bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous transsplenic catheterization of the portal venous system
Authors: Liang H.-L. , Yang C.-F. , Pan H.-B. , Chen C.-K. H. , Chang J.-M.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: to evaluate the safety and feasibility of transsplenic portal vein catheterization.

Material and Methods: Under ultrasonic guidance, percutaneous transsplenic splenic vein catheterization was performed in 17 patients. Two of the patients had minimal and 5 moderate ascites. in 11 patients, the platelet counts were over 50000/mm3 and the coagulation time normal or mildly prolonged, while 6 patients had either platelet counts of less than 50000/mm3 or moderately prolonged coagulation level.

Results: Transsplenic portal catheterizations were successfully performed in 16 of the 17 patients (one failed because of small splenic size). Procedure-related complications occurred in 3 patients with 2 requiring one unit of packed RBC transfusion. the third patient accumulated minimal fluid in the left pleural space. Imaging studies within one week of the procedure were made in 8 patients. These examinations revealed an intrasplenic hematoma in 2 patients. One patient had a small amount of hemoperitone-um. No major complications occurred.

Conclusion: Transsplenic portal venous catheterization is a safe and feasible procedure.
Assessment of the penile vascular system with color-coded duplex sonography and pharmacocavernosometry and -graphy in impotent men
Authors: Andresen R. , Wegner H. E. H.
Published: January 2010

Objective: to examine the extent to which color-coded duplex sonography permits complete clarification of vessel-dependent erectile dysfunction (ED).

Material and Methods: A total of 215 patients with ED were examined All patients underwent pharmacocolor-coded duplex sonography (PHCCDS; 20 μg of prostaglan-din El, PGE1, intracavernosally) as well as pharmacocavernosometry and -graphy (PHCM and PHCG; 20 μg of PGEl intracavernosally). the penile vessels were visualized, i.e. the dorsal arteries, the cavernosal arteries, and the anastomoses between them, as well as the venous pathways. Peak flow and end-diastolic flow in all arteries and, when present, anastomoses were determined after stimulation. Induction flow to achieve maximal tumescence/rigidity as well as maintenance flow were determined during PHCM. Finally, for the morphological visualization of the cavernous body and possible venous insufficiencies, a radiography in 2 planes was produced with infusion of a water-soluble contrast medium.

Results: in 145 patients with a grade 0-III tumescence after stimulation with 20 μg of PGEI, PHCCDS revealed an end-diastolic flow of >5 cm/s, with a peak flow velocity >25 cm/s in the 2 cavernosal and 2 dorsal arteries. the deep dorsal vein of the penis was visualized in 110 of these 145 patients with a blood flow >5 cm/s, and in 35 cases with a blood flow <5 cm/s. Venous drainage to the corpus spongiosum was visualized in 80 patients with a blood flow >10 cm/s. All patients had a pathologically increased induction (normal value <100 ml/min) and maintenance venous flow (normal value <10 ml/min) in the PHCM as well as venous drainage in the PHCG. Sixty patients with a tumescence grade of IV-V (rigidity) had a peak flow velocity clearly >25 cm/s, an end-diastolic flow <5 cm/s in the 2 cavernosal and 2 dorsal arteries in the PHCCDS, as well as induction values <100 ml/min and maintenance flow values <10 ml/min in the PHCM, without visible insufficient efferent venous pathways on the PHCG. in 29 patients (13.5%) hemodynamically active anastomoses perforating the tunica albuginea could be detected. Ten patients with a tumescence grade of III had a peak flow velocity <25 cm/s and an end-diastolic flow <5 cm/s without venous leakage in PHCM and PHCG.

Conclusion: PHCCDS allows for the assessment of arterial flow disorder as well as of venous leakage in ED. PHCM and PHCG should only be carried out in patients in whom surgical or radiological interventional procedures at the efferent venous pathways are planned.
Triplex us in the diagnosis of asymptomatic deep venous thrombosis
Authors: Mantoni M. , Strandberg C. , Neergaard K. , Sloth C. , Jørgensen P. Seest , Thamsen H. , Tørholm C. , Paaske B. P. , Rasmussen S. W. , Christensen S. W. , Wille-Jørgensen P.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: to evaluate the accuracy of triplex ultrasound (TUS) compared with venography as a screening test for deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and to evaluate interobserver variation in the interpretation of the venographic studies.

Material and Methods: A total of 133 postoperative hip fracture patients, asymptomatic of DVT, were prospectively examined with TUS and venography. All venograms were reviewed blindly and in case of disagreement a consensus was arrived at.

Results: the incidence of DVT was 20%, with isolated calf vein thrombi in 63% of the cases. There were 7 false-negative and one false-positive result/s at TUS, with a sensitivity of 74%, specificity of 99% and accuracy of 97%. the kappa values ranged from 0.58 to 0.82. the false-negative results were all caused by missed calf vein thrombi in technically inadequate examinations. at sonography 2% of vein segments were noninterpretable, compared to 29% at venography.

Conclusion: Venous US is less sensitive as a test for DVT in this study of asymptomatic patients than in earlier studies on symptomatic patients. Still, sonographic screening of high-risk patients would be both effective and cost effective. Fresh thrombi may cause a false-negative compression test.
Isolated Fracture of the posterolateral tibial lip (Volkmann's triangle)
Authors: Probst E. Neumaier , Maas R. , Meenen N. M.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: to retrospectively evaluate the underlying pathomechanism of isolated fracture of the posterolateral tibial lip (Volkmann's triangle), and to demonstrate associated radiographic methods.

