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Unlike other herpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has not yet been shown to infect macrophages. Six macrophage cultures were isolated from normal and affected samples. Nested polymerase chain reaction revealed the existence of the EBV genome in all these macrophages. EBV latent genes expression in all cultures were detected by mRNA in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence staining. Some cultures also expressed EBV replicative-infection proteins, while in other cultures induction of these proteins was demonstrated. These findings are the first to show expression of several latent and replicative-infection genes of EBV in macrophages, indicating that EBV proliferates in macrophages.

Closed patch testing and the nitrocellulose-replica method are performed as useful clinical methods for the evaluation of human skin irritation by cosmetics and topical medicaments. Comparison of the sensitivity between microscopic scoring by nitrocellulose-replica method and visual scoring by closed patch test in the detection of skin irritation, however, has not been well studied with statistical analysis. Here, we evaluated human skin irritation by carboxylic acids, alcohols, esters and aldehydes, with different chain length (C8-C18), using both methods. The results of closed patch testing showed that, although the score of skin irritation for carboxylic acids (C8, C12), alcohols (C8) and aldehydes (C8), tested at a concentration of 0.5 m-2.0 m, significantly increased with increasing concentration of the test compounds, ester compounds scarcely caused any irritation on the surface of the skin occluded. In addition, an increase of carbon chain length in the test compounds made it impossible to detect skin irritation. In contrast, the nitrocellulose-replica method could evaluate skin reactions against very weak irritants that gave no macroscopic alterations on the skin surface in the closed patch test. However, the scoring system is somewhat subjective and should be improved to make the analysis more objective.

Twenty-seven consecutive patients were examined by T2-(1,800/70 ms) and postcontrast T1-weighted (600/15) spin echo (SE) or dynamic (200/15) SE MR imaging to determine the usefulness of parasagittal MR imaging in assessing cervical invasion of endometrial carcinoma. The images were obtained in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the uterus (parasagittal). The cervical epithelium, being hyperintense on the late phase dynamic and postcontrast T1-weighted SE images, had disappeared partially or totally in all 4 patients with cervical invasion. The enhanced cervical epithelium was completely seen in one patient with the tumor protruding into the cervical canal in a polyp-like form without cervical epithelial invasion. The same was also seen in the 22 patients with the tumor remaining in the corpus cavity. The enhanced parasagittal MR images facilitated the evaluation of the extent of the endometrial carcinoma.

Thirty-one cases of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) under 3 cm in diameter underwent Spiral CT with bolus injection of contrast medium (Dynamic Spiral CT). Dynamic Spiral CT was compared with CT after intra-arterial injection of iodized oil (Lipiodol-CT). The detectability of 79 nodules of small HCC on early phase images of Dynamic Spiral CT was 49.4% (32.6% for those under 1 cm in diameter, 58.3% for 1-2 cm, 91.7% for 2-3 cm). The detectability of small HCCs above the hilum of the liver was better than that below the hilum. Five lesions were detected only on delayed CT images, but not on early phase CT images. Dynamic Spiral CT is useful for detecting hypervascular small HCCs, and both early phase and delayed CT images must be obtained.

In the first study by the "Kinki Head and Neck Tumor Study Group," we performed a comparative study to investigate intergroup difference between a control group consisting of patients given radical treatment only, and a HCFU group consisting of patients receiving long-term administration of HCFU after radical treatment. We earlier reported that subsequent observations by stratification revealed a favorable tendency in the cumulative disease-free rate in Stage II and Stage III patients in the HCFU group. In the second study, the same methods of treatment as in the first study were compared in a prospective control study. No differences were found between the two groups in Stage II patients. In Stage III patients, however, the disease-free rate tended to increase significantly in the HCFU group as in the first study.

