Development of phantom for radiographic image optimization of standard patient in the lateral view of chest and skull examination

We present the construction of a homogeneous phantom to be used in simulating the scattering and absorption of X-rays by a standard patient chest and skull when irradiated laterally. This phantom consisted of Incite and aluminium plates with their thickness determined by a tomographic exploratory method applied to the anthropomorphic phantom. Using this phantom, an optimized radiographic technique was established for chest and skull of standard sized patient in lateral view. Images generated with this optimized technique demonstrated improved image quality and reduced radiation doses. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analysis of biological tissues in infant chest for the development of an equivalent radiographic phantom

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Phantom development for radiographic image optimization of chest, skull and pelvis examination for nonstandard patient

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Thermoluminescence measurements of entrance surface skin dose in exams of dog's chest in veterinary radiology

This study aims to determine the entrance surface skin doses in dogs (with suspected pulmonary metastasis) submitted to chest X-rays using the technique of thermoluminescence (TL) dosimetry. Twenty seven radiologic exams of dogs of different breed and sizes were performed. The radiation doses were assessed using thermoluminescent dosimeters of calcium sulphate doped with dysprosium (CaSO(4):Dy) produced at Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares (IPEN-CNEN). The entrance surface skin dose range evaluated in this type of procedure was between 0.43 mGy to small size dogs and 4.22 mGy to big size dogs with repeated exams. The obtained results indicate that is extremely important the assessment of radiation doses involved in veterinary diagnostic radiology procedures, to evaluate the delivered doses to the animals, to be used as a parameter in the individual monitoring of pet's owners, who assist the animal positioning, and to protect occupationally exposed workers at the Veterinary Radiology Clinics. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chest associated to motor physiotherapy acutely improves oxygen saturation, heart rate and respiratory rate in premature newborns with periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Image quality evaluation of chest for computed radiography

The daily-to-day of medical practice is marked by a constant search for an accurate diagnosis and therapeutic assessment. For this purpose the doctor serves up a wide variety of imaging techniques, however, the methods using ionizing radiation still the most widely used because it is considered cheaper and above all very efficient when used with control and quality. The optimization of the risk-benefit ratio is considered a major breakthrough in relation to conventional radiology, though this is not the reality of computing and digital radiology, where Brazil has not established standards and protocols for this purpose. This work aims to optimize computational chest radiographs (anterior-posterior projection-AP). To achieve this objective were used a homogeneous phantoms that simulate the characteristics of absorption and scattering of radiation close to the chest of a patient standard. Another factor studied was the subjective evaluation of image quality, carried out by visual grading assessment (VGA) by specialists in radiology, using an anthropomorphic phantom to identify the best image for a particular pathology (fracture or pneumonia). Quantifying the corresponding images indicated by the radiologist was performed from the quantification of physical parameters (Detective Quantum Efficiency - DQE, Modulation Transfer Function - MTF and Noise Power Spectrum - NPS) using the software MatLab®. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.

Quantification of Biological Tissue and Construction of Patient Equivalent Phantom (Skull and Chest) for Infants (1-5 years old)

Our main purpose in this study was to quantify biological tissue in computed tomography (CT) examinations with the aim of developing a skull and a chest patient equivalent phantom (PEP), both specific to infants, aged between 1 and 5 years old. This type of phantom is widely used in the development of optimization procedures for radiographic techniques, especially in computed radiography (CR) systems. In order to classify and quantify the biological tissue, we used a computational algorithm developed in Matlab (R). The algorithm performed a histogram of each CT slice followed by a Gaussian fitting of each tissue type. The algorithm determined the mean thickness for the biological tissues (bone, soft, fat, and lung) and also converted them into the corresponding thicknesses of the simulator material (aluminum, PMMA, and air). We retrospectively analyzed 148 CT examinations of infant patients, 56 for skull exams and 92 were for chest. The results provided sufficient data to construct a phantom to simulate the infant chest and skull in the posterior anterior or anterior posterior (PA/AP) view. Both patient equivalent phantoms developed in this study can be used to assess physical variables such as noise power spectrum (NPS) and signal to noise ratio (SNR) or perform dosimetric control specific to pediatric protocols.

Analysis of acoustic frequency and wave amplitude generated by the Oscillatory Thoracic Thixotropic Device (Diottix(r)) in human chest

Diottix(r) was calibrated at 25 Hz to achieve the frequency indicated in literature as being effective to mobilize the airways secretions. However, the amplitude and frequency of the waves generated by the equipment in different regions of the chest still need to be investigated. The objective of this study was to analyze the frequency and amplitude of waves generated by Diottix(r) in chests of healthy subjects. Diottix(r) was used in the anterior and posterior regions of the chest. The mechanical waves were captured using stethoscopes connected to electret microphones, which were connected to a digital oscilloscope. Frequency and amplitude data were recorded by the stethoscope, positioned in six points in the anterior region and six in the posterior region of the chest, following the positions commonly used in pulmonary auscultation. Signals were recorded and transferred to a computer with software for their analysis. The frequency of waves did not present a significant change (from 24.9 to 26.4 Hz). The wave amplitude in the anterior versus the posterior region in each area of the lung, the upper, middle and lower, had differences. Diottix(r) produces frequencies in the chest according to the calibrated; thus, it can be a complementary resource to bronchial hygiene maneuvers. The amplitudes of waves seem to be affected by other structures like bone parts and heart.

