Oral Rehabilitation of a Patient With Amelogenesis Imperfecta

A patient with Type I hypoplastic patterned amelogenesis imperfecta, subtype D, presented for prosthodontic evaluation. This article describes the developmental and pathophysiological background of this disease. A clinical report describing the diagnosis, treatment planning, and dental rehabilitation of the patient is reviewed.     

Architectural alterations in rat cerebral microvessels after hypobaric hypoxia

We performed 3-dimensional studies of vascular casts of the microvasculature of the cerebral cortex of rats that were exposed to three weeks of hypobaric hypoxia and of control rats. Scanning electron microscopy of the casts gave the qualitative impression of increased vascularity of the cerebral cortex, particularly the deeper layers, in hypoxic rats. Quantitative analysis of capillary segment lengths revealed a significant shift in the frequency distribution to longer lengths (from 77 ± 8 to 90 ± 14 μm) in the deep, but not in the superficial, layers of the cerebral cortex of hypoxic rats. These findings agree with previous results reporting increased capillary density in the brain after exposure to prolonged hypobaric hypoxia and suggest that capillary segment elongation plays a role in the increased capillary density in the deeper layers of the cerebral cortex.     

云纹技术在断裂分析中的应用

改进了传统的云纹数据处理方法,提出用曲面拟合方法处理云纹数据,提高了计算机处理云纹数据的效率与质量。又提出用云纹法测量J积分的技术,可望解决实际工程构件的J积分测量问题。     

The Validity of the Neale and Kendler Model-Fitting Approach in Examining the Etiology of Comorbidity

Given that knowledge regarding the etiology of comorbidity between disorders can have a significant impact on research regarding the classification, treatment, and etiology of the disorders, the ability to reject incorrect hypotheses regarding the causes of comorbidity is very important. A simulation study was conducted to assess the validity of the Neale and Kendler (1995) model-fitting approach in examining the etiology of comorbidity between two disorders. First, data were simulated under the assumptions of the 13 alternative comorbidity models described by Neale and Kendler. Second, model-fitting analyses testing the comorbidity models were conducted on the simulated datasets. Thirteen sets of data with varying model parameters were simulated to test Neale and Kendler's assertion that their model-fitting approach is appropriate across a range of potential prevalences and degrees of familiality. The validity of the model-fitting approach in examining unselected twin data and a combination of selected family data and unselected family data was explored. The model-fitting approach successfully discriminated several classes of comorbidity models, although discrimination between models within classes of related models was less accurate. Results suggest that the model-fitting approach can be a useful tool in examining the etiology of the comorbidity between disorders if the caveats of the present study's results are considered carefully. As predicted by Neale and Kendler, variations in the disorder prevalences and familial correlations did not affect the validity of their model-fitting approach, but affected the power to discriminate the correct model. As suggested by Neale and Kendler, the model-fitting approach can be applied to both unselected and selected data and to both twin and family data.     

肝铸型标本肝静脉吻合的观测及临床意义

目的：观察肝静脉之间的吻合情况；方法：观察88个铸型标本中肝静脉侧支吻合的出现率，并对一例有丰富吻合支的肝脏用游标卡尺测量吻合中点处的直径；结果：88个肝铸型标本中有侧支吻合22例，显示率25％；1例丰富吻合标本，其中有17处吻合，最大直径为2．28mm，最小直径为0．62mm。副肝静脉与肝静脉吻合3处；结论：在肝静脉结扎或病理变化后，侧支循环开放、增多，受累肝段与未受累肝段间发生浅表和深部肝静脉侧支吻合，使得肝内血管解剖变得异常复杂而完全不同于正常解剖结构，为肝外科手术中处理肝静脉提供了解剖学依据。     

