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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Analysis of maximal expiratory flow-volume curves--visual evaluation and quantitative evaluation].

Maximal expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curves have been utilized in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive lung diseases, in the survey of air pollution, and in studies of respiratory functions in school children. Indices for the lower lung volumes of MEFV curves have been used in statistical analysis or individual evaluation because of their effort independence, while indices for higher lung volumes of MEFV curves, which were considered to be effort-dependent, have not been used. A few reports using indices for higher and lower lung volumes have been described because the indices for higher lung volumes are as reproducible to the maximal expiration as those for lower lung volumes. Recently, MEFV-type analysis has been studied and this analysis has been useful in assessing the effects of smoking on MEFV curves, or in assessing subjects with nasal allergies or those with prior nasal allergies. From the aspects of hygiene, this review mainly describes MEFV-type analysis and the quantitative analysis of discriminant analysis.

Adult

Computer system for quantitative evaluation of an electrotactile vocoder for artificial hearing.

A computer-controlled experimental electrotactile vocoder system is designed to evaluate quantitatively the transmission of speech information and to test various design options for tactual vocoders. The system is composed of a digital speech synthesizer, a digital vocoder, a computer-driven electrotactile display, and an adaptive controller for psychophysical experimentation. Samples of continua representing speech contrast types occurring in natural languages are synthesized by systematically manipulating selected subphonemic features. The synthesized speech stimuli are processed using a programmable vocoder and presented to the skin with an electrotactile display belt worn on the abdomen. Transmission of significant speech parameters is quantitatively evaluated using adaptive psychophysical techniques and labeling tests. The system is used to assess the potential of speech transmission through the skin and to evaluate different vocoder configurations and processing techniques for tactual vocoders to be used as artificial hearing devices by the deaf.

Adult

Normal and abnormal temporomandibular joints: quantitative evaluation of inferior joint space arthrography.

Arthrography has been shown to provide important diagnostic information in patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. In this study, 60 arthrograms on totally asymptomatic patients and 64 arthrograms on symptomatic patients were evaluated. Quantitative evaluation of inferior joint space arthrography was performed with the help of a computer digitizing morphometry program. Results indicate a significant difference in the areas of the anterior and posterior recesses between normal and abnormal joints in the closed-mouth position. Differences between the 2 groups also exist in linear measurements of the anterior recess. This data further defines important diagnostic criteria in the arthrographic evaluation of both the normal and abnormal TMJ.

Adolescent

Quantitative evaluation of myocardial stress/rest 201TL SPECT: results of a ROI-based method in 108 patients with CHD.

ROI-based polar maps (33 ROIs) were employed to evaluate quantitatively stress/rest myocardial 201Tl SPECT in 108 patients with angiographically proven coronary heart disease (CHD) in comparison with 30 controls. Sensitivity in detecting a CHD with stenoses of greater than 50% of luminal diameter was determined versus normal regional values (+/- 2.5 SD) employing vitality (VI) and wash-out corrected redistribution (RD). The method was evaluated referring to the severity of the disease, to the number of ROIs displaying changes [(a) 1 ROI, (b) greater than 2 ROIs], to validity of VI, RD or a combination thereof, and for specificity. Wash-out values were found to depend on degree of stress individually achieved and thus were not used as a threshold criterion. Sensitivity in supply areas with old myocardial infarctions was 95% (a) and 86% (b), resp. With no infarction, it was 96% (a) and 79% (b), resp. VI in stenosis greater than 75% was more sensitive than RD. However, combined evaluation of VI and RD yielded sensitivities from 91-100% (a) and 77-94% (b), resp. for different main supply areas. In stenosis less than 50% with normal VI, RD was positive in 18-31%. Specificity turned out to be 91% (a) and 97% (b), resp. We conclude that the method presented is reliable to quantify numerically 201Tl kinetics in myocardial SPECT, aimed at detecting and describing CHD.

Adult

Quantitative evaluation of optical reflection spectra of blood-free perfused guinea pig brain using a nonlinear multicomponent analysis.

After developing a blood-free perfused preparation of the guinea pig brain a nonlinear multicomponent analysis (NLMCA) of the reflection spectra of the brain surface was worked out by which the redox state of cytochrome aa3, c, and b could be evaluated quantitatively and almost continuously. The NLMCA allowed to simulate the tissue reflection spectra in such a way that only a small statistical error remained between the recorded and the computed spectra. Using redox states of cytochrome aa3 and c as an intracellular oxygen probe it was found that in order to supply the guinea brain with sufficient oxygen by a saline medium equilibrated with 95% oxygen and 5% CO2 the temperature had to be reduced to 18-20 degrees C. At this temperature cytochrome aa3 was 95% oxidized.

