A novel, adaptable, radiographically opaque, multi-plane continuous filament marker for optimizing tissue identification, radiation planning, and radiographic follow-up.

Background: In breast cancer treatment, marking the tumor bed is an important aspect of the surgical component of therapy. Clear delineation of the tumor bed allows radiation oncologists a defined target for planning and delivering postoperative radiation therapy (XRT). Tumor bed marking also allows radiographic follow-up of the tumor bed on subsequent breast imaging.

Experience with seed localization for nonpalpable breast lesions in a public health care system.

Background: Seed localization uses a radioactive source to identify nonpalpable breast lesions for excision; it is an emerging alternative to wire localization (WL). Previous single health system studies report decreased rates of re-excision and improved patient convenience with this technique. This study is the first to implement this procedure in a public health care delivery system composed of a primarily minority and low-income population.

Axillary staging by percutaneous biopsy: sensitivity of fine-needle aspiration versus core needle biopsy.

Background: We sought to determine whether percutaneous core needle biopsy (CNB) of suspicious axillary lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer offers improved diagnostic accuracy compared with fine-needle aspiration (FNA).

Methods: Records of 400 patients were reviewed to identify patients undergoing ultrasound-guided biopsy followed by surgical axillary evaluation (sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection). Patients underwent diagnosis and treatment at a single high-volume county hospital.

Digital mammography: comparative performance of color LCD and monochrome CRT displays.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate the comparative performance of high-fidelity liquid crystal display (LCD) and cathode ray tube (CRT) devices for mammography applications, and to assess the impact of LCD viewing angle on detection accuracy.

Materials And Methods: Ninety 1 k x 1 k images were selected from a database of digital mammograms: 30 without any abnormality present, 30 with subtle masses, and 30 with subtle microcalcifications. The images were used with waived informed consent, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance, and Institutional Review Board approval.

Computer-aided detection as evidence in the courtroom: potential implications of an appellate court's ruling.

Objective: The use of computer-aided detection (CAD) in radiology has been studied for different organ systems. As with any new technology, its impact on determinations of standards of clinical practice is an evolving one that is often defined by its acceptability not only in medical forums but also as defined by courts of law.

Conclusion: We discuss the first known appellate legal decision regarding the acceptability of CAD as it relates to the clinical practice of mammography.

Screening mammography with computer-aided detection: prospective study of 12,860 patients in a community breast center.

Purpose: To prospectively assess the effect of computer-aided detection (CAD) on the interpretation of screening mammograms in a community breast center.

Materials And Methods: Over a 12-month period, 12,860 screening mammograms were interpreted with the assistance of a CAD system. Each mammogram was initially interpreted without the assistance of CAD, followed immediately by a reevaluation of areas marked by the CAD system.

Ethanol alters microvasculature enzymes in the rat forebrain.

Forebrain arterioles were analyzed histochemically to determine the effects of an acute administration of ethanol on key enzymes of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism as well as on the hexose monophosphate shunt in rats. The enzymes were glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, cytochrome oxidase, lactate dehydrogenase, beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, and isocitrate dehydrogenase. All enzymes were quantified under two conditions: 1 h and 2 days after ethanol administration.

Low doses of L-tryptophan are lethal in rats with adrenal insufficiency.

Adrenalectomy decreased the LD50 value for L-tryptophan from greater than 1000 mg/kg in normal rats to 11.6 mg/kg. The LD50 in adrenalectomized rats was restored to normal by corticosterone replacement therapy.

Chronic cocaine administration decreases dopamine synthesis rate and increases [3H] spiroperidol binding in rat brain.

Chronic administration of cocaine HCl (10 mg/kg, IP, every 12 hours for 10 consecutive days) resulted in a significantly decreased rate of accumulation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine following decarboxylase inhibition (-27 to -33%) and of homovanillic acid following probenecid treatment (-25 to -34%) in rat striatum, limbic forebrain and midbrain. In addition, the Bmax for [3H]-spiroperidol receptor binding was significantly increased (+24 to +36%) in these brain regions following chronic cocaine administration. These changes were observed 60 days following termination of the chronic cocaine treatment regimen.

Acute administration of chloral hydrate depletes cardiac enzymes in the rat.

The arterioles of the left cardiac ventricle were analyzed histochemically to determine the effects of an acute administration of chloral hydrate on key enzymes of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, as well as the hexosemonophosphate shunt in rats. Significant changes were noted in three of the 5 enzymes examined. Our data suggest that nontoxic levels of chloral hydrate can cause impaired coronary metabolism.

Halothane anesthesia alters cerebral enzymes: a histochemical study in the rat.

Cerebral forebrain arterioles and neuropil were analyzed histochemically to determine the effects of halothane anesthesia on key enzymes of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, as well as the hexose monophosphate shunt in rats. Significant changes were noted in all five enzymes examined in arterioles, while no changes were observed in the two enzymes involved in aerobic metabolism in the neuropil. Our data suggest that surgical anesthetic levels of halothane can impair forebrain metabolism and lead to altered electrophysiological responses.

Halothane depletes cardiac microvasculature enzymes in the rat.

Left ventricular arterioles from Sprague-Dawley rats were analyzed histochemically to determine the effects of halothane administration on key enzymes of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, as well as on key enzymes of the hexose monophosphate shunt. Significant decreases occurred in cytochrome oxidase (-42%) and beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (-57%). No significant changes were observed in isocitrate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, or lactate dehydrogenase.

Chloral hydrate anesthesia alters cerebral enzymes in the rat. A histochemical study.

Cerebral forebrain arterioles and neuropil were analyzed histochemically to determine the effects of chloral hydrate anesthesia on key enzymes of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, as well as the hexose monophosphate shunt in rats. Significant decreases were observed in cytochrome oxidase, and beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase in arterioles, while glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and isocitric dehydrogenase showed a significant increase and lactate dehydrogenase showed no significant change. In the neuropil, cytochrome oxidase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase showed significant increases following chloral hydrate administration, while beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase showed no significant changes.