Image data compression using a new floating-point digital signal processor

A new dual-ported, floating-point, digital signal processor has been evaluated for compressing 512 and 1,024 digital radiographic images using a full-frame, two-dimensional, discrete cosine transform (2D-DCT). The floating point digital signal processor operates at 49.5 million floating point instructions per second (MFLOPS). The level of compression can be changed by varying four parameters in the lossy compression algorithm. Throughput times were measured for both 2D-DCT compression and decompression. For a 1,024 x 1,024 x 10-bit image with a compression ratio of 316:1, the throughput was 75.73 seconds (compression plus decompression throughput). For a digital fluorography 1,024 x 1,024 x 8-bit image and a compression ratio of 26:1, the total throughput time was 63.23 seconds. For a computed tomography image of 512 x 512 x 12 bits and a compression ratio of 10:1 the throughput time was 19.65 seconds.     

Vertebral bone density in children: effect of puberty

To determine changes in bone density during growth, trabecular vertebral density and an index of spinal cortical bone were measured with quantitative computed tomography in 101 children. The children were divided by age into three groups: prepubertal, indeterminate, and pubertal. Compared with prepubertal children, pubertal adolescents had significantly higher trabecular bone density and more compact bone in the spine (P less than .001). After controlling for puberty, vertebral bone density failed to correlate significantly with age, sex, weight, height, surface area, and body mass index. The results indicate that bone density increases markedly during puberty.     

Platelet-derived growth factor promotes human peripheral monocyte activation

Like in the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN), the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) purified to homogeneity is capable of inducing monocyte activation responses as evaluated by generation of superoxide anion (O-.2) from membrane-associated oxidase system, release of granule enzymes, and enhanced cell adherence and cell aggregation. Superoxide anion release was maximized at 10 ng/mL PDGF and was comparable to that induced by 10(-7) mol/L formyl-methionyl-leucyl- phenylalanine. The potency of PDGF to induce this response in monocytes was of the same magnitude as that observed in PMNs. Similarly, lysozyme release and monocyte adherence were also increased in a dose-dependent manner and achieved maximal responses at 40 ng/mL concentration of PDGF. The PDGF concentration required to achieve maximal monocyte aggregation was two-fold (60 ng/mL) of that found for PMNs. In contrast to PMNs, a positive correlation (gamma = .93; P less than .01) was observed between the increases of PDGF concentration and beta- glucuronidase release. These findings indicate that PDGF can induce the full sequence of cell activation events in human monocytes similar to human PMNs.     

Assessment of the frequency and costs of posttransplantation hospitalizations in patients receiving tacrolimus versus cyclosporine

We assessed the frequency and costs of hospitalizations in patients receiving tacrolimus (FK506) compared with patients receiving cyclosporine A for immunosuppression during 1 year after kidney transplantation. Four hundred twelve cadaveric kidney transplant recipients were randomized onto a phase III, prospective, multicenter, clinical trial. Hospital billing data were collected for 1 year posttransplantation. Total inpatient costs were calculated from billed charges and standardized to 1995 US dollars. Medical resource utilization rates and inpatient costs were compared between treatment groups using unpaired Student's t-tests. Complete billing data (transplantation and all posttransplantation hospitalizations) were available for 65% (268 of 412) of the study patients. Among tacrolimus and cyclosporine patients with complete billing data, the rates of allograft rejection were 32% and 47%, respectively (P=0.009), and the rates of rehospitalization during the year after transplantation were 53% and 63%, respectively (P=0.080). The mean per-episode rehospitalization costs were significantly lower among tacrolimus-treated patients compared with cyclosporine-treated patients ($7,495 v $11,497; P=0.031), and the mean total rehospitalization costs were significantly lower in the tacrolimus group compared with the cyclosporine group ($8,550 v $14,869; P=0.029). In addition, the total 1-year hospitalization costs (including transplantation and posttransplantation hospitalizations) were significantly lower in the tacrolimus group compared with the cyclosporine group ($53,435 v $61,191; P=0.046). Compared with cyclosporine-based immunosuppression, tacrolimus-based immunosuppression for kidney transplant recipients was associated with a significantly lower rate of rejection, which was associated with significantly lower per-episode rehospitalization costs, lower total 1-year rehospitalization costs, and lower total 1-year hospitalization costs.     

