Perfusion MRI of brain tumours: a comparative study of pseudo-continuous arterial spin labelling and dynamic susceptibility contrast imaging.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the non-invasive 3D pseudo-continuous arterial spin labelling (PC ASL) technique with the clinically established dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (DSC-MRI) for evaluation of brain tumours.

Methods: A prospective study of 28 patients with contrast-enhancing brain tumours was performed at 3 T using DSC-MRI and PC ASL with whole-brain coverage. The visual qualitative evaluation of signal enhancement in tumour was scored from 0 to 3 (0 = no signal enhancement compared with white matter, 3 = pronounced signal enhancement with equal or higher signal intensity than in grey matter/basal ganglia).

Fasting in healthy subjects is associated with intrahepatic accumulation of lipids as assessed by 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The impact of fasting on IHL (intrahepatic lipid) content in human subjects has not been investigated previously, but results indicate that it may change rapidly in response to metabolic cues. The aim of the present study was to measure IHL content after fasting and to correlate this with circulating lipid intermediates. A total of eight healthy non-obese young males were studied before and after 12 or 36 h of fasting.

Hemodynamic function of the standard St. Jude bileaflet disc valve has no clinical impact 10 years after aortic valve replacement.

Objectives: Size mismatch and impaired left ventricular function have been shown to determine the hemodynamic function of the standard St. Jude bileaflet disc valve early after aortic valve replacement (AVR). We aimed to analyse St.

Predictable changes in left ventricular mass and function during ten years after valve replacement for aortic stenosis.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is the underlying basis for longevity after aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis (AS). However, a detailed account of changes in LV mass and function in the long term after AVR and identification of the determinants of such changes have not yet been presented.

Methods: Ninety-one unselected consecutive adult patients with AS underwent AVR and were followed up to 10 years, at which time 41 survivors without new mitral disease underwent repeat measurement of LV mass index (LVMi), ejection fraction (LVEF), fast filling fraction (LVFFF), and end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVi).

Regression of left ventricular hypertrophy during 10 years after valve replacement for aortic stenosis is related to the preoperative risk profile.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that regression of hypertrophy may be the underlying determinant of longevity and left ventricular function after valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis (AS). The potential for hypertrophy regression could therefore be related to the preoperative risk profile.

Methods: Ninety-one consecutive patients with AS had a "project" Doppler-echo and radionuclide ventriculography in addition to the standard investigation programme prior to AVR with a disc valve (19-29mm, n=82), a caged ball valve (26-29mm, n=8), or a stented porcine valve (26mm, n=1); 49 (group A) were selected for a serial follow-up study while 42 served as controls (group B).

Evaluation of myocardial iron by magnetic resonance imaging during iron chelation therapy with deferrioxamine: indication of close relation between myocardial iron content and chelatable iron pool.

Evaluation of myocardial iron during iron chelation therapy is not feasible by repeated endomyocardial biopsies owing to the heterogeneity of iron distribution and the risk of complications. Recently, we described a noninvasive method based on magnetic resonance imaging. Here, the method was used for repeated estimation of the myocardial iron content during iron chelation with deferrioxamine in 14 adult nonthalassemic patients with transfusional iron overload.

Relationship between hepatocellular injury and transfusional iron overload prior to and during iron chelation with desferrioxamine: a study in adult patients with acquired anemias.

The role of iron overload as cause of liver dysfunction has never been studied in detail in patients without concomitant hepatotropic infections who receive multiple transfusions. We therefore investigated the relationship between the extent of hepatocellular injury as reflected by serum levels of aminotransferases (alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST]) and several iron status indices in 39 anti-hepatitis C virus-negative (HCV(-)) nonthalassemic patients with transfusional iron overload owing to acquired anemias. In 12 patients, we monitored aminotransferase levels and indices of iron status during iron chelation treatment.