Automated measurement of mandibular cortical width on dental panoramic radiographs

Purpose   Mandibular cortical width (MCW) measured on dental panoramic radiographs (DPRs) was significantly correlated with bone mineral density. We developed a computer-aided diagnosis scheme that automatically measures MCW to assist dentists in describing a possible osteoporotic risk and suggesting further examinations. Methods   In our approach, potential mandible edges are detected by modified Canny edge detector. On the basis of the edge information, a contour model is selected from the reference data and is fitted to the test case by using the active contour model. The reference mental foramina positions of the model are employed as the MCW measurement locations. The MCW is measured on the basis of the grayscale profiles obtained along the lines perpendicular to the fitted mandible contour. One hundred DPRs, including 26 DPRs from osteoporotic cases, were used to evaluate our proposed scheme. Results   Experimental results showed that the average MCWs for osteoporotic and control cases were 2.2 and 3.9 mm, respectively. When a threshold of 2.7 mm was applied, the sensitivity and specificity for identifying osteoporotic patients were 88.5 and 97.3 %, respectively. Conclusion   An automated MCW measurement technique is feasible using DPRs, and this method has a potential to identify asymptomatic osteoporotic patients.     

The effects of cigarette smoking on male fertility

Cigarette smoking, one of the main causes of preventable morbidity and mortality, has a multitude of well-known side effects. The relationship between cigarette smoking and infertility has been studied for decades; however, large-scale, population-wide prospective studies are lacking. The majority of the current literature is in the form of retrospective studies focused on the effects of smoking on semen analyses. This article discusses the results of these studies and reviews the postulated mechanisms. The effects of smoking on assisted reproduction and in vitro fertilization outcomes are noted. The consequences of smoking while pregnant on future fertility as well as the outcomes of second-hand smoke are analyzed. The current evidence suggests that men should be advised to abstain from smoking in order to improve reproductive outcomes.     

Increased prevalence of significant coronary artery calcification in patients with diabetes

OBJECTIVE: Coronary artery disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. Detection of coronary artery disease before the first myocardial infarction and before anginal symptoms will allow for strategies designed to reduce the cardiovascular event rate in this group of patients. Electron beam-computed tomography (EBCT) is a noninvasive technology for evaluating the extent of coronary artery atherosclerosis that relies on the detection of coronary artery calcium (CAC). We used EBCT to detect significant coronary artery atherosclerosis in diabetic patients without symptoms of heart disease. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We used EBCT to evaluate calcium in the coronary arteries of 139 consecutive diabetic patients scanned over a 20-month period. The CAC scores in this group were compared with a randomly selected nondiabetic control group and a control group that was selected to match a number of established cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: Patients with diabetes had a significant increase in the prevalence of CAC scores > or =400 (25.9%) compared with the randomly selected (7.2%) and matched (14.4%) nondiabetic control groups. Scores in this range have been reported to be highly predictive for abnormal stress myocardial perfusion tomography and subsequent coronary events. CONCLUSIONS: Our results, therefore, indicate a substantial prevalence of significant coronary artery disease in an asymptomatic diabetic patient population compared with nondiabetic control subjects. They also suggest that EBCT may be a useful approach for selecting a group of diabetic subjects who would benefit most from additional evaluation for subclinical coronary artery disease.     

Quantitative assessment of mandibular cortical erosion on dental panoramic radiographs for screening osteoporosis

Purpose

Studies reported that the mandibular cortical width (MCW) measured on dental panoramic radiographs (DPRs) was significantly correlated with bone mineral density. However, MCW is not a perfect index by itself, and studies suggest the added utility of mandibular cortical index (MCI). In this study, we propose a method for computerized estimation of mandibular cortical degree (MCD), a new continuous measure of MCI, for osteoporotic risk assessment.

Methods

The mandibular contour was automatically segmented using an active contour model. The regions of interest near mental foramen were extracted for MCW and MCD determination. The MCW was measured on the basis of residue-line detection results and pixel profiles. Image features including texture features based on gray-level co-occurrence matrices were determined. The MCD were estimated using support vector regression (SVR). The SVR was trained using previously collected 99 DPRs, including 26 osteoporotic cases, by a computed radiography system. The proposed scheme was tested using 99 DPRs obtained by a photon-counting system with data of bone mineral density at distal forearm. The number of osteoporotic, osteopenic, and control cases were 12, 18, and 69 cases, respectively. The subjective MCD by a dental radiologist was employed for training and evaluation.

