新版电视剧《红楼梦》的得与失

新版电视剧<红楼梦>面世以来,引起社会广泛关注与批评,虽然持否定态度者颇多,但其在再现原著主旨、重大情节场面的展现、细节及心理描写、人物形象完整展示、悲剧格调的把握等方面,不仅遵循了原著,而且取得了不错的成绩.但是,由于电视剧商业化的运作方式、导演过于体现个性风格的艺术追求以及对作品认识的不足,新剧不可避免地存在某些缺失:作品的艺术价值让位于商业价值,导演风格破坏了作品的整体和谐,某些情节处理失当.     

Fractal analysis of a breast carcinoma--presentation of a modern morphometric method

Fractal analysis techniques are common tools in physics and image processing. In the past few years they have gained increasing attention in medical sciences, e.g., cardiology, pathology and radiology, respectively. This article intends to describe this new technique by applying fractal analysis to the instant of a breast carcinoma. One of the advantages of fractal analysis is the ability to describe an irregular and complex object by a measureable value, called the fractal dimension. The fractal dimension can be determined by using the box-counting method. We applied this technique to the mammography as well as to the histologic section of a breast carcinoma. The application of fractal analysis provides a specific measureable value of the growth pattern of a tumor. Thus, the fractal dimension serves in addition to the common used metric diameter.     

Circumcision no longer a "routine" surgical procedure

Nonmedical circumcision can no longer be considered routine in a new era of children's rights and more careful scrutiny of the medical necessity of surgical procedures. Although the minor procedure has been practised for centuries, custom and cultural factors may have had greater influence on the incidence of circumcision than the prevalence of problems such as penile cancer and urinary-tract infection that it was thought to prevent.     

Comparative anatomy of the claustrum in selected species: A morphometric analysis

The morphology of the claustrum was studied by stereological methods in representatives of five mammalian orders (Insectivora, Rodentia, Lagomorpha, Carnivora and Primates). In each species under study, a dorsal and a ventral part of the nucleus can be distinguished. Based on differences in shape and separation from surrounding structures, five morphological types of the claustrum occur. The claustrum of Insectivora and some rodents represents the least complicated morphological type. The nucleus is very poorly separated from the surrounding structures. The human claustrum is morphologically the most complicated, although the two above-mentioned principal divisions are apparent. The ventrally situated paraamygdalar part of the human claustrum may correspond to the endopiriform nucleus or ventral part of the claustrum of other mammals, because of its morphological characteristics and connections with the limbic system. In guinea pigs, traditionally classified as members of the Rodentia, a characteristic morphological type of the claustrum is present. This observation may support arguments questioning the current position of this species in mammalian classification. Based on stereological studies, the increase of the claustral volume that occurs with increase of the hemispheric volume is significantly smaller than the increase of the isocortical volume and larger than the increase of the allocortical volume. The increase of the volume of the dorsal and ventral parts of the claustrum does not differ significantly in the species under study. Neurons of the claustrum represent differentiated morphology. The numerical density of neurons in the dorsal part of the claustrum is significantly higher than in the ventral one. Differences in the morphology and cellular structure of the two parts of the claustrum may suggest differences in function of the two parts of the nucleus, most probably concerned with transfer of information among various cortical regions. Changes in the claustrum, a cortico-related structure, that occur with increased brain volume, may suggest that its development is less dynamic than that of the isocortex.     

Knowledge-guided segmentation and morphometric analysis of colorectal dysplasia

The histopathologic grading of colorectal adenomatous dysplasia is a subjective process. In this study, automated image analysis using knowledge-guided software was used to quantitatively assess colorectal glandular characteristics. Cases of histologically normal mucosa and of low, moderate and high grade dysplasia were examined using the technique. A total of 19 morphometric and densitometric features were measured on each gland. These included gland shape, epithelial area, nuclear stratification and nuclear optical density. Discriminant analysis of the data revealed those morphometric features which provided the best discrimination between the various histologic groups. The area of epithelium occupied by nuclei was the strongest discriminating variable, and this, in combination with a discriminant function derived from the remaining variables, was used to plot cases in bivariate sample space. The plots revealed that the data for normal glands were consistently well separated from dysplastic gland data. Data sets belonging to the various grades of dysplasia showed varying degrees of separation, depending which two histologic groups the discriminant function was based on. This study showed that automated image analysis of complex histologic scenes is possible using knowledge-guided segmentation and that it can provide useful data for the objective classification of colorectal dysplasia.     

