Total gadolinium tissue deposition and skin structural findings following the administration of structurally different gadolinium chelates in healthy and ovariectomized female rats.

Objective: To assess the retention of gadolinium (Gd) in skin, liver, and bone following gadodiamide or gadoteric acid administration.

Methods: Gd was measured in skin, liver and femur bone in female rats 10 weeks after administration of 17.5 mmol Gd/kg over 5 days of Gd agents.

Implications of Web of Science journal impact factor for scientific output evaluation in 16 institutions and investigators' opinion.

Journal based metrics is known not to be ideal for the measurement of the quality of individual researcher's scientific output. In the current report 16 contributors from Hong Kong SAR, India, Korea, Taiwan, Russia, Germany, Japan, Turkey, Belgium, France, Italy, UK, The Netherlands, Malaysia, and USA are invited. The following six questions were asked: (I) is Web of Sciences journal impact factor (IF) and Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) citation the main academic output performance evaluation tool in your institution? and your country? (II) How does Google citation count in your institution? and your country? (III) If paper is published in a non-SCI journal but it is included in PubMed and searchable by Google scholar, how it is valued when compared with a paper published in a journal with an IF? (IV) Do you value to publish a piece of your work in a non-SCI journal as much as a paper published in a journal with an IF? (V) What is your personal view on the metric measurement of scientific output? (VI) Overall, do you think Web of Sciences journal IF is beneficial, or actually it is doing more harm? The results show that IF and ISI citation is heavily affecting the academic life in most of the institutions.

Can selective inhibitors of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-specific phosphadiesterase type 5 (PDE 5) offer protection against contrast induced nephropathy?

Parenchymal hypoxia within the renal outer medulla plays an important role in the pathogenesis of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN). Nitric oxide (NO) is crucial for medullary oxygenation by enhancing regional blood flow. Augmenting the effect of NO in the renal medulla by the use of selective inhibitors of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-specific phosphadiesterase type 5 (PDE 5) such as sildenafil (Viagra™), vardenafil (Levitra™) or tadalafil (Cialis™) could reduce the severity of the hypoxic insult induced by the contrast medium and reduce the risk of CIN.

Evidence based imaging strategies for solitary pulmonary nodule.

Solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) is defined as a rounded opacity ≤3 cm in diameter surrounded by lung parenchyma. The majority of smokers who undergo thin-section CT have SPNs, most of which are smaller than 7 mm. In the past, multiple follow-up examinations over a two-year period, including CT follow-up at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, were recommended when such nodules are detected incidentally.

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis and gadolinium-based contrast media: updated ESUR Contrast Medium Safety Committee guidelines.

Purpose: To update the guidelines of the Contrast Media Safety Committee (CMSC) of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) on nephrogenic systemic fibrosis and gadolinium-based contrast media.

Areas Covered: Topics reviewed include the history, clinical features and prevalence of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis and the current understanding of its pathophysiology. The risk factors for NSF are discussed and prophylactic measures are recommended.

Skin gadolinium following use of MR contrast agents in a rat model of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.

Purpose: To detect the ultrastructural site of gadolinium retention in skin by using an animal model of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis and compare a linear, low-stability gadolinium chelate (formulated gadodiamide) with a macrocylic, high-stability gadolinium chelate (gadoterate meglumine).

Materials And Methods: Experimental procedures were performed according to rules and regulations laid down by the UK Home Office (Animal Procedures Act of 1986). Male Wistar rats were subjected to 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy (creatinine clearance, 25% normal).

Contrast induced nephropathy: updated ESUR Contrast Media Safety Committee guidelines.

Purpose: The Contrast Media Safety Committee (CMSC) of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) has updated its 1999 guidelines on contrast medium-induced nephropathy (CIN).

Areas Covered: Topics reviewed include the definition of CIN, the choice of contrast medium, the prophylactic measures used to reduce the incidence of CIN, and the management of patients receiving metformin. Key Points • Definition, risk factors and prevention of contrast medium induced nephropathy are reviewed.

Gadolinium contrast agent associated stimulation of human fibroblast collagen production.

Objectives: Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis occurs in patients with poor renal function who receive gadolinium-based contrast agents (Gd-CAs). Several reports suggest that this is more likely to occur with the less stable forms of Gd chelates, suggesting a release of cytotoxic free Gd ions from these. There is evidence that Gd can stimulate human fibroblast proliferation but the evidence is less clear concerning the production of collagen by these cells.

