An "openable," high-strength gradient set for orthopedic MRI.

A novel three-axis gradient set and RF resonator for orthopedic MRI has been designed and constructed. The set is openable and may be wrapped around injured joints. The design methodology used was the minimization of magnetic field spherical harmonics by simulated annealing.

Markers of tumor angiogenesis and proteolysis independently define high- and low-risk subsets of node-negative breast cancer patients.

Purpose: To compare the prognostic impact of tumor angiogenesis factors (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], angiogenin, and basic fibroblast growth factor [bFGF]), tumor proteolysis factors (urokinase-type plasminogen activator [uPA] and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 [PAI-1]), and conventional tumor markers (stage, grade, and steroid receptors) in early breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: In the primary clinical study, tumor angiogenesis and other factors were detected in frozen biopsies from 305 primary breast tumors. VEGF expression was assessed by chemiluminescence immunosorbent assay (ICMA); angiogenin, bFGF, uPA, and PAI-1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); and steroid receptors (estrogen receptor [ER] and progesterone receptor [PgR]) by enzyme immunoassay (EIA).

The design of biplanar, shielded, minimum energy, or minimum power pulsed B0 coils.

By extending the formalism previously developed for the design of unshielded, biplanar gradient coils, shielded biplanar B0 coils optimized for homogeneity and either minimum energy or minimum power may be designed. We present results from an integrated approach to shielded biplanar coil design, the results of which are also applicable to gradient coils, enabling the design of shielded coils with a concomitant decrease in total inductance of the coil. Length constraints are also included in the integrated minimization procedure.

[Priming of cervix with prostaglandin gel during immature birth situation at term (author's transl)].

The article reports on a controlled, randomized double-blind study by which the effect of intracervically applied Prostaglandin in F2 alpha Gel was examined with regard to the cervix during immature vaginal situation. 124 patients were included in the study. 4 of these had to be dropped because of documentation errors.