interpolation around the eight gradient steps and then around the four central steps. The methods were compared by using estimates of noise in velocity measurements based on the difference between the experimental map and a smooth fitted map. For the same acquisition time, FEVI with four encoding steps was more precise in velocity measurements than phase mapping. Precision was further increased by the use of eight encoding steps, but acquisition time was doubled.     

腹部CTA检查的质量保证

目的:探讨螺旋CT血管造影(Spiral CT angiography,SCTA)技术,以期提高SCTA造影的质量。材料与方法:采用Somatom Plus 4螺旋CT扫描系统对10例病人行腹部SCTA检查。扫描技术和造影剂参数按病变范围和性质而定,三维重建采用最大强度投影法(MIP)或表面阴影显示法(SSD)或弯曲平面重建法(CPR)。结果:SCTA检查技术能可靠地显示血管形态和病变,评价腹部肿瘤与邻近血管关系。结论:SCTA是无创伤性的血管成像术,在很大范围可替代创伤性的血管造影。     

Multiresolution,model-based segmentation of MR angiograms

During the last decade, the quality of MR angiograms has risen substantially and their clinical utility has been demonstrated progressively. This acceptance has created a need for tools with which to summarize and display the information available. We have used a model-based segmentation technique to extract vascular morphology and local flow parameters from phase contrast MR angiograms. A multiresolution data structure is used as the basis of recursive decision-making to identify regions of blood flow. The resulting data representation allows more efficient data handling in subsequent processing and visualization and is directly applicable to the creation of a connected graph model of vascular regions. We describe this flow feature extraction algorithm and demonstrate the utility of the results.     

Pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered sodium dichloroacetate in rabbits

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What methods do stakeholders prefer for feeding back performance data: a qualitative study in palliative care.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the opinions of stakeholders (service commissioners and providers) on how performance data should be presented, in order to develop effective feedback methods to facilitate the use of these data in decision making. DESIGN: A qualitative analysis of semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews. League tables and fictional box plots were presented as an illustrative guide. The themes covered in the interviews were the effectiveness of these two feedback formats, their positive and negative characteristics, and ideas for new and improved feedback mechanisms. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six stakeholders representing a range of clinical and non-clinical roles within palliative care and the wider health care system across a variety of statutory and non-statutory organizations from London and the West Midlands. RESULTS: Box plots were received more positively than league tables, and qualitative information was considered more appropriate than pictorial feedback. Conventional methods such as league tables and box plots were judged to lack essential information on which important decisions could be based, such as additional contextual information and the methodological assumptions of the instrument. Both feedback methods were considered useful as an impetus to further discussion. There was a consensus that feedback should be constructive and able to be adapted to the organizational realities in which UK health services function. CONCLUSION: Qualitative research was viewed as the right evidence for gaining an understanding of the quality of end of life care. Stakeholders highlighted the importance of the lay perspective, which requires approaches that illuminate the subjective meanings of patient experience.     

Use of self-efficacy and dyspnea perceptions to predict functional performance in people with COPD.

This correlational and comparative study explored whether self-reports of self-efficacy and dyspnea perceptions predict the perceived level of functional performance in adults who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The convenience sample included 97 Caucasian men (52) and women (45). Participants had to have a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of less than 70% predicted, and a FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) of less than 70%. Participants were recruited from pulmonary function laboratories and from better breather support groups in a Midwestern state. Three standardized, self-report instruments, COPD Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES), the Pulmonary Functional Status and Dyspnea Questionnaire (PFSDQ), and Functional Performance Inventory (FPI) were used to measure the participants' self-report of their perceptions of self-efficacy, dyspnea, and functional performance. Dyspnea predicted 38.1% of the variance in functional performance, with self-efficacy contributing an additional 6.5% to the variance in the total sample. Self-efficacy predicted 36.5% of the variance in functional performance in men, with dyspnea contributing an additional 7.2% to the variance. However, in women, only dyspnea was a significant predictor of functional performance, at 48.5% when both dyspnea and self-efficacy were entered as independent variables. To improve patients' perceptions of functional performance, nurses can use methods such as breathing techniques and upper- and lower-body exercises that increase optimal management of dyspnea. Nurses may increase the self-efficacy of managing dyspnea by helping patients master breathing techniques and exercise through coaching and providing vicarious experiences through patient support groups or pulmonary rehabilitation programs.     

急性脑出血患者血清谷氨酸动态变化分析

目的通过观察脑出血（intracerebral hemorrhage，ICH）患者血清中谷氨酸的动态变化来进一步评价谷氨酸对脑出血的作用。方法选择符合条件的30例急性高血压脑实质出血患者，给予神经内科脑出血常规治疗，采用高效液相色谱法检测起病后2d内、5．6d、8-9d和15．16d的血清谷氨酸浓度，同步进行神经功能评定，同时于发病后1．3d、d5-6d及d15．16行头部CT检查了解血肿体积大小。结果脑出血患者血中谷氨酸浓度与血肿体积及神经功能缺损评分之间呈正的直线相关。经治疗后，所有病例谷氨酸水平迅速下降，在5-6d和8—9d下降速度更加明显。结论谷氨酸可能参与了自发性脑出血患者的急性期脑损伤作用。     

计算机自动定量诊断脑萎缩的初步研究

目的研究正常人群脑容积随年龄及性别的变化规律,提出计算机定量诊断脑萎缩的客观标准。方法利用最新提出的脑容积计算机自动定量算法,测量了脑萎缩组487例(男,310例,女,177例)和正常组1901例(男,993例,女,908例)的颅腔容积、脑容积和脑实质分数(BPF),并通过多项式曲线拟合技术,研究正常人BPF随年龄变化的函数关系。结果正常组颅腔容积为(1271322±128699)mm3,脑容积为(1211725±122077)mm3,BPF为(95.3471±2.3453)%;脑萎缩组颅腔容积为(1276900±125180)mm3,脑容积为(1203400±117760)mm3,BPF为(91.8115±2.3035)%。两组之间的颅腔容积和脑容积差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),而BPF差异具有统计学意义(P<0.001);BPF定量与年龄之间的二次多项式函数关系P(x)=-0.0008x2+0.0193x+96.9999能够较为准确表达正常人BPF随年龄变化的函数关系,其95%可信区间下限为y=-0.0008x2+0.0184x+95.1090。结论BPF与年龄之间函数关系的95%可信区间下限,可作为计算机自动定量诊断脑萎缩的客观标准。