A scan-specific quality control acquisition for clinical whole-body (WB) MRI protocols.

Image quality in whole-body MRI (WB-MRI) may be degraded by faulty radiofrequency (RF) coil elements or mispositioning of the coil arrays. Phantom-based quality control (QC) is used to identify broken RF coil elements but the frequency of these acquisitions is limited by scanner and staff availability. This work aimed to develop a scan-specific QC acquisition and processing pipeline to detect broken RF coil elements, which is sufficiently rapid to be added to the clinical WB-MRI protocol.

Descriptive analysis of MRI functional changes occurring during reduced dose radiotherapy for myxoid liposarcomas.

Objectives: Myxoid liposarcomas (MLS) show enhanced response to radiotherapy due to their distinctive vascular pattern and therefore could be effectively treated with lower radiation doses. This is a descriptive study to explore the use of functional MRI to identify response in a uniform cohort of MLS patients treated with reduced dose radiotherapy.

Methods: 10 patients with MLS were imaged pre-, during, and post-radiotherapy receiving reduced dose radiotherapy and the response to treatment was histopathologically assessed post-radiotherapy.

Evaluation of an equilibrium phase free-breathing dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI prototype sequence compared to traditional breath-held MRI acquisition in liver oncology patients.

Introduction: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a commonly used for diagnosing metastatic liver disease. When patients are unable to achieve the necessary arrested respiration required during image acquisition, image artefacts occur that affect image quality and diagnostic value. The main contribution of this study is the evaluation of a novel prototype technique that allows a specific sub-group of patients to breathe freely throughout the acquisition of dynamic contrast enhanced equilibrium phase MRI of the liver.

Noninvasive Imaging of Cycling Hypoxia in Head and Neck Cancer Using Intrinsic Susceptibility MRI.

To evaluate intrinsic susceptibility (IS) MRI for the identification of cycling hypoxia, and the assessment of its extent and spatial distribution, in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) xenografts and patients. Quantitation of the transverse relaxation rate, R*, which is sensitive to paramagnetic deoxyhemoglobin, using serial IS-MRI acquisitions, was used to monitor temporal oscillations in levels of paramagnetic deoxyhemoglobin in human CAL xenografts and patients with HNSCC at 3T. Autocovariance and power spectrum analysis of variations in R* was performed for each imaged voxel, to assess statistical significance and frequencies of cycling changes in tumor blood oxygenation.

Repeatability and sensitivity of T2* measurements in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma at 3T.

Purpose: To determine whether quantitation of T2* is sufficiently repeatable and sensitive to detect clinically relevant oxygenation levels in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) at 3T.

Materials And Methods: Ten patients with newly diagnosed locally advanced HNSCC underwent two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans between 24 and 168 hours apart prior to chemoradiotherapy treatment. A multiple gradient echo sequence was used to calculate T2* maps.

An accelerometry-based approach to assess loading intensity of physical activity on bone.

Purpose: The purpose was to develop a new method for assessing the potential bone-loading intensities of different locomotion activities by using accelerometers.

Method: Thirty participants (women, N = 19; men, N = 11) with an average age of 40 years (SD = 18 years), performed 8 activities (3 self-selected speeds of walking, 3 self-selected speeds of running, and ascending and descending stairs) in the workplace or at home while wearing an accelerometer. The loading intensity for each activity was calculated from measured acceleration by a new method that considers both loading magnitude and frequency.

Treatment of a common iliac aneurysm by endovascular exclusion using the amplatzer vascular plug and femorofemoral crossover graft.

We report our initial experience using the Amplatzer Vascular Plug II (AVP2) in the treatment of a left common iliac aneurysm. Following investigation by computerized tomographic angiography and catheter angiography, a 79-year-old man was found to have a markedly tortuous iliac system, with a left common iliac artery aneurysm that measured 48 mm in maximal diameter. Due to the patient's age and comorbidities the surgical opinion was that conventional open repair was not suitable.

Variation in vascular activity in the United Kingdom: an analysis of five regions.

Background: The aim of this study was to define variations in vascular activity that may exist between different demographic regions of the UK.

Methods: Five regions were studied. Data were obtained on OPCS codes for vascular surgery 1994-95 from the Department of Health or Welsh Office.

Accuracy of centrally recorded OPCS codes for vascular surgery in the United Kingdom.

Aim: Centrally recorded OPCS codes are based upon district returns. The aim of this study is to determine the accuracy of this system with regard to vascular surgery.

Methods: Prospectively recorded audit data for vascular and endovascular procedures were compared with those obtained from the Department of Health and Welsh Office.

Angiosarcoma in congenital hereditary lymphoedema (Milroy's disease)--diagnostic beacons and a review of the literature.

In cases of congenital lymphoedema the finding of ulceration, violaceous nodules or papules, or apparent traumatic ecchymoses should act as a diagnostic beacon warning of dangers. A case is reported of a high-grade angiosarcoma developing in a patient with congenital hereditary lymphoedema (Milroy's disease). This is the second paper to report this complication, the third case report and the first case in which the diagnosis is substantiated by immunohistochemistry and lectin histochemistry.

Contraction of canine stomach and small bowel by intravenous administration of serotonin. A physiologic response?

Serotonin is found in large quantities in the gastrointestinal tract, where it can increase gastrointestinal motility. Whether this response represents a physiologic event has not previously been shown. In our investigation eight conscious dogs were fitted with strain gauges to monitor motility responses to serotonin.

Perforation of the acalculous gallbladder following renal transplantation.

Two acalculous renal transplant patients, of more than 1,000 performed at this center, suffered early infarction and perforation of the gallbladder following operation. This rare complication may be related to both postoperative stress and the immunocompromising drugs given to renal transplant patients.

Identification of accessory bile ducts at cholecystectomy.

The presence of accessory channels between the liver and extrahepatic bile ducts has long been recognised by anatomists and the division of such ducts may be a cause of bile leakage following cholecystectomy. However, visualisation of accessory bile ducts at operation is difficult as they are often small and sometimes less than 1 mm in diameter. Cholangiography has been used to help in the identification of accessory ducts in 50 patients included in a prospective trial.

Depressive syndromes in grossly obese women.

Seventy-three consecutive female candidates for intestinal bypass surgery because of gross obesity, were evaluated for the presence or history of affective disorder. Fourteen patients gave a history of depressive disorder fulfilling Feighner et al. (1) criteria, giving treated expectancy (age 15-60) of about 28%, much higher than that found in the general population.

Klinefelter's syndrome with atypical presenting features.

The authors thought it would be of interest to present this case which proved to be Klinefelter's syndrome with "xxy" pattern, as the patient presented with episodes of abnormal behaviour lasting for a few minutes. Ho would suddenly become anxious, look perplexed, start clenching his fists and at times complain of thoughts tha some persons were trying to attack him. He also felt as if he were hearing voices talking to him.

A neurochemical theory of appetite and weight changes in depressive states.

The literature concerning appetite and weight changes in depressive illness is reviewed. Diminished appetite and weight loss have for about 100 years been regarded as prominent symptoms of depressive illness. A tendency for some depressives to gain weight has also been recognized.