Quantitative examination of isolated finger flexion associated with function of the flexor digitorum superficialis

[Purpose] Isolated finger flexion associated with function of the flexor digitorum superficialis has been qualitatively assessed using standard and modified tests. The purpose of this study was to quantify isolated finger flexion in healthy participants. [Participants and Methods] We assessed 100 volunteers (mean age: 44.6 years) without upper limb dysfunction using the standard and modified flexor digitorum superficialis tests. The sum of the isolated active flexion angles of the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints of the test finger was also calculated, with the other three fingers held in an extended position with our original jig. [Results] The mean isolated flexion angles were, respectively, 152.4° and 154.8° for the right and left index fingers, 161.1° and 160.4° for the middle fingers, 160.6° and 158.2° for the ring fingers, 129.4° and 134.6° for the independent flexor digitorum superficialis function, 85.8° and 74.7° for the common flexor digitorum superficialis function, and 75.8° and 71.2° for absent flexor digitorum superficialis function in the small finger. The functional variations of the flexor digitorum superficialis of the small fingers showed symmetry in 65.0% of the fingers but asymmetry in 35.0%. [Conclusion] The data obtained in this study provide normal reference values for the examination of independent movement disorders of the fingers.Key words: Quantitative examination, Isolated finger flexion, Flexor digitorum superficialis     

Diffuse optical tomography using multi-directional sources and detectors

Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is an advanced imaging method used to visualize the internal state of biological tissues as 3D images. However, current continuous-wave DOT requires high-density probe arrays for measurement (less than 15-mm interval) to gather enough information for 3D image reconstruction, which makes the experiment time-consuming. In this paper, we propose a novel DOT measurement system using multi-directional light sources and multi-directional photodetectors instead of high-density probe arrays. We evaluated this system’s multi-directional DOT through computer simulation and a phantom experiment. From the results, we achieved DOT with less than 5-mm localization error up to a 15-mm depth with low-density probe arrays (30-mm interval), indicating that the multi-directional measurement approach allows DOT without requiring high-density measurement.OCIS codes: (100.3010) Image reconstruction techniques, (110.0113) Imaging through turbid media, (170.3880) Medical and biological imaging     

Effects of endothelin-3 on renal functions.

The effects of L-NGnitroarginine (LNNA), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, and ibuprofen, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, on the renal actions induced by endothelin (ET)-3 were studied in anesthetized dogs. Continuous infusion of ET-3 in a dose of 5 ng/kg/min for 25 min increased both renal blood flow (RBF) and urine flow rate. In dogs given LNNA (75 micrograms/kg/min for 25 min), the RBF decreased after intrarenal administration of ET-3 (5 ng/kg/min). Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was unchanged throughout the infusion of ET-3, in dogs treated with and without LNNA. In dogs given ibuprofen (12.5 mg/kg i.v.), an initial increase in RBF was evident after initiating infusion of the peptide, to be followed by a gradual reduction in RBF, GFR decreased significantly with ET-3, whereas the degree of reduction in RBF was the same in dogs treated with LNNA. Thus, ET-3 acts as a vasodilatory and diuretic peptide in the dog kidney. Presumably ET-3 enhances the release of nitric oxide and prostaglandins and then renal vasodilation occurs. Although the enhanced production of prostaglandins by ET-3 may be responsible for maintaining GFR, it is not linked to the initial phase of renal vasodilation.     

Quantitative measurement of renal function using Ga-68-EDTA

We studied renal function using a positron emission tomography with C15O gas and 68Ga-EDTA in 6 normal subjects (male, 21-77 years old). The blood volume (ml/100 g (kidney] was 19.2 +/- 1.8 for the one 21 years old subject and 11.8 +/- 2.0 for the rest (65-77 years old). The glomerular filtration rate (ml/min/100 g (kidney] was 57.8 +/- 1.1 for the 21 years old subject and 30.4 +/- 2.8 for the rest.     

Impact of knowledge-based iterative model reconstruction on myocardial late iodine enhancement in computed tomography and comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance

We evaluated the image quality and diagnostic performance of late iodine enhancement computed tomography (LIE-CT) with knowledge-based iterative model reconstruction (IMR) for the detection of myocardial infarction (MI) in comparison with late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (LGE-MRI). The study investigated 35 patients who underwent a comprehensive cardiac CT protocol and LGE-MRI for the assessment of coronary artery disease. The CT protocol consisted of stress dynamic myocardial CT perfusion, coronary CT angiography (CTA) and LIE-CT using 256-slice CT. LIE-CT scans were acquired 5 min after CTA without additional contrast medium and reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP), a hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR), and IMR. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were assessed. Sensitivity and specificity of LIE-CT for detecting MI were assessed according to the 16-segment model. Image quality scores, and diagnostic performance were compared among LIE-CT with FBP, HIR and IMR. Among the 35 patients, 139 of 560 segments showed MI in LGE-MRI. On LIE-CT with FBP, HIR, and IMR, the median SNRs were 2.1, 2.9, and 6.1; and the median CNRs were 1.7, 2.2, and 4.7, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity were 56 and 93% for FBP, 62 and 91% for HIR, and 80 and 91% for IMR. LIE-CT with IMR showed the highest image quality and sensitivity (p?<?0.05). The use of IMR enables significant improvement of image quality and diagnostic performance of LIE-CT for detecting MI in comparison with FBP and HIR.     

Long-lasting cognitive injury in rats with apparent full gross neurological recovery after short-term cardiac arrest

OBJECTIVE: The long-term behavioral effects of mild global ischemia have not been well described. We used short (5 min) asphyxic-cardiac arrest that resulted in no apparent gross neurological deficits to study the long-term effects of mild hypoxic ischemia on the neurobehavioral status of rats. METHODS: Fifteen adult, male Wistar rats were studied. One group was given asphyxic-cardiac arrest (CA) for 5 min (n=10) and the other group had Sham procedure (n=5). Neurobehavioral testing was performed before and 2 weeks after CA. The neurobehavioral evaluations were: neurological deficit score (NDS), Y Maze, open field, pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle reflex (ASR), wire hanging, and inclined screen. RESULTS: At 24h post-CA, all of the rats regained normal neurological function as measured by NDS, an integral score for consciousness, brainstem reflexes, sensorimotor function and simple behavioral reflex tests. However, 1 week after CA, the rats exhibited significant activity reductions in the open field and in spontaneous alternation in the Y maze. The CA rats also showed a significant decrease in startle reaction amplitude and startle inhibition in the PPI tests. Two weeks after CA, the changes in motor activity and deficits in PPI remained significant, but the spontaneous alternation recovered. The muscle strength test of wire hanging and inclined screen tests did not exhibit significant change. CONCLUSION: We present a rodent model of mild CA that, despite apparent full recovery of global neurological function at 24h post-resuscitation, exhibited long-term cognitive injury lasting for at least 2 weeks after CA. This model may help understand better the injury associated with CA and develop management strategies for mild brain injury.