“Evaluation of a Very Low-Cost and Simple Teleradiology Technique”

This paper describes and analyzes a proposed solution of fundamental limitative factor of teleradiology to overcome the teleradiology usages problems in underdeveloped and developing countries. The goal is to achieve a very simple and cost-efficient way to take advantage of teleradiology in anywhere even in remote and rural areas. To meet the goal of this study, the following methodology which is consists of two main procedures was done: (1) Using a digital camera in order to provide a digital image from radiographs. (2) Using an image compression tool in order to compress digital images. The results showed that there is no significant difference between digital images (non-compress and compress images) and radiographic films. Also, there was a logic relationship between the diagnostic quality and diagnostic accuracy. Since the maximum percent of diagnostic accuracy can be seen among “Good” quality images and the minimum to was related “Poor”. The results of our study indicate that a digital camera could be utilized to capture digital images from radiographic films of chest x-ray. To reduce the size of digital images, a lossy compression technique could be applied at compression percent of 50 or less without any significant differences. The compressed images can be sent easily by email to other places for consultation and also they can be stored with a smaller size.     

Preparation and Biological Evaluation of Heat-press Glass Ceramics

INTRODUCTION　　The theory and clinical performance of conventional metal ceramic systems tendto be proficiency and familiar to dentist.However,peeling off and crack of ceramicsresulting in failure of restoration,in the meantime,the inside metal bring aboutbadesthetic results.With more and more esthetic demands,the all- ceramics crown sys-tems have become widespread for restoration of teeth〔1〕.Castable glass ceramics de-veloped in 1 980 s was attached extensive importance forits mechani…     

Preparation and Evaluation in Vitro of BCNU-Loaded PLA Nanoparticles

In this study, using a spontaneous emulsification/solvent extraction method, BCNU-Ioaded PLA nanoparticles (NPs) with small particle size and narrow size distribution have been acquired. The particle size of the NPs ranged from 40-60 nm and 100-200 nm according to different requirements. SEM and TEM showed that the particle size considerably decreases with increasing emulsification concentration and decreasing PLA concentration and ratio of oil to water. The highest drug loading ratio and drug encapsulation efficiency of NPs were 5. 63% and 33.45%. The results demonstrated that decrease of initial BCNU content resuited in a noticeably increased encapsulation yield. A thorough study in vitro showed that the drug could be steadily released from NPs for one week. In addition, drug-loaded NPs had higher antitumor activity, compared with free BCNU,and sustained drug release characteristics as well.     

Evaluation on Immunogenic Different Kinds of Evaluation onEvaluation on Immunogenicity and Immune Efficacy of Different Kinds of Hepatitis B Vaccines

Hepatitis B vaccine, as the first high effective recombi nant commercial vaccine, was successfully developed inthe early 1980s. Since then, different opinions have oc curred on the quality of vaccines with rapid developmentof target gene selecting, antigen expression system, andquality evaluation. Different antigens of hepatitis B vac cines are derived from different expression system, andthere are also some differences on manufacture procedureor glycosylated degree of antigen. So ther…     

Evaluation of Allen’s test in both arms and arteries of left and right-handed people

The Allen’s test as described in 1929 by Edgar V. Allen has been modified, adapted and complemented by other newer modalities but remains a first line standard test to evaluate the arterial supply of the hand. In this study an attempt has been made to add more information regarding the arterial supply of the hand, in left- and right-handed individuals, left and right hands and the ulnar and radial arteries, when doing the Allen’s test. A modified Allen’s test using an oxygen saturation monitor was used. The sample group consisted of 80 (30 left-handed and 50 right-handed) students. No significant differences between the Allen’s test of the left and right hands in the left and right-handed individuals were found. There was a marginal but not significant difference between the two arteries. The ulnar artery took slightly longer to reach baseline values as compared to the radial artery. The results suggest that a positive Allen’s test can be found in both left and right-handed people, with regard to the left and right hands and both radial and ulnar arteries may be implicated. This information should be kept in mind when selecting either the radial or ulnar artery for grafting purposes (e.g. coronary angiosurgery) and forearm artery cannulation.In memory of the late Prof. J.M. Boon, who passed away on 13 December 2004.Declaration: the experiments done comply with the current laws of the country in which they were performed.     

Comparison and Evaluation of Three Animal Models for Studyingthe Pathogenicity of Staphylococcus epidermidis

Staphylococcus epidermidis was once thought as the normalflora of human skin that rarely causes disease in healthypersons, and isolation of this bacteria from clinical speci mens was generally taken as contamination. In recentyears, however, largely because of the increased use ofintra vascular catheters and other indwelling prosthetic de vices, S. epidermidis has emerged as a major nosocomialpathogen in biomaterial associated infections [1,2]. It hasbeen suggested that S. epidermid…     

Laboratory diagnosis of influenza--virology or serology?