Material and Methods: Retrospective analysis of 2500 ankle lesions showed an isolated fracture of the dorsal tibial lip in 25 cases. Distal tibial lesions of growing individuals were not considered. All patients were examined by radiography in internal oblique and lateral views.

Results: Sixteen of 25 patients had had their accident during winter; 11 had slipped on ice or snow. All 25 patients showed a closed ankle lesion in the correct joint position with no clinical signs of instability. Evaluation of the standard images showed isolated fracture of the posterolateral tibial lip in 24 patients. the fracture was best recognized in the standard lateral view in 22 patients. in 2 patients the lateral stress projection demonstrated the fracture (20° internal rotation). in one case the fracture was only seen on axial CT images. Twenty-two patients with small wedge fragments were treated conservatively; 3 with a displaced and large fragment had surgical revision and stabilization. Sixteen cases were examined by conventional radiography at follow-up examination and 5 of these showed radiological signs of arthrosis.

Conclusion: Plain conventional radiography is still necessary in the primary diagnosis of ankle joint lesions. the isolated fracture of the dorsal tibial margin is best seen in the standard lateral view. Indication for CT in routine diagnostics is limited to cases showing clinical evidence of ankle injury without roentgenological signs of a fracture in the standard images. Differential diagnoses include the pilon lesion and the Maison-neuve-type fracture.
Ultrasound-guided 1.2-mm cutting-needle biopsies of head and neck tumours
Authors: Elvin A. , Sundström C. , Larsson S. G. , Lindgren P. G.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: to establish the role of ultrasound-guided cutting-needle biopsy in the diagnostic work-up of tumours in the head and neck region.

Material and Methods: Seventy-two patients (74 biopsies) with tumours in the head and neck were biopsied by means of a biopsy gun fitted with a 1.2-mm biopty needle (midsized-needle biopsy, MNB). Twenty-four biopsies were taken from salivary glands, 29 from lymph nodes, and 21 from miscellaneous locations. Thirty-three of the patients were biopsied by MNB under ultrasound guidance after a blinded fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was considered non-diagnostic or non-representative.

Results: in 91% of the cases, the MNB diagnosis was identical to the final diagnosis (surgical or radiological/clinical follow-up: at least 6 months), 9% were false-negative/non-representative. in 17/33 patients MNB was considered to provide more diagnostic information than FNAB, the methods had equal accuracy in 12 patients, and in 4 patients the information already gained with FNAB was superior to that provided by MNB. the non-diagnostic sampling rate for FNAB was 25% versus 3% for MNB. in 26 patients with malignant lymphoma, MNB results were diagnostically correct in all but 2 cases. FNAB was correct in 2 of 9 cases. There were no biopsy-related complications.

Conclusion: MNB was found to be safe and to possess a high degree of diagnostic accuracy, and could therefore, particularly in patients with lymphoma, be considered a diagnostic alternative to FNAB.
Proton (1H) MR Spectroscopy for Routine Diagnostic Evaluation of Brain Lesions
Authors: Burtscher I. M. , Ståhlberg F. , Holtås S.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: to describe the introduction and performance of proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in the daily routine of a modern standard MR unit

Material and Methods: Over an 8-month period, 52 patients with brain lesions were studied with 1H-MRS, using SE and STEAM sequences for chemical-shift imaging and single-volume spectroscopy. the quality of the spectra was graded from 1 (best) to 3, and the main factors influencing the quality of the spectra were evaluated

Results: of the measurements: 85% were graded as 1; 12% as 2; and 3% as 3. the main reasons for poor spectral quality were: the unfortunate positioning of the VOI; hemorrhage; and/or postoperative changes within the VOI. of 40 patients with a final diagnosis: MRS provided an increased confidence in MR diagnosis in 18 cases; MRS contributed significantly to preoperative diagnosis in 3 cases; and the spectra were not specific (n=10) or were difficult to evaluate (n=9) owing to reduced quality (grade 2 or 3) in 19 cases

Conclusion: MRS of the brain can provide a high percentage of interpretable spectra and frequently can increase confidence in the MR diagnosis of brain lesions in clinical routine
Choledochoduodenal fistula secondary to duodenal peptic ulcer
Authors: Topal U. , Savci G. , Sadikoglu M. Y. , Tuncel E.
Published: January 2010

Spontaneous choledochoduodenal fistula (CDDF) is a rare form of biliary enteric fistula which usually occurs as a complication of duodenal peptic ulcer disease. the more common form is cholecystoduodenal fistula (CCDF) which is generally associated with gallbladder disease. We report on a case of ulcerogenic CDDF diagnosed by upper gastrointestinal barium study, ultrasonography, and gastroduodenal endoscopy
Evaluation of the post-operative lumbar spine with MR imaging
Authors: Grane P. , Lindqvist M.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: Two new signs of lumbar nerve-root affection have been reported in recent years on the basis of MR examinations, namely: thickening in nerve roots; and contrast enhancement in nerve roots. the aim of this study was to assess contrast enhancement in nerve roots in a standardised way, and to evaluate the clinical significance of contrast enhancement and of nerve-root thickening in the symptomatic post-operative lumbar spine

