Compressed sensing in hyperpolarized 3He Lung MRI

In this work, the application of compressed sensing techniques to the acquisition and reconstruction of hyperpolarized ³He lung MR images was investigated. The sparsity of ³He lung images in the wavelet domain was investigated through simulations based on fully sampled Cartesian two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional ³He lung ventilation images, and the k‐spaces of 2D and 3D images were undersampled randomly and reconstructed by minimizing the L1 norm. The simulation results show that temporal resolution can be readily improved by a factor of 2 for two‐dimensional and 4 to 5 for three‐dimensional ventilation imaging with ³He with the levels of signal to noise ratio (SNR) (～19) typically obtained. The feasibility of producing accurate functional apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps from undersampled data acquired with fewer radiofrequency pulses was also demonstrated, with the preservation of quantitative information (mean ADC_cs ～ mean ADC_full ～ 0.16 cm² sec^?1). Prospective acquisition of 2‐fold undersampled two‐dimensional ³He images with a compressed sensing k‐space pattern was then demonstrated in a healthy volunteer, and the results were compared to the equivalent fully sampled images (SNR_cs = 34, SNR_full = 19). Magn Reson Med 63:1059–1069, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effects of 3,3'-di-O-methylquercetin on guinea-pig isolated smooth muscle

The effects of the flavone 3,3'-di-O-methylquercetin (DOMQ) have been examined and compared with those of quercetin, on guinea-pig isolated ileum, trachea, and main pulmonary artery (MPA). Except for transient contractions induced by low concentrations (10(-8)-3 x 10(-6) M), DOMQ and quercetin (up to 3 x 10(-4) M) caused reduction of the tone and the phasic contractions of the ileum. A23187 reversed the inhibitory effects of quercetin but not those of DOMQ. DOMQ and quercetin caused concentration-dependent relaxation of the trachea and the adrenaline-contracted MPA. DOMQ shifted to the right the concentration-effect curves induced by acetylcholine on the ileum and the trachea, and by adrenaline on MPA and those induced by CaCl2 on ileum, trachea and MPA. DOMQ also inhibited the contractions induced, in Ca2+-free EGTA-containing buffer, by histamine on ileum and by adrenaline on MPA. These observations suggest that DOMQ inhibits Ca2+ influx, Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and, more likely, Ca2+ binding to intracellular receptor proteins.     

L’ostéochondrite disséquante du genou chez l’enfant et l’adolescent. Notre expérience à propos de 32 cas

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) rarely involves the femoral condyle and affects especially the athletes. Etiology of OCD remains enigmatic. This retrospective study analyzed 32 cases (28 children) stemming from a paediatric series. All the concerned children exercised a sports activity. OCD can be grave on the functional plan and burden the sports future of the child. The clinical symptomatology was poor. The circumstances of discovery were essentially represented by an atypical pain of the knee. The diagnosis was confirmed by a standard radiography revealing a specific hurt of variable aspect, being able to go of a simple suspect line to a big loss of substance at the level of the femoral condyles. The used classifications were the ones of Bedouelle, Cahill, as well as Harding one. Mostly, the pathology was diagnosed at a premature stage I and II of Bedouelle. The examinations of imaging (Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI], CT scan) were individually decided to explore the lesion or for a choice of the therapeutics. The stake in simple discharge with a strict stop of the sport gave satisfactory results so clinical as radiological in our study. The surgery was exceptional. The forecast is usually good at the child's subject to an adapted coverage by not allowing passing the hour of the surgery. The sport practised in an excessive, intense way (competitive sport) is recognized as a major risk factor.     

Cross-cultural perspectives on patient teaching

Patient education for individuals of different cultures provides the professional nurse an opportunity to make a difference in the increasingly complex and changing problems in our bureaucratic society. Use of therapeutic relationships, indeed, can blend two worlds. Although we never can fully predict a patient's response to health teaching, we are likely to be much more effective if we understand and draw from the cultural context in which the patient is enmeshed.     

Direct optical entry through Palmer’s point: a new technique for those at risk of entry-related trauma at laparoscopy

We present a technique of direct optical entry through Palmer's point (3 cm below the left costal margin in the mid-clavicular line) as an alternative laparoscopic entry method for those gynaecological patients at risk of periumbilical adhesions. This method has been used in 15 patients and allowed the adhesions to be cleared where necessary. We feel that this technique can provide a safe approach to the abdominal cavity and should be considered as another method alongside closed and open umbilical techniques in the laparoscopic gynaecologist's repertoire.     

Childhood Guillain-Barré syndrome: clinical and electrophysiologic features predictive of outcome.

The hospital records of 27 children with the diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the time to recovery, patients were divided into two groups: group 1 consisted of children whose times to complete or partial recovery extended beyond 2 months from onset of the disease; group 2 consisted of children who attained a full recovery within 2 months from onset of the disease. The clinical and electrophysiologic features of the two groups were statistically compared for their predictive value of outcome. Three clinical features (maximum disability score at presentation, intubation, and cranial nerve involvement) were predictive of poor outcome, whereas one electrophysiologic feature (conduction block) was predictive of favorable outcome. There was also a significant correlation between maximum disability score at presentation and the probability of intubation.