Dynamic 3-dimensional Fourier transformation (3 DFT)-FISP MR imaging was performed in 30 patients with 49 liver tumors (hepatocellular carcinoma 26, hemangioma 13, cholangiocellular carcinoma 2, metastatic liver tumor 8) to evaluate characteristic enhancement patterns. MR images of 3 DFT-FISP (TR/TE/flip angle/slab thickness/partition/slice thickness, 20 msec/8 msec/30 degree/21-75 mm/7 or 15/3-5 mm) were obtained before, just after (early phase), 1 min after (late phase 1) and 2-4 min after (late phase 2) the administration of 0.1 mmol/kg of Gd-DTPA. Twenty-three of the 26 (88%) hepatocellular carcinomas showed total hyperintense enhancement relative to surrounding liver parenchyma in the early phase, and isointense or total hypointense enhancement in the late phase. Eleven of 13 (85%) hemangiomas showed peripheral hyperintense enhancement in the early phase, and peripheral or total hyperintense enhancement in the late phase. Cholangiocellular carcinomas were enhanced gradually from the early to the late phase. Metastatic liver tumors showed doughnut-like ring enhancement in all 8 lesions in the early phase. We concluded that 3 DFT-FISP dynamic MR imaging was useful in the differential diagnosis of liver tumor.

PURPOSE: To delineate the appearance of normal Virchow-Robin spaces on routine spin-echo images and demonstrate the lenticulostriate arteries within them with a flow-sensitive fast low-angle shot (FLASH) pulse sequence. METHODS: Seventy subjects, free of cerebrovascular diseases and other neurologic disorders, ranging in age from 1 to 75 years, were examined. On a 1.5-T MR system, axial spin-echo images of 5 mm thickness were obtained in all subjects. In 45 of 70 subjects axial two-dimensional FLASH images of 3 mm thickness were continuously imaged. RESULTS: On T1- and spin density-weighted images Virchow-Robin spaces were detected as small foci of cerebrospinal fluid intensity around the anterior commissure in all subjects (100%), and in the basal ganglia at the level of the foramen of Monro in 40 (57%). T2-weighted images equally showed Virchow-Robin spaces around the anterior commissure but were less sensitive than T1- and spin-density weighted images at the level of the foramen of Monro (14%). Virchow-Robin spaces identified on T2-weighted images should be isointense with cerebrospinal fluid. However, one or two spaces in 11 younger subjects were hypointense relative to adjacent brain tissue. On FLASH images most Virchow-Robin spaces identified on spin-echo images were delineated as high-intensity foci, corresponding to lenticulostriate arteries. CONCLUSIONS: Normal Virchow-Robin spaces along the lenticulostriate arteries are frequently detected on spin-echo images. Their appearance, affected by the flow of associated lenticulostriate arteries, varies from hyper- to hypointensity to brain tissue on T2-weighted images. The two-dimensional FLASH sequence can demonstrate the flow of the arteries, thereby helping confirm that these are truly Virchow-Robin spaces.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of MR angiography in conjunction with spin-echo imaging for evaluating vascular patency in patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis or occlusion. METHODS: Seven patients with MCA stenosis or occlusion, verified with contrast angiography in five and correlated with transcranial Doppler sonography in two, were examined using two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiographic techniques as well as conventional spin-echo imaging. RESULTS: Of the seven patients, six demonstrated basal ganglionic and/or cortical infarct in the MCA territory. Except one case with minimal stenosis immediately distal to the MCA origin, all six cases with either severe stenosis or occlusion of the main trunk of the MCA showed the absence of normal flow voids using spin-echo imaging in the sylvian fissure on the affected side. However, it was not possible to discriminate between stenosis and occlusion. Although different mechanisms (ie, flow-induced spin dephasing for the 2-D technique and progressive spin saturation for the 3-D technique) were predominantly responsible for the loss of signal through the area of stenosis, both the 2-D and 3-D MR angiograms clearly depicted the compromised flow of the MCA: a focal discontinuity with decreased vessel caliber corresponded to stenosis, and nonvisualization of distal MCA branches represented occlusion. CONCLUSION: Either 2-D or 3-D time-of-flight MR angiography is a useful adjunct to conventional parenchymal spin-echo imaging for evaluating vascular patency in patients with MCA stenosis or occlusion, although it is important to recognize that each technique has a different basis for the loss of signal through the area of stenosis.