Late adverse reactions to intravascular iodine based contrast media: an update.

Definition: Late adverse reactions (LAR) to contrast media (CM) are defined as reactions occurring 1 h to 1 week after exposure.

Need For Review: In view of more prospective studies of LAR and new data about their pathophysiology, the Contrast Medium Safety Committee (CMSC) of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) reviewed the literature on LAR and updated their guidelines.

Clinical Features And Pathology: LAR after CM include symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headache, itching, skin rash, musculoskeletal pain, and fever.

Pathophysiology of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: A review of experimental data.

Since the association between nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) and gadolinium contrast agents (Gd-CAs) was suggested in 2006, several experimental studies have been published to elucidate the role of these agents in the pathogenesis of NSF. Low stability Gd-CAs have a stimulant effect on human skin and fibroblasts in culture and modulate the production of collagen by these cells. Low stability agents have also induced NSF-like skin changes in a rat model with normal renal function after multiple repeat administrations.

Nephrogenic gadolinium biodistribution and skin cellularity following a single injection of Omniscan in the rat.

Objectives: The development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) following MRI contrast examination has been associated with gadolinium (Gd) toxicity. Animal models should show the key features of NSF in man where, the only immutable epidemiological feature is renal impairment. A rat model of chronic renal insufficiency has been employed to establish whether tissue gadolinium retention and increased skin cellularity following a gadolinium based contrast agent (GBCA) can be correlated with a reduction in renal function.

Risk of contrast-medium-induced nephropathy in high-risk patients undergoing MDCT--a pooled analysis of two randomized trials.

The incidence of contrast-medium-induced nephropathy (CIN) following intravenous (IV) CM administration of contrast media to renally impaired patients undergoing multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is not well characterized. Our objective was to investigate the incidence of CIN in patients with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <60 ml/min undergoing contrast-enhanced MDCT examinations and to compare the rates of CIN following the IV administration of low-osmolar contrast media (LOCM, iopamidol and iomeprol) and an iso-osmolar contrast medium (IOCM, iodixanol). A total of 301 adult patients with moderate-to-severe renal failure received a similar IV contrast dose (40 gI).

Reducing the risk of iodine-based and MRI contrast media administration: recommendation for a questionnaire at the time of booking.

This paper presents a practical questionnaire to be used when a contrast medium examination is requested. The questionnaire is based on the guidelines from the European Society of Urogenital Radiology. Its aim is to identify patients at increased risk of clinically relevant renal and non-renal adverse reactions to iodine-based and MRI contrast agents.

The ACTIVE Trial: comparison of the effects on renal function of iomeprol-400 and iodixanol-320 in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing abdominal computed tomography.

Background: We performed a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group study to compare the renal effects of iomeprol-400 and iodixanol-320 in patients with preexisting chronic kidney disease undergoing contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography of the liver.

Methods: One hundred forty-eight patients with moderate-to-severe chronic kidney disease, ie, serum creatinine (SCr) > or =1.5 mg/dL (132.

Computed tomography urography technique, indications and limitations.

Purpose Of Review: The review discusses the different techniques of computed tomography urography reported in the literature and presents the author's preferred approach.

Recent Findings: Multiphase computed tomography urography offers a comprehensive evaluation of the urinary tract but at the cost of a large dose of contrast medium (100-150 ml), high radiation dose and massive number of images for interpretation. Diuresis induced by frusemide (10 mg) is reported to improve the depiction of ureters in the excretory phase of the examination.

Contrast-medium-induced nephropathy: is there a new consensus? A review of published guidelines.

The interest in contrast-medium-induced nephropathy has increased considerably during the last few years. Various guidelines regarding identifying patients at risk and measures to reduce the incidence of this complication have been proposed. The aim of this review was to analyse whether there is some consistency amongst these guidelines.

Effects of iodinated contrast media on blood and endothelium.

The aim of the study was to assess the effects of iodinated contrast media on blood components and endothelium based on experimental and clinical studies and to produce clinically relevant guidelines for reducing thrombotic and hematologic complications following the intravascular use of contrast media. A report was drafted after review of the literature and discussions among the members of the Contrast Media Safety Committee of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology. The final report was produced following discussion at the 12th European Symposium on Urogenital Radiology in Ljubljana, Slovenia (2005).