Material and Methods: A total of 121 patients (who had previously been operated on for lumbar disc herniation) underwent 152 MR examinations, mainly on a 1.5 T system. Focal nerve-root enhancement was identified by visual assessment. Intradural enhancement was also quantified by pixel measurements that compared the affected nerve roots before and after contrast administration. Non-affected nerve roots were used as reference

Results: Enhanced nerve roots in the dural sac increased at least 40–50% in signal intensity after contrast administration compared to pre-contrast images and also compared to non-affected nerve roots. Intradural nerve-root enhancement was seen in 10% of the patients and focal enhancement in the root sleeve was seen in a further 26%. Nerve-root thickening was seen in 30%. Good correlation with clinical symptoms was found in 59% of the patients with intradural enhancement, in 84% with focal enhancement, and in 86% with nerve-root thickening. the combination of thickening and enhancement in the nerve root correlated with symptoms in 86% of the patients

Conclusion: Nerve-root enhancement (whether focal or intradural) and thickening in the nerve root are significant MR findings in the post-operative lumbar spine. in combination with disc herniation or nerve-root displacement, these two signs may strengthen the indication for repeat surgery. However, root enhancement within 6 months of previous surgery may be a normal post-operative finding
Urine viscosity after injections of iotrolan or iomeprol
Authors: Ueda J. , Furukawa T. , Higashino K. , Takahashi S. , Araki Y. , Kubo K. , Nakashima T.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: Previous observations in rats caused us to speculate whether the injection of iotrolan, a nonionic dimeric contrast medium (CM), would increase urine viscosity enough to obstruct urine outflow in the collecting duct

Material and Methods: the urine viscosity in dogs was measured directly with a viscosimeter after injections of iotrolan or of iomeprol, a nonionic monomeric CM

Results and Conclusion: the injection of iotrolan increased urine viscosity considerably whereas iomeprol had little effect on this variable. the osmolality-dependent adverse reactions of CM have previously been emphasized but viscosity-dependent adverse reactions must also be considered when the CM is a polymer with a low osmolality
MnDPDP for MR imaging of the liver
Authors: Torres C. G. , Lundby B. , Sterud A. Tufte , McGill S. , Gordon P. B. , Bjerknes H. Strand
Published: January 2010

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy and safety of MnDPDP (Teslascan) in enhanced MR imaging.

Material and Methods: In 2 multiple independent trials in Europe 624 patients were given MnDPDP intravenously at 5 μmol/kg b.w. Patients underwent an unenhanced MR examination comprising T1-weighted spin-echo and breath-hold gradient-echo sequences and a T2-weighted spin-echo sequence. The T1 sequences were repeated after the administration of MnDPDP. In a subgroup of 137 patients the results of the enhanced MR images were compared with the results of contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) images.

Results: For both types of T1-weighted sequences and when evaluating the maximum numbers of lesions seen in all imaging sequences, the total numbers of lesions seen were significantly higher in the MnDPDP-enhanced images than in the unenhanced images (p = 0.0005 and p = 0.0001, respectively). The investigators considered the enhanced images to contain “other additional information not found in the unenhanced images” in 279 (45%) of the 621 patients examined. The MnDPDP-enhanced images were also superior to the CECT images in the detection of lesions (p = 0.02). Adverse events were reported by 46 patients (7%) and infusion-associated discomfort by 26 (4%). Heart rates and systolic and diastolic blood pressures showed no clinically significant changes from baseline as a result of the administration of the contrast medium.

Conclusion: MnDPDP was shown to be effective and safe in enhanced MR imaging of the liver.
MnDPDP for MR imaging of the liver
Authors: Rummeny E. J. , Torres C. G. , Kurdziel J. C. , Nilsen G. , Op de Beeck B. , Lundby B.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of mangafodipir trisodium (MnDPDP, Teslascan) as a new contrast agent for MR imaging of the liver based on an independent evaluation of the MR images from the European phase III studies.

Material and Methods: MR imaging of the liver was done at 0.5–2.0 T in 17 European centres and included T1-weighted spin-echo and gradient-echo sequences before and after administration of MnDPDP to patients at a dose of 5 μmol/kg b.w. T2-weighted images were also obtained in all cases before the i.v. injection of the agent. Images of a total of 592 patients were evaluated by 4 independent experienced radiologists who were not involved in the on-site clinical trials.

Results: Statistically significantly more lesions were detected (p = 0.0014) in MnDP-DP-enhanced T1-weighted MR images than in unenhanced images. T1-weighted gradient-echo sequences were found to be superior to T1-weighted spin-echo sequences after injection of MnDPDP. The post-contrast images were found to be statistically significantly superior to the pre-contrast images in confidence in the presence of a lesion ( p≤ 0.0001), quality of lesion delineation ( p≤ 0.0001), lesion conspicuity ( p ≤ 0.0001) and in the confidence in the diagnosis of a lesion (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: This independent evaluation of the European phase III trials confirmed the superiority of MnDPDP-enhanced MR images over unenhanced images for lesion detection and characterization.
MnDPDP-enhanced MR imaging of the liver
Authors: Kane P. A. , Ayton V. , Walters H. L. , Benjamin I. , Heaton N. D. , Williams R. , Karani J. B.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: To compare lesion detection and characterisation predicted by MnDPDP-enhanced MR imaging with surgical excision and pathological examination.