MR images of the neck were prospectively studied in 19 patients with hyperparathyroidism. Fast low angle shot (FLASH) sequence was performed in addition to T1- and T2-weighted spin echo (SE) sequences. FLASH images were obtained with 320/12/20 degrees (TR/TE/flip angle) using presaturation technique. TE of 12 ms was chosen to eliminate high signal of fat tissue. In the evaluation of detectability, a combination of T1-weighted SE and FLASH images (T1WI + FLASH) was compared with a combination of T1- and T2-weighted SE images (T1WI + T2WI). MR imaging correctly depicted 20 of 30 abnormal glands on both T1WI + FLASH and T1WI + T2WI. FLASH imaging effectively eliminated high signal of fat tissue. Nineteen abnormal glands demonstrated higher signal than surrounding tissues on FLASH images, whereas 12 glands were high-intense on T2-weighted SE images. We conclude that FLASH imaging provides improved tissue contrast and anatomic delineation and, thus, may replace T2-weighted SE imaging in the neck.

From January 1967 through November 1991, a total of 135 patients with carcinoma of the major salivary glands (parotid: 95; submandibular: 39; sublingual: 1) were treated at our department. 40 patients had adenocarcinoma, 29 adenoid cystic carcinoma, 24 mucoepidermoid carcinoma and 16 squamous cell carcinoma. 100 patients were irradiated postoperatively and the remaining 35 were treated with radiation alone. Total radiation doses delivered were 50 Gy for the postoperative group and 50 to 66 Gy for the group receiving only radiation using a 60Co single portal with or without wedged paired or single electron portal boost. Actuarial five-year survivals after radiation therapy were 55% for the postoperative group and 26% for radiation only group (p = 0.0004). The local control rates for the postoperative group were 83% for adenocarcinoma, 81% for adenoid cystic carcinoma, 83% for mucoepidermoid carcinoma and 62% for squamous cell carcinoma. Corresponding figures for the radiation only group were 40% for adenocarcinoma, 38% for adenoid cystic carcinoma and 33% for mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Conventional irradiation techniques continue to play an important role because they offer superior local control for postoperative patients with carcinoma of the major salivary glands. However, the local control rates for the radiation only group were only 30 to 40%, so that new irradiation modalities such as provided by a high LET machine are needed for these patients.

Between December 1991 and August 1992, five patients with recurrent cancer in the pelvic area (four gynecological cancers and one rectal cancer) were treated at Osaka University Hospital with a remote afterloading interstitial implantation employing the template technique. External irradiation (40 to 50 Gy) was performed in four cases one to four weeks before brachytherapy. Interstitial high-dose-rate brachytherapy (24 to 40 Gy/four to eight fractions/two to four days) was performed twice a day. Three of the five patients achieved complete local tumor control. The remaining two patients obtained symptom relief. There were no complications serious enough to need surgical treatment. Moreover, this procedure is well tolerated and therefore an effective modality for elderly and frail patients.

Portal circulation changes due to the progression of chronic liver disease and portal venous flow are also affected by pharmacotherapy. Thus, noninvasive measurement of effective portal venous flow (EPVF) is highly desirable. We evaluated EPVF under steady-state conditions using echo-Doppler flowmetry combined with per jejunal portal scintigraphy in 32 patients with chronic liver disease. After introduodenal administration of 37 MBq (1 mCi) of 123I-iodoamphetamine, scintigraphy of the pulmonary and hepatic regions was performed and a portosystemic shunt index (SI) calculated. EPVF was calculated as follows: EPVF = PVFx (1-SI/100). EPVF in chronic hepatitis, compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis was 12.0 +/- 1.8 ml/min/kg, 10.3 +/- 1.6 ml/min/kg and 8.0 +/- 2.5 ml/min/kg, respectively. There were significant differences in EPVF between all groups, although PVF was similar in each group. EPVF correlated with liver function tests and was a better indicator of liver function than PVF. Measurement of EPVF may provide useful information in the management of patients with chronic liver disease.

