Radiation Doses in Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

We discussed the contemporary views on the effects of ionising radiation on living organisms and the process of estimating radiation doses in CT examinations and the definitions of the CTDI, CTDIvol, DLP, SSDE, ED. We reviewed the reports from large analyses on the radiation doses in CT examinations of the coronary arteries prior to TAVI procedures, including the CRESCENT, PROTECTION, German Cardiac CT Registry studies. These studies were carried out over the last 10 years and can help confront the daily practice of performing cardiovascular CT examinations in most centres.

Estimation of Aortic Valve Calcium Score Based on Angiographic Phase Versus Reduction of Ionizing Radiation Dose in Computed Tomography.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the estimation efficacy of aortic valve calcium score (AVCS) based on the multislice computed tomography (MSCT) angiographic phase. The evaluation of the reduced amount of ionizing radiation dose was performed because of this estimation. The study included 51 consecutive patients who qualified for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) (78.

Radiation dose and repeatability of aortic valve measurement by multidetector row computed tomography to assess eligibility for transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Aortic valve stenosis is among the most common valvular defects in developed countries. In the assessment of eligibility for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) is performed to determine the precise dimensions of the aortic valve, the topography of the aortic ostium and the ability to use various arterial access routes.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationships between the radiation dose and the repeatability of measurements of dimensions of the aortic valve in MDCT performed before TAVI.

Perforation of saphenous vein graft with mediastinal haemorrhage leading to near closure of distal graft segment.

Perforations of saphenous venous grafts during coronary angioplasty are rare and potentially lethal. The objective of this clinical case report is to highlight this unusual complication and necessary treatment. A 76-year-old woman, 3 months after coronary artery bypass grafting (left internal mammary artery to left anterior descendant artery, saphenous vein graft to obtuse marginal, saphenous vein graft to right coronary artery), demonstrated typical signs of acute coronary syndrome.

Low-dose computer tomography as a screening tool for lung cancer in a high risk population.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of low-dose computer tomography as a screening tool for early stage lung cancer. The study was performed in 332 individuals aged 55-70 who were asymptomatic, who had not previously suffered from cancer, and who smoked at least ten packs of cigarettes a year. Baseline and repeated LD-CT scans were performed.

Application of CPC and related methods for the isolation of natural substances--a review.

A review of research on the isolation of various alkaloids from plant material by centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) and related preparative techniques was made, in order to provide various conditions for separation of these important plant derived secondary metabolites. First of all, the construction of the CPC apparatus was presented as well as the principle of isolation of natural products with its help, and then the influence of operating apparatus parameters on the separation efficiency. Finally, a review of the alkaloids separation conditions was made, specifying used parameters and best solvent system.

Influence of extrahent on antioxidant capacity of Aesculus hippocastanum seeds.

In this study, the optimisation of horse chestnut seed extraction was performed to determine the best extraction solvent in the recovery of pharmacologically active escin from raw material. All extracts were obtained by accelerated solvent extraction and were analysed for their antioxidant potential (DPPH test), phenolic content (Folin-Ciocalteu (FC) assay) and escin content (ESI-TOF-MS extracts profiling). Methanol was found to recover the highest amount of escin from the plant matrix as well as to produce the most active antiradical solutions rich in polyphenols.

Giant congenital malformation of the perirectal plexus in computed tomography imaging - case report.

Background: Congenital arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in the pelvic area is uncommon in males.

Case Report: The described case is of a giant lesion of this type that caused recurrent hemorrhaging in the lower part of the gastrointestinal tract. Preliminary diagnosis of vascular pathology was made on the basis of an endoscopic examination that revealed numerous pulsating protuberances of the rectal wall, in which blood flow was identified by means of transrectal ultrasonography.

[Three dimensional spiral computed tomography imaging in preop diagnosis of substernal goiter (preliminary study)].

The aim of the study was the estimation of substernal goiter by use of three-dimensional spiral computed tomography (3-D sCT) with the contrast agent. The size and anatomy of goiter as well as its relation to surrounding tissues, particularly blood vessels was evaluated. The examination allowed good visualization of both inferior thyroid arteries.

[A case of para-cerebral abscess as a complication of middle ear purulent inflammation].

We reported the case of para-cerebral abscess in the left temporal region, being a complication of exacerbation of chronic middle ear inflammation with cholesteatoma. Computed tomography was performed, which helped in the diagnosis. The patient was treated conservatively by aimed antibiotic therapy.

