Limitations of the keyhole technique for quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced breast MRI

The effect of keyhole data acquisition on quantitative analysis of dynamic MRI was examined. Experiments were performed retrospectively on raw data obtained from clinical dynamic contrast-enhanced breast imaging procedures. The effects of keyhole phase-encoding acquisition and type of reconstruction algorithm on the accuracy of derived quantitative parameters was assessed. Results indicate that the minimum keyhole size used should be restricted by the approximate minimum size of the expected lesions. Furthermore, reconstruction algorithms that offer improved image resolution do not circumvent this restriction.     

Skin reactions to irritants assessed by non-invasive bioengineering methods

Pathophysiological components of irritant contact dermatitis caused by 3 chemically-different irritants were investigated. 20 healthy volunteers were patch tested with sodium lauryl sulphate, nonanoic acid and hydrochloric acid on the flexor side of the upper arm. The skin response was evaluated after 24, 48 and 96 h by visual scoring and measured by the following bioengineering methods: transepidermal water loss measurement, electrical conductance for measurement of skin hydration, laser Doppler flowmetry for measurement of cutaneous blood flow and 20 MHz ultrasound A-scan for measurement of skin thickness. In spite of homogeneous inflammatory responses, significant differences in the severity of the injury to the skin barrier function caused by the different irritants were found. Also significant differences between irritants were found in the time course of development of maximum irritant reactions. Bioengineering methods indicating inflammatory responses (measurement of blood flow and skin thickness) were helpful in quantifying the irritant response in general, while bioengineering methods indicating epidermal damage (measurement of TEWL and electrical conductance) were helpful in classifying the individual irritants.     

经阴道彩色多普勒诊断未破裂型输卵管妊娠

本文介绍经阴道彩色多普勒诊断未破裂型输卵管妊娠２６例，１３例经手术及病理检查证实，１３例经临床确诊，符合２５例，诊断符合率９６．１５％；误诊１例，误诊率３．８５％。经阴道彩色多普勒检查其二维图像清晰，彩色血流灵敏，能更早发现输卵管妊娠包块内特异的滋养层周围血流及同侧卵巢的黄体血流，使输卵管妊娠在破裂前就能作出诊断，具有较高的临床应用价值。     

CLOTBUST: Design of a Randomized Trial of Ultrasound-Enhanced Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND: Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) therapy can be monitored with 2 MHz transcranial Doppler (TCD). This article describes the design of CLOTBUST (combined lysis of thrombus in brain ischemia using transcranial ultrasound and systemic TPA), the first prospective international multicenter randomized clinical trial of noninvasive externally applied ultrasound to enhance systemic thrombolysis in human stroke. SUBJECTS: Patients with acute ischemic stroke eligible for intravenous TPA therapy within 3 hours of symptom onset who have detectable middle cerebral artery occlusion on a prebolus TCD are included in this trial. All patients receive standard 0.9 mg/kg TPA therapy. Patients are randomized (1:1) to either 2 hours of continuous monitoring with TCD or placebo monitoring. FDA-approved portable diagnostic TCD equipment and standard headframes (Marc series, Spencer Technologies, Seattle, WA) are used. Output of TCD units is set at 100% power achievable at depths of insonation that display the worst TIBI flow grade signals. METHODS AND END-POINTS: Acute MCA occlusion on prebolus TCD is defined as thrombolysis in brain ischemia (TIBI) flow grades 0-3. Treating physicians are blinded to randomization assignment, and certified scorers measure stroke severity using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Safety of continuous TCD monitoring is determined by rates of symptomatic (NIHSS score increase by 4+ points) intracerebral hemorrhage within 72 hours after initial symptom onset. Potential enhancement of TPA therapy will be determined using combined primary end-point of early complete recanalization on TCD (TIBI flow grades 4-5), dramatic recovery (NIHSS < or = 3 points), or decline in the NIHSS > or = 10 points repeatedly measured every 30 minutes within 2 hours after TPA bolus. Other end-points include recovery at 24 hours and 3 months, modified Rankin scores (mRS) are obtained at 90 days, and favorable outcome is determined as NIHSS or mRS scores 0-1. CONCLUSIONS: The aim of phase II CLOTBUST trial is to determine the rates of early complete recanalization and dramatic/early clinical recovery in TPA + TCD and TPA groups. The sample size is set at 126 patients since a medium effect size (.50) is anticipated for TPA + TCD group vs TPA alone to achieve combined primary end-point.     

