Image processing in digital radiography

Image processing is a critical part of obtaining high-quality digital radiographs. Fortunately, the user of these systems does not need to understand image processing in detail, because the manufacturers provide good starting values. Because radiologists may have different preferences in image appearance, it is helpful to know that many aspects of image appearance can be changed by image processing, and a new preferred setting can be loaded into the computer and saved so that it can become the new standard processing method.Image processing allows one to change the overall optical density of an image and to change its contrast. Spatial frequency processing allows an image to be sharpened, improving its appearance. It also allows noise to be blurred so that it is less visible. Care is necessary to avoid the introduction of artifacts or the hiding of mediastinal tubes.     

Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with episodic migraine versus chronic daily headache

We compared data from 243 patients with episodic migraine (EM) and 132 patients with chronic daily headache (CDH). We divided the matter group into those with tension-type headache only (CDH Type 1) and those with headaches having migrainous features (CDH Types 2+3) and compared each with the EM group and all three groups with one another. CDH Type l patients differed from those in the other groups by virtue of gender (more often male) and mean age at headache onset (older). The CDH Types 2+3 and EM groups differed only in that the former were more likely to have undergone a brain-imaging study. These data suggest that CDH Type 1 may represent a distinct headache syndrome, while CDH Types 2+3 closely resemble episodic migraine.     

国人颅骨颌型的研究

本文测量了180例干燥颅骨的总面角、鼻面角和齿槽面角三项角度项目;分析了颅骨在性别和年龄上的颌型差异;探讨了颅骨发育中的某些变化趋势。本文的部分数据同其它文献作了比较     

Matching blood donations to type-specific product needs: A recruitment technique

The conversion of multiple whole blood donors to apheresis donors is a challenge since a rapidly expanding apheresis donor base could erode homologous collections. We addressed this concern with a plan to enhance apheresis recruitment as well as donations among homologous donors with types O and B blood. Focusing the donor's attention on blood type as it relates to type-specific product needs was the basis of our approach. A matrix was used to recruit the desired types for the desired procedures (whole blood, platelet/plasma apheresis). The matrix instructed donors of blood types O, A-, and B- to primarily give whole blood and to give apheresis as a secondary donation. Donors AB, A+, and B+ were primarily directed to apheresis donations, whole blood donation being secondary. A+ and O- donors only gave their secondary donation if they were at maximum donations with the primary donation. The collections by blood type in percentages for 12 months of 1992/93 for whole blood were O+ 38.9, 0- 7.3, A+ 29.5, A- 5.7, B+ 11.9, B- 2.1, AB+ 3.7, AB+ 0.7. For apheresis it was 0+ 36.2, 0- 6.7, A+ 33.0, A- 6.6, B+ 10.4, B- 1.2, AB+ 4.9, AB+ 1.0. In 1992/93, A+ and B+ apheresis collections as compared to total apheresis collections increased by 4.9% and 13.7%, respectively. For O group apheresis donations, a decrease of 2.5% was shown and A+ whole blood donations decreased by 5.35%. During the same period of time, total apheresis collections increased by 3,058 units. We demonstrated that integration of apheresis recruitment with type-specific whole blood recruitment yielded significant increases of type-specific products.     

Do ethnicity and gender have an impact on pain thresholds in minor dermatologic procedures?

Background and Objectives: The perception of pain is a personal experience influenced by many factors, including genetic, ethnic and cultural issues. Understanding these perceptions is especially important in dermatologic patients undergoing minor surgical operations and who often differ in their pain response to surgical treatments. Little is known about how these differences affect the perception of experimental pain. The purpose of this study was to determine experimental pain perception differences in three distinct East Asian ethnic populations.
Methods: Pain thresholds were examined with a psychophysical computerized quantitative thermal sensory testing device (TSA 2001) in healthy volunteers recruited from three different Asian ethnic groups. Using the methods of limits, experimental pain perception threshold was measured on the forehead and volar aspect of the forearm in 49 healthy subjects. The measurements were then repeated after skin barrier perturbation with adhesive tape stripping of the stratum corneum. All three ethnic groups were analyzed separately with respect to age, gender educational level and skin type.
Results: A total of 20 Chinese, 14 Malay and 15 Indian subjects completed the study. Thermal pain thresholds were similar in all three ethnic groups before and after tape strippings. No significant differences were noted between genders.
Conclusions: Using quantitative sensory thermal testing, we demonstrated that no significant differences in pain occur between different races and genders.     

A型肉毒毒素多表位串联体的设计、表达、纯化及鉴定

目的:设计、表达两个A型肉毒毒素多表位串联体.方法:从文献报道的A型肉毒毒素(botulinum neurotoxin type A,BoNT/A)的表位及生物信息学方法预测得到的B细胞表位中遴选表位,并加入适当的辅助性元件,设计多表位串联体A、B.对其基因进行优化后,经重叠PCR方法合成串联体A、B的全长基因.分别插入原核表达载体pQE-30,再转化E.coli M15[pREP4]感受态细胞中进行诱导表达,以金属螯合亲和层析法纯化重组蛋白,并进行鉴定.结果与结论:成功设计并构建了两个多表位串联体A、B,并在E.coli中以包涵体形式获得高效表达.Ni-NTA法纯化后分别获得纯度大于92.2%、99%的重组串联体A、B蛋白,并经透析复性法复性.Western印迹和间接ELISA显示纯化、复性后的重组蛋白与抗天然BoNT/A马血清有特异性结合反应.     

氟对体外培养人牙乳头间充质细胞合成I型胶原的影响

目的:明确氟对人牙乳头细胞合成 I型胶原的影响。 方法:对人牙乳头细胞进行体外培养 ,分别给予0 .0、0 .2× 10 - 6、1.0× 10 - 6、5 .0× 10 - 6、2 5 .0× 10 - 6 g/ L 氟处理 ,采用免疫细胞化学方法染色 ,图象分析氟对细胞合成 I型胶原的影响。 结果:I型胶原在对照组和 4种氟浓度处理组细胞表达均为阳性。图象分析结果表明 ,4种氟浓度对体外培养的人牙乳头细胞合成 I型胶原量与对照组相比差异无统计学意义 (P>0 .0 5 )。结论:过量氟对牙本质基质 型胶原的影响可能不是通过影响成牙本质细胞内合成实现的     

糖尿病脑内胰岛移植临床初步研究(附三例报告)

本文报告胰岛细胞脑内移植治疗I型糖尿病共3例,分别经过3个月、4个月、6个月的临床观察,其临床症状明显改善或消失,空腹血糖由移植前平均12.38mmol/L下降至7.77mmol/L;3例患者普通胰岛素用量平均每日62.3~u,移植后第21～30天均完全停用胰岛素,其中1例已持续撤离胰岛素治疗达5个月。观察结果提示:胰岛移植物在患者的脑内成活,并具有良好的内分泌功能。     

Pathologic laughter and crying in ALS: a search for their origin

Spells of laughter and crying are well known in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Since ALS occurs mostly in older age groups, this brings up the possibility that aging changes in the brain could play a causative role in the origin of such spells. To rule out or at least reduce the complicating factor of aging, a study was made of the incidence of pathologic laughter and crying in patients whose motor neuron disease had started before the age of 45 years. The data were collected from 73 such individuals, all with confirmed ALS. All told, 36 had experienced episodes of pathologic laughter and/or crying. Of these, 20 had bouts of both laughter and crying. 9 bouts of crying alone and 7 spells of laughter alone. Nearly all with such emotional spells had developed bulbar involvement with the illness. The youngest patient with spells was 31 when his illness began and 35 when he started to have bouts of crying.