bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Broadband Ultrasound Attenuation of the Calcaneus
Authors: Tribl B. , Vogelsang H. , Pohanka E. , Grampp S. , Gangl A. , Hörl W. H. 
Published: October 2009

Purpose: To evaluate broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) for the assessment of bone status and to correlate this to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in haemodialysis patients. Material and Methods: In 60 patients, BUA (dB/MHz) was determined for the calcaneus. the results were expressed as Z-scores and T-scores, i.e. units of standard deviations respectively from age- and sex- matched normal values and from sex-matched normal mean values in healthy young adults. Ultrasound data were correlated to relevant clinical, biochemical and DXA data (g/cm2), which were examined at the femoral neck and at the lumbar spine in 50 patients. Results: the BUA Z-score was <−1 in 53% of the patients and <−2 in 22%. the BUA T-score was <−1 in 88% and <−2 in 62%. Moderate correlation was found for calcaneal BUA to DXA in men (r=0.47−0.48, p<0.01) and to DXA of the lumbar spine in women (r=0.51, p<0.05). the best correlation was observed for BUA to DXA of the femoral neck in women (r=0.61, p<0.01). Conclusion: Calcaneal BUA is an additional tool for the surveillance of bone density in haemodialysed patients.
Coronary Arteriopathy after Heart Transplantation
Authors: Kløw N.-E. , Levorstad K. , Simonsen S. , Geiran O. 
Published: October 2009

Purpose: To describe changes in the coronary artery following heart transplantation (HTx) in patients who survived for 1 year or more. Material and Methods: Yearly ventriculography and coronary angiography were performed in 171 out of 172 patients aged over 12 years who survived HTx in Norway for 1 year or more after the first operation in 1983. Mean follow-up was 5.2 years ±2.8, range 1–12. Results: Altogether 31 patients died in the follow-up period, 8 (26%) of them from coronary artery disease (CAD). Angiographic changes included coronary artery stenoses, diffuse changes with ectatic and narrowed segments of the major coronary vessels, peripheral changes with occlusions and tapering of the small vessels, and reduction in the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). Significant stenosis developed in 43 patients and 19 of these developed an occlusion of one of the major coronary artery branches. the coronary arteries were without significant stenosis in 97% of the surviving 141 patients at 1 year after HTx and in 82% at 5 years. Completely normal findings were seen in 81% after 1 year and in 44% after 5 years. Progression to significant stenosis and occlusion was rapid once changes first appeared. Conclusion: CAD contributed to a significant number of deaths. the stenoses could develop at any time after transplantation and usually progressed rapidly once the first changes appeared.
Doppler Ultrasound Assessment of Tips Patency and Function — the Need for Echo Enhancers
Authors: Skjoldbye B. , Wieslander S. , Struckmann J. , Court-Payen M. , Schlichting P. , Mygind T. , Burcharth F. 
Published: October 2009

Purpose: the aim of this study was to illustrate the versatility of an i.v. administered echo enhancer for Doppler US assessment of TIPS patency and function. Material and Methods: A total of 22 Doppler US evaluations of TIPS patency and function were performed in 5 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and recurrent oesophageal bleeding who had been treated with TIPS. TIPS patency was evaluated by means of colour or power Doppler US. the volume flow (VF) was assessed in the TIPS and in the portal vein by spectral Doppler. the ratio of the VF in the TIPS to the VF in the portal vein (T/P ratio) was used to express the functional status of the TIPS. If Doppler signals were inconclusive or absent, echo-enhanced US was performed. Results: In 22 follow-up Doppler US examinations, echo-enhanced Doppler US was required in 7 cases (29%). the Doppler enhancement persisted in the range of 3–5 min. No adverse effects were observed. An apparently normal TIPS function reflected a T/P ratio in the range of 0.44-1.10, median 0.78 ± 0.20 (2SD). Conclusion: the i.v. administration of echo enhancers would seem to be indicated in the assessment of the TIPS function if conventional Doppler US fails to prove normal TIPS patency and function. the T/P ratio may be a convenient monitoring parameter for reflecting the TIPS function.
Abdominal Tuberculosis
Authors: Arslan A. , Çiftçi E. , Ceylan N. , Metin K. , Demirci A. 
Published: October 2009

