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Biomedical subjects

J F Cornhill

Publications and source records attributed to J F Cornhill.

63 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

A quantitative study of the localization of atherosclerotic lesions in the rabbit aorta.

A quantitative study of the size and location of early sudanophilic lesions has been carried out on the aortae of five rabbits. The atherosclerotic lesions were induced by feeding an average of 114 (+/- 3.7) egg yolks over an average period of 83 (+/- 1.7) days. The aortic lesions were visualuized by gross staining with Sudan III and measured by the polar coordinate method. The lesions were almost entirely around orifices: their size was directly proportional to the area of the associated ostium (P less than 0.005). The sudanophilic deposits were located downstream from the ostia in areas believed to experience high shear stresses. The area of the intercostal ostia increased as one proceeded down the thoracic aorta (P less than 0.005). A deviation from the distal distribution pattern was observed where local flow and shear stresses were disturbed. The coronary lesions completely surrounded the ostia, the coeliac lesions had significant proximal components and the left renal and inferior mesenteric lesions were skewed to the right. The study suggests that hemodynamic forces and particularly high shear stress is of considerable importance in both the initiation and localization of early atherosclerotic lesions.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of texture analysis methods for the characterization of coronary plaques in intravascular ultrasound images.

Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) is a diagnostic imaging technique that provides tomographic visualization of coronary arteries. The aim of this study was to evaluate five texture analysis techniques and determine their ability to distinguish between plaque lesions of different composition. Using histological correlation, regions of calcified, fibrous, and necrotic core plaque were chosen from 27 coronary plaques. First-order statistics, Haralick's method, Laws' texture energy method, the neighborhood gray-tone difference matrix method, and texture spectrum features were examined using discriminant analysis. Self-validation indicated that Haralick's method yielded the most accurate results, with resubstitution and cross-validation error rates of 0.00 and 14.76%, respectively. Further optimization gave error rates of 6.67%, using only two discriminating features, IDM and entropy.

Calcinosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Three-dimensional segmentation of luminal and adventitial borders in serial intravascular ultrasound images.

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) provides exact anatomy of arteries, allowing accurate quantitative analysis. Automated segmentation of IVUS images is a prerequisite for routine quantitative analyses. We present a new three-dimensional (3D) segmentation technique, called active surface segmentation, which detects luminal and adventitial borders in IVUS pullback examinations of coronary arteries. The technique was validated against expert tracings by computing correlation coefficients (range 0.83-0.97) and William's index values (range 0.37-0.66). The technique was statistically accurate, robust to image artifacts, and capable of segmenting a large number of images rapidly. Active surface segmentation enabled geometrically accurate 3D reconstruction and visualization of coronary arteries and volumetric measurements.

Algorithms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A fast and accurate method for registration of MR images of the head.

This paper proposes a new fully automated technique that can be used for the registration of medical images of the head. The method uses Chebyshev polynomials in order to approximate and then minimize a novel multiresolutional, signal intensity independent disparity function, which can generally be defined as the mean squared value of the mean weighted ratio of two images. This function is explicitly computed for n Chebyshev points in a geometric transformation parameter interval [-A, +A] transformation units and is approximated using the Chebyshev polynomials for all other points in the interval. For 3D T2-T1 weighted MR registration, 120 experiments with studies from ten patients were performed and showed that n = 4 Chebyshev points for A = 18 transformation units give mean rotational error 0.36 degrees and a mean translational error 0.36 mm. The different noise conditions did not affect the performance of the method. We conclude that the method is suitable for routine clinical applications and that it has significant potential for future development and improvement.

Algorithms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Topographic study of sudanophilic lesions in cholesterol-fed minipigs by image analysis.

A new morphometric technique using image analysis has been developed to express the topographic distribution of atherosclerotic lesions in unambiguous statistical terms. Computer-stored images of opened Sudan IV-stained aortas and iliac and coronary arteries from hypercholesterolemic minipigs (n = 39) were used in this study. The image processing methods included transformation of the data to standard templates, automated image segmentation, and creation of probability-of-occurrence maps. These maps have shown that sudanophilic lesions are localized with a characteristic topography along the aortas and iliac and coronary arteries. Areas of high probability are associated with the entrance regions of vessels and the lateral leading edges of the major flow dividers. Regions immediately distal to large branches were found to be areas of low probability. Despite the association of areas of sudanophilia with entrance regions and branch points, a major portion of sudanophilic lesions was not associated with any orifice region (e.g., ductus scar, dorsolateral surface of abdominal aorta, and ventral surface of terminal aorta). The present study provides the necessary information for the development of a rational sampling strategy for the experimental study of the distribution of localizing factors (e.g., hemodynamic, biochemical, cellular, mass transport, histological) and their relationships to putative atherogenic mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Uptake of low density lipoprotein, albumin, and water by deendothelialized in vitro minipig aorta.

