Developments in medical oncology and their implications for interventional radiology

Although surgery and radiation therapy have always been spatially targeted, chemotherapy as administered by oncologists has remained steadfastly committed to non-targeted systemic delivery. Decades of pharmaceutical research have yielded agents appropriate for intravenous use, but countless potentially efficacious agents have been discarded because of pharmacokinetic and toxicity profiles unsuitable for systemic delivery. With the emerging technology of biological agents comes a new series of challenges. These agents tend to be larger, less long-lived, and antigenic when compared with the agents of the past. Meanwhile, interventional radiologists have shown that targeted methods of delivery can have substantial impact on the efficacy and toxicity of agents. Laboratory scientists have developed new bullets; we interventional radiologists have developed new guns. It is time we take advantage of potential synergies.     

乳腺疾病的超声诊断价值

目的:评价彩色多普勒超声对乳腺疾病的超声诊断价值。方法:运用彩色多普勒超声对女性患有乳腺疾病的患者进行诊断,并研究声像图的结果得出结论。结果:在582例患者中,有252例是乳腺癌,203例是乳腺囊性增生征,72例是乳腺纤维瘤,55例是乳腺炎性包块。结论:彩色多普勒超声对诊断乳腺疾病有重要的临床应用价值。     

'Alcohol intoxication' or 'drunkenness': is there a difference?

The terms 'alcohol intoxication' and 'drunkenness' have hitherto been used interchangeably. A distinction between these terms is justified. Anthropological research suggests that the behaviour displayed by people who have consumed alcohol has more to do with culturally-determined expectations than with the properties of alcohol. Subjects who believe they have consumed alcohol when they have not behave more aggressively than those who believe that they have not consumed alcohol. There are significant false-positive and false-negative rates when doctors use clinical signs to judge whether or not a patient is intoxicated. People who die in police custody after arrest for offences of drunkenness include a proportion who have a negligible quantity of alcohol in the body and whose cause of death is unrelated to alcohol. It is proposed: (1) that the term 'alcohol intoxication' should refer to a state in which alcohol is present in the body; (2) its diagnosis should be based on toxicological evidence for the presence of alcohol in body fluids or tissues; and (3) the term 'drunkenness' should be used to describe behaviour displayed by people who have consumed, believe that they have consumed, or want others to believe that they have consumed, alcohol. Some clinical and legal implications of this distinction are discussed.     

Experimental models in interventional neuroradiology.

Various experimental models have been developed to test interventional neuroradiologic techniques. Most have been used to test various devices and embolic materials, and a small number of models have been designed for teaching or training purposes. Experimental models in endovascular techniques have seldom been used to stimulate disease processes in order to facilitate their understanding.     

Exerting Yourself

Most sports medicine physicians are affected in some way by the multitude of HMOs and PPOs that have sprung up nationwide. Some have welcomed the patients and the assured payments these organizations bring. Others say these plans have interfered with medical care and have stunted innovation in sports medicine.     

AIDS awareness in the conduct of radiologic procedures: guidelines to safe practice

The epidemic of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has affected all geographic regions of the United States. Indeed, it is likely that a majority of U.S. hospitals have cared for patients who are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. More than 46,000 individuals with HIV infection have fulfilled the strict diagnostic criteria for AIDS (1). All of these patients with AIDS have been seriously ill and have been hospitalized, often multiple times and for prolonged periods. Another, larger group patients with HIV infection has had another form of the disease, the so-called AIDS-related complex. Many of these patients have also spent time in hospitals. An even larger group of individuals has been infected with HIV but has remained asymptomatic to date. Some of these persons have been admitted to hospitals or have received outpatient diagnostic procedures for intercurrent medical or dental complaints that were unrelated to their asymptomatic HIV infection. At the time of their medical evaluation, some of these asymptomatic individuals were known to have a positive HIV antibody test. It is likely, however, that the serologic status of the majority of asymptomatically infected patients was unknown. Thus, by now a very large number of health-care personnel in the United States, including diagnostic radiology staff, have assisted in the care of HIV-infected patients.     

Breast imaging: a breast surgeon's perspective

Many changes have occurred in the past decade in the imaging of the breast. These improvements have led to more sensitive and specific breast imaging and to the widespread use of minimally invasive biopsy techniques. They have also facilitated a closer working relationship between breast imager and surgeon and have contributed greatly to the surgeon's ability to optimally diagnose and treat breast cancer.     

结节性硬化的影像诊断

目的:探讨分析结节性硬化的临床表现及影像学特点。方法:回顾分析7例结节性硬化病例的临床、影像学表现并作文献复习。7例中,男性4例,女性3例,平均年龄38岁;其中3例有轻度的智力障碍,1例有阵发性抽搐;3例有典型的面部皮脂腺瘤及/或腰骶部颗粒斑。结果:7例病人头颅CT扫描都有不同程度的脑室室管膜下及脑皮层、脑白质的钙化结节;头颅MRI表现为室管膜下结节,室壁呈波浪状改变,其中1例可见巨细胞星形细胞瘤;6例可见双肾多发错构瘤,1例可见肝脏错构瘤。结论:结节性硬化的临床及影像学表现有一定特征性,CT及MRI在结节性硬化中的诊断具有十分重要的价值。     

Forensic application of aquaporins

Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of water channel proteins that primarily elicit the basic functions of water transport and osmotic homeostasis. To date, at least 17 mammalian AQPs have been identified, AQP-0 to -12 have been found in higher orders including human, and AQP-13 to -16 have been described in older lineages. Moreover, these proteins have recently been shown to regulate many biological processes through unique activities, such as cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and mitochondrial metabolism. Several studies have focused on the involvement of AQPs in cell biology aspect, showing that they are involved in a variety of physiological processes and pathophysiological conditions. Furthermore, in the field of forensic medicine, studies on whether AQPs can be a useful marker for diagnosing various causes of death have been conducted using autopsy samples and animal experiments, which have produced interesting results. Herein, we review certain observations regarding AQPs and discuss their potential to contribute to the future practice of forensic research.     