Tuberculous involvement of the abdominal parenchymatous organs is usually a diffuse process. the macronodular form of hepatosplenic tuberculosis and focal involvement of the pancreas are extremely rare. This report describes CT findings of abdominal parenchymatous organ involvement in a patient with pulmonary and vertebral tuberculosis. Although CT does not confirm a diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis, it is a valuable examination that can support the diagnosis and define the extent of disease.
Paediatric Mesenteric Lipoma, An Unusual Cause of Repeated Abdominal Pain
Authors: Kaniklides C. , Frykberg T. , Lundkvist K. 
Published: October 2009

Fatty masses, especially solid lipomas, in the paediatric abdomen are very rare. We present such a case, that of an 11-year-old boy who was admitted with abdominal pain and distension. the pre-operative diagnosis of lipoma was suggested by US and CT. the diagnosis of simple lipoma arising in the leaves of the small bowel mesentery, without immature cells, was verified microscopically after the operation. the tumour was enucleated from the mesenterium leaving the intestine intact. We underline the importance of US and CT as pre-operative diagnostic tools.
Proton MR Spectroscopy in Infants with Cerebral Energy Deficiency due to Hypoxia and Metabolic Disorders
Authors: Kugel H. , Heindel W. , Roth B. , Ernst S. , Lackner K. 
Published: October 2009

Purpose: To investigate the similarities and differences of cellular energy deficiencies due to asphyxia and to impaired oxidative phosphorylation caused by enzyme deficiencies using localized 1H-MR spectroscopy of the brain. Material and Methods: In 35 neonates and infants with a postconceptional age of 36.4–153 weeks, 1H-MR spectra were obtained from the basal ganglia. of the 35 children, 14 served as a control group, 12 suffered from hypoxicischemic disease (HIE), and 9 had congenital enzymatic disorders. Results: Eleven of the 12 children with HIE showed low n-acetyl aspartate (NAA) to trimethylamine (TMA) ratios, indicating neuronal damage. Lactate (Lac) to TMA ratios correlated with the HIE grade. Children with congenital disorders of energy metabolism had NAA/TMA ratios ranging from severely decreased to normal, but 7 of the 9 had high Lac signals, even in brains with normal NAA/TMA. Conclusion: High Lac/TMA even with normal NAA/TMA in children with enzyme deficiencies, in contrast to Lac/TMA that correlates with clinical grade and low NAA/TMA in asphyxic children, hints at different mechanisms of cell damage in the two disease groups.
Optimising Contrast-Enhanced Cranial CT for Detection of Brain Metastases
Authors: Sighvatsson V. , Ericson K. , Tómasson H. 
Published: October 2009

Purpose: In order to optimise contrast-enhanced CT in the detection of brain metastases, we investigated how sensitivity was affected by an increase in contrast medium dose and a reduction in slice thickness. Material and Methods: A total of 198 cases of known primary malignancy with suspected brain metastases were investigated in three consecutive contrast-enhanced CT examinations. the first was a standard CT examination with an injection of 100 ml contrast medium (300 mg I/ml) and a slice thickness of 10 mm. A further 100 ml contrast medium was given and the second examination was performed immediately afterwards with the same slice thickness as the first. This was followed by the third examination, which used a slice thickness of 5 mm. the standard contrast-enhanced CT images were compared with the double-dose images and with the images of reduced slice thickness (5 mm instead of 10 mm). Results: the double-dose images demonstrated an 8–18% increase in the number of brain metastases detected compared to the standard contrast-enhanced CT; the images of the 5-mm-thick slices showed a further 22–33% increase. the comparison between the standard contrast-enhanced CT images and the images with both thinner slices and the double dose of contrast medium demonstrated a 32–55% increase in the number of metastases detected. Conclusion: A considerable increase in sensitivity (32–55%) in contrast-enhanced CT can be obtained by reducing the slice thickness and increasing the contrast medium dose. This optimised technique should be the method of choice in patients with known primary malignancy and suspected brain metastases.
Renal Duplex Doppler Ultrasonography as a Predictor of Preclinical Diabetic Nephropathy in Children
Authors: Ökten A. , Dinç H. , Kul M. , Kaya G. , Çan G. 
Published: October 2009

