[Sex hormone level of malnourished vulvae treated with traditional Chinese medicine]

This paper intend to introduce the therapeutic method of combining TCM and WM as well as the laboratory study to 91 patients with malnourished vulvae. The results showed that the concentration of the luteinizing hormone (LH) in the patients' serum was evidently lower than that in the control group (P less than 0.01). The concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was evidently higher than that of the control group (P less than 0.01). The serum LH of the patients in cured group tended to be higher, and approximated to normal level (P greater than 0.05); the concentration of FSH got lower, and reached to normal level (P less than 0.05). The estradiol (E2) levels in the serum during the ovulation period and follicular period were obviously lower than that in the control group (P less than 0.01; P less than 0.05). The progesterone (P) level during the ovulation period was lower than that in the control group (P less than 0.05). The kraurosis index of the cast-off cells from the labium minus of the vagina in the test group was lower than that in the control group, but it was obviously higher in the cured group, and approximated to normal control group.

Hepatitis D virus infection among intravenous drug abusers in Taiwan: analysis of risk factors and liver function tests

To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis D virus (HDV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among intravenous drug abusers in Taiwan, a total of 761 male prisoners, including 680 intravenous drug abusers, were studied for serological markers of HBV and HDV. Questionnaires were distributed to evaluate the risk factors for HDV infection and also to estimate the strength of association among HDV infection and the risk factors. HBV infection was common, and the positive rates of HBV markers between intravenous drug abusers and non-drug abusers were not statistically different. However, the positive rate of the antibody to HDV was significantly higher among intravenous drug abusers than among non-drug abusers (21.3% vs. 8.6%). Of 131 chronic HBV carriers with intravenous drug abuse, 119 (91%) were anti-HD positive. Using multiple logistic regression models, we found that the most important risk factor for HDV infection was hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriage, and intravenous drug addiction the next. A matched case-control study also was conducted to compare liver function tests among both anti-HD- and HBsAg-positive group anti-HD-negative, and HBs-AG-positive group as well as those with neither positive. Statistically significant difference in liver function tests was not found. It is concluded that the HBsAg carriers with intravenous drug abuse in Taiwan are commonly HDV infected with and that the infection does not seem to affect the liver as assessed by liver function tests.

Multiple risk factors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Epstein-Barr virus, malarial infection, cigarette smoking and familial tendency

A community-based case-control study was carried out to assess multiple risk factors and familial aggregation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). All of the 347 pathologically-confirmed NPC new cases were serially recruited from the National Taiwan University Hospital, and healthy community controls one-to-one matched with cases on age, sex and residence were selected from household registration offices. NPC risk factors were obtained from the study subjects through standardized interviews according to a structured questionnaire. Levels of antibody to EBV-specific DNase (anti-EBV DNase) and IgA antibody to EBV viral capsid antigen (anti-EBV VCA) were determined by standard methods blindly. Multiple logistic regression analysis for matched data showed significant associations of NPC with high levels of anti-EBV DNase and anti-EBV VCA independently. The effect of cigarette smoking on NPC was modified by age. The older the age, the more striking the dose-response relation between cigarette smoking and NPC. There was no significant association between alcohol consumption and NPC. Malarial infection history was associated with NPC with an odds ratio of 2.2, but the association was significant in males only. First-degree relatives of NPC cases had a greater NPC-affected rate than those of matched healthy controls with a relative risk of 19.2, and the heritability of NPC was estimated as 0.60 (95% confidence interval = 0.55-0.64) based on the multifactorial inheritance model. Familial NPC cases were younger than sporadic cases, but environmental risk factors were similar in the two groups.

The hepatocyte protein synthesis defect induced by galactosamine involves hypomethylation of ribosomal RNA

D-galactosamine produces an early defect in protein synthesis, independent of its effects on RNA synthesis. Here we show that the defect in protein synthesis is inherent in purified ribosomal subunits in vitro. Further, galactosamine treatment is associated with an 85% decrease in methylation of ribosomal RNA, involving all sites (2'-0-ribose and base positions), intact ribosomes from galactosamine-treated animals can be methylated to a greater extent than control ribosomes and in vitro methylation restores their functional capacity. Statistical analyses of these data, along with those with a number of other hepatotoxins, reveal a correlation coefficient of r = 0.95 (p less than 0.003) between protein synthetic capacity and ribosomal RNA methylation, and linear regression accounts for more than 90% of the observed variation. In contrast, no relationship was found between nucleolar RNA methylation and protein synthetic capacity. A relationship of borderline statistical significance was found between messenger RNA methylation and protein synthetic capacity, but it does not appear consistent with results obtained after CCl4 intoxication. These results lend strong support to the notion that methylation status of ribosomal RNA is an important control for protein synthesis in quiescent hepatocytes and that net hypomethylation is a common response to such divergent hepatotoxins as CCl4, ethionine and D-galactosamine.

