电子计算机断层扫描系统球管焦斑与扫描中心平面校准的设计及验证

本文开发设计了一种电子计算机断层扫描(CT)系统球管焦斑与扫描中心平面校准的方法。该方法是把球管分别旋转到0°和180°位置,首先让CT系统在冷态下分别静态扫描一次自制的具有对称窗口A、B的金属校准工具;然后对扫描的原始数据进行去噪、均值、归一化处理后,利用球管焦斑、准直器中心和校准工具的几何关系,计算球管焦斑到扫描中心平面的校准距离。为验证该方法的实用性和有效性,本文采用该方法对16排CT系统(Brivo CT385, GE,中国)的球管焦斑进行校准,校准结果用即显胶片扫描方式进行验证,结果显示球管焦斑与扫面中心平面距离误差为0.02 mm,处于焦斑校准误差范围±0.1 mm之内。通过本文研究结果表明,作为一种简单、低成本的设计,该方法可以实现球管焦斑与扫描中心平面的快速校准。     

锥形束CT图象引导放疗的应用性测试

目的:探索一种针对锥形束CT图象引导放疗的应用性测试新方法,测试锥形束CT图象引导的准确性。方法:设计一个应用性测度专用模体:用10 cm厚马克力聚苯乙烯板围成一个长方体,模体内在上下、左右和前后三个方向上分别建立三根小梁,每根小梁都贯穿模体,与模体中相对的两个面相连。模体的每个面的中心设有"十"字标识。把模体平放在PHILIPS大孔径CT检查床面上,用CT机房内的激光灯分别对准模体左、右和上面中心,扫描获取用于设计放疗计划的CT图象。该图象经VARIS网络传到Eclipse放疗计划系统,用Eclipse设计计划,射野中心位于模体中心。把模体平放到VARIAN加速器治疗床面上,用加速器机房内的激光灯分别对准模体左、右和上面中心。VARIAN加速器配有OBI(On-Board Imager)系统,用锥形束CT扫描,获得模体的摆位图象,并与计划图象配准。结果:设计放疗计划的参考图象与摆位图象具有相同的特征,在模体的横截面、矢状面和寇状面上都有三个小梁的横截面,截面的边界清晰,图像配准显示在侧向和竖直方向的位置误差均为0.0 cm,在纵向位置误差0.1 cm,旋转误差0.0°。结论:利用本文设计的应用性测试专模体完成应用性测试是一种简便且可靠的方法。     

治疗计划系统中CT值及图像质量保证的若干问题讨论

目的：了解CT扫描时影响CT值的相关务件；讨论不同扫描参数扫描得到的CT重建图像可能产生的误差；对三维治疗计划系统使用的CT值及图像的质量保证的若干问题进行探讨。材料和方法：对Siemens Somatom Plus4螺旋CT设置不同扫描电压和电流，测量Gammex的RMI467体模中不同材料的密度值与CT值关系。测量CT孔径位置以及高密度材料治疗床板可能对CT值产生的影响。测量包含不同浓度造影剂的水溶液的CT值及相应的等效密度，初步对鼻咽癌病人加入造影剂前后的CT图像相对剂量计算的影响进行了估计。扫描一包含空腔的有机玻璃板，改变扫描层厚和螺距，对比ADAC三维治疗计划系统重建的CT图像与真实形态的差别。此外对使用的数字化仪以及打印设备进行了图像输入和输出的检查，检查了系统的文字和图像信息的登记和输出。结果：给出了不同电压和电流下CT值与密度的关系：对造影剂、CT治疗床等相关因素对CT值的影响给出了定量讨论；对有机玻璃模体的扫描结果表明：由于部分容积效应和阶梯状伪影的影响，CT图像中显示的空腔形态发生了改变。其他对治疗计划系统非剂量学质量保证措施也在计划系统使用前进行了检查。结论：对于三维治疗计划系统，正确输入密度—CT值是保证剂量计算正确的条件之一；了解CT扫描时可能带来的图像误差可以有效减小靶区勾画的误差；三维治疗计划系统使用前必须有详细的质量保证。     

