Naprava male površine velikog naboja za otkrivanje radioizotopa

Objective: Radionuclide imaging is used to determine the distribution of radioactively labelled radiopharmaceuticals following application to establish the anatomy affected by a variety of neoplastic, metabolic and inflammatory conditions. This is accomplished through recording radioactive emissions using a gamma camera of a SPECT system, neither of which provides high resolution. The purpose o f this investigation was to determine whether a charge-coupled device designed for intraoral radiography could be modified to detect high energy emissions made by radiopharmaceutical agents. Methods: A RadioVisioGraphy (RVG) 32000 (Trophy Radiologie, Vincennes, France) with an unsealed sensor was employed so that the scintillator could be varied. The system was further modified to be activated by a CCX timer (Trophy Radiologie, Vincennes, France) disassociated from an x-ray generator. Radionuclides tested included 125I, 133Xe, 99mTc, 1311 and 60Co. Images were attempted of metallic test objects of known outline. Images were stored in a PC-compatible computer using the proprietary software provided by Trophy Radiologie for digital dental radiography. Results: Discernible images were found with Tc-99m calibrated at 900-925 mCi. No deterioration o f the sensor occured despite the high energy of the source, hence the tungsten glass fiberoptic prism of the RVG 32000 was effective in protecting the change-coupled device (CCD) from radiation damage. Conclusions: While further studies are needed, this preliminary study shows that there is a potential fo r using small surface CCDs for the detection of radiopharmaceuticals and, hence, to better localize the distribution of deposition within small cavities such as the mouth.Ciljevi: Slikanje radionukleidima uporabljeno je da bi se odredila distribucija radioaktivno označenih radiofarmaceutskih preparata nakon njihove primjene, s namjerom da se utvrdi područje zahvaćeno tumorom, metaboličkim ili upalnim procesom. To je ostvareno tako da je biljezeno radioaktivno zračenje gama kamerom ili SPECT sustavom od kojih ni jedan ne osigurava visoku rezoluciju. Svrha ovog istraživanja bila je odrediti, da li naprava male površine velikog naboja za intraoralnu radiografiju može biti modificirana za otkrivanje zračenja jake snage stvorenog radiofarmaceutskim preparatima. Metode. Radioviziograf (RVG) naprava tipa 32000 (Trophy Radiologie, Vincennes, Francuska) s nazaštićenim senzorom rabio se, da bi se omogućilo variranje scintilatora. Sustav se i dalje modificirao da se može aktivirati putem CCX timera (Trophy Radiologie, Vincennes, Francuska) koji nije povezan s generatorom x-zraka. Testirani su radionukleidi 125I, 133Xe, 99mTc, 1311 and 60Co. Učinjene su probne slike metalnih probnih objakata poznatog obrisa. Slike su se pohranile u PC- -kompatibilnom računalu koristeći program od Trophy Radiologie za digitalnu dentalnu radiografiju. Rezultati: Vidljive slike su nađene s 99mTc kalibriranim na 900-925 mCi. Nije došlo do smanjene kakvoće senzora bez obzira na visoku energiju izvora, dakle RVG 32000 tungsten staklena fiberoptička prizma bila je efikasna u štićenju naprave male površine velikog naboja od oštećenja zračenjem. Zaključci: Iako je potrebno dalje istraživanje, ovo je preliminarno istraživanje pokazalo, da postoji mogućnost uporaba naprave male površine velikog naboja za otkrivanje radiofarmaceutika te zato do bolje lokalizacije i distribucije njihova odlaganja unutar malih šupljina poput usne šupljine

