A study of IOS data using the aRIC+I(p) model of respiratory impedance.

Development of better methods to assess human lung function has been continuing since the existing standard lung function test of spirometry requires subjects to inhale and exhale with maximum effort, which may be troublesome especially for the elderly and young children, leading to unreliable results. Therefore, the method of forced oscillation, and the Impulse Oscillometry System (IOS) in particular, has been developed to lessen the effort of the patients while obtaining valid measurements. The applied pressure waves and the resulting airflow responses are recorded to provide information about the respiratory system's input impedance, which can be fit by electric circuit models to possibly serve as a means to detect and diagnose respiratory diseases. Presently, research continues to find a more accurate model that also provides reasonable component values. This paper proposes the augmented RIC+I(p)(aRIC+I(p)) model and compares it to five other well-known models (the RIC, extended RIC, augmented RIC, DuBois and Mead models) in fitting the IOS data from adult COPD patients and healthy subjects. While the aRIC+I(p) model yielded slightly higher fitting error than the Mead and DuBois models, it did not produce unphysiologically large values for any of its components, unlike the Mead and DuBois models. Hence, the aRIC+(p) model appears to be the most reasonable one for use, at this point in time, in studying IOS-based computer-aided detection and diagnosis of COPD.

A study of IOS data using two mead-related models of respiratory impedance.

This paper introduces two new respiratory system models, the Mead-Cw model and the Mead-Cl model, which are 6-component models that are intermediate in complexity between the well-known 7-component Mead model and the recently proposed 5-component augmented RIC model (derived from the Mead model by eliminating both Cw and Cl). Their modeling errors were compared to the RIC, extended RIC, augmented RIC and Mead models, for component values estimated from IOS data. The two new models yielded lower errors than all the other models, except for the Mead model. However, the Mead-Cl model and the Mead-Cw model also yielded unreasonably large values for Cw and Cl, respectively, which are known disadvantages of the Mead model. Hence the augmented RIC model appears to be the most useful at present for IOS-based computer-aided detection and diagnosis of respiratory disorders.

Subcutaneous nodular amyloidosis: a case report and review of the literature.

Amyloidosis typically manifests with disseminated infiltration of multiple organ systems. Rarely, amyloidosis may be localized. We report a patient with localized subcutaneous nodular amyloidosis, without systemic amyloid involvement or myeloma, whose presenting symptom was multiple discrete neck nodules. Immunohistochemical analysis showed the amyloid deposits to be derived from lambda light chains. Twenty-four month follow-up showed minimal disease progression. A literature review showed only 5 reported cases of subcutaneous nodular amyloidosis. This is the first description of a patient with subcutaneous nodular amyloidosis derived from lambda light chains. HUM PATHOL 32:346-348.

Effects of estradiol-17 beta and hCG supplementation on superovulatory responses and embryo quality in swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) implanted with norgestomet.

Twenty-four cycling swamp buffaloes with normal reproductive histories and 2-3 months postpartum were used to investigate the effect of addition of estradiol-17 beta and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) to the superovulation regime on the level of ovarian stimulation and embryo production. The estrous cycles of buffaloes were synchronized by prostaglandin injection and then divided into two groups for superovulatory treatment. Those in Group 1 (n = 12) received a implant containing 3 mg norgestomet (Syncro-Mate-B) for 9 days (insertion day is Day 0), with 4000 IU of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) and 500 micrograms cloprostenol i.m. given at Day 7. Group 2 (n = 12) received the same regime as Group 1, together with 7.5 mg estradiol-17 beta given in three intramuscular injections on Days 3, 5 and 7 in decreasing doses (4.0, 2.5 and 1.0 mg, respectively) and 5000 I.U hCG i.v. coincidentally with the first insemination. Estrus was monitored visually and by placing treated animals with bulls. Each animal was inseminated twice with frozen sperm after standing estrus. The numbers of corpora lutea (CL) and follicles greater than 8 mm in diameter were recorded via palpation per rectum at 6 days after implant removal. Two days later 11 animals from Group 2 and two from Group 1 were slaughtered for direct observation of ovarian responses and for embryo collection.