Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) compatible data compression of mammograms

We have developed a Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) compatible image compression scheme tailored to the compression of digitized mammographic images. This includes a preprocessing step that segments the tissue area from the background, replaces the background pixels with a constant value, and applies a noise-removal filter to the tissue area. The process was tested by performing a just-noticeable difference (JND) study to determine the relationship between compression ratio and a reader's ability to discriminate between compressed and noncompressed versions of digitized mammograms. We found that at compression ratios of 15∶1 and below, image-processing experts are unable to detect a difference, whereas at ratios of 60∶1 and above they can identify the compressed image nearly 100% of the time. The performance of less specialized viewers was significantly lower because these viewers seemed to have difficulty in differentiating between artifact and real information at the lower and middle compression ratios. This preliminary study suggests that digitized mammograms are very amenable to compression by techniques compatible with the JPEG standard. However, this study was not designed to address the efficacy of image compression process for mammography, but is a necessary first step in optimizing the compression in anticipation of more elaborate reader performance (ROC) studies.     

Visceral leishmaniasis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: Report of two cases

Core biopsies of the bone marrow are indispensable in the evaluation of fever of unknown etiology in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients. We report two patients in whom visceral leishmaniasis was diagnosed based on the typical morphology, staining characteristics, and ultrastructure of the organisms.     

The role of the complement system in innate immunity

Complement is a major component of innate immune system involved in defending against all the foreign pathogens through complement fragments that participate in opsonization, chemotaxis, and activation of leukocytes and through cytolysis by C5b-9 membrane attack complex. Bacterias and viruses have adapted in various ways to escape the complement activation, and they take advantage of the complement system by using the host complement receptors to infect various cells. Complement activation also participates in clearance of apoptotic cells and immune, complexes. Moreover at sublytic dose, C5b-9 was shown to promote cell survival. Recently it was also recognized that complement plays a key role in adaptive immunity by modulating and modifying the T cell responses. All these data suggest that complement activation constitutes a critical link between the innate and acquired immune responses.     

Somatic von hippel-lindau mutation in clear cell papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis

Papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis is an uncommon benign lesion that may occur sporadically or as a manifestation of von Hippel—Lindau (VHL) disease. Neither immunohistochemical studies nor molecular genetic analyses of the VHL gene have been reported previously for this lesion. The authors describe two cases of clear cell papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis, both of which were initially confused with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Both lesions showed positive immunohistochemical staining for low and intermediate molecular weight keratins (Cam 5.2 and AE1/AE3), EMA, vimentin, α₁-antitrypsin, and α₁-antichymotrypsin. Each was negative for CEA. Because clear cell papillary cystadenoma is similar to renal cell carcinoma histologically, and because both occur as components of the von Hippel—Lindau disease complex, the authors analyzed both cases for the presence of mutations in the VHL gene. A somatic VHL gene mutation was detected in one of the two tumors by polymerase chain reaction followed by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis. Direct sequencing revealed a cytosine to thymine transition at nucleotide 694, resulting in the replacement of an arginine with a stop codon after the sixth amino acid of exon 3. As the VHL gene is believed to function as a tumor suppressor gene, VHL gene mutations may play a role in the initiation of tumorigenesis in sporadic cystadenomas of the epididymis.     

Expression of retinoblastoma protein in human growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas

The retinoblastoma gene (RB1) is a tumor-suppressor gene in chromosomal region 13q14.2. Its role in the pathogenesis of pituitary tumors has not been fully clarified. Some studies have shown that losses in this chromosomal region are related to aggressive tumor behavior, although the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) is still expressed. Conversely, lack of expression of pRB was observed in one fourth of GH-secreting pituitary adenomas (GH-tumors). In order to further study the expression of pRB in GH-tumors, we evaluated this protein in 49 tumors from patients with acromegaly (20 noninvasive, 25 invasive, and 4 with no information) and 8 normal pituitaries using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Nuclear staining for pRB ranged from 0 to 90% (median 40%) in the tumors and from 40 to 80% (median 58%) in normal pituitaries. In 10 tumors (20% of total) the adenomatous cells were negative (5 cases) or had very low labeling (5 cases) for pRB. Sixty three percent (31/49) of the tumors showed staining in 10–80% of the cells and in 16% (8/49) of the cases >80% of the adenomatous cells were positive for pRB. The expression of pRB was not different in invasive and noninvasive tumors. In conclusion, pRB is underexpressed in a subgroup of GH-tumors, and this may represent an early event in the pathogenesis of this tumor subtype.     