Variations in atrioventricular valve innervation in four species of mammals

In this series of studies, the innervation patterns of whole-mount preparations of bicuspid and tricuspid valves were studied by light microscopy in the mouse, rat, guinea pig, and opossum. The acetylcholinesterase-positive networks of nerve fibers showed many similarities in the basic patterns of valve innervation in all of the species studied, but several interspecies variations were observed. The basal zone of the valve adjacent to the fibromuscular atrioventricular ring displayed the most dense plexus of nerves, with acetylcholinesterase-positive fibers being seen across the width of the valve. In the intermediate zone of the valve, less dense plexuses of nerve fibers were found; and these were more numerous in the cuspal areas and less numerous in the intervening commissural areas. In the distal portions of the valve, nerve networks arborized extensively, with some of their nerve fibers extending toward the chordae tendineae and the free edges of the valve cusps. Only in the guinea pig and opossum did these fibers reach the free margin of the valve cusp, where they either ended directly as free nerve endings or lay parallel to the free edge of the cusp, often running between adjacent chordae tendineae. Although the patterns of innervation were similar in both bicuspid and tricuspid valves, the innervation density of the bicuspid valve was greater than that of the tricuspid valve for each species examined. A distinguishing feature of guinea pig and opossum tricuspid valves was that their chordae tendineae were relatively more prominent and more densely innervated than the bicuspid chordae tendineae. Free nerve endings with no light microscopic evidence of specialization were present throughout the bicuspid and tricuspid valves of all species studied. Some nerve endings in the opossum showed evidence of specialization, with brush-like arborizations leading to presumed free terminals seen chiefly in the distal zone of the valve cusps. Although some general tendencies were apparent, we have demonstrated that interspecies heterogeneity exists in the terminal networks of the atrioventricular valves of mouse, rat, guinea pig, and opossum.

Congenital rubella infection: escape of one monozygotic twin with two amnions, one chorion, and single placenta

We report a 2 amnions, 1 chorion, single placenta, monozygotic identical twins, who were born by a mother with a subclinical rubella infection during the gestation; one twin had a congenital rubella infection, the other escaped from it. Both twins were premature and small for their gestational age at birth. They both had an intraventricular hemorrhage ascribed to prematurity. One had a strong positive rubella IgM antibody for more than 3 months and a persistent IgG antibody for more than 1 year. The other had a fading rubella IgG antibody within 3 months, and a negative IgM. The baby with the congenital infection of rubella did not have a defective appearance, but the auditory brain stem evoked potential test showed abnormal findings. In monozygotic identical twins, vessel communication usually exist and the escape of a twin from rubella is a rare condition; there have been only two such events reported in the English literature.

On multiple training for bidirectional associative memory

The minimal number of times for using a pair for training to guarantee recall of that pair among a set of training pairs is derived for a bidirectional associative memory.

[Right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction estimated by two-dimensional echocardiography]

The right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction (RVEF) obtained from two-dimensional echocardiography and from right ventricular angiography were compared in 20 patients with congenital heart disease. Single plane area-length method of apical four-chamber view was used to estimate echocardiographic right ventricular volumes and single plane right anterior oblique projection was used to calculate angiographic right ventricular volumes. The results showed that right ventricular volumes estimated by echocardiography correlated highly with that calculated by angiography, the correlation coefficients of end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume and stroke volume were 0.983, 0.976, 0.973 respectively. Echocardiographic RVEF also correlated strongly with angiographic RVEF (r = 0.992, P less than 0.001), and there were no significant difference between the two methods (P greater than 0.05).

CONCLUSION

two-dimensional echocardiography can be used to accurately estimate right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction.

An epidemiological study of behaviour problems in school children in urban areas of Beijing

A total of 2432 primary school children, aged 7-14 yrs. in urban areas of Beijing, were evaluated with the Children's Behaviour Questionnaire developed by Rutter. The frequency of behaviour problems in primary school was 8.3%-7.4% antisocial behaviour and 0.62% neurotic behaviour. Behaviour problems were higher in boys than girls: antisocial behaviour was dominant in boys, while neurotic behaviour was common in girls. The frequency of behaviour problems varied significantly with the different social environments in which the children were brought up, but were not different between one-child families and those with more children.

