Rapid and easy procedure for the determination of immunoglobulin class and light chain type of anti-lactate dehydrogenase antibodies in macro-lactate dehydrogenase

We developed an easy to perform and rapid method for determination of the immunoglobulin class and light chain type of anti-enzyme antibodies present in macro-enzymes. The procedure is a combination of two routinely used laboratory kits, and it allows identification of the antibody involved within 1.5 hour. The applicability of the method was demonstrated for macro-lactate dehydrogenase.     

改进自适应中值滤波算法在图像去噪中的应用

针对自适应中值滤波在窗口迭代过程中存在像素点重复参与运算导致算法复杂度较高的问题,提出了一种改进的中值滤波算法. 首先依据有效像素点与窗口中心点间的坐标距离来快速确定最佳滤波窗口尺寸,避免了窗口迭代造成的像素点重复排序;之后对窗口内的有效像素点进行取中值操作,有效削弱了噪声点的干扰,进一步提升了图像滤波的质量. 经实验验证,与自适应中值滤波算法比较,复杂度显著降低,峰值信噪比(peak signal to noise ratio,PSNR)值平均提高10dB左右. 和同类文献比较在算法复杂度和图像降噪效果间做出了一个较佳的权衡. 最后将该算法应用于Kinect深度图降噪上获得了不错的效果.

     

Anatomic variations in underdeveloped right ventricle related to tricuspid atresia and stenosis

In the anatomy of 416 hearts, the seat of tricuspid stenosis or atresia is examined, with special reference to Fontan-like surgical procedures. A classification is offered which includes cases with and without regular or inverted transposition, and with decreased or increased pulmonary flow. The size and thickness of the right atrium, the size and architecture of the right ventricle, the size of the pulmonary tree, the types of atrial and ventricular septal defects, the condition of the mitral valve, and the size and thickness of the left atrium and left ventricle are analyzed. In addition the various intracardiac and extracardiac abnormalities are enumerated. Reference is also made to the tendency of the aorta and pulmonary trunk to override the septum, in some cases producing double-outlet left ventricle. It is considered that many cases of tricuspid valve atresia and stenosis with or without transposition may be amenable to Fontan-like procedures in the proper age group. All the above anatomic considerations have a bearing on the suitability and type of operative tricuspid bypass procedures, and they may influence the prognosis of surgical therapy.     

Reference values for height and weight in Prader-Willi syndrome based on 315 patients

The spontaneous growth of 315 patients (109 girls and 208 boys) with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) was analysed in a mixed longitudinal and cross-sectional manner. 33 patients were seen in the department between 1970 and 1994; height and weight of 76 patients from Germany were evaluated by means of a questionnaire with detailed measuring instructions, and 206 definite cases were added from the literature. Mean ( SD) length of newborn babies with PWS was 50.2+/-2.8 cm (145 boys) and 48.9 3.3 cm (79 girls). Mean weight at birth was 2945 570 g in boys and 2782+/-594 g in girls. During the 1st year, the children's growth was nearly normal, thereafter short stature was present in approximately 50% of PWS patients. Between 3 and 13 years of age, the 50th percentile for height in PWS is roughly identical with the 3rd percentile in healthy controls. Body weight was normal for all boys and girls during the first 2 years. Thereafter, a rapid weight gain occurred; after an age of 10 years weight-for-height index in nearly all patients exceeded the normal range. The extent of pubertal growth was reduced for the group. Mean adult height was 161.6+/-8.1 cm (23 males) and 150.2+/-5.5 cm (21 females). Head circumference for age was normal for boys and girls. CONCLUSION: Reference data on spontaneous development of growth and weight gain of children with Prader-Willi syndrome are described allowing a better counselling of patients and parents.     

Auditory hallucinations in nonpsychotic children with affective syndromes and migraines: report of 13 cases

This report describes the discovery of a possible association between auditory hallucinations, migraine, and affective/anxiety disorders in nonpsychotic children. The cases were culled by a review of all consultations in an outpatient practice in an 8-month period. Thirteen cases of nonpsychotic children who experienced hallucinations (auditory in 12) were found. All but one suffered from a variety of major affective or anxiety/panic disorders and migraine headaches. The family histories were strongly positive for affective/anxiety disorders and migraine, and four of the parents also had a history of hearing voices. The age of onset of the auditory hallucinations, where known (8 cases), was between 4 and 8 years. In only two cases did the voices accompany the migraine attacks, and these two children also heard voices at other times. Although a strong association between migraine and anxiety, panic, and affective syndromes in adults has been repeatedly found in epidemiologic study, no such association has been studied in children, and this is the first known report of a possible association between migraine, affective/anxiety disorders, and auditory hallucinations in nonpsychotic children. It suggests the need for epidemiologic study.