Evaluation of the susceptibility effect on gradient echo phase images in vivo: a sequential study of intracerebral hematoma.

Susceptibility effect of intracerebral hematoma was estimated on the phase images of gradient echo (GrE). Thirty-five hematomas were studied 3 hr to 5 yr after the onset, a total of 72 times with use of phase and magnitude images of GrE, as well as T1-, T2-, and density-weighted spin-echo (SE) images at 1.5 T.

[Pulmonary uptake of thallium-201 in patients with congenital heart disease: comparison between total anomalous pulmonary venous connection and tetralogy of Fallot].

To evaluate the pulmonary extravascular space in patients with congenital heart disease, lung uptake of thallium-201 (T1-201) was quantitatively studied. A total of 50 T1-201 imagings were performed in 33 patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC); 4 preoperatively, 22 postoperatively in the early stage (within 6 months), and 24 in the late stage (7 months or later). The images consisted of 17 supracardiac TAPVC (type-I), 13 paracardiac (type-II) and 3 infracardiac (type-III).

Aspirin injection test to predict angioplasty outcome in unilateral renovascular hypertension: preliminary report.

We examined the usefulness of aspirin DL-lysine for prediction of the outcome of renal artery angioplasty in renovascular hypertension. The study was carried out in eight hypertensive patients with unilateral renal artery stenosis: six were free from azotemia and two had slight azotemia. Before and 30 min after an intravenous injection of aspirin DL-lysine (18 mg/kg), renal venous and abdominal aortic plasma was sampled and assayed for prostaglandin E2 and plasma renin activity.

[Evaluation of coronary artery calcification by ultrafast CT].

A preliminary study was performed to determine whether ultrafast computed tomography (UFCT) is useful as a noninvasive screening examination for predicting coronary artery disease (CAD). UFCT was used to detect coronary artery calcification in 31 patients with angina pectoris (AP) without myocardial infarction. Except for six patients with vasospastic AP, 22 out of 25 patients had detectable calcification in at least one vessel.

Late enhancement of the left ventricular wall in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by ultrafast computed tomography: a comparison with regional myocardial thickening.

Eight patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) were examined by ultrafast computed tomography (UFCT) to investigate the relationship between late enhancement (LE) of the left ventricular (LV) wall after injection of contrast medium and the variations between minimum and maximum wall thickness of the LV. Late enhancement was usually found as a patchy, stained area in the myocardium on delayed phase volume mode images of UFCT. Out of 48 LV segments of the patients with HCM, 21 had LE.

[67Ga imaging in the patients with infective endocarditis after surgery for congenital heart disease].

67Ga imaging was performed in sixteen patients (age: 8 m.-18 y.) who had persistent fever and positive acute phase reactants after surgery for congenital heart disease.

Aspirin test for differentiation of unilateral renovascular hypertension from hyperreninemic essential hypertension.

Responses of renin release and blood pressure to aspirin DL-lysine (ASP) were examined to find out if the responses could help in the differentiation between unilateral renovascular hypertension (RVH) and hyperreninemic essential hypertension (EHT). The two studies involved ten patients with unilateral RVH, eight with hyperreninemic EHT, and five with hyporeninemic EHT. In a radiological study, before and 30 min after an intravenous injection of ASP (18 mg/kg), renal venous and abdominal aortic plasma was sampled and assayed for prostaglandin (PG) E2 and plasma renin activity (PRA).

Acute reduction of mitral valve area after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty: assessment with Doppler continuity equation method.

Mitral valve areas before and after balloon mitral valvuloplasty were serially determined by the Doppler continuity equation method in 16 patients. Ultrasound examinations were performed before and immediately after balloon inflation and 24 hours, 1 week, and 1 month after valvuloplasty. Mitral valve area determined by the Doppler continuity equation method correlated well with that determined at catheterization by the Gorlin formula, not only before but also immediately after balloon inflation (y = 0.

[Usefulness and limitations of stress 201-thallium myocardial imaging in patients with Kawasaki disease].

Thallium-201 myocardial imaging was performed in 150 patients with a history of Kawasaki disease, aged 6 months to 16 years old. Forty-five patients were studied with ergometer exercise and 105 patients had dipyridamole administration. The findings of thallium imaging were compared with those of coronary angiography.

A statistical trial of subclassification for tardive dyskinesia.

The authors applied a statistical method to subclassify tardive dyskinesia (TD) in 71 psychiatric patients. Based on two-step statistical procedures and findings reported previously, TD is considered to consist of 2 subgroups: a classical dyskinesic group and a dystonic group. Symptoms manifested in the former group are seen most frequently in the oral region while the latter group, which is usually called tardive dystonia, is manifested by movement disorders in the trunk and extremities, predominantly.

Identification and structural analysis of a ribosomal RNA gene promoter from Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.