In order to establish a noninvasive, quantitative method for measuring regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) by N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP) SPECT, we attempted to employ continuous venous sampling instead of arterial sampling. Forty two patients with cerebrovascular diseases were classified into two groups, with (group II: n = 35) and without (group I: n = 7) hand warming. In group II, either hand was warmed, wrapping in a hot blanket (group IIA) or immersed in a 44 degrees C water bath (group IIB). In each patient, immediately after intravenous bolus injection of 222 MBq IMP, arterial and venous blood samples were collected continuously for 5 min from the radial artery and the cubital vein, respectively. By octanol extraction, IMP was divided into the unmetabolized and metabolized fraction. The ratio of 123I-IMP radioactivity of venous blood compared to arterial blood (pass ratio, referred as %PR) was calculated in three fractions, whole blood, unmetabolized, and metabolized fraction. By using these parameters, we assessed the possibility to estimate the amount of unmetabolized IMP fraction of arterial blood, usually used as an input function, from venous samples. In group I, %PR demonstrated a considerable variation between individuals (whole IMP, 47.5 +/- 24.6% (mean +/- SD): unmetabolized IMP, 46.0 +/- 24.5%: metabolized IMP, 51.8 +/- 27.4%). In group II, especially in group IIB, both increase of %PR value and the decrease in variation (whole, 77.9 +/- 5.6%: unmetabolized, 75.7 +/- 5.7%: metabolized, 86.7 +/- 8.7%) were observed, which permitted the further calculation based on the assumption that %PR value was constant in each IMP fraction (whole blood and unmetabolized fraction).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The response of 50 patients who underwent hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma measuring 3 cm or less (at the time of surgery) to transcatheter oily chemoembolization was evaluated. The response was assessed in 5 categories, A: complete necrosis (100%), B: necrosis of at least 95%, C: at least 80%, but less than 95%, D: at least 50% but less than 80%, and E: less than 50% of the tumor cells. Response A was observed in 19 patients (38%), B in 7 (14%), C in 9 (18%), D in 7 (14%), and E in 8 (16%). These results were classified with respect to the histological degree of tumor differentiation, the WHO histological classification, the microscopic patterns of tumor growth, and macroscopic classification. The response was evaluated in relation to the histological grade of tumor differentiation and the WHO histological classification in all categories of response except response A, and there was no significant difference between the categories. The response was obviously better with the expansive type than with the replacing type. Single nodular type lesions were more responsive than the single nodular type lesions with extranodular growth and the contiguous multinodular type. Pretreatment estimation of the microscopic patterns of tumor growth and macroscopic classification appears to be valuable in predicting prognosis.

Gd-DTPA enhanced dynamic MR studies were evaluated in six patients with hepatocellular carcinoma associated with portal vein tumor thrombus. The portal vein tumor thrombus was clearly visualized as a low intensity lesion. The hepatic segment supplied by the portal vein showed high intensity, probably due to decreased portal blood flow and compensatory arterial blood flow. Tumors located in this segment were shown as areas of relatively low intensity compared with segmental high intensity areas. Thus dynamic MR study was found to be a useful method for differentiating the tumor from the surrounding nontumorous tissue with decreased portal blood flow.

99mTc-Teboroxime [Chloro[tris(cyclohexyldioxime)methaneboronic acid] (99mTc)technetium], a perfusion agent for myocardial imaging, has a distinct advantage over 201Tl because of its very high myocardial extraction and is a 99mTc compound ideal for gamma camera imaging. This agent also demonstrates rapid myocardial washout, which allows completion of exercise and rest imaging studies in a short interval (to 1 hour). However, the rapid washout necessitates the completion of image acquisition very quickly after injection and therefore may require nonconventional SPECT imaging. In this Phase II study we evaluate the safety and efficacy of 99mTc-Teboroxime to detect coronary artery disease by exercise and rest SPECT imaging in 38 patients with prior myocardial infarction, 31 patients with angina pectoris, and 4 patients with non-coronary cardiac diseases. The 99mTc-Teboroxime dose used was 370-740 MBq in each study. The findings were compared with coronary angiography or 201Tl exercise and redistribution SPECT. No significant adverse reactions or laboratory abnormalities attributable to 99mTc-Teboroxime were observed. The quality of SPECT images was optimal in 62.5% of all patients. The relatively large population of suboptimal cases (37.5%) was attributed to the delay of the start and prolongation of the image acquisition time. In 85.7% of patients whose imaging was started within 5 minutes and completed within 11 minutes after injection, optimal quality was observed. Thus, 99mTc-Teboroxime SPECT requires the rapid completion of image acquisition after injection to achieve optimal image quality. Abnormalities of 99mTc-Teboroxime distribution were detected in 97.1% and 62.1% of patients with prior myocardial infarction or angina pectoris, respectively. The concordance with coronary angiography was 84.4% and 68.0%, and with 201Tl was 78.1% and 74.1%, respectively. Although standardization of the image protocol suitable for this agent is needed for the next study, these high correlations suggest the potential usefulness of 99mTc-Teboroxime SPECT imaging.