Animals

Quantitative evaluation of water content in a solid protein by deuterium NMR.

A method for evaluating absolute water content in a solid protein based on deuterium NMR measurements in solution is described. By dissolving the hydrated solid protein, which has been specifically deuterium-labeled, into deuterium-depleted water and by comparing the deuterium NMR signal intensity of water (1H2HO) with that of the protein, the amount of water contained in the solid protein is evaluated quantitatively. The method requires a heat pretreatment of the protein sample in water of an enriched (e.g. 2%) deuterium composition for complete hydrogen exchange of the labile protons, and hence is applicable to a protein with a reasonably good reversibility of thermal unfolding. By utilizing this method, the absolute content of the bound water in a protein, Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor (SSI), lyophilized for 8 h was determined to be 9.2%. The extent of hydration of solid SSI during its exposure to a deuterium-enriched water vapor could also be followed from the deuterium NMR signals in solution. In addition, solid state deuterium NMR measurements of SSI suggested that direct measurement of the natural abundance deuterium signal can give a reasonable estimate of the water content in a solid protein.

Bacterial Proteins

Quantitative evaluation of monocyte differentiation by electron microscopy: impairment of differentiation ability in monocytes from children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

The differentiation of monocytes was evaluated quantitatively by electron microscopy and was analyzed in relation to the clinical features of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The monocyte cellular size increased and cell organellae became mature after a 72-h culture. Phagolysosome formation developed markedly- and the nucleus became circular--accompanied by chromatin deconcentration. The differentiation degree of the cell organellae was indexed and classified as mature by electron microscopy. The indexes of nuclear shape, chromatin deconcentration, cytoplasmonuclear ratio and vacuole formation increased with time. The total index increased linearly with time dependence. These results indicate that the ultrastructural parameters and indexes allowed a quantitative assessment of cell organellae and cellular differentiation of the monocyte. At the acute phase of ALL, the degrees of cell organnellae and cellular differentiation were significantly lower than the control. The above findings suggest that monocytes from children with ALL have impaired differentiation ability, which results in defective function of macrophages.

Cell Differentiation

Isoflurane effects in rat hippocampal cortex: a quantitative evaluation of different cellular sites of action.

In order to evaluate quantitatively the effects of an inhalation anaesthetic on neuronal excitability and on synaptic transmission in the central nervous system, we have examined the action of isoflurane on slices from rat hippocampal cortex. Isoflurane 1.5% (1.38% anaesthetize 50% of tested rats (MAC)) reduced orthodromically evoked activity in pyramidal cells by 62%. This was due to the combined effects on afferent fibres, excitatory synapses and pyramidal cells. The effect on the postsynaptic neurones was almost as strong as the effect on the excitatory synapses: the population spike evoked by a given synaptic current was reduced by 24%, and the field-EPSP in response to a given afferent fibre volley by 27%. The presynaptic fibre volley was reduced by 17%.

Afferent Pathways

Re-investigation of ontogenesis of epidermal growth factor receptor mRNA in the liver of rats: quantitative evaluation of northern blot analysis.

Changes in the expression rate of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mRNA with age in the liver of rats were examined to assess the contribution of EGF to the proliferation of hepatocytes in younger animals. Northern blot analyses with a 32P-labeled probe derived from the extracellular domain of EGFR cDNA were evaluated quantitatively by normalizing the densitometric scanning data with the relative amounts of poly(A)+ RNA in the samples. The expression of EGFR mRNA was low during the early period and increased towards the adult level after 21 days of birth. In contrast, the rate of beta-actin mRNA expression was significantly higher immediately after birth and showed a tendency to decrease with time.

Actins

Quantitative evaluation on the genotoxic potency of chemicals.

