No abstract available.
Densitometry*

No abstract available.
Densitometry* ; Osteoporosis*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of reconstruction algorithms on the CT measurement of mean lung mass density and normal thoracic structures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six patients with a 2-9cm-sized lung mass underwent thoracic CT examinations with intravenous contrast enhancement and using a CT HiSpeed Advantage scanner (GE Medical Systems). In each examination, the axial image of the lung mass was reconstructed using soft, standard, detail, and bone algorithms. The mean value and standard deviation of mass density in Hounsfield Units (HU) were measured using ROIs of three different sizes (50 mm2, 200 mm2, and 350 mm2 or more), and the same method was used to measure the density of normal lung, muscle, bone, and vessels. In 21 patients, mass density was also measured on unenhanced and delayed enhanced images and the degree of enhancement was calculated. RESULTS: The average maximum difference in mean mass density in the images of the four different algorithms was less than 1 (range, 0.1 -1.9) HU (ROI size, 350 mm2 or more), 0 -4.2 HU (200 mm 2), and 0.1 -3.6 HU (50mm2). The average maximum difference in the degree of lung mass enhancement was 0.5 -1.2 (range, 0 -1.6 )HU (ROI size, 350 mm2 or more). The mean density of the four normal thoracic structures was highest in images reconstructed with the bone algorithm, though there was no significant difference between the four different algorithms (p = 1.000). CONCLUSION: The measured mean CT density of a lung mass larger than 2 cm does not significantly change according to the reconstruction algorithm used. When using a small ROI, however, the density difference may increase.
Densitometry* ; Humans ; Lung*

The Scheimpflug photography was used to evauate objectively changes in lens opacity at a month interval in 143 eyes of 78 patients affected by early cataract. from Dec. 1993 to Dec. 1994. A total of 48 patients were treated daily with 1.5g bendazac-lysine, and 30 patients constituted the control group. We checked visual acuity and analyzed change of lens opacity by using axial densitometry and retroillumination of Scheimpflug photography after Bendaline(R) medication up to 9 months After treatment, improvement or no change of subjective visual acuity was observed in 65 eyes(78.3%) of treated group, whereas decrement in 35 eyes (58.3%) of control group. In the axial densitometry, the nuclear opacity began to improve after 3 months of medication and opacities of lens between anterior supranucleus and posterior capsule were statistically significant improved after 5 months of medication (p<0.05). There's no correlation in the change of opacity area under retroillumination (p>0.05). The result show that bendazac lysine may be effective in improvement of visual acuity and delay the formation of lens opacity in early cataract.
Cataract* ; Densitometry ; Humans ; Lysine ; Photography ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between nuclear density measured using the Pentacam(R) (Oculus Optikgerate GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) Scheimpflug imaging system and phacoemulsification parameters. METHODS: The nuclear density was measured using maximal nuclear density with ImageJ, Pentacam(R) nucleus staging (PNS), average value and maximal value in lens densitometry. Intraoperatively, effective phaco time (EPT) and balanced salt solution (BSS) used were noted and compared with the nuclear density calculation methods. As an index of corneal endothelial cells, the changes in cell density (CD) were compared with the nuclear density. RESULTS: Regarding EPT, maximal nuclear density with ImageJ (r = 0.379, p < 0.01) and PNS (r = 0.367, p < 0.01) were correlated positively, but the other methods were not correlated. Concerning BSS used, maximal nuclear density with ImageJ (r = 0.279, p = 0.03) and PNS (r = 0.286, p = 0.04) were positively correlated, but the other methods were not correlated. The specular microscopy showed that as the nuclear density increased, the postoperative CD tended to decrease, but without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative nuclear density measurements using maximal nuclear density with ImageJ or PNS were correlated with phacoemulsification parameters.
Cell Count ; Densitometry ; Endothelial Cells ; Microscopy ; Phacoemulsification*

OBJECTIVETo determine densities of mineral drugs and their calcined products by using sealing wax densimetry, and to establish the testing method of crispness for calcined traditional Chinese medicine.

METHODTaking density as detection indicator, the accuracies of mineral drugs and their calcined products were investigated by sealing wax densimetry compared with direct densimetry, and the method of density determination was optimized.

RESULTThe density values measured by two methods investigated above were significantly different (P < 0.01), the density values of Pyritum, Haematitum, calcined Pyritum and calcined Haematitum measured by direct densimetry were increased 1.66%, 9.43%, 96.72% and 9.02%, respectively compared with that measured by sealing wax densimetry.

