Flow-independent angiography for peripheral vascular disease: Initial in-vivo results

Flow-independent angiography (FIA), an approach that isolates arterial blood using MR relaxation characteristics rather than flow effects, was evaluated for application in peripheral vascular disease (PVD). First, pilot studies were conducted in which FIA coronal projection images were obtained from controls and symptomatic patients with PVD to assess clinical utility. All control images corresponded to the expected leg arterial anatomy with little interference from deep veins (one of five) and muscle (zero of five). Superficial venous signal was less well suppressed in comparison to deep veins (four of five). Images of symptomatic patients were less consistent with difficulty suppressing muscle and deep venous signal in some cases and edema when present. We then compared T2 values for muscle (T2_m, tibialis anterior), arterial blood (femoral and popliteal arteries), and venous blood (femoral, popliteal, and saphenous veins) in controls (n = 8) and symptomatic patients with intermittent claudication (n = 5) or ischemic rest pain (n = 7). Changes in T2 measurements of various tissues accounted for poorer contrast in symptomatic patients. Patients with ischemic rest pain had significantly higher T2_m compared with controls (T2_m = 39.3 ± 2.1 (1 standard error of the mean [SEM]) versus 30.9 ± .4, P < .01). For all measurements, other than saphenous vein, variances were greater in symptomatic patients. To realize the inherent advantages of FIA for this clinical application, additional work on suppression of signals from muscle, veins, and edema is required. One promising approach involves shifting from projection images to three-dimensional acquisitions for improved tissue suppression.     

Current practice in the pre-operative assessment of patients for elective repair of abdominal aortic aneurysmA survey of UK hospitals

A postal survey of 100 hospitals throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland was conducted to assess current practice in the pre-operative assessment and use of pulmonary artery catheters in patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Seventy-four completed questionnaires were received. The survey revealed that 53% of respondents hold designated pre-operative assessment clinics, attended by anaesthetists in 54% and cardiologists in 26%. However, only 4% of respondents have a written protocol for stratifying patients and assessing peri-operative risk. By far the commonest investigation of choice for further cardiological assessment is transthoracic echocardiography (67%). Other investigations of choice are multiple update gated acquisition (MUGA) scan (13%), dipyridamole thallium imaging (9%), exercise ECG (6%), stress echocardiography (1%) and stress MUGA (1%). Two units (3%) never undertook further investigation. Pulmonary artery flotation catheters are used as a routine by 9% of respondents, dependent upon left ventricular ejection fraction by 65%, dependent on other factors by 7% and not used at all by 19%. The survey reveals widespread variation in pre-operative assessment of patients undergoing elective repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm.     

Measurement of depression in dementia: Self vs clinician rating

The presence of depression was evaluated in a cross-section of 50 outpatients with dementia using the self-rated Geriatric Depression Scale and the clinician-rated Cornell Depression Scale. Impaired insight, as manifested by unawareness of dementia, correlated with dementia severity and discriminated a group of patients in whom the self-rated scale failed to show evidence of depression. Discrepancy between the two types of scales occurred among mildly as well as moderately demented patients when insight was impaired. Recognition of this discrepancy suggests that reliance on self-ratings may underestimate the presence and degree of depression among patients with dementia.     

烧伤大鼠血清对血管内皮细胞通透性的影响

加深入阐明严重烧伤早期全身血管通透性增加继而引直民早期损害的发生机制，本实验应用培养于微孔滤膜上的小牛瞌 及皮细胞单层所构成的选择性通透屏障模型，观察了３０％Ⅲ度烧伤大鼠血清对其影响，结果发现，烧伤早期烧伤血清刺激后ＥＣ单层对Ｈａｎｋｓ液或白蛋白液滤过流量、滤过系数均明显增加。     