Joint infection after knee arthroscopy: Medicolegal aspects

SummaryIntroductionSeptic knee arthritis following arthroscopy is a rare but dreaded complication: it might compromise patients’ functional prognosis and engage surgeon's liability. This study analyzes the context of such infection occurrences, their management as well as their medicolegal consequences.Patients and methodsTwenty-two cases of knee septic arthritis following arthroscopy were examined during the medicolegal litigation process and collected for assessment from a medical liability specialised insurer. Half of the patients were manual workers who worked on their knees, and seven knees had a previous surgical history. The procedures performed at arthroscopy included seven ligamentoplasties, nine meniscotomies, three arthroscopic lavages, one arthrolysis, one chondroma removal and one plica resection. Seven patients, to some point, received corticosteroids: three preoperative joint injections, three intraoperative injections, and one oral corticotherapy.ResultsClinical signs of septic arthritis appeared after a median interval of 8 days (0–37), twice after a hemarthrosis and once after an articular burn. The median delay before treatment initiation was 4.2 days, and in 10 cases this therapeutic delay exceeded 3 days. On average, 3.5 additional procedures (1–9) were required to treat the infection and its residual sequels. Two total knee prostheses were implanted. Only two patients were free of disabling sequellae, and in five patients these sequels affected their livelihood. The medicolegal consequences were a partially permanent disability averaging 5% (0–20), a total temporary work incapacity of 120 days (40–790), a suffering burden averaging 3 out of 7 (0–4,5) points on the scale conventionally used in France. Twelve of these legal claims led to court ordered patient compensation.DiscussionSome risk factors of articular infection are known and well-identified. They can be linked to the patient's condition (addiction to smoking, surgical history, professional activity) or to medical management (intra-articular corticoid injections, interventions under oral anticoagulants, inadvertently overheated irrigation fluid). When infection is suspected, it is often the needle-aspirated fluid's inappropriate handling (such as absence of bacteriological testing or defective waiting time for the results), which delays the diagnostic or therapeutic management of this complication. All failures of infection diagnosis or treatment heavily contribute to malpractice claims against the surgeon. Early and appropriate management of postoperative infections helps limiting the risk of functional sequellae for the patient and reduces the risk of malpractice litigation for the practitioner.Level of evidenceLevel IV; economic and decision analysis, retrospective study

Znanstvena recenzija: ocjena vrijednosti

Objectives: Editors o f journals depend on the system of peer review to screen out poorly conceived, poorly executed and unoriginal manuscripts. This study was designed to assess the reliability and consistency of reviewers ’ responses with regard to manuscripts submitted for publication to a leading international dental journal. Methods: Three elements in the peer review process were investigated; namely: (1) reviewers\u27 reports on manuscripts to the oral and maxillofacial radiology section of Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology and Endodontics were studied for consistency in the three reports for each of 78 consecutively submitted manuscripts rated as Ufull papers”; (2) ten previo sly accepted and ten previously rejected manuscripts were sent out for re-review by different panels of reviewers who were uninformed o f the prior review; and (3) questionnaires were sent to the editors o f ten leading dental journals to compare their peer review criteria and outcomes. Results: Reviewers were consistently reliable in their responses to questions regarding originality and scientific merit, and in delineating manuscript acceptability. O f manuscripts that were previously accepted eight o f ten were again accepted following a further double blind review. Of manuscripts that were rejected originally, six of ten were again rejected upon a second review by other referees. The use o f two reviewers was validated for accepted articles; but validity required at least three reviewers when manuscripts were rejected. The selected jo urnal editors reported acceptance rates of from 30 to 80% with publication waiting times form three to 24 months. Higher acceptance percentages generally were associated with greater delays in publication. Conclusions: Journal peer review is not perfectly reliable; however, it does serve the purpose of reducing the number of poorly conceived and poorly constructed research papers.Cilj istraživanja: Urednici časopisa ovise o sustavu recenzija kako bi se zaštitili od loše zamišljenih, loše izvedenih i neoriginalnih rukopisa. Cilj ove studije bio je procijeniti pouzdanost i dosljednost recenzenta prema rukopisima poslanim kako bi se objavili u vodećem međunarodnom stomatološkom časopisu. Postupak: Istraživana su tri elementa u postupku recenzije; poglavito: (1) proučeni su izvještaji recenzenata o rukopisima poslanim odsjeku za radiologiju časopisa Oral Surgery, Oral medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology and Endodontics, kako bi se ustanovila dosljednost triju recenzija za svaki od 78 redom pristiglih radova označenih kao “juli papers (2) deset već prihvaćenih i deset prethodno odbijenih radova poslano je na ponovnu recenziju različitim recenzentima koji nisu bili obaviješteni o prethodnim recenzijama; i (3) poslani su upitnici urednicima vodećih stomatoloških časopisa kako bi se usporedili kriteriji i rezultati recenzija. Rezultati: Recenzenti su bili dosljedno pouzdani u odgovorima o izvornosti, znanstvenom doprinosu i odluci o prihvatljivosti rukopisa. Od deset prethodno prihvaćenih rukopisa osam je bilo ponovno prihvaćeno nakon dvostruke slijepe recenzije. Od deset rukopisa koji su prethodno bili odbijeni šest je po odluci drugih referenata bilo ponovno odbijeno. Korištenje dva recenzenta bilo je punovrijedno za prihvaćene članke, ali da bi se postigla pravovaljanost kod odbijenih rukopisa potrebna su barem tri recenzenata. Urednici izabranih časopisa izvijestili su o prihvaćanju radova u 30 do 80% slučajeva, a vrijeme do tiska radova bilo je od 3 do 24 mjeseca. Viši postotak prihvaćenih radova općenito je bio povezan s dužim razdobljem do objave radova. Zaključak: Recenzija u časopisu nije savršeno pouzdana; međutim, ona služi da bi se i smanjio broj loše zamišljenih i loše izvedenih znanstvenih radova

