Including the effect of motion artifacts in noise and performance analysis of dual-energy contrast-enhanced mammography.

In contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM), the dual-energy dual-exposure technique, which can leverage existing conventional mammography infrastructure, relies on acquiring the low- and high-energy images using two separate exposures. The finite time between image acquisition leads to motion artifacts in the combined image. Motion artifacts can lead to greater anatomical noise in the combined image due to increased mismatch of the background tissue in the images to be combined, however the impact has not yet been quantified. In this study we investigate a method to include motion artifacts in the dual-energy noise and performance analysis. The motion artifacts are included via an extended cascaded systems model. To validate the model, noise power spectra of a previous dual-energy clinical study are compared to that of the model. The ideal observer detectability is used to quantify the effect of motion artifacts on tumor detectability. It was found that the detectability can be significantly degraded when motion is present (e.g., detectability of 2.5 mm radius tumor decreased by approximately a factor of 2 for translation motion on the order of 1000 µm). The method presented may be used for a more comprehensive theoretical noise and performance analysis and fairer theoretical performance comparison between dual-exposure techniques, where motion artifacts are present, and single-exposure techniques, where low- and high-energy images are acquired simultaneously and motion artifacts are absent.

Design, validation, and utilization of an articular cartilage impact instrument.

This paper describes the development and use of an instrument mechanically to impact bovine articular cartilage and record the event using a piezoelectric accelerometer, as well as to carry out post-impact characterization of the tissue. Two levels of impact (low: 6 cm drop height, 18.4 N tup; high: 10 cm drop height, 27.8 N tup) were chosen such that the former did not show gross damage upon inspection, while the latter showed substantial gross damage. Peak stress, time to peak stress, and impact duration were taken from data recorded by the instrument. Three cartilage biomechanical properties (aggregate modulus, Poisson's ratio, and permeability) were acquired by creep indentation, and tissue morphology rated on a standardized scale was also determined. When subjected to the high level of impact, articular cartilage showed statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences in all three impact metrics and morphology. This high level of impact also resulted in a 37 per cent decrease in the aggregate modulus of the tissue. Lower drop heights resulted in more consistent impact curves, demonstrated less standard deviation, and did not change the biomechanical properties of the tissues. With the instrument and techniques described in this study, articular cartilage can be subjected to specific levels of impact in order to study injury biomechanics of the tissue at specific levels of mechanical damage.

Phosphoinositide involvement in phagocytosis and phagosome maturation.

Cells of the innate immune system engulf invading microorganisms into plasma membrane-derived vacuoles called phagosomes. Newly formed phagosomes gradually acquire microbicidal properties by a maturation process which involves sequential and coordinated rounds of fusion with endomembranes and concomitant fission. Some pathogens interfere with this maturation sequence and thereby evade killing by the immune cells, managing to survive intracellularly as parasites. Phosphoinositides seem to be intimately involved in the processes of phagosome formation and maturation, and initial observations suggest that the ability of some microorganisms to survive intracellularly is associated with alterations in phosphoinositide metabolism. This chapter presents a brief overview of phosphoinositides in cells of the immune system, their metabolism in the context of phagocytosis and phagosome maturation and their possible derangements during infectious pathogenosis.

Phagosome maturation: a few bugs in the system.

Cells of the innate immune system ingest and destroy invading microorganisms by initially engulfing them into a specialized vacuole, known as the phagosome. The membrane of the forming phagosome is similar to the plasmalemma and its contents resemble the extracellular milieu. As such, the nascent phagosome is not competent to kill and eliminate the ingested microorganisms. However, shortly after sealing, the phagosome undergoes a series of rapid and extensive changes in its composition, the result of a sophisticated sequence of membrane fusion and fission reactions. Understanding the molecular basis of these events is of particular importance, since they are often the target of disruption by intracellular parasites such as Mycobacterium, Salmonella and Legionella. The objective of this review is to summarize the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying phagosomal maturation and its subversion by parasitic microorganisms.