Outcome analysis of a modified Tajima procedure

Secondary nasal correction of cleft patients is acknowledged to be a difficult problem. There are many different operations but few objective assessments of their results. We have evaluated the results of a modified Tajima operation by use of the Bristol computer technique. Eighteen patients were followed up for a mean of 33 months (range 10-56). Measures of asymmetry were obtained for different photographic views, preoperatively and at later postoperative visits. In all views there was a significant improvement in shape in the early postoperative photos. This same improvement was also seen when comparing preoperative to late postoperative results i.e. this initial improvement is maintained over time. There was no significant difference between the early and late postoperative views. In this small series the modified Tajima technique has given statistically significant lasting improvement. However, few other operations have been objectively assessed and hence comparison is difficult. We advocate the use of the computer technique for other procedures to allow meaningful comparisons between them.     

Comparative genomic analysis of tumors: detection of DNA losses and amplification

We demonstrate the use of representational difference analysis for cloning probes that detect DNA loss and amplification in tumors. Using DNA isolated from human tumor cell lines to drive hybridization against matched normal DNA, we were able to identify six genomic regions that are homozygously deleted in cultured cancer cells. When this method was applied in the reverse way, using normal DNA to drive hybridization against tumor cell DNA, we readily isolated probes detecting amplification. Representational difference analysis was also performed on DNAs derived from tumor biopsies, and we thereby discovered a probe detecting very frequent homozygous loss in colon cancer cell lines and located on chromosome 3p.     

Matching of chronic hospitalized patient groups: Empirical failure of a methodologically "sound" procedure.

Results of 2 experiments with a total of 386 patients show that Ss matched on age, sex, length of hospitalization, and demographic factors obtained markedly different scores on ward behavior scales and a battery of tests (e.g., the WAIS). Results suggest that matching on demographic variables does not ensure similarity on other criteria. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A morphometric analysis of the furcation region of mandibular molars

This study examined furcation dimensions and morphology in first and second mandibular molar teeth. One hundred thirty-four extracted human mandibular molars with divergent roots were selected. Teeth were viewed at 7X magnification on a dissecting microscope interfaced with a computer equipped with a state-of-the-art histomorphometry software program. Various aspects of furcation anatomy were measured and recorded. Data were examined by using analysis of variance for all paired comparisons. For nonparametric data, the Kruskal Wallis test was used. Results indicated that 61.94% of buccal and 50.75% of lingual molar surfaces presented with cervical enamel projections (CEPs), with the highest frequency noted in second molars. CEPs ranged from 0.98 mm to 1.33 mm, whereas root trunk heights varied between 2.23 mm and 2.93 mm. Generally, lingual molar surfaces had longer root trunks when compared to buccal surfaces. Root separation increased by approximately 0.5 mm at each 1-mm increment apical to the furcal roof. This study provides new information regarding the furcal anatomy of mandibular molar teeth and supplements previous reports that suggest the CEP is a common problem which must be addressed by clinicians when treating molar teeth.     