Although classical influenza is a clinically typical illness ("unchanging disease due to a changing agent"), laboratory investigations are essential at the beginning of each influenza epidemic. They should confirm suspected influenza cases and exclude "flu-like illnesses" which may be caused by numerous other viral and bacterial agents. Different virological as well as serological methods are available. For early diagnosis of acute influenza virus infections, virus detection using rapid procedures for virus isolation or antigen staining and molecular biological techniques have been developed. The determination of specific antibodies (IgG, IgM) has traditionally been widely used diagnostically. Conventional serological diagnosis is possible by means of the complement fixation and hemagglutination inhibition tests and allows the detection of type- and subtype-specific antibodies, respectively. As part of an automated serology, immunofluorescence test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay are the mostly widely available methods. In comparison, virus detection is clearly superior to antibody determination for diagnosis of influenza virus infections. However, antibody testing may be useful as a complementary tool to confirm the diagnosis retrospectively.     

Evaluation of the in vitro and in vivo proinflammatory activities of gold (+) and gold (−) nanoparticles

Objective and design

The aim of this study was to determine potential effects of gold (+) and gold (?) nanoparticles, AuNP(+) and AuNP(?), on neutrophil biology.

Material or subjects

Freshly isolated human neutrophils were used for the in vitro aspects and CD-1 mice were used in the in vivo murine air pouch model of acute neutrophilic inflammation.

Treatment

Human neutrophils were treated with the indicated concentrations of AuNP(+) or AuNP(?) in vitro and mice received 100 or 500 µg/ml AuNP(+) or AuNP(?) into air pouches.

Methods

Cellular uptake of AuNP by neutrophils was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and the ability of the NP to modulate apoptosis, gelatinase activity, and chemokine production and chemotaxis was determined by cytology, zymography, ELISArray, antibody array, and ELISA and by a micro-chemotaxis chamber, respectively. In vivo, exudates were harvested after 6 h to determine the leukocyte infiltration to detect the production of several cytokines by an antibody array approach and ELISA. One-way analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis.

Results

AuNP possess proinflammatory activities in vitro and induce mainly a neutrophil influx in vivo, albeit at different degrees.

Conclusions

AuNP(+) and AuNP(?) should be added as new candidates into a growing list of NP having proinflammatory activities by themselves.

     

Quantitative Evaluation of Links between Inflammatory Markers and Alzheimer’s Disease

Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology - Objectives. To obtain quantitative assessment of the link between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and inflammatory markers such as the enzymatic activity of...     

Evaluation of Heart State Variation and Neural Control Parameters with Animal Models

INTRODUCTION　　 The cardiac electrical physiology contains abundantphysiological and pathologi-cal information and enables noninvasive detection.Butitis notenough for diagnos-ing heart diseases in clinic in the past.Common approaches for diagnosing early…     

Antihistaminic/antiallergic activity of 2-dialkylaminoalkylthio(oxy)-1-substituted benzimidazoles: Evaluation “in vitro” and “in vivo”

A new series of 2-dialkylamino-alkylthio(oxy)-1-substituted benzimidazoles synthesized in our laboratories was found to have promising antihistaminic activity. The results of pharmacological screening (in vitro: radioreceptor binding and isolated organs; in vivo: protection against mortality induced by histamine or by compound 48/80, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis, and prolongation of barbiturate-induced sleeping-time) gave clear-cut structure-activity relationships. This series of products has a general selectivity towards H1 receptors, weak antiallergic properties and negligible central effects. DF 10967 (1-ethoxyethyl-2-dimethyl-aminoethylthiobenzimidazole) was the most interesting compound, being very potent both in vitro (Ki=3.2±0.8 nM) and in vivo (ID₅₀ 11 g/kg, i.p. and 8g/kg, i.p. against histamine- and 48/80-induced mortality), with no central effects. The last finding is probably due to poor penetration into the brain (as confirmed by in vivo binding test with [³H]-mepyramine) and to lack of interaction with other central receptors.     

Evaluation of inner–outer space distinction and verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia

Introduction. Verbal hallucinations could result from attributing one's own inner speech to another. Inner speech is usually experienced in inner space, whereas hallucinations are often experienced in outer space. To clarify this paradox, we investigated schizophrenia patients' ability to distinguish between speech experienced in inner space, and speech experienced in outer space.

Methods. 32 schizophrenia patients and 26 matched healthy controls underwent a two-stage experiment. First, they read sentences aloud or silently. Afterwards, they were required to distinguish between the sentences read aloud (experienced in outer space), the sentences read silently (experienced in inner space), and new sentences not previously read (no space coding). The sentences were in the first, second, or third person in equal proportions. Linear mixed models were used to investigate the effects of group, sentence location, pronoun, and hallucinations status.

Results. Schizophrenia patients were similar to controls in recognition capacity of sentences without space coding. They exhibited both inner–outer and outer–inner space confusion (they confused silently read sentences for sentences read aloud, and vice versa). Patients who experienced hallucinations inside their head were more likely to have outer–inner space bias.

Conclusions. For speech generated by one's own brain, schizophrenia patients have bidirectional failure of inner–outer space distinction (inner–outer and outer–inner space biases); this might explain why hallucinations (abnormal inner speech) could be experienced in outer space. Furthermore, the direction of inner–outer space indistinction could determine the spatial location of the experienced hallucinations (inside or outside the head).     