To differentiate hepatoma from hemangioma, MR studies were performed for 18 patients with 21 untreated liver tumors (hepatoma 10, hemangioma 11). We obtained inversion recovery snapshot FLASH images of liver tumors with variable TIs (50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, and 500 msec). 8 hemangiomas showed higher intensity than liver parenchyma on the images at 150 msec and less of TI, and lower intensity at 200 msec or more TI. In 7, signal intensity of hepatoma became low at 150 msec or less of TI or remained high with prolonged TI. Inversion recovery snapshot FLASH imaging with variable TIs will be useful for differentiating between hepatoma and hemangioma.

An MR study was performed in 73 clinically diagnosed cirrhotic patients to determine correlations among the demonstration of small low intensity nodules (SLINs), secondary changes due to cirrhosis, and serological data. In 32 patients, liver cirrhosis was proved histologically. SLINs were observed in 38 of the 73 patients on gradient echo (GRE) images and in 28 patients on T2-weighted SE images. Patho-MR correlation study of the liver in the 32 histologically proved cirrhotic patients revealed that SLINs were seen on GRE images only in patients with iron deposits in regenerating nodules (RNs). There was no significant correlation between secondary changes due to liver cirrhosis and the demonstration of SLINs. Serological data indicating liver cell injury and iron store in the body were significantly higher in patients with iron deposits in RNs than in those without iron deposits.

In mitral valve disease, it is important to know whether thrombi are present in the left atrium when deciding upon a course of treatment. The left atrial thrombus usually locates in the left atrial appendage. In most cases of mitral valve disease, the left atrial appendage is clearly demonstrated by radionuclide angiography using 99mTc-labeled red blood cells and it can be speculated that the cases in which left atrial appendage are not demonstrated by RNA have left atrial thrombi. On the basis of this hypothesis, the diagnostic accuracy of radionuclide angiography to detect left atrial thrombi was evaluated retrospectively in 60 patients with mitral valve disease who had undergone surgery. The sensitivity of first-pass and equilibrium radionuclide angiography to detect left atrial thrombi was 83% and 67%, the specificity 79% and 54%, and the accuracy 80% and 57%, respectively. Although there were two false-negative cases in which the left atrial thrombi did not locate in the appendage and 10 false-positive cases in which left atrial appendages were not dilated, the negative predictive value was so high that a clearly demonstrated left atrial appendage can be translated into the absence of left atrial thrombi.

In order to evaluate the efficacy of HCFU as an adjuvant chemotherapy agent for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck areas, a randomized comparative study was performed with cooperative facilities. 191 patients who had undergone radical therapy were randomly assigned to the following two groups: Group A was the control group, which underwent radical therapy only, and Group B was a group which received long-term HCFU administration (300-600 mg/day x 12 weeks or more). In the comparison of non-recurrence rate in both groups, Group B had better results among patients who were at the advanced clinical stages such as N1 through N3, Stage II (p = 0.0583) and Stage III (p = 0.0970). The adverse reactions to HCFU included pollakiuria, feverishness, and digestive symptoms, but these were mild and the recovery was possible.

One hundred and sixty-one patients with pulmonary metastases were studied with CT. Six of them proved to have endobronchial (intraluminal) metastatic lesions by bronchoscopy. Retrospective analysis of the CT studies showed obstruction and/or narrowing of the bronchi in 5 cases while no lesion was observed in one patient. Although CT can not always demonstrate intraluminal lesions, it should be performed when an endobronchial metastasis from extrathoracic malignancy is seen by bronchoscopy because it will show hilar or mediastinal lymphadenopathy, or single or multiple pulmonary metastases other than the endobronchial lesion.

