NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE ELDERLY

The literature hsa been reviewed in an attempt to answer some of the questions related to the nutritional requirements of the elderly. Calories, protein, amino acids, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins A, B, C, D, calcium, iron, sodium, potassium, and fluid studies in the elderly are summarized. Nutritional recommendations are included.     

Snake算法边缘检测图像分析

随着图像信息应用需要的迅速增长,数字图像处理技术在现今社会中有着越来越多的应用,特别是边缘检测技术。本文探讨了边缘检测技术中Snake算法的原理及方法,编程实现了文中所提出的检测方法,并对图像进行了实际处理,取得了较好的效果。     

《西游记》题旨新论

“成功意识”是人类的共性，成才-成事-成业-成名-成功是每个进取者的人生愿望；幻想获取超凡能力而出人头地则是底层百姓的成功意识。这就是贯穿于由民间传说累积而成的《西游记》的题旨线索。孙悟空形象的成长史正契合这一意识：学成“七十二变化”、“十万八千里筋斗云”是卓异绝伦的“成才”；大闹天宫、龙宫、地府，以及取经路上的降妖伏魔均是凭借超凡能力的“成事”；获封“弼马瘟”、“齐天大圣”是与超凡能力相应的封官进爵范畴的“成业”：而取经后“斗战胜佛”名号的取得则是最高境界的“成名”，即终结性成功。这一解读既可以正确品读孙悟空其人，领悟《西游记》之旨，亦可圆通解释孙悟空接受“弼马瘟”、“齐天大圣”封敕与“大闹天宫”之间并无抵牾的相容关系．又可避免“阶级解读”、“宗教解读”、“心学解读”等种种偏颇与误解．还可正确解释《西游记》之所以为统治阶级、被统治阶级等各种阶层都接受的原因。     

A phantom study of the accuracy of CT, MR and PET image registrations with a block matching-based algorithm

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to quantitatively assess the performance of a block matching-based automatic registration algorithm integrated within the commercial treatment planning system designated ISOgray from Dosisoft. The accuracy of the process was evaluated by a phantom study on computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two phantoms were used to carry out this study: the cylindrical Jaszczak phantom and the anthropomorphic Liqui-Phil Head Phantom (the Phantom Laboratory), containing fillable spheres. External fiducial markers were used to quantify the accuracy of 41 CT/CT, MR/CT and PET/CT automatic registrations with images of the rotated and tilted phantoms. RESULTS: The study first showed that a cylindrical phantom was not adapted for the evaluation of the performance of a block matching-based registration software. Secondly, the Liqui-Phil Head Phantom study showed that the algorithm was able to perform automatic registrations of CT/CT and MR/CT images with differences of up to 40 degrees in phantom rotation and of up to 20-30 degrees for PET/CT with accuracy below the image voxel size. CONCLUSION: The study showed that the block matching-based automatic registration software under investigation was robust, reliable and yielded very satisfactory results. This phantom-based test can be integrated into a periodical quality assurance process and used for any commissioning of image registration software for radiation therapy.     

Quantitative evaluation of elderly skin based on digital image analysis

Background: The evaluation of the skin state when it is healthy at the time of examination, but predisposed to disease, is based solely on the subjective assessment of clinicians. This assessment may vary from moment to moment and from rater to rater. Purpose: We focused on skin texture and aimed to develop a new method to evaluate skin integrity of the elderly using a digital skin image, by verifying the reliability of the clinical evaluation of elderly skin image by specialists to create a ‘gold standard,’ and by analyzing a digital skin image to identify the indices that explain the skin condition as evaluated by specialists. Methods: A total of 208 skin images were collected from 34 subjects. And then we processed and analyzed images. Modified Kobayashi's method and texture analysis method were used in image analysis. Kobayashi's method included the process of density transformation, cross binarization, short straight line matching and extraction of main sulcus, and calculation of each index. Texture analysis was performed on cross‐binarized images for quantification of uniformity. On the other hand, skin textures in images were scored by six plastic surgeons, using a 10‐point Likert scale, where 1 represented ‘very bad regularity’ and 10 represented ‘very good regularity.’ The inter‐rater reliability was verified by means of the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Finally, stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to extract useful indices; where the clinical evaluation of the physicians (gold standard) was considered to be a dependent variable, and indices obtained from digital skin image analysis to be independent variables. Results: The ICC of raters was 0.92 (95% confidence interval; 0.91–0.94) when including all raters, therefore the score of all raters was used. As a result of stepwise multiple regression, the index of interval (L), thickness (T_ave), energy 0°, and entropy 45° independently explained the clinician evaluation. R² in multiple regression equation was 0.59. Conclusions: It is shown that quantitative evaluation using skin images and their analysis is one method of determining skin integrity in the elderly. The indices to explain the clinical evaluation of specialists were defined and these indices were obtained simply by using a skin image.     