一种用于全身照射技术的全身模拟定位CT扫描与图像重建方法

目的：探索一种适用于全身照射（TBI）的CT重建方法,可同体位连续扫描后获得一套完整的全身模拟定位CT。方法：使用TBI CT重建方法对患者进行CT模拟定位,完成后于Eclipse v15.5计划系统中生成一套全身模拟定位CT,将其运用到TBI计划设计与评估。在应用过程中,基于Python系统开发出相应的图像重建软件,与手动图像重建结果进行对比。结果：该全身模拟定位扫描方案可在Eclipse v15.5中实现两套CT的重建。在工作效率上,手工重建方法生成全身模拟定位CT平均需要10 min,软件重建方法只需要5 s。两种CT重建方法在图像质量上无差异,重建CT与真实值相比误差小于1 mm。使用重建的全身模拟定位进行TBI计划设计与评估,靶区适形度指数（CI）=0.854,剂量均匀性指数（HI）=0.199。结论：本文介绍的TBI全身模拟定位CT扫描与图像重建的方法可以简单、快速地获得完整的全身模拟定位CT图像,适用于后期的TBI计划设计、优化和评估过程。     

一种高性能静态医用计算机断层成像装置

传统医用螺旋CT利用滑环旋转射线源和探测器采集全角度数据。由于受离心加速度及高压绝缘材料的应力等因素限制,其转速已接近物理极限,且高速旋转会导致机架结构不稳定,带来安全隐患,影响成像质量。为解决以上问题,本研究提出一种静态CT系统,采用高速脉冲切换的分布式射线源,无需任何物理运动即可采集全角度投影数据。该系统设计包括成像、结构和控制三部分。通过扫描20 cm水模、体模Catphan500和人体体模、生物组织验证系统性能和成像稳定性。结果显示,静态CT扫描系统在10 ms内,在体模测试中获取的图像可达到验收标准,其中,空间分辨率的测试结果高于正常指标3倍;在人体组织扫描测试中图像质量的合格率大于98%。该静态CT系统各项图像性能指标良好,可满足临床需求。     

四维CT扫描参数和扫描模式对CT值的影响

目的:研究四维CT的不同扫描参数和模式对图像CT值的影响。方法:在扫描条件一致的情况下,测量电子密度模体中相应的组织替代材料的CT值均值及标准差,分析曝光时间和旋转时间参数对电影扫描和轴向扫描模式的影响,并比较轴向扫描、螺旋扫描和电影扫描3种模式之间的差异。结果:电影扫描模式下,CT值相差较大的有CB2 50%(含有50%碳酸钙的骨)和致密骨两处:旋转时间分别为0.5 s/rot和1.0 s/rot时,CT值差值分别为14.7 HU和23.1 HU,均小于3.0%;轴向扫描模式下,致密骨处CT值相差较大:旋转时间分别为0.5 s/rot和4.0 s/rot时,CT值差值为27.1 HU(2.4%)。相同扫描条件下对同一组织扫描,电影扫描与轴向扫描模式间差别可忽略不计;螺旋扫描与轴向扫描模式,对低密度组织成像CT值差别较大,如呼气态肺和吸气态肺相对密度误差分别为4.3%和2.3%,致密骨的CT值误差较大为46.0 HU,换算成相对电子密度误差为1.6%。结论:旋转时间与曝光时间参数对电影扫描及轴向扫描的影响基本可忽略不计。相同扫描条件下对同一组织扫描,3种扫描模式间差别可忽略不计。     

放疗靶区呼吸运动对CT模拟定位图像重建的几何体积精度的体模实验研究

目的:研究放射治疗病人的不同呼吸运动状态对CT模拟定位扫描的图像重建精度的影响以及对放射治疗计划设计和评估的影响。方法:使用动态体模模拟放疗患者肺部靶区的呼吸运动,测试和计算不同运动周期和幅度下用于治疗计划设计的CT扫描的图像重建几何体积的变化。体模运动单元包含1cm和2cm的两个统一密度的球体和边长3cm的正方体,分别设定在沿CT定位床轴向以±1cm和±2cm的幅度作运动周期为3s,4s,5s,6s和10s的匀速振动。CT扫描条件为螺距1.5,层厚5mm,扫描速度1Slice/s。在CT模拟定位工作站上对扫描的原始数据进行三维图像重建,以自动阈值勾画方式计算模拟靶区体积大小,并与体模的实际几何体积比较确定误差。结果:(1)在体模运动方向有明显的几何体积误差,且可能形成明显的成像间隙。(2)重建的模拟运动靶区体积变化与其物理体积大小和运动状态相关。在选定的CT扫描参数和靶区体积的运动状态下,CT扫描图像重建的体积误差最大达66.7%,在振幅为2cm时相隔2cm的模体图像甚至可能发生部分重迭。(3)靶区图像的几何中心可能发生偏差,从而造成治疗计划设计的射野中心偏差。结论:在呼吸运动幅度和周期分别大于2cm和4s时有必要对定位患者采取呼吸限制方式进行CT模拟定位扫描或根据实际测量结果评估靶区体积误差可能带来的计划误差。     