Construction of pediatric homogeneous phantoms for optimization of chest and skull radiographs

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Quantification of pulmonary inflammatory processes using chest radiography: tuberculosis as the motivating application

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Manejo nutricional e digestibilidade no quilotórax canino

O quilotórax corresponde ao acúmulo de fluido linfático em um ou em ambos os espaços pleurais, resultante do extravasamento de linfa do ducto torácico ou de uma de suas divisões principais. Este pode estar associado à ascite quilosa em pacientes com distúrbios linfáticos sistêmicos, como na linfangiectasia, em decorrência de defeitos no transporte linfático-venoso do quilo da cavidade torácica para a circulação sistêmica. A linfangiectasia intestinal é um distúrbio obstrutivo que envolve o sistema linfático do órgão e revela-se como a causa mais comum de enteropatias associadas à má absorção e perda de proteínas em cães. São apresentados no presente relato o controle clínico com o uso de dieta caseira com baixa gordura e a quantificação da função digestiva, por meio da determinação da digestibilidade do alimento, em um cão acometido por quilotórax secundário à linfangiectasia intestinal. A dieta caseira incluiu arroz, peito de frango, cenoura, carbonato de cálcio, levedura de cerveja, suplemento vitamínico e mineral e sal. O ensaio de digestibilidade foi conduzido pelo método de coleta total de fezes. A dieta caseira foi eficaz em interromper o acúmulo de efusão quilosa torácica, restabelecer as concentrações de proteína total e albumina e promover ganho de peso no paciente. Os resultados da digestibilidade demonstraram menor aproveitamento de todos os nutrientes no cão com linfangiectasia em relação ao controle sadio.

Standard electrocardiographic values in Holstein calves

Este artigo apresenta valores eletrocardiográficos de 25 bezerros da raça Holandesesa, utilizando-se as derivações bipolares de membro (I, II, III), unipolares aumentadas de membro (avL, avR e avF) e uma derivação bipolar de torax (V10). Dois grupos com animais de diferentes idades foram comparados (18 a 72 horas e 27 a 33 dias de idade). Conclui-se que não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos nas ondas P, Q, R, S e T, nos intervalos PR, QRS, QT e ST e no eixo cardíaco.

Pressão e temperatura da água de lavagem na população microbiana da superfície de carcaças bovinas

The aimm of this study was to evaluate the influence of washing water temperature and pressure on mesophilic and psycluotrophic aerobic bacterial populations, yeasts and molds, total conforms and fecal coliforms population, whereas the cattle carcass surface may become contaminated during the different slaughter procedures and the final carcass washing may reduce microbial population Samples were taken by sponge swabbing in four areas of carcass surface (flank, neck, chest and rump), from which 20 were washed with write, at 25 degrees C and without artificial pressure, 20 with water under a pressure of 3atm, 20 with water at 40 degrees C and without artificial pressure and 20 with water at 40 degrees C under a pressure of 3atm For control purpose and using the same method to collect more 20 carcasses samples were taken without washing., loading 100 samples The results showed that the water at 25 degrees C undo 3atm pressure was more efficient to remove microorganisms from carcass surface than the heated water, although this latter promoter a mote visible clean carcasses

Rendimento de carcaça e composição química da carne da perdiz nativa (Rhynchotus rufescens)

A composição química da carne e o rendimento de carcaça de perdizes (Rhynchotus rufescens) adultas, com 12 meses, criadas em cativeiro com rações balanceadas, foram determinadas neste trabalho. Para rendimento de carcaça, após o abate e evisceração, foram feitos dois cortes: peito e coxa+sobrecoxa+dorso. Para análise química, foram retiradas três amostras de cada corte para determinação da composição centesimal da umidade, proteínas totais, lipídeos totais, cinzas e colesterol. Os valores observados mostraram um rendimento médio de carcaça de 74,4% com 36,6% de carne de peito. Os componentes químicos apresentaram para os cortes de coxa-sobrecoxa e peito, respectivamente, umidade 62,4 e 55,9%; proteínas 25,2 e 29,1%; lipídeos 1,6 e 5,6%; cinzas 1,4 e 1,2% e colesterol 234 e 70mg/100g. O excelente rendimento de carcaça, somado à composição química de sua carne, mostra o potencial desta espécie para a produção de carnes especiais.

Estimativas de tendências e parâmetros genéticos do peso padronizado aos 378 dias de idade, medidas corporais e perímetro escrotal de machos Nelore de Sertãozinho, SP

Os objetivos deste estudo foram estimar as tendências e os parâmetros genéticos e fenotípicos do peso padronizado aos 378 dias de idade (P378), medidas corporais e perímetro escrotal de machos Nelore, pertencentes às populações selecionadas e controle da Estação Experimental de Zootecnia de Sertãozinho. As herdabilidades, estimadas considerando-se modelo de touro e modelo animal, foram, respectivamente, 0,53±0,12 e 0,36 para P378; 0,38±0,11 e 0,58 para altura na garupa; 0,31±0,10 e 0,10 para perímetro torácico; 0,40± 0,11 e 0,13 para comprimento do corpo; 0,39±0,11 e 0,30 para comprimento do dorso; 0,33±0,10 e 0,12 para comprimento da garupa; 0,08± 0,07 e 0,14 para distância de ísquios; 0,23±0,09 e 0,08 para distância de íleos e 0,57±0,13 e 0,44 para perímetro escrotal. A correlação genética mais alta entre P378 e medidas corporais foi encontrada para perímetro torácico (0,86 ± 0,08); as demais variaram de 0,46 a 0,72. Os resultados deste estudo mostraram que, em função dos valores médios a altos das herdabilidades estimadas para P378 e da maioria das características de medidas do corpo dos animais, houve considerável variação genética aditiva nesses atributos. Além disso, devido às altas correlações genéticas de P378 com a maioria das características, pode-se concluir ser bastante provável que grande parte dos genes que controlam o peso pós-desmame também seja responsável pelo desenvolvimento das diferentes regiões do corpo de machos Nelore. A magnitude desses parâmetros justifica a tendência genética positiva nas características de seleção direta e nas secundárias.