[The physician and the computer. 23. Graphics methods. II].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
SEARCH · Search PubMed
Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A computer graphics technique was employed to investigate the ligament constraints in the knee joint. A computer-assisted tomography scan system was employed to obtain the geometry of the knee and the ligament insertion locations. A cadaver knee was mounted in a special rig that kept the femur and the tibia in a specified position. The scans of the knee at 5-mm distances were recorded. These scans were projected in the computer to generate a data base for the tibia, the femur, and the tibial and femoral insertion locations for the various ligaments. The computer graphics analysis provides realistic views of the bone structures. The views compare favorably with the original CT scans. Interestingly, the scans near the ligament insertion site were clearly observed to have a higher bone density. Higher density was also observed at the intercondylar notch below the patella. The analysis was used to simulate ACL and PCL insufficiencies. A Lachman test at 25 degrees of flexion is a sensitive test for ACL insufficiency, whereas the 90 degrees drawer test may not be a sensitive indicator of PCL insufficiency. This computer graphics technique may prove useful in the design and development of artificial ligaments as well as in planning surgical procedures.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Computing the intersection of a line with a volume, or 'ray tracing' as it is commonly known, is an integral component of three-dimensional radiotherapy dose calculation algorithms. Examples of ray tracing include the intersection of a ray from the radiation source with the patient, with heterogeneous volumes within the patient and with beam-modifying devices, such as a wedge or compensator. Ray tracing is also of primary importance in the field of three-dimensional computer graphics. Through the process of ray tracing, various display features, such as hidden surfaces, shadows, reflection and refraction, can be rendered simply and with startling realism. Advances have recently been made in three-dimensional ray-tracing methods in computer graphics. Due to the similarity of ray tracing in three-dimensional computer graphics and radiotherapy, these new techniques have an immediate application to the ray-tracing problems in three-dimensional radiotherapy dose calculations. The purpose of this paper is to present these advances and illustrate their use in radiation therapy.
The binding to liver alcohol dehydrogenase of the inhibitor 2,4-(4-pyrazolyl)-butylisothiourea has been studied both by modelling experiments using computer graphics with interactive energy minimization and by X-ray crystallographic structure determination. For the modelling experiments, we used the program system TOM, which was developed in our laboratory as an extension of the program FRODO. Different strategies for using computer graphics with interactive energy minimization were tested. Two essentially different binding modes were found. One of these was favoured from energy minimizations using a potential energy function which was the sum of a Coulomb interaction term and two different van der Waals' interaction terms for non-bonded and torsional interactions. This binding mode was close to the crystallographic observed structure. The results show that flexibility of both ligand and receptor side-chains as well as main-chain conformations are important for docking to the active site of liver alcohol dehydrogenase.
A method is presented for analytically calculating a smooth, three-dimensional contour about a molecule. The molecular surface envelope may be drawn on either color raster computer displays or real-time vector computer graphics systems. Molecular areas and volumes may be computed analytically from this surface representation. Unlike most previous computer graphics representations of molecules, which imitate wire models or space-filling plastic spheres, this surface shows only the atoms that are accessible to solvent. This analytical method extends the earlier dot surface numerical algorithm, which has been applied in enzymology, rational drug design, immunology, and understanding DNA base sequence recognition.
Two computer graphics techniques for displaying hydrogen bonds between the main chains of different proteins are described, and illustrated for two thiol proteases. (The X-ray crystallography was performed by Kamphuis et al. in 1984, and by Baker and Dodson in 1980.) One is a three-dimensional model that can be manipulated in space; the hydrogen bonds are represented with the smoothed alpha-carbon plot of the polypeptide chain. In the other type of display, hydrogen bonds are viewed in relation to the one-dimensional sequence. Both types of picture facilitate visualization of hydrogen bond patterns, such that loop motifs, as well as alpha-helices and beta-sheets, can be examined easily. We suggest that such displays are useful as a general means of displaying whole proteins and whole domains because they reveal more information than do conventional simplified pictures of proteins, which focus exclusively on alpha-helices and beta-sheets. These techniques can be implemented on a UNIX-based computer graphics workstation. (UNIX is a trademark of Bell Telephone laboratories.)
