Real-Time Tracking of Single and Multiple Objects from Depth-Colour Imagery Using 3D Signed Distance Functions.

We describe a novel probabilistic framework for real-time tracking of multiple objects from combined depth-colour imagery. Object shape is represented implicitly using 3D signed distance functions. Probabilistic generative models based on these functions are developed to account for the observed RGB-D imagery, and tracking is posed as a maximum a posteriori problem. We present first a method suited to tracking a single rigid 3D object, and then generalise this to multiple objects by combining distance functions into a shape union in the frame of the camera. This second model accounts for similarity and proximity between objects, and leads to robust real-time tracking without recourse to bolt-on or ad-hoc collision detection.

Molecular cloning, sequence identification, and gene expression analysis of bovine ADCY2 gene.

Adenylyl cyclase 2 (ADCY2), a class B member of adenylyl cyclases, is important in accelerating phosphor-acidification as well as glycogen synthesis and breakdown. Given its distinct role in flesh tenderization after butchering, we cloned and sequenced the ADCY2 gene from Yanbian cattle and assessed its expression in bovine tissues. A 2947 bp nucleotide sequence representing the full-length cDNA of bovine ADCY2 gene was obtained by 5' and 3' remote analysis computations for gene expression. Analyses of the putative protein sequence showed that ADCY2 had high homology among species, except with the non-mammal Oreochromis niloticus. Gene structural domain analyses in humans and rats indicated that the ADCY2 protein had no flaw; only the transmembrane domain was reduced and the CYCc structure domain was shortened. Assessment of ADCY2 expression in bovine tissues by real-time PCR showed that the highest expression was in the testes, followed by the longissimus dorsi, tensor fasciae latae, and latissimus dorsi. These data will serve as a foundation for further insight into the cattle ADCY2 gene.

Axillary lymph node status, adjusted for pathologic complete response in breast and axilla after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, predicts differential disease-free survival in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Our retrospective study in breast cancer patients evaluated whether integrating subtype and pathologic complete response (pcr) information into axillary lymph node restaging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nac) adds significance to its prognostic values. METHODS: Patients included in the analysis had stage ii or iii disease, with post-nac axillary lymph node dissection (alnd), without sentinel lymph node biopsy before completion of nac, with definitive subtyping data and subtype-oriented adjuvant treatments. The ypN grading system was used to restage axillary lymph node status, and ypN0 was adjusted by pcr in both breast and axilla into ypN0(pcr) and ypN0(non-pcr). Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed. RESULTS: Among the 301 patients analyzed, 145 had tumours that were hormone receptor-positive (hr+) and negative for the human epidermal growth factor receptor (her2-), 101 had tumours that were positive for her2 (her2+), and 55 had tumours that were triple-negative. The rate of pcr in both breast and axilla was 11.7%, 43.6%, and 25.5% respectively for the 3 subtypes. Compared with the non-pcr patients, the pcr patients had better disease-free survival (dfs) and overall survival (os): p = 0.002 for dfs and p = 0.011 for os. In non-pcr patients, dfs and os were similar in the ypN0(non-pcr) and ypN1 subgroups, and in the ypN2 and ypN3 subgroups. We therefore grouped the ypN grading results into ypN0(pcr) (n = 75), ypN0- 1(non-pcr) (n = 175), and ypN2-3 (n = 51). In those groups, the 3-year dfs was 98%, 91%, and 56%, and the 3-year os was 100%, 91%, and 82% respectively. The differences in dfs and os between those three subgroups were significant (all p < 0.05 in paired comparisons). Multivariate Cox regression showed that subtype and ypN staging adjusted by pcr were the only two independent factors predicting dfs. CONCLUSIONS: Axillary lymph node status after nac, adjusted for pcr in breast and axilla, predicts differential dfs in patients without prior sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Association of CAST gene polymorphisms with carcass and meat quality traits in Yanbian cattle of China.

Bovine calpastatin (CAST) gene polymorphisms have been associated with meat tenderness traits; however, little is known about how the CAST gene affects beef quality traits. In this study, 25 single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected in the CAST gene using polymerase chain reaction with single-strand conformation polymorphism and gene sequencing. Different preponderant genotypes were found at the corresponding gene locus. The E1-1, E1-2, and C3-1 loci were correlated with meat tenderness height and highly correlated with the fatty acid content and the amino acid content. The E4-2 locus was not correlated with meat tenderness, but it was correlated with cooking loss, brightness, and yellowness, among others. The CAST gene is a potential marker for these meat quality traits, but further research is required.

