Predictive value of low tube voltage and dual-energy CT for successful shock wave lithotripsy: an in vitro study.

This study investigates the capabilities of low tube voltage computed tomography (CT) and dual-energy CT (DECT) for predicting successful shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) of urinary stones in vitro. A total of 33 urinary calculi (six different chemical compositions; mean size 6 ± 3 mm) were scanned using a dual-source CT machine with single- (120 kVp) and dual-energy settings (80/150, 100/150 Sn kVp) resulting in six different datasets. The attenuation (Hounsfield Units) of calculi was measured on single-energy CT images and the dual-energy indices (DEIs) were calculated from DECT acquisitions.

High VEGF-D and Low MMP-2 Serum Levels Predict Nodal-Positive Disease in Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Background: To investigate stromal variables including angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) in the serum of patients with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) and to evaluate their association with histopathological characteristics and clinical outcome.

Material And Methods: Protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factors-A, -C, -D (VEGF-A/-C/-D), their receptors- VEGF-R2 and -R3 (VEGF-R2/-R3), and matrix metalloproteinases 2, -3, and -7 (MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7) were quantified in the blood serum samples of 71 patients with UCB before radical cystectomy (RC). Samples of patients with non-invasive UCB or no history of UCB were investigated as controls (n=20).

Intracranial Aneurysms and Vascular Malformations: Diagnosis for Therapy. A Long-Term Study at a Central Hospital. A Neuroradiological Approach. Part II: 2000-2008. The Time of the Beginning with Newer Diagnostic Developments in CT, MR, DSA for Endovascular Intervention, Microneurosurgery, Radiotherapy.

In the second part of our overviewstudy the diagnosis for the treatment of our patients with intracranial vascular malformations (aneurysms / AVMF - arteriovenous malformations) is again shown in a region of about 500.000 inhabitants and just an overview of the outcome. This second part will be an overall comparison between the former diagnostic for the treatment and the here described diagnostic for the treatment (CTA, MRA, DSA rot / microsurgery, endovascular interventional techniques etc.

Intracranial Aneurysms and Vascular Malformations: Diagnosis and Therapy. A Long-Term Study at a Central Hospital. Part I: 1972-1997. The Time before Endovascular Intervention, Microneurosurgery and Radiotherapy.

The first part of our study describes the treatment of our patients with intracranial vascular malformations (aneurysms/AVMF - arteriovenous malformations) in a region of about 500,000 inhabitants. The second part will compare currrent treatment and the changes in treatment (microsurgery, endovascular interventional techniques, etc.) also in relation to topography and demography.