Results

The correlation coefficients with the subjective MCD were ?0.549 for MCW alone, 0.609 for the MCD by the features without MCW, and 0.617 for the MCD by the features and MCW. The correlation coefficients with the BMD were 0.619, ?0.608, and ?0.670, respectively. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for detecting osteoporotic cases were 0.830, 0.884, and 0.901, respectively, whereas those for detecting high-risk cases were 0.835, 0.833, and 0.880, respectively.

Conclusions

In conclusion, our scheme may have a potential to identify asymptomatic osteoporotic and osteopenic patients through dental examinations.

     

Effects of cigarette smoking on the antioxidant defence in young healthy male volunteers

Cigarette smoking induces a significant oxidant effect related to variety of free radical-related diseases often affecting the upper respiratory tract, unless it is effectively compensated by the antioxidant barriers of the humans. In the present study, the evaluation of the antioxidant compensatory mechanisms, by estimating the antioxidant capacity of extracellular defence (saliva and plasma) and the intracellular resistance of peripheral lymphocytes to oxidative stress in young healthy smokers, was investigated. Twenty young healthy male smokers and 20 age-matched non-smokers with similar dietary profiles were enrolled in the study. Total saliva and plasma samples were collected from both groups, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and lag time were estimated. The latter was also repeated in smokers just after a cigarette smoking. Peripheral lymphocytes isolated from the subjects of both groups were also tested for their inherent DNA damage as well as for their ability to resist H2O2-induced DNA damage by using the comet assay. TAC of plasma was found significantly higher in smokers compared to non-smokers (p <0.004), whereas no difference was recorded in plasma lag time values. Lymphocytes of smokers manifested a significantly decreased oxidant resistance (increased DNA fragmentation) to H2O2, in comparison to non-smokers. Our results indicate that young smokers do not manifest different salivary antioxidant defence than non-smokers. They exhibit, however, a higher plasma antioxidant capacity, but a significantly reduced ability of blood lymphocytes, to resist to H2O2-induced DNA damage.     

颈内动脉颅内段钙化对轻型缺血性脑卒中患者预后的影响

目的 依据头颅计算机断层扫描(CT)和CT灌注成像(CTP)评估颈内动脉颅内段钙化(I-ICAC)程度,探讨其与轻型缺血性脑卒中(MIS)患者转归的相关性.方法 回顾性分析MIS患者228例,获得根据CT和CTP结果评估的I-ICAC分值,并将患者分成I-ICAC轻症组152例和I-ICAC重症组76例.观察2组90 ...     

男性病人冠状动脉病变与吸烟关系的研究

[目的]探讨吸烟对病人冠状动脉病变的影响。[方法]对吸烟组(5 0例)与不吸烟组(3 0例)进行冠状动脉造影,观察记录冠状动脉病变情况并进行统计学分析。[结果]两组冠状动脉病变记分、每日不同吸烟量与冠状动脉病变记分、不同的吸烟年限与冠状动脉病变记分比较均有统计学意义(P <0 .0 1)。[结论]长期吸烟可使冠状动脉病变程度加重,应加强对长期吸烟及冠状动脉介入术后病人的健康教育,有效预防和控制冠心病,提高人群的健康水平。     

Coronary artery calcification score and carotid intima–media thickness in patients with hemophilia

