Eigenimage filtration of intravenous digital subtraction angiograms of the heart. Work in progress

The authors developed a postprocessing technique, eigenimage filtering, to extract phase-dependent information from digital subtraction angiograms of the heart. This technique suppresses the interference from the right ventricle and left atrium and produces an image of the left ventricle and aorta that is substantially free of these overlap artifacts. The resultant eigenimages of the heart appear more like conventional ventriculograms than do digital subtraction angiograms and matched filtered images.     

Colorectal tumors: scintigraphy with In-111 anti-CEA monoclonal antibody and correlation with surgical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical findings

A prospective clinical study of 17 patients with a histologic diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma proved at colonoscopy and surgery was performed with indium-111 anticarcinoembryonic-antigen (CEA) monoclonal antibody (MoAb), ZCE-025. MoAb scanning depicted nine of 16 primary colorectal carcinomas on planar scintigrams (true-positive findings = 56%) and ten of 16 lesions on single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans (true-positive findings = 62%). Liver metastases were detected in three of three patients, and lymph node metastases were detected in one of four patients. Immunohistochemical examination for CEA in resected colorectal cancer tissues demonstrated a positive correlation between MoAb imaging of primary lesions and cytoplasmic-stromal intracellular CEA distribution. There was no correlation between CEA serum levels and lesion detectability with MoAb scanning.     

Microclimate is an independent risk factor for the development of intraoperatively acquired pressure ulcers in the park‐bench position: A prospective observational study

Preventing pressure ulcers is important in patients undergoing procedures in the park‐bench position. We hypothesized that the microclimate around the skin is a significant risk factor for developing pressure ulcers. This research continuously assessed factors of the microclimate in terms of skin temperature and perspiration as well as the interface pressure in order to determine whether the microclimate is an independent risk factor for the development of park‐bench position‐related pressure ulcers (PBP‐PUs). A prospective observational study was conducted among patients undergoing elective surgery in the park‐bench position at a general hospital in the metropolitan area of Japan between April and November 2014. Factors of the microclimate, including skin temperature and perspiration, in addition to the interface pressure were continuously measured throughout surgery. Twenty‐nine patients were analyzed (mean age 44.4 ± 13.2 years, male 44.8%). Of these 29 patients, seven (24.1%) developed Category I PBP‐PUs. The change in skin temperature from baseline to the end of surgery (2.7 ± 0.3 °C vs. 1.9 ± 0.8 °C) and the average peak pressure (119.1 ± 36.8 mmHg vs. 94.5 ± 23.1 mmHg) were significantly higher in the patients with PBP‐PUs than in those without PBP‐PUs. There were no significant differences in the amount of perspiration between the two groups. A hierarchical logistic regression analysis showed that the change in skin temperature was significantly related to the development of PBP‐PUs (unit = 0.1 °C: odds ratio 1.44, 95% confidential interval 1.09–2.33) when adjusted for the average peak pressure and length of surgery. Our results suggest that a change in skin temperature toward a higher value is an independent risk factor for the development of PBP‐PUs. Proper intraoperative management of skin temperature may therefore be a promising candidate as a preventive method against PBP‐PU development.