Material and Methods: Ninety patients were intravenously infused at a rate of 2 to 3 ml/min with 5 μmol/kg mangafodipir trisodium (MnDPDP, Teslascan). The patients were examined with spin-echo and gradient-echo T1-weighted MR imaging at 1 h and 24 h after the end of infusion. The results were compared with identical pre-contrast sequences. In 20 of these patients, the pre-operative MR findings were compared with intra-operative ultrasonography and histology of the resected liver specimens.

Results: In those with liver metastases, there was a good correlation between MR and the hepatic disease in 11 out of 14 cases. In the group with primary liver tumours, MR findings correlated with hepatic disease in 5 out of 6 cases.

Conclusion: Liver lesion characterisation is possible with MnDPDP, and MR contrast enhancement with this agent is considered to be an important adjunct to the radiological assessment of patients with neoplastic liver disease where accurate decisions for surgical planning are imperative.
Tissue distribution and general safety of MnDPDP in male beagle dogs, with or without total common bile duct obstruction
Authors: Grant D. , Toft K. G. , Martinsen I. , Atzpodien E.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: Evaluation of the tissue distribution of manganese (Mn) and general safety in normal and cholestatic male beagle dogs after i.v. administration of mangafodipir trisodium (MnDPDP, Teslascan).

Material and Methods: Male beagle dogs, with or without surgical obstruction of the common bile duct, received a single i.v. bolus injection of saline (control), or MnDPDP at doses of 10 or 50 μmol/kg b.w. and were sacrificed 1 or 7 days after treatment. Tox-icity was assessed and tissue concentrations of Mn were measured.

Results: Increased tissue Mn concentrations were found in all dogs treated with MnDPDP and were greatest in those with biliary obstruction. Although Mn concentrations decreased with time in most tissues in each of the treated groups, this was not the case for the brain and adrenal glands in dogs with total biliary obstruction in which further increases in Mn concentrations were seen at the later time point. This suggested a re-distribution of Mn from the major body depots such as the liver. There were no effects of MnDPDP on clinical sign/behaviour, organ weights, histomorphology or clinical biochemistry.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that a single clinical dose of 5 μmol/kg MnDPDP is likely to be well tolerated in patients with cholestasis.
Interobserver Variation in the Interpretation of Breast Imaging
Authors: Skaane P. , Engedal K. , Skjennald A.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: To analyze interobserver agreement in the interpretation of palpable noncalcified breast masses by means of mammography, ultrasonography, and a combination of both methods.

Material and Methods: Mammograms and ultrasonograms of 100 benign breast masses and 100 malignant ones in 200 patients were retrospectively analyzed by 4 radiologists with experience in both imaging modalities. The images were analyzed independently and without knowledge of the final diagnosis. The analysis was performed in 3 sessions and used a 5-point rating scale for probability of malignancy. The interobserver variation was analyzed by means of observed agreement, kappa, and weighted kappa statistics based on the 5-point rating scale and a 3-level scale of the collapsed 5-point scale. The chi-square statistic was used for testing the equality of the kappa values.

Results: The overall kappa value on the 3-level scale was 0.48 (range 0.37-0.61) for ultrasonography, 0.58 (range 0.52-0.66) for mammography, and 0.71 (range 0.63-0.79) for the combined reading. The kappa values were statistically different for ultrasonography but did not differ significantly for the mammographic and combined readings. The combined reading showed higher kappa values than mammography alone, and the improvement was statistically significant for 3 of the 6 pairs of comparison.

Conclusion: Radiologists differ substantially in their interpretations of mammograms and breast ultrasonograms. Agreement was highest in the combined reading, intermediate in mammography, and lowest in ultrasonography.
Validation of a New System in Quantitative Coronary Arteriography
Authors: Svane B. , Rasmundson K.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: To validate ANCOR, a new system in quantitative coronary arteriography (QCA).

Material and Methods: The validation procedure was performed by comparing the calibration factors of catheters filled with saline solution or contrast medium, and by measuring precision-drilled lumens in a test phantom filled with contrast medium. The results were compared with a well established and validated system, CMS.

Results: The calibration test showed that the çalibration factors in the saline and contrast-medium catheters differed only a few percent when catheters with diameters of 2.0-2.67 mm were used. The phantom test showed that both systems overestimated smaller and larger diameters than these. The best results for both systems were achieved in the middle-diameter range.

Conclusion: The ANCOR and CMS systems gave comparable results in catheter calibrations and phantom tests.
CT Arterial Portography and CT Arteriography with a Triple-Lumen Balloon Catheter
Authors: Murakami T. , Oi H. , Hori M. , Kim T. , Takahashi S. , Matsushita M. , Narumi Y. , Nakamura H.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of the triple-lumen balloon catheter in the serial performance of CT arterial portography (CT-AP) and CT arteriography (CT-A).

Material and Methods: A combined CT-AP and CT-A examination of 58 patients was carried out in which a cobra-type triple-lumen balloon catheter was used. CT-AP was performed by injecting contrast medium either into the splenic artery through a side-hole in the catheter proximal to the balloon inflated in the common hepatic artery, or into the superior mesenteric artery through an end-hole in the catheter. Then CT-A was serially performed by delivering contrast medium either to the common hepatic artery or the proper hepatic artery from the end-hole, or to the accessory right hepatic artery through a side-hole proximal to the inflated balloon.

