Ventilation imaging of the lung: Comparison of hyperpolarized helium-3 MR imaging with Xe-133 scintigraphy

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To compare hyperpolarized helium-3 (HHe) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lung with standard Xe-133 lung ventilation scintigraphy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 15 subjects who underwent HHe MRI and Xe-133 lung ventilation imaging. Coronal MRI sections were acquired after a single inhalation of HHe gas, and standard posterior planar lung ventilation scintigraphy was performed during continuous breathing of Xe-133 gas. The first breath scintigram of each patient was compared with a composite MR image composed of the sum of the individual MR images and with the individual helium-3 MR images. Ventilation defects on the two imaging modalities were compared for size, conspicuity, and concordance in presence and location. Assessment was done separately for each of four lung quadrants. RESULTS: Comparing the composite HHe MR images with Xe-133 scintigraphy, ventilation defect size, conspicuity and concordance were the same in 67% (40/60), 63% (38/60), and 62% (37/60) quadrants, respectively. Comparing the individual HHe MR image sections with the Xe-133 ventilation scan, there was concordance between the ventilation defects in 27% (16/60) of quadrants. More defects were identified on the individual HHe MR images in 62% (37/60) of quadrants. CONCLUSION: There was good agreement between composite HHe MR image and first breath Xe-133 scintigraphic images, supporting the widely held assumption that HHe MRI likely depicts first breath lung ventilation.     

Ureteral catheterization and manipulations using flexible cystoscope on patients in semiprone position

Cystoscopy using the flexible cystoscope was performed on 15 patients in the semiprone position. Ureteral catheters were placed to facilitate percutaneous nephrolithotomy in 8 patients, and indwelling ureteral stents were removed in 7. The procedure offers the urologist an additional technique in select situations.     

Complications of orthodontic-orthognathic surgery treatment in mentally handicapped patients.

AIM: The aim of this study was to analyse possible intra- and postoperative complications and long-term results in combined orthodontic-orthognathic treatment of mentally handicapped patients compared with a control group of patients without handicap. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 20 mentally handicapped patients (male = 7, female = 13) and of 102 non-handicapped patients (male = 36, female = 66) were evaluated retrospectively. The results of the two point-discrimination sensory test and the cephalometric findings of both groups were assessed. Complications during and after the operation, the results of nerve function tests and relapse rates were reported. The statistical analysis was carried out using binary logistical regression analysis with adjustment according to the diagnosis and the type of operation (p < 0.05) RESULTS: No significant differences could be found between the mentally handicapped and the non-handicapped patients. Only the nerve function test immediately postoperatively revealed differences between the two patient groups. The relapse rate in mentally handicapped patients was similar to non-handicapped patients. Forty-seven months after the operation, relapse (change in the ANB angle of more than 0.5 degrees ) was observed in four patients only (handicapped patients). CONCLUSION: Orthognathic surgical procedures in mentally handicapped patients can be carried out with a similarly high success rate as in mentally healthy patients.     

Effect of buffering on pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen enantiomers in man

Aims Concomitant administration of magnesium hydroxide may affect the rate or extent of absorption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In order to find out whether or not buffering modifies the pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen, plasma concentration-time courses resulting from oral administration of unbuffered formulations were compared with those of buffered formulations.
Methods Two groups of 12 healthy and young male subjects were included in two randomized cross-over studies and received single oral doses of ketoprofen 12.5 or 25  mg, respectively, given as tablets which were either unbuffered or buffered with magnesium hydroxide/citrate. Ketoprofen enantiomers in plasma were determined by h.p.l.c. up to 24  h post-dose.
Results Maximum plasma concentrations ( C _max ) of both the (R)- and (S)-enantiomer, observed after administration of the buffered formulations (12.5 and 25  mg), were higher compared with the unbuffered tablets by about 50–80%. The area under concentration-time data (AUC) was unaffected, and, hence, C _max/AUC was increased by buffering. Time to C _max ( t _max ) and mean residence time (MRT) tended to be or was shortened by buffering.
Conclusions It is concluded that buffering of two ketoprofen formulations with magnesium hydroxide/citrate enhanced the concentration maximum by increasing the rate of absorption and leaving AUC unaffected.     