经阴道超声诊断子宫内膜癌

目的 探讨应用经阴道超声（TVS）诊断绝经前后出血妇女子宫内膜癌的价值。方法 采用彩色多普勒超声诊断仪检测74例阴道异常出血的妇女，其中绝经前28例，绝经后46例，所有患者均取子宫内膜组织行病理对照。结果 TVS检测子宫内膜癌的敏感性、特异性、假阳性率、假阴性率、阳性预测值和阴性预测值，绝经前妇女依次为61．5％，50．0％，14．3％，23．8％，94．1％和54．5％，绝经后妇女依次为97．3％，55．6％，44．4％，2．7％，90．0％和83．0％。结论 TVS检测可作为子宫内膜癌首选的筛查方法，尤其对于绝经后妇女价值更大。     

多巴酚丁胺负荷超声心动图及组织多普勒成像技术在诊断冠心病中的临床应用

目的探讨多巴酚丁胺负荷超声心动图(DSE)和组织多普勒成像技术(TDI)在冠心病(CHD)诊断中的应用价值,以寻求一种敏感的、无创的CHD诊断方法。方法选择胸闷或胸痛怀疑CHD患者40例,应用TDI测量静息状态(Rest)下前壁中段收缩峰值速度(Vs),以及多巴酚丁胺峰值负荷状态(Peak)下前壁中段Vs,同时测量静息心率和负荷心率;所有入选对象均进行冠脉造影,并根据左前降支狭窄程度是否大于等于50%分为左前降支狭窄组(LST组)与左前降支非狭窄组(non-LST组)。分别比较Rest和Peak前壁中段LST组与non-LST组平均Vs差别等。结果Rest前壁中段LST组与non-LST组Vs差别无显著性意义;但Peak前壁中段LST组与non-LST组差别有显著性意义。结论DSE结合TDI是诊断冠心病有价值的定量分析方法。DSE在诊断CHD时的敏感性、准确性明显优于静息状态超声心动图。     

Monitoring of skin response to sodium lauryl sulphate: clinical scores versus bioengineering methods

The present trial was designed to evaluate clinical scores (single observer) of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)-induced skin irritation in a group of subjects (n = 10) over a 10-day period along with various skin function parameters. In order to avoid significant variations due to secondary phenomena, the following parameters were recorded with non-invasive instruments in this order: skin capacitance (C1; arbitrary units; CM420 Corneometer), transepidermal water loss (TEWL; g/m2.h; Evaporimeter) and laser Doppler flowmetry (CBFV: cutaneous blood flow values; Periflux). All examinations were performed during winter on reclined relaxed subjects present for at least 10 min in a test room with controlled temperature and relative humidity (t degrees: 19.5-20.7 degrees C and RH: 47.3-60.3%). The analysis of differential data (delta = value at tx-value before test; 2-way ANOVA) was made on single parameters as a function of site (volar forearm versus neck) and time (from 24 h after 48-h occlusion with 5% SLS up to 10 days later). The profile of erythema scores over time differed between neck and forearm, but the delta CBFV readings with the laser Doppler instrument did not detect significant site-time interactions. Roughness (blind evaluation with palpating finger) and capacitance readings (delta C1) showed significant differences between sites, but the profile over time was similar in both locations. delta TEWL did not differ according to anatomical location. The reason for different erythema scores on neck and forearm might be related to inherent regional variation of optical properties of the skin or to a substantial contribution of SLS-induced roughness to the readings of erythema.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Residual Flow Signals Predict Complete Recanalization in Stroke Patients Treated With TPA

BACKGROUND: Residual blood flow around thrombus prior to treatment predicts success of coronary thrombolysis. The authors aimed to correlate the presence of residual flow signals in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) with completeness of recanalization after intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (TPA). METHODS: The authors studied consecutive patients treated with intravenous TPA therapy who had a proximal MCA occlusion on pretreatment transcranial Doppler (TCD). Patients were continuously monitored for 2 hours after TPA bolus. Absent residual flow signals correspond to the thrombolysis in brain ischemia (TIBI) 0 grade, and the presence of residual flow signals was determined as TIBI 1-3 flow grades. Complete recanalization was defined as flow improvement to TIBI grades 4-5. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients with a proximal MCA occlusion had median pre-bolus NIHSS 16 (85% with > or = 10 points). TPA bolus was given at 141 +/- 56 minutes (median 120 minutes). Complete recanalization was observed in 25 (33%), partial in 23 (31%), and no early recanalization was seen in 27 (36%) patients within 2 hours after TPA bolus. Only 19% with absent residual flow signals (TIBI grade 0, n = 26) on pretreatment TCD had complete early recanalization. If pretreatment TCD showed the presence of any residual flow (TIBI 1-3, n = 49), 41% had complete recanalization within 2 hours of TPA bolus (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with detectable residual flow signals before IV TPA bolus are twice as likely to have early complete recanalization. Those with no detectable residual flow signals have less than 20% chance for complete early recanalization with intravenous TPA and may be candidates for intra-arterial therapies.     

Asymptomatic metachronous metastatic renal cell adenocarcinoma to the gallbladder

Summary A case of asymptomatic metachronous metastatic unilateral renal cell adenocarcinoma to the gallbladder detected five years after resection of the primary renal neoplasm is reported here. The lesion was diagnosed by contrast enhancement of a gallbladder mass on abdominal computerized tomography scan and by color Doppler sonographic study of the gallbladder, both of which demonstrated the vascular supply to the intraluminal gallbladder mass. The biological behavior of renal cell adenocarcinoma is reviewed. Guidelines for the evaluation of intraluminal gallbladder masses are suggested.