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Objective To evaluate and compare the consistency and repeatability of three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) technique and two-dimensional ultrasound (2D-US) in the measurement of thyroid volume.Methods The thyroid volume of 50 healthy female adults aged 18 to 68 years were measured by 2D-US and 3D-US.The 2D-US was used to measure the three diameter lines (L,H,W) of the largest thyroid section,and the thyroid volume was calculated by the classical ellipsoid formula V=0.523×L×H×W.The 3D-US VOCAL technique was used to acquire the thyroid three-dimensional data,and VOCAL software was used to measure the thyroid volume.The two methods of measurement were also compared and analyzed.Results The coefficient of variation in the intra-assay was 0.738％ and 1.59％ respectively for the 3D-US VOCAL technology and traditional 2D-US measurement of thyroid volume,and the 95％ limit of agreement in the intra-assay was (-0.26 cm3,0.22 cm3) and (-0.32 cm3,0.46 cm3).In addition,the correlation coefficient in the inter-assay were 0.970xx and 0.942xx,and the 95％ limit of agreement were (-0.36 cm3,0.37 cm3) and (-0.75 cm3,0.64 cm3).To compare the two methods of measuring thyroid volume,the 3D-US VOCAL had a lower variation coefficient in the intra-assay,a higher correlation coefficient in the inter-assay and a narrower 95％ limit of agreement,which showed that the repeatability of the 3D-US VOCAL technique measuring was better than the traditional 2D-US in measuring thyroid volume.Conclusions The 3D-US VOCAL technique shows a higher repeatability in measuring thyroid than traditional 2D-US.As a safe,simple and feasible precise measurement method,it provides a reliable and effective new method for clinical measurement of irregular organ volume.
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Objective To analyze the selective extraction effect of six various cyclodextrins (α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, methylated-β-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin, and carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin) on components in Chinese patent medicine Compound Xuezhining (XZN), and to establish functional equation of selective extraction effect of cyclodextrin on different chemical ingredients. Methods The chemical ingredients in each cyclodextrin extract of XZN were detected by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) fingerprints, principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to analyze the peak areas of known chemical ingredients in all samples. The structural parameters of the known components in XZN were calculated and inquired using computer aided analysis to analyze the selective extraction effect of various cyclodextrins on components. 1stOpt pro1.5 was applied to establish functional equation of selective extraction effect of cyclodextrin on chemical ingredients with different structures. Results Different extracts of XZN were distinguished effectively via PCA, and most discriminant variables for different extraction methods were obtained simultaneously. Various cyclodextrins have similar trends of selective extraction effect on components, and have different extraction effects for molecule with different properties. The functional equation between the extraction capacity of various cyclodextrins and the structural properties of the constituents was established, and the correlation coefficient is good (r > 0.86). Conclusion Different types of cyclodextrins have a selective extraction effect on the compound in XZN, which provides a theoretical basis for the selection and application of cyclodextrin and its derivatives in traditional Chinese medicine.
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Objective To establish a three-dimensional (3D) dynamic model of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) based on data collected from the TMJ movement with multi-level two-dimensional (2D) dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and make biomechanical analysis. Methods GE Signa 1.5T TwinSpeed superconductive magnetic resonance scanner was used. TMJs of 2 asymptomatic male volunteers were chosen to be examined with MRI. All the images were imported to the Mimics software. 3D dynamic model of the TMJ was built, and the relationship between the magnitude of mouth opening and the disc transverse diameter was analyzed using linear fitting. Results The 3D dynamic model of TMJ was successfully established. The disc-condyle relationship and the dynamic morphological change of the TMJ disc were showed clearly in this model. The linear fitting equations were y=-0.03x+14.44 (R2=0.591) and y=-0.061x+13.48 (R2=0.306) from volunteers 1 and 2, respectively. A linear trend was observed regarding the relationship between mouth opening position and articular disc transverse diameter. The contact of the condyle surrounded by the TMJ disc varied inversely with the magnitude of mouth opening; the longitudinal diameter of TMJ disc changed along with the magnitude of mouth opening. In the process of mouth opening, the thickest longitudinal diameter of the joint disc was at the middle part of post-zone. The most remarkable changes of the longitudinal diameter of TMJ disc were found at the outer part of the post-zone and the inner part of the mid-zone. Conclusions The 3D dynamic model of TMJ was built successfully to observe the TMJ movement dynamically with 2D dynamic MRI. The model showed the disc-condyle relationship intuitively and precisely, and could be used as an alternative method to make up for the shortage of the 2D static MRI.
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El proceso de preparación, análisis y mantenimiento del material clínico, utilizado para la investigación en Psicología Clínica, resulta especialmente vulnerable en relación a potenciales fallas de orden ético. Es necesario tener en cuenta cuáles son los riesgos asociados a la utilización de sistemas informáticos en cada una de las instancias propias de la investigación. La preparación del material clínico se asocia especialmente al cuidado de generar bases de datos en las cuales queden incluidos los permisos de uso de dicho material. Es necesario tener en cuenta los distintos actores del proceso clínico, comenzando por el paciente, el psicoterapeuta y la institución en la cual se lleva adelante dicho tratamiento. Cada uno de estos actores tiene intereses diferenciados que deben ser identificados y preservados por el investigador. Los sistemas informáticos de gestación y documentación del material deben tener en cuenta dicho proceso.De la misma forma los análisis del material no deben descuidar la preservación de la privacidad y características originales del mismo.Un enmascaramiento defectuoso, puede provocar serios inconvenientes para el investigador y aquellos a los cuales él debe preservar. El almacenamiento del material clínico resulta el punto más vulnerable del sistema, ya que oscila entre la perdida de material único e irrepetible y el riesgo de no contar con un contexto de cuidados adecuados para el mismo.Es importante que el investigador y el resto del sistema involucrado en el uso de material clínico para investigación cuenten con sistemas de evaluación y protección de los derechos de cada uno de los participantes.