Charge-Coupled Device Panoramic Radiography: Area Image Distortion Factors as Selected Image Layer Contours

Svrha: Svrha ove studije bila je odrediti svojstva čimbenika izobličenja kontura razlučivanja odabranog sloja slike ortopantomografa OP 100®Instrumentarium Imaging, Tuusula, Finland) kombiniranog sa senzorom vrste CCD (charge-coupled device) tipa (Trophy Radiologie, Vincennes, France). Materijal i metode: Upotrebom mreže kojom se određuje razlučivanje postavljene u razmacima uzduž iskustveno ustanovljenih putanja projekcijskog snopa, konture sloja slike proizvodene ortopantomografom OP 100® modificiranim s osjetilom DigiPan® prethodno su određene za granice razlučivanja od 4,0, 3,0 i 1,5 lp m m 1. Za određivanje čimbenika povećanja uz odabrane granice razlučivanja i vodoravne angulacije snopa bila je upotrebljena jedna šestokutna ispitna naprava, uz uporabu mjernog algoritma koji pripada vlastitom softwareu (programskoj podršci) osjetila DigiPan®. Zatim su upotrebljena vodoravna i okomita povećanja kako be se odredili čimbenici izobličenja za svaku konturu razlučivanja uzduž odabrane angulacije snopa. Rezultati: Uz konture razlučivanja sloja slike od 4 lp m m 1 svi čimbenici izobličenja površine bili su približno jedinica. U području omeđenom tim konturama razlučivanja mjerni je algoritam kompenzirao učinke izobličenja svojstvene povećanju, uzrokovanom geometrijom snopa X-zraka. Uz 1,5 lp m m 1 čimbenici izobličenja površine kretali su se od 1,16 do 1,19 facijalno i 1,14 do 1,22 lingvalno u odnosu prema konturi sloja slike najvećeg razlučivanja. Kontura sloja slike s najvećim prostornim razlučivanjem bila je postavljena lingvalno u odnosu spram geometrijskome središtu žarišta. Zaključak: Upotrebom osjetila DigiPan® i uređaja OP 100® ustanovljene vrijednosti izobličenja odgovaraju vrijednostima već ustanovljenim s pomoću konvencionalnih receptora vrste film/zaslon. U području najvećeg razlučivanja mjerni algoritam programa djelotvorno je kompenzirao izobličenje povećanja projekcionog snopa.Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the distortion factor characteristics for selected image layer resolution contours of the Orthopantomograph OP 100® (Instrumentarium Imaging, Tuusula, Finland), combined with the DigiPan® (Trophy Radiologie, Vincennes, France) charge-coupled device receptor. Material and Methods: Using a resolution grid positioned at intervals along empirically determined beam projection paths, the image layer contours produced with the DigiPan® modification o f the Orthopantomograph OP 100® had previously been determined for resolution limits o f 4.0, 3.0 and 1.5 Ip m m 1. An hexagonal test device was used to determine the magnification factors at the selected resolution limits and horizontal beam angulations using the resident measurement algorithm o f the DigiPan® proprietary software. The horizontal and vertical magnifications were then used to determine the distortion factors at each resolution contour along selected beam angulations. Results: At the image layer resolution contours of 4 Ip m m 1 all area distortion factors approached unity. Furthermore, in the region bounded by these resolution contours the measurement algorithm compensated for the inherent magnification distortion artefact caused by the X-ray beam geometry. At 1.5 Ip m m 1, the area distortion factors ranged from 1.16 to 1.19 facially and 1.14 to 1.22 lingually to image layer contour of maximum resolution. The image layer contour of maximum spatial resolution was positioned lingually to the geometric center o f the focal trough. Conclusion: Using the DigiPan®, and the op 100® the distortion values conform o f those previously found using conventional film/screen receptors. In the region o f maximum resolution, the software measurement algotirhm effectively compensated for beam- projection magnification distortion

