Reduced perfusion reserve in Leukoaraiosis demonstrated using acetazolamide challenge 123I-IMP SPECT.

Objective: We examined the relationship between the perfusion reserve as measured by acetazolamide (ACZ)-challenge N-isopropyl-I-123-p-iodoamphetamine (IMP)-single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and the degree of leukoaraiosis (LA) as estimated using magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods: In 51 patients receiving IMP-SPECT with the resting state and ACZ challenge, the unaffected cerebral hemispheres were included in the present study. Mean cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the resting state and ACZ reactivity were acquired.

Thallium-201 SPECT in the evaluation of early effects on brain tumors treated with stereotactic irradiation.

Purpose: To determine whether thallium-201 SPECT can predict response to stereotactic irradiation (STI) earlier than magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the change in tumor size measured by MRI was compared with the change in tumor activity measured by Tl-201 SPECT before and after STI.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-one tumors in 16 patients with intracranial tumors were treated by STI. Tl-201 SPECT was performed within 1 week before the beginning of STI and within 1 week after the end of STI in all patients.

Image fusion of thallium-201 SPECT and MR imaging for the assessment of recurrent head and neck tumors following flap reconstructive surgery.

The aim of this study was to assess the value of fused MR and Tl-201 single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images in the diagnosis of recurrent head and neck tumors in patients after flap reconstruction surgery. Twenty-four patients after resection of primary head and neck tumors with flap reconstruction were suspected of having recurrent tumor by follow-up MR examination. Both MR examination and Tl-201 SPECT were prospectively performed to produce fused images.

Measurement of sialylated stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 in pure pancreatic juice for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

The diagnostic significance of measuring sialylated stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 (SLX) in pure pancreatic juice was evaluated in 20 patients with pancreatic cancer, 43 with chronic pancreatitis, 13 with cholecystolithiasis, and 15 control individuals. Four fractions of pure pancreatic juice were collected sequentially from the pancreatic duct by endoscopic cannulation. The SLX levels in all four fractions of pure pancreatic juice were significantly higher in patients with pancreatic cancer than in controls.

Diagnostic significance of cancer-associated carbohydrate antigen (CA19-9) concentrations in pancreatic juice: analysis in pure pancreatic juice collected by endoscopic aspiration and immunohistochemical study in chronic pancreatitis.

This study evaluated the diagnostic significance of concentrations of the cancer-associated carbohydrate antigen CA19-9 in pure pancreatic juice (PPJ) collected by endoscopic cannulation. We also attempted to elucidate the features and source of the increased CA19-9 concentration found in the pancreatic juice of patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) by means of immunohistochemical staining. The mean output as well as the mean concentration of CA19-9 in each of the four fractions collected was highest in patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) and also was elevated significantly in patients with CP compared with controls.

Segmental hepatic iron deposition due to peripheral portal vein tumor thrombus: MR features.

We report a case of segmental hepatic iron deposition in the parenchyma peripheral to a tumor-thrombosed intrahepatic portal vein. On MR imaging, especially fast low-angle shot image, the liver parenchyma was demonstrated as a hypointense area with segmental and wedge-shaped configuration. Absence of portal blood flow may cause such segmental hepatic iron deposition.

Hepatocellular carcinomas with excessive copper accumulation: CT and MR findings.

Results of orcein staining and findings obtained with non-contrast-medium-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (T1- and T2-weighted images) were compared for 53 histologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). HCCs were 5 cm in the largest diameter. Three lesions with diffuse and strong orcein staining were highly attenuating on nonenhanced CT images.

[Clinical course of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection, with emphasis on the occurrence of hepatic failure].

Postoperative course including serial changes in values of liver function tests and occurrence of hepatic failure was investigated in 59 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Eleven cases out of 59 patients were associated with chronic hepatitis (CH group), while remained 48 cases were with liver cirrhosis (25 cases of group A and 23 of group B in Child's classification). There was no significant difference in survival rate or recurrence rate after operation among these three groups.

Factors affecting serum levels of CA 19-9 with special reference to benign hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases.

In order to elucidate the factors affecting the serum levels of CA 19-9, we analyzed sera of 79 patients with pancreatic cancer and 169 with non-malignant diseases, chiefly consisting of hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases. Serum CA 19-9 values in patients with pancreatic cancer had no relation to the location of the tumor or presence of jaundice. Similarly, no tendency was observed as to the location and size of tumor or to the grade of differentiation in 12 CA 19-9-negative patients with pancreatic cancer.

[Evaluation of the measurement of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels using monoclonal antibody].

We measured serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in 164 cancer patients, 153 patients with benign diseases and 45 healthy controls using monoclonal antibody and compared CEA levels by monoclonal antibody (m-CEA) with those by polyclonal antibody (p-CEA). There was a good correlation between m-CEA and p-CEA, especially in cancer patients. The positively of m-CEA was almost the same as that of p-CEA in cancer patients.

Serum tumor markers in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: diagnosis of alpha-fetoprotein -low or -negative patients.

The presence of specific gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase isoenzyme (gamma-GTPI) and variant alkaline phosphatase (VAALP) were concurrently determined, and levels of basic fetoprotein (BFP) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in addition to alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were measured in 144 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in order to evaluate the diagnostic value of these tumor markers with respect to AFP-low or -negative patients and the tumor stage. Serum AFP levels below 400 ng/ml, commonly seen in sera of hepatobiliary diseases other than HCC, were noted in 42% of the patients. The diagnostic usefulness was increased by combination assay of these markers except for CEA.

[Novel gamma-GTP isoenzyme and hepatocellular carcinoma].

The authors discussed the clinical significance and some properties of the novel gamma-GTP isoenzyme (novel gamma-GTP) which was reported to be specific for sera of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in our previous publications. One or more of specific bands (novel gamma-GTP) such as bands II, II' and I' were electrophoretically detectable in 109 (55%) of 200 patients with HCC, but only in 3% of 279 patients with other hepatobiliary diseases. Novel gamma-GTP was found in 38% of HCC patients with AFP levels below 400 ng/ml.

[Evaluation of CA 19-9 radioimmunoassay].

A carbohydrate antigenic determinant (CA 19-9) which monoclonal antibody (1116 NS-19-9) recognizes was found by Koprowski et al in 1979. Recently DelVillano et al have developed a forward sandwich radioimmunoassay (RIA) for quantitative measurement of CA 19-9. This CA 19-9 RIA Kit (CENTOCOR) was examined both experimentally and clinically.

[A new tumor marker--novel gamma-GTP isoenzyme].

The authors discussed the clinical significance and some properties of the novel gamma-GTP isoenzyme (novel gamma-GTP) which was reported to be specific for sera of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in our previous publications. One or more of specific bands (novel gamma-GTP) such as bands II, II' and I' were electrophoretically detectable in 109 (55%) of 200 patients with HCC, but only in 3% of 279 patients with other hepatobiliary diseases. Novel gamma-GTP was found in 38% of HCC patients with AFP levels below 400 ng/ml.

Cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme activity and cytochrome P-450 content in adrenal mitochondria of a patient with congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia (Prader disease).

An autopsied case with congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia (Prader disease) was presented. The cholesterol side-chain cleavage (SCC) enzyme activity in adrenal mitochondria of this case was assayed with [3H]cholesterol as substrate, combined with purified bovine adrenodoxin and adrenodoxin reductase, by measuring the amount of [3H]pregnenolone formed. The cytochrome P-450 content was also measured by recording the difference absorption spectra of carbon monoxide-complexed P-450.