Validation of computational fluid dynamics in CT-based airway models with SPECT/CT.

Purpose: To compare the results obtained by using numerical flow simulations with the results of combined single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and computed tomography (CT) and to demonstrate the importance of correct boundary conditions for the numerical methods to account for the large amount of interpatient variability in airway geometry.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by all relevant institutional review boards. All patients gave their signed informed consent.

Lymph loss in the bowel and severe nutritional disturbances in Crohn's disease.

A severe nutritional deficiency status is described in a 22-year-old patient with Crohn's disease. The clinical picture on admission was dominated by an episode of gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to clotting disturbances (vitamin K deficiency) and severe cachexia due to a protein energy malnutrition. The mechanisms of severe nutritional disturbances in Crohn's disease are multifactorial.

Real-life radiation burden to relatives of patients treated with iodine-131: a study in eight centres in Flanders (Belgium).

In view of the EURATOM 96/29 [1] regulations, a prospective multicentre study was performed to evaluate the present guidelines given to relatives of patients treated with iodine-131 for both thyroid carcinoma and thyrotoxicosis, based on the real-life radiation burden. This study comprised 166 measurements carried out on a group of 94 relatives of 65 patients. All relatives wore a thermoluminescent dosemeter (TLD) on the wrist for 7 days.

Analogy between tumor uptake of technetium(V)-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and technetium-99m-MDP.

Sixty patients with a variety of malignant tumors were examined with Tc-99m(V) dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) prepared by modification of a commercially available DMSA kit. Significant uptake of Tc-99m(V)-DMSA was observed in a number of tumors, offering additional clinically useful information. In the majority of cases in this study, however, the benefit of the Tc-99m(V)-DMSA image was limited because of low sensitivity.

Extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the head and neck.

Forty-six patients referred to our department between 1970 and 1982 with biopsy proven extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of the head and neck were analysed. The median follow-up was 78 months. As a result of histological revision, six cases were excluded.

Neuron specific enolase expression in carcinoma of the lung.

The value of neuron specific enolase (NSE) immunoreactivity as a marker for small cell lung cancer (SLC) has been assessed using a monoclonal antibody (MCAB) against NSE, MCAB specificity was confirmed using purified enolase isoenzymes, sections of human brain, a panel of lung tumours, neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine tumours and normal tissues. Using this MCAB in radioimmunoassay and immunohistochemistry, NSE immunoreactivity was detected in all SCLC material examined. However, considerable reactivity was also observed in a number of non-small cell lung cancer cell lines and tumour biopsy specimens.

Monoclonal-antibody-defined human lung tumour cell-surface antigens.

A panel of 3 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against human lung tumour cell-surface antigens has been produced following immunizations with the established small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell line, NCI-H69, and with another SCLC cell line, COR-L32, recently derived from clinical material. One MAb, B10/12, reacted strongly with SCLC, immunoprecipitated a protein having an MW of 100kd and failed to react significantly with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in radioimmunoassay and in an immunohistochemical assay. MAbs E10/5 and 2G3 reacted extensively with SCLC but also showed significant reactivity with NSCLC.

Membrane plasma exchange in patients with metastatic cancer.

Seven patients suffering from metastatic cancer and all showing objectively measurable tumours were treated with eight sessions of membrane plasma exchange. No other oncological treatment was administered during the period of plasma exchange. The procedure itself was well tolerated and subjective improvement was reported by some patients.

Association of anti-heart antibodies and circulating immune complexes in the post-pericardiotomy syndrome.

The post-pericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) is a common complication of cardiac surgery. In order to better understand the pathogenesis of this complication we undertook a prospective, triple blind study of consecutive long term survivors of cardiac surgery. We followed 82 patients and determined anti-heart antibodies (AHA), circulating immune complexes (CIC) and anti-viral antibodies (AVA) on sera pre-operatively and serially post-operatively.

Unipuncture membrane plasmapheresis.

A simple method of plasma exchange is presented that uses a hollow-fiber plasma filter together with conventional unipuncture dialysis equipment. The procedure was well tolerated for eight biweekly sessions in a patient with metastatic breast cancer.