Longitudinal Neuroimaging Analysis in Mild-Moderate Alzheimer's Disease Patients Treated with Plasma Exchange with 5% Human Albumin.

Background: Recently, modifications of Aβ1-42 levels in CSF and plasma associated with improvement in memory and language functions have been observed in patients with mild-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) treated with plasma exchange (PE) with albumin replacement.

Objective: To detect structural and functional brain changes in PE-treated AD patients as part of a Phase II clinical trial.

Methods: Patients received between 3 and 18 PE with albumin (Albutein® 5%, Grifols) or sham-PE (controls) for 21 weeks (divided in one intensive and two maintenance periods) followed by 6-month follow-up.

Effectiveness of retinoic acid treatment for redifferentiation of thyroid cancer in relation to recovery of radioiodine uptake.

Background: Retinoic acid (RA) treatment has been used for redifferentiation of metastatic thyroid neoplasia that have lost radioiodine (131I) uptake with heterogeneous results.

Aim: Retrospective analysis of the recovery rate of 131I uptake after RA treatment in patients from 11 Spanish hospitals.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients (14 men, 13 women) with papillary [21], follicular [4], and oncocytic [2] thyroid cancer initially treated with total thyroidectomy plus 131I, and with 131I negative metastatic disease, were given 13-cis RA (0.

Cognitive dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus: prevalence and correlates.

Little is known about the mechanisms and relevance of cognitive dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients who never displayed major neuropsychiatric manifestations (nSLE). Thirty-one nSLE female patients and 31 cognitively healthy control women were recruited. Sociodemographic, clinical, neuropsychological and SLE-related markers were collected including cerebral perfusion by single-photon emission computed tomography.

[Meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET in renal cell carcinoma].

Aim: Renal cell carcinoma is the most frequent solid kidney tumor. At present, PET is not the imaging test of choice, the helical CT being the best method to assess these patients. The aim of the study was to perform a meta-analysis of the literature to evaluate the performance and accuracy of 18F-FDG PET in the detection of primary disease, recurrence and metastasis of renal cell carcinoma.

[Utility of SPECT with 99m Tc-tetrofosmin and stimulus with dipyridamole in patients with permanent ventricular pacemakers].

Background And Objective: Patients with permanent ventricular pacemakers (PP) are a difficult subgroup to assess in the study of coronary artery disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of the myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with 99mTC-Tetrofosmin (Tc-Tf) and stimulus with dipyridamole in patients with PP and suspected coronary artery disease.

Patients And Methods: Fourteen patients with suspected coronary artery disease and without structural cardiopathy, who underwent Tc-Tf and cardiac catheterization, were studied retrospectively.

[Meaning of clinical and electrical positivity in the myocardial perfusion scintigraphy during the administration of dipyridamole].

Background And Objectives: Administration of dipyridamole produces angina and ST depression in 20%-30% and 6%-34% of patients, respectively. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical implications of the presentation of angina and/or ST depression during the administration of dipyridamole in the study of coronary heart disease by myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS).

Methods: The study population is constituted by 593 consecutive patients without left branch block or ventricular pacemaker rhythm who were referred to our service to undergo MPS with dipyridamole.

[Results of myocardial scintigraphy with 99mTc-tetrofosmin and dipyridamole administration in patients diagnosed of microvascular angina].

The objective of the study was to evaluate the results of the myocardial scintigraphy with 99mTc-tetrofosmin (Tc-Tf) and pharmacological stimulation with dipyridamole in patients diagnosed of microvascular angina. The study population is made up of 50 patients discharged with the diagnosis of microvascular angina who had undergone Tc-Tf-dipyridamole. Clinical and electrical positivity appeared in 40% and 12% of the patients, respectively.

[Bone scintigraphy findings in patients with recently diagnosed adenocarcinoma of the prostate: relationship with prostate specific antigen levels].

Background And Objectives: Although it has been suggested that bone scintigraphy (BS) may not be necessary in patients with prostate adenocarcinoma (PA) and normal prostate specific antigen (PSA) plasma levels, controversy still remains. The objective of the study was to evaluate the existing relationship between PSA plasma levels and BS findings in patients with a recently diagnosed PA in order to assess whether BS may be omitted on the basis of the PSA levels in these patients.

Methods: The 475 patients (70+/-7 years old) consecutively diagnosed of PA between 1994 and 1998 in our institution made up the study population.

[Usefulness of spect with 99mTc-tetrofosmin and stimulus with dipyridamole in patients with left bundle branch block of His].

Background: In patients with left bundle branch block, the 201Tl scintigraphic studies show high sensitivity, but with low specificity, in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

Objective: [corrected] To assess the value of 99mTc-tetrofosmin Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and dipyridamole administration in patients with left bundle branch block.

Methods: 22 patients with angina and left bundle branch block were retrospectively studied by cardiac catheterization and Tc-Tf after dipyridamole administration (0,142 mg/kg/min.

[Scintigraphy diagnosis of renovascular hypertension in renal transplanted patients].

Unlabelled: Captopril renography (CR) has been shown to be a useful technique in the diagnosis of renovascular hypertension (RVH). This disease is a significant complication of the kidney transplanted patient so that early diagnosis would be extremely useful to preserve renal function and prevent graft loss. This work evaluates the role of CR, together with arteriography and doppler-ultrasound, in the diagnosis of RVH.

[Integration of multimodal medical images].

Multimodality analysis is becoming a required tool in medical practice due to the development of different image techniques and new imaging processing tools. This paper is a review of the basis of medical image integration, image fusion techniques, and their clinical applications, especially addressing our experience with brain tomographic studies in nuclear medicine and radiology.

Technetium-99m-HMPAO in Tourette's syndrome on neuroleptic therapy and after withdrawal.

Unlabelled: Both decreased and increased perfusion and metabolism have been described with PET and SPECT in different areas of the brain in patients with Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome. The aim of this study was to define the regional cerebral perfusion pattern in drug-free patients and the changes in perfusion with the usual neuroleptic treatment.

Methods: A group of 13 normal control subjects and 15 unmedicated Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome patients were studied with 99mTc-HMPAO brain SPECT.

Efficacy of preoperative diagnostic imaging localization of technetium 99m-sestamibi scintigraphy in hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Until now, preoperative parathyroid imaging has been considered unnecessary because currently available techniques do not provide any better results than an expert surgeon. We conducted a multicenter prospective study evaluating the capability of technetium 99m sestamibi scintigraphy in the preoperative identification of pathologic glands.

Methods: Ninety-three patients with hyperparathyroidism, seven of them reoperative cases, were studied.

[Gammagraphy with HMPAO-99mTc leukocytes in intestinal inflammatory disease].

The value of 99mTc-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (HMPAO) leukocyte images has been confirmed in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. We performed 121 scintigraphic examination. The results were evaluated by radiologic and/or endoscopic examinations.

[Neuroimaging techniques in the Gilles de la Tourette syndrome].

Tourette's syndrome (GdT) is a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder of unclear etiology characterized clinically by the presence of motor and phonic tics as well as a variety of behavioral and cognitive abnormalities such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (TOC) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Dopaminergic pathway and movement control related structures may have some implications for pathogenesis. Neuroimaging techniques may yield relevant data for a better understanding of the symptoms and physiopathology of this disease.

Comparison of bone and gallium-67 imaging in heroin users' arthritis.

Nine cases of primary septic arthritis in heroin addicts are reported. Fibrous and cartilaginous joint localizations are prominent (four sternoarticular, three sacroiliac, one sacroccocygeal, and one knee). In all patients but one, conventional roentgenographic studies were negative.