Úvod a cíl práce: Okulo-aurikulo-vertebrální spektrum (OAVS) je vrozený komplex malformací s extrémně variabilním fenotypem. Jsou postiženy jednostranně obličejové struktury vznikající během embryonálního vývoje z prvního a druhého žaberního oblouku a zasahující první žaberní váček, první žaberní štěrbinu a základ temporální kosti. Cílem předkládané práce je seznámit čtenáře s klinickým obrazem onemocnění, jehož nejnápadnějším projevem je faciální asymetrie provázená řadou funkčních poruch, a dále představit neinvazivní vyšetřovací metody 3D morfometrie, která umožňuje systematické sledování a vyhodnocování rozvoje a rozsahu morfologické deviace a asymetrie obličeje. Metoda: U šesti pacientů (ve věkovém rozmezí od šesti do 15 let; 5 , 1 ) s okulo-aurikulo-vertebrálním spektrem bylo vytvořeno přesné geometrické 3D zobrazení obličeje pacientů optickou metodou – stereofotogrammetrií. Pomocí metody CPD-DCA (coherent point drift – dense correspondence analysis) byla provedena vzájemná registrace faciálních modelů. U každého pacienta byl zkonstruován dokonale symetrický obličej. Rozdíly mezi konstruovaným symetrickým obličejem a skutečným obličejem byly znázorněny pomocí barevné mapy. Takto zobrazené individuální asymetrie pacientů byly kvantitativně zpracovány a analyzovány v časovém rozpětí 9–23 měsíců. Výsledky: Prokázaly se pouze malé rozdíly ve změně asymetrie obličeje pacientů s OAVS, což svědčí o nevýznamné dynamice rozvoje faciálních malformací u pacientů s tímto onemocněním. Nenašli jsme závislost mezi změnami reliéfu obličeje a věkem pacienta během sledovaného období. Taktéž nebyla nalezena korelace mezi závažností vady a rozvojem asymetrie. Oproti předpokladům se nepotvrdilo významné zhoršování morfologie obličeje u rostoucích pacientů s OAVS, což umožňuje uspokojivou kompenzaci vady včasnou ortodontickou léčbou. Neinvazivní 3D morfometrické vyšetření obličeje je optimální metodou pro sledování vývoje obličejových asymetrií.

Introduction and aim: Oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS) is a congenital complex of extremely variable phenotypes. Typically, unilaterally aff ected structures are facial structures developing from the fi rst and second branchial arches and fi rst pharyngeal pouch and fi rst branchial cleft and the basis of temporal bone. The aim is to introduce the clinical conditions of the disease whose facial asymmetry is accompanied by a number of functional disorders. Moreover, it presents non-invasive 3D morphometry, that enables evaluation of the morphological deviation of the aff ected area. Methods: An accurate geometric 3D image of the patient's face was created by the optical method – stereophotogrammetry in six patients (age from 6 to 15; 5 , 1 ) with OAVS. Using the construction of dense correspondence mapping by CPD-DCA (coherent point drift – dense correspondence analysis) method between facial meshes, model registration were performed. A perfectly symmetrical face was constructed for each patient. The diff erences between the constructed symmetrical face and the real patient's face were shown using a color map. The individual asymmetry thus displayed was quantitatively processed and analyzed over a period of nine to 23 months. Results: Only minor differences in facial asymmetry of OAVS patients have been demonstrated, suggesting an insignificant dynamics in the development of facial malformations in patients with this disease. We did not find a dependence between face relief changes and patient age during the reference period. There was also no correlation between the severity of the defect and the development of asymmetry. Conclusion: Significant worsening of facial morphology in growing OAVS patients has not been confirmed as supposed. That allows satisfactory compensation of defects by early orthodontic treatment. Non-invasive 3D morphometric facial scanning is an optimal method for monitoring the development of facial asymmetries.

• Keywords
• 3D morfometrie, morfometrie,
• MeSH
• Facial Asymmetry diagnostic imaging   physiopathology   MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Goldenhar Syndrome * history   diagnostic imaging   physiopathology   MeSH
• Clinical Studies as Topic MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Abnormalities, Multiple diagnostic imaging   physiopathology   MeSH
• Face abnormalities   diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Imaging, Three-Dimensional methods   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH

AIM: To utilize three-dimensional (3D) geometric morphometry for visualization of the level of facial asymmetry in patients with the oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three-dimensional facial scans of 25 Czech patients with OAVS were processed. The patients were divided into subgroups according to Pruzansky classification. For 13 of them, second 3D facial scans were obtained. The 3D facial scans were processed using geometric morphometry. Soft tissue facial asymmetry in the sagittal plane and its changes in two time spots were visualized using colour-coded maps with a thermometre-like scale. RESULTS: Individual facial asymmetry was visualized in all patients as well as the mean facial asymmetry for every Pruzansky subgroup. The mean colour-coded maps of type I and type IIA subgroups showed no differences in facial asymmetry, more pronounced asymmetry in the middle and the lower facial third was found between type IIA and type IIB (maximum 1.5 mm) and between type IIB and type III (maximum 2 mm). The degree of intensity facial asymmetry in affected middle and lower facial thirds did not change distinctly during the two time spots in all subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: The 3D geometric morphometry in OAVS patients could be a useful tool for objective facial asymmetry assessment in patients with OAVS. The calculated colour-coded maps are illustrative and useful for clinical evaluation.