Preparation of Aminated Macroporous Polyvinyl Alcohol Resins and Evaluation for Bilirubin Adsorption

In the present study we prepared macroporous polyvinyl alcohol beads. A series of bilirubin adsorbents were generated by immobilization of eight amine agents to the beads as ligands. The adsorption of bilirubin was evaluated by in vitro static and dynamic adsorption tests. The results show that these adsorbents have excellent adsorption efficiency and capacity. Among the eight ligands, trimethylamine (TMA), triethylamine (TEA) and 1,6- hexanediamine(HDA) showed the highest adsorption capacity. The adsorption equilibrium can be achieved in half an hour, and the adsorption percentage of bilirubin was up to 80%. Static electricity and hydrophobic interaction played the main role in bilirubin adsorption, and the adsorption was found to match the monolayer model. The excellent adsorption of these adsorbents indicates their potential in clinical treatment.     

Pan-Canadian Evaluation of Irreversible Compression Ratios (“Lossy” Compression) for Development of National Guidelines

New technological advancements including multislice CT scanners and functional MRI, have dramatically increased the size and number of digital images generated by medical imaging departments. Despite the fact that the cost of storage is dropping, the savings are largely surpassed by the increasing volume of data being generated. While local area network bandwidth within a hospital is adequate for timely access to imaging data, efficiently moving the data between institutions requires wide area network bandwidth, which has a limited availability at a national level. A solution to address those issues is the use of lossy compression as long as there is no loss of relevant information. The goal of this study was to determine levels at which lossy compression can be confidently used in diagnostic imaging applications. In order to provide a fair assessment of existing compression tools, we tested and compared the two most commonly adopted DISCOM compression algorithms: JPEG and JPEG-2000. We conducted an extensive pan-Canadian evaluation of lossy compression applied to seven anatomical areas and five modalities using two recognized techniques: objective methods or diagnostic accuracy and subjective assessment based on Just Noticeable Difference. By incorporating both diagnostic accuracy and subjective evaluation techniques, enabled us to define a range of compression for each modality and body part tested. The results of our study suggest that at low levels of compression, there was no significant difference between the performance of lossy JPEG and lossy JPEG 2000, and that they are both appropriate to use for reporting on medical images. At higher levels, lossy JPEG proved to be more effective than JPEG 2000 in some cases, mainly neuro CT. More evaluation is required to assess the effect of compression on thin slice CT. We provide a table of recommended compression ratios for each modality and anatomical area investigated, to be integrated in the Canadian Association of Radiologists standard for the use of lossy compression in medical imaging.     

Modularity and Intersection of “What”, “Where” and “How” Processing of Visual Stimuli: A New Method of fMRI Localization

Summary: Research on the modularity of perceptual and cognitive processes has often pointed to a ventral-dorsal distinction in cortical pathways that depend upon the nature of the stimuli and the task. However, it is not clear whether the dorsal, occipital-parietal stream specializes in locating visual objects (i.e., a “where” stream), or taking action toward objects (i.e., a “how” stream), although there is some consensus for a ventral, occipital-temporal “what” stream that specializes in the identification of visual objects. It is also not clear to what extent word and picture processing are modular along these streams, as functional imaging maps to date have not addressed the modularity question directly. Here we present two types of functional imaging maps that directly show modularity and intersection of processing function for word and picture stimuli in tasks that require decisions about “what is”, “where is”, or “how do you interact with” a stimulus (N=6 participants). Our results reveal a middle dorsal “how” stream with some modular regions of activation that are distinct from activation during “where” processing, and that words and pictures involve several modular regions of activation along these streams. This research was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada in the form of grants to R.B. and G.E.S., and a post-doctoral fellowship to C.K.F, and by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) and the Saskatchewan Health Services Utilization and Research Commission (HSURC) in the form of grants to G.E.S. We thank Jennifer Hadley and Francis Shih for technical assistance.     

Diagnostic Accuracy Measures—The Laboratory and Non-Laboratory Perspective

For professionals in laboratory medicine, diagnostic accuracy is a term we think we understand well. Still, there are multiple and distinct interpretations of the term “diagnostic accuracy,” and laboratorians will benefit by improved understanding of them all. The clinical laboratory's understanding of diagnostic accuracy is the one we invoke daily and rely upon as the underpinning of our laboratory test results. Laboratorians often compare a new (index) test to a reference (gold) standard method to document the analytical performance of the test. Outside the laboratory walls, there is a broader definition, one that describes the ability of providers to accurately diagnosis a patient's illness. This definition relies not only on the accuracy of laboratory test results, but also on diagnostic radiology, diagnostic respiratory testing, the assessment of clinical symptoms, and the use of severity scores. To better understand diagnostic accuracy, one can divide its use into three broad categories: analytical validity (the aspect best known by clinical laboratories), clinical validity (the aspect that is best known to health care providers, and clinical utility (the aspect best known to policymakers and insurance providers). This review describes the term “diagnostic accuracy” as it is used in laboratory medicine and clinical medicine. Basic definitions and characteristics of the conventional measures of diagnostic accuracy are described and compared. Diagnostic accuracy in terms of clinical utility is discussed briefly, but a full discussion is beyond the scope of this review.