Limitations of indirect methods of estimating small bowel transit in man.

Experiments were carried out in healthy volunteers to explore the utility of a new [14C]lactulose breath test for measuring small intestinal transit time in man and to use this procedure to test whether two antidiarrheal agents, codeine and clonidine, alter small intestinal transit time during digestion of a liquid meal. In an initial validation study performed in 12 subjects (three studies in each subject), a liquid test meal containing 10 g [14C]lactulose was administered and the colonic entry time estimated from the time course of 14CO2 excretion in breath compared with that of H2 excretion. There was a fair correlation (r = 0.

Visual determination of differential renal function.

Forty patients (43 studies) referred for determination of differential renal function were imaged 24 hours after intravenous administration of Tc-99m-2, 3 DMSA. Visual assessment of relative renal uptake was estimated independently by three observers at three different hospitals from analog images on standard x-ray film. The results were compared with the relative DMSA uptake obtained by summing counts in computer-assisted regions of interest placed over each kidney.

Limitations of indium-111 leukocyte scanning in febrile renal transplant patients.

Indium-111-labeled leukocyte scanning was evaluated as a technique for investigating possible abscess as the cause of fever in 10 renal allograft recipients under therapy for rejection, acute tubular necrosis, or urinary infection. The usefulness of the method in this setting was found to be limited by marked nonspecificity of renal, pulmonary, and other focal leukocyte accumulation. Although wound infections were correctly identified, false-positive scans resulted in multiple nonproductive consultations and radiologic procedures (some invasive) and contributed to the decision to perform one negative exploratory laparotomy.

Calculation of relative glomerular filtration rate and correlation with delayed technetium-99m DMSA imaging.

The relative renal uptake of Tc-99m DMSA was compared with the relative glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in ten patients with serum creatinines ranging from 0.3 to 2.5 mg/dl.

Plantar compartmental infection in the diabetic foot. The role of computed tomography.

This review discusses the role of computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of extent of plantar soft tissue infection in the diabetic foot. CT abnormalities are correlated with conventional radiography, results of preoperative aspiration cultures, intraoperative assessment, and bone, gallium, and 111In-leukocyte scan findings. Plantar soft tissue disease respects compartmental boundaries in general, with transcompartmental spread possible along musculotendinous units that normally transgress the intervening fascial septae.