Indirect MR arthrography of the shoulder: use of abduction and external rotation to detect full- and partial-thickness tears of the supraspinatus tendon.

Purpose: To evaluate prospectively the accuracy of indirect magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography for supraspinatus tendon tears during neutral positioning or abduction and external rotation (ABER) and neutral positioning.

Materials And Methods: Informed consent was obtained in all patients, and the study was approved by the institutional review board. Indirect MR arthrography of the shoulder was performed in 51 symptomatic patients (14 female, 37 male; mean age, 47 years) in the neutral position (set 1) and in the neutral and ABER positions (set 2).

Stability of anterior vertebral body screws after kyphoplasty augmentation. An experimental study to compare anterior vertebral body screw fixation in soft and cured kyphoplasty cement.

The goal of this cadaver study was to compare the stability of anterior vertebral body screws after implantation in soft or cured kyphoplasty cement. Anterior vertebral body screws were inserted in a total of 30 thoracolumbar vertebrae of ten different human specimens: ten screws were implanted in non-augmented vertebrae (group 1), ten screws were placed in soft cement (group 2), and ten screws were placed in cured cement (group 3). The screws were then tested for biomechanical axial pullout resistance.

Intra-arterial MR angiography in the iliac system: initial clinical experience with 25 patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate intra-arterial magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the iliac arteries. Therefore, 25 consecutive patients (17 male, 8 female) suffering from symptomatic occlusive disease of the lower limbs were investigated prospectively. Catheter angiography was performed before MRA and served as the standard of reference.

Endovascular repair of proximal endograft collapse after treatment for thoracic aortic disease.

We report two cases of proximal endograft collapse with an almost complete aortic occlusion after endovascular tube-graft treatment of thoracic aortic disease (thoracic aneurysm after a type B dissection, traumatic blunt aortic rupture) using the TAG Gore system. Oversizing of endografts is known to cause this complication. In our two cases, however, the oversizing was between 12% and 21.

[Digital ultrasonic diagnosis of lower leg venous thrombosis using harmonic imaging and cross beam technology].

Purpose: To evaluate the extent to which Tissue Harmonic Imaging (THI) and spatial averaging (Sono-CT, Cross Beam) facilitate the diagnosis of lower leg venous thrombosis.

Materials And Methods: In 100 cases of lower leg venous thrombosis, the conventional B-scan, THI, and ultrasonic CT technology (Cross Beam) in examinations using a multi-frequency transducer head (9 - 14 MHz, Logiq 9, GE) were compared during follow-up studies using compression sonography over at least 6 weeks. Two independent examiners performed digital image documentation (PACS connection) without modifying the gray level parameters optimized in the B-scan.

Position of the acetabular cup -- accuracy of radiographic calculation compared to CT-based measurement.

Objective: A variety of mathematical and trigonometric methods has been described for determining the position of the acetabular cups from conventional radiographs. However, these formulae are subject to unduly large inaccuracies. The aim of the study was to compare the reliability and the accuracy of radiological and CT-based determination of acetabular cup position.

Vasculitis of the aortic arch and cardiac valves as the cause of relapsing fever of unknown origin in an elderly, white man.

Here, we report the case of fever of unknown origin (FUO) in a 77-year-old white man. The patient presented with a 3-week history of fever (between 38.5 and 39 degrees C) and general malaise.

Odour control at biowaste composting facilities.

There are several options to effectively reduce odorous emissions at composting facilities depending on the type of composting system used. Some of the more relevant measures for open and enclosed composting facilities are presented in this article. Results from different investigations on odour reduction efficiencies of biological waste gas treatment systems at various scales are presented.

The potential to reduce emissions of airborne microorganisms by means of biological waste gas treatment systems.

Investigations regarding the reduction of airborne germs in the waste gas of biowaste composting processes have been carried out at the Hamburg University of Science and Technology and the University of Leipzig. Numerous waste gas treatment plants, ranging from laboratory-scale to technical-scale, have been available at the institutes of these two project partners. All plants consisted of bioscrubber/biofilter combinations.

Greater accuracy in positioning of the acetabular cup by using an image-free navigation system.

In a prospective and randomised clinical study, acetabular cups were implanted free-hand (control group n=22) or with computer assistance using an image-free navigation system (study group n=23). The cup position was determined postoperatively on pelvic CT. An average inclination of 42.

Intra-arterial magnetic resonance angiography of the iliac arteries: clinical experience using two different protocols.

Purpose: To assess the feasibility of intra-arterial magnetic resonance angiography (iaMRA) with two different protocols.

Material And Methods: Twenty patients were prospectively examined after digital subtraction angiography. Contrast-enhanced iaMRA was performed using a 1.

Adeno-associated virus serotypes 1 to 5 mediated tumor cell directed gene transfer and improvement of transduction efficiency.

