Drip infusion urography with meglumine iodamide.

In a double-blind study of 283 patients (140 given iodamide and 143 diatrizoate), meglumine iodamide 24% produced a significantly greater degree of opacification than meglumine diatrizoate 30% (P less than 0.01 to P less than 0.001) in the renal calyces during the early phase of drip infusion pyelography.

Serodiagnosis of hepatitis B virus infection by antibody to core antigen.

In a military population antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) was found in 39% of acute hepatitis cases negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBS Ag) and in 96% of HBs Ag-positive cases. Persistence of antibody to HBs Ag (anti-HBs) in convalescent-phase sera was significantly greater (P less than 0.001) in individuals with acute HBs Ag-positive hepatitis B than in patients with clinical HBs Ag-negative hepatitis B.

Displacement of the superior sagittal sinus associated with a brain tumor.

A 13-year-old girl with an 11 1/2-year history of seizures, was found to have a brain tumor and contralateral displacement of the superior sagittal sinus and falx. The rarity and possible mechanisms of sagittal sinus displacement are discussed.

The rim sign in epidural hematoma: case report.

A case of epidural hematoma of 7 days' duration showed a rim sign in the dynamic and static brain images. The significance and value of a rim sign are discussed.

Radiographic evaluation of patency of interposition mesocaval shunts.

The technique of side-to-side mesocaval anastomosis with the interposition of a prosthetic graft was described in 1970. We report the result of venographic evaluation of patency of this type of shunt in our patients. Demonstration of an unoccluded graft; resistance to retrograde injection of dye against the blood stream into the superior mesenteric vein; rapid clearing of dye from superior mesenteric vein following injection and "lamellar flow defect" in the vena cava above the site of anastomosis during vena cavogram, were considered criteria of patency of the interposition mesocaval shunt.

Digital low-pass filtering.

Random noise beyond the maximum signal frequency of the imaging system can be removed by low-pass filtering without compromising signal transmission.

Hepatitis B antigen and antibody in the U.S. Army: prevalence in health care personnel.

The prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HB(S)Ag) and antibody (anti-HB(S)) seropositivity and the association of seropositivity with demographic, personal health, and professional experiences were studied in a cohort of Army Medical Department officer personnel. Serologic evidence of Hepatitis B infection was found in 5.0 per cent of personnel and was associated with age, sex, place of birth, history of hepatitis, history of blood transfusion, and previous overseas assignments.

Passive immunization against exposure to hepatitis B virus in the military: potential and possibilities.

The value of standard γ-globulin with a low titer of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HB(s)) vs hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) in prevention of icteric hepatitis B in the military is unclear. Although recent studies have shown a decrease in icteric hepatitis after administration of both types of γ-globulin in populations where acquisition of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is most likely the result of nonparenteral transmission, the data pertaining to parenteral exposure suggest that HBIG delays the incubation period of HBV and decreases the development of passive-active immunity. Since no studies have demonstrated efficacy of standard γ-globulin or HBIG in a drug-using population where multiple HBV exposures are likely, the results observed in most trials are not comparable to hepatitis B associated with drug abuse in the military.

Persistence of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen.

Sera from military personnel found to have antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBS) in an epidemiological study of a hepatitis B outbreak were tested for persistence of that antibody 1 year later. Initially, 64% of the anti-HBS-positive sera reacted in passive hemagglutination tests with erythrocytes coated with hepatitis B surface antigen of both ayw and adw subtypes; the remaining sera reacted only with adw-coated erythrocytes (19%) or ayw-coated erythrocytes (17%). After 1 year, anti-HBS was detectable by passive hemagglutination tests in 87% of individuals with initial antibody to both subtypes but in only 41% and 16% (P less than 0.

A computer assisted radiological reporting system.

The authors report their experience with a commercially available computerized diagnostic reporting system. The system has been in operation more than 36 months and processes more than 95,000 cases annually. Dictation is needed for only 13% of emergency room cases and 23% of in-patient cases.

Who needs darkrooms?

With the advent of recent developments in film manufacturing and experience with photographic filters, the possibility that the traditional x-ray darkroom may no longer be necessary, has been raised. The authors present their experiments using various light filters and film and suggest that with the use of various combinations of lights, films and small tabletop film processors now on the market the darkroom is indeed no longer necessary. Consequently, the elimination of the expense and space for planning darkrooms in new facilities, or replacing them in existing facilities, is a feasible possibility at this time.

Epidemic hepatitis B: a sustained outbreak in a large military population.

A sustained outbreak of viral hepatitis occurred at an Army base in Texas between January 1971 and June 1973. Seven hundred ninety-two admissions but no deaths were recorded in a military population of 35,000. Cases were sporadic, with highest attack rates in low-ranking soldiers with disciplinary problems.

Hepatitis B antigen in saliva, urine, and stool.

A survey of hepatitis B patients, asymptomatic hepatitis B antigen (HBsAg) carriers, and control subjects was conducted to determine the relationship between antigenemia and antigen excretion in saliva, urine, and stool. Radioimmunoassay was used to detect HBsAg. Specificity-confirmed HBsAg was detected in the saliva of 6 (30%) of 20 antigenemic patients, 1 (5%) of 20 nonantigenemic patients, 14 (34%) of 41 carriers, and 0 of 112 controls.

Specificity and sensitivity of radioimmunoassay for hepatitis B antigen.

Sera from a survey of 6,026 people were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen by using radioimmunoassay and counterelectrophoresis. Forty-eight sera (0.79%) were positive by counterelectrophoresis and 152 sera (2.