Computer-aided diagnosis: the emerging of three CAD systems induced by Japanese health care needs

The aim of this paper is to describe three emerging computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems induced by Japanese health care needs. CAD has been developing fast in the last two decades. The idea of using a computer to help in medical image diagnosis is not new. Some pioneer studies are dated back to the 1960s. In 1998, the first U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved commercial CAD system, a film-digitized mammography system, was launched by R2 Technologies, Inc. The success was quickly repeated by a number of companies. The approval of Medicare CAD reimbursement in the U.S. in 2001 further boosted the industry. Today, CAD has its significance in the economy of the medical industry. FDA approved CAD products in the field of breast imaging (mammography, ultrasonography and breast MRI) and chest imaging (radiography and CT) can be seen. In Japan, as part of the "Knowledge Cluster Initiative" of the government, three computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) projects are hosted at the Gifu University since 2004. These projects are regarding the development of CAD systems for the early detection of (1) cerebrovascular diseases using brain MRI and MRA images by detecting lacunar infarcts, unruptured aneurysms, and arterial occlusions; (2) ocular diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and hypertensive retinopathy using retinal fundus images; and (3) breast cancers using ultrasound 3-D volumetric whole breast data by detecting the breast masses. The projects are entering their final development stage. Preliminary results are presented in this paper. Clinical examinations will be started soon, and commercialized CAD systems for the above subjects will appear by the completion of this project.     

Methane partial oxidation to methanol-solid initiated homogeneous methane oxidation

The initiation temperature of methane partial oxidation was markedly lowered by platinum wire placed upstream of a high pressure reactor. Added hydrogen in the reactant gas promoted the methanol selectivity. The radicals formed on the platinum surface were desorbed from it and initiated the reaction.     

Thermal and crystallization behavior of hydrogen‐bonded miscible blend of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) and enzymatically polymerized polyphenol

Enzymatically prepared novel polyphenol poly(4,4′‐dihydroxydiphenyl ether) (PDHDPE) is blended to modify the properties of biodegradable polyester poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate] (PHB). Because the differential scanning calorimetry data show a single composition‐dependent glass transition for each blend, PHB and PDHDPE are found to be miscible in the amorphous phase. The crystallization of PHB is depressed by PDHDPE because PDHDPE reduces the molecular mobility and the flexibility of molecular chains of PHB. The Fourier transform IR spectra clearly indicate that PHB and PDHDPE interact through strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the carbonyl groups of PHB and the hydroxyl groups of PDHDPE. However, when PHB is blended with DHDPE monomer, no obvious hydrogen bonds are observed because of the phase separation and strong self‐intermolecular hydrogen bonds between DHDPE molecules. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 2439–2449, 2005     

Color changes in fish during grilling – Influences of heat transfer and heating medium on browning color

Samples of red sea bream (Pagrus major) were grilled under radiant (far-infrared radiation, FIR) and convective (superheated steam, SHS) heating. The temperature and color (CIE L^∗, a^∗, and b^∗ values) of the sample surface were monitored over time, using SHS, dry air, and N₂ as heating media. The rate of L^∗ changes was evaluated by treating the browning reaction as first-order. Color changes based on a^∗ and b^∗ values were effectively correlated with the L^∗ value, using empirical equations. A slower reduction in L^∗ for heating with SHS rather than FIR was obtained, probably because of different activation energies (31.5 and 50.7 kJ mol⁻¹) and frequency factors (8.2 and 4759 s⁻¹). The order of reductions in L^∗ was dry air > N₂≒$\fallingdotseq$ SHS. The absence of O₂ in the heating medium could be the reason for the delay in the browning reaction during heating using N₂ and SHS.     