Background: Gene therapy is an attractive new approach for the treatment of cancer. Therefore, the development of efficient vector systems is of crucial importance in this field. Different adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotypes have been characterized so far, which show considerable differences in tissue tropism.

Recurrent arthralgias in a patient with previous Mayaro fever infection.

Mayaro fever is an acute, self-limited, febrile, mosquito-borne viral disease manifested by fever, chills, headache, myalgias, and arthralgias. The virus belongs to the family Togaviridae and the genus Alphavirus. Five other mosquito-borne viruses have been described as causing a similar dengue-like illness.

Determining the accuracy of a rapid point-of-care test for determining Rh(D) phenotype.

Objectives: To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of a point-of-care method for identifying Rh(D) phenotype.

Methods: Rh(D) was determined using preserved whole blood via standard laboratory methods. Comparison testing was conducted using the HealthTEST Rh(D) card (Akers Laboratories, Thorofare, NJ).

Magnetic resonance-guided percutaneous angioplasty of femoral and popliteal artery stenoses using real-time imaging and intra-arterial contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography.

Objective: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the possibility of performing magnetic resonance (MR)-guided interventional therapy for femoral and popliteal artery stenoses with commercially available materials supported by MR real-time imaging and intra-arterial MR angiography.

Materials And Methods: A total of 15 patients suffering from symptomatic arterial occlusive disease of the lower limbs with 19 stenoses were included. Interventional intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography was performed before and after angioplasty on each patient as standard of reference.

Post-traumatic subdural hygroma: case report.

Subdural Hygroma (SDG) is described in the literature as a common complication of blunt head trauma occurring in a reported 5-20% of all closed head injuries. The Emergency Physician will likely encounter this type of lesion and it is useful to have an understanding of its significance, its relationship to subdural hematoma (SDH), and management strategies. Although surgical intervention is often advocated in the treatment of intracranial fluid collections causing mass effect, there are several reported cases of spontaneous resolution of uncal and central herniation via conservative management alone.

[Accuracy of an image-free cup navigation system--an anatomical study].

The position of the acetabular cup is of decisive importance for the function of a total hip replacement (THR). Using the conventional surgical technique, correct placement of the cup often fails due to a lack of information about pelvic tilt. With CT-based and fluoroscopically-assisted navigation procedures the accuracy of implantation has been significantly improved.

Intraarterial contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography of the aortoiliac system.

In a period of 4 months, 10 patients were examined prospectively with intraarterial magnetic resonance (MR) angiography after digital subtraction angiography. Intraarterial MR angiography was performed with use of a 1.5-T MR imaging system.

[In vitro examination of the visibility of 11 stent catheters with real-time MR imaging].

Purpose: To evaluate artifacts of unexpended stents and to determine their exact position for MR-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty using real-time sequences.

Materials And Methods: By using an in vitro model, 11 unexpended stents - 9 nitinol, 1 stainless steel, and 1 cobalt alloy - were investigated by MR. Each stent was studied in a vessel-phantom filled with saline solution.

[Influence of sequence type on the extent of the susceptibility artifact in MRI--a shoulder specimen study after suture anchor repair].

Purpose: To compare the extent of susceptibility artifacts after metallic suture anchor implantation by analyzing 14 different MRI sequences.

Materials And Methods: A metallic suture anchor was implanted in the central area of three glenoid porcine specimens. The specimens were imaged with a 1.

[Diagnosis and classification of calcaneal fractures in computed tomography].

Purpose: To compare image quality of single-slice spiral CT (SSCT) and multislice spiral CT (MSCT) in the diagnosis and classification of calcaneal fractures and to present a rapid and precise algorithm for the classification system of Stuermer.

Materials And Methods: In 102 patients with 124 calcaneal fractures, spiral CT was performed, in 82 cases as SSCT with a slice thickness (SD) of 3 mm, a table speed (TS) of 3 - 4 mm/rot and an increment of 1.5 mm.

Feasibility of MR-guided angioplasty of femoral artery stenoses using real-time imaging and intraarterial contrast-enhanced MR angiography.

Purpose: To show the feasibility of magnetic resonance (MR) for guided interventional therapy of femoral and popliteal artery stenoses with commercially available materials supported by MR real-time imaging and intraarterial MR angiography.

Materials And Methods: Three patients (1 female, 2male), suffering from symptomatic arterial occlusive disease with stenoses of the femoral (n = 2) or popliteal (n = 1) arteries were included. Intraarterial digital subtraction angiography was performed in each patient pre- and post-interventionally as standard of reference to quantify stenoses.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography of the carotid arteries: influence of injection rates and volumes on arterial-venous transit time.

Rationale And Objectives: To assess the influence of injection rates and volumes on the arrival time of contrast material (CM) in the common carotid artery, the jugular vein and the resulting arterial-venous transit time. Additionally the relationship between injection parameters and the extent of a CM plateau was evaluated.

Materials And Methods: In 60 patients a CM injection was necessary to investigate suspected cranial disease.