Purpose: To perform Doppler US in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) as a predictive method in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Material and Methods: Twenty-five patients with type I diabetes mellitus underwent renal Doppler US examination. Children were divided into three age groups: group I, 3–7 years; group II, 8–10 years; and group III, 11–18 years. the age-matched control group consisted of 56 healthy children who underwent renal Doppler US only. Results: the mean values of the resistive index (RI) were, respectively, 0.64 ± 0.03, 0.59 ± 0.04, 0.59± 0.02 in age groups I, II, and III for healthy children and 0.68 ± 0.03, 0.62 ± 0.04, 0.59 ± 0.04 in age groups I, II, and III of the diabetic patients. There were no significant differences between the diabetic and healthy subjects. the mean RI value was not different in the patients with glomerular hyperfiltration compared to patients with normal filtration rate. Additionally, there were no significant differences between the mean RI value in patients with or without microalbuminuria. Conclusion: Renal Doppler US is not useful for prediction or for early diagnosis of DN.
Gadolinium-Enhanced MR Imaging of Normal Renal Transplants
Authors: Dupas B. , Bach-Gansmo T. , Blancho G. , Franconi J. M. , Havet T. , Léauté F. 
Published: October 2009

Purpose: To evaluate the potential usefulness of dynamic MR with echo-planar imaging (EPI) in assessing the renal function in patients with renal allografts. Material and Methods: Using a T1-weighted sequence, EPI was performed after injection of a Gd-chelate in 17 patients with normally functioning renal allografts. Time-intensity curves were plotted from the signal intensity (SI) measurements of the cortex and the medulla. Results: the pattern of corticomedullar differentiation (CMD) observed after contrast enhancement was divided into four phases using the T1-EPI. After a rapid decrease in the SI of cortical structures, and a subsequent return to precontrast levels, a gradual fall in the SI of the medulla was observed. the average time between the two periods of signal loss was 60 s. Conclusion: This study illustrated the potential use of dynamic T1-EPI to demonstrate contrast-induced CMD in renal allografts.
Radiological Diagnosis of Acute Stroke
Authors: Geijer B. , Brockstedt S. , Lindgren A. , Ståhlberg F. , Norrving B. , Holtås S. 
Published: October 2009

Purpose: To compare conventional MR imaging, echo-planar diffusion-weighted imaging (EP-DWI) and spin-echo diffusion-weighted imaging (SE)-DWI at radiological diagnosis of acute stroke. Material and Methods: Twenty-seven patients (30–85 years old) were examined. Clinical examination was performed before MR imaging. All MR examinations were assessed by an experienced neuroradiologist blinded to clinical findings. Results: In EP-DWI, every patient had a lesion corresponding to the clinical findings. EP-DWI was used as the gold standard. In conventional PD + T2 imaging, 23/59 focal lesions were interpreted as acute, which was false in 11 lesions, and 36/59 lesions were considered to be old, 6 were in fact acute. Nine acute lesions were only detected retrospectively and 12 acute lesions were not detected at all on PD + T2. SE-DWI including the apparent diffusion coefficient correlated fairly well with EP-DWI but the procedure was impractical. Conclusion: EP-DWI is reliable for diagnosis of early ischemic stroke, while SE-DWI performs reasonably well. Conventional PD + T2 imaging is not reliable for diagnosis of early ischemia.
Triggering in Quantitative Diffusion Imaging with Single-Shot EPI
Authors: Brockstedt S. , Borg M. , Geijer B. , Wirestam R. , Thomsen C. , Holtås S. , Ståhlberg F. 
Published: October 2009

Purpose: the aim of this study was to evaluate any possible effects of brain motion, CSF pulsations and other possible sources of physiological motion in electrocardiographic (ECG) triggered and non-triggered single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI) measurements of diffusion. Material and Methods: Three different triggering protocols were evaluated in 6 healthy volunteers: 1) ECG triggering with time delay (TD) 100 ms; 2) ECG triggering with TD 400 ms; and 3) no triggering at all. Results: the results obtained showed that white matter mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were similar for all triggering protocols and that the reproducibility in ADC measurements using diffusion-weighted (DW) EPI was good. the average standard deviation of the ADC values was, however, higher for ADC maps obtained without ECG triggering. Conclusion: the use of prospective diastolic ECG triggering significantly improves the accuracy of quantitative diffusion measurements but for routine clinical diffusion imaging, where quantitative data is of less importance, the accuracy obtained without ECG triggering can be considered adequate.
Effect of an Internal Carotid Stenosis on Orbital Blood Velocity
Authors: Päivänsalo M. , Riiheläinen K. , Rissanen T. , Suramo I. , Laatikainen L. 
Published: October 2009

