Diagnostic evaluation of three cardiac software packages using a consecutive group of patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of the three software packages 4DMSPECT (4DM), Emory Cardiac Toolbox (ECTb), and Cedars Quantitative Perfusion SPECT (QPS) for quantification of myocardial perfusion scintigram (MPS) using a large group of consecutive patients.

Methods: We studied 1,052 consecutive patients who underwent 2-day stress/rest 99mTc-sestamibi MPS studies. The reference/gold-standard classifications for the MPS studies were obtained from three physicians, with more than 25 years each of experience in nuclear cardiology, who re-evaluated all MPS images.

Atrial Natriuretic Peptide and Acute Changes in Central Blood Volume by Hyperthermia in Healthy Humans.

Background: Hyperthermia induces vasodilatation that reduces central blood volume (CBV), central venous pressure (CVP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP). Inhibition of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) could be a relevant homeostatic defense mechanism during hyperthermia with a decrease in CBV. The present study evaluated how changes in plasma ANP reflect the changes in CBV during hyperthermia.

The role of SPECT-CT in the lymphoscintigraphic identification of sentinel nodes in patients with oral cancer.

Conclusion: SPECT-CT may improve the localization of sentinel nodes (SNs) in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Compared with planar lymphoscintigraphy SPECT-CT detected more SNs and provided additional anatomical and spatial information about their localization. New generation SPECT with higher resolution CT scanners are expected to provide more accurate information about the localization of SNs.

Continuous methimazole therapy and its effect on the cure rate of hyperthyroidism using radioactive iodine: an evaluation by a randomized trial.

Background: A randomized clinical trial was performed to clarify whether continuous use of methimazole (MTZ) during radioiodine ((131)I) therapy influences the final outcome of this therapy.

Design: Consecutive patients with Graves' disease (n = 30) or a toxic nodular goiter (n = 45) were rendered euthyroid by MTZ and randomized to stop MTZ 8 d before (131)I (-MTZ; n = 36) or to continue MTZ until 4 wk after (131)I (+MTZ; n = 39). Calculation of the (131)I activity included an assessment of the (131)I half-life and the thyroid volume.

Total zinc absorption in young women, but not fractional zinc absorption, differs between vegetarian and meat-based diets with equal phytic acid content.

Zn bioavailability is often lower in vegetarian diets mainly due to low Zn and high phytic acid contents. The objective of the present study was to determine the fractional and total absorption of Zn from a vegetarian diet in comparison with meat diets with equal concentrations of phytic acid. A randomized cross-over design, comprising three whole-day diet periods of 5 d each, with a vegetarian diet or diets containing Polish-produced meat or Danish-produced meat, was conducted.

Pork meat increases iron absorption from a 5-day fully controlled diet when compared to a vegetarian diet with similar vitamin C and phytic acid content.

Meat increases absorption of non-haem iron in single-meal studies. The aim of the present study was to investigate, over a 5 d period, the potential increasing effect of consumption of pork meat in a whole diet on the fractional absorption of non-haem iron and the total absorption of iron, when compared to a vegetarian diet. A randomised cross-over design with 3 x 5 d whole-diet periods with diets containing Danish-produced meat, Polish-produced meat or a vegetarian diet was conducted.

Acute effects of smoking on left ventricular function and neuro-humoral responses in patients with known or suspected ischaemic heart disease.

Systolic left ventricular function was examined by radionuclide ventriculography in 12 habitual smokers with known or suspected ischaemic heart disease, aged 33-69 years, before, during, and after smoking of two cigarettes in a row and was repeated on a non-smoking control day. Plasma concentrations of adrenaline, noradrenaline, renin, and angiotensin II were determined on the smoking day, before and immediately after smoking. During smoking, there were significant increases in heart rate (+27%), rate-pressure product (+23%), and cardiac output (+14%) in the face of a significant increase in left ventricular end-systolic volume (+5%) and significant decreases in ejection fraction (-6%) and stroke volume (-8%).

Resumption of methimazole after 131I therapy of hyperthyroid diseases: effect on thyroid function and volume evaluated by a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: Retrospective studies have indicated that anti-thyroid drugs (ATD) might possess a radioprotective effect, leading to a higher rate of recurrence of hyperthyroidism after iodine-131 ((131)I) therapy.

Design: A randomized clinical trial was performed to clarify whether resumption of methimazole after (131)I influences the final outcome of this treatment.

Methods: We assigned 149 patients with Graves' disease or a toxic nodular goitre to groups either to resume (+ATD) or not to resume (-ATD) methimazole 7 days after (131)I.

The diagnostic value of digital subtraction arthrography and radionuclide bone scan in revision hip arthroplasty.

A prospective analysis of plain serial radigraphs (PSR), digital subtraction arthrography (DSA), and radionuclide bone scans (RBS) was performed in 56 cemented total hip arthroplasties to evaluate the efficacy and usefulness of each study in the diagnosis of loosening. To avoid selection bias in the evaluation of DSA and RBS, the decision to perform repeat surgery was based exclusively on the clinical history and PSR. Results of each study were compared with intraoperative assessment of the status of components and expressed in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy.