评估肝功能储备的影像学技术新进展

定量检测肝段及肝段水平以下的肝功能储备成为当代肝脏外科亟待解决的问题。影像学检测技术以无创性以及操作简单方便等优点明显优越于其他检测方法。最近研究表明,肝胆特异性对比剂磁共振动态成像技术由于高空间分辨率在定量分析肝段及肝段水平以下的肝功能储备有广泛的临床应用前景。     

基于红外热成像技术对慢性前列腺炎患者的临床评价研究

目的:应用红外热成像技术探索慢性前列腺炎(CP)患者的特征性红外热谱改变,建立其辅助诊断方法,为临床诊断和疗效评价提供新的思路。方法:纳入符合CP诊断标准的男性患者50例,招募同年龄段健康男性志愿者20例,采集健康男性和CP患者的下腹部红外热谱,对比分析CP患者红外热谱的异常温度改变特征,建立CP的临床辅助诊断方法和疗效评价手段。结果:CP患者的下腹部红外热谱具有特征性的温度改变。与同年龄段健康男性相比,CP患者的下腹部平均温度值、H值(下腹部平均温度值-下腹部低温区温度值)、P值(下腹部平均温度值-耻骨联合区平均温度值)、S值(下腹部平均温度值-阴囊区平均温度值)、G值(下腹部平均温度值-双侧腹股沟平均温度值)改变都具有非常显著性差异(P0.01)。并且其下腹部平均温度值与自身CPSI积分值呈负相关(P0.01),Pearson相关系数为-0.519,阴囊区平均温度值与自身CPSI积分呈显著正相关(P0.01),Pearson相关系数为0.446。另外,除H值外,P、S、G值与自身CPSI积分都具有不同程度的相关性(P0.01),其中S值与自身CPSI积分相关性较高,Pearson相关系数为-0.898,两者呈显著负相关。结论:CP患者下腹部具有特征性红外热谱温度改变,将这些特异性红外温度指标作为应用于CP的辅助诊断、症状评估和疗效评价,不失为一种简单、直观、便捷、准确的手段。     

Healthcare technology and technology assessment

New technology is one of the primary drivers for increased healthcare costs in the United States. Both physician and industry play important roles in the development, adoption, utilization and choice of new technologies. The Federal Drug Administration regulates new drugs and new medical devices, but healthcare technology assessment remains limited. Healthcare technology assessment originated in federal agencies; today it is decentralized with increasing private sector efforts. Innovation is left to free market forces, including direct to consumer marketing and consumer choice. But to be fair to the consumer, he/she must have free knowledge of all the risks and benefits of a new technology in order to make an informed choice. Physicians, institutions and industry need to work together by providing proven, safe, clinically effective and cost effective new technologies, which require valid pre-market clinical trials and post-market continued surveillance with national and international registries allowing full transparency of new products to the consumer—the patient. No grant support. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Digital imaging analysis to assess scar phenotype

In order to understand the link between the genetic background of patients and wound clinical outcomes, it is critical to have a reliable method to assess the phenotypic characteristics of healed wounds. In this study, we present a novel imaging method that provides reproducible, sensitive, and unbiased assessments of postsurgical scarring. We used this approach to investigate the possibility that genetic variants in orofacial clefting genes are associated with suboptimal healing. Red‐green‐blue digital images of postsurgical scars of 68 patients, following unilateral cleft lip repair, were captured using the 3dMD imaging system. Morphometric and colorimetric data of repaired regions of the philtrum and upper lip were acquired using ImageJ software, and the unaffected contralateral regions were used as patient‐specific controls. Repeatability of the method was high with intraclass correlation coefficient score > 0.8. This method detected a very significant difference in all three colors, and for all patients, between the scarred and the contralateral unaffected philtrum (p ranging from 1.20^?05 to 1.95^?14). Physicians’ clinical outcome ratings from the same images showed high interobserver variability (overall Pearson coefficient = 0.49) as well as low correlation with digital image analysis results. Finally, we identified genetic variants in TGFB3 and ARHGAP29 associated with suboptimal healing outcome.     

3D in-vivo optical skin imaging for topographical quantitative assessment of non-ablative laser technology.

BACKGROUND: A new method for treating facial rhytides and acne scars with nonablative laser and light source techniques has recently been introduced. Given the inherent limitations of photographic and clinical evaluation to assess subtle changes in rhytides and surface topography, a new noninvasive objective assessment is required to accurately assess the outcomes of these procedures. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to measure and objectively quantify facial skin using a novel, noninvasive, In-vivo method for assessing three-dimensional topography. This device was used to quantify the efficacy of five treatment sessions with the 1064 nm QS Nd:YAG laser for rhytides and acne scarring, for up to six months following laser treatment. METHODS: Two subjects undergoing facial rejuvenation procedures were analyzed before and after therapy using a 30-mm, three-dimensional microtopography imaging system (PRIMOS, GFM, Teltow, Germany). The imaging system projects light on to a specific surface of the skin using a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD Texas Instruments, Irving, TX) and records the image with a CCD camera. Skin Surface microtopography is reconstructed using temporal phase shift algorithms to generate three-dimensional images. Measurements were taken at baseline, at various times during the treatment protocol, and then at three and six-month follow-up visits. Silicone skin replicas (FLEXICO, Herts, England) were also made before and after the laser treatment protocol for comparison to In-vivo acquisition. RESULTS: Skin roughness decreased by 11% from baseline after three treatment sessions in the wrinkles subject, while a 26% improvement of skin roughness was recorded by 3D In-vivo assessment six months following the fifth treatment session. The subject with acne scarring demonstrated a 33% decrease in roughness analysis after three treatment sessions by 3D In-vivo assessment. A 61% improvement in surface topography was recorded 3-months following the fifth treatment session, which was maintained at the 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional In-vivo optical skin imaging provided a rapid and quantitative assessment of surface topography and facial fine lines following multiple treatment sessions with a 1064-nm QS Nd:YAG laser, correlating with clinical and subjective responses. This imaging technique provided objective verification and technical understanding of nonablative laser technology. Wrinkle depth and skin roughness decreased at the three and six-month follow-up evaluations by 3D In-vivo assessment, indicating ongoing dermal collagen remodeling after the laser treatment protocol. Future applications may include comparison of nonablative laser technology, optimization of treatment regimens, and objective evaluation of other aesthetic procedures performed by dermatologists.     

New technology for imaging and documenting urologic procedures

Recent advances in fiber optics and digital technology have dramatically improved the ability of the urologic surgeon to accurately image and document endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures. In addition, the development of digital endoscopes has expanded the armamentarium of the endoscopic surgeon greatly. Finally, new virtual reality technology has allowed increased visualization during surgery and provides excellent training for surgeons. This article details new imaging and documentation technology currently utilized during urologic procedures.     

3-D imaging for aortic plaque assessment

Stroke and neurologic dysfunction continue to complicate cardiac surgery despite improvements in cardiopulmonary bypass. Intra-aortic plaque disrupted during aortic manipulation is a known risk factor contributing to neurologic complications; therefore, avoidance of these plaques during aortic manipulation is important. Intraoperative epiaortic echocardiography, with its high sensitivity and specificity, has become the modality of choice for detecting plaque within the aorta during cardiac surgery and is superior to either transesophageal echocardiography or aortic palpation for this purpose. Recently the matrix x4 three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound probe (Philps Medical Systems) was introduced allowing both real time 3D imaging and electrocardiography-gated "full volume' imaging, which essentially acquires a larger image but requires 8 cardiac cycles. Modification of our routine scanning technique was required, employing a saline (about 30 mL) filled sterile sheath secured with a sterile elastic band (creating a saline pocket). There appears little difference in the sensitivity of either 2D or 3D imaging to detect plaque within the aorta. We found that live 3D was superior to 2D imaging in identifying, localizing, and defining the true extent of plaque in the aorta.     

