(111)Indium-transferrin for localization and quantification of gastrointestinal protein loss.

Objective: To evaluate the indium-111 ((111)In)-transferrin method as a means of localization and quantification of gastrointestinal protein loss.

Methods: Fourteen patients and 15 healthy subjects underwent an (111)In-transferrin study consisting of abdominal scintigraphy, whole-body counting measurement and determination of plasma activity of (111)In during the course of 5 days. Two of the patients went through a subsequent chromium-51-trichloride test with analysis of radioactivity in faeces in order to compare the results of the two methods.

Continuous methimazole therapy and its effect on the cure rate of hyperthyroidism using radioactive iodine: an evaluation by a randomized trial.

Background: A randomized clinical trial was performed to clarify whether continuous use of methimazole (MTZ) during radioiodine ((131)I) therapy influences the final outcome of this therapy.

Design: Consecutive patients with Graves' disease (n = 30) or a toxic nodular goiter (n = 45) were rendered euthyroid by MTZ and randomized to stop MTZ 8 d before (131)I (-MTZ; n = 36) or to continue MTZ until 4 wk after (131)I (+MTZ; n = 39). Calculation of the (131)I activity included an assessment of the (131)I half-life and the thyroid volume.

[The value of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy as a "gatekeeper" for coronary angiography and revascularisation in patients with stable angina pectoris--a secondary publication].

In 507 out of a series of 972 patients referred consecutively to coronary angiography (CA) for stable angina pectoris, preceding "blinded" myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) demonstrated normal perfusion in 51%, reversible defects in 40%, and fixed defects in 9% of patients. CA showed insignificant findings in 49% and in 41% of the entire series. Of 168 revascularised patients, no more than 74% had reversible perfusion defects with MPS.

Potential impact of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy as gatekeeper for invasive examination and treatment in patients with stable angina pectoris: observational study without post-test referral bias.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of using myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) as gatekeeper for coronary angiography and revascularization in stable angina pectoris.

Methods And Results: A prospective series of 507 out of 972 adult patients referred to coronary angiography for known or suspected stable angina pectoris underwent clinical examination followed immediately by MPS, the result of which was not communicated. MPS showed normal perfusion in 258/507 (51%) patients, reversible defects in 201/507 (40%), and fixed defects in 48/507 (9%).

Diagnostic accuracy of myocardial perfusion imaging in a study population without post-test referral bias.

Background: Most previous studies on the accuracy of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) are hampered by post-test referral bias, in that referral for coronary angiography was influenced by the MPI result. In this way, patients with a normal MPI result less frequently underwent catheterization, a tendency supposed to cause an underestimation of test specificity and an overestimation of test sensitivity.

Methods And Results: MPI by use of a gated dual-isotope protocol was undertaken before angiography in 357 patients referred for angiography for suspected stable angina pectoris.

Inhibition of cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 reduces sodium excretion and arterial blood pressure in patients with NaCl retention and ascites.

In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that inhibition of renal phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) in patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites increases sodium excretion. The effect of sildenafil citrate was studied in a randomized double-blind. placebo-controlled crossover study.

Observer variability in the evaluation of dual-isotope Tl-201/Tc-99m sestamibi rest/stress myocardial perfusion SPECT in men and women with known or suspected stable angina pectoris.

Background: Observer variability of dual-isotope myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with single photon emission computed tomography has rarely been investigated. The aim of our study was to evaluate the interpretive reproducibility with this technique.

Methods And Results: We report on 507 patients with known or suspected stable angina who were studied before coronary angiography.

Recombinant human thyrotropin markedly changes the 131I kinetics during 131I therapy of patients with nodular goiter: an evaluation by a randomized double-blinded trial.

The present study compares, in a randomized double-blinded design, the expected and the actual absorbed thyroid radioactive dose in response to 0.3 mg recombinant human (rh)TSH (n = 35) or placebo (n = 28) given 24 h before (131)I therapy in patients with nodular goiter (median volume, 69 ml; range, 20-440 ml). The (131)I activity calculation was based on thyroid (131)I uptake (RAIU) at 24 and 96 h after a tracer dose of 0.

Scatter and attenuation correction changes interpretation of gated myocardial perfusion imaging.

Attenuation correction may improve the diagnostic accuracy of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). However, few studies have dealt with the clinical consequences for reporting. We compared routine reports based on scatter-corrected MPI (MPI-routine) with consensus readings of scatter-corrected (MPI-scatter) and scatter plus attenuation-corrected studies (MPI-attenuation) to investigate the impact of attenuation correction on reporting.

Resumption of methimazole after 131I therapy of hyperthyroid diseases: effect on thyroid function and volume evaluated by a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: Retrospective studies have indicated that anti-thyroid drugs (ATD) might possess a radioprotective effect, leading to a higher rate of recurrence of hyperthyroidism after iodine-131 ((131)I) therapy.

Design: A randomized clinical trial was performed to clarify whether resumption of methimazole after (131)I influences the final outcome of this treatment.

Methods: We assigned 149 patients with Graves' disease or a toxic nodular goitre to groups either to resume (+ATD) or not to resume (-ATD) methimazole 7 days after (131)I.