Metabolic myocardial viability assessment with iodine 123-16-iodo-3-methylhexadecanoic acid in recent myocardial infarction: Comparison with thallium-201 and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose

The best test presently available to ascertain residual viability within an infarct-related area involves the use of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) to detect the persistence of some cellular metabolism. Rest reinjection of thallium-201 is a less accurate alternative but is easy to perform. Iodinated fatty acids, which are used with standard gamma cameras, are proposed as markers of cellular metabolism. This study was performed to assess the value of 16-iodo-3-methyl-hexadecanoic acid (MIHA) as a marker of the residual cellular metabolism by comparison with FDG in patients with a recent myocardial infarction, and to evaluate its contribution compared with the²⁰¹Tl stress-redistribution-reinjection technique. Stress-redistribution-reinjection²⁰¹T1 imaging, rest MIHA imaging and glucoseloaded FDG imaging were performed in 22 patients with recent myocardial infarction. Out of the 628 myocardial segments obtained from the left ventricular analysis, 400 were hypoperfused (relative uptake <0.75 of maximum uptake on stress²⁰¹T1 imaging), 177 of which were severely hypoperfused (relative uptake <0.50). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for predicting metabolic myocardial viability with FDG were derived from the results in respect of (a)²⁰¹T1 activity during exercise, redistribution and reinjection and (b) MIHA up-take, using the two FDG thresholds most commonly considered to define metabolic viability (0.50 and 0.60). Analysis of the 400 hypoperfused segments demonstrated that²⁰¹T1 reinjection was the most accurate test in predicting the presence of myocardial viability (area under the ROI curves=0.85 and 0.86 at the 0.50 and 0.60 FDG thresholds, respectively;P<0.05 vs other tests). The global predictive values of MIHA and²⁰¹T1 reinjection were, respectively, 0.87 and 0.89 at the 0.50 FDG threshold (NS), and 0.82 and 0.87 at the 0.60 FDG threshold (NS). When only the 177 severely hypoperfused segments were considered,²⁰¹T1 reinjection remained the most accurate test (accuracy 0.84 at the 0.50 FDG threshold and 0.82 at the 0.60 FDG threshold), while the accuracy of MIHA decreased significantly (0.78 at the 0.50 FDG threshold and 0.73 at the 0.60 FDG threshold,P<0.05 vs²⁰¹T1 reinjection). In all circumstances, MIHA was less specific than²⁰¹T1 reinjection for the detection of metabolic viability. In conclusion, in patients with recent myocardial infarction, MIHA accurately detects the persistence of metabolic viability, but is not superior to²⁰¹T1.     

人精子穿卵改良试验对不同生育状态男子生育力测定的价值

目的　本研究用一种经改良的人精子穿卵试验 (SPA)处理人精子 ,以探讨一种更简便、快速、经济 ,适合一般实验室要求的方法。方法　将精子体外获能液用磷酸氢二钠把pH值调理至 8.2± 0 .2 ;用普通隔水式恒温培养箱进行培养 ;对 75例不同生育状态男子生育力进行测定 (其中 2 5例有生育力男子 ;2 5例“原因不明”不育男子 ;及 2 5例输精管吻合术后 )。结果　 3种不同生育状态男子的SPA值分别是 (4 7.12± 9.92 ) % ;(2 1.73± 9.91) % ,及 (2 8.0 4± 9.91) %。前两者在统计学上有显著差异 ,(P<0 .0 1) ;后两者在统计学上无明显差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。结果表明经用改良的精子获能液并在普通恒温培养箱培养后精子的活率和活力都有较大的提高 ,这有利于精子的长期获能及提高精子的穿透能力。结论　本研究提示改良后的人精子穿卵试验处理精子确实更简便、快速、经济 ,适合一般实验室要求 ,便于推广。     

Free vascularized jejunum interposition for pharyngoesophageal reconstruction after total laryngopharyngectomy