Purpose: To examine how an internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis influences the orbital blood velocity and to determine which velocity parameters are most useful. Material and Methods: the study group comprised 94 randomly selected patients examined with orbital US; most of the patients had a carotid artery stenosis. There were 58 men and 36 women, ranging in age from 22 to 88 years with a mean age of 63.1 years. the ICA stenosis grade was determined with carotid US. Peak systolic (Vp) and end-diastolic blood velocities, systolic acceleration, mean velocity, pulsatile index (PI) and resistance index (RI) were measured within the central retinal artery (CRA) and the ophthalmic artery (OA), and peak velocity was measured within the central retinal vein (CRV). the area under the ROC curve was used to compare the outcome of diagnostic tests. Results: Only a severe (>80%) ICA stenosis decreased orbital blood velocity significantly, while milder stenoses did not cause significant flow decrease or side differences. According to ROC curve analysis, the threshold values giving the highest accuracy in detecting a >80% ICA stenosis were Vp <0.08 cm/s for the CRA and Vp <0.14 cm/s for the OA. the sensitivities for detecting a >80% ICA stenosis were 45% for Vp CRA and 60% for Vp OA. Systolic acceleration also decreased in severe stenoses, but RI, PI and velocity in the CRV did not correlate with ICA pathology. Reversal of OA flow was seen in 92% of ICA occlusion and in 47% of severe ICA stenosis. Conclusion: Orbital Doppler combined with carotid Doppler can be helpful in the diagnosis of the ocular ischaemic syndrome and in the evaluation of whether the symptoms are related to occlusion of the ophthalmic or central retinal vessels or are a consequence of carotid artery stenosis.
MR Imaging of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Floor of the Mouth
Authors: Murakami Ryuji , Baba Y. , Nishimura R. , Baba T. , Nakaura T. , Ishikawa T. , Takahashi M. 
Published: October 2009

Purpose: To determine the diagnostic value of MR imaging for tumors of the floor of the mouth and the effects of the tumors on the sublingual and submandibular glands. Material and Methods: Thirty-seven patients with proven squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth underwent MR imaging, including unenhanced T1-weighted, T2-weighted, dynamic, and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. the appearance of the tumor and the sublingual and submandibular glands was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. Results: All tumors demonstrated replacement of the normal signal intensity in the adjacent sublingual gland. Twenty-one patients (57%) had abnormal signal intensity of the submandibular gland without tumor invasion, presumably secondary to submandibular duct obstruction by the tumor. Unenhanced T1-weighted images provided high contrast between tumor and sublingual gland. Tumors limited within the gland were well detected on unenhanced T1-weighted images. Large tumors extending beyond the gland were well delineated on dynamic images, but no better than on T2-weighted images. Conclusion: At MR imaging for tumor of the floor of the mouth, one must carefully evaluate the appearance of the sublingual and submandibular glands. Contrast-enhanced studies are unnecessary when the tumor is limited within the sublingual gland on precontrast MR images.
NC100150-Enhanced 3D-SPGR MR Angiography of the Common Carotid Artery in a Pig Vascular Stenosis Model
Authors: Røhl L. , Øtergaard L. , Simonsen C. Z. , Vestergaard-Poulsen P. , Sørensen L. , Bjørnerud A. , Sæbø K. Briley , Gyldensted C. 
Published: October 2009

Purpose: NC100150 is a new type of ultra-small iron oxide (USPIO) blood pool agent. the aim of this study was to compare NC100150-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) to time-of-flight (TOF) MRA, phase-contrast (PC) MRA, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in experimental stenoses in pigs, and furthermore to determine the optimal dose of the contrast agent. Material and Methods: An experimental stenosis of the right and left common carotid artery (CCA) was applied surgically in 6 Yorkshire pigs. DSA was performed as the gold standard, followed by 3D-TOE 3D-PC, and NC100150-enhanced MRA. Results: Eleven stenoses of the CCA were successfully applied. the degree of the stenosis, determined by NC100150-enhanced MRA, did not differ significantly from DSA, whereas TOF and PC MRA underestimated it. the image quality of the NC100150-enhanced MRA was superior to both TOF and PC MRA. the optimal dose of NC100150 was 5–6 mg Fe/kg, since higher doses did not further increase signal-to-noise ratio or contrast-to-noise ratio. There was a linear relationship between blood relaxation rate and contrast dose. Conclusion: NCl00150-enhanced MRA has the potential for quantification of carotid stenoses and provides an alternative to DSA. the optimal dose of NC100150 was 5–6 mg Fe/kg.
Comparison of Iodixanol 270 with Iohexol 300 in Infrapopliteal Arteriography
Authors: Manninen H. I. , Yang X. M. , Söder H. , Matsi P. J. , Borch K. W. , Eide H. 
Published: October 2009