We developed a new pulse sequence and investigated whether the anisotropic diffusion in the human brain can be detailed with a standard whole-body MR imager. Apparent diffusion coefficient maps were produced by the proposed sequence using a 1.5-T MR unit. The sequence employed simultaneous application of three orthogonal gradients to achieve an optimal signal attenuation for imaging the brain without any increase in echo time. The orientation of the effective diffusion-encoding gradient was off-axis. On the in vivo apparent diffusion coefficient maps of four healthy volunteers, white matter tracts (the internal capsule and the corpus callosum) and the cortical and deep white matter showed anisotropic diffusion. In the gray matter, such as basal ganglia and thalami, anisotropic diffusion was not observed. A typical whole-body imager can provide in vivo human brain diffusion images of clinical quality. This technique has promising implications for the evaluation of brain development and the diagnosis of degenerative diseases.

Magnetic resonance (MR) images of 13 patients with osteoradionecrosis of the mandibula were analyzed. Abnormalities were noted in all patients and could be classified into three groups. In nine patients, MR signals were homogeneously low in intensity on both T1 weighted images (T1WI) and T2 weighted images (T2WI), suggesting fibrosis of bone marrow. These nine patients had suffered radiologically and/or clinically overt osteoradionecrosis more than ten months previously, and inflammatory symptoms had settled down by the time of MR study. Two patients showed low signal intensity on T1WI and an area of inhomogeneous high intensity in a diffuse area of low signal intensity on T2WI, suggesting acute inflammation in the irradiated fibrous bone marrow. Both patients suffered pathologic fracture due to osteoradionecrosis and showed severe inflammatory symptoms at the time MR study. In one of the two patients, these pathologic changes were confirmed in surgically excised mandibulectomy specimens. The other two patients showed homogeneous low signal intensity on T1WI and high signal intensity on T2WI, a finding that may be due to slight inflammation. However, in one of the two patients, this signal feature possibly indicated loose fibrosis with marked cellularity.

In patients with subluxation of the patella, injury of the patellar articular cartilage is frequently observed and correct evaluation is important to manage these patients. We examined 11 patients with subluxation of the patella and five normal volunteers. In 12 patellofemoral joints of seven patients with subluxation of the patella, the abnormalities observed on MRI were compared with those on arthroscopy and/or at operation. MRI was performed with a Magnetom 1.5 T (Siemens) using the round surface coil. Pulse sequences were SE (TR 400 ms/TE 19 ms), FLASH (TR 320 ms/TE 15 ms FA 90 degrees and 40 degrees), and SE (TR 2000 ms/TE 26, 70 ms). We analysed MR findings of the 12 abnormal joints and 10 normal joints according to the following classification of abnormalities observed on arthroscopy. (1) normal appearance (n = 3 joints), (2) softening and fibrillation (n = 6), (3) fragmentation (n = 3), and (4) erosion to bone (n = 0). In only one of the six cases with softening and fibrillation observed on arthroscopy, MRI could visualize the thickening of patellar articular cartilage, but in all three cases with fragmentation observed on arthroscopy, MRI could visualize the thin inhomogenous cartilage with irregular surface. The combination of SE (TR 400 ms/TE 19 ms) and FLASH (TR 320 ms/TE 15 ms FA 90 degrees) are extremely effective pulse sequence to detect the abnormalities of patellar articular cartilage. We conclude that MRI is a useful noninvasive method of detecting advanced changes in patellar articular cartilage.

