Cardiac arrhythmias associated with volume-assured pressure support mode in a patient with autonomic dysfunction and mitochondrial disease.

A 15-year-old boy with autonomic dysfunction and mitochondrial disease was diagnosed with sleep-related hypoventilation at 6 years of age and treated with bilevel positive airway pressure therapy. At 12 years of age, treatment was transitioned to volume-assured pressure support (VAPS) due to clinical evidence of respiratory muscle weakness. Subsequent titration polysomnogram revealed the emergence of cardiac arrhythmia (isolated premature ventricular contractions, bigeminy, and trigeminy) while on VAPS mode that improved after transition to bilevel positive airway pressure therapy.

Ischaemic preconditioning reduces myocardial calcium overload in coronary-occluded pig hearts shown by continuous in vivo assessment using microdialysis.

During ischaemia, ATP depletion leads to insufficient fuelling for Na(+) /K(+) ATPase, decreased electrochemical potential and increased influx of calcium ions. This study demonstrated a means to assess the effects of ischaemic preconditioning (IP) on the free intracellular Ca(2+) pool during prolonged ischaemia. In a porcine myocardial ischaemia model, microdialysis (MD) was used for sampling of metabolic and injury markers in IP and non-IP (control) groups.

Ischaemic pre-conditioning means an increased adenosine metabolism with decreased glycolytic flow in ischaemic pig myocardium.

Background: Ischaemic pre-conditioning (IP) is a potent protective mechanism for limiting the myocardial damage due to ischaemia. It is not fully known as to how IP protects. The metabolism of adenosine may be an important mechanistic component.

Exogenous carbon monoxide does not affect cell membrane energy availability assessed by sarcolemmal calcium fluxes during myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion in the pig.

Carbon monoxide is thought to be cytoprotective and may hold therapeutic promise for mitigating ischaemic injury. The purpose of this study was to test low-dose carbon monoxide for protective effects in a porcine model of acute myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion. In acute open-thorax experiments in anaesthetised pigs, pretreatment with low-dose carbon monoxide (5% increase in carboxyhaemoglobin) was conducted for 120 min before localised ischaemia (45 min) and reperfusion (60 min) was performed using a coronary snare.

Metabolic responses in ischemic myocardium after inhalation of carbon monoxide.

Background: To clarify the mechanisms of carbon monoxide (CO) tissue-protective effects, we studied energy metabolism in an animal model of acute coronary occlusion and pre-treatment with CO.

Methods: In anesthetized pigs, a coronary snare and microdialysis probes were placed. CO (carboxyhemoglobin 5%) was inhaled for 200 min in test animals, followed by 40 min of coronary occlusion.

Tumor radioimmunolocalization in nude mice by mono- and divalent- single-chain Fv antiplacental alkaline phosphatase antibodies.

One single-chain Fv antibody fragment (scFv) and a new recombinant covalently linked dimeric scFv antibody (sc(Fv)(2)) against placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) were investigated for selective tumor targeting. The biological behavior of these new antibodies was compared to that of the original native antibody, H7 MAb. The sc(Fv)(2)) antibody displayed convincing tumor localization properties with a rapid excretion pattern comparable to the scFv, but with a longer retention time in the tumor, and higher tumor-to-nontumor ratio (27:1), compared to the scFv (15:1), at 48 hours.

Similar frontal and distinct posterior cortical regions mediate visual and auditory perceptual awareness.

Activity in ventral visual cortex is a consistent neural correlate of visual consciousness. However, activity in this area seems insufficient to produce awareness without additional involvement of frontoparietal regions. To test the generality of the frontoparietal response, neural correlates of auditory awareness were investigated in a paradigm that previously has revealed frontoparietal activity during conscious visual perception.

Treatment of chronic stress in employees: subjective, cognitive and neural correlates.

This study reports the effect of an affect-focused intervention program, the Affect School, on stress, psychological symptoms, cognitive functioning and neural activity. Fifty employees in social service and education, with high levels of chronic stress, were randomly divided into a treatment (N=27) and control (N=23) group. Complete sets of data were available in 20 participants in the treatment group and 17 in the control group.

