Our aim in this study was to evaluate hyoid bone movement trajectories and the age-related changes during swallowing in healthy subjects by ultrasonography. Data were obtained from 30 healthy volunteers (15 men, 15 women) in three age groups (20-39, 40-59, 60-79 years). The subjects were examined while sitting in an upright position, with the back against a wall to control movement. The transducer was placed in a longitudinal scan above the larynx. The subjects were then given 5 mL of mineral water. The water bolus was held in their mouth until they were forced to do a rapid swallow. The imaging was repeated five times for averaging. The movement was divided into 4 phases: slowly ascending phase (A-B, Elevation); rapidly ascending phase (B-C, Anterior); temporary pause phase (position of maximum rise, Remain); and rapidly and slowly descending shifts toward the resting position phase (C-D, Return). We easily visualized the hyoid bone trajectory by using ultrasonography. In all cases, ultrasonographic analysis of the hyoid bone was confirmed to have a similar trajectory, as determined with videofluoroscopy. The average swallowing duration measurements increased with age. The measurement of the maximally elevated point of the hyoid bone decreased with age. The movement of the hyoid bone during swallowing can be visualized by US. The trajectory of the hyoid bone in sagittal section indicated the capability of swallowing, and may detect some anomalies in swallowing.
High-resolution digital images make up very large data sets that are relatively slow to transmit and expensive to store. Data compression techniques are being developed to address this problem, but significant image deterioration can occur at high compression ratios. In this study, the authors evaluated a form of adaptive block cosine transform coding, a new compression technique that allows considerable compression of digital radiographs with minimal degradation of image quality. To determine the effect of data compression on diagnostic accuracy, observer tests were performed with 60 digitized chest radiographs (2,048 x 2,048 matrix, 1,024 shades of gray) containing subtle examples of pneumothorax, interstitial infiltrate, nodules, and bone lesions. Radiographs with no compression, with 25:1 compression, and with 50:1 compression ratios were presented in randomized order to 12 radiologists. The results suggest that, with this compression scheme, compression ratios as high as 25:1 may be acceptable for primary diagnosis in chest radiology.
This is a rapid and simple method for evaluation of respiratory kinetics for pulmonary diseases, which can reveal abnormalities in diaphragmatic kinetics and regional lung ventilation. Furthermore, quantification and visualization of respiratory kinetics is useful as an aid in interpreting dynamic chest radiographs.
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