Radiology information systems,picture archiving and communication systems,teleradiology— Overview and design criteria

Information technology (IT), long taken for granted in commercial settings, is now being utilized for healthcare applications. Medical imaging has lagged comparatively due to the extremely vast data content of each frame; thus, the requirement for expensive high-end components. Further, IT in radiology has evolved from two distinctly separate camps—information systems, known as RIS (radiology information systems) and PACS (picture archiving and communications systems). Both RIS and PACS applications have migrated to the PC environment, enabling cost-effective implementation, but from two backgrounds: RIS from vendors using conventional information systems platforms and products, and PACS from radiographic film and modality vendors. The radiology department at Texas Tech University has assembled a seamlessly integrated, enterprise-wide RIS/PACS/teleradiology intranet. The design criteria include user-friendliness, flexibility to respond to changing needs, and open modular architecture to assure interoperability, cost-effectiveness, and future-proofing of investment. Since no single venor could provide an integrated system meeting our specifications, we decided to assume the burden of constructing our own system. As the system integrator, we embrace open architecture, thus enabling the incorporation of industry-standard-compliant, COTS (commercially off the shelf) products as modules. Microsoft Windows NT operating system, Visual C++ programming language, TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/internetworking protocol), relational SQL (structured query language) database, ODBC (open database connectivity), HL-7 (health level seven) and DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine) interfaces are utilized. The usage of COTS components reduces the cost to very affordable levels. With this approach, any module in our system can be replaced when outmoded, without affecting other modules in our system, making it truly future-proof. Construction and evolution of our system (TECHRAD) is reviewed.     

猕猴输精管内注射高分子聚合物HFMC后对睾丸组织结构的影响

本实验选用具有生育力成年雄性猕猴７只，在直视下行双侧ＨＦＭＣ输精管内注射，每侧剂量分别为３０ｍｇ１只，６０ｍｇ和１００ｍｇ各３只；于注射后２．５年和３．５年分别处死动物，取睾丸组织进行光镜和电镜观察．结果发现：猕猴注射ＨＦＭＣ２．５年后，睾丸光镜大部分曲细精管生精上皮结构完整，排列整齐。仅见局部少数管腔生精上皮层数减少，上皮细胞轻度水样变性等病理改变。电镜下曲细精管内除支持细胞内脂褐素增多，轻度基底膜增厚和精母细胞内质网扩张外，各级生精细胞，支持细胞及细胞间连接复合体等超微结构未见明显异常。注射ＨＦＭＣ３．５年后猕猴的光镜、电镜结果与注射后２．５年结果相似，但局部改变较２．５年组轻。上述结果表明：猕猴输精管内注射一定剂量ＨＦＭＣ节育不会引起睾丸组织的严重病理改变。但是，由于注射ＨＦＭＣ后，ＨＦＭＣ释放Ｈ＋及其对输精管的暂时阻塞，改变了精子生存的内环境，使睾丸出现局部轻度病理改变，随着ＨＦＭＣ逐渐溶解排出，睾丸功能相继恢复正常，配对产仔。为ＨＦＭＣ应用提供了安全性依据。     

老年学习记忆减退大鼠齿状回突触的定量研究

据老年大鼠在Ｍｏｒｒｉｓ水迷宫中的行为表现，将其分为老年学习记忆减退和学习记忆正常两部分，采用透射电镜观察、拍片，对齿状回中分子层触的数量和大小进行体视学定量分析。     

Osteogenic Cells Derived From Embryonic Stem Cells Produced Bone Nodules in Three-Dimensional Scaffolds

An approach for 3D bone tissue generation fromembryonic stem (ES) cells was investigated. The ES cells wereinduced to differentiate into osteogenic precursors, capable ofproliferating and subsequently differentiating into bone-formingcells. The differentiated cells and the seeded scaffolds werecharacterized using von Kossa and Alizarin Red staining, electronmicroscopy, and RT-PCR analysis. The results demonstrated thatES-derived bone-forming cells attached to and colonized thebiocompatible and biodegradable scaffolds. Furthermore, thesecells produced bone nodules when grown for 3–4 weeks inmineralization medium containing ascorbic acid andbeta-glycerophosphate both in tissue culture plates and inscaffolds. The differentiated cells also expressed osteospecificmarkers when grown both in the culture plates and in 3Dscaffolds. Osteogenic cells expressed alkaline phosphatase,osteocalcin, and osteopontin, but not an ES cell-specific marker,oct-4. These findings suggest that ES cell can be usedfor in vitro tissue engineering and cultivation of graftable skeletal structures.     

