Utility of Tissue Similarity Maps Based on Relative Cerebral Blood Volume for Grading Gliomas as Validated by Histological Results

@@     

Proposed new bladder volume monitoring device based on impedance measurement

A new implantable bladder volume-monitoring device based on the impedance measurement of the detrusor muscle is described. The system is completely autonomous and forms a mixed-signal (analogue/digital) feedback loop with a neuro-stimulator to rectify bladder dysfunctions (incontinence and retention) through neuromuscular stimulation techniques. A programmable instrumentation amplifier and a signal processing block, to eliminate the artefacts caused by the patient’s movements, have been designed and tested. The layout for the signal processing block has been realised in 0.8 μm BiCMOS technology.     

中老年人前列腺体积增长的城乡差异

为了解国人中年以后前列腺的生长情况及其可能的影响因素，对北京、河北、湖北等地四个社区的城乡居民前列腺体积进行了经腹Ｂ超测量。结果表明城区居民的前列腺体积明显大于相应年龄段的农村居民，城区居民的前列腺增长速率比农村居民高二倍。生活环境和饮食习惯的不同可能为其原因之一。     

乳房体积生物立体测量系统的研制

目的　利用立体视觉方法建立乳房体积测量系统 ,并探讨其准确性和精确程度。方法　通过采用两台CCD摄相机从两个不同视角观察乳房模型 ,运用激光投射仪和光栅获得计算机能识别的平行采样点 ,依靠计算机图像处理技术和生物立体测量技术 ,求取乳房模型表面采样点的三维坐标 ,设计乳房体积测量运算模式 ,在Windows下编制程序 ,建立乳房体积测量和分析系统 ,应用所建的测量系统和水体积置换术分别对 12例乳房模型进行体积测量 ,并将两种测量方法及其结果进行比较和统计分析 ,观察其精确性和准确性。结果　本系统测量乳房体积实现了数据的快速处理 ,测试空间范围为12 0mm× 14 0mm× 80mm ,特点是快速、非接触性和非侵入性。与水体积置换方法比较 ,P =0 .4 73>0 .0 5 ,差值的 95 %可信区间为 - 14 .0 2～ 7.0 8ml。结论　本系统可应用于乳房体积测量 ,简捷而且精确 ,为临床工作提供了一种有效手段 ,并为软组织形态分析的开展提供了一种新的理论基础。     

全麻复合硬膜外麻醉患者林格氏溶液的容量动力学

目的 通过确定全麻复合硬膜外时麻醉林格氏溶液的容量动力学模型参数，评价硬膜外复合全麻对晶体液扩容效应的影响。方法择期行肝癌切除术患者20例，随机分为2组：组Ⅰ麻醉诱导前行扩容治疗，组Ⅱ硬膜外复合全麻诱导后行扩容治疗。扩容采用30ml／kg乳酸钠林格氏溶液（LR）恒速输注，30min内输完，输注LR开始后90min内每5min测定血红蛋白（Hb）及红细胞压积（Hct），并记录总尿量及血液动力学数据。用容量动力学数学模型和物质守恒定律处理数据，获得结果。结果 组Ⅱ容量增加量、容量扩张效率、输注结束时液体保留率均高于组Ⅰ（P〈0．05）。一级容量动力学分析结果：组Ⅰ目标容积（V）和清除率（k1）均大于组Ⅱ（P〈0．05）。二级容量动力学分析结果：组Ⅱ的V1、k1、k1均高于组Ⅱ（P〈0．05）。扩容后组Ⅱ的平均动脉压、中心静脉压、心输出量均小于组Ⅰ（P〈0．05）。结论 全麻复合硬膜外麻醉可提高晶体液的容量扩张效率。     

Volume Flow Rate of Common Carotid Artery Measured by Doppler Method and Color Velocity Imaging Quantification (CVI-Q)

BACKGROUND: Common carotid artery (CCA) volume flow rate (VFR) is clinically useful for study of cerebrovascular disease. Color Velocity Imaging Quantification (CVI-Q; Philips Ultrasound International, Irvine, CA), previously reported as accurate and reliable, tracks the flow lumen over the cardiac cycle, as well as mean spatial velocity, which is multiplied by vessel area to obtain VFR. VFR can also be obtained by Doppler sampling for mean velocity, and vessel area based on static B-mode lumen diameter. We compared CCA VFR by CVI-Q and Doppler method (DM), since knowledge of how they compare is crucial when both are used clinically. METHOD: We prospectively studied patients having clinical carotid duplex exams and healthy controls. All had CCA VFR measured by both methods in the same exam session. RESULTS: Thirty-four studies were reviewed. CCA VFR by CVI-Q in those without ICA stenosis was 337 +/- 96 mL/m, and by DM 359 +/- 130 mL/m; P = .33. There was no difference between methods for 50-75% or 75-95% ICA stenosis. In 7 patients with ICA occlusion, and 3 with 95-99% stenosis, VFR was higher by DM than by CVI-Q (Occlusion: 125 vs 58 mL/m, P = .007; 95-99%: 152 vs 63 mL/m, P = .038). There was no statistically significant difference between methods for measurement of the ratio of VFR between right and left CCA. CONCLUSION: In patients with 0-95% ICA stenosis, VFR by CVI-Q and DM showed no difference. For 95-100% ICA stenosis the methods differ; with higher VFR by DM. Side-to-side VFR ratios remain constant, irrespective of VFR method, and can still provide clinically useful information.     