See also Makris M, van Veen JJ. Reduced cardiovascular mortality in hemophilia despite normal atherosclerotic load. This issue, pp 20–2; Biere‐Rafi S, Tuinenburg A, Haak BW, Peters M, Huijgen R, de Groot E, Verhamme P, Peerlinck K, Visseren FLJ, Kruip MJHA, Laros‐van Gorkom BAP, Gerdes VEA, Buller HR, Schutgens REG, Kamphuisen PW. Factor VIII deficiency does not protect against atherosclerosis. This issue, pp 30–7. Summary. Background/objectives: The traditional view that patients with hemophilia are protected against cardiovascular disease is under debate. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence and extent of atherosclerosis by coronary artery calcification score (CACS) and carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in patients with hemophilia, and to evaluate their cardiovascular risk profile. Methods: Sixty‐nine patients (51 with hemophilia A; 18 with hemophilia B) were studied [median age: 52 years (interquartile range [IQR] 43–64)]. Cardiovascular risk factors and prior major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were recorded. CACS was derived from electron‐beam or dual‐source computed tomography, and carotid IMT was assessed by ultrasound measurements and compared with age‐specific reference values. Results: The median CACS in all patients was 35 (IQR 0–110) and the geometric mean IMT was 0.80 mm (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76–0.84); neither was different from the reference values. Patients with a previous MACE (n = 9) had significantly higher CACS and IMT than patients without a previous MACE: CACS median 1013 (IQR 530–1306) vs. 0 (IQR 0–67), and IMT geometric mean 1.09 mm (95% CI 0.95–1.26) vs. 0.76 mm (95% CI 0.73–0.79), both P < 0.001. A higher calculated 10‐year cardiovascular risk was related to higher IMT and CACS. Conclusion: Patients with hemophilia are not protected against the development of atherosclerosis as measured by CACS and IMT. The extent of atherosclerosis is related to the traditional cardiovascular risk factors. This suggests that traditional cardiovascular risk factors should be monitored and treated in patients with hemophilia.     

Serum lipids and lipoproteins are less powerful predictors of extracranial carotid artery atherosclerosis than are cigarette smoking and hypertension

The effect of serum lipids and lipoproteins on extracranial carotid artery atherosclerosis (CAS) was studied in patients who underwent carotid arteriography. Serum lipid and lipoprotein values along with data on other potential predictors of extracranial CAS were determined in 240 patients who had at least one extracranial carotid artery visualized. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, the independently significant predictors of the presence of extracranial CAS were, in decreasing order of significance, duration of smoking of cigarettes, hypertension, age, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Serum cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein A-I did not show an independent effect. Although low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was an independent predictor of the presence of extracranial CAS, its effect as a predictor was far outweighed by the effects of the duration of smoking of cigarettes and a history of hypertension.     

颈动脉重建术治疗颈动脉瘤的护理配合

[目的]探讨颈动脉重建技术在颈动脉瘤手术治疗中的护理配合.[方法]对19例因颈动脉瘤行颈动脉重建术病人做好充分术前准备,术中配合默契、熟练,密切关注手术进程.[结果]手术过程顺利,病人术后安返病房,无严重并发症发生,达到满意的手术及护理效果.[结论]术前充分有效的准备,术中准确、科学的护理配合可使手术顺利进行,也是手术成功的重要保证.     

颈动脉重建术治疗颈动脉瘤的护理配合

[目的]探讨颈动脉重建技术在颈动脉瘤手术治疗中的护理配合.[方法]对19例因颈动脉瘤行颈动脉重建术病人做好充分术前准备,术中配合默契、熟练,密切关注手术进程.[结果]手术过程顺利,病人术后安返病房,无严重并发症发生,达到满意的手术及护理效果.[结论]术前充分有效的准备,术中准确、科学的护理配合可使手术顺利进行,也是手术成功的重要保证.     

The acute effects of smoking on the cyclic variations in blood echogenicity of carotid artery

The objective of this research is to study the cyclic variations in echogenicity (CVE) as an acute response to smoking. CVEs, caused by the aggregation of red blood cells (RBC) were measured from the cross-sectional images of the common carotid artery using coded harmonic imaging of a commercial ultrasound system. The amplitude of the CVE (A_cve) was analyzed among 28 smokers before and after smoking. A_cve was increased in 22 smokers and decreased in six smokers after 1-2 cigarettes were smoked. Heart rate (HR) was also estimated from the ultrasonic images before and after smoking. The smokers were optimally divided into two clusters with respect to the change in A_cve and the intrinsic characteristics of smokers (i.e., daily consumed cigarettes and smoking years) through a two-step cluster analysis (TSCA). The increase in A_cve after smoking was significantly higher in the heavy smoker cluster compared with the light smoker cluster. The results suggest that the acute changes in A_cve in response to smoking are different between heavy smokers and light smokers. This preliminary study demonstrates the potential application of coded harmonic ultrasound imaging to detect or characterize RBC aggregation. In addition, the results may be useful for understanding the acute physiologic changes caused by smoking. (E-mail: paeng@jejunu.ac.kr)     

Metallic objects seen in radiographs of the maxilla and mandible

A variety of metallic objects may be seen on x-ray films of the head, facial structures, neck or chest. Among them are subperiosteal and endosseous implants, used to replace missing or damaged portions of the maxilla or mandible and to anchor dental prostheses. Wires, condylar head and neck replacements, surgical clips and silver amalgam may also be seen.     