[Research of the electrophysiological properties of isolated ventricular papillary muscle of rhesus]

The electrophysiological properties of cardiac muscle of rhesus (Macaca mulatta) by use of intracellular electrode technique has been described in this paper. Thirty papillary muscle from 8 rhesus were used for this research and 68 successful records had been obtained. The value of resting potential is -86.26 +/- 7.57 mV (M +/- SD). The configuration of the action potential is typical for the ventricular muscle of mammalian. The amplitude of action potential is 118.80 +/- 10.69 mV: over-shoot is 25.57 +/- 6.11mV. The APD20, APD50, APD80, APD100 is 184.33 +/- 64.04, 301.02 +/- 95.32, 382.17 +/- 125.81 and 436.33 +/- 122.39 ms, respectively. The maximum depolarization velocity of 0 phase is 101.20 +/- 17.59 V/s. The effective refractory period is 292.69 +/- 93.91ms. Comparing the results of the rhesus cardiac muscle with that of other mammalians, authors found that they were very similar. It is suggested that the results and analysis of its mechanism derived from investigation of other mammalian cardiac tissues are applicable to the human.

The cervix-ripening effect of 15-methyl-prostaglandin F2 alpha methyl ester before vacuum aspiration for termination of early pregnancy in primigravidae

A double blind clinical trial on prostaglandin for cervix ripening prior to vacuum aspiration for termination of early pregnancy in primigravidae was carried out in 68 patients with 6-11 week's gestation. The patients were randomly treated with either 1.0 mg of 15-methyl-prostaglandin F2 alpha methyl ester vaginal suppository or a placebo suppository. A mean cervical dilation to 6.6 mm was achieved with minimal side effects in the prostaglandin group as against 4.3 mm in the placebo group. The 15-methyl-prostaglandin F2 alpha methyl ester suppository technique seems to be effective, safe and simple in ripening the cervix for termination of early pregnancy in primigravidae.

The herbal medicine tian ma gou teng yen alters the development of high blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat

In this study, the effect of the herbal prescription Tian Ma Gou Teng Yen (TGY), which is traditionally used to treat certain diseases associated with elevated arterial pressure (AP), on the general development of hypertension was investigated in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). An aqueous extract of TGY was given orally (0.5 ml/100g body weight) to 5 week old SHR twice a day for six consecutive days followed by one day without herbal therapy. The herbal prescription was administered until the SHR were 16 weeks of age. Administration of TGY significantly altered the development and prevented hypertension in SHR. On the other hand, heart rate, body weight, food and water intake, and urine volume and electrolytes were not altered. These data suggest that the effect of TGY on AP was through an action of TGY on sympathetic vasomotor activity.

Efficacy of a mass hepatitis B vaccination program in Taiwan. Studies on 3464 infants of hepatitis B surface antigen-carrier mothers

To evaluate the efficacy of the mass hepatitis B vaccination program in Taiwan in interrupting perinatal hepatitis B virus transmission, 3464 randomly selected 18-month-old infant vaccinees born to hepatitis B surface antigen-carrier mothers were recruited from 9697 eligible infants during a six-month period of the program. They were divided into ten groups according to maternal infectivity and compliance with the vaccination schedule. Serum samples were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen, and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen. In 786 infants who had highly infectious mothers and who received hepatitis B immune globulin and vaccine on schedule, the protective efficacy was about 85%. The efficacy seemed to be slightly lower in those immunized off schedule. Overall, 11% of infants still carried hepatitis B surface antigen, and 81% of the infants had antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen that exceeded 10 mIU/mL in more than 90% of them. The geometric mean titers of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen were more than 200 mIU/mL in every group of infants. We conclude that the mass vaccination program is efficacious in preventing perinatal hepatitis B virus transmission and the chronic carrier state; most infant vaccinees have adequate levels of protective antibody at 18 months of age. This program is extremely significant in the control of hepatitis B virus infection in Taiwan.