The 5'-terminus of a rRNA operon (rrnT2) from Thiobacillus ferrooxidans was characterized. The rRNA promoters from this microorganism were identified by means of a functional assay in Escherichia coli. DNA sequencing of the promoter region, upstream the 16 S rRNA gene, showed the presence of a consensus sequence for bacterial ribosomal promoters.

[Usefulness of ioversol (MP-328) in angiocardiography--a multicenter comparative study with iopamidol].

A randomized, controlled study was conducted to compare the radiographic efficacy, safety and usefulness of ioversol and iopamidol in 146 patients undergoing angiocardiography at six institutions. The hemodynamic and electrocardiographic effects were clinically insignificant and comparable for both agents. Ioversol demonstrated lower incidence of adverse reactions and less heat sensation in left coronary arteriography than those with iopamidol.

Evaluation of the susceptibility effect on the phase images of a simple gradient echo.

The phase shifts of a simple gradient echo (fast low-angle shot) were correlated with the local change in resonance frequency due to the differences in susceptibility among tissues (susceptibility effect). Susceptibility effects were considered theoretically, and the phase shifts for spherical and cylindrical configurations were calculated. A 1.

Significance of ultrafast computed tomography in cardiac imaging: usefulness in assessment of myocardial characteristics and cardiac function.

The usefulness of cardiac ultrafast computed tomography (CT) is discussed in this article. Thirty-three patients with ischemic heart disease and 15 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were assessed for myocardial characteristics, while 30 patients with various heart diseases were assessed for cardiac function. Volume mode (100 msec scan) and cine mode (50 msec scan) studies were applied.

[Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the subclavian artery].

We reported a case of subclavian artery stenosis successfully treated by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). He suffered from left arm claudication and proximal subclavian artery stenosis. The stenosis and symptoms disappeared soon after PTA.

[Clear visualization of the tracheobronchial tree in complex congenital heart disease using digital subtraction fluorography].

We knew that digital subtraction fluorography (DSF) could clearly visualize the tracheobronchial tree by the respiratory movement. We applied DSF for 54 patients of complex congenital heart disease. In the visualization of the tracheobronchial tree, DSF was significantly superior as compared with the plain chest radiography (p less than 0.

[Evaluation of aortic dissection by ultrafast computed tomography].

We report usefulness of ultrafast CT (UFCT) in evaluation of aortic dissection, according to the results of examination of 51 patients. By volume mode study of UFCT, aortic dissection was diagnosed in all patients. Fine structures such as intimal tear and ulcer-like projection were depicted in detail.

[Ultrafast CT scanner; preliminary experience in Japan].

We evaluated the usefulness of Ultrafast CT scanner C-100 (UFCT) in 30 patients' clinical practice. UFCT was very useful not only for cardiac studies but for other body organs' studies. Simultaneous multilevel ultrafast scans of UFCT enabled us to analyse cardiac ventricular motion not only by the ejection fraction but by the change of wall thickness.

Improvement in mitral flow dynamics during exercise after percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy. Noninvasive evaluation using continuous wave Doppler technique.

Evaluation of mitral flow dynamics during exercise is critically important in patients who receive percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) because limited mitral flow during exercise provokes hemodynamic deterioration and involves cardiogenic symptoms in patients with mitral stenosis. To examine mitral flow dynamics during exercise, we applied continuous wave Doppler technique in 20 patients with mitral stenosis. Exercise Doppler study was performed 2 days before and 5 days after PTMC.

[Progression to the dilated phase of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in children].

Twenty-three children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) (aged 2 months to 15 years) were followed up for more than four years using thallium myocardial imaging (TMI) and echocardiography. With echocardiography, the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVDd) and fractional shortening (FS) were measured. Perfusion defect (PD) was assessed using TMI.

Aspirin lowers blood pressure in patients with renovascular hypertension.

To clarify the role of renal prostanoid in hyperreninemia and high blood pressure in human renovascular hypertension, we measured prostaglandin E2 and renin activity in renal venous and abdominal aortic plasma before and after the intravenous administration of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, aspirin DL-lysine. Subjects were six patients with unilateral renovascular hypertension and six with essential hypertension. In patients with renovascular hypertension, prostaglandin E2 concentration in renal venous plasma from the stenotic kidney was 9.

Serial assessment of myocardial infarction by using gated MR imaging and Gd-DTPA.

In order to assess the usefulness of Gd-DTPA in the evaluation of myocardial infarction, 17 patients were examined with gated MR imaging. Scans were made by using a spin-echo pulse sequence before and after IV administration of 0.15 mmol/kg of Gd-DTPA.

[Gallium-67 imaging in patients with myocarditis in childhood and youth].

Gallium-67 (Ga-67) myocardial imaging was performed in 19 patients (1 month to 21 years of age) with proven or suspected myocarditis. The anterior images, 48 hrs after the intravenous administration of 0.5-2.