Evaluation of the epidermal refractive index measured by optical coherence tomography

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It has recently been proposed that the refractive index (RI) measured by means of optical coherence tomography (OCT) may be a valid measure for hydration of skin. In this pilot study, using OCT in vivo, we aimed to investigate the interday variability of RI measurements and acute changes of RI following the application of a moisturizer. METHODS: Twenty healthy Caucasian volunteers were investigated on their forearms using a commercially available OCT system (SkinDex 300, ISIS optronics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany) fitted with an integrated algorithm for the evaluation of the RI. The interday repeatability of the OCT method was determined performing symmetrical measurements on both forearms on day 1, 5, 9, and 13. In order to investigate the acute effect of a moisturizer on RI, OCT assessments were performed before and 10 min after the application of an aqueous lotion with a lipophilic phase. As a control, the contralateral site was investigated in the same way, except for the use of distilled water instead of the lotion. RESULTS: Assessments of interday variability revealed insignificant (P>0.05) variances between the four measurement times as expressed in very small repeatability coefficients (right arm: 0.039; left arm 0.053) and small coefficients of variance (right arm: 1.02%; left arm: 1.38%). With regard to the RIs measured over time, we could not observe significant (P>0.05) differences between the two symmetrical anatomic sites (mean+/-SD of RI: 1.3893+/-0.0142 (right arm); 1.3875+/-0.0192 (left arm)). The acute effect of the moisturizer was indicated by a significant decrease of the RI 5 min after the application of the lotion (1.399+/-0.01 vs. 1.387+/-0.02; difference between means: 0.012; P=0.033; 95% confidence interval: 0.001-0.0023). However the control site treated with distilled water did not show significant differences between the two measurement times (1.387+/-0.013 vs. 1.391+/-0.023; difference between means: -0.004; P=0.57; 95% confidence interval: -0.019-0.011). CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, we have demonstrated that RI evaluation via OCT is a promising technique that may be used for the assessment of skin hydration in vivo. However, the direct comparison of OCT with standard methods, ideally such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, is necessary.     

Discrepancy of xenon concentrations between end-tidal and blood collection methods in xenon-enhanced computed tomographic measurement of cerebral blood flow

Summary Using xenon-enhanced computed tomography for the study of cerebral blood flow, simultaneous measurements of end-tidal and arterial blood xenon concentrations using the blood collection method were performed to investigate the validity of substituting the end-tidal for the arterial blood xenon concentration. Simultaneous measurement by both methods was performed 68 times in 27 patients. There was no statistical correlation between the arterial blood accumulation rate constant obtained by arterial blood and end-tidal samples, nor between the arterial blood saturation value obtained by the two methods, even when correction was made for age. In brain tissue, all parameters calculated using the end-tidal concentration were lower than those using arterial blood. We therefore suggest that cerebral blood flow values calculated using end-tidal xenon concentration are useful only for qualitative cerebral blood flow mapping, and not applicable to absolute values of cerebral blood flow.     

292例国人正常胎儿枕额径及双顶径的外测量分析

经对292例正常胎儿枕额径和双顶径的外测量,结果表明,枕额径和双顶径都随着胎龄的增长而增大,但其生长速度则随着胎龄的增长而逐渐减慢。经回归分析原理,分别得出预测方程。枕额径增长的速度和双顶径增长的速度没有明显差异(P>0.05)。     

Dendritic development and preferential growth into synaptogenic fields: a quantitative study of Golgi-impregnated spinal motor neurons

Branching patterns of dendrites may be modulated by the way in which dendritic growth cone filopodia come into initial synaptic relationships with afferent axons. This synaptotropic hypothesis of dendritic branching predicts that dendritic growth will be directed preferentially into regions containing numerous prospective presynaptic elements. The developing mouse spinal cord provides a natural experiment to test this prediction, because synapses are found exclusively within the marginal zones bordering the motor columns during the early (E11-14) period of synaptogenesis. During this time, therefore, most motor dendritic growth would be expected to be directed laterally or ventrally into the marginal zones, whereas internally directed growth should become more prevalent later, when synaptogenesis begins to take place within the intermediate zone, i.e., the motor columns proper. A computer-assisted three dimensional reconstruction system has been used to test these expectations in Golgi preparations of developing mouse (C57BL/6J) spinal cords ranging in age from E13 through P1. Mean dendritic lengths and branch densities are significantly greater for marginal zone dendrites than for intermediate zone dendrites at early ages (E13-14), but there are no significant differences in these measures at later stages of development (P0,1). These findings are interpreted as meaning that motor dendritic growth is initially biased into the marginal zone by synaptogenic afferents and that this preferential distribution is progressively lost as synapses develop within the intermediate zone to attract or to stabilize internally directed dendritic growth. Thus the findings of this study are consistent with predictions of the synaptotropic hypothesis of dendritic branching.     