Abdominal scintigraphy with intravenous injection of 99mTc-labeled serum albumin was performed in 6 patients with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) and 3 patients with non-gastrointestinal tract disorders. In 3 out of 6 patients with PLE, abnormal radioactivity was observed in the ileum region 3 hours after injection, and thereafter clear colon image was obtained. In the remaining 3 patients, the colon was visualized 24 hours after injection. On the other hand, in all patients with non-gastrointestinal tract disorders, no abnormal radioactivity was observed in the abdomen until 24 hours after injection. These results indicate that gastrointestinal protein loss could be demonstrated by scintigraphy with intravenously administered 99mTc-labeled serum albumin. In one healthy subject, 99mTc-labeled serum albumin was administered orally and abdominal scintigraphy was performed. Gastrointestinal tract image was only observed and no other image was demonstrated until 24 hours after oral administration. This result suggests that 99mTc excreted into the gastrointestinal tract is not reabsorbed. Therefore, abdominal scintigraphy with 99mTc-labeled serum albumin appears to be a simple and useful method for diagnosis of PLE.

We describe a case of cranial metastasis from an hepatocellular carcinoma studied by computed tomography and cerebral angiography. Although two similar cases have been reported, ours is the first that shows the angiographic findings so clearly and to present with neurological symptoms before primary disease was evident.

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. Overall radiographic efficacy with ioversol was slightly better than with iopamidol, according to the evaluation by both investigators and committee members. Ioversol appears to be very useful for angiocardiography. This comparative study demonstrated the value of safety and efficacy evaluation criteria suggested by the preceding clinical trial with ioversol.

Intrahepatic distribution of the inferior mesenteric blood flow was evaluated with scintigraphy with transrectally administered 123I-iodoamphetamine (IMP). Twelve patients without liver diseases were studied. The IMP image was divided into 3 types; bilateral, left lobar predominant and right lobar predominant. Bilateral, left lobar predominant and right lobar predominant types were observed in 5, 5 and 2 patients respectively. Furthermore, uneven distribution pattern in the left or right lobe was observed in 2 of 5 patients with bilateral lobar type, 4 of 5 patients with left lobar predominant type and 1 of 2 patients with right lobar predominant type. In one patient with left lobar predominant type, repeat examination demonstrated bilateral lobar type. These results suggest that intrahepatic distribution of the inferior mesenteric blood flow is not uniform and consistent.

Portosystemic shunt index was estimated in 7 patients without liver disease and 95 patients with various liver diseases by portal scintigraphy with transrectally administered 123I-iodoamphetamine (IMP). The shunt index was 0% in patients without liver diseases, 5.3% in acute hepatitis, 5.9% in chronic inactive hepatitis, 11.4% in chronic active hepatitis, 56.6% in compensated liver cirrhosis and 88.1% in decompensated liver cirrhosis. The shunt index was significantly higher in liver cirrhosis, especially decompensated stage. In 5 of 9 patients with acute hepatitis, shunt index was 0%. In 3 of remaining 4 patients with elevated shunt index, shunt index became 0% within 1-2 months. Significant relationship was observed between the shunt index and hepatic function tests such as ChE, albumin, gamma-globulin and ICG-R15. These results suggest that the shunt index is independent of hepatic cell necrosis and reveals the shunted blood flow exactly. Therefore, this technique is useful for evaluating the portosystemic shunt in various liver diseases.

Thirteen patients with radiation necrosis and 6 patients with occlusive radiation-induced cerebrovasculopathy were reviewed. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated low attenuation with a mass effect and irregular contrast enhancement in the radiation necrosis. The mass effect and the contrast enhancement decreased gradually. Angiography showed an avascular mass, generalized narrowing of the ipsilateral arteries and slow blood circulation in 3 cases. Radiation-induced vasculopathy appeared as localized stenosis and irregular walls of the arteries within the irradiated area. In cases with radiation vasculopathy accompanied by sufficient collateral blood flow brain damage was rarely demonstrated by CT. In patients with radiation-induced vasculopathy the lesion was not associated with signs of radiation necrosis.