Effect of cutting flute design on cortical bone screw insertion torque and pullout strength.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of the number and length of cutting flutes on the insertion torque and pullout strength for self-tapping 4.5-millimeter cortical bone screws. DESIGN: Screws were self-tapped in the diaphysis of human cadaver femurs. Each of the six screw types studied had different designs with varying cutting flute lengths and numbers. Bone mineral density, insertion torque, and pullout strength were measured. SETTING: The study was conducted at an experimental biomechanics laboratory associated with a university medical center. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Insertion torque and pullout strength were normalized by the local bone mineral density. RESULTS: The mean normalized insertion torque of the design with four full-length cutting flutes was less than the design with three full-length flutes and the two designs with one-third length flutes (p < 0.05). The mean normalized pullout strength of the screw with four full-length flutes was significantly greater than that of all screws with fewer than three flutes (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Priorities for a cutting flute design should ideally include ease of screw insertion, minimal soft tissue irritation, and maximal screw holding power. Screws with more than two flutes were easier to insert and did not cause cortical damage during insertion. The screw with four full-length flutes showed a trend toward being the easiest to insert and having the greatest holding strength.

The effect of left atrial histology and dimension on P wave morphology.

This study correlates left atrial appendage cell size, atrial fibrosis and echocardiographic (echo) measurement of left atrial size with P wave morphology. Twelve patients with known mitral valve disease had echo measurements of left atrial size with P wave morphology. Twelve patients with known mitral valve disease had echo measurements of left atrial size prior to mitral valve surgery; patients had varying degrees of left atrial enlargement. The left atrial appendage, removed at the time of surgery, was stereologically assessed for percent fibrosis and the diameters of 50 cells were measured and averaged. These factors were correlated with P wave amplitude and duration in lead II, greatest length in any led, PR segment (end of P wave to onset of QRS), P to PR segment ratio (in lead II) and the PR interval. There was a good correlation of left atrial cell diameter with P wave amplitude (r = .69, p = 0.01). There was a good inverse correlation of percent fibrosis with the PR segment (r = -.72, p = 0.01) and a direct correlation of fibrosis with the ratio of P wave length to PR segment (r = .67 p = 0.01). There was a trend for percent fibrosis to correlate with PO wave duration but not height. No correlation was noted for any of the P wave characteristics and left atrial size. This study demonstrates that there is a correlation of P wave height with cell diameter and P wave length and PR segment with fibrosis. These data are helpful in understanding the electrocardiographic P wave.

Regulation of ether lipids and their precursors in relation to glycolysis in cultured neoplastic cells.

Tumors typically show high rates of glycolysis and elevated levels of ether lipids, particularly the alkyldiacylglycerols; thus, we investigated the relationship between ether lipid accumulation and glucose metabolism in a neoplastic cell line (B2-1). The B2-1 cells grown in 5.5 mM galactose in the absence of glucose produced very low levels of alkyldiacylglycerols, triacylglycerols, lactic acid, and dihydroxyacetone-P. Increasing concentrations of glucose caused a progressive increase in lactic acid, dihydroxyacetone-P, and up to a ten-fold increase in alkyldiacylglycerols and triacylglycerols. Glucose supplements also caused an increased incorporation of [9,10-3H]palmitic acid into alkyldiacylglycerols and triacylglycerols. These metabolic changes appeared to be independent of altered growth rates of the cells. The addition of hexadecanol along with glucose to the cultures resulted in a shorter lag and a more rapid rate of accumulation of alkyldiacylglycerols; hexadecanol supplements alone had no effect. The extent of uptake and oxidation of hexadecanol was similar in both the glucose and galactose-grown cells. These results indicate that the levels of alkyldiacylglycerols in neoplastic cells can be regulated by the extent their precursors are formed from glucose.

Isolation and characterization of membranes from a hydrocarbon-oxidizing Acinetobacter sp.