[Foreign body in the right frontal lobe of the brain as a result of right eyeball and right eye-socket trauma--case report].

We report a case of a 44 year old man, who was admitted to our hospital because of right eyeball and right eye-socket due to a piece of diamond circular saw. Right eyeball was sutured. CT--examination showed a metallic foreign body in the right frontal lobe of brain.

[Disorders of the bone density in the chest x-ray examination in the course of myelosclerosis].

The authors report a rare case of myelosclerosis diagnosed during hospital stay in internal Department on account of hepatosplenomegaly and anaemia. The case of patient described by authors was diagnosed on the ground of examination and executed additional investigations: morphology, peripheral blood picture, chest radiography, scintiscan of skeleton.

[Gas gangrene or inflammation of the neck--diagnostic difficulties].

The authors describe a patient with an extensive inflammation of the neck soft tissues as a complication of the peritonsillar abscess. Follow-up computed tomography revealed gasi-form follicles in the inflammed neck soft tissues, suggesting gas gangrene. We report disseminate ways of the inflammation process on the financial tonsil, reasons of the gangrene also the infections of soft tissues caused by anaerobic bacteries--Clostridium.

[Thoracic aortic dissecting aneurysm with bleeding into the pleural cavity].

A rare case of dissecting aneurysm of the aortic arch with left haemothorax was presented. The authors describe modern methods of visualising diagnostics used in case of suspected dissecting aortic aneurysm.

Microsomal formation of a pyrrolic alcohol glutathione conjugate of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid senecionine.

1. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are metabolized primarily to putative dehydroalkaloid (PA pyrrole) metabolites and to PA N-oxide by rat liver microsomal monooxygenases. 2.

Bioactivation and detoxication of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid senecionine by cytochrome P-450 enzymes in rat liver.

Rats display a marked sex difference in the oxidation of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid senecionine, especially with respect to N-oxidation. This sex difference was largely eliminated following treatment with dexamethasone. These observations suggested the potential involvement of the male-specific cytochrome P-450 UT-A and the P-450 PCN-E in the metabolism of this pyrrolizidine alkaloid.

The role of flavin-containing monooxygenase in the N-oxidation of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid senecionine.

The pyrrolizidine alkaloid, senecionine, is N-oxidized by purified pig liver flavin-containing monooxygenase but not by purified rabbit lung flavin-containing monooxygenase. The activity of the pig liver enzyme toward senecionine was linear with time and amount of enzyme. The oxygenation was not due to some indirect mechanism, such as O2- release from the enzyme, as scavengers of activated oxygen had no effect on product formation.

Microsomal metabolism of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from Senecio jacobaea. Isolation and quantification of 6,7-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-5H-pyrrolizine and N-oxides by high performance liquid chromatography.

The metabolism in vitro of four pyrrolizidine alkaloids from the poisonous plant Senecio jacobaea was studied. The pyrrolizidine alkaloids jacobine, jacoline, senecionine, and seneciphylline, all macrocyclic diesters of retronecine, were incubated with rat liver microsomes. Analysis of incubation extracts by HPLC with a PRP-1 reverse phase styrene-divinylbenzene resin column revealed the presence of two major metabolites, 6,7-dihydro-7-hydroxy-l-hydroxymethyl-5H-pyrrolizine and an N-oxide derivative.

The formation of 6,7-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1-hydroxy-methyl-5H-pyrrolizine, a metabolite of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

In vitro metabolism of senecionine with rat hepatic microsomes was studied. The main pyrrolic metabolite, 6,7-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1-hydroxy-methyl-5H-pyrrolizine was isolated by preparative high performance liquid chromatography (PRP-1 column) and examined by mass spectrometry. Results of the incubation performed in the presence of H218O indicated that both hydroxyl groups of the metabolite came from the solvent.

Method for determination of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography.

An improved method utilizing reverse-phase liquid chromatography on a styrene-divinylbenzene column (PRP-1) and ultraviolet detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) senecionine, seneciphylline, and retrorsine and their major metabolites produced during in vitro transformation of PAs by microsomal enzyme systems. The procedure employs direct injection of the 46,000g supernatant of the microsomal reaction mixture directly onto the column, and elution with a 0.1 M NH4OH-acetonitrile gradient.