颌面缺损结构光三维测量与螺旋CT扫描图像的配准

背景:目前尚无一种数字化信息采集技术能完全满足颌面缺损赝复的需要。因此,如能将光学三维测量与CT扫描数据的配准应用于颌面缺损,将为该疾病的诊断、治疗计划和赝复提供足够的软硬组织形态信息。目的:通过结构光三维测量与螺旋CT扫描重建模型的配准,构建一个高象素、复合内部骨结构的三维虚拟颌面缺损模型,并评估配准的精确度。方法:对上海第九人民医院口腔颌面外科收治的1名大面积复杂颌面缺损患者,分别使用自主研发的结构光三维光学测量系统和螺旋CT进行颌面部扫描和信息采集。分别使用Geomagic studio与自主研发的CAD-FacePros软件重建三维模型。使用CAD-FacePros软件,先通过面部解剖标志进行初配定位,再经迭代近邻点算法进行精确配准,将结构光测量获得的面部三维模型与CT重建后的颌面软组织模型进行匹配。使用CAD-FacePros软件计算两个匹配后模型间的最近点间距,获得模型配准误差。结果与结论:通过配准构建了一个高象素、复合内部骨结构的三维虚拟颌面缺损模型。平均配准误差为0.5mm,颌面部大部分区域的配准误差在1.0mm以内,颊部配准误差稍大。提示通过结构光三维测量与螺旋CT扫描重建模型的配准,构建高象素、复合内部骨结构的三维虚拟颌面缺损模型是可行的。     

基于临床CT数字体相关和有限元分析的股骨内部变形场研究

目的 验证基于临床CT的数字体相关(digital volume correlation, DVC)方法在测量股骨内部变形场时的准确性,并通过DVC进一步测量股骨在跌倒情况下的内部变形,验证基于临床CT的有限元分析方法(finite element analysis, FEA)在计算股骨内部变形场的准确性。方法 使用猪股骨,模拟侧向跌倒姿态,进行分步力学加载实验,同步进行多次CT成像。通过重复扫描和虚拟位移验证DVC方法的准确性。DVC以子体积作为配准两组图像的研究对象,分别设置8、12、16和20 mm的子体积进行测试。量化误差指标包括位移系统误差-平均值(mean)、位移随机误差-标准差(standard deviation, SD)、应变准确度-平均绝对误差(mean absolute error, MAER)和应变精确度-标准差误差(standard deviation of the error, SDER)。基于CT图像建立股骨有限元模型,模拟实验条件,计算股骨内部位移,与DVC测量的内部变形场对比验证。结果 基于临床CT的DVC方法重复扫描位移偏差小于0.013 mm, M...     

眼球固定器在眼内肿瘤X-线放射外科治疗中的应用

目的:眼内肿瘤X-线放射外科定位受眼球旋转的影响,常规定位方法误差极大,眼肌缝扎痛苦较大.本文探讨X-线放射外科治疗眼内肿瘤眼球无创固定方法、CT定位方法、精度及扫描方法.材料与方法:应用研制的微真空角膜接触眼球固定器固定眼球进行眼内肿瘤CT定位,并进行验证扫描,研究CT定位的精度及扫描方法.结果:利用微真空角膜接触眼球固定器进行眼内肿瘤CT定位精度为0.81 mm,最大误差为1.18mm.重复扫描筛板在三维方向上误差均小于1mm.利用此方法对14例眼内肿瘤进行CT定位,肿瘤边界显示清晰,固定方法无创,局部反应轻微,效果满意.结论:利用微真空角膜接触眼球固定器进行眼内肿瘤X-线放射外科定位精度高,无创,解决了眼球旋转的问题,效果满意.     