Membranes were isolated and purified from nutrient broth-yeast extract- and hexadecane-grown cells of Acinetobacter sp. strain HO1-N. Two membrane fractions were isolated from nutrient broth-yeast extract-grown cells, the cytoplasmic membrane and the outer membrane. In addition to these two membrane fractions, a unique membrane fraction was isolated from hexadecane-grown cells (band 1) and characterized as a lipid-rich, low-density membrane containing high concentrations of hexadecane. The outer membrane preparations of Acinetobacter, obtained from nutrient broth-yeast extract- and hexadecane-grown cells, exhibited a low ratio of lipid phosphorus to protein and contained phospholipase activity and 2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonic acid. Phosphatidic acid cytidyltransferase, adenosine triphosphatase, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase were recovered almost exclusively in the cytoplasmic membrane fractions. The cytoplasmic membrane fractions contained 20 to 25 polypeptide species on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, and the outer membrane fractions contained 15 to 20 polypeptide species. A major polypeptide species with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 42,000 to 44,000 was found for all outer membrane fractions. The buoyant densities of the cytoplasmic membrane fractions and the outer membrane fractions were closely similar, necessitating their separation by differential centrifugation. Band 1 of hexadecane-grown cells had a ratio of lipid phosphorus to protein that was almost twice that of cytoplasmic membrane and a correspondingly low buoyant density (1.086 g/cm3). Enzyme activities associated with band 1 were identical to those associated with the cytoplasmic membrane. The electrophoretic banding pattern of band 1 was essentially identical to the banding pattern of the cytoplasmic membrane. The phospholipid and neutral lipid compositions of the isolated membrane fractions were determined as qualitatively similar, with significant quantitative differences. The ultrastructure characteristics of the respective membrane fractions were examined by the negative-stain technique.

Characterization of intracytoplasmic hydrocarbon inclusions from the hydrocarbon-oxidizing Acinetobacter species HO1-N.

The ultrastructure of Acinetobacter sp. strain HO1-N grown on hydrocarbon and nonhydrocarbon substrates was compared using thin sections and freeze-etching. Hydrocarbon-grown cells were characterized by the presence of intracytoplasmic membrane-bound hexadecane inclusions. This membrane did not exhibit a typical unit membrane structure but appeared as a monolayer. The freeze-etch technique revealed the internal structure of the hexadecane inclusions and provided evidence for the presence of a smooth-surfaced limiting membrane. Freeze-etching also revealed intracytoplasmic membranes in the hexadecane-grown cells. These ultrastructural modifications were not present in nonhydrocarbon-grown cells. The hexadecane inclusions were isolated from Acinetobacter. Negative-staining of the inclusions revealed electron-transparent vesicles approximating the size of the inclusions seen in whole cells. Freeze-etching of the purified inclusions revealed membrane-bound vesicles. The purified inclusions exhibited a relatively high value of lipid phosphorus to protein. The lipid composition and the electrophoretic banding pattern of the inclusions on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels were determined and compared with other membrane fractions (outer membrane and cytoplasmic membrane) previously isolated from this organism.

A comparative analysis of the ultrastructure of hydrocarbon-oxidizing micro-organisms.

The ultrastructure of a variety of micro-organisms was compared after growth on hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon substrates. Hydrocarbon-grown organisms were characterized by the presence of intracellular electron-transparent inclusions which in many cases appeared membrane-bound. With one exception, non-hydrocarbon-grown organisms did not contain electron-transparent inclusions. Insignificant amounts of poly-beta-hydroxybutyric acid were produced by the hydrocarbon-grown micro-organisms. After growth on hydrocarbons, all the microorganisms had accumulated varying amounts of the respective unmodified hydrocarbon growth substrate.

Environmental tests of linear flow ventilation for an operating theatre.

Criticisms have been levelled against linear air flow operating enclosures because of their alleged physical and biological conditions and the effects of these, both on the surgical team and on the patient's tissues.