Activation and degeneration during aging: a morphometric study of the human hypothalamus

During the course of aging both activation and degenerative changes are found in the human hypothalamus. Degeneration may start around middle-age in some neurotransmitter- or neuromodulator-containing neurons. For instance, a decreased number of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) neurons was observed in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of middle-aged males. The normal circadian fluctuations seen in the number of vasopressin (AVP) neurons in the SCN of young subjects diminished in subjects older than 50 years. Moreover, a sharp decline in cell number was found in the sexually dimorphic nucleus (SDN) after 50 years in males. On the other hand, many hypothalamic systems remain perfectly intact during aging like the oxytocin (OXT) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). The AVP neurons in the PVN are activated during aging as appears from their increasing cell number. Also the corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons of the PVN are activated in the course of aging, as indicated by their increased number and their increased AVP coexpression. Part of the infundibular nucleus, the subventricular nucleus, contains hypertrophic neurokinin B neurons in postmenopausal women. It can be concluded that a multitude of changes in the various hypothalamic nuclei may be the biological basis for many functional changes in aging, i.e., both endocrine and central alterations, and that only a minority of the possible human hypothalamic changes have so far been studied.     

Independent component analysis of fMRI data: examining the assumptions

Independent component analysis (ICA), which separates fMRI data into spatially independent patterns of activity, has recently been shown to be a suitable method for exploratory fMRI analysis. The validity of the assumptions of ICA, mainly that the underlying components are spatially independent and add linearly, was explored with a representative fMRI data set by calculating the log-likelihood of observing each voxel's time course conditioned on the ICA model. The probability of observing the time courses from white-matter voxels was higher compared to other observed brain regions. Regions containing blood vessels had the lowest probabilities. The statistical distribution of probabilities over all voxels did not resemble that expected for a small number of independent components mixed with Gaussian noise. These results suggest the ICA model may more accurately represent the data in specific regions of the brain, and that both the activity-dependent sources of blood flow and noise are non-Gaussian.     

Effects of partial liquid ventilation on lung injury in a model of acute respiratory failure: a histologic and morphometric analysis

OBJECTIVE: To compare the histopathologic changes observed in a sheep model of oleic acid-induced acute respiratory failure during partial liquid ventilation with perflubron with gas ventilation. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled study. SETTING: Animal laboratory and pathology laboratories of a university hospital. SUBJECTS: Fourteen healthy adult sheep, weighing 64.9 +/- 6.4 kg. INTERVENTIONS: Lung injury was induced with oleic acid (0.15 mL/kg). A tracheostomy tube was inserted, along with systemic and pulmonary artery monitoring catheters. Animals were randomized to undergo either partial liquid ventilation (n = 7) or gas ventilation (n = 7). Animals underwent euthanasia at the end of the 90-min study period, after which the endotracheal tube was clamped with the lungs in expiratory hold at a positive end-expiratory pressure of 5 cm H2O. En bloc excision of the heart and lungs was performed by thoracotomy. Perfusion of the isolated lung vasculature with 2.5% paraformaldehyde and 0.25% glutaraldehyde in a 0.1-M phosphate buffer was performed. Histologic analysis followed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Gas exchange increased markedly in the animals that underwent partial liquid ventilation compared with the gas-ventilated animals (PaO2 at 90 mins: gas ventilation-treatment group, 40 +/- 8 torr [5.3 +/- 1.1 kPa]; partial liquid ventilation-treatment group, 108 +/- 60 torr [14.4 +/- 8.0 kPa]; p = .004). Lung histologic analysis demonstrated a better overall diffuse alveolar damage score (partial liquid ventilation-treatment group, 12.4 +/- 1.4; gas ventilation-treatment group, 15.0 +/- 1.7; p = .01). In the partial liquid ventilation-treatment group, we observed an increase in mean alveolar diameter (partial liquid ventilation-treatment group, 82.4 +/- 2.9 microm; gas ventilation-treatment group, 67.7 x 3.9 microm; p = .0022) and a decrease in the number of alveoli per high-power field (partial liquid ventilation-treatment group, 25.7 +/- 0.9, gas ventilation-treatment group, 31.4 +/- 2.5; p = .0022), in septal wall thickness (partial liquid ventilation-treatment group, 6.0 +/- 0.6 microm; gas ventilation-treatment group, 8.3 +/- 1.0 microm; p = .0033), and in mean capillary diameter (partial liquid ventilation-treatment group, 13.0 +/- 0.8 microm; gas ventilation-treatment group, 19.9 +/- 1.4 microm; p = .0022). CONCLUSIONS: Partial liquid ventilation is associated with notable improvement in gas exchange and with a reduction in the histologic and morphologic changes observed in an oleic acid model of acute lung injury.     

