Relationship between tumour morphology, antigen and antibody distribution measured by fusion of digital phosphor and photographic images

Antibody-directed cancer therapy has achieved encouraging responses despite poor localisation in tumour. This discrepancy may be attributed to heterogeneity of antibody delivery within tumours: preferential localisation in the better perfused and more radio- and chemosensitive areas provides a therapeutic advantage. Antibody distribution depends upon the interactions of many complex mechanisms. We have started to investigate this by studying the single and combined influence of two tumour-associated parameters, morphology and antigen, on antibody distribution. Tumours were taken from mice at 24 and 48 h after ¹²⁵I-labeled anti-CEA antibody injection. Images of antibody distribution, antigen distribution and tumour morphology were acquired by radioluminography, radioimmunoluminography and digitisation of morphology, respectively. Image registration allowed correlation of pixel values of antibody distribution with corresponding values of antigen distribution and morphology. At 24 h there was little correlation between antibody and antigen distribution, but strong positive correlation between antibody distribution and morphology, with preferential localisation in viable tumour areas. Correlation between antibody distribution and morphology fell significantly between 24 and 48 h, while that between antibody and antigen distribution remained low. However, the combination of morphology and antigen distribution showed the largest influence on antibody distribution. This novel technique demonstrates potential for combining multi-factor information in order to provide a greater understanding of antibody distribution in tumours, facilitating the optimisation of clinical treatments. Received: 29 November 2000 / Accepted: 11 January 2001     

How to convert a traditional electron microscopy laboratory to digital imaging: follow the 'middle road'

Today, electron microscopy (EM) is increasingly confronted by the revolution in image-processing technology provoked by modern computers. Digital cameras are fast replacing film-based cameras in EM, as elsewhere, and the procedures for digital image-archiving, image-analysis, and image publication are rapidly evolving. To take advantage of these advances, we have chosen for the moment a 'middle road', in which film remains our basic recording medium in the electron microscope, but immediately thereafter, all film-based images are converted to digital files for further analysis and processing. The rationale behind this approach is that film still offers far greater sensitivity and resolution (providing an image equivalent to> 10 000 pixels per inch in a 1-s exposure), and film is still far easier to organize and archive than digital images of comparable resolution. However, digital manipulation of EM images has become mandatory. Hence, we explain here, in some detail, how we convert from film to digital.     

Optimising profitability and productivity of pasture-based dairy farms with automatic milking systems

There is a large variability in profitability and productivity between farms operating with automatic milking systems (AMS). The objectives of this study were to identify the physical factors associated with profitability and productivity of pasture-based AMS and quantify how changes in these factors would affect farm productivity. We utilised two different datasets collected between 2015 and 2019 with information from commercial pasture-based AMS farms. One contained annual physical and economic data from 14 AMS farms located in the main Australian dairy regions; the other contained monthly, detailed robot-system performance data from 23 AMS farms located across Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and Chile. We used linear mixed models to identify the physical factors associated with different profitability (Model 1) and partial productivity measures (Model 2). Additionally, we conducted a Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate how changes in the physical factors would affect productivity. Our results from Model 1 showed that the two main factors associated with profitability in pasture-based AMS were milk harvested/robot (MH; kg milk/robot per day) and total labour on-farm (full-time equivalent). On average, Model 1 explained 69% of the variance in profitability. In turn, Model 2 showed that the main factors associated with MH were cows/robot, milk flow, milking frequency, milking time, and days in milk. Model 2 explained 90% of the variance in MH. The Monte Carlo simulation showed that if pasture-based AMS farms manage to increase the number of cows/robot from 54 (current average) to ～ 70 (the average of the 25% highest performing farms), the probability of achieving high MH, and therefore profitability, would increase from 23% to 63%. This could make AMS more attractive for pasture-based systems and increase the rate of adoption of the technology.     

MRI-based modeling of spleno-mesenteric confluence flow

Characterization of hepatic blood flow magnitude and distribution can lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of liver disease. However, the underlying patterns and dynamics of hepatic flow, such as the helical flow structure that often develops following the spleno-mesenteric confluence (SMC) of the hepatic portal vein, have not yet been comprehensively studied. In this study, we used magnetic resonance image (MRI)-based computational models to study the effects of the helical flow structure and SMC geometry on portal blood flow distribution. Additionally, we examined these flow dynamics with four-dimensional (4D) flow MRI in a group of 12 cirrhotic patients and healthy subjects. A validation model was also created to compare computational data to particle image velocimetry (PIV) data. We found significant correlations between flow structure development, vessel geometry, and blood flow distribution in both virtually modified models and in healthy and cirrhotic subjects. However, the direction of these correlations varied among vessel configuration types. Nonetheless, validation model results displayed good qualitative agreement with computational model data.     