Gastric emptying patterns of a liquid meal in newborn infants measured by epigastric impedance

Epigastric impedance was used to measure the gastric emptying patterns of a liquid non-caloric meal (5 mL water kg⁻¹) in 30 healthy newborn infants. Twenty-six mature infants were examined in the first eight days of life, and four preterm infants were examined within 6 weeks after birth. The recordings consisted of two components: the emptying signal (the DC component), and a phasic 3 cycles per minutes (CPM) signal (the AC component). In some of the infants the phasic 3 CPM signal was also seen during the fasting state.
For mature infants the median half emptying time (T₅₀) was 6.9 min. For a second meal given within one hour after the first meal the half emptying time was 5.5 min ( P  < 0.01). In preterm infants the emptying times were not significantly different from mature infants.
Day-to-day variation was low with a coefficient of variation of 17% in nine infants.
A periodic change of the impedance signal, the phasic 3 CPM signal, was observed after a meal in 24 of the infants. The median frequency was 3.0 CPM in 20 mature and 2.9 CPM in four preterm infants. In nine infants a phasic 3 CPM signal was also observed during the fasting state, with a median frequency of 2.9 CPM.
Measurement of gastric emptying pattern with epigastric impedance is a simple investigation for the evaluation of gastric emptying time and phasic activity in mature and preterm infants. However, the method is sensitive to spontaneous movements of the children, resulting in non-valid measurements in around one fourth of the infants.     

Report of the Canadian Hypertension Society Consensus Conference: 2. Nonpharmacologic management and prevention of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To provide Canadian physicians with comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines for the nonpharmacologic management and prevention of gestational hypertension and pre-existing hypertension during pregnancy. OPTIONS: Lifestyle modifications, dietary or nutrient interventions, plasma volume expansion and use of prostaglandin precursors or inhibitors. OUTCOMES: In gestational hypertension, prevention of complications and death related to either its occurrence (primary or secondary prevention) or its severity (tertiary prevention). In pre-existing hypertension, prevention of superimposed gestational hypertension and intrauterine growth retardation. EVIDENCE: Articles retrieved from the pregnancy and childbirth module of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; pertinent articles published from 1966 to 1996, retrieved through a MEDLINE search; and review of original randomized trials from 1942 to 1996. If evidence was unavailable, consensus was reached by the members of the consensus panel set up by the Canadian Hypertension Society. VALUES: High priority was given to prevention of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnancies with established hypertension and in those at high risk of gestational hypertension through the provision of effective nonpharmacologic management. BENEFITS, HARMS AND COSTS: Reduction in rate of long-term hospital admissions among women with gestational hypertension, with establishment of safe home-care blood pressure monitoring and appropriate rest. Targeting prophylactic interventions in selected high-risk groups may avoid ineffective use in the general population. Cost was not considered. RECOMMENDATION: Nonpharmacologic management should be considered for pregnant women with a systolic blood pressure of 140-150 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure of 90-99 mm Hg, or both, measured in a clinical setting. A short-term hospital stay may be required for diagnosis and for ruling out severe gestational hypertension (preeclampsia). In the latter case, the only effective treatment is delivery. Palliative management, dependent on blood pressure, gestational age and presence of associated maternal and fetal risk factors, includes close supervision, limitation of activities and some bed rest. A normal diet without salt restriction is advised. Promising preventive interventions that may reduce the incidence of gestational hypertension, especially with proteinuria, include calcium supplementation (2 g/d), fish oil supplementation and low-dose acetylsalicylic acid therapy, particularly in women at high risk for early-onset gestational hypertension. Pre-existing hypertension should be managed the same way as before pregnancy. However, additional concerns are the effects on fetal well-being and the worsening of hypertension during the second half of pregnancy. There is, as yet, no treatment that will prevent exacerbation of the condition. VALIDATION: The guidelines share the principles in consensus reports from the US and Australia on the nonpharmacologic management of hypertension in pregnancy.     

Successful regrafting of a transplanted liver

We report on the successful regrafting of a transplanted liver. The donor liver was first grafted into a patient suffering from cryptogenic cirrhosis; the patient died 1 day after the elective transplantation of cerebral bleeding. The well-functioning graft was harvested again and transferred to our institution. After another 12 h of cold ischemia, the liver was reperfused in an urgently registered patient with recurrence of hepatitis B in his first graft. The transplantation was successfully performed and the patient is now doing well, more than 5 months after regrafting with the reused liver. Received: 21 October 1996 Received after revision: 9 January 1997 Accepted: 27 January 1997     

Modified stirrups for dorsal lithotomy positioning

The modified dorsal lithotomy position is excellent for radical pelvic operations. Use of modified Krauss arm supports as stirrups, along with pneumatic devices that intermittently compress the legs, significantly reduces postoperative morbidity in patients who undergo operations in this position.