Early assessment of renal resistance index after kidney transplant can help predict long-term renal function.

BACKGROUND: Color Doppler ultrasonography of intrarenal arterial resistance index (RI), performed early after kidney transplant, has proven to reliably predict short-term allograft function. The aim of this study was to assess whether it could also predict long-term renal function. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 76 kidney transplant patients who underwent RI assessment within 1 month after the transplant, subdivided into two groups according to RI values, lower (group A) or higher (group B) than its median value (0.635). RESULTS: Compared with group A subjects, the patients of group B were older at the time of transplant (42 +/- 9 vs 35 +/- 8 years; P = 0.001), the donor age was also older (41 +/- 16 vs 33 +/- 13 years; P = 0.02) and had a slightly higher proteinuria (0.54 +/- 0.5 vs 0.32 +/- 0.2 g/24 h; P = 0.02). Serum creatinine, ciclosporin or tacrolimus trough level, arterial blood pressure, number of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatches, anti-hypertensive medications and incidence of delayed graft function were not significantly different between the two groups. By univariate analysis, RI turned out to directly correlate with the recipient age, donor age and daily proteinuria (P = 0.007, P = 0.0007 and P = 0.02, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that only donor and recipient age maintained their independent predictive value on RI. Kaplan-Meier analysis, considering a serum creatinine increase >50% as the endpoint of the study, showed a statistically significant different graft survival in the two groups (log-rank test = 5.489; P = 0.01). The univariate relative risk of deterioration of graft function among patients with higher RI was 3.77. Proteinuria and recipient age increased the risk as well. CONCLUSIONS: Our data seem to suggest that early determination of RI can help predict long-term graft function in kidney transplant recipients.     

Optimized and combined T1 and B1 mapping technique for fast and accurate T1 quantification in contrast-enhanced abdominal MRI.

Fast T(1) mapping techniques are a valuable means of quantitatively assessing the distribution and dynamics of intravenously or orally applied paramagnetic contrast agents (CAs) by noninvasive imaging. In this study a fast T(1) mapping technique based on the variable flip angle (VFA) approach was optimized for accurate T(1) quantification in abdominal contrast-enhanced (CE) MRI. Optimization methods were developed to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and ensure effective RF and gradient spoiling, as well as a steady state, for a defined T(1) range of 100-800 ms and a limited acquisition time. We corrected B(1) field inhomogeneities by performing an additional measurement using an optimized fast B(1) mapping technique. High-precision in vitro and abdominal in vivo T(1) maps were successfully generated at a voxel size of 2.8 x 2.8 x 15 mm(3) and a temporal resolution of 2.3 s per T(1) map on 1.5T and 3T MRI systems. The application of the proposed fast T(1) mapping technique in abdominal CE-MRI enables noninvasive quantification of abdominal tissue perfusion and vascular permeability, and offers the possibility of quantitatively assessing dilution, distribution, and mixing processes of labeled solutions or drugs in the gastrointestinal tract.     

彩色多普勒超声诊断飞行员左冠状动脉-肺动脉瘘一例并文献复习

目的 探讨冠状动脉瘘的影像特征、鉴别诊断及彩色多普勒超声在飞行员改装体检中的医学鉴定价值.方法 分析1例飞行员左冠状动脉-肺动脉瘘超声图像特征并复习相关文献.探讨应用彩色多普勒超声检查在飞行员改装体检中的必要性.结果 彩色多普勒超声显示心底部心肌间走行迂曲的异常血流束,经主肺动脉外侧壁注入肺动脉内.超声诊断:左冠状动脉-肺动脉瘘.飞行结论:改装并原机种飞行不合格结论彩色多普勒超声检查能清晰显示冠状动脉瘘,并能追踪观察其走行、部位、内径和大小,超声诊断与冠状动脉造影结果相符.冠状动脉瘘早期无特异性临床表现,彩色多普勒超声心动图诊断冠状动脉瘘直接、安全、快捷,具有重要的临床价值,是明确诊断的首选方法.     

Assessment of myocardial viability in rats: Evaluation of a new method using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and Gd-DOTA at high magnetic field.

The aim of this study was to detect salvageable peri-infarction myocardium by MRI in rats after infarction, using with a double contrast agent (CA) protocol at 7 Tesla. Intravascular superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles and an extracellular paramagnetic CA (Gd-DOTA) were used to characterize the peri-infarction zone, which may recover function after reperfusion occurs. Infarcted areas measured from T1-weighted (T1-w) images post Gd-DOTA administration were overestimated compared to histological TTC staining (52% +/- 3% of LV surface area vs. 40% +/- 3%, P=0.03) or to T2-w images post SPIO administration (41% +/- 4%, P=0.04), whereas areas measured from T2-w images post SPIO administration were not significantly different from those measured histologically (P=0.7). Viable and nonviable myocardium portions of ischemically injured myocardium were enhanced after diffusive Gd-DOTA injection. The subsequent injection of vascular SPIO nanoparticles enables the discrimination of viable peri-infarction regions by specifically altering the signal of the still-vascularized myocardium.     

