Thin-section computed tomography of the bronchi; 2. Right upper lobe and left upper division

Thin (2mm) section contiguous computed tomographic (CT) scans were obtained through the bronchi of the right upper lobe and the left upper division in 30 patients. All segmental bronchi were identified. The right subsegmental bronchi were identified in 100%, and the left subsegmental bronchi in 97%. The type of the orifice of the right bronchus was trifurcated (53%), the extension of B1 was apicoanterior (50%), and the size of B2b was equal to B3a (63%). The extension of the left B3 was subapicoanterior (38%), and the size of B1+2c was equal to B3a (62%).     

MR differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma from cavernous hemangioma: complementary roles of FLASH and T2 values

Forty-two patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (hepatoma) and 18 patients with hemangioma were studied with MR imaging at 1.5 T to evaluate the efficacy of single-slice breath-hold FLASH (fast low-angle shot) images in distinguishing between the lesions and to compare with T2 differentiation using conventional spin-echo images. The difference between mean tumor-to-liver signal ratio on FLASH imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma (1.46 +/- 1.06) and hemangioma (0.86 +/- 0.45) was statistically significant (p less than .01). Fifty-one (82%) of 62 lesions were classified correctly when the borderline of tumor-to-liver signal ratio between hepatoma and hemangioma was set at 0.9. The mean T2 values of hepatomas and hemangiomas were 48 +/- 10 msec and 89 +/- 20 msec, respectively. Fifty-seven (92%) of 62 lesions were correctly diagnosed with the T2 borderline of 80 msec. The five misdiagnosed lesions with the T2 borderline were hemangiomas smaller than 2 cm with tumor-to-liver signal ratios less than 0.9. FLASH images appear promising for differentiating between hepatoma and hemangioma, and they complement T2 values in characterizing small lesions.     

Thin basement membrane nephropathy associated with minimal change disease in a 15-year-old boy

Thin basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN) is characterized clinically by persistent hematuria, minimal proteinuria, normal renal function, another family member with hematuria, and a benign course. Especially in childhood TBMN, proteinuria of any degree is reported to be uncommon. We report on a boy with benign familial hematuria found by urinary screening at 3 years of age who presented with nephrotic syndrome (NS) at 15 years of age. His renal histology showed TBMN associated with minimal change disease (MCD). Treatment with corticosteroid resulted in complete remission of NS in a short period of time, while isolated hematuria persisted during the follow-up period despite this therapy. We speculate, therefore, that the nephrotic range proteinuria is not due to TBMN but rather is the manifestation of associated MCD. Several cases of TBMN with NS have been reported in adults, but it has not yet been reported in children in the literature. To our knowledge, this is the first case of childhood TBMN associated with NS resulting from coincidental MCD.     

Traumatic occlusion of renal artery: CT and angiography

Four cases of traumatic renal artery occlusion are reported. A direct blow to the abdomen was considered to have caused renal artery occlusion in two cases. They were severely injured and had macroscopic hematuria. Aortography revealed an abrupt cut-off type of obstruction of the renal artery. In the other two, a rapid decelerating-type of injury resulted in damage to the intima of the renal artery. They showed almost no outward signs of injury and no macroscopic hematuria. Aortography disclosed a tapered occlusion of the renal artery. CT showed the rim sign between the seventh day and sixth week before the compromised kidney became apparent. It had disappeared by the time follow-up CT revealed contraction. One patient developed hypertension, which subsided after nephrectomy. CT findings of the patient suggested the possibility of predicting hypertension as a sequelae of acute renal artery occlusion.     

Phase I clinical studies of S6472 (sustained release preparations of cefaclor)

Current (regular) preparation of cefaclor (CCL) require the 3-time-a-day administration. S6472 (sustained release preparation) which can be used with the twice-a-day administration in the morning and the evening is capsule and granule preparations consisting of 40% of nonenteric and 60% of enteric coated granules of CCL. Phase I clinical studies of S6472 were conducted in 12 nonfasted healthy adult male volunteers with cross over method using a single dose of 375 mg in capsule and granule forms of S6472, and 250 mg in capsule form of regular CCL as a control drug. The volunteers received the 3 preparations at 1-week interval. The summary of the results from the above studies is as follows: Grouping of the volunteers. The 12 volunteers were divided into 3 groups (each group consists of 4 volunteers) and there were no significant differences between each group regarding background factors of the volunteers. Tolerance. None of the volunteers who received the 3 preparations at 1-week interval complained of subjective abnormalities. No abnormalities which are considered to be due to S6472 and regular CCL were found in the clinical laboratory tests carried out before the administration and 1 week after the completion of the studies. Plasma level. There were no significant differences between capsule and granule forms of S6472 regarding Cmax and AUC, and it was confirmed that bioavailability of both preparations was the same. It was also confirmed that plasma levels of the 2 preparations of S6472 were maintained for longer period of time than those of regular CCL. Urinary excretion. Mean urine levels of the 2 preparations of S6472 every 2 hours after the administration were confirmed to be maintained for longer period of time than those of regular CCL. There were no significant differences between the 2 preparations of S6472 regarding urinary recovery rate. However, the significant differences between the 2 preparations of S6472 and regular CCL were observed. Urinary recovery rate of the 2 preparations of S6472 was 87 approximately 88% of that of regular CCL.     

Distortion correction in whole-body imaging of live mice using a 1-Tesla compact magnetic resonance imaging system

Purpose  

The aim of this study was to establish a distortion correction applicable to whole-body imaging of live mice.     

Relationship of detection rate of PET cancer screening examinees and risk factors: analysis of background of examinees

Objective  

PET cancer screening is performed widely in Japan as opportunistic screening, but no study has focused on the correlation with various cancer risk factors and the seeking bias of examinees and cancer detection rate. Analyzing our large series of PET cancer screening data, correlations with cancer detection rates according to general cancer risk factors and PET detection survey were reviewed, and the selection bias of the medical examinees was determined.