Purpose: To compare iodixanol 270 mg I/ml with iohexol 300 mg I/ml in infrapopliteal arteriography by measuring digital densitometric vessel opacification and by visually assessing angiographic enhancement. Material and Methods: In a double-blind, dual-balanced, 4-sequence crossover design, 50 claudicant patients received two contrast media injections (10 min interval) in the superficial femoral artery. Digital angiography was performed at 8 frames/s and time-density curves with a circular region of interest over a distal calf artery were generated. A mixed, linear model was used to identify effects influencing the density measurements. Subjective evaluation of the image quality was made independently by two observers. Results: No statistically significant difference between the contrast media was revealed in the analysis of the densitometric measurements ( p = 0.14) nor in the subjective visual evaluation ( p = 0.74). However, the mean density at the time of maximum opacification was higher after the first injection than that after the second injection ( p = 0.02). There was a tendency towards lower intensity of warmth during injection of iodixanol 270 than during injection of iohexol 300. Conclusion: In patients with severe occlusive atherosclerotic disease, iodixanol yielded the same image quality as iohexol in infrapopliteal arteriography, in spite of the 30 mg I/ml lower iodine concentration.
Clinical Impact of MR Arthrography of the Shoulder
Authors: Zanetti M. , Jost B. , Lustenberger A. , Hodler J. 
Published: October 2009

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of MR arthrography of the shoulder on diagnostic thinking and therapeutic decisions by orthopedic shoulder surgeons. Material and Methods: Orthopedic surgeons completed a questionnaire before and after MR arthrography for 73 consecutive patients. the main indications were suspected rotator cuff abnormalities. the clinical diagnosis, the degree of confidence in this diagnosis, and the therapeutic decision were noted before and after MR imaging. Surgical reports were available for 34 patients. Results: Thirty-four percent of the pre-MR imaging diagnoses were withdrawn after MR imaging, and new diagnoses were made after MR imaging in 13% of the case & Confidence in the diagnosis increased significantly after MR imaging for supraspinatus and infraspinatus lesions ( p < 0.05). Changes of therapeutic decision after MR imaging were noted in 36 of the 73 patients (49%). In 23 patients, more invasive therapeutic procedures were initiated after MR imaging, and a more conservative treatment was implemented for 13 patients. Agreement of MR diagnoses with surgery was 94% for supraspinatus tears, 87% for infraspinatus tears, 77% for subscapularis tears, and 81% for biceps tendon lesions. Agreement of clinical diagnoses with surgery was 56%, 83%, 50%, and 64%, respectively. Conclusion: MR arthrography of the shoulder has a major effect on diagnostic thinking and therapeutic decisions by orthopedic shoulder surgeons.
Sympathotropic Drugs and the Distribution of 99mTc-Hydroxymethylene Diphosphonate
Authors: Cronhjort M. , Jonsson C. , Jacobsson H. 
Published: October 2009

Objective: the uptake of bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals depends on the blood flow, which is influenced by the sympathetic nervous system. Our aim was to study the effect of sympathomimetic drugs on the distribution of bone-seeking agents. Material and Methods: Various sympathomimetic and β-blocking drugs were injected in mice at different times in relation to the administration of 99mTc-HDP Three hours after this, venous blood and various organs were removed and their activities were related to the administered activity. A kinetic study of the whole-body activity retention after administration of terbutaline was also made. Results: the biodistribution of 99mTc-HDP was similar after the administration of sympathomimetics and of β-antagonists. All drugs gave rise to an increased soft tissue activity and a decreased bone activity, corresponding to a lowered quality of the potential bone scan. Terbutaline gave rise to an increased excretion of 99mTc-HDP. the mechanisms behind the findings cannot be entirely explained. Conclusion: Drug interference with the sympathetic nervous system causes undesirable effects on the biodistribution of 99mTc-HDP in the mouse. Studies in humans are necessary to evaluate whether clinical treatment with sympathotropic drugs affects the bone scintigram.