Volumetric quantification of coronary artery calcifications using dual-slice spiral CT scanner: improved reproducibility of measurements with 180 degrees linear interpolation algorithm.

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to determine the reproducibility of coronary total calcium score (TCS) with dual-slice helical CT and compare three acquisition protocols.

Method: Fifty patients (59 +/- 10 years old) underwent dual-slice helical CT (collimation = 2 x 2.5 mm) and coronary angiography.

Broadband ultrasound attenuation at the calcaneus measured using a new contact ultrasound unit.

We evaluated a new contact ultrasound device, developed and manufactured in France, for measuring broadband ultrasound attenuation at the calcaneus. We first studied the influence on measurement results of a number of parameters including the nature of the coupling agent, heel position, transducer temperature, and foot vasodilation. We then determined the reproducibility of the measurements (2.

Limited activity of mini-dose interferon alpha-2a in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome.

Impairment in marrow function often characterizes the evolution of myelodysplastic syndrome. As a differentiating agent, interferon alpha 2a (INF alpha) has been shown to be active in the correction of cytopenias related to myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). We report the clinical course of 9 patients with MDS treated with low-dose subcutaneous INF alpha (1 x 10(6), 3 times per week).

Scintigraphic Study of Local Flux and Osmotic Pressure Distributions in Ultrafiltration of Blood and Plasma.

We have investigated the spatial variation of local protein concentration and filtration flux by a scintigraphic technique in the ultrafiltration of bovine albumin solutions and blood. The feed was mixed with (99m)Tc albumin macroaggregates and circulated through a polysulfone 30,000 MWCO hollow fiber filter placed in the field of a gamma-camera. Concentration profiles c(b) (x) were reconstructed from scintigraphic images and the local ultrafiltration flux was calculated by differentiating c(b) (x) and using mass conservation.

Detection of prosthetic valve thrombosis using 111indium platelet imaging.

The diagnosis of prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT) may be difficult in cases without valve obstruction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 111indium-labelled autologous platelet imaging in the detection of PVT. We studied 41 patients with 45 prostheses, mechanical (37) or biological (8), in the mitral (26) or aortic (19) site.