Video Subtraction: Dynamic Temporal Change Versus Intrinsic Colour Instability

Svrha: Vrjednovati metodu digitalnog oduzimanja mirujućih videoslika za prikaz promjena u pokusima djelotvornosti stimulirane oralne higijene. Metode: Za točno premještanje videokamere tipa Stoma Vision (STV, -Trophy Radiologie, Vincennes, France) kod promatranja prednjih zuba i zubnoga mesa modela tipa DXTRR (Dentsply/Rinn, Elgin, Illinois) bio je upotrebljen akrilički fiksator. Slike su bile spremljene u binarnom obliku (16 bita: 5 za crveno, 5 za plavo, 6 za zeleno) unutar VG/STV-PC softwarea što ga je isporučio proizvođač kamere. Za simuliranje promjena u prekrivanju sredstvima za razotkrivanje naslaga i uaple zubnoga mesa na model je nanesen crveni vosak. Izrađivane su video snimke tijekom stanovitoga vremena, ali bez manipuliranja modelom, da bi se procijenila prirođena nestabilnost boje sustava. Suptrakcija vrijednosti slika provodila se je po sljedećoj jednadžbi: g(x1,y)=f(x1,y)-h(x1,y), kojom se računaju rezlike odgovarajućih čestica slike (pixel) od f i h, što je dalo novu sliku y. Histogramske raščlambe za svaku od boja (crvena, plava i zelena) slijedile su diskretnu funkciju P(rk)=N/n, gdje je rk razina boje kth, Nk broj čestica u slici uz tu razinu boje i područje &=0,i,2,...L\u277. Rezultati: Suptrakcija videoslika pružila je solidan uvid u dinamičke privremene promjene kad je kontrast boje bi znatan (npr. na krunu zuba stavljena točkica crvenoga voska). Između ostalih čimbenika, opazena je unutarnja nestabilnost boje tijekom vremena, zbog promjene temperature izvora svjetla, osobito kada je STV bila sktivirana više od jednoga sata. Zaključci: Video suptrakcija pokazuje potencijal kao metoda za kvantificiranje promjena razotkrivanja statusa dentalne higijene ili promjena boje zuba tijekom vremena; no zbog nestalnosti temperature boje tijekom vremena, treba faktorirati promjene.Objectives: To evaluate digital subtraction of still video images to show temporal change in a simulated oral hygiene effectiveness trial. Methods: An acrylic stent was used for the accurate repositioning of a Stoma Vision (STV) video camera (Trophy Radiologie, Vincennes, France) to view the anterior teeth and gingivae of a DXTRR manikin (Dentsply/Rinn, Elgin, Illinois). Images were stored in binary form (16 bit: 5 red; 5 blue: 6 green) within the RVG/STV-PC software provided by the manufacturer of the camera. Red wax was applied to the manikin to simulate changes in the coverage o f plaque disclosing solutions and gingival inflammation. Videos were also taken over time without manipulation o f the model to evaluate intrinsic colour instability o f the system. Image subtraction followed the formula: g(x1,y)=f(x1,y)-h(x1,y), computing the differences of corresponding pixel from f and h, given the new image y. Histogram analysis for each (red, blue and green) followed the discrete function P(rk)=N/n, where rk is the kth colour level, Nk is the number of pixels in the image with that color level and k=0,l,2,...L~1 is range. Results: Subtraction o f video images provided solid evidence o f dynamic temporal change where colour contrast was substantial (e.g. placing a wax red dot over the crown of a tooth). Intrinsic colour instability due to the temperature of light source among other factors was seen over time, especially when the STV was activated for more than one hour. Conclusions: Video subtraction shows potential as a method to quantify changes in disclosed dental hygiene status or tooth coloration over time; however, changes due to colour temperature modification over time need to be factored