The dynamic change of plasma endothelin-1 during the perioperative period in patients with rheumatic valvular disease and secondary pulmonary hypertension.

The arterial plasma endothelin-1 concentration was substantially more elevated in 15 patients with rheumatic valvular disease and secondary pulmonary hypertension than in healthy volunteers (3.66 +/- 2.20 versus 1.17 +/- 0.38 pg/ml, mean +/- standard deviation; p < 0.01). The preoperative plasma endothelin-1 level was highly correlated with the pulmonary hemodynamics: pulmonary artery systolic pressure (r = 0.94, p < 0.001), pulmonary artery mean pressure (r = 0.86, p < 0.001), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (r = 0.82, p < 0.001), and pulmonary vascular resistance (r = 0.63, p < 0.02). After valve replacement, the plasma endothelin-1 concentration declined substantially and the pulmonary hemodynamics improved markedly. Two weeks after the operation, the plasma endothelin-1 level in patients (1.26 +/- 0.45 pg/ml, mean +/- standard deviation) was not statistically different from that in the healthy volunteers. The plasma endothelin-1 concentration continuously increased during the course of cardiopulmonary bypass and peaked after cessation of bypass. The peak plasma endothelin-1 level (13.49 +/- 4.60 pg/ml, mean +/- standard deviation) positively correlated with the bypass time (r = 0.64, p < 0.02) and negatively correlated with the urine volume during bypass (r = -0.69, p < 0.01). We conclude that (1) increased plasma endothelin-1 might be implicated in the pathogenesis of secondary pulmonary hypertension caused by rheumatic valvular disease and (2) markedly elevated plasma endothelin-1 concentrations might be associated with the mechanism of cardiac or renal dysfunction after prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass.

[Long-term results of bioprosthetic valves mounted on flexible stent].

From April, 1984 to April, 1989, 104 heart valve replacements were performed in 103 patients. The atrio-ventricular valves (97 mitral and 7 tricuspid valves) were replace by bioprosthetic valves mounted on the flexible stent made of Elgiloy. They included 91 porcine aortic valves and 13 bovine pericardial valves. Only 74 patients recovered and discharged from the hospital because of high operative mortality of re-replacement and double valve replacement (19 and 30 patients, respectively). These patients were followed-up for 8 to 68 months with a total follow-up period of 297 patient-years. Two patients developed cerebral embolism and two developed bacterial endocarditis. The incidence of the two complications was 0.67%/patient-year. No valve failure occurred. Long-term results of bioprosthetic heart valves mounted on flexible stent were better than those mounted on rigid stent.

[Bronchial carcinoid. A clinical, roentgenological and pathological study of 17 cases].

17 cases with bronchial carcinoid were reported. 16 cases of them were proved pathologically after pulmonary resection, and the remaining one was confirmed histopathologically through bronchoscopic biopsy. 64.7% was under 40 years of age. The main clinical manifestations were cough, hemoptysis, fever and repeated pneumonitis. In one patient, the carcinoid was associated with Cushing's syndrome. Chest roentgenograms showed lesions centrally located in 12 cases, and peripherally located in 5 cases. Histological examination revealed 15 typical and 2 atypical carcinoid tumors. This disease was usually misdiagnosed as lung cancer, tuberculoma and benign tumors. Chest X-ray examination and fiberoptic bronchoscopic biopsy are helpful to the diagnosis of the disease. Pulmonary resection was performed in 16 cases. Two patients had hilar lymph node metastases, one of them had also involvement of pericardium. There was no operative mortality. In the follow-up study, the disease-free actuarial survival following pulmonary resection was 92.9% at 5 years. 2 patients died. One died of respiratory failure 4 months after pneumonectomy, the other died of pericardium involvement of carcinoid 8 months after operation. Resection is the only effective treatment for bronchial carcinoid.

[Diagnosis and treatment of multiple primary bronchogenic carcinoma].

From 1974 to 1983, 4 patients with multiple primary bronchogenic carcinoma were treated. It comprised 0.64% (4/622) of all lung cancers admitted to our hospital during the same period. Out of these 4 patients, 2 were synchronous and 2 were metachronous. 3 were bilateral, the other was unilateral. 3 were preoperatively misdiagnosed as pulmonary metastases and the fourth case was confirmed only postoperatively. The common pathologic combination was squamous carcinoma and squamous carcinoma. Two patients with synchronous cancers survived for 15 and 42 months after the operation. Two with metachronous cancers are living up to now (for more than four years) after the second cancer had been removed. The diagnosis and treatment of this cancer are discussed. The authors believe that the survival rate may be increased by early diagnosis and prompt operation.