Renal dysplasia and asplenia in two sibs

A family is reported in which two sibs, one male and the other female, both died within 24 hours of birth with enlarged polycystic kidneys. Postmortem histology in the second child showed gross renal dysplasia. In both children the pancreas was enlarged, nodular and cystic but the liver appeared macroscopically normal. In the second child, histological examination confirmed pancreatic fibrosis with cystic dilation of ducts, but showed portal fibrosis with bile duct proliferation in the liver.
This combination of findings is very reminiscent of those in a girl and her brother reported by Ivemark et al. (1959). The children reported here also showed absence or hypoplasia of the spleen, cardiac anomalies and other features of the Ivemark syndrome (Ivemark 1955), a quite different, usually sporadic, congenital disorder. It is suggested that the children described here have a distinct lethal congenital disorder, probably inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.     

Schizophrenia in a North Swedish geographical isolate, 1900–1977. Epidemiology, genetics and biochemistry

Over 200 schizophrenic patients belonging to three major and interrelated pedigree complexes have been investigated over the past 30 years in a North Swedish geographically isolated population, presently numbering about 6,000. An intensive investigation of a number of biochemical correlates and genetic markers in a few selected families belonging to one of the major pedigrees has indicated new strategies for the current research program.
Schizophrenia, as defined operationally, is significantly associated with decreased activities of two enzymes (1) blood platelet monoamine oxidase, (2) plasma dopamine-β-hydroxylase, and (3) with the genetic marker Gc² (group specific antigen). Both enzymes are subject to genetic variation. A positive score for linkage between schizophrenia and low plasma DBH activity has been calculated, but, so far, available data are insufficient for discrimination between linkage and partial contribution of genetically controlled low plasma DBH to the pathogenesis of the disease. Alternatively, both mechanisms could be involved.
As a model for continued research, schizophrenia is explained as based on a double dominant-recessive genotype (Aabb), representing a vulnerability which in about 50 % of cases develops into clinical schizophrenia. It is suggested that the dominant mutation (A) operates on or affects MAO activity, and that the recessive genotype (bb) is instrumental in low variates of DBH activity and very likely such variates within the normal range of physiological variation. Moreover, it is suggested that the combined effects of MAO- and DBH-reduced efficiency on the metabolism of e.g. dopamine could be an essential pathogenic mechanism for the schizophrenic illness which is segregating in this population.     

The dominant diseases of modernized societies as omega-3 essential fatty acid deficiency syndrome: Substrate beriberi

About 1900, modern food selection and processing caused widespread $\text{epidemics}$ of the B vitamin deficiency diseases of beriberi and pellagra which, for genetic reasons, often expressed as different diseases ranging from bowel and heart disease to dermatoses and psychoses. But the B vitamins merely help convert essential fatty acids (EFA) into the prostaglandin (PG) tissue regulators and it now turns out that, through hydrogenation, milling and selection of w3-poor southern foods, we have also been systematically depleting, by as much as 90%, a newly discovered trace Nordic EFA (w3) of special importance to primates and sole precursor of the PG3(4) series, even as a concurrent fiber deficiency increases body demand for EFA. Since substrate EFA is processed by many B vitamin catalysts, an EFA deficiency will mimic a $\text{panh}$ypovitaminosis B, i.e., a mixture of $\text{substrate}$ beriberi and $\text{substrate}$ pellagra resembling vitamin beriberi and pellagra but exhibiting as even more diverse $\text{endemic}$ disease. This would consitute a second stage of the Modern Malnutrition and explain why some workers now hold the dominant diseases of modermized societies to be new, nutritionally based, pellagraform yet lipid-related and to range, once again, from heart disease to psychosis. It is an assumption that our dominant diseases are unrelated to each other or are merely revealed by our diagnostic acumen and therapeutic success; and that hydrogenating millions of tons of food oils annually, to destroy the rancidity producing w3-EFA, is safe for $\text{primates}$. Extensive beriberiform disease is reported here in 32 typical cases taken from medical practice which responds strikingly to linseed oil supplements (60% w3-EFA) in confirmation of identical results in Capuchins.     

What will studies of Fulani individuals naturally exposed to malaria teach us about protective immunity to malaria?

There are an estimated over 200 million yearly cases of malaria worldwide. Despite concerted international effort to combat the disease, it still causes approximately half a million deaths every year, the majority of which are young children with Plasmodium falciparum infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Successes are largely attributed to malaria prevention strategies, such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor spraying, as well as improved access to existing treatments. One important hurdle to new approaches for the treatment and prevention of malaria is our limited understanding of the biology of Plasmodium infection and its complex interaction with the immune system of its human host. Therefore, the elimination of malaria in Africa not only relies on existing tools to reduce malaria burden, but also requires fundamental research to develop innovative approaches. Here, we summarize our discoveries from investigations of ethnic groups of West Africa who have different susceptibility to malaria.     