MRI Observation and Mathematical Model Simulation of Water Migration in Wheat Flour Dough During Boiling

Existing cooking rate equations fail to describe the change of moisture content profile in starchy foods during cooking. There is a need for a new model. In this paper, an experiment on water migration during boiling was performed using a slab of wheat flour dough. The moisture content profile was measured by an MRI method. The result was compared with predictions made using mathematical models. The existing mathematical model was found to predict a much more rapid change than that measured by experiment. The accuracy of the prediction was considerably improved when a new model was applied: a mathematical model based on a new concept that water migration is driven by water demand.     

Roles of histamine receptor in a guinea pig asthma model

A case of parotidomegaly associated with anorexia is described, and the psychoneurological and etiopathogenetic theories of main feed disorders (anorexia/bulimia) are discussed. Particularly, a rare pathology of maxillofacial interest is presented: parotidomegaly associated with anorexia. The diagnosis and differential diagnosis of this pathology is discussed.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(hydroxyether). II. Poly(hydroxyethers) based on various bisphenols and 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxypheny)hexafluoropropane

Several kinds of linear copoly(hydroxyethers) (CPHEs) were prepared by the base‐induced condensation of bisphenol with epichlorohydrin in a polar mixed solvent. The CPHEs were based on bisphenol AF [2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxypheny)hexafluoropropane], and the composition ratio of bisphenol AF and bisphenol was 50 : 50 mol/mol. The CPHEs and the corresponding homopoly(hydroxyethers) (HPHEs) were characterized in terms of reduced viscosity, NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), solubility, and contact angle. NMR results indicated that the compositions of the copolymers were in good agreement with the feed compositions in the preparation. DSC analysis revealed that the CPHEs and HPHEs were amorphous polymers. The incorporation of bisphenol AF into the HPHE increased the solubility in many kinds of organic solvents when the CPHEs were compared with the corresponding HPHE. In the measurement of contact angles of water and plasma for poly(hydroxyethers) (PHEs) and common hydrophobic polymers, the peculiar phenomenon that the contact angles of plasma were higher than that of water was observed only in the case of PHEs. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 1697–1709, 2001     

An Area-Effective Cell-Based Channel Decoder LSI For a Digital Satellite TV Broadcasting

A new channel decoder LSI, which will be used in digital satellite TV broadcasting Set-Top Boxes, has been designed. This LSI's functions include AD/DA conversion, QPSK demodulating, Viterbi decoding, frame synchronization, convolutional deinterleaving, Reed-Solomon (RS) decoding, and descrambling. We use a new method for Viterbi Decoding called the Tracking Survivor State Information (TSSI) method, which not only reduces power consumption, but also solves the problem of increasing memory size. To reduce the size of RS decoder circuit, we used a three-stage-pipeline structure as well as designed a new architecture to realize Euclid's algorithm. This device has been fabricated in a 0.35 µm 3-metal CMOS standard cell-based process and is composed of 670 K transistors. In this paper, we describe the TSSI method of the Viterbi Decoder and the Reed-Solomon Decoder's new 3-stage pipeline architecture.     

Phase II study of 3-hour infusion of paclitaxel in patients with previously untreated stage III and IV non-small cell lung cancer. West Japan Lung Cancer Group

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hysterectomy is believed to be associated with disturbed defecation, mainly constipation. This study longitudinally describes bowel function in women submitted for hysterectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Rectoanal manovolumetry, whole gut transit time and detailed interviews on bowel function and dyspareunia were performed preoperatively and at 3 and 11-18 months after hysterectomy in 42 women. Twenty healthy women matched for age and parity served as manovolumetry controls. RESULTS: No significant changes in anal sphincter pressures could be demonstrated, neither early nor late after hysterectomy. Transit time was unaffected. All but one of the patients claimed that they had been suffering from one or more of the following symptoms; abdominal pain, distension, constipation and dysparenuia. While postoperative interviews revealed a significant improvement with respect to abdominal pain and dyspareunia (P < 0.01) after 3 and 11-18 months, improvement of abdominal distension and constipation proved to be transient only. CONCLUSION: Simple abdominal hysterectomy appears not to interfere adversely with bowel function. On the contrary many patients were relieved from abdominal pain present before operation.