Abstract:
The present invention details methods for the treatment of cancer. In particular, it concerns the induction of apoptosis of cancer cells following treatment with c-Abl and p300, which control levels of wild-type p53. Also included are methods of combination therapy wherein cells lacking p53 are supplemented with c-Abl, p300 and wild-type p53 to induce an apoptotic responses.
Abstract:
A method for in-room computer reconstruction of a three-dimensional (3-D) coronary arterial tree from routine biplane angiograms acquired at arbitrary angles and without using calibration objects. The method includes eight major steps: (1) acquiring biplane projection images of the coronary structure, (2) detecting, segmenting and identifying vessel centerlines and constructing a vessel hierarchy representation, (3) calculating bifurcation points and measuring vessel diameters in coronary angiograms if biplane imaging geometry data is not available, (4) determining biplane imaging parameters in terms of a rotation matrix R and a unit translation vector t based on the identified bifurcation points, (5) retrieving imaging parameters if biplane imaging geometry data is already known, (6) establishing the centerline correspondences of the two-dimensional arterial representations, (7) calculating and recovering the 3-D coronary arterial tree based on the calculated biplane imaging parameters, correspondences of vessel centerlines, and vessel diameters, and (8) rendering the reconstructed 3-D coronary tree and estimating an optimal view of the vasculature to minimize vessel overlap and vessel foreshortening.
Abstract:
Disclosed are novel compositions comprising purification of active apolipoprotein (a), apo(a), derived from Lp(a). Also disclosed are methods for determining elastase activity and methods for screening for inhibitors of elastase activity. Methods are also disclosed for purifying, quantitating, and reconstituting active lipoprotein(a), Lp(a).
Abstract:
Methods for protecting a T cell from cell death are described. The methods involve contacting the T cell with an agent which augments the bcl-XL protein level in the T cell such that it is protected from cell death. The invention further pertains to methods for increasing the susceptibility of a T cell to cell death, comprising contacting the T cell with at least one agent which decreases bcl-XL protein level in the T cell. Both in vivo and in vitro methods are described.
Abstract:
A method and system for automated detection of lesions such as masses and/or parenchymal distortions in medical images such as mammograms. Dense regions and subcutaneous fat regions (102) within a mammogram (100) are segmented (101). A background correction may be performed within the dense regions. Hough spectrum within ROIs (104) placed in the breast region of a mammogram (100) are calculated and thresholded (106) using the intensity value eta in order to increase sensitivity and reduce the number of false-positive detections. Lesions are detected based on the thresholded Hough spectra. The thresholded Hough spectra are also used to differentiate between benign and malignant masses.
Abstract:
A method and system for computerized registration of radionuclide images with radiographic images, including generating image data from radiographic and radionuclide images of the thorax (10, 12). Techniques include contouring the lung regions in each type of chest image (15, 16), scaling (17) and registration (19) of the contours based on location of lung apices, and superimposition (18) after appropriate shifting of the images. Specific applications are given for the automated registration of radionuclide lung scans with chest radiographs. The method in the example given yields a system that spatially registers and correlates digitized chest radiographs with V/Q scans in order to correlate V/Q functional information with the greater structural detail of chest radiographs.
Abstract:
A method for the automated segmentation of medical images (figures 5, 11, 12 and 20), including generating image data (figure 19) from radiographic images of the breast (figure 5). The method is applicable to breast mammograms including the extraction of the skinline as well as correction for non-uniform exposure conditions, hand radiographs (figure 11), and chest radiographs (figure 12). Techniques for the segmentation include noise filtering (152 of figure 15), local gray value range determination (153), modified global histogram analysis (154), region growing and determination of object contour (155). The method also is applicable to skin detection and analysis of skin thickening in medical images, where image segmentation (164), local optimization of external skinline (166), creation of a gradient image, identification of the internal skinline (167) and then skin thickness determination are carried out.
Abstract:
An alignment method and system for aligning an anti-scatter grid with an x-ray source of a radiographic apparatus, to facilitate accurate alignment of the central x-ray beam of the x-ray source of the radiographic apparatus with a focused grid. The present invention uses a first light projector that is substantially fixed relative to the x-ray source, which produces a first alignment image that is substantially fixed relative to the grid. Also included is a second light projector that is substantially fixed relative to the grid, and that produces a second alignment image that is substantially fixed relative to the x-ray source. The first light projector is preferably the collimator light included within the collimator housing of the x-ray apparatus, and the second light projector is preferably a laser light source, that is attachable to a grid cassette holding the grid.
Abstract:
A method for protecting against mutational damage in mammalian cells induced by irradiation comprising administering a phosphorothioate or phosphorothioate metabolite to the mammal before or up to 3 hours after irradiation.