3-D surface rendering of myocardial SPECT images segmented by level set technique.

SPECT(single photon emission computed tomography) myocardial imaging is a diagnosis technique that images the region of interest and examines any change induced by disease using a computer after injects intravenously a radiopharmaceutical drug emitting gamma ray and the drug has dispersed evenly in the heart . Myocardial perfusion imaging, which contains functional information, is useful for non-invasive diagnosis of myocardial disease but noises caused by physical factors and low resolution give difficulty in reading the images. In order to help reading myocardial images, this study proposed a method that segments myocardial images and reconstructs the segmented region into a 3D image. To resolve difficulty in reading, we segmented the left ventricle, the region of interest, using a level set and modeled the segmented region into a 3D image.

An implementation of wireless medical image transmission system on mobile devices.

The advanced technology of computing system was followed by the rapid improvement of medical instrumentation and patient record management system. The typical examples are hospital information system (HIS) and picture archiving and communication system (PACS), which computerized the management procedure of medical records and images in hospital. Because these systems were built and used in hospitals, doctors out of hospital have problems to access them immediately on emergent cases. To solve these problems, this paper addressed the realization of system that could transmit the images acquired by medical imaging systems in hospital to the remote doctors' handheld PDA's using CDMA cellular phone network. The system consists of server and PDA. The server was developed to manage the accounts of doctors and patients and allocate the patient images to each doctor. The PDA was developed to display patient images through remote server connection. To authenticate the personal user, remote data access (RDA) method was used in PDA accessing the server database and file transfer protocol (FTP) was used to download patient images from the remove server. In laboratory experiments, it was calculated to take ninety seconds to transmit thirty images with 832 x 488 resolution and 24 bit depth and 0.37 Mb size. This result showed that the developed system has no problems for remote doctors to receive and review the patient images immediately on emergent cases.

Cranioplasty effect on the cerebral hemodynamics and cardiac function.

BACKGROUND: Cranioplasty is usually performed for aesthetic, protective and patient comfort reasons. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of cranioplasty on the cerebral hemodynamics and cardiovascular system. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients who had undergone cranioplasty after extensive skull bone removal to prevent uncontrollable intracranial hypertension were included in this study. Arterial blood flow velocities in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) were assessed by transcranial doppler (TCD). The cardiac functions were evaluated using the echocardiogram. And cerebral blood flow were measured by perfusion CT. FINDINGS: The blood flow velocity at the MCA ipsilateral to the cranioplasty was decreased from 50.5 +/- 15.4 cm/s preoperative to 38.1 +/- 13.9 cm/s following cranioplasty (p < 0.001) and from 33.1 +/- 8.3 cm/s to 26.4 +/- 6.6 cm/s at the ICA (p < 0.001). The stroke volume was increased from 64.7 +/- 18.3 ml/beat, to 73.3 +/- 20.4 ml/beat (p < 0.001), while the cardiac output and mean arterial blood pressure were unchanged. The cerebral blood flow was increased from 39.1 +/- 7.2 ml/100g/min to 44.7 +/- 8.9 ml/100g/min on the cranioplasty side (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Cranioplasty can get rid of the atmospheric pressure on the brain and increase the cerebral blood flow as well as improve the cardiovascular functions. A skull defect should be corrected, because cranioplasty has not only aesthetic or protective effects but also improves the cardiovascular functions.

Analysis of physical activities in Taekwondo Pumsae.

Exercise is very important element for successful aging. Among many sports events, Korea is the suzerain of Taekwondo. When competing (Taekwondo Free Fighting) after learning Poomse as basic movements and inuring them, people compete with movements depending on situation. Among Poomses of Taekwondo, Taegeuk Poomse consists of very basic movements from 1 Jang to 8 Jang and they are for inuring to body. In order to prescribe Taegeuk Jang, which is the basic movement of Taekwondo that Korea is the suzerain, as an exercise for successful aging, it is necessary to analyze physical activity level of each Taegeuk Jang (From 1 Jang through 8 Jang) and suggest the same. Therefore, in this study, I analyzed physical activity level of each Jang of Taegeuk Poomse by attaching Armband made by Body Media Company on brachia and legs below knee of Taekwondo trainees. The result of the analysis of the whole momentum from Taegeuk 1 Jang to 8 Jang is as follows: First, the average absolute value of acceleration variation of vertical direction signal (L-MAD): 5.15. Second, the average absolute value of acceleration variation of horizontal direction signal (T-MAD): 3.44. Finally, the average of calorie consumption per minute (AEE/Min): 5.06 Cal. The obtained result corresponds to proper exercise condition for successful aging and it can be utilized as data for exercise prescription for the young and the old.

Analysis of physical activities in wu-shu training.

The present study proposed methods of preventing diseases, controlling chronic degenerative diseases and promoting health, which are major concerns of sports medicine. In the proposed methods, we analyzed wu-shu trainees' physical activities scientifically and quantitatively. The amount of physical activities was measured using SenseWear-PRO2-Armband developed by Body-Medai Company. The armband includes skin temperature sensor, skin surface temperature sensor, accelerometer, thermal diffusion sensor, and galvanic skin reaction sensor. Obtained data were recorded in the armband. Recorded data were analyzed using InnerView Wearer Software in terms of skin temperature, calorie consumption and the amount of physical activities. According to the results, those had continued exercise for a long time consumed a lot of energy in a short time, and intensive physical activities increased energy consumption and, at the same time, raised temperature. In addition, our experiment showed that the increase of energy consumption also raised skin temperature, which in turn caused heat flux. What is more, skin conduction appeared not to be affected by factors such as physical activity, energy consumption and skin temperature. The results of this research may provide information useful for preventing cardiovascular diseases, controlling chronic degenerative diseases and ultimately managing health through activating physiological metabolism.