Quantification of in-plane motion of the coronary arteries during the cardiac cycle: Implications for acquisition window duration for MR flow quantification

Motion of the coronary arteries during the heart cycle can result in image blurring and inaccurate flow quantification by MR. This condition applies particularly for longer acquisition windows that are typical of breath-hold coronary flow measurements. To determine the sensitivity of the technique to in-plane motion of different coronary arteries, the temporal variation in coronary position was measured in a plane perpendicular to the proximal portion of the vessel. The results indicated the presence of substantial displacement of the coronary arteries within the cardiac cycle, with a magnitude of motion approximately twice as large for the right as for the left coronary arteries. An estimation of the resulting vessel blurring was calculated, showing that the duration of the acquisition window for high spatial resolution coronary flow acquisitions should be less than 25 to 120 msec, depending on the specific coronary artery studied. In addition, these data specify optimal acquisition window placement for high resolution coronary angiography.     

Assoziation der chronischen Urtikaria mit Helicobacter pylori-induzierter Antrum-Gastritis

Zusammenfassung Trotz der H?ufigkeit der Erkrankung liegen nur wenige gesicherte Erkenntnisse über die ?tiologie der chronischen Urtikaria vor. Bei 10 Patienten, bei denen keine anderweitige Ursache für die Erkrankung ermittelt werden konnte, führten wir eine Gastroskopie durch. Bei 8 der 10 Patienten konnte eine Besiedlung der Magenschleimhaut mit Helicobacter pylori gesichert werden. Die Urtikaria heilte innerhalb weniger Tage bei allen Patienten ab, nachdem wir eine Therapie mit Amoxicillin und Omeprazol einleiteten. Eingegangen am 6. Februar 1995 Angenommen am 12. Mai 1995     

Direct evidence for the link between monoaminergic descending pathways and motor activity:: II. A study with microdialysis probes implanted in the ventral horn of the spinal cord

In order to define precisely the relation between descending monoaminergic systems and the motor system, we measured in the ventral horn of spinal cord of adult rats the variations of extracellular concentrations of 5-HT, 5-HIAA, DA and MHPG. Measurements were performed during rest, endurance running on a treadmill, and a post-exercise period, with microdialysis probes implanted permanently for 45 days. We found a slight decrease in both 5-HT and 5-HIAA during locomotion with a more marked decrease during the post-exercise period compared to the mean of rest values. In contrast, the concentration of DA and MHPG increased slightly during the exercise and decreased thereafter. These results, when compared with those of a previous study, which measured monoamines in the spinal cord white matter [C. Gerin, D. Bécquet, A. Privat, Direct evidence for the link between monoaminergic descending pathways and motor activity: I. A study with microdialysis probes implanted in the ventral funiculus of the spinal cord, Brain Res. 704 (1995) 191–201], highlight the complex regulation of the release of monoamines that occurs in the ventral horn.     

Group Similarities in Beliefs Concerning the Causes of Alcohol Problems and the Effectiveness of Means of Overcoming Problem Alcohol Use

Four hundred and eight respondents, who did or did not know persons close to themselves with alcohol problems, from four different racial/ethnic groups (with one group, Filipinos, categorized in terms of whether they were born in the Philippines or in the US.) rated the importance of 19 different causes of problem alcohol use and 22 different means of overcoming problem alcohol use. Rank-order correlations across sexes, persons differing in exposure to problem drinkers, and ethnic groups were nearly all in the 0.90's regarding causation. Correlations of Caucasians' ratings with those of other groups were high, but only in the 0.60's and 0.70'9, chiefly because Caucasians were more prone to regard problem alcohol use as hereditary and as a disease, and less likely to believe problem use to result from social factors. All across-group correlations concerning beliefs about the effectiveness of means of overcoming problems were in the 0.90's. Some of the means of treatment regarded most highly by all groups have not been demonstrated to be effective.     

Pharmacokinetics of Anandron in patients with advanced carcinoma of the prostate

Summary The pharmacokinetics of total radioactivity and unchanged drug were studied in patients receiving Anandron (Nilutamide, RU 23908) after a single dose of [¹⁴C] Anandron and after q12 h dosings of unlabelled drug for 2–7 weeks. The results indicate that the radioactivity in plasma consists of unchanged drug and metabolites. The plasma decay of Anandron after the absorption phase was biexponential in all patients, with the terminal phase half-life ranging from 23.3–87.2 h. The plasma decay of total radioactivity after the absorption phase was biexponential in 3/12 and monoexponential in 9/12 patients. The calculated terminal phase half-lives for total radioactivity after [¹⁴C] Anandron were 34.5–137.3 h. The AUC_0– of the unchanged drug in plasma represented 23%–38% of the AUC_0– of total radioactivity. Urinary radioactivity consisted primarily of metabolites, the majority of which were chloroform-nonextractable. Urinary excretion of radioactivity at 120 h ranged from 49%–78% of the administered dose; the unchanged Anandron (at 72 h) was 0.6%–1.3% of the dose. In three patients studied, the fecal excretion of Anandron was 1.4%–7.0%. Steady-state plasma levels (4.4–8.5 g/ml) were attained within approximately 2 weeks from the initiation of twice daily dosing of Anandron. When the plasma pharmacokinetics of radioactivity and unchanged drug after the first single dose were compared with that during steady state, AUC_{0–12 h} of unchanged Anandron during steady state was significantly higher than the AUC_0– after the first single dose, suggesting that the plasma clearance of Anandron is lowered upon chronic administration of the drug, assuming that the bioavailability is constant.     

Changing smoking, drinking, and eating behaviour among pregnant women in Denmark. Evaluation of a health campaign in a local region

Health behaviour during pregnancy was examined before and after a comprehensive health campaign targeted at pregnant women in Odense, Denmark. Furthermore, lifestyle habits were compared before and during the campaign with similar habits in Aalborg, Denmark. All 13,815 pregnant women (equal numbers from each city) were enrolled in the study, and 11,980 gave information on eating, drinking, and smoking habits during pregnancy. Data collection in both cities took place from April 1984 to April 1987. The campaign, which was entitled "Healthy Habits for Two", ran from April 1985 to April 1987 in the city of Odense only. No significant change in health behaviour in the Odense area was noted after the start of the campaign.     

Microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by Adriamycin,epirubicin, daunorubicin and mitoxantrone: a comparative study

Summary Rat-liver microsomes and NADPH could reduce Adriamycin, epirubicin and daunorubicin to their free radical forms, which enhanced peroxidation of microsomal lipids less than 2-fold in air but 3- to 5-fold at a pO₂ of 4 mm Hg. Mitoxantrone was not reduced by microsomes and had no effect on microsomal peroxidation. Daunorubicin caused more lipid peroxidation than similar concentrations of either Adriamycin or epirubicin, which were equally efficient. In each case peroxidation was iron-dependent and could be catalysed by ferritin. The antioxidants -carotene and -tocopherol inhibited lipid peroxidation at low or high pO₂. The dose-for-dose difference in the cardiotoxicity of epirubicin compared with Adriamycin is not explained by its effect on microsomal lipid peroxidation. However, the lower incidence of cardiotoxicity with mitoxantrone may be a consequence of its inability to form free radical species and promote lipid peroxidation.