NEW METHOD USING IMAGE ANALYSIS TO MEASURE GINGIVAL COLOR

For many years, observation of gingival color has been a popular area of dental research. However these methods are hard to analyze for any other than the different base conditions and colors. Thus we introduced an alternative method using image analysis to measure gingival color. For the research we performed a dental examination on 30 female students.The system is set up by aligning the camera area and facial area. The subject's chin is placed in a fixed chin cup mounted 30 cm from the camera lens. Each image is acquired such that comparison may be made with the original bite holder as well as a standard color scale. After converted to computer we used a curves dialog box for color adjustment. The curves dialog box allows adjustment of the entire tonal range of an image.The results of the analysis of the free gingiva compared to the attached gingiva are that attached gingiva was more vivid red and yellow compared to the free gingiva. In conclusion, the system described herein of digital caputre and comparison of color images, analysis and separation in three channels of free and attached ginigval surface images and matching with colorimetric scales may be useful for demonstrating the diversity of ginigval color as well as analysis of gingival health

NEW METHOD USING IMAGE ANALYSIS TO MEASURE GINGIVAL COLOR

<p>For many years, observation of gingival color has been a popular area of dental research. However these methods are hard to analyze for any other than the different base conditions and colors. Thus we introduced an alternative method using image analysis to measure gingival color. For the research we performed a dental examination on 30 female students.</p><p>The system is set up by aligning the camera area and facial area. The subject's chin is placed in a fixed chin cup mounted 30 cm from the camera lens. Each image is acquired such that comparison may be made with the original bite holder as well as a standard color scale. After converted to computer we used a curves dialog box for color adjustment. The curves dialog box allows adjustment of the entire tonal range of an image.</p><p>The results of the analysis of the free gingiva compared to the attached gingiva are that attached gingiva was more vivid red and yellow compared to the free gingiva. In conclusion, the system described herein of digital caputre and comparison of color images, analysis and separation in three channels of free and attached ginigval surface images and matching with colorimetric scales may be useful for demonstrating the diversity of ginigval color as well as analysis of gingival health.</p

Methylmercury-induced alterations in lung and pulmonary surfactant properties of adult mice

Exposure to methylmercuric chloride (MMC) has been shown to significantly affect development of the lung and pulmonary surfactant system of the fetus. Preliminary results suggest it may also affect adult lung and associated bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), which represents the extracellular surfactant pool. To determine if mercury exposure has the potential to alter surfactant function, adult mice were treated with MMC, 15 mg/kg by intragastric intubation on 4 successive days. BAL was collected by repeated intratracheal lavage 24 h after the last treatment. Nucleated cell numbers in lavage were determined. Tissue was prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Lavage fluid was extracted into chloroform:methanol and phospholipid concentration determined. A sample of the extract was used at a constant phospholipid concentration to measure surface activity on a bubble surfactometer. Lung weight to body weight ratio increased whereas total numbers of nucleated cells in BAL were not altered by MMC. SEM of samples from lungs of animals exposed to MMC showed normal architecture. Surface tension measurements suggest that the mean time to minimum surface tension and the minimum surface tension were greater in BAL from mice exposed to MMC for 4 days. In addition samples of BAL were prepared for Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometry (FT-IR). Spectra showed changes in both lipid and protein components of BAL. Morphometric analyses of micrographs showed that mean alveolar diameter was reduced and wall thickness increased after mercury exposure. These results suggest that methylmercury exposure may significantly affect surface tension characteristics and composition of BAL, possibly through leakage of edematous interstitial tissue.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye