Pancreatic transplant imaging

Forty-four clinical episodes of suspected (pancreas) transplant rejection in 17 pancreatic transplantation patients were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical impression of acute graft rejection, chronic rejection, or nonrejection in each episode was correlated with the results of 19 nuclear medicine, 12 ultrasound (US), and 44 magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies. US was found to be a moderately sensitive (82%) method of detecting graft rejection. US also was effective in identifying intra- and peripancreatic fluid accumulations. Nuclear medicine imaging was also a sensitive technique (86%) and the only modality that provided physiologic information regarding graft perfusion. MR imaging allowed correct prediction of the presence or absence of graft rejection in 39 of 44 cases (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 76%) and was an effective means of detecting pathologic fluid collections. Nuclear medicine, US, and MR imaging are all believed to be sensitive methods of detecting graft rejection and are complementary adjuncts to the clinical evaluation of pancreatic transplants.     

Assignment of configuration to 2î-hydroxy-2-methyl-9-hydroxy-5,9-dialkyl-6, 7-benzomorphans using mass spectrometry

The configuration and structure of α- and β-2î-hydroxy-2-methyl-9-hydroxy-5,9-dialkyl-6,7-benzomorphans have been determined by mass spectrometry.     

MINIMUM ARTIFICIAL LUNG EXPANSION NECESSARY FOR RESUSCITATION OF THE NEWBORN LAMB

In a group of seven lambs, pressure-volume relationships wereobtained for the initial artificial expansion of the lungs inthe intact chest and subsequent re-expansion after the lungshad been excised and collapsed. In a second group, of 12 severelyasphyxiated lambs, the lungs were expanded in steps and circulatoryresuscitation was achieved at pressures ranging from 1.75 to3.5 kPa, geometric mean 2.3 kPa, with estimated correspondingvolumes of 3–24 ml kg^–1, geometric mean 5.8 ml kg^–1.In a third group, of 24 severely asphyxiated lambs (mean pH6.84), 22 were successfully resuscitated in the same mannerand nine of these survived in apparent good health for morethan 6 months. Any resuscitation regime for human neonates shouldtake account of the finding that resuscitation occurred at pressuresless than those necessary for full expansion and that, afterthe first sign of an increase in heart rate, there was a delayof 17–45 s before full circulatory improvement and of3 mm before full improvement in Pa_O.