Digital and conventional chest images: observer performance with Film Digital Radiography System

The Film Digital Radiography System (FilmDRS) is a device with a laser optical film digitizer, 2,000 X 2,000 X 12-bit memory, and a 1,000-line video display. To evaluate the adequacy of this device for general radiography of the chest, four readers independently analyzed both radiographs and the corresponding video display of the digitized chest images of 150 patients, consisting of 100 images of abnormalities and 50 normal images. The overall results indicate equal sensitivity for the two systems. The FilmDRS, with interactive windowing, proved superior in the detection of hilar and mediastinal disease. X-ray film was superior in allowing detection of hyperlucent states. There was equivalent sensitivity for other disease categories. Superior specificity was achieved with conventional radiographs.     

Assessment of testicular metabolic integrity with P-31 MR spectroscopy

To evaluate the reliability of phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy in the assessment of acute testicular ischemia, vascular integrity, and spermatogenesis, the authors studied in vivo canine and primate testicles grouped as follows: group 1 testes (n = 8), in situ canine controls; group 2 (n = 11), canine testes subjected to warm ischemia; group 3, canine (n = 4) and primate (n = 4) testicles from hormone-treated animals. Group 1 control testicles showed high monophosphoester (MP) levels; low levels of inorganic phosphate (Pi), phosphodiester (PD), and phosphocreatine; and high levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Group 2 testes revealed a time-dependent decay of MP/Pi ratios (from 2.1 to 0.70). Regeneration of ATP was noted in the acute reperfusion period. After 6 weeks of pituitary gonadotropin suppression, group 3 testes showed a significant decrease (P less than .05) in MP/PD ratios from a control level of 2.6 +/- 0.3 and a decrease in the MP/beta-ATP ratio from 2.4 +/- 0.1 to 1.8 +/- 0.3. P-31 MR spectroscopy appears to be a potential method for noninvasively assessing testicular ischemic injury and the metabolic integrity of spermatogenesis.     

Meniscal tears of the knee: accuracy of MR imaging

Before surgery, 277 menisci in 144 knees were examined with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. They were then examined directly with arthroscopy or arthrotomy. Menisci were graded on a scale of 1-3 according to the character of the intrameniscal MR imaging signal. At surgery, 137 of 154 (89%) menisci exhibiting only grade 1 or grade 2 signal were found to be normal. One hundred sixteen of 123 (94%) menisci exhibiting intrameniscal signal communicating with a meniscal articular surface (grade 3 signal) had tears. If only a grade 3 signal is considered consistent with meniscal tears, then MR findings and surgical findings agreed in 91.3% of menisci. MR imaging can separate surgically significant from nonsignificant meniscal lesions and is useful in the noninvasive preoperative screening of suspected meniscal tears.     

Angioödem durch C1-Esterase-Inhibitor-Mangel oder ACE-Hemmer?

A 49-year-old woman was admitted to the intensive care ward with increasing shortness of breath due to a massive soft tissue swelling of the neck and face and a marked macroglossia. Similar symptoms were already observed earlier in the patient as well as her father, although such symptoms were never as dramatic as they were on this occasion. The patient was intubated bronchoscopically and treated unsuccessfully with cortisone, fresh plasma und C1-esterase inhibitor. The patient only first reported intake of an ACE inhibitor a few days after the acute episode, which was most probably the causative factor given that serum C1 and C4 complement factors were almost normal.     

Untersuchungen an 1,3-Dicarbonyl-Verbindungen, 22. Mitt. 3-Acyl-4-oxo-4H-[1]benzofuro[3,2-b]pyrane

1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds, XXII: 3-Acyl-4H-[1]benzofuro[3,2-b]pyran-4-ones Attempts are reported to obtain the aldehyde 7 , a key compound for the synthesis of substances which are potentially antiallergic.