Die dopplersonographische Bestimmung der maximalen Blutströmungsgeschwindigkeit in der Diagnostik peripherer arterieller Verschlußkrankheiten bei Diabetes mellitus

Summary Seventy-five diabetic and 40 nondiabetic subjects who where suffering from peripheral vascular disease were studied in order to determine whether the degree of the severity of their disease can be better calculated by Doppler ultrasound examinations of the peak velocity than by the systolic pressure of the peripheral bloodstream. In 46 examinations of normal controls the mean value of the peak velocity was 13.3±3.3 cm/s with a standard deviation of 15.4%±13.2% on one day and 16.1%±15.9% on different days. Considering patients with or without diabetes mellitus the velocity was significantly decreased in correlation to an increasing degree of severity of the vascular disease (P<0.001); however, the decrease was lower in diabetic than in nondiabetic subjects (6.9±2.8 vs 4.6±6.2,P<0.05). The systolic pressure hardly decreased, but remained higher in all stages of peripheral vascular disease of diabetics than in the nondiabetic subject (P<0.05 toP<0.005). There was a significant decrease of the systolic pressure only in diabetic subjects with the most advanced degree of the disease, i.e. stage IV (P<0.05).It is concluded from this study that Doppler ultrasound measurements of the peak velocity of the peripheral bloodstream are a useful parameter to calculate the degree of severity of the peripheral vascular disease. In addition, it is concluded than peak velocity is an even better prognostic indicator of peripheral vascular disease than is measurement of the systolic blood pressure at the feet.

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Abkürzungen AVK periphere arterielle Verschlußkrankheit - USDI Ultraschall-Doppler-Index - MSBG maximale Blutströmungsgeschwindigkeit - HFV Herzfrequenzvariation     

超声对胰腺移植术后的监测作用

目的探讨二维超声和彩色多普勒血流显像（cDFI）对移植胰腺的功能和术后并发症的监测作用。方法用彩色多普勒超声观察6例移植胰腺的形态和血流动力学变化情况。结果（1）功能正常的移植胰腺在术后形态正常，体积偏大，主胰管内径正常，实质回声较正常胰腺略高，动脉PSV13～64cm/s，R10.44～0.68，P10.67～2.33。（2）2例出现急性排异和1例出现移植胰腺炎的移植胰腺周边出现低或无回声区，实质回声明显减低，分布不均。1例急性重度排异的RI值超过0.9，而另1例急性轻度排异RI值小于0.7。1例移植胰腺炎RI值超过0.9，PI值超过4.0。结论CDFI作为一种无创的检查技术对胰腺移植术后的监测和诊治具有积极意义。     

Impaired modulation of motor cortex excitability by homonymous and heteronymous muscle afferents in focal hand dystonia.

A decrease of heteronymous median nerve-evoked inhibition of corticospinal projections to forearm extensor muscles was reported in a group of 10 dystonic patients by Bertolasi and colleagues in 2003. Here we tested the excitability of corticomotoneuronal connections to both wrist extensor (ECR) and flexor (FCR) muscles after conditioning stimulation of median and also radial nerve at rest in a group of 25 patients with focal hand dystonia compared to 20 healthy subjects. We also investigated the effect of the wrist dystonic posture, either in flexion or in extension, on the afferent modulation of ECR and FCR motor evolved potentials (MEPs). The heteronymous (median-induced) but also homonymous (radial-induced) inhibitions (interstimuli intervals 13-21 ms) of ECR MEP size observed in healthy subjects were decreased in patients. In addition, homonymous (median-induced) facilitation of FCR MEP size was also decreased in patients while heteronymous inhibition (radial-induced) was not. Neither the involvement of the target muscle in the dystonic posture nor the origin of the afferent volley (from a dystonic muscle) influenced the degree of impairment of afferent modulation of the MEP. These findings support the view that a global abnormal somatosensory coupling in focal hand dystonia may contribute to an inadequate motor command to wrist muscles.     

乳腺癌99mTc-MIBI影像与P-糖蛋白表达的相关性

为了探讨活体乳腺恶性肿瘤对99mTc-甲氧基异丁基异腈(99mTc-MIBI)的摄取和肿瘤细胞P-糖蛋白(P-glyco-protein,P-gp)表达间的关系。2003年10月~2005年12月对40例未经治疗的乳腺癌患者进行99mTc-MIBI早期(10min)与延迟(120min)平面显像,计算其外排率(WOR)。显像后1周内进行手术治疗或化疗,术后应用免疫组化方法检测肿瘤标本P-gp表达,结果进行统计学计算。结果:WOR在P-gp阳性者为(12.8±8.2)%,高于P-gp阴性者(1.2±6.2)%,差异有统计学意义,t=3.42,P=0.01;WOR与肿瘤大小成正相关。初步研究结果显示,乳腺恶性肿瘤对99mTc-MIBI的摄取与P-gp表达呈明显负相关,即肿瘤细胞高度表达P-gp时,99mTc-MIBI摄取较低,99mTc-MIBI显像和肿瘤细胞P-gp表达相关性好,可成为体内无创检测肿瘤组织P-gp表达及耐药性的重要手段。     

In vivo detection of single cells by MRI.

The use of high-relaxivity, intracellular contrast agents has enabled MRI monitoring of cell migration through and homing to various tissues, such as brain, spinal cord, heart, and muscle. Here it is shown that MRI can detect single cells in vivo, homing to tissue, following cell labeling and transplantation. Primary mouse hepatocytes were double-labeled with green fluorescent 1.63-microm iron oxide particles and red fluorescent endosomal labeling dye, and injected into the spleens of recipient mice. This is a common hepatocyte transplantation paradigm in rodents whereby hepatocytes migrate from the spleen to the liver as single cells. One month later the animals underwent in vivo MRI and punctuated, dark contrast regions were detected scattered through the livers. MRI of perfused, fixed samples and labeled hepatocyte phantoms in combination with histological evaluation confirmed the presence of dispersed single hepatocytes grafted into the livers. Appropriate controls were used to determine whether the observed contrast could have been due to dead cells or free particles, and the results confirmed that the contrast was due to disperse, single cells. Detecting single cells in vivo opens the door to a number of experiments, such as monitoring rare cellular events, assessing the kinetics of stem cell homing, and achieving early detection of metastases.