Stress Testing Versus CT Angiography in Patients With Diabetes and Suspected Coronary Artery Disease

Background

The optimal noninvasive test (NIT) for patients with diabetes and stable symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD) is unknown.

新生儿呕吐性疾病的消化道造影研究

目的:研究新生儿呕吐性疾病的造影技术,探讨其影像特征。方法:对比剂引入方式采用吸吮法和插胃管抽液后再注入对比剂两种方法;选用对比剂有6 0 %～80 % (W/V)的硫酸钡混悬液30～4 0ml或30 %泛影葡胺30ml;采用不同体位多轴位观察摄片,并对5 4例造影表现进行分析。结果:5 4例新生儿消化道造影均满足诊断要求,其中先天性幽门狭窄11例(19 6 % ) ,胃食管反流34例(6 3 0 % ) ,环形胰腺9例(16 .7% )。经手术治疗2 0例均与术前X线诊断相一致。结论:传统的上消化道造影是诊断新生儿呕吐病因的有效方法,熟练掌握造影技术和特有的造影征像能够及时地明确诊断。     

Prefrontal cortex dysfunction and depression in atypical parkinsonian syndromes.

Depressive symptoms are common in patients with neurodegenerative disorders. Imaging studies suggest that a disruption of frontal-subcortical pathways may underlie depression associated with basal ganglia disease. This pilot study tested the hypothesis that frontal dysfunction contributes to depression associated with multiple system atrophy (MSA) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Depressed patients with MSA (n = 11), PSP (n = 9), and age-matched controls (n = 25) underwent measures of cerebral glucose metabolism applying positron emission tomography with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose. Regional metabolism in the patient groups was compared to the normal subjects using the voxel-based statistical parametric mapping. Depressive symptom severity (Hamilton Depression Rating) and degree of locomotor disability (Hoehn & Yahr) were assessed in the patient groups. The association between prefrontal metabolism and the occurrence of depressive symptoms and the degree of locomotor disability was investigated. When compared to controls, MSA patients revealed significant metabolic decreases in bilateral frontal, parietal, and cerebellar cortex and in the left putamen. In PSP patients, significant hypometabolism was demonstrated in bilateral frontal cortex, right thalamus, and midbrain. Depression severity but not the patients' functional condition was significantly associated with dorsolateral prefrontal glucose metabolism in both patient groups. The findings of this pilot study support the hypothesis that depressive symptoms in MSA and PSP are associated with prefrontal dysfunction.     

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease: morphological and microanalytical features

The light microscopic and polarization appearances of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposits in tissues are reviewed. In routine sections haematoxylinophilic crystalline deposits with a feathery or brush-like pattern are typical of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate. Short rhomboidal crystals showing positive birefringence are seen on polarization; X-ray microanalytical and infrared spectroscopic data support the specificity of these appearances. The appearances of the crystal deposits in decalcified specimens are also described. We include six cases of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition within periarticular bone; to the best of our knowledge this has not previously been described.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING IN POSTERIOR CIRCULATION INFARCTION: IMPACT ON DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT

To compare the diagnostic yield of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with computed tomography (CT) in posterior circulation infarction, we used proton MRI with a 0.3 Tesla magnet and a 3rd generation CT scanner in 25 patients. Age-matched controls were compared in a blinded fashion. Seventeen patients (68%) showed relevant pathology on MRI not seen on CT, 11 with normal CT and six with more extensive lesions, chiefly in the brain stem. Evidence of abnormal vertebrobasilar blood flow was seen in 8/25 (32%) of patients, suggested by vascular high intensity signals on MRI. Two tissue and one flow abnormality were seen in the control group. MRI provides additional information concerning infarct site, extent and pathogenesis in posterior circulation infarction.     

L-Dopa-responsive Parkinson's syndrome in association with phenylketonuria: In vivo dopamine transporter and D2 receptor findings.