纳米羟基磷灰石／壳聚糖复合人工骨的成骨及再血管化

目的:通过纳米羟基磷灰石/壳聚糖(N-HA/CS)复合骨形态发生蛋白(BMP)制备N-HA/CS-BMP复合人工骨,初步了解其植入后成骨与血管长入之间的关系,以及复合人工骨的孔径对再血管化的影响。方法:①材料的制备:采用共沉淀法、粒子沥滤法制备N-HA/CS多孔复合材料,孔隙率为85%,孔径为100￣500μm;通过N-HA/CS与氧化锌粉末按质量比为8∶1的方式混合制备成致密复合材料;然后分别复合BMP制备N-HA/CS-BMP复合人工骨。②实验过程:20只新西兰兔,在兔双后肢胫骨近段内侧用直径为3.5mm手摇钻头钻2个孔制备骨缺损模型。随机取15只兔,右侧植入2块多孔N-HA/CS-BMP复合人工骨为多孔N-HA/CS BMP组,左侧植入2块致密N-HA/CS-BMP复合人工骨为致密N-HA/CS BMP组;另5只兔右侧植入2块多孔N-HA/CS为多孔N-HA/CS组,左侧植入2块致密N-HA/CS为致密N-HA/CS组。③观察指标:术后4,6,8周麻醉后墨汁灌注处死动物取出标本,行大体观察、X射线检查、组织学观察、Ⅰ型胶原免疫组化染色、显微计算机图像采集分析,了解各组成骨能力、血管化程度、复合人工骨的成骨与血管化之间的相互关系。结果:①一般情况:术后死亡2只动物,2只一侧肢体发生骨折,伤口均于2周左右愈合,未发生感染。②X射线检查:术后4,6周显示植入孔明显,材料与骨之间有密度减低的透光环,8周材料与骨结合紧密,透光环消失。③组织学观察:术后4,6周的材料内的炎性反应较重,主要是白细胞和巨噬细胞,8周的材料内炎性反应减轻;8周壳聚糖大部分降解,从而显现出羟基磷灰石的多孔结构。④显微计算机图像分析:多孔N-HA/CS BMP组血管密度和新生骨小梁面积大于其他3组(P<0.05),多孔N-HA/CS BMP组血管密度与骨小梁面积呈直线正相关关系(r=0.483,P=0.003)。⑤Ⅰ型胶原免疫组织化学染色显示结果支持显微计算机图像分析结果。结论:复合人工骨的成骨与血管化呈直线正相关关系,复合人工骨的成骨与血管化在早期是随着材料降解而完成的,多孔结构在晚期对血管化和成骨有利。     

临床试验中应用安慰剂的伦理学争议评价

在有效治疗存在的情况下，对于是否可以在临床试验中应用安慰剂对照组，存在很大争议。当第5版“赫尔辛基宣言”(2000)出台后，此争议更趋激烈。本就此争议进行了回顾，并且调查了香港医学研究人员在此争议中的态度。有关争议的内容主要包括四个方面。第一，从试验方法角度而论，应用安慰剂对照的设计是否在确定疗效方面具有优越性?第二，治疗的真实疗效是否应该包括安慰剂效应?第三，安慰剂对照组的参与是否面对发生更大不良反应事件的机会?第四，有效治疗的标准究竟应该是地区性的，还是国际性的?从初步研究的数据来看，香港研究人员对于在临床试验中有效治疗存在的情况下，是否可以应用安慰剂对照组似乎也存在意见分歧。因此，为减少此争议给香港医学研究人员带来的困惑，有必要进行一定的培训以达成共识。