Facial Soft-Tissue Asymmetry in 3D Cone Beam Computed Tomography Images of Children with Surgically Corrected Unilateral Clefts

Cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) is a relatively common craniofacial malformation involving bony and soft-tissue disruptions of the nasolabial and dentoalveolar regions. The combination of CL/P and subsequent craniofacial surgeries to close the cleft and improve appearance of the cutaneous upper lip and nose can cause scarring and muscle pull, possibly resulting in soft-tissue depth asymmetries across the face. We tested the hypothesis that tissue depths in children with unilateral CL/P exhibit differences in symmetry across the sides of the face. Twenty-eight tissue depths were measured on cone-beam computed tomography images of children with unilateral CL/P (n = 55), aged 7 to 17 years, using Dolphin software (version 11.5). Significant differences in tissue depth symmetry were found around the cutaneous upper lip and nose in patients with unilateral CL/P

Method and apparatus for detecting flaws and defects in heat seals

Flaws and defects in heat seals formed between sheets of translucent film are identified by optically examining consecutive lateral sections of the seal along the seal length. Each lateral seal section is illuminated and an optical sensor array detects the intensity of light transmitted through the seal section for the purpose of detecting and locating edges in the heat seal. A line profile for each consecutive seal section is derived having an amplitude proportional to the change in light intensity across the seal section. Instances in the derived line profile where the amplitude is greater than a threshold level indicate the detection of a seal edge. The detected edges in each derived line profile are then compared to a preset profile edge standard to identify the existence of a flaw or defect

A Three-Dimensional Analysis of Maxillary Sinus Congestion in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

Cleft lip and palate (CLP) perturbs osseous and soft-tissue development of the nasolabial regions, often resulting in chronic maxillary sinusitis and mucosal thickening (MT) of the maxillary sinus. This preliminary study quantifies maxillary sinus MT in children with surgically repaired unilateral CLP. We hypothesize that maxillary sinus MT is increased in children with CLP relative to controls. We define "MT" as the difference between the entire maxillary sinus volume and airspace volume. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 8-14 yr. old age- and sex-matched unilateral CLP patients (n = 10) and controls (n = 10) were obtained (IRB approval # 1210009813). Both maxillary sinus and airspace surface areas (SAs) were measured on each individual CBCT slice in coronal view. SA measurements were summed and multiplied by voxel size (0.4mm) to obtain a volume. Paired t-tests determined whether maxillary sinus volume, air volume, MT (i.e. maxillary sinus volume – airspace volume), and percentage of MT (i.e. MT/maxillary size x 100) differed. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Intra-class correlation assessed reliability and was high (0.99). Significant differences were found for several measurements: Maxillary airspace (non-cleft side vs. right side control p-value = 0.002; cleft-side vs. left side control p-value = 0.004), MT (cleft-side vs. left side p-value = 0.009), and percentage of MT (non-cleft side vs. right side control p-value = 0.002, cleft-side vs. left side control p-value = 0.002). Maxillary airspace was decreased by 30% (non-cleft side) and by 33% (cleft side). Percentage of average MT was 40% (non-cleft side) and 42% (cleft side) of CLP patients, but only 9% (left and right side) in controls. Surgically repaired CLP patients exhibit decreased maxillary airspace and increased MT relative to controls. CLP deformities are associated with MT. 3D imaging is useful for quantitatively evaluating MT of the maxillary sinus

Airway dimensions and pathologies of trumpet players vs. non-trumpet players.

Objective: The objective of this retrospective, 3-dimensional cone beam computed tomography study was to determine if there is a significant difference between the most constricted area of the airway, the prevertebral soft tissue thickness and airway dimensions (length and volume) of the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx, and maxillary sinuses of university trumpet players versus non-trumpet playing controls. The second objective was to determine significant differences in the prevalence of airway pathologies between university trumpet players and controls. Method: Following IRB approval and consent and reliability studies, measurements of airway parameters and pathology were compared between 66 Caucasian trumpeters and 22 ethnicmatched controls. An analysis of covariance, with age and sex included as covariates, was used to compare the airway measures. Since there was a significant difference in gender and age, comparisons between groups for the presence of any airway pathologies was made using logistic regression including age and sex as covariates. A 5% significance level was used for all comparisons. Result: The trumpet players had significantly smaller nasal cavity volume (18028 + 595 mm3 vs. 25266 + 1116 mm3; p<0.0001) and significantly greater soft tissue thickness at CV2ia (3.29 + 0.10 mm vs 2.70 + 0.10 mm; p=0.03) and CV3sa (4.55 + 0.13 mm vs 3.74 + 0.14 mm; p=0.005) than the controls. No other airway measure demonstrated a significant difference between the two groups. Trumpeters had significantly (p=0.002) more airway pathology (n=33; 50%) than the controls (n=4; 18%). Antral pseudocysts or polyps composed 52% of trumpeter pathologies as compared with 0% controls. Conclusion: The only significant differences in airway dimensions between trumpet players and controls were decreased nasal cavity volume and some areas of prevertebral soft tissue thickness. Trumpeters were almost three times as likely to exhibit airway pathology when compared with controls. Funding: IUPUI Signature Center Initiative – 3D Imaging of the Craniofacial Complex Center and the Joseph and Aida Jarabak Endowed Professorship

Exploitation of the coil-globule plasmid DNA transition induced by small changes in temperature, pH salt, and poly(ethylene glycol) compositions for directed partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems

In this study, the interplay of two linked equilibria is examined, one concerning an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) composed of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and salt employed to partition plasmid DNA (pDNA), and the other a potential structural transition of pDNA depending on PEG and salt concentration and other system parameters. The boundary conditions for pDNA partitioning are set by PEG and salt concentrations, PEG molecular weight, pH, and temperature. While investigating these parameters, it was found that a small increase/decrease of the respective values led to a drastic and significant change in pDNA behavior. This behavior could be attributed to a coil-globule transition of the pDNA triggered by the respective phase conditions. The combination of this structural change, aggregation effects linked to the transition process, and the electrostatic potential difference found in PEG-salt systems thus offers a sensitive way to separate nucleic acid forms on the basis of their unique property to undergo coil-globule transitions under distinct system properties