The dye Procion brown was used to identify in the light and electron microscope, synaptic contacts made between monosynaptically coupled neurons in the lamprey spinal cord whose synaptic interaction had been recorded. Synaptic contacts were made on different dendrites of the postsynaptic cell at different distances from the soma. Some of the contacts were made on dentritic spines and some on the smooth shaft of the dentrites. Serial sections through synaptic contacts made on dendritic processess of the postsynaptic cells were used for three-dimensional reconstruction of the synapses using computer graphics techniques. The computer reconstructions and detailed examination of the serial EM micrographs revealed the large proliferation of membrane involved in making these en passant synapses as well as the morphological changes due to stimulation of the presynaptic axon. These changes include depletion of synaptic vesicles and formation of complex vesicles and synaptic cisternae. Besides chemical synaptic contacts, four electrotonic contacts were located, confirming the mixed electrochemical synaptic response recorded from the postsynaptic cell. The mean quantum content was estimated and compared with the estimate of the available transmitter pool, assuming the quantal release hypothesis applies at these synapses. The total transmitter pool was estimated by counting all synaptic vesicles in all synaptic contacts. It was estimated that about 6% of the total transmitter pool is available for release at these synapses. This compares with less than 1% at the neuromuscular junction and about 20% at sympathetic synapses. These results support the hypothesis that synaptic vesicles may be recycled as described by Heuser and Reese (22) at the neuromuscular junction. Ongoing studies are investigating the effect on a variety of synaptic junctions to stimulation for different periods of time of presynaptic axons. The methods described in this study can also be used to test the models of synaptic interaction on dendritic trees described by Rall (39) and Jack and Redman (24).
We have developed a system for ultrasonic three-dimensional (3-D) fetus reconstruction using computers. Either a real-time linear array probe or a convex array probe of an ultrasonic scanner was mounted on a position sensor arm of a manual compound scanner in order to detect the position of the probe. A microcomputer was used to convert the position information to what could be recorded on a video tape as an image. This image was superimposed on the ultrasonic tomographic image simultaneously with a superimposer and recorded on a video tape. Fetuses in utero were scanned in seven cases. More than forty ultrasonic section image on the video tape were fed into a minicomputer. The shape of the fetus was displayed three-dimensionally by means of computer graphics. The computer-generated display produced a 3-D image of the fetus and showed the usefulness and accuracy of this system. Since it took only a few seconds for data collection by ultrasonic inspection, fetal movement did not adversely affect the results. Data input took about ten minutes for 40 slices, and 3-D reconstruction and display took about two minutes. The system made it possible to observe and record the 3-D image of the fetus in utero non-invasively and therefore is expected to make it much easier to obtain a 3-D picture of the fetus in utero.
The interaction of three different c-type cytochromes with flavodoxin has been studied by computer graphics modelling and computational methods. Flavodoxin and each cytochrome can make similar hypothetical electron transfer complexes that are characterized by nearly coplanar arrangement of the prosthetic groups, close intermolecular contacts at the protein-protein interface, and complementary intermolecular salt linkages. Computation of the electrostatic free energy of each complex showed that all were electrostatically stable. However, both the magnitude and behavior of the electrostatic stabilization as a function of solution ionic strength differed for the three cytochrome c-flavodoxin complexes. Variation in the computed electrostatic stabilization appears to reflect differences in the surface distribution of all charged groups in the complex, rather than differences localized at the site of intermolecular contact. The computed electrostatic association constants for the complexes and the measured kinetic rates of electron transfer in solution show a remarkable similarity in their ionic strength dependence. This correlation suggests electrostatic interactions influence electron transfer rates between protein molecules at the intermolecular association step. Comparative calculations for the three cytochrome c-flavodoxin complexes show that these ionic strength effects also involve all charged groups in both redox partners.
We have reviewed a potpourri of high-tech advances of interest to the hand surgeon: electronically controlled prostheses, functional neuromuscular stimulation, computer graphics, data base computer programs, 3-D imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and lasers--fields that point toward new directions in medicine, in general, and in our specialty, in particular, as we enter the twenty-first century. With clearer understanding of the basics, we can overcome the natural tendencies of negativism fostered by the complexities of the new ideas and proceed with optimism and curiosity.
The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of rinsing and topical application of sanguinarine on labial surface plaque accumulation, compared with topically applied water, and compared with rinsing with chlorhexidine, while refraining from all oral hygiene measures for 5 days. Color photographs of the disclosed plaque were taken at the end of each phase of treatment and blindly traced using an Apple II micro-computer graphic tablet digitizer. The plaque score for each tooth was calculated by dividing the computer reading of the labial plaque surface area by the total labial surface area of the tooth. Topically applied sanguinarine showed better plaque reduction than mouthrinsing with sanguinarine. There was a significant reduction in plaque accumulation after rinsing with chlorhexidine compared with topically applied sanguinarine, water, and mouthrinsing with sanguinarine. The results of this study indicate that chlorhexidine is a more superior antiplaque agent than sanguinarine. The use of an Apple II micro-computer graphic tablet digitizer provided a valuable method for accurate plaque assessments.
