[Magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy. Advantages, limitations and perspectives].

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a therapeutic option with proven efficacy in improving symptoms and reducing both hospitalization and mortality in patients with refractory heart failure. However, a significant number of patients do not respond to CRT and this may be due to incomplete or inappropriate selection and characterization of patients before pacemaker implant. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is an imaging technique that may assist cardiologists in this regard.

Bronchoalveolar lavage in systemic sclerosis with lung involvement: role and correlations with functional, radiological and scintigraphic parameters.

To evaluate the role and the prognostic value of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in scleroderma patients with interstitial lung disease. We reviewed the records of 79 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) who had dyspnea and pulmonary involvement and underwent BAL study. Sixty-two patients were prospectively followed up for 12-36 months and re-evaluated by pulmonary function tests (PFTs).

Humoral immune response against hepatitis C virus.

Antibodies are in several instances a reliable marker indicating vigorous immune response against infectious agents and in several viral diseases presence in the blood of specific anti-viral antibodies indicates an effective protection. However, this is not always true. For example, in the case of hepatitis C virus (HCV) an important human pathogen considered the causative agent of the nonA- nonB hepatitis, in spite of an intense antibody response there is no protection against a new infection and in the majority of infected individuals the virus overcomes host defences establishing a persistent infection.

[Double-contrast arthrography of the knee: a digital technique study].

From October 1989, in our Radiology Department, digital radiographic techniques have been applied to double-contrast arthrography of the knee. In this preliminary work we examine the diagnostic contribution of computed radiography to arthrographic findings by comparing image quality of conventional and digital radiographs using a dedicated Philips unit. The digital unit is compatible with all the extant radiographic equipment in our department and automatically supplies two images, the first one resembling a conventional radiograph, the second one characterized by a broader exposure range that allows a clear visualization of soft tissues.