Imaging of the pharynx and the esophagus.

In the past year there have been an unusual number of new concepts developed concerning the pharynx and the esophagus. The normal swallowing mechanism has been studied in detail using a variety of techniques that have increased our understanding of the normal and abnormal swallowing mechanism. In the esophagus, simultaneous barium swallows and esophageal manometry have created new insights into esophageal peristalsis. Based on this material, new recommendations have been developed for a standard barium swallow for the evaluation of esophageal motility. Also, findings previously considered to be abnormal, such as mild tertiary contractions, have now been demonstrated to be within normal limits. For the first time, detailed criteria for abnormal esophageal peristalsis have been described. This article reviews the literature, emphasizing those areas in which new concepts will affect the practicing radiologist.     

Measurements of the K X-ray intensity ratios by using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.

K X-ray intensity ratios of some elements have been investigated by using radioisotope excited-energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The characteristic X-rays emitted from the samples have been recorded using a Si(Li) detector and they have been fitted to Gaussian functions by using a least-square method. The measured K X-ray intensity ratios have uncertainties of about 5%, and they are in good agreement with theoretical and experimental values available in the literature.     

心电图诊断冠心病再评价

目的：通过冠状动脉造影证实心电图在诊断冠心病中的价值。方法：根据冠状动脉的造影结果，将100例患者分为冠心病组和非冠心病组，比较两组静息心电图和症状发作时心电图，了解心电图诊断冠心病的价值。结果：100例冠心病患者中54例(54％)诊断冠心病，其中静息心电图正常者26例(48％)，ST-T改变者11例(20％)，心律失常18例(33％)。而46例(46％)非冠心病患者，20例(43％)静息心电图正常，ST-T改变者8例(17％)，心律失常15例(32％)。在患者症状发作时，冠心病组动态ST-T改变者40例(74％)，而非冠心病组仅5例(10％)。结论：静息心电图在诊断冠心病中局限性很大，而症状相关性的动态ST-T改变在诊断冠心病中有较高价值。     

Forensic considerations of surrogacy -- an overview

In the past two decades, there has been a spectacular change in the field of reproductive technologies. Reproductive sciences have come in with techniques such as donor insemination; in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer methods, which have completely revolutionized the reproductive environment. These techniques have given hope to many infertile couples, who wish to have a child of their own. With the oncoming of surrogacy agreements, concepts of fatherhood and motherhood have been subject to much controversy. Motherhood was never under much scrutiny as it was rightly thought that childbirth was the natural and conclusive fact establishing it, though paternity was at times a controversial concept burdening legislators to provide for suitable tests. Medical sciences have now compartmentalized motherhood into the genetic, gestational and the social mother leading to a clash of interests. This paper reviews some medicolegal, ethical and social aspects of surrogacy.     

Direct coronal computed tomography of the orbits employing a dedicated head scanner

A number of articles have been written on the topic of orbital computed tomography (CT), most of which have emphasized transaxial sections. Recently, especially since whole body scanners have become widely distributed, numerous articles have been written on coronal sections of the orbits. This article discusses the method of obtaining coronal CT sections of the orbits employing a dedicated head scanner and demonstrates the results that can be obtained employing this technique.     

Relationships between portions of the third and fourth ventricles

Summary The relationships between the third and fourth ventricles have been studied by examination of the angles formed by third and fourth ventricular projections. These have been subjected to statistical analysis and have proved useful for posterior fossa stereotactic surgery.     

The incidence of Staphylococcus saprophyticus in urine and its identification

Having in mind the known fact that Staphylococcus saproplyticus is one of the most common causes of acute urinary infections, especially in females in the generative period, we have studied its incidence in 12,556 urine samples (6,374 of females and 6,182 of males) taken at the clinics and polyclinics of the Military Medical Academy. For identification of Staphylococcus saprophyticus we have used disk-diffusion test for sensitivity to novobiocin. In order to check realiability of this test we have studied morphological and biochemical characteristics in 30 novobiocin-resistant and 30 novobiocin-sensitive strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci. Of 12,556 examined urine samples we have isolated 217 strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci (10(4) and more bacteria/ml of urine in pure culture). Of this number 33 strains (15.2%) were resistent to novobiocin and we have regarded them as Staphylococcus saprophyticus. The greatest incidence of novobiocin-resistant strains we have found in the urine of female patients treated at polyclinics (19, e.i. 57.6%). Resistence to novobiocin, formation of light yellowish pigment and absence of beta-hemolysis have shown to be satisfactory criteria in diagnosis of Staphylococcus saprophyticus from urine.     

Image processing for craniofacial landmark identification and measurement: a review of photogrammetry and cephalometry.

Facial surface anthropometry and cephalometry have been used for many years for the diagnosis of malformations, surgical planning and evaluation, and growth studies. These disciplines rely on the identification of craniofacial landmarks. Methods for 3D reconstruction of landmarks have been introduced, as have image processing algorithms for the automation of landmark extraction. This paper reviews facial surface anthropometry and cephalometry with reference to the image processing algorithms that have been applied and their effectiveness.     

有色有髓纤维的危害及控制措施

文章综述了有色有髓纤维在白色羊毛中的危害及其检测技术进展,研究分析了有色有髓纤维形成原因,提出了相应的控制措施.     

Puzzling intrauterine insults

Two male infants were noted at birth to have open wounds involving a forearm. These have been associated with abnormal bone modelling and growth. The cause of these appearances remains unclear and no similar cases have been reported.