Optical isomers of some piperidine-derived hemicholinium congeners containing secondary alcohol groups: preparation and biological activities

Previous publications on the title compounds, 1 and 2 ('A-4' and 'A-5'), reported pharmacological data on what were probably mixtures of optical isomers of unknown composition. The compounds can exist as an enantiomeric pair as well as a diastereomeric meso isomer. In the present work, all possible stereoisomers (meso and dextrorotatory and levorotatory isomers) of the piperidine derivatives 'A-4' and 'A-5' have been isolated, identified, and characterized, and pharmacological data have been obtained on all products. In all of the bioassays conducted, optical isomers of each structure exhibited similar qualitative and quantitative effects. We conclude that the stereochemical nature of the chiral centers bearing secondary alcohol groups in these molecules does not play a critical role in interactions with in vivo receptors, and therefore that the alcohol groups in 'A-4' and 'A-5' are not prime sites of interaction(s) with receptor(s).

B-cell lymphoproliferation and lymphomagenesis are associated with clonotypic intracellular terminal regions of the Epstein-Barr virus

We analyzed 17 B-cell lineages cloned from two patients with infectious mononucleosis and found that different B-cell lineages exhibited notable variation in the length of the fused Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) terminal region on intracellular EBV episomes. EBV termini in different B-cell clones from the same person differed by as many as 15 to 20 reiterations of the ca. 500-base-pair terminal repeat sequence. In contrast, analysis of seven B-cell lineages cloned from a patient with a fatal, oligoclonal lymphoma revealed that three of the cell clones had the same-sized EBV terminal region. These three clones had previously been shown, by immunoglobulin gene analysis, to be metastatic daughter cells descended from a common progenitor. Similarity of the EBV terminal regions in the three daughter clones suggested that EBV infected the progenitor cell before proliferation and metastasis. Individual, EBV-infected cells from a single individual showed sufficient heterogeneity in their EBV termini to allow use of terminal fragment size as a clonal marker in studies addressing the contribution of EBV to the clonal pathogenesis of tumors with which this virus has been associated.

Study of different phases in growth cycle of human bone marrow cells and their growth speed, using rat-human cell hybridization, premature chromosome condensation, and sister chromatid differentiation techniques

The cytokinetic activity of bone marrow cells is an indication of hemopoietic status. In the routine examination of bone marrow smears, only M phase can be identified, whereas the different phases of the remainder of the cell cycle are not possible to determine. However, by using premature chromosome condensation and bromodeoxyuridine differential staining techniques, cell stage and cell kinetics can be easily determined. Ninety-eight samples of human bone marrow were collected, cells were hybridized with mitotic M3 cells, and 5016 randomly selected hybrid cells were analyzed for cell stage. Our data demonstrated that 80.37% of the cells were in G1 phase, 12.66% were in S phase, 5.29% were in G2 phase, and 1.68% were in M phase. In specimens that had been cultured for 48 h in the presence of bromodeoxyuridine, 57.46% had completed at least two rounds of DNA replication. In 72-h specimens, 69.27% of the cells had completed at least two S phases. In 96-h specimens, 2S and 2S+ cells occupied 74% of the cell population. The use of cell hybridization techniques, premature chromosome condensation, and bromodeoxyuridine-dependent differential staining revealed the phases of the cell cycle distinctly, as well as the kinetics of cell growth.

Cloning and characterization of a human ribosomal protein gene with enhanced expression in fetal and neoplastic cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma is strongly associated with hepatitis B virus carrier patients who usually have HBV sequences integrated in the chromosomal DNA of liver cells. To assess the possible effects of HBV regulatory sequences (e.g., the enhancer) on expression of neighboring host genes we have screened for cellular genes that are both overexpressed and adjacent to integrated HBV sequences in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The cloned cDNA for one such gene encodes a protein similar to the E. coli L-3 ribosomal protein which is thought to play a role in mRNA binding to the ribosome. The protein encoded by the cDNA localizes to the nucleolus and is also found in ribosomes; possibly it is the mammalian homologue of L-3 (MRL3). The expression of MRL3 is higher in colon carcinoma and lymphoma cell lines than in normal liver, placenta and diploid fibroblasts, and is also higher in fetal than in adult liver. Therefore, MRL3 overexpression seems to be a property of rapidly dividing cells and is not directly linked to oncogenesis.

Borderline immunodeficiency in male homosexuals: is life-style contributory?

Results of our study suggest that white Southern male homosexuals without clinical evidence of AIDS who patronize "gay bars" may have significant zinc deficiency and moderately depressed T-helper/T-suppressor cell ratios. No single causative factor could be identified to explain the significantly low zinc and elevated copper levels measured in whole blood, as well as the depressed OKT4/OKT8 cell ratios. Seventy-four percent of the homosexual male subjects were "recreational" drug abusers, 81% used inhalant nitrites routinely, and 41% routinely treated themselves with antibiotics. Eighty-one percent practiced active and/or passive penile-oral insertion, and 55.5% practiced both active and passive anal intercourse. Of the latter, 19% reported anal bleeding. Clinically inapparent, though statistically significant, borderline immunodeficiency and aberrant zinc and copper levels may be a consequence of multiple factors comprising the gay bar life-style.