Computed tomography of the chest following endoscopic injection sclerotherapy for esophageal varices was performed in 17 procedures in 13 patients. CT scans were obtained before and within 48 hours after the procedure. CT findings included: esophageal wall thickening; a low-attenuating lesion within the wall of the esophagus with varying appearances, either laminated, localized, or inhomogeneous; a mediastinal lesion; pleural effusion; and various types of pulmonary changes such as atelectasis, pleural-based lesions, dilatation of peripheral pulmonary vessels, and nodular lesions. However, on follow-up CT they had regressed or disappeared. The changes in the mediastinum and pleural space might be caused by direct extension of inflammation from the esophagus, but those in the lungs, especially dilatation of peripheral vessels, may be caused by the sclerosing agent passing to the pulmonary vessels.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of bladder carcinoma was performed in 10 patients who subsequently underwent operations for tumor staging. MRI was performed with a 0.1 T resistive magnetic resonance unit. Images were obtained in the transverse, coronal and sagittal directions with different repetition and echo times. Simultaneously, computed tomography (CT) was performed in 9 of the 10 patients. The accuracy of MRI and CT staging was then evaluated by comparison with the staging from pathologic diagnosis. All of the tumors, which were 2.3-6.3 cm in diameter, were readily depicted by both imaging techniques. The overall accuracy of MRI staging for the 10 patients in whom staging had been pathologically confirmed was 90%, while the accuracy of CT staging for the 9 patients was 55%. Although no statistically significant differences in accuracy between CT and MRI staging can be established on the basis of the above results because of the small number of patients included in this study, MRI appears to be a very useful modality for staging bladder carcinoma.

For 2 years we administered high doses of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) to a patient having mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with cytochrome c oxidase deficiency. Abnormal elevation of the serum lactate per pyruvate ratio and the increased concentration of serum lactate plus pyruvate induced by exercise decreased with CoQ treatment. This therapeutic effect continued for 2 years. 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed acceleration of the postexercise recovery of the ratio of phosphocreatine to inorganic phosphate in muscle during CoQ treatment. These observations support the beneficial effect of CoQ on the impaired mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in muscle. Also, impaired central and peripheral nerve conductivities consistently improved during CoQ treatment. These results indicate that CoQ has clinical value in the long-term management of patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathies, even though there are clinical limitations to the effects of this therapy.

The aim of the study was to determine whether digital subtraction angiography (DSA) can be used in the diagnosis of aortic dissection. The study group consisted of six patients with aortic dissection including one of type 2 and five of type 3 by the DeBakey classification. DSA findings were compared to cineangiographic findings. The results were as follows; In all the patients, the diagnosis of aortic dissection was possible using DSA. Especially as to the entry, which was not detected by other non-invasive methods, there was an excellent correlation between cineangiograms and DSA (sensitivity 100%). Of the 20 vessels in the abdomen, which included the celiac, superior mesenteric, and right and left renal arteries, three vessels (15%) were not identified by DSA. Causes of the failure were the low spatial resolution and the artifact due to the motion of the patients and intestinal gas movement. The accuracy rate of the abdominal branch involvement was 70%. While using a prototype equipment, the preliminary study showed that DSA is a safe and very useful method not only for diagnosing aortic dissection, but for evaluation of the entry, extension of the dissection, and involvement of major branches of the abdominal aorta and for a follow-up study.

To estimate regional left ventricular (LV) diastolic filling patterns in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a computer-assisted method by applying "sector analysis" to ECG forward and reverse gated radionuclide ventriculography was developed. Fourteen patients with HCM (four with localized septal hypertrophy, seven with apical hypertrophy and three with septal and apical hypertrophy according to echocardiography) were observed at rest. After establishing serial 20 msec imaged frames, the LV region of interest was subdivided into eight sectors radiating from the geometric center. A time-activity curve was generated for each sector and was fitted by third-order harmonics of the Fourier series. From each fitted curve, the regional peak filling rate (rPFR) and the time of rPFR (rTPFR) in the forward gating method and regional atrial contribution to filling (rAC/FV) in the reverse gating method were calculated. The coefficient of variance of rTPFR was used as an index of LV diastolic asynchrony. In HCM, a prominent delay of rTPFR was observed in the hypertrophied regions. The coefficient of variance of rTPFR correlated inversely with global LVPFR (r = -0.62, p less than 0.05), indicating that diastolic asynchrony is one of the determinants of the LV early filling rate. Regional AC/FV was augmented in the hypertrophied regions, indicating the important role of atrial systolic LV filling for slowed early filling. Thus, this new method provides valuable information concerning regional diastolic LV wall mechanics in HCM.