人支气管永生化HBE细胞形态计量学分析

目的:探索人支气管永生化HBE细胞超微结构的三维形态结构特征并与人肺腺癌A549细胞进行比较分析。方法:按常规方法制备HBE细胞与A549细胞的透射电镜样品。用Image-ProPlus图像分析软件设计网格测试系统,应用体视学原理和方法,分别测算HBE细胞和A549细胞核的体视学参数包括核体密度(VVn)、核表面积密度(SVn)、核表面积与体积比(RSVn)、核数密度(NVn)、核平均体积(vn)、核平均表面积(sn)和核浆比(Rnp);核仁的体视学参数包括核仁体密度(VVnu)、核仁表面积密度(SVnu)、核仁表面积与体积比(RSVnu)、核仁数密度(NVnu)、核仁平均体积(vnu)、核仁平均表面积(snu)等共13种体视学参数的数值。结果:①HBE细胞核平均体积(vn)和核平均表面积(sn)分别为206.74μm3和184.75μm2,明显小于A549细胞;②HBE细胞核及核仁的表面积与体积比(RSVn)分别为0.9192和2.3536,均大于A549细胞;③HBE细胞核浆比为0.3829,小于A549细胞。结论:HBE细胞核及核仁的形态与肺腺癌A549细胞有差异,其核和核仁的表面积、体积及形态大小均小于A549细胞。     

基于梯度矢量流与粒子群优化算法的多模态医学图像配准

目的研究用梯度矢量流与粒子群优化算法实现多模态医学图像配准,提高配准的精度。方法算法对图像配准的特征空间、相似性测度、搜索策略3个方面进行改进：先由原始图像产生梯度矢量流场,作为配准的特征空间;然后提出并计算3种基于梯度矢量流场的相似性测度;最后使用结合了遗传算法交叉机制的粒子群优化算法找到两幅图像的最优变换。结果对仿真及实际医学图像的54次配准实验,表明该方法配准精度优于基于像素的粒子群优化方法和Walsh变换法。结论基于梯度矢量流与粒子群优化算法的图像配准方法能有效地实现多模态医学图像的配准。     

Why patients complain about their new spectacles

A prospective trial of the prevalence of complaints concerning new spectacles was conducted in a sample of 1768 consecutive patients of an optometrist. This sample yielded 937 patients who were provided with spectacles. Fifty three patients returned with complaints. The most common complaints related to incorrect refraction assessments, image distortion with new spectacles and unsuitable near focal distance. Failure of communication between the patient and optometrist was a primary or contributing cause in many cases. In 7 cases no cause for the complaint could be identified at the review consultation.     

DNA ploidy and cell-cycle analysis: tools for assessment of cancer prognosis.

DNA ploidy and cell cycle analysis as measured by flow cytometry (FC) and image analysis (IA) have moved out of the realm of the research laboratory to become valid clinical tests used in the assessment of prognosis of the cancer patient. Although much information on the relationship of DNA ploidy/%S-phase analysis to patient prognosis is available in the literature, the data are not presented in such a way as to be helpful in clinical decision making. Because predictive values and confidence intervals, which measure the likelihood that a given clinical test will rule in or rule out a clinical outcome, were not calculated in previous reviews, conclusions about the clinical utility of these analyses were not possible. Using the available raw data on DNA ploidy and %S-phase analysis from previously published papers, predictive values and confidence limits were calculated for specific clinical presentations. In several such clinical situations (tumor type, stage, etc.), predictive value of greater than 90% was derived. We conclude that in these situations DNA ploidy and %S-phase analysis can be used to predict clinical outcome, to design treatment, and to guide patient management. The evaluation of the clinical utility of these tests must ultimately rest on prospective trials which show that randomized arms respond to treatment regimens dependent upon the DNA ploidy and %S-phase status.