Computation of surface orientation and structure of objects using grid coding

In this correspondence, algorithms are introduced to infer surface orientation and structure of visible object surfaces using grid coding. We adopt the active lighting technique to spatially ``encode'' the scene for analysis. The observed objects, which can have surfaces of arbitrary shape, are assumed to rest on a plane (base plane) in a scene which is ``encoded'' with light cast through a grid plane. Two orthogonal grid patterns are used, where each pattern is obtained with a set of equally spaced stripes marked on a glass pane. The scene is observed through a camera and the object surface orientation is determined using the projected patterns on the object surface. If the surfaces under consideration obey certain smoothness constraints, a dense orientation map can be obtained through proper interpolation. The surface structure can then be recovered given this dense orientation map. Both planar and curved surfaces can be handled in a uniform manner. The algorithms we propose yield reasonably accurate results and are relatively tolerant to noise, especially when compared to shape-from-shading techniques. In contrast to other grid coding techniques reported which match the grid junctions for depth reconstruction under the stereopsis principle, our techniques use the direction of the projected stripes to infer local surface orientation and do not require any correspondence relationship between either the grid lines or the grid junctions to be specified. The algorithm has the ability to register images and can therefore be embedded in a system which integrates knowledge from multiple views.

The effect of carbohydrate overfeeding on blood pressure in the pregnant, spontaneously hypertensive rat

Carbohydrate overfeeding increases blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. This study was undertaken to determine if dietary carbohydrate supplementation throughout pregnancy could prevent the normal fall in blood pressure during the last week of gestation. Systolic blood pressure in the control-fed pregnant rats decreased progressively during the last week and was in the normotensive range by term; that of the carbohydrate-supplemented, pregnant rats remained high and was not significantly lower than that of nonpregnant rats at any time. At term, daily urinary norepinephrine excretion, but not epinephrine excretion, by the carbohydrate-supplemented pregnant rats was twice that of control-fed nonpregnant and pregnant rats, suggesting that the hypertension was due to increased sympathetic nervous activity. Carbohydrate supplementation had no effect on blood pressure or catecholamine excretion in pregnant, normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. There were no differences in litter size or mean birth weight between diet treatment groups of either strain.

Clonal origins of lymphoproliferative disease induced by Epstein-Barr virus

Analysis of immunoglobulin gene rearrangements in 16 B-cell lineages clonally propagated from two mononucleosis patients supported the notion that mononucleosis is a polyclonal B-lymphoproliferative disorder. Three of seven cell clones from a patient with a fatal B lymphoma revealed the same pattern of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement, indicating that this patient's disease was oligoclonal. The three similar clones were propagated from two sites (blood and spleen), indicating that they represent a metastatic cell lineage which arose during the patient's fatal B lymphoproliferation.

Pharmacologic assessment of regimen chemosensitivity in the soft-agar assay: effect of oxygen on human tumors

The influence of oxygen on the growth and the in vitro chemosensitivity of human tumor cells was studied in the soft-agar assay. Tumor cells of pancreatic and ovarian origin prefer a reduced oxygen atmosphere for colony formation, whereas those of pulmonary origin grow better in 20% oxygen. Depending on the physiologic oxygen tension and the histologic origin of a particular cancer type, the in vitro chemosensitivity of many drug obtained with the conventional culture system could be inadequately assessed. The in vitro responses of tumor cells to combinations of drugs were measured by the regimen efficacy index (REI) method. The REI delineates the possible regimen enhancement or regimen default based on the in vitro chemosensitivity of the individual agents tested in the assay. In vitro regimen enhancement was observed only in ascites incubated in a reduced oxygen atmosphere with two-drug combinations. However, regardless of the oxygen gradients used, regimen default was seen in cancer cells of solid tumors treated with all combinations of drugs tested. This study suggests further investigation on the effects of oxygen in the soft-agar assay, and proposes the novel use of the REI method for evaluating the in vitro regimen chemosensitivity of human tumor cells.