Reconstruction of complex scalp defects: the "Banana Peel" revisited.

Objective: To demonstrate the use of multiple, large, local flaps in the reconstruction of large scalp defects.

Methods: A retrospective review of 4 cases in which the "banana peel" method of scalp reconstruction, originally described by Orticochea, was used as a method for closure of moderately large to extensive scalp defects.

Results: In all 4 cases, closure of the scalp defects was accomplished.

Gastric emptying before and after liver transplantation for familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy, Portuguese type (Val30Met).

Liver transplantation is an accepted treatment of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP), Portuguese type (Val30Met), and the outcome so far seems promising. Gastric retention with nausea and vomiting are common complications of the disease, and may interfere with immuno-suppression therapy and prolong recovery after liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of gastric retention in FAP patients and to evaluate the impact liver transplantation has on gastric emptying.

MRI of the skeleton in prostate cancer staging.

Objective: To explore the value of MRI in the detection of bone metastases in newly diagnosed prostate cancer.

Material And Methods: MRI examinations of the axial skeleton in 76 patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer were reviewed, and the relation of these findings to the serum level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) was examined.

Results: MRI indicated bone metastases in 26/76 patients (34%) in the entire study group, in 4/24 (17%) with serum PSA <20 ng/ml and in 22/52 (42%) with serum PSA >20 ng/ml.

A method for attenuation and scatter correction of brain SPECT based on computed tomography images.

A method for attenuation and scatter correction of brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is described where computed tomography (CT) images of the brain are used for the calculation of attenuation maps. The method is evaluated for the substance 99mTc hexamethylpropylene amine oxime. A transmission dependent scatter correction is utilized and is based on ray sums calculated through the attenuation map.

Apoptosis in HeLa Hep2 cells is induced by low-dose, low-dose-rate radiation.

Radioimmunotherapy with radiolabeled antibodies may cause inhibition of the growth of epithelial tumors, despite low total radiation doses and comparatively low radiosensitivity of epithelial tumor cells. The induction of apoptosis by low-dose radiation, such as delivered in radioimmunotherapy, was investigated in vitro in human HeLa Hep2 carcinoma cells. The cultured cells were exposed to defined radiation doses from a (60)Co radiation therapy source.

Local anesthetics for facial plastic procedures.

The use of local anesthetic in facial plastic surgical procedures is well established as an effective and safe mode of anesthesia delivery. Local infiltration of anesthesia may be used alone for minor surgical procedures, or it may be used with general anesthesia or intravenous sedation and analgesia for more complex, lengthy procedures. When considered independently, the use of local anesthetic agents has undeniable limitations.

MR imaging of primary, secondary, and mixed forms of lymphedema.

Purpose: To describe the pathological features and assess the diagnostic information of different MR sequences in patients with primary, secondary, and mixed (phlebo-, lipophlebo-, or lipolymphedema) forms of lymphedema of the lower leg.

Material And Methods: In 26 patients with clinical diagnoses of primary (n=10), pure secondary (n=4), mixed (n=9) and combined secondary and mixed forms of lymphedema (n=3), MR imaging was performed with coronal and axial T1 SE, T2 TSE, fat-suppressed (SPIR) T2 sequences and axial T1 SE after i.v.

Early response of breast cancer bone metastases to chemotherapy evaluated with MR imaging.

Purpose: To compare T1-weighted spin-echo and fat-suppressed long echo time inversion recovery turbo spin-echo (long TE IR-TSE) MR images in the evaluation of early response of breast cancer bone metastases to chemotherapy.

Material And Methods: Eighteen breast cancer patients with known bone metastases were investigated prospectively by MR, using T1-weighted and long TE IR-TSE sequences on the sternum, spine, pelvis and proximal femora, before and after a median of 6 courses of chemotherapy. Therapeutic response evaluation with MR was based on change in tumor size assessed quantitatively by measuring all focal metastases, and change in pattern and signal intensity (SI) of the metastases, assessed visually.

