CT-Scan sheep and human inner ear morphometric comparison

SummaryIntroductionStudies about the use of sheep in surgical training and experimental otologic surgery are rare. This study intends to contribute to the knowledge on this field.AimTo study sheep inner ear structures using computerized tomography and serial cross-sections to collect more accurate morphometric data to compare sheep and human ears.Material and methodsThis descriptive study compared the inner structures of sheep and human ears. Measurements were made using computerized tomography, and they were stored in a DICOM compact disc for later analysis and manipulation, with a program used for medical image analysis (Osíris 4.16).ResultsMean measures for sheep and human ears were found to be similar in this morphological study. Most structures (10 out of 15) maintained the 2/3 ratio of sheep to human ear.ConclusionThe results of this morphometric study of sheep ear are an important contribution to the development of an animal model to be used for surgical training and experimental otologic surgeries

Colonização intracavitária do trato respiratório por Scedosporium apiospermum: relato de quatro casos

Four cases of respiratory tract intracavitary colonization (fungus ball) due to Scedosporium apiospermum (teleomorph, Pseudallescheria boydii) are reported. The need for a careful search for anneloconidia, in order to establish the etiologic diagnosis in the clinical specimen by microscopy, is emphasized.São relatados quatro casos de colonização intracavitária (bola fúngica) do trato respiratório por Scedosporium apiospermum (teleomorfo, Pseudallescheria boydii). É enfatizada a necessidade de cuidadosa busca de aneloconídios, a fim de estabelecer o diagnóstico etiológico no espécime clínico, através da microscopia

A Convex Geodesic Selective Model for Image Segmentation

Selective segmentation is an important application of image processing. In contrast to global segmentation in which all objectsare segmented, selective segmentation is used to isolate specific objects in an image and is of particular interest in medicalimaging—permitting segmentation and review of a single organ. An important consideration is to minimise the amount of userinput to obtain the segmentation; this differs from interactive segmentation in which more user input is allowed than selectivesegmentation. To achieve selection, we propose a selective segmentation model which uses the edge-weighted geodesicdistance from a marker set as a penalty term. It is demonstrated that this edge-weighted geodesic penalty term improveson previous selective penalty terms. A convex formulation of the model is also presented, allowing arbitrary initialisation.It is shown that the proposed model is less parameter dependent and requires less user input than previous models. Furthermodifications are made to the edge-weighted geodesic distance term to ensure segmentation robustness to noise and blur. Wecan show that the overall Euler–Lagrange equation admits a unique viscosity solution. Numerical results show that the resultis robust to user input and permits selective segmentations that are not possible with other models

Multigrid Algorithm Based on Hybrid Smoothers for Variational and Selective Segmentation Models

Automatic segmentation of an image to identify all meaningful parts is one of the most challenging as well as useful tasks in a number of application areas. This is widely studied. Selective segmentation, less studied, aims to use limited user specified information to extract one or more interesting objects (instead of all objects). Constructing a fast solver remains a challenge for both classes of model. However our primary concern is on selective segmentation. In this work, we develop an effective multigrid algorithm, based on a new non-standard smoother to deal with non-smooth coefficients, to solve the underlying partial differential equations (PDEs) of a class of variational segmentation models in the level set formulation. For such models, non-smoothness (or jumps) is typical as segmentation is only possible if edges (jumps) are present. In comparison with previous multigrid methods which were shown to produce an acceptable {\it mean} smoothing rate for related models, the new algorithm can ensure a small and {\it global} smoothing rate that is a sufficient condition for convergence. Our rate analysis is by Local Fourier Analysis and, with it, we design the corresponding iterative solver, improving on an ineffective line smoother. Numerical tests show that the new algorithm outperforms multigrid methods based on competing smoothers

Histoplasmose no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil: uma experiência de 21 anos

De 156 casos de histoplasmose observados no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil), durante um período de 21 anos (1978-1999), 137 foram incluidos neste estudo. Sessenta e seis porcento dos pacientes tinham histoplasmose de disseminação hemática, 24% tinham uma síndrome autolimitada (histoplasmose pulmonar aguda, histoplasmoma ou complexo primário linfonodo-pulmonar) e 9% tinham histoplasmose pulmonar crônica. Os dados clínicos, micológicos e epidemiológicos foram revisados e comentados.Of 156 cases of histoplasmosis observed in the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), during a 21-year period (1978-1999) 137 were included in this study. Sixty-seven per cent of the patients had hematogeneous disseminated histoplasmosis, 24% had a self-limited syndrome (acute pulmonary histoplasmosis, histoplasmoma or primary pulmonary lymph node complex), and 9 per cent had chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis. Clinical, mycological, and epidemiological data were reviewed and commented

Laryngotracheobronchial papillomatosis: findings on computed tomography scans of the chest

OBJECTIVE: To present the findings of computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest in patients with laryngotracheobronchial papillomatosis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed CT scans of eight patients, five males and three females, ranging from 5 to 18 years of age with a mean age of 10.5 years. Images were independently reviewed by two radiologists. In discrepant cases, a consensus was reached. RESULTS: The most common CT findings were intratracheal polypoid lesions and pulmonary nodules, many of which were cavitated. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with laryngotracheobronchial papillomatosis, the most common tomographic finding was the combination of intratracheal polypoid lesions and multiple pulmonary nodules, many of which were cavitated.OBJETIVO: Apresentar os achados em tomografia computadorizada (TC) de tórax em pacientes com papilomatose laringotraqueobrônquica. MÉTODOS: Foram estudadas, retrospectivamente, as TCs de oito pacientes, cinco masculinos e três femininos, com idades variando de 5 a 18 anos, com média de 10,5 anos. Os exames foram analisados por dois radiologistas, de forma independente, e as decisões finais foram obtidas por consenso. RESULTADOS: Os achados mais comuns nas TCs foram as lesões nodulares da traquéia e os nódulos pulmonares, muitos com escavação. CONCLUSÕES: O aspecto tomográfico mais freqüentemente observado nos casos de papilomatose laringotraqueobrônquica foi a associação de lesões polipóides de traquéia com múltiplos nódulos pulmonares, vários deles escavados.Universidade Federal Fluminense Departamento de RadiologiaUniversidade Federal da BahiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de Diagnóstico por ImagemBroadgreen University Hospitals Royal LiverpoolFaculdade de Medicina de PetrópolisUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e PescoçoUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de Diagnóstico por ImagemUNIFESP, Depto. de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e PescoçoSciEL