Recent advances in imaging technology have enabled us to obtain more detailed images of the human fetus in a nondestructive and noninvasive manner. Through detailed images, elaborate three-dimensional (3D) models of the developing brain can be reconstructed. The segmentation of the developing brain has been determined by serial sections. Therefore, in this study, we attempted to develop a 3D model of the fetal brain using magnetic resonance image (MRI). MR images from 19 specimens (11 embryonic specimens and eight fetal specimens from 5.2 to 225 mm in crown rump length) were used to reconstruct 3D models of regionalized developing brains. From this analysis, we succeeded in registering a maximum of nine landmarks on MR images and reconstructing 19 sequential models of the regionalized developing brain. To confirm the validity of the landmarks, we also compared our results with three serial sections from the Kyoto Collection; the same morphological characteristics were observed on both serial sections and MRI. The morphological minutiae could be found on MR images, and regionalized models of the developing brain could be reconstructed. These results will be useful for clinical diagnosis of living fetuses in utero.
Along with the Carnegie Collection in the United States and the Kyoto Collection in Japan, the Blechschmidt Collection (Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Germany) is a major historical human embryo and fetus collection. These collections are of enormous value to human embryology; however, due to the nature of the historical histological specimens, some stains are fading in color, and some glass slides are deteriorating over time. To protect these specimens against such degradation and ensure their future usefulness, we tried to apply modern image scanning and computational reconstruction. Samples of histological specimens of the Blechschmidt Collection were digitized into images using commercial flatbed scanners with a resolution of 4800 pixels per inch. Two specimens were reconstructed into three-dimensional (3D) images by using modern techniques to vertically stack two-dimensional images of the slices into 3D blocks. The larger specimen of crown-rump length (CRL) 64.0 mm, a series of very large histological sections in human embryology, was reconstructed clearly, with its central nervous system segmented before stacking. The smaller specimen of CRL 17.5 mm was also reconstructed into 3D images. The outer surface of the embryo was intact, and its development was classified according to the widely used Carnegie stages (CSs). The CS of the specimen was identified as the later half of CS 20. The invaluable Blechschmidt Collection can be revisited for further research with modern techniques such as digital image scanning and computational 3D reconstruction.
The purpose of the present study Is to investigate the role of HBe antlgen In the pathogenesbs of membranous glomerulonephr~t~s (MGNI In Japanese chtldren. Of 364 chtldren who underwent renal blopsy from 1976 through 1978 in our inst~tution.Il(lO male, 1 female, qles 1-14 years1 were found to be HBs antigen carrlers and comprise the subject of the present study All of them exhibited some abnormaltty on a routine urinalysis at one tlme during the courre. Serum HB associated antigens were studled in all. A routine Itght. fluorescent and electron microscop~c study was performed on 14 biopsied specimens from the Ilch~ldren. I n addltlon, direct ~mmunofluorescence for HBsAg, HBeAg & HBcAg was done ~n the majority of the specimens. The results are summerized in the table. The 14 soeclmens were divided into 2 urouos de. pend~ng upon clnntcal man~festat~ons at the tome of renal b~opsy I G r o~p A 9 specamens from 9 choldren wltn nepnrot~c syndrome or heavy prote4nur.a. Grodp B 5 specimens from 4 ch Id
Nasal profiles reconstructed using magnetic resonance imaging data of human embryos and fetuses in the prenatal period. From Katsube et al., Prenatal Diagnosis 37: 907–915, DOI: .
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