Specificity and sensitivity are improved by using an appearance-based classifier compared to standard height ratio morphometry. An overall sensitivity loss of 7% occurs (at 95% specificity) when using a semi-automatic (AAM) segmentation compared to expert annotation, due to segmentation error. However, the classifier sensitivity is still adequate for a computer-assisted diagnosis system for vertebral fracture, especially if used in a triage approach.

Abstract. The aim of the work is to provide a fully automatic method of segmenting vertebrae in spinal radiographs. This is of clinical relevance to the diagnosis of osteoporosis by vertebral fracture assessment, and to grading incident fractures in clinical trials. We use a parts based model of small vertebral patches (e.g. corners). Many potential candidates are found in a global search using multi-resolution normalised correlation. The ambiguity in the possible solution is resolved by applying a graphical model of the connections between parts, and applying geometric constraints. The resulting graph optimisation problem is solved using loopy belief propagation.The minimum cost solution is used to initialise a second phase of active appearance model search. The method is applied to a clinical data set of computed radiography images of lumbar spines. The accuracy of this fully automatic method is assessed by comparing the results to a gold standard of manual annotation by expert radiologists.

Vertebral body shape annotation can be substantially automated on lumbar radiographs. However, an occasional manual correction may be required, typically with either severe fractures, or when there is a high degree of projectional tilting or scoliosis. The located detailed shapes may enable the development of more powerful quantitative classifiers of osteoporotic vertebral fracture.

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Chondromatous hamartoma of the chest wall is an extremely rare, benign lesion that usually occurs in early infancy. It typically arises in the rib cage and produces a large mass. It is composed of a varying admixture of hyaline cartilage that has features resembling growth plate cartilage, fascicles of spindle cells, woven bone, and hemorrhagic cysts. Treatment consists mainly of surgical excision, which is usually curative. We present 3 new cases, which demonstrated interesting findings, including multicentricity, involvement of the sternum, and local recurrence, and we discuss these findings in the context of a literature review.

The study assessed the precision, sensitivity, and specificity of a recently developed peripheral dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanner, applied to the calcaneus, in the identification of individuals with osteoporosis at axial sites by DXA. Two hundred and two women, aged 55.2 +/- l3.7 years (mean +/- SD), participated in the study. The precisions (coefficient of variation) of measurements in vitro (0.48%) and in vivo (1.40%) were very good. The in vivo precision was independent of the operator, foot size, foot width, weight, height, and body mass index. Calcaneus BMD correlated moderately (r = 0.494-0.690, P <0.001) with axial BMD measurements by DXA. Using the World Health Organization (WHO) criterion for defining osteoporosis (T score ? -2.5) the specificity of the calcaneus to identify patients with osteoporosis at total hip, femoral neck, spine, or any of these axial sites was excellent (97.0%, 97.0%, 96.5%, and 97.1%, respectively); however, the sensitivity was poor (58.8%, 36.4%, 21.8%, and 20.3%, respectively). Therefore, the WHO criterion is not appropriate for DXA calcaneus. Based on femoral neck BMD for detection of osteoporosis, a more appropriate calcaneus T score threshold would be -1.4 by analyses of receiver-operator characteristic curves; this might serve to select those patients who might appropriately be referred for axial DXA.

RESUMEN.Se describe el desarrollo temprano del culengue (Gari solida) (Gray, 1828) hasta el estado inicial de larva velígera, a partir de dos desoves efectuados en el verano de 2009. El desove se indujo a 80 ejemplares maduros, entre 50-60 mm de longitud valvar, mediante desecación a temperatura ambiente por aproximadamente media hora y posterior choque térmico (12-14°C y 23-25°C). Los reproductores fueron previamente acondicionados durante 90 días a 14°C en promedio, alimentados con Isochrysis aff galbana (TIso), Chaetoceros calcitrans y Tetraselmis suecica en proporción 1:1:1, a una concentración de 300.000 cel mL -1 . Los ovocitos se fertilizaron en proporción de 10:1 espermatozoide/ovocito y se incubaron en estanques de 50 L, a 15 ± 0,8°C, sin aireación, con agua de mar filtrada a 1 µm e irradiada con luz ultravioleta. Se efectuaron observaciones y mediciones de los estados de embriogénesis y larva velígera tipo D, registrándose el tiempo de duración de cada fase. La embriogénesis se completó entre 23-24 h post-fecundación (pf) y el estado de larva velígera tipo D se alcanzó en 36-37 h pf, midiendo 78 ± 4,7 µm de longitud. Una cubierta gelatinosa rodea al ovocito y se mantiene hasta que se desarrolla completamente la larva D libre nadadora, en 50-52 h pf. Este trabajo constituye un primer reporte sobre el desarrollo temprano de G. solida. Para profundizar en este conocimiento sería deseable incluir técnicas de microscopía electrónica en futuros estudios. Palabras clave: Gari solida, acondicionamiento, desove, embriogénesis, larvas D, acuicultura. Embryonic and early larval development of Gari solida (Gray, 1828)(Bivalvia: Psammobiidae)ABSTRACT. Early development of the culengue (Gari solida) (Gray, 1828) to the initial stage of veliger larva from two spawning carried out in the summer of 2009. Spawning was induced in 80 mature specimens, between 50-60 mm of valve shell length, by drying at room temperature for about 30 min, followed by a thermal shock treatment (12-14 o C and 23-25 o C). These breeders were preconditioned for 90 days at 14 o C on the average, and fed with Isochrysis aff galbana (T-Iso), Chaetoceros calicitrans and Tetraselmis suecica, in 1:1:1 ratio, at a concentration of 300.000 cell mL -1 . The oocytes were fertilized at a proportion of 10:1 sperm/oocyte, and incubated in 50 L-tanks at 15 ± 0.8°C, without aeration, containing 1µm-filtered and UVirradiated seawater. Observations and measurements from embryogenesis to D-shaped veliger larva were made; the duration of each developmental stage was recorded. Embryogenesis was completed between 23 to 24 h post-fertilization (pf) and the D-shaped larval stage was achieved within 36-37 h pf, measuring 78 ± 4 µm in length. A gelatinous covering or jelly coat surrounds the oocyte and remains until fully developed freeswimming D-shaped larva, between 50-52 h pf. This work constitutes a first report on the early development of G. solida. To deepen this knowledge it would be desirable to include electron microscopy techniques in future studies.

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