ACR-NEMA digital imaging and communications standards: minimum requirements

The purposes, implications, and history of development of the American College of Radiology-National Electrical Manufacturers Association (ACR-NEMA) Digital Imaging and Communication Standard and its contents are briefly described, and the minimum requirements of the ACR-NEMA Digital Imaging and Communication Standard are described with a concise introduction of each layer. The usefulness, validity, current status, and future development of the standard are also discussed.     

Thin layer chromatography and counter-current analysis in porphyrias

The porphyrin metabolism of 100 patients with porphyria and 351 of their relatives has been studied. Thin layer chromatography of methyl esters of the urinary porphyrin was undertaken in sixty-six patients with different types of porphyria, and forty-five relatives, seventeen patients with hepatic cirrhosis, three patients with lead poisoning and twenty normal control subjects. This investigation was also made on the stools of thirty-six patients with porphyria, and then of their relatives. Countercurrent analysis of the bile of nine selected patients with porphyria was also undertaken. The results provide some evidence that symptomatic hepatic porphyria may be familial. Thin layer chromatography was decisive in the characterization of a new type of porphyria described recently by the authors (hepato-erythrocytic porphyria). The counter-current examination of the bile showed the absence of the 'S 411' porphyrin in all the nine cases investigated.     

In vivo development of dendritic orientation in wild-type and mislocalized retinal ganglion cells

Background

The mammalian amygdala is composed of two primary functional subdivisions, classified according to whether the major output projection of each nucleus is excitatory or inhibitory. The posterior dorsal and ventral subdivisions of the medial amygdala, which primarily contain inhibitory output neurons, modulate specific aspects of innate socio-sexual and aggressive behaviors. However, the development of the neuronal diversity of this complex and important structure remains to be fully elucidated.

Results

Using a combination of genetic fate-mapping and loss-of-function analyses, we examined the contribution and function of Sonic hedgehog (Shh)-expressing and Shh-responsive (Nkx2-1 ⁺ and Gli1 ⁺) neurons in the medial amygdala. Specifically, we found that Shh- and Nkx2-1-lineage cells contribute differentially to the dorsal and ventral subdivisions of the postnatal medial amygdala. These Shh- and Nkx2-1-lineage neurons express overlapping and non-overlapping inhibitory neuronal markers, such as Calbindin, FoxP2, nNOS and Somatostatin, revealing diverse fate contributions in discrete medial amygdala nuclear subdivisions. Electrophysiological analysis of the Shh-derived neurons additionally reveals an important functional diversity within this lineage in the medial amygdala. Moreover, inducible Gli1 ^CreER(T2) temporal fate mapping shows that early-generated progenitors that respond to Shh signaling also contribute to medial amygdala neuronal diversity. Lastly, analysis of Nkx2-1 mutant mice demonstrates a genetic requirement for Nkx2-1 in inhibitory neuronal specification in the medial amygdala distinct from the requirement for Nkx2-1 in cerebral cortical development.

Conclusions

Taken together, these data reveal a differential contribution of Shh-expressing and Shh-responding cells to medial amygdala neuronal diversity as well as the function of Nkx2-1 in the development of this important limbic system structure.