Two decades ago the subject of computer graphics was regarded as pure science fiction, more within the realms of Star Trek fantasy than of everyday use, but today it is difficult to avoid its influence. Television programmes abound with slick moving, twisting, distorting images, the printing media throws colourful shapes and forms off the page at you, and computer games explode noisily into our living rooms. In a very short space of time computer graphics have risen from being a toy of the affluent minority to a working tool of the cost-conscious majority. Even the most purist of artists have realized that in order to survive in an increasingly competitive world they must inevitably take the plunge into the world of electronic imagery.
Illumination allows solid object perception to be obtained and depicted by a shading pattern produced by lighting. The shading cue, as one of solid perception cues (Gibson 1979), was investigated in regard to a white corrugated wave shape, using computer graphic device: Tospix-2. The reason the corrugated wave was chosen, is that an alternately bright and dark pattern, produced by shading, can be conveniently analyzed into contained spatial frequencies. This paper reports spatial frequency properties contained in the shading pattern. The shading patterns, input into the computer graphic device, are analyzed by Fourier Transformation by the same device. After the filtration by various spatial frequency low and high pass filters, Inverse Fourier Transformation is carried out for the residual components. The result of the analysis indicates that the third through higher harmonics components are important in regard to presenting a solid reality feeling in solid perception. Sakata (1983) also reported that an edged pattern, superimposed onto a lower sinusoidal pattern, was important in solid perception. The third through higher harmonics components express the changing position of luminance on the pattern, and a slanted plane relating to the light direction. Detection of a solid shape, constructed with flat planes, is assumed to be on the bottom of the perfect curved solid perception mechanism. Apparent evidence for this assumption, in difficult visual conditions, is that a flat paneled solid is seen before the curved solid. This mechanism is explained by two spatial frequency neural network systems, assumed as having correspondence with higher spatial frequency detection and lower spatial frequency detection.
1. The spatial parameters and electronic structures of 100 exogenous and endogenous chemicals have been determined by computer graphics, from which their oxidative metabolism by the cytochrome P-448 (activation) or the other families of cytochromes P-450 (generally detoxication) have been predicted. 2. The spatial parameters of these chemicals primarily determine the family of cytochrome P-450 by which the chemicals are metabolized and the electronic structures primarily determine their ease of oxidative metabolism. 3. The role of oxidative metabolism of xenobiotics by the cytochromes P-448, and their binding to the cytosolic Ah receptor, are considered in relationship to the mechanisms of chemical toxicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and co-carcinogenicity. 4. The mechanisms of chemical toxicity and carcinogenesis are considered in respect of activation through cytochrome P-448-mediated, conformationally-hindered oxygenation to reactive intermediates which, unlike most cytochrome P-450-oxygenated metabolites, are not acceptable substrates for conjugation and detoxication and therefore react with essential intracellular macromolecules. 5. The computer graphic method of determining the molecular conformations and electronic structures of molecules is a rapid, scientifically-based procedure for evaluation of the potential toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of chemicals.
The Corneal Modeling System is presented as an integrated instrument system designed to give the corneal surgeon the capability of measuring and designing alterations of corneal shape that are comparable to the computer-aided design (CAD) capability used in aerospace design and other industries. The system provides realtime digital video image acquisition using a high-resolution, cylindrical photokeratoscope and scanning laser slit lamp. From these digitized images, the system's computer derives topographic and pachymetric information in sufficient density to produce a continuous mathematical function that represents both the front and the back surface of the cornea. The mathematical model may then be sampled in as many points as the clinical application requires, in the form of either computer graphics or a numerical data stream to control precision machinery to make contact lenses or tissue lenses. Representative computer graphics of normal and pathologic corneal conditions are presented.
Recent application of computer graphics, using standardized cephalometric analyses, have allowed the surgeon to visualize the predicted surgical outcome on the computer video monitor. Stereolithographic models constructed from digital image data (computed tomography and magnetic resonance) will allow the surgeon to view the external and internal anatomy prior to surgery. This article describes the development of such technology and reports its use in one case.