• MeSH
• Facial Asymmetry * diagnostic imaging   pathology   MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Goldenhar Syndrome * diagnostic imaging   pathology   MeSH
• Cephalometry methods   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Face anatomy & histology   diagnostic imaging   pathology   MeSH
• Imaging, Three-Dimensional * methods   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

• MeSH
• Research Support as Topic MeSH
• Publication type
• Abstracts MeSH

Neuronal activity and many pathological states in the CNS are accompanied by transient astrocytic swelling, which affects excitability, extrasynaptic transmission, and neuron-glia interactions. By using three-dimensional confocal morphometry (3DCM), we quantified the morphometric parameters of astrocytes in intact tissue. In experiments performed in brain cortex slices from transgenic GFAP/EGFP mice, we applied 3DCM to study the dynamic changes in astrocyte morphology during hypotonic stress. Our morphometric analysis showed that the effect of a 10-min application of hypotonic solution (200 mmol/kg) on the swelling of different cell compartments was dependent on the extent of the swelling of the total astrocyte volume. If the swelling of the whole cell, i.e., soma and processes, was less than approximately 10%, there were no differences between the swelling of the soma and the processes. However, if the swelling of the total cell volume was greater than 10%, the swelling of the processes was greater than the swelling of the soma. Analyzing the effect of hypotonic solution on the morphology of these astrocytes revealed that the total cell volume increased; however, certain cell compartments were distinguished in which the volume increased, whereas in other compartments cell volume decreased or apparently did not change, and the structure of some compartments was altered. Our data show that astrocytes in brain slices undergoing hypotonic stress display cell volume regulation as well as transient changes in morphology.

• MeSH
• Astrocytes ultrastructure   MeSH
• Financing, Organized MeSH
• Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein genetics   MeSH
• Hypotonic Solutions MeSH
• Microscopy, Confocal MeSH
• Brain ultrastructure   MeSH
• Mice, Transgenic MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Organ Culture Techniques MeSH
• Image Processing, Computer-Assisted MeSH
• Promoter Regions, Genetic MeSH
• Green Fluorescent Proteins genetics   MeSH
• Imaging, Three-Dimensional MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH

Pathological states in the central nervous system lead to dramatic changes in the activity of neuroactive substances in the extracellular space, to changes in ionic homeostasis and often to cell swelling. To quantify changes in cell morphology over a certain period of time, we employed a new technique, three-dimensional confocal morphometry. In our experiments, performed on enhanced green fluorescent protein/glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytes in brain slices in situ and thus preserving the extracellular microenvironment, confocal morphometry revealed that the application of hypotonic solution evoked two types of volume change. In one population of astrocytes, hypotonic stress evoked small cell volume changes followed by a regulatory volume decrease, while in the second population volume changes were significantly larger without subsequent volume regulation. Three-dimensional cell reconstruction revealed that even though the total astrocyte volume increased during hypotonic stress, the morphological changes in various cell compartments and processes were more complex than have been previously shown, including swelling, shrinking and structural rearrangement. Our data show that astrocytes in brain slices in situ during hypotonic stress display complex behaviour. One population of astrocytes is highly capable of cell volume regulation, while the second population is characterized by prominent cell swelling, accompanied by plastic changes in morphology. It is possible to speculate that these two astrocyte populations play different roles during physiological and pathological states.

• MeSH
• Astrocytes pathology   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Financing, Organized MeSH
• Animals, Genetically Modified MeSH
• Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein analysis   MeSH
• Microscopy, Confocal methods   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Models, Animal MeSH
• Brain pathology   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Brain Diseases pathology   MeSH
• Green Fluorescent Proteins MeSH
• Imaging, Three-Dimensional MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Review MeSH

Image registration methods play a crucial role in computational neuroanatomy. This paper mainly contributes to the field of image registration with the use of nonlinear spatial transformations. Particularly, problems connected to matching magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain image data obtained from various subjects and with various imaging conditions are solved here. Registration is driven by local forces derived from multimodal point similarity measures which are estimated with the use of joint intensity histogram and tissue probability maps. A spatial deformation model imitating principles of continuum mechanics is used. Five similarity measures are tested in an experiment with image data obtained from the Simulated Brain Database and a quantitative evaluation of the algorithm is presented. Results of application of the method in automated spatial detection of anatomical abnormalities in first-episode schizophrenia are presented.