Two in vitro tests with different genetic end points, gene mutation and chromosomal damage, and an in vivo test, preferably the micronucleus test in mice, were recommended as a battery system for the primary assessment of genotoxic effects of chemicals. From our comparative studies on the mutagenic potency of chemicals, it was pointed out that results should be evaluated quantitatively rather than qualitatively, since the potency varies extensively, at range of 10(7) fold, among different chemicals, and the in vitro genotoxins relatively weak tend to be negative in in vivo mutagenicity tests as well as in carcinogenicity tests in rodents. New Salmonella tester strains, called YG-series, were established, which showed a high nitroreductase or acetyltransferase activity and specifically sensitive to nitroarens or aromatic anmines in the reverse mutation assays (Ames test). These strains could detect a small amount of mutagenic aromatic amines containing in the urine of cigarette smokers. A new technique in the micronucleus test using peripheral blood erythrocytes was introduced. A cumurative genotoxic effect of benzene, for an example, was detected in the peripheral blood even several weeks after treatment every week by gavage. A cyto-flowmetric analysis can be also applied to monitoring of such effects.

Animals

[Quantitative evaluation of liver function using 99mTc-GSA in rats with liver injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion].

We evaluated quantitatively the liver injury of rats induced by ischemia-reperfusion, using 99mTc-DTPA-Galactosyl-Human-Serum-Albumin (99mTc-GSA). The vessels of the left lobe were clamped for 5, 10, or 45 minutes followed by 15 minutes reperfusion. Then, 99mTc-GSA was intravenously administered (170 micrograms/kg body weight) to rats. Two compartment analysis was made on measurement curves in the heart and liver to obtain clearance parameters. Significant difference was observed between the ischemic group (clamped for 10 and for 45 minutes) and the control. These results suggest that 99mTc-GSA is useful in the estimation of liver injury produced by ischemia-reperfusion.

Animals

A quantitative evaluation of cytophotometric DNA analysis in retrospective studies using archival tumor specimens.

Methods developed for the cytophotometric analysis of archival tumor specimens used in retrospective studies were evaluated quantitatively. May-Grünwald-Giemsa-stained cytologic slides up to 20 years old could be restained by the Feulgen reaction with excellent results if they were destained in methanol and refixed in formaldehyde prior to Feulgen staining. Storage time had only a minor influence on Feulgen stainability. However, a considerable variation in the intensity of the Feulgen stain was observed between different slides stained simultaneously; this variation was not related to storage time. As a consequence of this variation, the use of internal staining controls, such as granulocytes, is an absolute necessity in the quantitative comparison of different slides. By expressing DNA data from the tumor cells in relative values (c values) related to the internal staining control (with a defined mean value of 2c), Feulgen ploidy level determinations could be made as accurately from measurements on old, destained slides as on cells obtained from fresh tumor material. The ploidy level could also be accurately determined in most cases of prostatic carcinoma from measurements on histopathologic sections.

Archives

[Importance of the results of a virological examination of sewage. A quantitative evaluation of the finding of enteroviruses in sewage].

In order to evaluate quantitatively the effectiveness of virological examinations of sewage, a labeled virus in a dose of 7.5X10(9) PFU was introduced into the canalization system of a community. Such an amount of virus could be found in the canalization system if 5--10% of the residents would excrete it simultaneously. The labeled virus was selectively detected in the community sewage. This procedure has demonstrated that the routine methods for sewage collection, specimen treatment, and virus isolation permit virus detection when 5--10% of this virus excretors are available. The labeled virus entered the canalization system most actively within the first 2 hours after administration, then its amount declined, and within 24 hours ceased. The labeled virus was found on all swabs which were in the sewage flow since the time of administration to the 7th day. The maximum amount of virus was found on the swab which was in the sewage flow for the first 2 hours after virus administration. By 7 days the amount of labeled virus on swabs decreased 10-fold. Under experimental conditions, in sewage kept at 25 degrees C enteroviruses of the group of poliomyelitis, ECHO, and Coxsackie had approximately similar inactivation rate (0.16--0.22 Ig TCD50 per day) and the half-life period (1.3 days), that is, in 7 days the virus titer on a swab should decline by 1.0--1.5 Ig TCD50.

Enterovirus

Patterns of physiological cell death and mitoses in the apical ectodermal ridge in normodactylous and polydactylous rat limb buds. A quantitative evaluation.