Results: Sufficient CT-APs were obtained in 53 of the 58 patients (91%),.CT-A in 42 (72%), and both in 42 (72%). Incomplete CT-AP was due to technical failure or anatomical anomaly, as was incomplete CT-A. No complications were seen.

Conclusion: The triple-lumen balloon catheter technique is useful and convenient in the serial performance of CT-AP and CT-A.
MR imaging of multiple myeloma patients with bone-marrow transplants
Authors: Ågren B. , Rudberg U. , Isberg B. , Svensson L. , Aspelin P.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: to evaluate the role of MR imaging in the examination of multiple myeloma (MM) patients with bone-marrow transplants

Material and Methods: A total of 40 MR examinations were made of 20 patients: 33 examinations of the spine and pelvis in 20/20 patients; and 7 examinations of the femora in 5/20 patients. the 40 examinations were evaluated and the results compared with those found at radiography. Altogether 13/20 patients were re-examined: 10 after 1 year (1 patient twice); and 3 after 2 years. Five sequences were tested, 3 of them first without and then with i.v. contrast enhancement

Results: in 24/33 examinations, active MM lesions were shown by MR. in 16/33 examinations, MR showed greater spread and detectability than radiography. in the 5/20 femoral patients, 3 had a peripheral red bone-marrow extension in the femora. in the 13 re-examinations, the lesions had spread in 4 patients, were unchanged in 7, and had decreased in 2. the lesions were easier to detect with the turbo inversion recovery (TIR) technique and with fat saturation than with the conventional spin-echo sequences. Contrast enhancement made the lesions more conspicuous in 8/17 examinations

Conclusion: MR has the potential to be a useful routine examination with T1-weighted and TIR sequences of selected areas, and without the use of contrast enhancement. However, further longitudinal studies are necessary in order to evaluate its possible predictive value
Pituitary dimensions and volume measurements in pregnancy and post partum
Authors: Dinç H. , Esen F. , Demirci A. , Sari A. , Gümele H. Resit
Published: January 2010

Purpose: Our purpose was to clarify and further characterize the changes in height, length, width, volume, and shape in the normal pituitary gland and in width in the infundibulum during pregnancy and the first 6 months post partum.

Material and Methods: Cranial MR imaging was performed in 78 women who were pregnant in the second or third trimester or who were post partum, and in 18 age-matched control subjects who were not pregnant. Volume measurements were performed in 2 ways; volume 1=1/2xheightxlengthxwidth; and volume 2=area (measured by trackball)xslice thickness

Results: Gland volume, height, width, length, and convexity, and infundibular width increased during pregnancy. the highest values were seen during the 3 days immediately post partum. When compared with volunteers, volumes 1 and 2 showed the largest increase (120%) among the parameters. Gland height showed the best correlation (r=0.94, p>0.00001) with gestational age. the mean height of the gland was 8.76 mm in the third trimester. None of the pregnant women had a gland height of above 10 mm during pregnancy. Only 2 subjects had gland heights of 10.04 and 10.2 mm during the 0–3 days post partum. After this first post-partum period of 3 days, the gland size, shape, and volume and the infundibular width returned to normal within 6 months

Conclusion: the pituitary gland enlarges in three dimensions throughout pregnancy. During pregnancy, the volume of the gland shows the highest percentage of increase compared to its length, height, and width. the maximum height of the gland does not exceed 10 mm during pregnancy but it may exceed 10 mm during the 3 days immediately post partum.
Pulmonary edema following intravenous injection of nonionic low-osmolar contrast medium - appearance on HRCT
Authors: Bristedt P. , Tylén U.
Published: January 2010

Pulmonary edema following i.v. contrast medium injection is a rare adverse reaction. We report on a 71-year-old woman who developed pulmonary edema following i.v. injection of iohexol during spiral CT of the thorax. She developed shortness of breath during the injection, and the first radiographic signs of pulmonary edema were visible on CT images 25 s after the onset of injection. on HRCT images 15 min later, marked edema was demonstrated in both lungs in a mosaic pattern of distribution. After appropriate therapy, the patient recovered without sequelae. A repeat CT 6 days later showed complete normalization
The Prognostic value of a rare sonographic pattern in Wilson's Disease
Authors: Erden A.
Published: January 2010

This report describes a case of unusual ultrasonographic findings in a patient with Wilson's disease
Frequency of late allergy-like adverse reactions following injection of intravascular non-ionic contrast media
Authors: Rydberg J. , Charles J. , Aspelin P.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: A retrospective study was undertaken of the late adverse reactions following the injection of contrast media. The purpose was to determine whether there was a difference between non-ionic monomeric (iohexol) and non-ionic dimeric (iodixanol) contrast media in the reactions produced

Material and Methods: A total of 3408 patients were sent a written questionnaire in which they were asked to confirm or deny any subjective discomfort or adverse event during a period of one hour to one week after a previous radiological examination with contrast medium. Patients who had undergone angiography (i.v. or i.a. injection) and CT (i.v. injection) were included. Objective signs of an allergy-like reaction were listed and the patients were asked to subjectively quantify any consequent discomfort

Results: The compliance rate was 84%. of the 3075 injections finally included in the study, 133 (4.3%) had resulted in contrast-medium-related adverse reactions of which 72 (2.3%) were immediate and 61 (2%) were late. Iohexol induced late reactions in 14/851 (1.7%) cases, and iodixanol in 24/1218 (2.0%) cases following i.v. injection and in 23/1006 (2.3%) cases following i.a. injection. The differences were not significant. There were no differences between the two contrast media in the subjective rating of discomfort except that the patients who had received iodixanol also had the highest individual-intensity score. No patient had been hospitalized owing to an adverse reaction and all reactions had been regarded as mild or moderate