Reports of parkinsonism in phenylketonuria are exceedingly rare. We report on a patient who had received a delayed diagnosis of phenylketonuria as an infant and subsequently developed levodopa-responsive parkinsonism at the age of 33. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using (123)I-FP-CIT ([(123))I]-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(-4-iodophenyl)-N-(3-fluoropropyl)-nortropane) used to measure dopamine transporter levels on two occasions, 7 and 9 years after the onset of neurological symptoms, were normal. Iodine-123-iodo-lisuride SPECT (IBZM) imaging, however, showed reduced caudate over putamen binding. This combination of imaging findings indicates a possible upregulation of postsynaptic D2 receptors in the context of intact presynaptic dopamine nerve terminal density.     

Discrepancy of xenon concentrations between end-tidal and blood collection methods in xenon-enhanced computed tomographic measurement of cerebral blood flow

Summary Using xenon-enhanced computed tomography for the study of cerebral blood flow, simultaneous measurements of end-tidal and arterial blood xenon concentrations using the blood collection method were performed to investigate the validity of substituting the end-tidal for the arterial blood xenon concentration. Simultaneous measurement by both methods was performed 68 times in 27 patients. There was no statistical correlation between the arterial blood accumulation rate constant obtained by arterial blood and end-tidal samples, nor between the arterial blood saturation value obtained by the two methods, even when correction was made for age. In brain tissue, all parameters calculated using the end-tidal concentration were lower than those using arterial blood. We therefore suggest that cerebral blood flow values calculated using end-tidal xenon concentration are useful only for qualitative cerebral blood flow mapping, and not applicable to absolute values of cerebral blood flow.     

Bipolar affective disorder. II. EEG, neuropsychological, and clinical correlates of CT abnormality

Since the clinical significance of CT abnormalities found in bipolar patients remains obscure, we studied 26 DSM-III bipolar patients who had specific CT abnormalities (third ventricle enlargement, and hyperdensity of the caudate, thalamus, anterior frontal white matter, and right temporal lobe) on numerous parameters such as EEG, the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery, premorbid personality adjustment, family history of affective disorder, positive and negative symptoms, employment history, and response to lithium carbonate treatment. None of these measures could differentiate between the CT abnormal and CT normal subgroups. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

关胆囊结石的CT定量诊断

目的 评价第三代CT定量诊断胆囊结石的准确率及敏感性.方法 120例胆囊结石的病人在使用第三代CT检查后7天内施行胆囊切除手术,术后剖开胆囊,进行结石计数和最大结石的最大径线测量.结果 120例胆囊结石患者,其中87例有确切结石计数和测量结果（72.5%）;33例CT检查未发现胆囊结石（27.5%）.CT图像中显示的胆囊结石的数目：均数±标准差＝3±15个;范围为2～82个与手术发现的数目：均数±标准差＝68±316个;范围为2～1326个,两者比较具有显著性差异（P＜0.001）.CT图像发现的胆囊内最大结石的最大径线值：均数±标准差＝1.08±1.06cm,范围为0～2.4cm;与手术测量值均数±标准=1.68±0.14cm范围为0.67～3.1cm,两者比较有显著性差异（P＜0.001）.结论 用第三代CT进行胆囊结石的定量诊断不够准确,敏感性也有不足.     

Sustained improvement in myocardial perfusion four to six years after PTCA in patients with a satisfactory angiographic result, six months after the procedure

Of 46 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous transluminalcoronary angioplasty (PTCA) from April 1980 to August 1982 andwho had a satisfactory angiographic result six months later,one died of cancer and 41 had a detailed evaluation with exercisesingle-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT, 40 patients)or repeat coronary angiography (one patient), 48–78 monthsafter the procedure. During follow-up, two patients had recurrentangina due to progression of coronary artery disease requiringa second PTCA procedure of another coronary artery; one of themlater had a limited myocardial infarction in an area suppliedby the vessel initially dilated. At follow-up, only one patienthad definite angina. All but one patient had a negative exercisetest. Myocardial perfusion during exercise in the PTCA-relatedarea, assessed by SPECT, was normal in 90% of the patients andshowed a limited defect due to reversible ischaemia in the remainingfour (10%). It is concluded that patients with a less than 50%stenosis six months after PTCA show sustained improvement intheir functional status and myocardial perfusion, four to sixyears after the procedure suggesting continued patency of thecoronary artery.