Digital planimetry for exact assessment of peri-articular ossification

PROBLEM: Currently, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and radiation have become established as methods of choice in the prevention of ectopic ossifications after total hip replacement. The most effective doses is still not known exact for both. Conventional classification systems only permit a rough distinction of ossifications, so they cannot be used for an exact quantitative measuring. Further, only a limited number of categories can be distinguished. We wanted to find out whether a quantitative measurement of ossifications can be realized, and if small differences in prophylactic effect can be detected in this way. METHOD: By computerized digitized planimetry, we measured ossifications of patients after total hip replacement on plain X-rays of the pelvis. We followed 57 patients for up to 2 years after operation. After marking the ossifications they were measured by drawing the outline with a magnifying glass-mouse. We checked all aspects of precision and reproducibility of the measurements and the comparability with an established classification method (Brooker). RESULTS: The digitized planimetry could be performed on all patients X-rays. It gave a much more differentiated picture compared to the method of Brooker. The method is simple and reproducible, but time consuming. CONCLUSIONS: Digitized planimetry allows a very exact measurement of ectopic bone formation. Compared to conventional classification systems, it differentiates more subtly. In limited, well controlled studies slight differences of prophylactic methods on ossifications can be evaluated. New developments in X-ray technology will make the handling of this method even easier.     

Using information technology to improve quality in the OR

This article summarizes the current state of technology as it pertains to quality in the operating room, ties the current state back to its evolutionary pathway to understand how the current capabilities and their limitations came to pass, and elucidates how the overlay of information technology (IT) as a wrapper around current monitoring and device technology provides a significant advance in the ability of anesthesiologists to use technology to improve quality along many axes. The authors posit that IT will enable all the information about patients, perioperative systems, system capacity, and readiness to follow a development trajectory of increasing usefulness.     

Digital imaging and video: principles and applications

Digital imaging has provided orthopaedic surgeons with new, powerful tools that offer a multitude of applications. Already integral to several common medical devices, digital images can be used for case documentation and presentation as well as for diagnostic and surgical patient care information. Educational presentation has been transformed by the use of computers and digital projectors. Understanding the basic foundations of digital imaging technology is important for effectively creating digital images, videos, and presentations.     

Echocardiography overestimates left ventricular mass in hemodialysis patients relative to magnetic resonance imaging

Echocardiography overestimates left ventricular mass in hemodialysis patients relative to magnetic resonance imaging. BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a common finding and a strong adverse prognostic factor in patients with chronic renal failure. An accurate method of measuring left ventricular mass (LV mass) is therefore a prerequisite in the management of these patients. Recent evidence has suggested that echocardiography overestimates LV mass in patients with essential hypertension, and this error increases with increasing LV mass. METHODS: We studied 35 patients on maintenance hemodialysis within 24 hours of their last dialysis. LV mass was measured by both echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed less than three hours apart. Clinic and ambulatory blood pressure (ABPM), resting echocardiogram, and blood sampling were performed at the same visit. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients had results from both methods. Clinic blood pressure, ABPM, and QT dispersion all correlated with LV mass, with a stronger correlation observed for MRI values. Intraobserver and interobserver variability were significantly greater for echocardiography (although similar to other published data). Comparing the two methods, the difference in LV mass values (echo minus magnetic resonance) increased in a linear fashion with an increasing mean mass and chamber diameter. CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiography significantly overestimates LV mass relative to MRI in the presence of LVH and dilation. This overestimation is the result of assumptions made in the calculation of mass from echocardiography M-mode images, which are invalid when LV geometry is abnormal. This error is therefore amplified in dialysis patients, the majority of whom have LVH and in whom intravascular volume is constantly changing.