Conclusion: The number of late adverse reactions was low. There was no difference in the frequency of the late adverse reactions following i.v. injection between iodixanol and iohexol. There was also no difference in the reactions between the i.a. and i.v. injections of iodixanol
Sedation versus general anaesthesia in paediatric patients undergoing chest ct
Authors: Lam W. W. M. , Chen P. P. , So N. M. C. , Metreweli C.
Published: January 2010

Objective: CT of the chest in paediatric patients often requires sedation or general anaesthesia to minimize motion artefacts. Both sedation and general anaesthesia are associated with atelectasis which obscures the underlying pulmonary pathology. We conducted a prospective study to compare these two methods with respect to degree of motion artefacts and extent of atelectasis

Material and Methods: Nineteen patients undergoing 22 chest CT examinations were randomly selected for either sedation or general anaesthesia. The total area of atelectasis and the degree of motion artefacts were measured

Results: The mean percentage of atelectasis was 6.67% for general anaesthesia and 0.01% for sedation ( p=0.01). There was no significant difference in the quality of the images between the sedation patients and the general anaesthesia patients

Conclusion: Whenever the clinical condition permits it, sedation rather than general anaesthesia should be given to paediatric patients undergoing chest CT
Relationship of 31P MR Spectroscopy to the Histopathological Grading of Chronic Hepatitis and Response to Therapy
Authors: Kiyono K. , Shibata A. , Sone S. , Watanabe T. , Oguchi M. , Shikama N. , Ichijo T. , Kiyosawa K. , Sodeyama T.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: In vivo phosphorus (31P MR spectroscopy (31P MRS) was performed in the human liver in order to investigate the relation between: the ratios of phosphorus metabolites in the liver; the histopathological grading of chronic hepatitis; and the response to therapy

Material and Methods: Hepatic 31P MRS using the DRESS method (depthresolved surface-coil spectroscopy) was carried out in 45 patients with chronic viral hepatitis or autoimmune hepatitis, and in 16 control subjects. We measured the ratios of the peak areas of phosphomonoesters (PME), inorganic phosphate (Pi), or phosphodiesters (PDE) to the peak area of β-adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

Results: The PDE/ATP ratio of patients with chronic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis was lower than that of control subjects (liver cirrhosis=0.74; chronic active hepatitis=1.13–1.21; normal=1.43); only a small difference was found in the PME/ATP and Pi/ATP ratios. There was no correlation between the spectra and histopathological grading or response to therapy, but the response to therapy was poor when a reduced PDE/ATP ratio was present

Conclusion: The PDE/ATP ratio measured by 31P MRS makes it possible to identify the transition of chronic active hepatitis into liver cirrhosis with a poor response to therapy
Film processing and the environment
Authors: Lindequist S. , Madsen J. E. , Christensen I. , Nielsen B.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: X-ray film processing is associated with pollution from photo chemicals and from the water used to rinse the film. We tested a new processing system that was aimed at reducing both environmental pollution and costs through the use of solid photo chemicals and recirculation of the rinsing water

Material and Methods: Before and after the installation of new mixers for the solid chemicals and a system for recirculating the rinsing water, we measured: water consumption, processor function quality, image quality, archivability, and the waste-silver content in the rinsing water

Results: After the installation of a simple system for recirculating the rinsing water, there was an 88% reduction in water and film consumption as shown in the amount of water/m2film that was used. At the same time, the release of silver-contaminated rinsing water directly into the sewers was stopped. Image quality remained unchanged. Archivability was assessed at more than 100 years. The solid photo chemicals and specially designed mixers proved efficient and provided a stable image quality of high standard. It was thus possible to reduce the risk of pollution from the transportation, storage and handling of liquid chemicals

Conclusion: A simple recirculation system for the rinsing water would significantly reduce water consumption and eliminate contamination of the environment by silver. The on-site preparation of photo chemicals proved viable and reduced the costs of film processing
Gadopentetate dimeglumine as a contrast agent in peripheral angioplasty
Authors: Murphy J. M. , O'hare N. J. , Smiddy P. , Molloy M. P.
Published: January 2010

Gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) is widely used as a contrast agent in MR imaging. We report on a case in which Gd-DTPA was used as the contrast agent during angioplasty in a patient who had recently had an adverse reaction to a non-ionic iodinated contrast medium. Gd-DTPA allowed a diagnostic angiogram to be performed with no side effects, and may thus be a useful contrast agent at angioplasty in patients with contra-indications to iodinated contrast media
Iodixanol is readily eliminated by hemodialysis
Authors: Berg K. J. , Rolfsen B. , Stake G.
Published: January 2010

Purpose, Material and Methods, and Results: The dialyzability of the high-molecular X-ray contrast medium iodixanol was examined in an in vitro hemo-dialysis model using two different hollow fiber membranes: one high-flux (polysulfone) membrane and one intermediate-flux (cellulose triacetate) membrane. Blood flow was 200 ml/min and membrane area 1.3 m2. The dialyzer clearance of iodixanol dissolved in a mixture of leukocyte-filtered SAG-M blood and compatible citrate plasma was 134.2±3.6 ml/min for the polysulfone membrane and 113.0±3.6 ml/min for the cellulose triacetate membrane.

