Three Dimensional Automatic Surface Reconstruction Software / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVE: After drawing and stacking contour of structures, which are identifed in the serially sectioned images, three-dimensional (3D) images can be made by surface reconstruction. The 3D images can be selected and rotated in a real time. The purpose of this research is to compose software of automatic surface reconstruction for making 3D images. METHODS: Contours of 55 structures in the 613 magnetic resonance images of whole body were drawn to make segmented images. We composed automatic software for stacking contours of a structure, for converting the contours into polygons, and for connecting vertices of the neighboring polygons to fill gaps between polygons with triangular surfaces. The surface reconstruction software was excuted to make 3D images of 55 structures. RESULTS: Virtual dissection software, on which 3D images could be selected and rotated, was composed. CONCLUSION: For other research, this like program can be composed for automatic surface reconstruction; several kinds of commercial software can be used for manual or automatic surface reconstruction. Investigators might choose one of the methods in consideration of their only circumstances.

Three Dimensional MRI and Software for Studying Normal Anatomical Structures of an Entire Body

For identifying the pathological findings in magnetic resonance images (MRIs), normal anatomical structures in MRIs should be identified in advance. For studying the anatomical structures in MRIs, a learning tool that includes the followings is necessary. First, MRIs of the entire body; second, horizontal, coronal, and sagittal MRIs; third, segmented images corresponding to the MRIs; fourth, three dimensional (3D) images of the anatomical structures in the MRIs; fifth, software incorporating the MRIs, segmented images, and 3D images. Such a learning tool, however, is hard to obtain. Therefore, in this research, such a learning tool which helps medical students and doctors study the normal anatomical structures in MRIs was made as follows. A healthy young Korean male adult with standard body shape was selected. Six hundred thirteen MRIs of the entire body were scanned (slice thickness 3 mm, interslice gap 0 mm, field of view 480 mm x 480 mm, resolution 512 x 512, T1 weighted), and transferred to the personal computer. Sixty anatomical structures in the MRIs were segmented to make segmented images. Coronal, sagittal MRIs and coronal, sagittal segmented images were made. On the basis of the segmented images, forty-seven anatomical structures' 3D images were made by manual surface reconstruction method. Software incorporating the MRIs, segmented images, and 3D images was composed. This learning tool that includes horizontal, coronal, sagittal MRIs of the entire body, corresponding segmented images, 3D images of the anatomical structures in the MRIs, and software is expected to help medical students and doctors study the normal anatomical structures in MRIs. This learning tool will be presented worldwide through Internet or CD titles.

Three-Dimensional Images and Software for Studying Anatomical Structures in MRIs / 체질인류학회지

Medical students and doctors should study the appearance of normal anatomical structures in the magnetic resonance images (MRIs). For this purpose, horizontal, coronal, sagittal MRIs of a healthy entire body and corresponding segmented images were prepared. However, it is inconvenient to select interesting MRIs and segmented images; and it is difficult to understand how stereoscopic anatomical structures appear in the MRIs. Therefore, in this research, a software, on which interesting MRIs can be conveniently displayed among the horizontal, coronal, sagittal MRIs and corresponding segmented images can be displayed together, was composed. And after stacking the segmented images, three-dimensional (3D) image of each anatomical structure was manually reconstructed by surface rendering. Then another software, on which interesting 3D images of anatomical structures can be displayed and rotated, was composed too. These softwares are expected to help medical students and doctors understand normal anatomical structures in the MRIs and read pathological findings in the MRIs of patients.

Horizontal, Coronal, Sagittal MR Images and Segmented Images of the Korean Entire Body / 체질인류학회지

For identifying the pathological findings in magnetic resonance images (MRIs), the anatomical structures in MRIs should be identified in advance. For studying the anatomical structures in MRIs of Koreans, the education materials such as following images are necessary. First, MRIs of Korean; second, MRIs of the entire body; third, horizontal, coronal, and sagittal MRIs; fourth, segmented images corresponding to the MRIs. Therefore, in this study the horizontal, coronal, and sagittal MRIs and correponding segmented images, on which the anatomical structures can be easily identified, were made. A Korean male adult (19 years old, height 176 cm, weight 67 kg) who had a Korean standard body shape and had not serious disease was selected. 613 MRIs of the entire body were scanned at (slice thickness 3 mm, interslice gap 0 mm, field of view 480mm x 480 mm, bit depth 8 bit gray, resolution 512 x 512, T1 weight, NEX 2, interleave method) and transferred to the personal computer and saved. Outlines of the 59 kinds of anatomical structures were manually drawn on the MRIs to make segmented images (bit depth 8 bit color). Coronal (274 pairs, resolution 512 x 1,839), sagittal (512 pairs, resolution 274x1,839) MRIs and segmented images were made by stacking each row or each column of all MRIs and segmented images. The horizontal, coronal, sagittal MRIs and segmented images of the Korean entire body which were made in this study will be helpful in studying the anatomical structures in MRIs. These education materials will be distributed worldwide through Internet or CD title.

Follow-up Study on Tuberculin Test After B.C.G. Vaccination and the Difference Between Natura1 Conversion to Tuberculosis and B.C.G. Conversion

As B.C.G. vaccination is being given extensively to uninfected children in this country. It has become important for pediatricians, general practitioners and public health people to differentiate natural conversion of response to tubercle bacilli from B.C.G. conversion. The authors have investigated this problem by studying 993 pupils in a primary school in Seoul. In our investigation, the difference between the convesion rate with 1/2,000 O.T. and 1/10,000 O.T. at various intervals after B.C.G. vaccination in the B.C.G.- converted group is statistically significant, whereas in the naturally converted group, the difference between the two groups is not statistically significant. There also is a difference in local reaction between the naturally converted group and the B.C.G.-converted group, although it is hard to distinguish with a single reaction whether it is due to natural conversion or to B.C.G. conversion. From both the results of our study and a some of the previous articles on this matter, the authors conclude that natural conversion to tuberculosis may be differentiated from B.C.G. conversion by using both 1/2,000 O.T. and 1/10,000 O.T. at the same time rather than using 1/2,000 O.T. alone, as practiced until now in this country, in order that the reaction may not be erroneous1y read as a naturally-converted positive reaction always.