In vivo Accuracy of CCD-based Radiography for the Estimation of Periapical Lesion Dimensions

Ciljevi: Ova je klinička studija provedena da bi se usporedile točnosti procjena stomatologa o dimenzijama periapikalnih prosvjetljenja temeljenih na primjeni elektroničkoga slikanja uporabom sustava za intraoralnu radiografiju tipa RVG® 32000, te filma tipa Ektaspeed. Metode: Držeći se dozvole Nadzornoga tijela Institucije i informacija o uvjetima, napravljene su bile predoperacijske slike periapikalnih oštećenja 12 redom pridošlih pacijenata kojima je bio potreban kirurški zahvat. Slike su napravljene na oba načina: sustavom RVG® 32000, i filmom Ektaspeed. Stvarna veličina oštećenja bila je ustanovljena izradom otisaka od koštanoga voska tipa Ethicon®, tijekom same operacije. Skupina od pet stomatologa postigla je konsenzus u procjeni superiornih - inferiornih i mezio-distalnih dimenzija periapikalnih prosvjetljenja ustanovljenih iz predoperacijskih slika, odvojeno i neovisno za dva modaliteta. Rezultati: Procjene dimenzija oštećenja izrađene sustavom RVG® 32000 i filmom Ektaspeed znatno su se među se razlikovale. Odstupanje od stvarnih izmjerenih vrijednosti bilo je znatno veće za procjene temeljene na filmskim radio grafijama od odstupanja procjena na temelju slika sustava RVG® 32000. Općenito uzevši, dimenzije oštećenja bile su na osnovi filmskih slika precijenjene, a malo podcijenjene na osnovi slika snimljenih sustavom RVG® 32000. Zaključci: Digitalno intraoralno slikanje sustavom RVG® 32000 daje moguće prednosti pred konvencionalnom radiografijom time što stomatolozima omogućuje u prosjeku točnije procjene veličina periapikalnih prosvjetljenja.Objectives: This clinical study was performed to compare the accuracy of endodontists ’ assessment o f the sizes o f periapical radiolucencies using electronic imaging with the RVG® 32000 intraoral radiographic system and Ektaspeed film. Methods: Following Institutions Review Board approval and informed consent, presurgical images were made both with the RVG® 32000 and Ektaspeed film for periapical lesions in 12 consecutive patients requiring endodontic surgery. Actual lesion size was determined by making impressions with Ethicon® bone wax at the time of surgery. A panel o f five endodontists reached consensus in estimation of the superior- inferior and mesio-distal dimensions of the periapical radiolucencies from the presurgical images, separately and independently for two modalities. Results: Lesion dimension estimates were significantly different between images made with the RVG® 32000 Ektaspeed film. There was a much greater deviation from the measured actual values for estimates using film radiographs than for those for the RVG® 32000 images. Generally, there was an over-estimation o f lesion size with film, and a slight under-estimation with RVG® 32000 images. Conclusions: Digital intraoral imaging with the RVG® 32000 offers potential advantages over conventional radiography in permitting endodontists on average to more accurately estimate the size of periapical radiolucencies

