Vestibular Function Measurement Devices

Vestibular function laboratories utilize a multitude of diagnostic instruments to evaluate a dizzy patient. Caloric irrigators, oculomotor stimuli, and rotational chairs produce a stimulus whose accuracy is required for the patient response to be accurate. Careful attention to everything from cleanliness of equipment to threshold adjustments determine on a daily basis if patient data are going to be correct and useful. Instrumentation specifications that change with time such as speed and temperature must periodically be checked using calibrated instruments.     

一种防脱出易制作义眼台的研制

目的探讨一种新型简易防脱出的义眼台的制作方法与效果。方法根据眼球摘除后的解剖特点设计义眼台大小,选择聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯和涤纶布为材料制作复合材料义眼台,并对6只家兔行眼球摘除后置入义眼台,经HE染色观察及肉眼观察术后不同时间置入物与眼周围组织的解剖关系。结果聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯部分与组织无黏连,涤纶布形成牢固黏连,周围有纤维组织长入并包绕,义眼台无脱出、移位。结论以聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯和涤纶布为材料制作复合义眼台,方法简易,效果可靠,组织相容性好,术后反应轻,值得在临床上推广使用。     

Novel explant model to study mechanotransduction and cell-cell communication.

To understand in situ behavior of osteocytes, we characterized a model of osteocytes in their native bone matrix and demonstrated real-time biologic activity of osteocytes while bending the bone matrix. Using 43 male Sprague-Dawley rats, dumbbell-shaped explants were harvested from stainless steel femoral implants after 6-12 weeks and incubated in culture medium or fixed. Sixteen specimens were used to determine bone volume density (BV/TV), volumetric bone mineral density (BMD) and histology for different implantation periods. Osteocyte viability was evaluated by L-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in 12 cultured explants. Confocal microscopy was used to assess tracer diffusion in three explants and changes in osteocyte pH of a mechanically loaded explant. From 6 to 12 weeks, explant BV/TV and volumetric BMD trended up 92.5% and 101%, respectively. They were significantly and highly correlated. Tissues were uniformly intramembranous and all bone cell types were present. Explants maintained LDH activity through culture day 8. Diffusion at 200 microM was limited to 1,209 Da. Explants appeared capable of reproducing complex bone biology. This model may be useful in understanding osteocyte mechanotransduction in the context of a physiologically relevant bone matrix.     

Value of contrast-enhanced MRI of breast after silicone implant

Summary Early recognition of recurrence and work-up of clinically indeterminate lesions may be impaired after reconstruction with silicone implants due to superimposition of the implant or to scarring. This study was undertaken to evaluate the use of contrast-enhanced MRI in patients with silicone implant after breast cancer. Contrast-enhanded MRI was offered to 169 patients. Comparative two- to three-view mammography was also performed in 169 patients, as well as comparative sonography in 144 patients. Conventional imaging and clinical examination detected only 8/13 recurrences, whereas 12/13 were detected by MRI. One recurrence had been visible as a strongly enhancing 2-mm dot in a previous examination (2 years before), but was not called. It was therefore counted as false negative. In addition, multicentricity was detected by MRI alone in two of three cases. MRI correctly diagnosed scar tissue in all cases with indeterminate findings. However, due to false-positive calls caused by enhancing granulomas specificity could not be improved. Contrast-enhanded MRI allowed decisive additional information in our study group and improved the sensitivity significantly (concerning all diagnoses). Contrast-enhanded MRI is recommended in patients with diagnostic problems or high risk of recurrence after silicone implants.      

Enucleation combined with orbital implants for malignant melanoma of the uvea

Advanced malignant melanomas of the uvea unsuited for an eye salvaging approach require enucleation of the tumor containing eye. A series of 68 patients is reported who underwent enucleation combined with insertion of a spherical dura-encased implant after 30 Gray pre-irridiation therapy of the orbit. Postoperative results with special attention to cosmetic outcome and motility of the prosthesis suggest that the insertion of an orbital implant should be preferred to the enucleation with no implant.     