Retinoblastoma and p53 gene product expression in breast carcinoma: Immunohistochemical analysis and clinicopathologic correlation

We examined 100 breast cancers for retinoblastoma (Rb) and p53 protein expression by immunohistochemistry using the PMG3.245 and PAb 1801 antibodies. We assessed percentages of reactive cells and their intensity, as well as staining patterns. The results were correlated with neu protein reactivity and a panel of variables, including age, tumor size and type, nuclear grade, estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor content, and lymph node status. Retinoblastoma protein negativity, either partial or complete, was noted in 47% of cases. Surprisingly, a relatively stronger Rb reaction was seen in some high nuclear grade tumors. p53 positivity was found in 23% of cases and was a significant predictor of Rb loss. p53 also was correlated with poorly differentiated (nuclear grade III) neoplasms and neu expression but not with negative ER status. Tissue distribution profiles for Rb-negative and p53-positive cells were variable in this series, with both uniform and heterogeneous patterns observed. This suggests that Rb and p53 alterations may represent early or late events in transformation. Our findings further implicate Rb and p53 derangements in mammary oncogenesis.     

Psychological reactions in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

We report the interaction of RA and psychological factors over 2 years in a group of 89 patients with newly established disease. Short-time outcome regarding physical features was fairly good. Disease activity decreased, and disability evaluated by HAQ remained at a low level. Psychological distress as measured by the depression and anxiety subscales of SCL 90 (Symptom Check List) was not very pronounced and not related to disease state factors. A slight decrease of anxiety was recorded after 2 years. A new adjustment test was applied. It contained 13 items focused mainly on negative illness effects such as loss of independence, feelings of guilt, and change of social and leisure time activities. Three factors (regret of lost life values, dysphoric mood, and acceptance) explained 48% of the variance of the 13 items. The validity of the test was acceptable. The patients' degree of adjustment changed slowly or not at all during the 2 years.     

Effect of short physical exercise on the levels of zinc and carbonic anhydrase isoenzyme activities in human erythrocytes

Summary Studies of the influences of physical exercise of short duration (bicycle ergometer, 200 W for 30 min) on the activities of carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes (CA-B and CA-C types) and zinc concentration in erythrocytes were made on 5 untrained healthy male volunteers. The subjects were rested for 30 min after the exercise. There were significant decreases in the levels of zinc, CA-B, total carbonic anhydrase activity and CA-B-dependent activity immediately after exercise, but after 30 min of rest they all returned to their pre-exercise levels. No significant change in CA-C level or CA-C-dependent activity was found after exercise. Immediately after exercise, total carbonic anhydrase activity and CA-B-dependent activity following the addition of Zn²⁺ showed significant increases, compared with their respective activities without Zn²⁺ addition. However, no such effects were observed just before exercise or after rest; the addition of Zn²⁺ had no effect on CA-C-dependent activity at any time. A significant correlation was found between the changes in concentration of zinc and CA-B-dependent activity after exercise (r=0.711). The findings of the present study suggest that active CA-B enzymes are converted in part to inactive enzymes during acute physical exercise, possibly by decreased zinc binding. Moreover, the change in CA-B-dependent activity correlated well with the changes in pH and HCO₃ concentrations in venous blood (r=0.853 and r=0.718, respectively). One may speculate that an adaptive decrease in CA-B-dependent activity in erythrocytes occurs with increased acidification in blood during heavy physical exercise of short duration.The present study was presented to the Fifth International Symposium on the Biochemistry of Exercise, Boston, June 1–5, 1982     

The rheumatic patient''s early needs and expectations

During the last few years, studies have revealed that the need for psychosocial support and concrete social services are great in the early stages of the treatment of rheumatic diseases. The ability to keep a job, to do household chores, to participate in leisure activities and to maintain social relations is clearly impaired. Anxiety and depression are not unusual and often associated with weak support from relatives, loneliness and disturbed family relations. Nevertheless, the patients report resilience and determination to cope with the impacts of illness. Crisis intervention, vocational guidance and counselling about problems concerning the disease should be available and offered to the patients. As the patients seem to be unaccustomed to talking about their psychosocial problems, an empathetic and information-seeking attitude on the part of the health care staff is essential.