• MeSH
• Algorithms MeSH
• Financing, Organized MeSH
• Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted methods   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging methods   MeSH
• Models, Neurological MeSH
• Brain anatomy & histology   physiology   MeSH
• Neuroanatomy methods   MeSH
• Neurology methods   MeSH
• Computer Simulation MeSH
• Elasticity MeSH
• Psychiatry methods   MeSH
• Reproducibility of Results MeSH
• Pattern Recognition, Automated methods   MeSH
• Sensitivity and Specificity MeSH
• Subtraction Technique MeSH
• Artificial Intelligence MeSH
• Image Enhancement methods   MeSH
• Imaging, Three-Dimensional methods   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Evaluation Study MeSH

Three-dimensional (3D) virtual facial models facilitate genotype-phenotype correlations and diagnostics in clinical dysmorphology. Within cross-sectional analysis of both genders we evaluated facial features in representative cohorts of Czech patients with Williams-Beuren-(WBS; 12 cases), Noonan-(NS; 14), and 22q11.2 deletion syndromes (22q11.2DS; 20) and compared their age-related developmental trajectories to 21 age, sex and ethnically matched controls in 3-18 years of age. Using geometric morphometry statistically significant differences in facial morphology were found in all cases compared to controls. The dysmorphic features observed in WBS were specific and manifested in majority of cases. During ontogenesis, dysmorphic features associated with increased facial convexity become more pronounced whereas other typical features remained relatively stable. Dysmorphic features observed in NS cases were mostly apparent during childhood and gradually diminished with age. Facial development had a similar progress as in controls, while there has been increased growth of patients' nose and chin in adulthood. Facial characteristics observed in 22q11.2DS, except for hypoplastic alae nasi, did not correspond with the standard description of its facial phenotype because of marked facial heterogeneity of this clinical entity. Because of the sensitivity of 3D facial morphometry we were able to reach statistical significance even in smaller retrospective patient cohorts, which proves its clinical utility within the routine setting.

• MeSH
• Models, Anatomic * MeSH
• DiGeorge Syndrome diagnosis   genetics   MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Facies * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Noonan Syndrome diagnosis   genetics   MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Cross-Sectional Studies MeSH
• Williams Syndrome diagnosis   genetics   MeSH
• Imaging, Three-Dimensional * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

• MeSH
• Algorithms MeSH
• Financing, Organized MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging methods   utilization   MeSH
• Brain Mapping methods   instrumentation   MeSH
• Image Processing, Computer-Assisted MeSH
• Pattern Recognition, Automated methods   MeSH
• Schizophrenia diagnosis   MeSH
• Imaging, Three-Dimensional utilization   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess structural changes in gray matter (GM) volume and fractional anisotropy (FA) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared to control subjects using Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM). Fractional anisotropy in the corpus callosum of both groups was also calculated using ROI analysis. METHODS: Twenty-one patients and twenty-three control subjects underwent MRI examination using T1-weighted 3D MPRAGE sequence and diffusion spin-echo echo-planar imaging sequence in six directions. Structural MRI analyses for GM volume and FA were performed using an optimized VBM protocol implemented in SPM5. The influence of age and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was dealt with multiple regression analysis either for the whole group or for AD patients and controls separately. RESULTS: Patients showed significant reduction of GM volume mainly in the temporal lobes. In AD patients, no correlation was observed between GM volume and age or MMSE. FA was reduced in AD patients mainly in frontal and temporal lobes. In both groups no correlation was found between FA and age or MMSE. Patients with AD showed a significant decrease in FA and an increase in mean diffusivity (p<0.0001) in the corpus callosum. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AD we observed a significant reduction in FA values and GM volume; however, no correlation with age and MMSE was proven for both FA and GM for AD patients. This finding supports the hypothesis that morphological changes in patients with AD are not a continuous aging related process but represent qualitative changes.

• MeSH
• Alzheimer Disease diagnosis   MeSH
• Anisotropy MeSH
• Corpus Callosum pathology   radiography   MeSH
• Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging methods   MeSH
• Echo-Planar Imaging methods   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Psychological Tests MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Age Factors MeSH
• Organ Size MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Controlled Clinical Trial MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

• MeSH
• Astrocytes cytology   pathology   MeSH
• Wounds, Stab pathology   MeSH
• Research Support as Topic MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Cerebral Cortex pathology   injuries   MeSH
• In Vitro Techniques MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Congress MeSH