The process of preparation, analysis, and keeping of clinical equipment used for research in Clinical Psychology is especially vulnerable to potential ethical liability. Its necessary to consider the risks associated with the use of computers in each of theinstances of research. The preparation of clinical material is mostly associated with the concern to generatedatabases with authorizations incorporated for the use of such material. Its necessary to take into account the different actors of the clinical process, starting with thepatient, the psychotherapist and the institution in which the treatment takes place. Each of these actors has distinctive interests that must be identified and preserved by the researcher. Computer systems of conception and documentation of the material must take into account that process. Likewise, the analyses of material shouldn´t overlook the preservation of privacy norits original features. A faulty facade can cause serious problems to the researcher and to those whom hemust preserve. Clinical material storage is the most vulnerable issue of the system since it ranges from the loss of unique and unrepeatable material to the risk of not counting on an appropriate satisfactory care context. It´s important that the researcher and the rest of the system involved in the use of clinical material for research have systems of evaluation and protection of the rightsof each of the participants.
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Medical Informatics Applications , Ethics , Electronic Data Processing , PsychologyABSTRACT
Objective To assess the reproducibility of vascularization measurement in cervical carcinoma using transvaginal three-dimensional power Doppler angiography (3D-PDA) with virtualorgan computer-aided analysis ( VOCAL), and compare the reproducibility of two different contour mode (manual and automatic mode) of VOCAL. Methods Eighty patients with cervical carcinoma were examined by observer 1 using transvaginal 3D-PDA. The two acquired volume datasets were analyzed using manual and sphere automatic contour mode of the VOCAL imaging program for assessing carcinoma vascularization index( VI), flow index(FI), and vascularization flow index(VFI). Forty patients of them were examined randomly by observer 2 by the same method. Reproducibility of vascularity measurement was assessed by calculating intraclass (intra-CC) and interclass (inter-CC) , limits of agreement, 95% confidence interval definition. The contribution of various factors (examiner, measurement, contour mode and patient) to intrasubject variance was estimated using different analysis of variance models (ANOVA). Results For intraobserver,manual contour mode was more valid than sphere automatic contour mode for each observer (0. 92～0. 99 vs 0. 75～0. 94) ,and it also had smaller standard deviation,narrower limit of agreement range, 95% confidence interval and higher intra-cc than those of sphere automatic contour mode. Interobserver agreement of manual contour vascular measurements was similar to the intraobserver agreement for manual contour vascular measurements ( 0. 89 ～ 0. 97 vs 0. 92 ～ 0. 99 ) , but interobserver agreement for sphere automatic contour vascular measurements dramatically reduced (0. 52～0. 72). Conclusions Manual contour mode for 3D-PDA vascular measurement has better reproduciblity than sphere automatic contour mode, especially useful for irregular shape tissue.
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OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to verify the correlation between gestational sac volume (GSV) from automatic tracing mode the VOCAL-imaging program and gestational age and to construct the nomogram of gestational sac volume as the new biometric parameter in early pregnancy. METHODS: The cross-sectional study has been conducted in 242 uncomplicated singleton pregnancies. 47 cases were excluded due to early pregnancy failure, fetal malformations, elective abortion, age discrepancy, etc. In 195 uncomplicated singleton pregnancies from 5 to 12 weeks' menstrual age, gestational sac volume, mean sac diameter and crown-lump length were measured for the assessment of gestational age. Gestational sac volumetry was carried out with automatic method and manual method of the VOCALTM (Virtual Organ Computer- aided AnaLysis) for the comparison between two methods. The collected data were analyzed for mean, standard deviation, 90% reference interval, 5th, 50th and 95th percentiles of gestational sac volume, mean sac diameter and CRL, and the nomogram were constructed. RESULTS: Polynomial regression analysis demonstrated the statistically significant positive correlation between gestational age and gestational sac volume by automatic tracing mode (R2 0.826, p<0.001), gestational sac volume by manual tracing mode (R2 0.844, p<0.0001), mean sac diameter (R2 0.763, p<0.0001) and crown-lump length (R2 0.950, p<0.0001). The 5th, 50th and 95th percentiles of the gestational sac volume were calculated and the nomogram was tabulated. In determining gestational age, the standard deviation (SD) of gestational sac volume by automatic tracing mode is 5.6 days, the SD of gestational sac volume by manual tracing mode is 5.2 days and the SD of MSD is 6.6 days. CONCLUSION: we can conclude that three-dimensional GSV with automatic tracing mode of the VOCAL-imaging program can be used as the new biometric measurement in determining gestational age. Gestational sac volumetry with automatic tracing mode of the VOCAL-imaging program have been proven available and convenient method and it can be recommended in 5-7 weeks' of gestation, when CRL is not clearly visualized.
Subject(s)
Pregnancy , Cross-Sectional Studies , Gestational Age , Gestational Sac , NomogramsABSTRACT
砄bjective: To develop a computer aided cephalometric analysis system running under the environment of Windows 9X/NT and based on screen input of landmark and contour line. Methods: The analysis system was made with object oriented method, the program was written with Visual Basic 6.0 and Access 8.0, and the data on the screen was converted. Results: Cephalometric landmark points and contour lines were input through computer screen, then analyzed (22 modes), superposed and managed statistically. The system showed the advantages of using popular hardware, good compatibility, easy expansion, friendly user interface, simple input of landmark points, artful input of cephalometric contour, intuition and diversification of superposition, deversification of statistic analysis, integrated information collection and convenient search. Conclusions: The system can be used in clinic and research.