Comparison of coronary artery calcification and some coronary artery calcification risk factors in patients on haemodialysis and in patients with type 2 diabetes

Patients on haemodialysis (HD) and patients with type 2 diabetes are at high-risk for coronary artery calcification (CAC). The coronary artery calcium score (CACS), quantified by computed tomography, cannot be completely explained by traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors. CAC was measured in 45 non-diabetic chronic kidney disease patients on HD and in 45 matched type 2 diabetes patients without diabetic nephropathy. Serum calcium, phosphate, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), alkaline phosphatase, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), fetuin-A, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), albumin, homocysteine, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and femoral neck bone mineral density were also measured. No differences were observed in patient distribution across the CACS risk categories between the two groups. Significant differences were observed in serum calcium, phosphate, 25(OH)D, alkaline phosphatase, iPTH, fetuin-A, hsCRP, homocysteine and triglycerides between the two patient groups. Further research into the diverse, numerous and often interlinked factors that influence CAC in different groups of patients is warranted.     

吸烟和饮酒对老年人急性脑血管病发生的影响

目的 :了解吸烟和饮酒对重庆社区老年人急性脑血管病的影响。方法 :采用随机整群抽样的方法抽取重庆市≥ 6 0岁老年人 30 12名进行调查。结果 :重庆社区老年人急性脑血管病的时点终生患病率为 2 .5 9%(78/ 30 12 )。吸烟可增加急性脑血管病总患病率 (P=0 .0 11)和脑血栓形成的患病率 (P=0 .0 2 6 ) ,尤以现在吸烟者明显 (P1 =0 .0 0 6 ,P2 =0 .0 10 )。吸烟与其它类型脑血管病患病率之间以及饮酒与急性脑血管病总患病率、各类型脑血管病患病率均无显著联系。结论 :吸烟是老年人急性脑血管病 (特别是脑血栓形成 )的重要危险因素 ;本研究结果并未发现饮酒与其有明确关系     

内膜钙化对64层CT血管造影诊断颈动脉狭窄的影响

目的评判内膜钙化对64层CT血管造影(CTA)诊断颈内动脉狭窄的影响。方法选取前循环脑缺血性症状患者106例,CT值≥130Hu定为钙化斑块,同时也将颈内动脉(ICA)的检测结果分为钙化组和非钙化组。以DSA狭窄率的平均值为"金标准",以50%为界,测量CTA的敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值。结果 ICA狭窄率超过50%时,非钙化斑块组CTA诊断敏感度97.5%、特异度100%、阳性预测值100%、阴性预测值97.9%和Kappa值0.977(P<0.01);钙化斑块组CTA诊断敏感度96.4%、特异度87.5%、阳性预测值84.4%、阴性预测值97.2%和Kappa值0.822(P<0.01)。两组间的特异度和阳性预测值比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 64层CTA诊断颈内动脉狭窄是可靠的,但它诊断颈内动脉狭窄精确度受到钙化斑块的影响,尚不能代替DSA。     

血管回声跟踪技术评价颈动脉内中膜正常脑梗死患者的颈动脉弹性

目的 应用血管回声跟踪(ET)技术评价颈动脉内中膜厚度(IMT)正常的脑梗死患者颈动脉弹性功能的变化。方法 应用ET技术评价66例颈动脉IMT正常的脑梗死患者(A组)、111例伴有颈动脉斑块的脑梗死患者(B组)及83例正常人(C组)的颈动脉弹性参数,并进行对比分析。结果 与C组比较,A组颈动脉弹性参数β、Ep及PWVβ显著增高(P<0.01),B组β、Ep、AI、及PWVβ显著增高(P<0.01),AC减小(P<0.01);与B组比较,A组Ep和AI降低(P<0.05)。结论 ET技术可反映颈动脉IMT正常的脑梗死患者颈动脉弹性功能的降低。