[Differential diagnoses of inflammatory hip joint].

The differential diagnoses of inflammatory hip diseases play an important role for the diagnosis of hip pain. The radiological manifestations of rheumatic inflammatory hip pain with the corresponding use of imaging modalities were dealt in part 1 of the CME article. In this second part a systematic approach is explained in order to differentiate the many rheumatic diseaeses from degeneration, synovial tumors and infections.

[Inflammatory changes of the hip joint].

Most cases of hip pain in adults are related to osteoarthrosis, thus other causes, e.g. inflammation, are often not adequately considered for the joint pain in the initial diagnosis.

Sports and Metabolic Bone Disease.

Physical activity (PA) increases bone mass and bone strength through different mechanisms and also reduces the risk of falls in the elderly, through proprioception and balance training. The benefits seen in adolescence continue into adulthood. Exercise delays and attenuates the effects of osteoporosis, and particular sports activities may be recommended to improve bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine or regional BMD, improve balance, and prevent falls.

Hand X-ray examination in two planes is not required for radiographic assessment of hand osteoarthritis.

Aims: Radiographic imaging is essential in the diagnosis of hand osteoarthritis (HOA); however, it is unknown whether a multiplanar examination would add essential information to dorso-palmar (dp) views alone. This study evaluated whether an additional radiographic view would aid clinicians in the diagnostic process of HOA.

Methods: The dp radiographs of both hands from 159 HOA patients were assessed according to the scores described by Kellgren and Lawrence (K/L).

Hip Inflammatory Conditions: A Practical Differential Diagnosis Algorithmic Approach in Adults and Children.

The child or adult patient presenting with acute hip pain in the absence of major trauma often presents a difficult diagnostic dilemma, due to the complex anatomy and diversity of pathology at the hip. A correct diagnosis is important because untreated hip inflammatory disease can lead to lifelong morbidity from structural damage at this weightbearing joint. An effective and efficient process of reaching an appropriate diagnosis often requires multiple imaging modalities overseen by careful clinical judgment.

Prescintigraphic morphine application for abdominal adenocarcinoma imaging, with technetium-99m methoxy isobutyl isonitrile.

Imaging of tumors with cationic tracers, especially with technetium-99 methoxy isobutyl isonitrile ((99m)Tc-MIBI), revealed high specificity for the diagnosis and follow up of various malignancies. However, these radiopharmaceuticals are of limited value for the diagnosis of malignancies of the abdominal region due to the immediate biliary secretion of the tracer and the associated high background activity. In a prospective, single-blinded protocol, patients with endoscopically diagnosed gastrointestinal malignancies were assigned to undergo (99m)Tc-MIBI imaging of the abdomen.

[Sports injury of the spine: imaging diagnosis].

Sports injuries, especially those due to trend sports, and overuse resulting from monotonous repetitive movement patterns may cause various spinal abnormalities. Indications for diagnostic imaging should be established more readily in this group of young patients than in adults, as there is a higher probability to find morphologic abnormalities. This diagnostic strategy should also be applied for MRI and CT investigations.

Diffusion weighted imaging of bone marrow pathologies.

Diffusion weighted imaging of non-CNS tissue has attracted much attention during the last years. Its capability of probing the microstructure of a biologic tissue at a sub-millimeter range is used to evaluate its diffusion capacity, which is tissue specific and can be used for tissue characterization. Processes involving bone marrow where the primary target for DWI during the last years.

Effects of TIPS on liver perfusion measured by dynamic CT.

Objective: Our aim was to measure the arterial, portal venous, and total perfusion of the liver parenchyma with dynamic, single-section CT in patients with liver cirrhosis before and after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement and to compare the results with normal values.

Subjects And Methods: Perfusion of the liver parenchyma was measured in 24 healthy volunteers and 41 patients with liver cirrhosis using dynamic single-section CT. Seventeen patients underwent TIPS placement, and CT measurements were repeated within 7 days.

High-dose remifentanil does not impair cerebrovascular carbon dioxide reactivity in healthy male volunteers.

Background: Cerebrovascular carbon dioxide reactivity during high-dose remifentanil infusion was investigated in volunteers by measurement of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and mean CBF velocity (CBFv).

Methods: Ten healthy male volunteers with a laryngeal mask for artificial ventilation received remifentanil at an infusion rate of 2 and 4 microg x kg-1 x min-1 under normocapnia, hypocapnia, and hypercapnia. Stable xenon-enhanced computed tomography and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography of the left middle cerebral artery were used to assess rCBF and mean CBFv, respectively.

Effects of AT1 and AT2 receptor blockade on angiotensin II induced apoptosis of human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells.

Background: Tubular atrophy is a common histological feature of chronic renal failure, and epithelial cell death by apoptosis might play an important role in its pathogenesis. Angiotensin II contributes to the progressive nature of many kidney diseases and treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors preserves the structure of the tubulointerstitial compartment in human and experimental renal diseases.

Methods: Primary cultures of human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells were co-incubated with angiotensin II alone or in combination with the angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonist losartan or/and the AT2 antagonist PD123319.