The records of 28 patients who underwent free jejunal graft reconstruction after resection for cancer involving the pharynx were analysed. Seven patients had a T₃ carcinoma, 15 patients T₄ and six patients recurrence after laryngectomy. Ten patients had received radiotherapy in the past. Post-operatively, 15 patients (54%) had complications and two patients (7%) died. No significant difference was observed in the complication rate between the group that received radiotherapy in the past and those who did not. Nineteen patients received post-operative radiotherapy. Nine patients had no radiotherapy on the basis of complete resection or because of serious complications. For the whole group the 2-year recurrence free period and survival were 42% and 51% respectively. The postoperative radiotherapy group had a significantly better survival (73%) and recurrence free period (63%) than the group without post-operative radiotherapy (0%). Thus, post-operative radiotherapy seems indicated irrespective of resection margins.     

Off-resonance effects in the transient response of SSFP sequences.

A previously developed eigenvector formalism is adapted to off-resonance in the transient response of quasiperiodic steady-state free precession (SSFP) sequences, including TrueFISP as a special case. The effective relaxation rates for essentially parallel and perpendicular deviations from the steady state are determined analytically in leading order perturbation theory. The latter are a known cause of oscillatory artifacts and therefore constitute the main target of a variety of preparation techniques. In addition, the former also play a dominating role in applications such as inversion recovery (IR) TrueFISP, which intentionally measure far away from the equilibrium. For both components, the approach toward equilibrium turns out to depend sensitively on field inhomogeneities, especially for smaller ratios of T2/T1. For the perpendicular deviations, the calculations show that--except very close to banding artifacts, where the steady-state signal is almost zero--field inhomogeneities additionally increase their effective relaxation rate almost as much as in the free induction decay (FID). The analytical results are tested against numerical simulation and MR measurements.     

View ordering for magnetization prepared steady state free precession acquisition: application in contrast-enhanced MR angiography.

Magnetization prepared segmented acquisition requires a view order that maximizes signal contrast during the acquisition of the central portion of k-space. Steady state free precession (SSFP) acquisition further requires a view order that minimizes changes in phase-encoding gradients from one repetition to the next in order to minimize eddy current artifacts. In this article, optimal view ordering schemes satisfying these two requirements are formulated and applied to inversion prepared 3D SSFP contrast-enhanced MR angiography (MRA). Experiments on phantoms and pigs demonstrated improved background suppression and reduced image artifacts.     

Additive effects of earthworm extract with HpD-laser on the enhancement of reactive oxygen production and the inhibition of[~3H]—thymidine.uptake in mouse ascitic tumor cells

The effects of combined use of earthworm extract(912)and HpD-laser on the produc-tion of reactive oxygen and the biosynthesis of DNA in S_(180) tumor cells were studied throughchemiluminescence measurement and[~3H]-TdR incorporation assay.The results showed that as com-pared with the control,the intensity of chemiluminescence emitted by tumor cells treatedsimultaneously with 912 and HpD-laser was enhanced more than ten-folds,while that treated with912 or HpD-laser alone was increased only 2～4 folds.The[~3H]-TdR incorporation into tumorcells of the former group was inhibited upto 74.1%,and that of the latter groups decreased onlyby 42.2% and 40.0%,respectively.In accordance with these biochemical changes,the ultrastructuraldamage of tumor cells of the former,combinedly treated group appeared to be the most serious.This suggests an additive effect of 912 with HpD-laser on tumor cells.In addition,if free radicalscavengers,such as catalase and superoxide dismutase,were added to the reaction systembefore chemiluminescence assay,the luminescent enhancement effect mentioned above was dramaticallyalleviated,implying the presence of O_2~ and H_2O_2 in the system.Therefore,as to the toxic effecton tumor cells,912 and HpD-laser are not only additive in efficiency,but also similar in theunderlying mechanism of action.     