Geometric modeling of the human torso using cubic hermite elements

We discuss the advantages and problems associated with fitting geometric data of the human torso obtained from magnetic resonance imaging, with high-order (bicubic Hermite) surface elements. These elements preserve derivative (C ¹) continuity across element boundaries and permit smooth anatomically accurate surfaces to be obtained with relatively few elements. These elements are fitted to the data with a new nonlinear fitting procedure that minimizes the error in the fit while maintainingC ¹ continuity with nonlinear constraints. Nonlinear Sobelov smoothing is also incorporated into this fitting scheme. The structures fitted along with their corresponding root meansquared error, number of elements used, and number of degrees of freedom (df) per variable are: epicardium (0.91 mm, 40 elements, 142 df), left lung (1.66 mm, 80 elements, 309 df), right lung (1.69 mm, 80 elements, 309 df), skeletal muscle surface (1.67 mm, 264 elements, 1,010 df), fat layer (1.79 mm, 264 elements, 1,010 df), and the skin layer (1.43 mm, 264 elements, 1,010 df). The fitted surfaces are assembled into a combined finite element/boundary element model of the torso in which the exterior surfaces of the heart and lungs are modeled with two-dimensional boundary elements and the layers of the skeletal muscle, fat, and skin are modeled with finite elements. The skeletal muscle and fat layers are modeled with bicubic Hermite linear elements and are obtained by joining the adjacent surface elements for each layer. Applications for the torso model include the forward and inverse problems of electrocardiography, defibrillation studies, radiation dosage studies, and heat transfer studies.     

Dental abnormalities in individuals with pathogenic germline variation in DICER1

Pathogenic germline variation in the microRNA processing gene DICER1 gives rise to an autosomal dominant, tumor‐predisposition disorder. Conditional deletion of Dicer1 in murine dental epithelium shows that it controls tooth patterning, size, number, and shape. The human dental phenotype of people with germline pathogenic variation in DICER1 is unknown. DICER1‐carriers (n = 57) and family controls (n = 55) were evaluated at the NIH Clinical Center dental clinic as part of a comprehensive medical evaluation. Digital panoramic radiographs, bite‐wing radiographs, and oral photographs were collected. A single observer, blind to DICER1 status, reviewed the dental records and determined the presence or absence of 11 dental characteristics as described in the clinic notes, radiographs, or oral photographs. Subjective phenotypes were reviewed on radiographs by two examiners (blind to DICER1 status) for the presence or absence of the dental characteristics to reduce inconsistencies. By simple association, bulbous crown, periodontitis, and taurodontism were all significant (p < .05). Logistic regression with chi‐square maximum likelihood estimates showed that bulbous crown and periodontitis remained significant. Recognition of these phenotypes may aid identification of individuals and families at risk for DICER1‐associated neoplasms. These findings may also guide dental care for individuals with germline DICER1 pathogenic variation.     

Cast immobilization in bayonet position versus reduction and pin fixation of overriding distal metaphyseal radius fractures in children under ten years of age: a case control study

PurposeCompletely displaced distal radius fractures in children have been traditionally reduced and immobilized with a cast or pin fixed. Cast immobilization leaving the fracture displaced in the bayonet position has been recently suggested as a non-invasive and effective treatment alternative. This is a pilot comparative study between reduction and no reduction.MethodsWe assessed subjective, functional and radiographic outcome after a minimum 2.5-year follow-up in 12 children under ten years of age who had sustained a completely displaced metaphyseal radius fracture, which had been immobilized leaving the fracture in an overriding position (shortening 3 mm to 9 mm). A total of 12 age-matched patients, whose similar fractures were reduced and pin fixed, were chosen for controls. ResultsAt follow-up none of the 24 patients had visible forearm deformity and the maximal angulation in radiographs was 5° Forearm and wrist movement was restored (< 10° of discrepancy) in all 24 patients. Grip strength ratio was normal in all but three surgically treated patients. All patients had returned to their previous activities. One operatively treated boy who was re-operated on reported of pain (visual analogue scale 2).ConclusionThe results of this study do not demonstrate the superiority of reduction and pin fixation over cast immobilization in the bayonet position of closed overriding distal metaphyseal radius fractures in children under ten years with normal neurovascular findings.Level of evidenceIII     

基于直方图拟合的MRI图像水平集分割

利用混合高斯模型对MRI图像直方图进行分析,将拟合获得的特征参数作为水平集曲线进化的约束条件,对医学图像进行分割。分割中采用的自适应Level Set方法,能够自适应地确定曲线进化方向（扩张或收缩）,而不必在分割之前指定其进化方向,减少了人工干预;同时也克服了传统测地活动轮廓线（GAC）方法对图像梯度信息的过分依赖,以及由于对图像进行大尺度高斯平滑处理造成边缘点移动、定位准确度下降的缺陷。分别对MRI仿真和真实图像进行了实验,MRI仿真实验的分割敏感性、专一性和总体性能指标分别达到了94.72%、97.52%和97.22%。分割结果的定量分析和定性分析表明算法的有效性以及较高的分割准确度。