CONCLUSIONSealing wax densimetry is suitable for the density determination of mineral drugs and their calcined products with its high accuracy, whereas direct densimetry'is not suitable for the density determination of mineral drugs and their calcined products.

The image quality management of bone mineral density (BMD) is the responsibility and duty of radio-technologists who carry out examinations. However, inaccurate conclusions due to the lack of understanding and ignorance regarding the methodology of image quality management can be a fatal error to patients. The accuracy and precision of BMD measurement must be maintained at the highest level so that actual biological changes can be detected with even slight changes in BMD. Accuracy and precision should be continuously preserved for image quality of machines. Those factors will contribute to ensure the reliability of BMD examination. The enforcement of proper quality control of radiologists performing BMD inspections which brings about the durability extensions of equipment and accurate results of calculations will help the assurance of reliable inspections.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Bone Density ; Densitometry ; Humans ; Quality Control*

BACKGROUND: The confgurations of the skin surface, as characterized by surface furrows and plateaux, are known to change with ageing. There are many parameters to analyze the effects of ageing processes on the surface configuration. However, there are contradictory results among the authors. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivity of various parameters being described in other reports with our new parameters used in evaluating the changes of the skin surface in the agein processes. METHODS: 112 healthy Korean males in 4 age groups participated in this study. Silicon skin replicas were taken from medial and lateral aspects of the forearm. Images of the skin replicas were analyzed by means of a digital image processing system (AIC, GA). Most parameters were calculated and measured in the primary skin axis. Image analyses were porformed by 3 different processes i.e., morphometry, densitometry (optical profilometry), and histograms. RESULTS: In Morphometry, the furrow count in the vertical section (VFC), the coefficient of the developed skin surface (CDSS) and mean width at maximal interception (MWMI) showed a tendencies to decrease with ageing.Irregularity of shadow shape (ISS) showed a tendency to increase with ageing. In Densitometry, the mean surface roughness(Ra) and mean depth of roughness(Rz) showed a tendency to increase with ageing. On histogram analysis, skewness was decreased with ageing but kurtosis did not show any significant changes. CONCLUSION:Ra, Rz, and ISS have shown a tendency to increase in the ageing processes (p<0. 05). VFC, CDSS, MWMI and skewness showed tendencies to decrease with ageing but the results were not statistically significant. The different results between morphometry and densitometry are likely to be due to increrr ent angles in the skin furrows with ageing.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Densitometry ; Forearm ; Humans ; Male ; Silicones ; Skin*

Purposes: This study was designed to explore the stage distribution of subjects according to stage of change for calcium intake and for exercise, and to identify factors that could discriminate among subjects in various stages. METHODS: The sample consisted of 142 subjects who had taken bone mineral densitometry tests. The instruments used in this study were the Stage Placement Instrument for Calcium Intake and Exercise, the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale and the Osteoporosis Knowledge Test, and the Osteoporosis Self Efficacy Scale. Data were analyzed using chi square, ANOVA, and discriminant analysis by using the SPSS 12.0 program. RESULTS: For calcium stages, economic level, calcium knowledge, positive social norms for calcium intake, & educational level showed high standardized canonical discriminant function coefficients. For exercise stages, exercise efficacy, susceptibility, exercise benefit, educational level, positive social norm to exercise, educational level, and exercise barrier showed high standardized canonical discriminant function coefficients. CONCLUSION: This study implies that bone mass promoting program incorporating a stages of change model can be applied as useful nursing intervention.
Bone Density ; Calcium ; Densitometry* ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Nursing ; Osteoporosis ; Self Efficacy

We developed a new method for an objective assessment of the meconium content in amniotic fluid. By establishing a standard scale through a serial dilution of a known amount of meconium into the amniotic fluid, we developed a new method 'mecometer 'that can objectively measure the meconium content in meconium-stained amniotic fluid samples. The objectivity and reliability of this mecometer were verified by 300 student volunteers. At least 70% of the volunteers could objectively measure and digitally describe the meconium content in meconium-stained amniotic fluid samples. We believe our newly developed mecometer is a very simple, reliable, and portable method, not requiring any instruments.
Amniotic Fluid/*metabolism ; Densitometry/methods ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Meconium/*metabolism