Diffuse liver disease: MRI with Gd-DTPA versus CT and ultrasound

Twenty-nine patients with diffuse liver disease were examined by ultrasound, CT and MRI. MRI was performed using T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo sequences as well as fast gradient-echo-sequences. The paramagnetic contrast agent Gd-DTPA was applied intravenously (0.1 mmol/kg). in patients with hepatitis, MRI could be used in guiding liver biopsies as inflammatory changes were clearly delineated. CT and ultrasound were superior to MRI in the detection of focal or diffuse fatty degeneration. On the other hand MRI was more helpful in differentiating fatty changes and neoplasm. In liver cirrhosis, fibrotic changes were most clearly demonstrated by MRI. In patients suffering from hemochromatosis MRI offers advantages over CT and ultrasound in the diagnosis and follow up due to the paramagnetic properties of iron, resulting in a reduction in signal intensity. In patients with Wilson's disease a characteristic pattern of parenchymal changes was seen. Administration of Gd- DTPA contributes additional information about perfusion conditions in the liver parenchyma, however this information was not of diagnostic relevance in the cases we studied. Correspondence to: T.J. Vogl     

X-linked hypophosphatemia: Normal renal function despite medullary nephrocalcinosis 25 years after transient vitamin D2-induced renal azotemia

Nephrocalcinosis (NC) detected by ultrasound is a recognized abnormality for some patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) who received vitamin D₂ and inorganic phosphate therapy, but is commonly observed in XLH patients treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ and inorganic phosphate supplementation. Nevertheless, long-term follow-up of kidney function in XLH patients with NC detected ultrasonographically has not been reported. We investigated two women with XLH, ages 31 (patient 1) and 39 (patient 2) years, each of whom had suffered at least one documented episode of vitamin D₂-induced hypercalcemia and renal azotemia during childhood. Patient 2 had also been treated with inorganic phosphate. No medications for XLH had been taken during adulthood. Renal ultrasonography at our institution demonstrated marked bilateral medullary NC in both women. No other explanation was found for their NC that apparently occurred several decades earlier from medical therapy for XLH. Detailed studies (including creatinine clearance, β₂-microglobulin excretion, and fasting urinary osmolality and acidification) revealed no impairment of kidney function in either patient. Our findings indicate that subradiographic medullary NC acquired during medical therapy for XLH may persist for decades, but with no adverse renal sequelae. Definitive (long-term) assessment of kidney function in the XLH population with NC, however, will be necessary to fully understand the risk of current medical treatment for this most common heritable form of rickets.     

R波相关振动法血压测量

为了提高振地血压测量的准确性，提出了一咱基于心电Ｒ波与血压振动波之间相关性，识别振动信号的一种抗干扰方法＝－Ｒ波相关法，结合振动波形特征识别，该方法可有效地提取信号，消除干扰影响，该算法已在１６位８０９８单片机上实现，本文同时给出了程序的详细流程图。     

彩超对高血脂患者的颈动脉内膜—中膜厚度及斑块形成检测分析

目的:探讨彩超检测高血脂患者颈动脉内膜-中膜厚度及斑块形成的意义,方法:medison-8000Ex高频超声对120例高血脂患者及120例血脂正常者两组,观察其动脉的内膜-中膜厚度及斑块形成情况。结果:血脂升高组,颈总动脉最大内膜-中膜厚度及粥样斑块发生率明显增高。结论:彩超可清晰显示颈动脉内膜-中膜情况,对高血脂引起的动脉粥样硬化检出预报和疗效观察有重要临床意义。     

Volume Flow Rate of Common Carotid Artery Measured by Doppler Method and Color Velocity Imaging Quantification (CVI-Q)