Morphological and morphometric analysis of serotonin-containing neurons in primary dissociated cultures of human rhombencephalon: a study of development

Primary dissociated cultures of rhombencephalon were prepared from 5-9-week-old human fetuses. Half of some cultures were treated by two non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists, namely 1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexylpiperidine (TCP) and cis-Pip/Mel-[1-(2-thienyl)-2-methyl-cyclohexyl]piperidine (GK11) in negative enantiomeric form, which enhance the survival of human fetal central nervous system cells in culture. At different days in vitro, the treated and the control cultures were processed for immunocytochemical detection of serotonin-containing neurons which were studied by morphological and morphometric analysis. Statistical analysis showed that the surface of the stained neurons increased as a function of two parameters of time, the gestational age of the cells and the duration of the cultures. The complexity of the shape of the serotonin neurons characterized by the shape factor, the number of bifurcations and the morphological feature (bipolar or multipolar) was found to increase with the gestational age. It appears that the in vitro development of the embryonic cells which represents stages of maturation and differentiation can be specifically evaluated. Such an analysis of fetal central nervous system cells improves the knowledge of factors important in grafting experiments. We verified that the two drugs do not appreciably alter the in vitro development of the treated cells; thus they may be considered as promising drugs for human neuroprotection.     

Quantitative analysis of stool losses in adult celiac disease: use of near-infrared analysis reconsidered

Reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are still associated with higher mortality than primary CABG. This is due in part to the potential for cardiac and patent graft injury during their dissection and the reopening of the sternum. Therefore, in two patients with recurrent angina attributable to occlusion of the old vein graft to the LAD, we performed reoperative CABG by the minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) procedures. The left internal thoracic artery was anastomosed to the LAD through small anterolateral thoracotomy without cardiopulmonary bypass. Both patients recovered fast and underwent postoperative angiogram, showing the new grafts widely patent. About two weeks later, both discharged in the conditions of nearly normal activities. The reoperative MIDCAB grafting might be expected to be as safe and promising as the primary one.     

Vacuolar changes in neuromuscular disorders: a morphometric study

BACKGROUND: Vacuoles in muscle represent a nonspecific alternation and are found in a variety of neuromuscular disorders. To understand their significance, a morphometric study of the vacuolar formation in muscle biopsies from 340 patients was reviewed. METHODS: Vacuolar changes in muscles were found in 24 out of 340 patients with muscle biopsies. The specimens were prepared for histopathological, histochemical and electron microscopic examinations. The location, size, shape, number and content of the vacuoles were recorded. The number of fibers containing vacuoles was also assessed. RESULTS: Observed after modified Gomori trichrome stain, there were rimmed and non-rimmed vacuoles. Rimmed vacuoles were found in limb-girdle myopathy with rimmed vacuoles (5), oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (1). inclusion body myositis (2) and neurogenic disorder (1). These vacuoles were usually cleft-like in shape in 5-16% of muscle fibers with a diameter of 3-20 microns. An elevation of acid phosphatase activities and the presence of cytoplasmic debris suggested an autophagic process. In 15 patients with non-rimmed vacuoles, round and oval shapes with variable sizes and numbers were noted. Four with acid maltase deficiency (AMD) had numerous vacuoles containing glycogen, while three with lipid storage disease contained lipid. Interestingly, in AMD the size of the vacuoles was usually more than 10 microns in diameter, but less than 5 microns in lipid storage disease. In other diseases including polymyositis (5), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (2) and hypokalemic periodic paralysis (1), the numbers of vacuoles were usually fewer than three in each fiber. CONCLUSIONS: Vacuolar changes were not specific, but morphometric analysis of the vacuoles may provide some clues in differential diagnosis. The vacuoles were usually numerous in glycogen and lipid storage diseases, while rimmed vacuoles may be found in limb-girdle myopathy with rimmed vacuoles, oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy, and inclusion body myositis.