'Very sore nights and days': the child's experience of illness in early modern England, c.1580-1720

Sick children were ubiquitous in early modern England, and yet they have received very little attention from historians. Taking the elusive perspective of the child, this article explores the physical, emotional, and spiritual experience of illness in England between approximately 1580 and 1720. What was it like being ill and suffering pain? How did the young respond emotionally to the anticipation of death? It is argued that children’s experiences were characterised by profound ambivalence: illness could be terrifying and distressing, but also a source of emotional and spiritual fulfilment and joy. This interpretation challenges the common assumption amongst medical historians that the experiences of early modern patients were utterly miserable. It also sheds light on children’s emotional feelings for their parents, a subject often overlooked in the historiography of childhood. The primary sources used in this article include diaries, autobiographies, letters, the biographies of pious children, printed possession cases, doctors’ casebooks, and theological treatises concerning the afterlife.     

Guidelines for the Validation and Use of Immunoassays for Determination of Introduced Proteins in Biotechnology Enhanced Crops and Derived Food Ingredients

Recent advancements in agricultural biotechnology have created a need for analytical techniques to determine introduced proteins in crops enhanced through modern biotechnology techniques. These proteins are expressed in plant tissues and may be present in food ingredients. Immunoassays are ideally suited for protein detection and may be used as both quantitative and threshold methods. Microplate ELISA and lateral flow devices are two of the most commonly used immunoassay formats for agricultural biotechnology applications. This paper provides general background information and a discussion of criteria for the validation and application of immunochemical methods to the analysis of proteins introduced into plants and food ingredients using biotechnology methods. It is the result of a collaborative effort of members of the Analytical Environmental Immunochemical Consortium. This collaborative effort represents the combined expertise of several organizations to reach consensus on establishing guidelines for the validation and use of immunoassays. Further, the paper offers developers and users a consistent approach to adopting the technology as well as aid in producing accurate and meaningful results.     

Ultracryotomy: development and application (with examples from the yeast cytology) (author's transl)

The preparation steps usually necessary for obtaining ultrathin frozen sections of biological material (chemical prefixation, enclosing, cryoprotective treatment, freezing, sectioning, and post-staining the sections for transmission electron microscopy) are submitted to a critical analysis. The application of cryo-ultramicrotomy, in particularly for cytochemical purposes, is reviewed. Fundamental considerations of chemical prefixation and poststaining are supported by examples from yeast cytology. Furthermore, the efficiency of the cryo-ultramicrotomy (electron optical resolution of ultrastructural details) is demonstrated on yeast cells and protoplasts.     

HLA in North Colombia Chimila Amerindians

HLA-A,-B,-C,-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles have been studied in Chimila Amerindians from Sabana de San Angel (North Colombian Coast) by using high resolution molecular typing. A frequent extended haplotype was found:HLA-A*24:02-B*51:10-C*15:02-BRB1*04:07-DQB1*03:02 (28.7%) which has also been described in Amerinndian Mayos Mexican population (Mexico, California Gulf, Pacific Ocean). Other haplotypes had already been found in Amerindians from Mexico (Pacific and Atlantic Coast), Peru (highlands and Amazon Basin), Bolivia and North USA. A geographic pattern according to HLA allele or haplotype frequencies is lacking in Amerindians, as already known. Also, five new extended haplotypes were found in Chimila Amerindians. Their HLA-A*24:02 high frequencies characteristic is shared with aboriginal populations of Taiwan; also, HLA-C*01:02 high frequencies are found in New Zealand Maoris, New Caledonians and Kimberly Aborigines from Australia. Finally, this study may show a model of evolutionary factors acting and rising one HLA allele frequency (-A*24:02), but not in others that belong to the same or different HLA loci.     

The case for allele‐specific recognition by the TCR

There is a sharp difference in how one views TCR structure–function–behaviour dependent on whether its recognition of major histocompatibility complex‐encoded restriction elements (R) is germline selected or somatically generated. The generally accepted or Standard model is built on the assumption that recognition of R is by the V regions of the αβ TCR, which is not driven by allele specificity, whereas the competing model posits that recognition of R is allele‐specific. The establishing of allele‐specific recognition of R by the TCR would rule out the Standard model and clear the road to a consideration of a competing construct, the Tritope model. Here, the case for allele‐specific recognition (germline selected) is detailed making it obvious that the Standard model is untenable.