平板式全数字心血管造影机在周围血管及非血管介入中的应用

目的 :评价平板式全数字心血管造影机在周围血管及非血管介入中的应用价值。方法 :对平板探测器(FPDD)X线成像与影像增强器 电视 (IITV)X线成像在动态范围、成像均匀性、对比度线性、对比分辨率等图像质量指标的检测及比较。随机选择上述两机型在周围血管及非血管介入诊疗病例图像资料各 6 0例 ,由三名高年资医师对其图像质量进行综合评价 ,记录评价结果 ,并进行比较。结果 :FPDD成像在动态范围、成像均匀性、对比度线性、对比分辨率等图像质量指标均优于IITV成像 ;在人体各部位周围血管及非血管介入诊疗中的图像综合评价结果也优于IITV成像。结论 :平板式全数字化心血管造影机不仅适用于心血管介入 ,同时能满足全身各部位周围血管及非血管介入诊疗的需要。     

Triple lumen venous access for pediatric bone marrow transplantation candidates

Multiple routes of vascular access are required in children undergoing bone marrow transplantation to facilitate total parenteral nutrition (TPN); blood withdrawal; and administration of blood products, antibiotics, fluids, and immunosuppressive drugs. Placement of multiple catheters frequently requires multiple venotomies in separate vessels. We have found that both a Broviac catheter and pediatric dual-lumen Raaf catheter can be placed through separate venotomies in the external jugular vein, which provides sufficient routes of vascular access without complications. This technique places only one vessel at risk while minimizing the chance for infection by utilizing two exit sites. We consider this to be the procedure of choice in young patients requiring multiple routes of vascular access.     

氟伐他丁对高血压患者血管内皮依赖性舒张功能的影响

目的　探讨他丁类降脂药是否具有改善高血压患者血管功能的作用。　方法　 ～ 级轻中度高血压患者 5 5人 ,在常规抗高血压治疗的同时 ,加用氟伐他丁 (Flu) 2 0～ 4 0 m g/ d,并与 37例单纯常规抗高血压治疗病人对比。采用彩色多普勒超声检查肱动脉 (BA)和胫前动脉 (TA)的管腔内径。采用充血法测定血管内皮依赖性舒张功能 (Δ Dia- P)。　结果　 Flu治疗 3个月 ,血脂水平明显下降 ,可见 TA血管 Δ Dia- P改善 (% :8.5 1± 3.0 7vs14 .19± 5 .4 1,n=6 ,P<0 .0 5 ) ,以后均维持在较高水平。治疗 3个月时 BA的 ΔDia- P也有改善 ,但未达统计学差异水平 ,治疗 12个月时 BAΔ Dia- P明显改善。多元逐步回归分析在所观察的参数中未发现和血管功能有固定关系的因素。　结论　 Flu能够使接受常规降压药治疗的高血压患者的 Δ Dia- P改善。小剂量长时间的 Flu可以改善血管舒张功能。药物干预后 TA的功能变化出现较早 ,是反映血管功能变化的敏感靶点     

妊高征合并胎儿宫内发育迟缓者胎盘病理改变与血管细胞粘附分子-1表达水平的关系

目的探讨妊高征(PIH)合并胎儿宫内发育迟缓(IUGR)时胎盘病理改变与胎盘组织中血管细胞粘附分子-1(VCAM-1)表达水平变化的关系。方法选取本院2001年1~9月分娩的妊高征合并IUGR患者(实验组)胎盘30例、单纯IUGR(IUGR组)28例、单纯PIH(PIH组)25例、正常妊娠(正常妊娠组)30例,常规HE染色及PAS染色,观察胎盘形态学变化。利用免疫组化方法对胎盘组织切片染色,观察子宫蜕膜层中螺旋动脉、绒毛组织滋养细胞及绒毛中毛细血管的VCAM-1表达。结果实验组中22例(73.33%)胎盘有明显病理改变,有病理改变的胎盘蜕膜组织内血管内皮细胞及胎盘绒毛毛细血管内皮VCAM-1的表达显著高于无病理改变者(P<0.001);而绒毛上皮组织滋养层细胞VCAM-1的表达则显著低于无病理改变者(P=0.019)。结论妊高征合并IUGR时胎盘发生了明显的病理改变,这种病理改变与胎盘中VCAM-1的异常表达密切相关。