The role of the intercellular matrix in dermal calcinosis of the CRST syndrome. An electron-microscopic study.

We performed an electron-microscopic study on calcium deposits in two patients with calcifying scleroderma (CRST syndrome). Calcium deposits were detected both intracellularly in the mitochondria of phagocytic cells and extracellularly. Needle-like crystals measuring up to 4,500 A in length and approximately 60 A in width were present in both the Von Kossa-positive regions and the apparently normal dermal areas around the calcification sites. Although the fibrillar matrix's ultrastructure was normal, hollow oxytalan fibrils were detected. Slightly electron-opaque, star-shaped material was observed among the fibrillar component of the matrix (matrix granules), which is the ultrastructural expression of some types of proteoglycans containing keratan sulphate and chondroitin sulphate. These granules cannot be detected in normal dermis. The extrafibrillary calcium deposits on these mucopolysaccharide structures may represent an early event in the complex pathogenesis of calcification in the CRST syndrome.     

Measurement of right and left ventricular volumes in healthy individuals with cine MR imaging

Cine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a new, rapid MR pulse sequence that acquires up to 32 images per cardiac cycle at up to four levels of the heart within 4 minutes. In this study, the whole heart was encompassed by contiguous 10-mm transverse sections. Ventricular volumes were calculated by adding luminal areas determined in each section at end-diastole and end-systole. The left ventricular volume index was 57 ml/m2 +/- 9 at end-diastole and 17 ml/m2 +/- 4 at end-systole. The right ventricular volume index was 63 ml/m2 +/- 9 at end-diastole and 22 ml/m2 +/- 6 at end-systole. The left to right ventricular stroke volume ratio was 0.97 +/- 0.06, which was not statistically different from the theoretically expected ratio of 1. Interobserver and intraobserver measurements were closely correlated. Volume measurements were validated with two-dimensional echocardiography in five volunteers. Cine MR imaging allows reproducible three-dimensional measurement of right and left ventricular volumes with short imaging time and good temporal resolution.     

3-dimensional automatic dosimetry in curietherapy

Isodose curves can be viewed on multiple planes along with the radioactive implant and anatomical structures by projecting them on a video-display. The main options offered are the parallel projection of the implant selecting all the possible rotations, zooming and shifting, calculation of distance between two points of a selected plane, stereoscopic display.     

Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Three Accessory Pathways in a Single Session

Radiofrequency Ablation of Multiple Accessory Pathways. A 19-year-old patient is described having three accessory atrioventricular pathways. All three pathways were ablated using radiofrequency current in a single electrophysiologic investigation. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 3, pp. 141–149, April 1992)     

青钱柳酸A的结构研究

青钱柳酸Ａ的结构研究钟瑞建，舒任庚，倪小兰，徐昌瑞，黎莲娘（江西中医学院，南昌３３０００６；中国医学科学院，中国协和医科大学药物研究所，北京１０００５０）胡桃科植物青钱柳（ＣｙｃｌｏｃａｒｙａＰａｌｉａｒｕｓＩｌｊｉｎｓｋ为我国特产，民间用其叶制成保...     

Choledocholithiasis: treatment with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

In a patient with choledocholithiasis, a duodenal diverticulum precluded endoscopic retrograde bile duct cannulation. A transhepatic catheter was used to opacify the bile ducts and to guide the endoscopic sphincterotome into the major duodenal papilla. Because limited sphincterotomy did not allow extraction or spontaneous passage of the common duct stones, extracorporeal lithotripsy was performed. Following fragmentation, the stones passed spontaneously and without complications.