Modification of collagen matrices for enhancing angiogenesis

The vascularization of engineered tissues in many cases does not keep up with the ingrowth of cells. Nutrient and oxygen supply are not sufficient, which ultimately leads to the death of the invading cells. The enhancement of the angiogenic capabilities of engineered tissues therefore represents a major challenge in the field of tissue engineering. The immobilization of angiogenic growth factors may be useful for enhancing angiogenesis. The most potent angiogenic growth factor specific to endothelial cells, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), occurs in several splice variants. The variant with 165 amino acids both has a high angiogenic activity and a high affinity for heparin. We therefore incorporated heparin molecules into collagen matrices by covalently cross-linking them to amino functions on the collagen. Physical binding of VEGF to the heparin may then prevent a rapid clearance from the implant, while the release rate may become coupled to the degradation of the collagen matrix. The modified matrices were characterized by determination of the extent of the heparin immobilization, the in vitro degradation rate by collagenase. For testing the angiogenic properties, non-modified and heparinized collagen specimens were--either loaded with VEGF or non-loaded--subcutaneously implanted on the back of rats. Specimens were explanted after varying periods of implantation, the dry weights and the hemoglobin contents, as well as immunostained histological sections were evaluated: heparinized collagen matrices loaded with VEGF are vascularized to a substantially higher extent as compared to non-modified matrices.     

^60Coγ射线全身照射后大鼠空肠亮脑啡肽的变化

应用免疫细胞化学(ICC)和放射免疫分析(RIA)方法观察了大鼠4、25Gy~(60)Coγ射线照射后24,48和,72h空肠亮脑啡肽(L-ENK)样免疫反应性神经的分布和L-ENK含量的变化。结果:4Gy照射后24h以及25Gy照射后24,48和72h光镜下见空肠L-ENK样免疫反应性神经的分布密度稍有增加,4Gy照射后24h以及25Gy照射后24,48和72h空肠L-ENK含量分别为29.81±0.84pg/mg,34.96±4.38pg/mg,40.71±3.62pg/mg和38.93±2.31pg/mg,与正常对照组(18.26±1.95pg/mg)相比明显升高(P<9.01)。     

Association between thyroid cancer of cribriform variant and familial adenomatous polyposis.

A case of a 20 year old Japanese woman who developed thyroid cancer exhibiting unusual cribriform structures while being followed up for familial adenomatous polyposis/Gardner's syndrome is reported. The patient presented with osteomas, pigmented retinal lesions, and adenomas of the duodenum and the papilla of Vater, in addition to numerous adenomatous polyps in the colorectum. On ultrasonography, the thyroid cancer was localised to the right lobe and was identified as an irregular, internal echo tumour with a peripheral hypoechoic zone, measuring 1.8 cm in diameter. Histological examination of the resected tumour showed a concomitance of papillary proliferation and cribriform structures with follicles of varying sizes. These features can be distinguished from sporadic thyroid cancer.     

脂质、血红蛋白、胆红素标本对乙肝病毒DNA荧光定量测定的影响

目的:探讨脂血、高胆红素和溶血标本对乙肝病毒DNA(HBVDNA)荧光定量测定结果的影响。方法:将乙肝大三阳高脂血和非脂血、溶血血清和未溶血血清同时作HBVDNA荧光定量检测;将HBVDNA阴性黄疸血清和HBVDNA阴性正常血清与来自同一份乙肝大三阳血清混合,在相同条件下进行HBVDNA荧光定量。结果:乙肝大三阳溶血与未溶血样本HBVDNA含量都在同一数量级。乙肝大三阳高脂血的HBVDNA含量明显低于对照标本。高黄疸血清、正常对照血清与相同的HBVDNA阳性模板组合后所测得的HBVDNA结果无差异。结论:脂血对HBVD-NA定量测定有严重干扰;溶血样本、高胆红素样本对HBVDNA测定结果无影响。     

Prosthetic hip joint infection due to Campylobacter fetus.

A case of postoperative prosthetic hip joint infection due to Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus is described. Difficulties in isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of this organism are discussed.     

Significant HLA-A02 allelic variation revealed in chinese and caucasian populations

HLA-A2 subtypes (A^*0201 - ^*0212) were determined by oligotyping in HLA-A2 positive samples from four populations (Han Chinese, Dai Chinese, Caucasoids from Germany and Turkish individuals from Kayseri)(see table).

Two different findings can be concluded from this study: 1) Significant HLA-A^*02 allelic variations found in four populations. A^*0207 is the predominant A^*02 allele in the Dai population and absent in the German Caucasian and the Turkish population. In contrast, A^*0201 is the most prevalent allele in the Caucasian, Turkish and Han Chinese group. We also found a high proportion of A^*0206 and A^*0207 in Han Chinese. 2) A strong association has been found between A^*0207 and HLA-B46 and DR9 in the Dai minority population. This haplotype is also found in Han Chinese. Three DNA samples from Turkish and one from the Dai population are presently being sequenced because the reaction pattern was out of the expected (Supported by SFB 217)