Comparison of mechanical properties of wheat and rice straw influenced by loading rates

This study investigates the comparison of mechanical properties of wheat and rice straw such as shear strength, specific shearing energy and cutting forces. The experiments were conducted at three loading rate of 15, 20 and 25 mm min-1 and three internode positions 70 (N1), 130 (N2) and 190 (N3) mm down from the ear. Results show that by increasing the loading rate, strength of wheat and rice straw changed from 8.12 to 22.94 and 6.06 to 14.33 MPa and specific shear energy was varied from 12.10 to 18.64 and 10.40 to 16.17 mJ mm-2, respectively. Moreover, the values of cutting forces of wheat and rice straw were within the ranges 13.23 to 19.50 and 9.40 to 16.70 N. Whereas the shear strength, specific shearing energy and cutting force were higher at higher loading rate at the third internode of both straw internode positions. The shear strength, specific shearing energy and cutting force of rice straw were significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of wheat straw. With respect to the findings of the present research study, it is concluded that with decreasing loading rate of cutting blade toward the first internode, more energy can be saved by harvesting and threshing machines.Keywords: Cutting force, rice straw, shear strength, specific shearing energy, wheat strawAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(10), pp. 1068-107

In vivo elongation of thin filaments results in heart failure

A novel cardiac-specific transgenic mouse model was generated to identify the physiological consequences of elongated thin filaments during post-natal development in the heart. Remarkably, increasing the expression levels in vivo of just one sarcomeric protein, Lmod2, results in similar to 10% longer thin filaments (up to 26% longer in some individual sarcomeres) that produce up to 50% less contractile force. Increasing the levels of Lmod2 in vivo (Lmod2-TG) also allows us to probe the contribution of Lmod2 in the progression of cardiac myopathy because Lmod2-TG mice present with a unique cardiomyopathy involving enlarged atrial and ventricular lumens, increased heart mass, disorganized myofibrils and eventually, heart failure. Turning off of Lmod2 transgene expression at postnatal day 3 successfully prevents thin filament elongation, as well as gross morphological and functional disease progression. We show here that Lmod2 has an essential role in regulating cardiac contractile force and function.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

SPIRONOLACTONE FOR NONRESOLVING CENTRAL SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED CROSSOVER STUDY.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of spironolactone, a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, for nonresolving central serous chorioretinopathy. METHODS: This is a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study. Sixteen eyes of 16 patients with central serous chorioretinopathy and persistent subretinal fluid (SRF) for at least 3 months were enrolled. Patients were randomized to receive either spironolactone 50 mg or placebo once a day for 30 days, followed by a washout period of 1 week and then crossed over to either placebo or spironolactone for another 30 days. The primary outcome measure was the changes from baseline in SRF thickness at the apex of the serous retinal detachment. Secondary outcomes included subfoveal choroidal thickness and the ETDRS best-corrected visual acuity. RESULTS: The mean duration of central serous chorioretinopathy before enrollment in study eyes was 10 ± 16.9 months. Crossover data analysis showed a statistically significant reduction in SRF in spironolactone treated eyes as compared with the same eyes under placebo (P = 0.04). Secondary analysis on the first period (Day 0-Day 30) showed a significant reduction in subfoveal choroidal thickness in treated eyes as compared with placebo (P = 0.02). No significant changes were observed in the best-corrected visual acuity. There were no complications related to treatment observed. CONCLUSION: In eyes with persistent SRF due to central serous chorioretinopathy, spironolactone significantly reduced both the SRF and the subfoveal choroidal thickness as compared with placebo