Effects of Dopexamine on Lipid Peroxidation During Aortic Surgery in Pigs: Comparison with Dopamine

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the dose-related effect of dopexamine and dopamine on free radical production and lipid peroxidation estimated by MDA measurements in an ischaemia-reperfusion model of supraceliac aortic repair. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, blinded experimental study. MATERIALS: Twenty-five healthy pigs. METHODS: All experiments were performed under general endotracheal anaesthesia. Supraceliac aortic cross clamping was performed in all pigs. The pigs were randomly assigned into five groups (n=5 in each group) and received a continuous intravenous infusion of normal saline (CTL), dopamine 2 microg kg(-1)min(-1) (dopa 2), dopamine 8 microg kg(-1)min(-1) (dopa 8), dopexamine 2 microg kg(-1)min(-1) (dopex 2), dopexamine 8 microg kg(-1)min(-1) (dopex 8). Cardiac output, mean arterial pressure, arterial blood gas analysis and blood sampling for plasma MDA measurements (to reveal lipid peroxidation) were recorded after induction of anaesthesia (baseline), 60 and 120 min after cross-clamping of aorta (ischaemia phase), and 60 and 120 min after restoration of flow (reperfusion phase). RESULTS: Dopexamine and dopamine at 8 microgkg(-1)min(-1) reduced MDA at 60 and 120 min after reperfusion. CONCLUSION: Dopexamine seems superior to dopamine in reducing oxygen free radicals and subsequent lipid peroxidation during reperfusion after supraceliac aortic cross clamping in pigs.     

Pathogenesis of progressive muscular dystrophy: studies on free radical metabolism in an animal model

Evidence to suggest the presence of abnormal metabolism of oxygen free radicals in progressive muscular dystrophy is presented using an animal model. In the superficial pectoral muscles of dystrophic chickens, enzyme activities regulating the metabolism of oxygen free radicals, i.e., catalase, superoxide dismutases and glutathione peroxidase, were significantly elevated within 1 week of hatching. Activities of related enzymes, i.e., glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase were also elevated. In contrast, the specific activity of phosphofructokinase, the rate-limiting enzyme of the glycolytic pathway, was normal during the first 4-week period. These results suggest that there is an increased turnover of oxygen free radicals in the dystrophic muscle. This concept appears important in a further investigation of the pathogenesis and treatment of progressive muscular dystrophies.     

缺血－再灌注兔心肌肌浆网自由基的测定

应用电子自旋共振波谱仪（ＥＳＲ）直接检测了缺血－再灌注兔心肌肌浆网自由基的变化，以探讨肌质网系统与氧自由基的关系。实验中将２０只兔随机分为再灌注对照组、超氧化物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ）组、ＡＴＰ－氯化镁组和人参皂甙Ｒｅ组。实验结果，ｇ值２．００４６处为半醌自由基波谱，其相对浓度各组依次为７８．９４±２．１２６，１４．４６±２．８６，２０．６５±７．６５，１４．６６±３．６７（ｘ±ＳＤ），对照组与用药组均有显著性差异（Ｐ＜０．０５），表明缺血－再灌注兔心肌肌浆网产生大量的自由基，用ＥＳＲ可以直接检测到半醌自由基，外源性高能磷酸盐制剂ＡＴＰ－氯化镁及人参皂甙Ｒｅ与超氧化物歧化酶一样，发挥清除兔心肌肌浆网自由基的作用。     

The 21-aminosteroid antioxidant, U74389F, prevents estradiol-induced depletion of hypothalamic β-endorphin in adult female rats

A single intramuscular injection of 2 mg estradiol valerate (EV) results in neuronal degeneration and β-endorphin depletion in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of adult female rats. We have hypothesized that peroxidase-positive astrocytes in this brain region oxidize estrogens and catecholestrogens to semiquinone radicals which mediate oxidative neuronal injury. In the present study, dietary administration of the potent antioxidant 21-aminosteroid, U-74389F, completely blocked EV-induced β-endorphin depletion in the hypothalami of adult female rats. Neither EV nor 21-aminosteroid treatment had any effect on hypothalamic concentrations of neuropeptide Y and Met-enkephalin, confirming that the estradiol lesion is fairly selective for the β-endorphin cell population. The present findings support the hypothesis that the toxic effect of estradiol on hypothalamic β-endorphin neurons is mediated by free radicals.