BACKGROUND: Common carotid artery (CCA) volume flow rate (VFR) is clinically useful for study of cerebrovascular disease. Color Velocity Imaging Quantification (CVI-Q; Philips Ultrasound International, Irvine, CA), previously reported as accurate and reliable, tracks the flow lumen over the cardiac cycle, as well as mean spatial velocity, which is multiplied by vessel area to obtain VFR. VFR can also be obtained by Doppler sampling for mean velocity, and vessel area based on static B-mode lumen diameter. We compared CCA VFR by CVI-Q and Doppler method (DM), since knowledge of how they compare is crucial when both are used clinically. METHOD: We prospectively studied patients having clinical carotid duplex exams and healthy controls. All had CCA VFR measured by both methods in the same exam session. RESULTS: Thirty-four studies were reviewed. CCA VFR by CVI-Q in those without ICA stenosis was 337 +/- 96 mL/m, and by DM 359 +/- 130 mL/m; P = .33. There was no difference between methods for 50-75% or 75-95% ICA stenosis. In 7 patients with ICA occlusion, and 3 with 95-99% stenosis, VFR was higher by DM than by CVI-Q (Occlusion: 125 vs 58 mL/m, P = .007; 95-99%: 152 vs 63 mL/m, P = .038). There was no statistically significant difference between methods for measurement of the ratio of VFR between right and left CCA. CONCLUSION: In patients with 0-95% ICA stenosis, VFR by CVI-Q and DM showed no difference. For 95-100% ICA stenosis the methods differ; with higher VFR by DM. Side-to-side VFR ratios remain constant, irrespective of VFR method, and can still provide clinically useful information.     

超声引导结合X线透视下PTCD治疗阻塞性黄疸

目的探讨超声引导结合X线透视下PTCD的操作技术及其临床应用价值。方法51例阻塞性黄疸患者,40例为恶性阻塞性病变,11例为良性阻塞性病变,在超声引导结合X线透视下行PTCD术,穿刺右叶胆管44例,穿刺左叶胆管7例,并常规造影。结果穿刺成功率100%,未出现出血、胆汁性腹膜炎等并发症。术后1周胆红素平均下降75.2ummol/L。结论超声引导结合X线透视下PTCD是一种治疗阻塞性黄疸的有效方法,具有安全、简便、经济、并发症少的优点。     

左侧气胸的心电图特征及原因分析

目的探讨左侧气胸致心电图改变的特征及产生原因。方法回顾性分析50例左侧气胸患者的心电图和X线胸片资料。结果50例(100%)均呈R波逆递增,V1￣V6导联QRS波平均振幅呈V2>V3>V4>V5。左侧胸导联低电压39例(78%),而II、III、aVF导联QRS波振幅全部>0.5mV。顺钟向转位38例(76%),胸导联QRS波振幅随呼吸周期性改变31例(62%),胸导联QRS波振幅最大/最小的比值与气胸肺组织压缩程度呈正相关(p<0.05)。结论胸导联R波逆递增是左侧气胸最重要的特征性心电图改变,气胸的严重程度与胸导联QRS波振幅最大/最小的比值呈正比。     

超声诊断异位妊娠249例临床分析

目的为了提高对异位妊娠的诊断技术。方法选择在我院经手术病理证实的异位妊娠249例住院患者行2DB超和CDFI的声像图特征进行分析。结果2D超声声像图特征在249例异位妊娠中内膜增厚223例，厚度为4—8mm／2；宫内假环状孕囊28例，大小为4．12mm；宫外探及孕囊178例，大小为8-48mm；盆腔混合性包块28例，大小为40．80mm：伴有黄体囊肿的123例，存活宫外孕3例，可显示原始心管搏动；CDFI声像图特征为宫外孕急性破裂的患者显示肿块及周围组织的彩色血流信号增多，动脉频谱血流速度增快，RI降低。结论超声检查对妇产科急诊有显著性作用，可直接指导临床明确诊断，选定治疗方案。     

生理信号检测中的同步工频陷波器

市电50Hz干扰一直是生理信号检测过程中最难以克服的问题之一。本文叙述了利用同步滤波器技术克服50Hz干扰的方法。同步滤波器可以自动跟踪市电频率的变化且具有极高Q值和理想的梳状滤波特性,而元件的灵敏度却很低,因而很容易获得40dB以上的陷波效果,可以从根本上克服50Hz干扰而几乎对有用信号毫无影响。