Three-dimensional analysis of biplanar cephalograms.

The aims of this study were to reconstruct a three-dimensional (3D) model, to provide a 3D analysis using biplanar cephalograms [postero-anterior (PA) and lateral] with orthogonal projection, and to compare the differences between the 3D and two-dimensional (2D) analyses. The procedures were as follows: (1) to identify landmarks from a dry skull and to construct the norms for the spatial information of the skull from the 3D reconstruction using computerized tomography (CT); (2) to reconstruct a 3D model using biplanar cephalograms (PA and lateral); and (3) to compare the differences between the 2D and 3D analyses. Fifteen clearly visible landmarks identified on both films were used in this study.

Tissue image interpolation based on fractional Brownian motion.

Fractal Brownian Motion (fBm) has been proven in a viewpoint of irregularity characterization for quantifying the structure of the tissue images. Breast masses were selected as the target sample because breast-associated diseases have become prevalent in Taiwan. In this paper, the ability of fractal dimension in fractal interpolation schemes is investigated and compared with the traditional interpolation schemes including bilinear and bicubic methods.

Changes in membrane cholesterol of pituitary tumor (GH3) cells regulate the activity of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels.

The effects of changes in membrane cholesterol on ion currents were investigated in pituitary GH3 cells. Depletion of membrane cholesterol by exposing cells to methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MbetaCD), an oligosaccharide, resulted in an increase in the density of Ca2+-activated K+ current (IK(Ca)). However, no significant change in IK(Ca) density was demonstrated in GH3 cells treated with a mixture of MbetaCD and cholesterol.