Limb buds in normally developing foetal rats and rats with the polydactyly-luxate syndrome at day 14 and 15 of intrauterine growth were studied at the optical and electron microscopic levels. Four sets of limb buds were collected and evaluated: 14th e.d.N., 14th e.d.P., 15th e.d.N., and 15th e.d.P. (e.d. embryonic day, N - normodactylous, P - polydactylous); they were studied for apical ectodermal ridge development with reference to the rates of cell death and mitosis. Both phenomena were evaluated quantitatively. A significant difference was found in the rate of physiological cell death, which was far lower in polydactylous (4.33 and 28.73) as compared with normodactylous individuals (62.40 and 82.11 cell deaths per 300 cells in the ridge on days 14 and 15). The difference found documents a considerable retardation in cell death rate in the polydactylous apical ectodermal ridge epithelium. Physiological cell death is associated with a process called apoptosis, which is characterized by the presence of "apoptotic bodies" in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells and in the intercellular space. The total number of mitoses in the ridge epithelium was relatively low (4.63 - 6.33 per 300 cells) and the differences between norm and polydactyly were not statistically significant.

Animals

Purine compounds in mitochondria: a quantitative evaluation.

Applying a recently developed reverse-phase ion-pair HPLC technique we determined purine compounds in acid extracts of mitochondria isolated from rat and mouse liver, rat renal cortex, and hepatoma. Intramitochondrial purine nucleosides and bases were evaluated quantitatively for the first time. All mitochondria examined contain significant amounts of adenosine, guanosine, inosine, guanine, and hypoxanthine. Moreover, IMP was identified in all extracts. Adenine was detected in traces only. These results are in accordance with the concept of mitochondrial metabolism of purine compounds.

Animals

[Measurement of cerebral blood volume by reflections spectrophotometry: methodological improvement and quantitative evaluation].

The authors described methodological improvement and quantitative evaluation in measurement of cerebral blood volume (CBV) by reflectance spectrophotometry. The measurement of blood volume by this method has not been applied to the brain tissue because of the methodological difficulties. In order to obtain the accurate CBV values with this method, it is necessary to keep the proper contact between the sensor for the measurement and the brain tissue to be measured. For this purpose we developed a balance arm. A sensor for CBV measurement was fixed with the one side of the arm and a weight was installed to the other side. The pressure of the sensor to the brain can be adjusted by moving the weight, and the sensor was placed on the brain tissue with the proper pressure. Moreover, the sensor was attached with an acryl-made cap to make the pressure adjustment easier by enlarging the contact surface and to enable to observe the vasculature on the surface of the brain. With this improved method the reasonable changes of CBV could be obtained when the CO2 gas was inhalated and cerebral ischemia was produced in cats. The possibility of the quantitative evaluation was investigated using the homogenized brain tissue of cats. After the elimination of the blood from the brain by the perfusion with the saline, the brain was removed and homogenized. Then, the definite volume of blood, of which hemoglobin volume was already known, was added and measured by this method.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Quantitative evaluation of 99mTc-hexamethylpropylenamineoxime brain SPECT in childhood-onset epilepsy.

In 10 patients with childhood-onset epilepsy, quantitative evaluation (QE) of interictal regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) using technetium-99m-hexamethylpropylenamine oxime (99mTc HMPAO) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was correlated with seizure foci localized by electroencephalography (EEG). Eighty regions of interest (5 x 5 pixels) were placed at five different neocortical areas in both cerebral hemispheres, in coronal and transaxial planes. Mean counts/pixel were calculated for each region and multiple right-left comparisons were done. Quantitative evaluation of 99mTc-HMPAO increased detection of rCBF abnormalities by 26%. Abnormal EEG patterns correlated with abnormal rCBF in 75% of cases (Phi = 0.788, p < 0.001), and with visually detected abnormalities in 50% (Phi = 0.493, p < 0.001). Discordance between EEG and SPECT was most frequent in patients with non-localizing EEG (n = 3). In childhood-onset epilepsy, quantitative evaluation of brain perfusion scans provides: (a) objective estimates of interictal rCBF; (b) more precise detection of epileptogenic foci, when used to complement EEG.

Adolescent

Quantitative evaluation of inflammation in biopsy specimens from idiopathically failing or irritable hearts: experience in 80 pediatric and adult patients.

The histologic criteria for the diagnosis of myocarditis on an endomyocardial biopsy specimen are troubled by varying institutional criteria and interobserver differences. A comprehensive approach to tissue evaluation including quantitative assessment of mononuclear cell populations enhances the accuracy and the specificity of the morphologic diagnosis. Future efforts to characterize the infiltrating cell lines in inflammatory conditions of the heart will aid in the ultimate refinement of therapeutic efficacy.

Adult