The digital language of amino acids

Summary. The subject of this paper is a digital approach to the investigation of the biochemical basis of genetic processes. The digital mechanism of nucleic acid and protein bio-syntheses, the evolution of biomacromolecules and, especially, the biochemical evolution of genetic language have been analyzed by the application of cybernetic methods, information theory and system theory, respectively. This paper reports the discovery of new methods for developing the new technologies in genetics. It is about the most advanced digital technology which is based on program, cybernetics and informational systems and laws. The results in the practical application of the new technology could be useful in bioinformatics, genetics, biochemistry, medicine and other natural sciences.     

广西侗族手指指毛的分布

本文调查了广西三江侗族18至50岁农民和学生279人(男153、女126)的手指指毛分布。结果说明,近侧和中间指节除发现一例女性没有指毛以外,其余均有指毛,远侧指节无指毛。男女两性间指毛的出现率无明显差异,左右手指指毛分布基本上对称。     

大型医院信息化网络平台的建设

现代化医院需要一个能够承载生命信息的数字化网络平台,面临大量的设备和众多的应用系统,网络架构的先进性、可扩展性、稳定性、可靠性和安全性是必须的。以瑞金医院信息网络平台建设为例,提出了大型现代综合性医院网络建设的难点和要点,认为网络系统建设可采用模块化、层次化的结构,提高网络的可扩展性和可管理性,减少网络广播的危害性,同时对关键节点采用冗余设备进行备份,对关键应用系统采用QoS、负载均衡技术优化网络总体性能,可加强网络运行的稳定性和安全性。     

High-abundance mRNAs in Apis mellifera: comparison between nurses and foragers

A large volume of honey bee (Apis mellifera) tag-seq was obtained to identify differential gene expression via Solexa/lllumina Digital Gene Expression tag profiling (DGE) based on next generation sequencing. In total, 4,286,250 (foragers) and 3,422,327 (nurses) clean tags were sequenced, 24,568 (foragers) and 13,134 (nurses) distinct clean tags could not be match to the reference database, and 7508 and 6875 mapped genes were detected in foragers and nurses respectively. 7045 genes were found differentially expressed between foragers and nurses. Of those genes, 1621genes had significantly different expression, that is, they showed an expression ratio (foragers/nurses) of more than 2 and FDR (False Discovery Rate) of less than 0.001. We identified 101 genes that were uniquely expressed in foragers, and 9 genes that were only expressed in nurses. We performed the Gene Ontology (GO) category and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, and found 415 genes with annotation terms linked to the GO cellular component category. 200 components of KEGG pathways were obtained, including 21 signaling pathways. The PPAR signaling pathway was the most highly enriched, with the lowest Q-value.     

DynaCT对肝转移瘤介入治疗具有指导意义

为了探讨锥形束CT (DynaCT)在肝癌患者实施经导管肝动脉化疗栓塞(TACE)手术治疗中的指导作用、栓塞效果评估中的价值,本研究选取了2012年3月至2015年5月在本院实施TACE手术治疗的102例原发性肝癌或转移性肝癌患者进行研究。通过对102例患者病灶进行手术前螺旋CT检测、术中数字减影血管造影(DSA)及DynaCT检测,并对比DSA与DynaCT对肝癌病灶、供血动脉、术后栓塞效果的检测结果。本研究发现术前普通螺旋CT共计检出病灶105个,术中DSA检出病灶数目176个,DynaCT术中检出肿瘤病灶285个;DynaCT和DSA的平均检出病灶数目均显著的高于普通螺旋CT (p<0.05),DynaCT平均检出病灶数目均显著的高于DSA (p<0.05);DynaCT的病灶供血动脉检出率为86.67%,显著地高于DSA (55.68%)(p<0.05);DynaCT检出的285个病灶对栓塞效果评估结果与实际栓塞效果一致的有271个病灶(95.09%),DSA评估结果与实际结果一致的有138个病灶(78.41%),DynaCT对于TACE术后效果评估的一致性高于DSA (p<0.05)。本研究表明,DynaCT在肝癌患者实施TACE手术治疗中能够更有效的发现病灶,指导栓塞操作。