腰椎节段形态对峡部、小关节应力及小关节接触力影响的有限元分析

目的:探讨腰椎形态结构变化对峡部裂性滑脱及小关节退变的作用和意义。方法:采用改良的“非种子区域分割方法”及非平行“最佳切割平面”等一系列新型计算机辅助设计(CAD)方法精确建立包括椎间盘高度、腰椎小关节角、椎间盘前凸角改变的L4~L5活动节段有限元模型;在2700N轴向压缩载荷条件下,分别对各有限元模型的峡部、小关节应力、小关节接触力以及椎间盘负载进行测试。结果:压缩载荷下,腰椎活动节段峡部、小关节等效应力及小关节接触力随椎间盘高度的减小而减小,随小关节角的增大而增加,随椎间盘前凸角的增加而减小。结论:椎间盘高度、腰椎小关节角、椎间盘前凸角等形态结构变化对腰椎节段有限元模型的峡部、小关节应力及小关节接触力有明显的影响。提示腰椎峡部应力性骨折及小关节退变的发生与椎间盘高度、腰椎小关节角、椎间盘前凸角等解剖形态因素有关。     

Permanent prostate brachytherapy for Japanese men: Results from initial 100 patients with prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the initial results of brachytherapy for prostate cancer with permanent iodine-125 implant in Japan. METHODS: The results obtained with brachytherapy in the initial 100 Japanese patients treated at Nagano Municipal Hospital were reviewed. Patients with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of less than 10 ng/mL and a Gleason's scores of 5, 6, 3 + 4 were classified as having a low risk of recurrence. Patients with a PSA level of 10-20 ng/mL and/or a Gleason's score of 4 + 3 were classified as having an intermediate risk for recurrence. Seventy-eight of the low-risk patients and 19 of the intermediate-risk patients were treated by seed implants alone, or seed implants combined with preceding external radiation, respectively. A total of 53 patients received neoadjuvant hormone therapy. The efficacy and morbidity of brachytherapy were investigated using the serum PSA, International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life score and uroflowmetry data. RESULTS: The average V100 and D90 obtained by post-implant dosimetry was 94.3 and 113.7%, respectively. Serum PSA decreased gradually after treatment, although it had still not reached a nadir after 1 year. There was little difference of the PSA level between the patients with and without neoadjuvant hormone therapy even at 1 year after seed implantation. There were no PSA biochemical failure or clinical recurrence during the follow-up period. Voiding symptoms worsened until 3 months after treatment, and then gradually improved. Acute urinary retention occurred transiently in one patient (1%). Rectal bleeding and severe diarrhea did not occur. CONCLUSION: Brachytherapy is a feasible and effective option for the treatment of prostate cancer in Japanese men. Brachytherapy may have a different effect in Japanese patients with respect to voiding symptoms. Urinary retention was rare, but voiding symptoms were persistent in Japanese patients. Neoadjuvant hormone therapy deserves investigation to determine whether it can achieve better results, especially in patients with an intermediate risk.     

Ultrasound Biomicroscopic Dark Room Provocative Test

Purpose : To compare the clinical application value of Ultrasound biomicrsocpic dark room provocative test with the traditional dark room test in screening primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG).Methods: 22 eyes with PACG in prodromal stage and 30 eyes with deep anterior chamber and wide angle of 15 normal persons were observed in this trail. All 52 eyes were performed traditional dark room provocative test and ultrasound biomicorosopic darkroom test respectively. With different positive diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity of the two methods were compared using chi-squared analysis.Results : After staying in the dark room for 2 hours, In case group, IOP in 10 of 22 eyes rose more than 1. 07kPa(1kPa = 7.5mmHg), in 12 eyes less than 1.07kPa or had no changes; appositional angle closure were found by Goldmann gonioscopy in 8 eyes : 3 eyes in two quadrants, 5 eyes in more than two quadrants; the appositional angle closure was found by UBM in 15 eyes; 3 eyes in one quadrants, 5 eyes in two quadrants, 7 eyes     

Image processing in digital radiography

Image processing is a critical part of obtaining high-quality digital radiographs. Fortunately, the user of these systems does not need to understand image processing in detail, because the manufacturers provide good starting values. Because radiologists may have different preferences in image appearance, it is helpful to know that many aspects of image appearance can be changed by image processing, and a new preferred setting can be loaded into the computer and saved so that it can become the new standard processing method.Image processing allows one to change the overall optical density of an image and to change its contrast. Spatial frequency processing allows an image to be sharpened, improving its appearance. It also allows noise to be blurred so that it is less visible. Care is necessary to avoid the introduction of artifacts or the hiding of mediastinal tubes.