The onset of ablation of the evoked adductor pollicis muscle twitch in children: a clinical perspective

The time to loss of the adductor pollicis muscle response to ulnar nerve stimulation at 1 Hz (twitch) after succinylcholine, 1.5 mg.kg-1 intravenously (IV), or vecuronium, 0.1 mg.kg-1 (IV), administration was assessed visually in 134 children, age 2-13 yr, during clinically determined, deep halothane, enflurane and isoflurane anaesthesia. The overall time to twitch ablation and duration of succinylcholine's action is in agreement with published times obtained under controlled experimental conditions; the onset time following vecuronium is comparable to those observed during a similar anaesthetic background measured under controlled experimental conditions. Twitch ablation after succinylcholine was achieved in half the time needed following vecuronium regardless of anaesthetic agent. Succinylcholine's and vecuronium's onset time as well as succinylcholine's duration is adequately assessed by the outlined, simple clinical means. The choice of inhalation agent does not affect the time to visible twitch ablation in a clinically relevant manner; nor does it make an appreciable difference, in clinical terms, in succinylcholine's duration of action.     

利用计算机处理复杂配基-结合系统参数的初步探讨

某些受体存在着亚型或异质型,即对某种配基存在有亲和性不同的结合部位,属复杂配基—结合系统。两组结合位点的参数的选配,传统的Scatchard分析已不能满足需要。本文提出用计算机解决这一问题的方法,并与其他方法进行了比较。结果表明,计算机法具有操作简便,结果可靠,能迅速、精确地选配出最佳参数等特点,可大大缩短实验周期。并为在医学研究领域应用计算机技术提供了一个初步的尝试。     

亚硝酸盐法测定超氧化物歧化酶活性

用亚硝酸盐、氰化钾抑制区别法测定样品中的 Cu,Zn-SOD 和 Mn-SOD,灵敏度高,重现性好,操作简便。实验表明,抑制率达50%时所需 SOD 的浓度为0.07 μg/ml,其批内和批间的变异系数分别为6.0%和5.5%,鸡肝 Cu,Zn-SOD 与 KCN 的抑制复合物的表观解离常数 K′为288.6±45.5 μmol。     

腹腔镜辅助阴式子宫切除术与经腹子宫切除术的前瞻性随机对照研究

目的　比较评估腹腔镜辅助阴道子宫切除术与经腹子宫切除术两种手术的临床效果。方法　 12 0例妇科良性疾病患者需行子宫切除术 ,但有经阴道子宫切除术的相对禁忌证、子宫不超过孕 16周 ,随机分成两组 ,甲组 (6 0例 )行腹腔镜辅助阴式子宫切除术 ,乙组 (6 0例 )行经腹子宫切除术。结果　两组患者年龄、产次、术前血红蛋白水平、子宫平均重量、术中失血、手术时间的差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 )。甲组术后疼痛程度、术后住院时间明显少于乙组 (P <0 .0 1) ,两组均未出现严重手术并发症。结论　腹腔镜辅助阴式子宫切除术具有创伤小、恢复快、住院时间短等优点 ,妇科医师经过良好的腹腔镜手术操作技能培训 ,能对大部分原不宜行阴式子宫切除术而需行经腹子宫切除术的患者行腹腔镜辅助阴式子宫切除术。     

颈动脉分叉血液动力状态的计算流体力学初步研究

目的应用计算流体力学（CFD）方法结合血管影像显示在体颈动脉分叉的血流动力状态.方法选取1例志愿者,采用Siemens多层螺旋CT机行左侧颈动脉CT血管成像检查（CTA）,扫描所得原始图像经计算机后处理后,用CFD方法计算并显示血液动力学各项指标.结果（1）该血管血液流率均值范围为0.04～0.36 m/s,颈外和颈内动脉的内侧壁（均以分叉顶点为参照）可见一高血流速区,球部可见较大片低血流速区;颈动脉分叉及颈内、外动脉近端均可见血液涡流与回流.（2）血液绝对压、静态压和动态压的均值范围分别为100 266.70～101 615.90 Pa、-10 58.34～290.88 Pa、6.12～553.25 Pa;（3）管壁切应力均值范围为0.59～5.35 Pa,在颈动脉球部及颈内动脉后壁显示大范围的低切应力区,最低约为0.25 Pa,颈外动脉前外侧壁存在一小范围低切应力区.结论CFD方法结合血管影像能计算并显示在体颈动脉分叉的个体化血液动力学指标.     

Ethics and Society: Filiation in assisted reproduction: potential conflicts and legal implications

Filiation, or a person's parentage, is one of the major componentsof someone's identity, often with important implications forthat person's welfare in social and personal terms. Fertilityspecialists are enjoined to consider the welfare of the child,and this is a legal requirement in assisted reproduction techniquesin the UK. This paper is in three parts, discussing some ofthe potential problems regarding filiation of the prospectivechild born of assisted reproduction techniques, in relationto the use of gametes and embryos. The first two parts concentrateon the status of children born as a result of treatment givenposthumously, and on filiation problems associated with donationof gametes or embryos, and surrogacy. The third part comparesBritish and French legislation with special regard to the welfareof the child, as well as underlining the common trends and principlesenunciated in both legislations. This is particularly appropriateat a time when the European Society for Human Reproduction andEmbryology is about to issue ethical guidelines in assistedreproduction, and when both the Council of Europe and the EuropeanCommission have commissioned studies on the implications ofthe assisted techniques, including those concerning status ofthe potential children.