Quantitative bone scintigraphy. A methodological evaluation in prostate cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate a simple method for quantification of focal activity in bone scintigraphy (BS).

Material And Methods: The gamma camera was calibrated using a phantom. Quantitative bone scintigraphy (QBS) was performed on 11 men recently diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa), for whom routine BS showed involvement of the skeleton.

Clinical evaluation of the hearing-impaired infant.

Early identification of hearing loss and rapid rehabilitative intervention are the two key elements that will give an infant the best chance to develop normal speech and allow the family members to make appropriate adjustments that will enhance communication in the home environment. Hearing loss in an infant may be only one feature of a syndromic disorder, and the physician must aspire to diagnose and treat the entire dysfunction. While a limited laboratory evaluation and appropriate referrals to related specialties are helpful, a comprehensive history and a complete physical examination are the most effective means to identify syndromic hearing loss and to direct future evaluation and therapy.

Methods for estimating uptake and absorbed dose in tumours from 125I labelled monoclonal antibodies, based on scintigraphic imaging of mice.

Monoclonal antibodies for radioimmunotargeting are often tested in tumour bearing nude mice. In vivo determination of the uptake of the monoclonal antibody in the tumour requires quantitative scintigraphy, and this in turn requires an adequate method for subtraction of radiation from the normal tissue. For this reason, two different methods for background subtraction were evaluated, a contralateral background region of interest or an irregular one, surrounding the tumour.

Stability and immunoreactivity of the monoclonal anticytokeratin antibody TS1 after different degrees of iodination.

The immunoreactivity, stability and in vivo kinetics of an anticytokeratin 8 monoclonal antibody, TS1, were investigated following different degrees of labeling with 125I (0.2, 1 and 2-3 125I/TS1 MAb). By testing with ELISA, it was demonstrated that a high degree of iodination, i.

Pulmonary MR angiography with ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particles as a blood pool agent and a navigator echo for respiratory gating: pilot study.

In nine healthy adult volunteers, pulmonary magnetic resonance angiography was performed with the blood pool agent NC100150 injection combined with respiratory gating with a navigator echo. With increasing doses of the contrast agent, higher signal intensities and vessel branch order visualization were achieved. No motion artifacts were seen.

Abdominal vessel enhancement with an ultrasmall, superparamagnetic iron oxide blood pool agent: evaluation of dose and echo time dependence at different field strengths.

Rationale And Objectives: The purpose of the study was to determine the dose and echo time dependence of abdominal vessel enhancement at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging after injection of a blood pool contrast agent at two field strengths.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen healthy volunteers received NC100150 Injection at three dose levels (1.0 mg, 2.

Serum amyloid P component scintigraphy in familial amyloid polyneuropathy: regression of visceral amyloid following liver transplantation.

Familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) associated with transthyretin (TTR) mutations is the commonest type of hereditary amyloidosis. Plasma TTR is produced almost exclusively in the liver and orthotopic liver transplantation is the only available treatment, although the clinical outcome varies. Serum amyloid P component (SAP) scintigraphy is a method for identifying and quantitatively monitoring amyloid deposits in vivo, but it has not previously been used to study the outcome of visceral amyloid deposits in FAP following liver transplantation.

Combinations of nonlabeled, 125I-labeled, and anti-idiotypic antiplacental alkaline phosphatase monoclonal antibodies at experimental radioimmunotargeting.

Purpose: Placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) is a membrane-bound oncofetal antigen that can be used for radioimmunotargeting. Preinjection of nonlabeled monoclonal anti-PLAP antibody (H7) and postinjection of monoclonal anti-idiotypic anti-PLAP antibody (alpha H7) were used in order to improve the localization efficacy of 125I-labeled H7.

Material And Methods: A human cervix adenocarcinoma cell line (HcLa Hep 2) was inoculated subcutaneously in 24 nude mice.