Conclusion: Iodixanol is readily dialyzed through commercial high-flux membranes.
Thoracic CT findings at hypovolemic shock
Authors: Rotondo A. , Catalano O. , Grassi R. , Scialpi M. , Angelelli G.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: To describe and discuss the thoracic CT features of hypovolemic shock.

Material and Methods: From a group of 18 patients with signs of hypovolemia on contrast-enhanced abdominal CT, 11 were selected for our study as having also undergone a complete chest examination. Pulse rate, blood pressure, trauma score value, Glasgow coma scale value, surgical result, and final outcome were retrospectively evaluated. The CT features analyzed were: decreased cardiac volume, reduced caliber of the thoracic aorta, aortic branches and caval venous system, increased enhancement of the aorta, and increased enhancement of the pulmonary collapses/contusions.

Results: All 11 subjects presented severe injuries and hemodynamic instability; 7 were stable enough to undergo surgery; only 1 of the 11 survived. Two patients showed none of the features of thoracic hypovolemia. All the other patients presented at least two signs: reduced caliber of the thoracic aorta in 7 cases; decreased volume of the cardiac chambers and increased aortic enhancement in 6; decreased caliber of the aortic vessels in 4; decreased caliber of the caval veins in 3; and increased enhancement of the pulmonary collapses/contusions in 3.

Conclusions: In patients with hypovolemia, CT may show several thoracic findings in addition to abdominal ones. Knowledge of these features is important for distinguishing them from traumatic injuries.
Morphological Abnormalities Revealed after Successful Intra-Arterial Thrombolysis of Infra-Inguinal Native Arteries and Bypasses
Authors: Sandbæk G. , Staxrud L. E. , Rosén L. , Kolmannskog F.
Published: January 2010

Purpose: To characterise morphological abnormalities depicted after successful intra-arterial thrombolysis; to determine whether these differed in infrainguinal native arteries and bypasses; and to evaluate whether ballon angioplasty was an appropriate treatment of stenoses in the acute phase after thrombolysis.

Material and Methods: Patient records, radiology records, and angiograms from 47 patients with acute or subacute occlusions of infra-inguinal arteries (n=21) or bypasses (n=26) successfully treated with continuous intra-arterial infusion of streptokinase, urokinase or tissue plasminogen activator were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Angiographic morphological abnormalities were depicted in 18 of 21 arteries (86%) and in 23 of 26 bypasses (88%), the most common abnormality being stenoses. Haemodynamically significant stenoses were found in 15 arteries (71%) and 18 bypasses (69%). The majority of the stenoses were successfully treated with balloon angioplasty, both in native arteries (12/15; 80%) and in bypasses (14/18; 78%).

Conclusion: Morphological abnormalities are most often shown after successful intra-arterial thrombolysis in arteries, autogenous and non-autogenous bypasses. In all types of conduits, stenoses are the most commonly revealed lesion, which in the majority of cases can be treated with balloon angioplasty. Shortterm outcome after catheter-directed thrombolysis and angioplasty seems fair.
Effects of Viewing Time, Fixations, and Viewing Strategies on Visual Memory for Briefly Presented Natural Objects
Authors: Huebner Gesche M. , Gegenfurtner Karl R.
Published: December 2009

We investigated the impact of viewing time and fixations on visual memory for briefly presented natural objects. Participants saw a display of eight natural objects arranged in a circle and used a partial report procedure to assign one object to the position it previously occupied during stimulus presentation. At the longest viewing time of 7,000 ms or 10 fixations, memory performance was significantly higher than at the shorter times. This increase was accompanied by a primacy effect, suggesting a contribution of another memory component—for example, visual long-term memory (VLTM). We found a very limited beneficial effect of fixations on objects; fixated objects were only remembered better at the shortest viewing times. Our results revealed an intriguing difference between the use of a blocked versus an interleaved experimental design. When trial length was predictable, in the blocked design, target fixation durations increased with longer viewing times. When trial length was unpredictable, fixation durations stayed the same for all viewing lengths. Memory performance was not affected by this design manipulation, thus also supporting the idea that the number and duration of fixations are not closely coupled to memory performance.
Across-Task Long-Term Priming: Interaction of Task Readiness and Automatic Retrieval
Authors: Waszak Florian
Published: December 2009

When humans carry out actions in response to external stimulation, they acquire associations between the stimulus and the action it triggered. When the same stimulus is used in two different tasks, the retrieval of associations compiled in the competing task hampers current performance. Previous research suggests that this across-task priming depends on the task set for the preceding task remaining active across the switch of tasks and, thus, competing with the activations needed for the new task. We present two experiments investigating this notion. Participants switched between two semantic classification tasks. In Experiment 1, participants switched between short runs of the two tasks. Across-task priming was observed on switch and repeat trials. In Experiment 2, participants switched between longer runs of the two tasks. Across-task priming was markedly reduced on repeat trials. The data suggest that whether or not across-task priming affects behaviour after the switch trial depends, amongst others, on whether the task set necessary for the previous task spills into the repeat trials. The implications of these findings for mechanisms of cognitive and mnemonic control are discussed.
Mixtures of regression models for time course gene expression data: evaluation of initialization and random effects
Authors: Scharl Theresa , Grün Bettina , Leisch Friedrich
Published: December 2009

Summary: Finite mixture models are routinely applied to time course microarray data. Due to the complexity and size of this type of data, the choice of good starting values plays an important role. So far initialization strategies have only been investigated for data from a mixture of multivariate normal distributions. In this work several initialization procedures are evaluated for mixtures of regression models with and without random effects in an extensive simulation study on different artificial datasets. Finally, these procedures are also applied to a real dataset from Escherichia coli.