An epidemiological investigation of minimal brain dysfunction in six elementary schools in Beijing

Six elementary schools from urban, suburban and mountain areas of Beijing (containing 2770 school children) were screened with a standardized questionnaire and each suspected case was interviewed to determine whether diagnostic criteria were met for attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (DSM-III), with some cultural modification. The MBD prevalence rate was 3.1% in the urban, 7.8% in the suburban and 7.0% in the mountain area. Lower rates were found in the families of scientific and technical professionals or in those with higher education than others. The mean score or the severity of some clinical manifestations of MBD children showed differences in families with different occupations or educational levels. Social environmental factors were considered to play an important role in the development of MBD, which is possibly based on biological factors.

Distribution of eight blood-group systems and ABH secretion in Mongolian, Korean, and Zhuang nationalities in China

Among different blood-group systems investigated here, the distribution of the ABO system varies most of all, followed by MNSs and P. Although there are differences in ABH secretion in the different populations, no striking regularity has been found. No significant difference has been found in the distribution of the blood-group systems Rhesus, Diego, Duffy, Kell and Kidd in these Chinese populations: the Rh (-) rate is less than 1%, the frequency of Dia is about 0.04, the frequency of Fya is rather high, the frequency of K extremely low and Jka is about 0.4. In the three nationalities under study, Mongolians are characterized by a high frequency of IB, M higher than 0.5 and a relatively high frequency of P1. Koreans are characterized by a high frequency of IA, slightly more M than N and rather high CDE in the Rh system. The peculiarities of the Zhuangs are a rather high frequency of IO and M and the lowest frequency of P1.

Urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol sulfate excretion in seventy-three schoolchildren with minimal brain dysfunction syndrome

Although many authors have studied the urinary excretion of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) of minimal brain dysfunction (MBD) children to explore a possible mechanism for this disorder, the mechanism remains unclear. The present study extends the determinations of urinary MHPG X SO4 in MBD schoolchildren to a larger sample to determine whether or not the function of central norepinephrine (NE) of MBD children is normal. 24-hr urinary excretion of MHPG X SO4 was determined in 73 schoolchildren with MBD and 57 normal controls. MGPG X SO4 level was significantly lower in the MBD children than in the control group. 38 of these children received an open trial of methylphenidate and the urine specimen was examined blindly. The children with marked improvement showed significant decrease in urinary MHPD X SO4 while the nonresponders showed no change, but rather a slight increase. This was also demonstrated in a second drug trial in which eight MBD children received Chinese herbal medicine. The authors compare the clinical data with the biochemical findings and point out that the MBD children developed hypoactivity of central NE, especially those with positive genetic factors in their family history.

Matching three-dimensional objects using silhouettes

A method for matching three-dimensional objects against a library of models from an observed sequence of silhouettes is presented in this correspondence. Based upon the observed silhouettes, the three-dimensional structure of the object is constructed and refined. The principal moments and three primary silhouettes are computed for the constructed three-dimensional objects to represent the aggregate and detailed structure parameters. The adaptive matching technique requires that sufficient silhouettes be added to modify the structure of the unknown object until consistent and steady matching results are obtained. The library for matching is based on three primary silhouettes of the model objects. Experiments conducted show a fast convergence to a consistent result may be achieved provided that a reasonable choice of silhouettes is made.

Intraepithelial lymphocytes and macrophages in the human epididymis

The epididymides from 7 young adults and 5 older patients with prostatic cancer were investigated by means of light and electron microscopy. The existence of lymphocytes and macrophages between epithelial cells of various segments of the ductuli efferentes and the ductus epididymidis is proven, and the distribution and morphology of these cells are described. A possible relationship between these two intraepithelial cell types, as well as their presumptive role with regard to an immunological barrier-function are discussed.

The influence of medium composition, osmolarity and albumin content on the acrosome reaction and fertilizing capacity of human spermatozoa: development of an improved zona-free hamster egg penetration test

The influence of medium composition, osmolarity and albumin concentration on the ability of human spermatozoa to undergo the acrosome reaction and penetrate zona-free hamster ova has been investigated. Raising the osmolarity but not the albumin concentration of the media was found to significantly increase the proportion of spermatozoa exhibiting an acrosome reaction and penetrating hamster ova, without influencing motility. There was, however, no correlation between the size of the acrosome reacted population and penetration rates between samples, suggesting that the zona-free hamster egg penetration test is more than just a measure of the availability of acrosome reacted cells. As a result of this study, a revised protocol for the hamster egg assay is described which is shorter and considerably more sensitive than conventional procedures.