Anion channels in a leaky epithelium

We have used the patch-clamp technique to characterize three anion channels in the ventricular membrane of the choroid plexus epithelium from Necturus. The most frequently occurring channel had a nonlinear IV-curve. The conductance in excised patches with 112 mM chloride at both sides was 28 pS at 0 mV, increasing towards positive membrane potentials. The selectivity ratios were P _NaP _Cl 0.1 and . SITS and furosemide (1 mM) on the inside reduces chloride flux to 0.15 and 0.37 times the control value. In attached patches, the most commonly observed channel had a conductance of 7.5 pS. The single-channel current for this channel reversed direction at 15 mV hyperpolarization, indicating accumulation of chloride to a factor of 1.8 above equilibrium. External stimulation of the tissue by theophylline, IBMX and dbcAMP, or by hypotonic shock did not increase the activity of this channel. In very few excised patches, we have observed a chloride channel with a conductance of 7 pS with 112 mM chloride at both sides. The 7 pS channel appears to be identical to a 2 pS channel found in attached patches. The 2 pS channel was not normally active in attached patches but was activated in 28% of the patches by external stimulation. Finally, in few excised patches we have found a 375 pS channel which inactivates within seconds when membrane potential is stepped from 0 mV to a value that differs more than 10–20 mV from zero. The channel did not conduct gluconate but and P _NaP _Cl 0.1. Internal SITS and furosemide (1 mM) reduced chloride flux to 0.3 and 0.5 times the control value. The channel was never seen in attached patches. The current carried through these channels can not account for the transepithelial steady state Cl^–-flux measured by microelectrodes. KCl exit from the cell is suggested to be carried by KCl-cotransport or by channels that are too small to be seen in patch-clamp experiments.     

Evaluation of the osmoregulatory function of taurine in brain cells

Summary Homogenous primary cultures of mouse astrocytes and cortical neurons were used to clarify the role of taurine in ion and osmoregulation in the CNS. This study indicates that both neurons and glial cells have uptake systems for taurine. The cell water content does not change during loading of cells with taurine. Chemical analysis indicates that part of the accumulated taurine is metabolized and that the product(s) are stored in the cells. Extracellular taurine (1 mM) has no effect on K⁺, Na⁺, Cl^-, or Ca²⁺ movements in astrocytes. However, astrocytes loaded to a taurine content which corresponds a concentration of 60 mM (corresponds to normal mouse cortex levels) show a 50% reduction in their K⁺ accumulation by carriers and a 100% increase in Ca²⁺ turnover rates. Movements of Ca²⁺ and K⁺ are involved in neurotransmission. It appears that taurine stored in glial cells, has an important effect on ion homeostasis in the CNS and may act indirectly on neuronal excitability.     

Airway responses to antigen challenge in allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma

The density dependence of the maximum expiratory flow-volume curve, functional residual capacity (FRC), and specific airway conductance (SGaw) were determined before and during bronchial provocation with ragweed extract in 27 subjects with ragweed hypersensitivity and a history of either bronchial asthma (16 subjects) or allergic rhinitis (11 subjects). Mean baseline SGaw was significantly lower while mean volume of isoflow (Visov) and FrC were significantly higher in subjects with bronchial asthma. During antigen challenge, 10 of 16 subjects with bronchial asthma (63%) and five of 11 subjects with allergic rhinitis (45%) showed a greater than 35% decrease in SGaw ("reactors"): mean relative decreases in SGaw from baseline were 46% and 53%, respectively. The remaining subjects showed a less than 35% decrease in SGaw ("nonreactors") with mean relative decreases of 9% (allergic asthma) and 6% (allergic rhinitis). Mean Visov increased in all subjects with bronchial asthma and in eight of 11 subjects with allergic rhinitis. A significant increase in FRC (6%) was seen only in the "reactors" with bronchial asthma. Following antigen challenge, the beta adrenergic agonist, isoetharine, increased SGaw and decreased Visov. We conclude that in asymptomatic subjects with ragweed hypersensitivity, (1) central and peripheral airway function is more abnormal in subjects with bronchial asthma than in subjects with allergic rhinitis, (2) subjects of both groups show quantitatively and qualitatively comparable airway responses during antigen challenge with a decrease in SGaw or an increase in Visov, possibly representing increase in central and/or peripheral airflow resistance, respectively, (3) Visov may be a more sensitive indicator of airway response to antigen challenge than SGaw, and (4) the bronchodilator effects of a beta adrenergic agonist on antigen-induced bronchospasm are similar in both groups.