Several studies have linked vascular density, identified in histologic sections, to "metastatic risk." Functional information of the vasculature, not readily available from histologic sections, can be obtained with contrast-enhanced MRI to exploit for therapy or metastasis prevention. Our aims were to determine if human breast and prostate cancer xenografts preselected for differences in invasive and metastatic characteristics established correspondingly different vascular volume and permeability, quantified here with noninvasive MRI of the intravascular contrast agent albumin-GdDTPA. Tumor vascular volume and permeability of human breast and prostate cancer xenografts were characterized using MRI. Parallel studies confirmed the invasive behavior of these cell lines. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the cell lines was measured using ELISA and Western blots. Metastasis to the lungs was evaluated with spontaneous as well as experimental assay. Metastatic tumors formed vasculature with significantly higher permeability or vascular volume (P<.05, two-sided unpaired t test). The permeability profile matched VEGF expression. Within tumors, regions of high vascular volume usually exhibited low permeability whereas regions of low vascular volume exhibited high permeability. We observed that although invasion was necessary, without adequate vascularization it was not sufficient for metastasis to occur.

Albumins↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The use of DNA array technology in studies of ocular viral pathogenesis.

DNA arrays can be used to simultaneously analyze the expression of hundreds of genes and permit systematic approaches to biological discovery with a potentially profound impact on genomics, pharmacogenomics, and proteomics. Microarrays have been used to study host-pathogen interactions, and recently this technology has been applied to investigate host-virus interactions. DNA arrays are used to monitor host alterations in several virus-induced cancers and upon infection with wild-type or modified viruses, or viral gene products. Alternatively, viral chips are used to characterize the transcriptional program of pathogenic viruses and in antiviral drug screening and drug resistance. With an aim to extend the use of this technology to ocular research, and specifically to study changes in host cell transcription in ocular adenovirus infection, we used a commercial array to compare adenovirus-infected human corneal cells to mock-infected cells. Of the 1176 genes analyzed, 72 genes associated with cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, oncogenesis, transcription, signaling, and inflammation were differentially regulated. In this review we summarize the use of DNA arrays in the study of viral infections and suggest potential uses of the technology in ocular viral pathogenesis research.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Data representation for subsequent image interpretation.

Radiological scans acquired using either the X-ray CT or the NMR imaging techniques provide a wealth of information about tissue behaviour under that imaging modality and contrast agent. To reason about the image in an interpretation stage the scans have to be converted from a pixel by pixel representation to a symbolic form. The technique used by us to generate such a description is region-based segmentation. Each region refers to a pixel or group of pixels having a common attribute. This work has provided a quantitative measure for the partial evaluation of the segmentation which can be applied independent of attribute or combination of attributes. From our initial studies of the behaviour of CT scans a precept for segmentation was developed. The segmentation employs a one-to-one map as an adaptive mechanism. The segmentation criterion at each point in the image therefore depends on the value at the corresponding point in the map. Any process can be used to generate this map, and so easily utilizes new operators as they are developed.

Artificial Intelligence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A knowledge-based system paradigm for automatic interpretation of CT scans.

The interpretation of X-ray CT scans is a task which relies on specialized medical expertise, comprising anatomical, modality-dependent, non-visual and radiological knowledge. Most medical imaging techniques generate a single scan or sequence of two-dimensional scans. The radiologist's experience is gained by interpreting two-dimensional scans. The more complex three-dimensional anatomical knowledge becomes significant only when non-standard slice orientations are used. Hence, implicit in the radiologist's knowledge is the appearance of anatomical structures in standard two-dimensional planes, transverse, sagittal and coronal. That is, position with respect to both a coordinate reference system and other structures; intensity ranges for tissue types; contrast between structures; and size within the slices. Further to this, neurological landmarking is used to establish points of reference, i.e. more easily identifiable structures are first found and subsequent hypotheses are formed. With this in mind we have developed a knowledge-based system paradigm that partitions an image by applying the domain-dependent knowledge necessary (1) to set constraints on region-based segmentation and (2) to make explicit the expectation of the appearance of the anatomy under the imaging modality for use in the region grouping phase. This paradigm affords both expectation- and event-driven segmentation by representing grouping knowledge as production rules.

Algorithms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The symbolic atlas of the brain: handling non-visual information associated with neuroanatomy.

The Symbolic Atlas of the brain is a novel software tool which enables the user to store and access non-visual information associated with the brain anatomy. The atlas is potentially capable of storing any information about neuroanatomical objects. The user can construct a number of atlases, each containing a different kind of information related to functionality, pathology, symptoms and other facts. The Prolog database that underpins the storage of knowledge frames provides scope for nearly unconstrained usage and manipulation of the stored data, including reasoning with and about data and complex querying. The access to the stored information is provided in an intuitive way, through a simple 'click' on an anatomical structure either in a two- or three-dimensional atlas, or on an outline of a structure superimposed on a real image slice. A pilot educational and clinical use of the atlas indicates its great potential, especially in the are of education.

Anatomy, Artistic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pisolithus indicus, a new species of ectomycorrhizal fungus associated with Dipterocarps [corrected] in India.

Pisolithus is cosmopolitan in both tropical and temperate regions and forms ectomycorrhizal associations with a wide range of woody plants. Pisolithus indicus, a new species associated with Vateria indica (Dipterocarpaceae) is reported in this study from a dipterocarp native forest in the Western Ghats in India, using both morphological and molecular tools. The length of ITS1 and ITS2 regions of the present collection differed with other sequences of Pisolithus available in the databases. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that this species did not show significant homology with existing Pisolithus sequences reported previously and formed a separate branch linking with another Pisolithus isolate from dipterocarps. Molecular and morphological evidence showed that P. indicus is a new species associated with dipterocarps in India.

Basidiomycota↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Tumor necrosis factors: developments during the last decade.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