Availability: The latest release versions of R packages flexmix, gcExplorer and kernlab are always available from CRAN (http://cran.r-project.org/).

Contact:  theresa.scharl@ci.tuwien.ac.at

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
RSC96 Schwann Cell Proliferation and Survival Induced by Dilong through PI3K/Akt Signaling Mediated by IGF‐I
Authors: Chang Yung-Ming , Kuo Wu-Hsien , Lai Tung-Yuan , Shih Ying-Ting , Tsai Fuu-Jen , Tsai Chang-Hai , Shu Wen-Tong , Chen Ying-Yu , Chen Yueh-Sheng , Kuo Wei-Wen , Huang Chih-Yang
Published: December 2009

Schwann cell proliferation is critical for the regeneration of injured nerves. Dilongs are widely used in Chinese herbal medicine to remove stasis and stimulate wound‐healing functions. Exactly how this Chinese herbal medicine promotes tissue survival remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which Dilong promote neuron regeneration. Our results show that treatment with extract of Dilong induces the phosphorylation of the insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I)‐mediated phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase/serine‐threonine kinase (PI3K/Akt) pathway, and activates protein expression of cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in a time‐dependent manner. Cell cycle analysis showed that G1 transits into the S phase in 12–16 h, and S transits into the G2 phase 20 h after exposure to earthworm extract. Strong expression of cyclin D1, cyclin E and cyclin A occurs in a time‐dependent manner. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)‐mediated knockdown of PI3K significantly reduced PI3K protein expression levels, resulting in Bcl2 survival factor reduction and a marked blockage of G1 to S transition in proliferating cells. These results demonstrate that Dilong promotes the proliferation and survival of RSC96 cells via IGF‐I signaling. The mechanism is mainly dependent on the PI3K protein.
Attenuated Combined Action of Cyclosporine A and Hyperlipidemia on Atherogenesis in Rabbits by Thymoquinone
Authors: Ragheb Ahmed , Attia Ahmed , Elbarbry Fawzy , Prasad Kailash , Shoker Ahmed
Published: December 2009

This descriptive study investigates in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis (i) the extent of atherogenesis induced by cyclosporine A (CsA) or hyperlipidemia alone or in combination and (ii) whether thymoquinone (TQ), a known herbal antioxidant, offers protection against these effects. New Zealand White female rabbits were assigned to five groups of six animals each: Group I, control; Group II, CsA [25 mg kg−1 day−1 orally (PO)]; Group III, 1% cholesterol; Group IV, 1% cholesterol + CsA (25 mg kg−1 day−1 PO); and Group V, 1% cholesterol + CsA (25 mg kg−1 day−1 PO) + TQ (10 mg kg−1 day−1 PO). Lipids and oxidative stress parameters [Malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl] and aortic atherosclerosis were compared. CsA alone did not show a significant effect on either serum lipids and did not induce atherosclerosis. High‐cholesterol diet induced atherosclerosis (45 ± 11% of the intimal surface of aorta was covered with atherosclerotic plaques). CsA and high‐cholesterol diet increased atherosclerosis severity as measured from intimal and media lesions, but did not affect the extent of atherosclerosis. TQ decreased aortic MDA by 83%. It was also associated with reduced aortic atherosclerosis extend by 52% compared with Group IV. We concluded that (i) CsA aggravates hyperlipidemia‐induced atherosclerosis and (ii) TQ attenuates the oxidative stress and atherogenesis induced by the combined effect of CsA and hyperlipidemia.
Changes in the reproductive parameters of female harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus) in the Northwest Atlantic
Authors: Sjare Becky , Stenson Garry B.
Published: December 2009

Sjare, B., and Stenson, G. B. 2010. Changes in the reproductive parameters of female harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus) in the Northwest Atlantic. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 304–315. Changes in female harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) reproductive parameters from 1980 to 2004, and long-term trends since the early 1950s, are evaluated. Estimates of the total number of seals in the Northwest Atlantic declined from ∼3.0 million in the 1950s to 1.8 million in the early 1970s, then increased steadily to 5.5 million in 1996, at which relatively stable level it has remained since. Pregnancy rates increased from ∼86% in the 1950s to a high of 98% in the mid-1960s, then declined to ∼65–70% by the early 1990s; the rate then varied between 45 and 70% from 2000 to 2004. Concurrently, the mean age at sexual maturity decreased from 5.8 (s.e = 0.02) years in the mid-1950s to 4.1 (s.e. = 0.02) in the late 1970s, increased to 5.5 (s.e. = 0.03) years by the early 1990s, and peaked at 5.7 (s.e. = 0.01) in 1995. From 2000 to 2004, mean age varied from 4.9 (s.e. = 0.01) to 6.0 (s.e. = 0.01) years. Although the direction of change in each of the parameters was consistent with a density-dependent response, changes in population size explained relatively little of the variability observed, suggesting that other ecological or environmental factors were influential.