The purpose of this research was to study the effect of pressure on arterial hydration in vitro and the effect of pressure and flow (stirred reagent) on the in vitro transport of 125I-albumin and 125I-LDL into deendothelialized minipig aortas over a 24-hour period. It was found that the arterial hydration (fractional mass of water) was 0.740 +/- 0.0043 SEM for control tissue; after 24 hours this rose to 0.745 +/- 0.0038 for 0 mm Hg, 0.752 +/- 0.0046 for 100 mm Hg, and 0.755 +/- 0.0065 for 200 mm Hg. In the transport studies, the following effects were found. The reagent radioactivity concentration and composition did not change with pressure or stirring over the 24-hour period. For unpressurized tissue, the 24-hour normalized uptake [uptake (M mg cm-2) divided by reagent concentration (co mg cm-3)] of albumin was (4.86 +/- 0.43 cm) X 10(-3) from stirred and (5.46 +/- 0.36 cm) X 10(-3) from nonstirred reagent; that of LDL was (0.31 +/- 0.02 cm) X 10(-3) from stirred and (0.37 +/- 0.02 cm) X 10(-3) from nonstirred reagent. Pressurization (100 mm Hg) of the tissue increased albumin uptake by 52% from stirred and by 125% from nonstirred reagent and the LDL uptake by 52% from stirred and 241% from nonstirred reagent. Pressure increased the intimal surface concentration of albumin and LDL at the nonstirred, but not at stirred, interfaces. The electrophoretic properties of the intimal surface fluid showed only minor differences from those of the bulk reagent. These data demonstrate that pressure causes a slight, but significant, increase in arterial hydration and that radiolabeled albumin and LDL appear to be sieved by the superficial intimal layers of the deendothelialized porcine aorta under the in vitro conditions of this study.

Albumins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Increased prevalence of aortic fatty streaks in cholesterol-fed rabbits administered intravenous cocaine: the role of vascular endothelium.

Several recent postmortem studies suggest an increased prevalence of atherosclerosis in young habitual cocaine abusers. However, little is known about the effects of cocaine abuse on the vascular endothelium and its relationship to atherosclerosis. Therefore, the consequence of chronic administration of intravenous cocaine on the induction of aortic sudanophilia was examined. Male New Zealand White rabbits were fed a 0.5% cholesterol diet for 10 wk. During this period, animals were randomized to receive either cocaine-hydrochloride (0.25 mg/kg) intravenously (n = 17) twice daily; or an equivalent volume of 0.9% physiologic saline, control group (n = 16). Mean values for total circulating leukocytes and platelets and total plasma cholesterol and triglycerides were similar in both groups throughout the protocol. At the completion of the study, aortic sudanophilia was measured and expressed as a percentage of regional involvement (R1 = proximal 4 cm, R2 = middle 6 cm, and R3 = distal 10 cm). Statistical significance among groups was achieved in the proximal thoracic aorta (p = 0.057). No significant differences in sudanophilia were noted in the middle and distal segments. When animals were placed in subgroups according to percent total plaque involvement, there was a significant increased distribution of rabbits with a greater extent of sudanophilia in the cocaine-treated group as compared with control (p = 0.01, chi-square analysis). Immunocytochemical studies using the macrophage-specific and muscle actin-specific monoclonal antibodies demonstrated that sudanophilic areas in both groups were predominantly composed of macrophage-derived foam cells. Evaluation of plaque morphology showed an increase in intimal plaque thickness and in the number of macrophages and smooth muscle cells in cocaine-treated animals; however, group differences were not statistically significant. Because no significant differences were found in the cellular composition of atherosclerotic plaques between groups, further studies were performed to assess the effects of cocaine on the permeability function of cultured endothelial cell monolayers as a possible mechanism of increased sudanophilia. Cocaine (100 microM)-treated endothelial cell monolayers demonstrated an increased permeability to horseradish peroxidase during all time intervals studied (0-6 hr). Permeability differences were statistically significant at 30 min and 1 hr (p = 0.003 and 0.02, respectively). Collectively, these observations suggest that administration of cocaine to cholesterol-fed rabbits increases the prevalence of aortic sudanophilia via at least one possible mechanism involving enhanced vascular permeability.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Technical and economic feasibility of reusing disposable perfusion cannulae.

The reuse of disposable devices is a potential source of significant cost savings to hospitals. Venous and arterial perfusion cannulae under new and reused conditions were selected to identify the clinical, safety, technical, logistic, and economic issues that must be addressed to realize these savings. Single- and dual-stage venous and arterial cannulae from two manufacturers were tested when new, after initial clinical use, and after a single clinical use plus up to nine simulated reuses. Reuse was simulated by end-to-end bending, coupling and uncoupling the connectors, and by two 1-hour soaks in plasma at 4 degrees C and 40 degrees C, respectively. Cannulae were decontaminated and then sterilized by a peracetic acid based liquid chemical sterilization system following each use/reuse. Sterilization was validated by eliminating Bacillus subtilis spores from the cannulae on each of five consecutive cycles. Cannulae were tested for physical changes, functional integrity, biocompatibility, and in vivo performance in sheep. A cost minimization analysis was also performed. No clinically important differences were found between new and reused cannulae, even after nine simulated reuses. Mechanical changes were less than 20% on all variables studied and were undetectable by experienced cardiac surgeons in selective evaluation. Sterilization was successfully achieved. Reusing cannulae for times would reduce the cost per procedure from $53 to $19 (64%). Perfusion cannulae tested can be safely and efficaciously used five times. This study suggests that reuse would result in a small incremental savings; however, with more expensive devices and higher-volume sterilization procedures, the savings could be exponentially greater. Although this study demonstrates that it may be technically feasible and cost-effective to reuse disposable cannulae, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not sanction the reuse of disposable cannulae.

Animals↗