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Biomedical subjects

E Henze

Publications and source records attributed to E Henze.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[The effect of Belzer and Bretschneider cardioplegia solutions on myocardial energy metabolism. A study with 31phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy in an animal model].

The aim of our study was to test the effectiveness of two cardioplegic solutions and to compare the level of high energy phosphates in the myocardium. We investigated 18 hearts of pigs (obtained from a slaughter-house) with 31phosphorusmagnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) In this experiment coronary arteries were cannulated and reperfused with arterial blood to revitalize the heart. When the heart showed regular pulsations coronary arteries were perfused for cardioplegia either with the UW-(Belzer-) or with the HTK-(Bretschneider-)solution. For 31P-MRS, a magnet with a magnetic flux density of 4.7 Tesla (T) was available. Relative concentrations from phosphocreatine (PCr/beta-ATP; high-energy phosphate) and inorganic phosphate (Pi/MDP; MDP = methylendiphosphonat = reference solution; low-energy phosphate) were calculated from the spectra. As a result of this study, the HTK-solution showed a significantly higher PCr/beta-ATP-ratio in the myocardium than the UW-solution during the examination time of 3 h. After plegia of the myocardial area from the right coronary artery PCr/beta-ATP-ratios were lower in comparison with the left coronary artery distribution area. The calculation of Pi/MDP-ratios proved that Pi was higher in the myocardium after application of the UW-solution compared to HTK-solution. The kinetics of the metabolites showed an approximately linear and parallel decrease of PCr/beta-ATP-ratios after cardioplegia with both solutions during the examination time.

Animals

[Quantification of tricuspid insufficiency--comparison of Doppler echocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography].

In 40 patients (pts) (ages 34-83 years) the severity of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) was graded by pulsed Doppler echocardiographic determination of regurgitant jet extension. Mild TR was assessed in seven pts (group I), mode-rate TR in 20 pts (group II), and severe TR in 13 pts (group III). The enddiastolic diameter of the left ventricle as measured by M-mode-echocardiography was 55 +/- 16 mm in group I, 48 +/- 6 mm in group II, and 50 +/- 10 mm in group III. The regurgitant index (RI), i.e., the ratio of left-to-right-ventricular stroke counts (normal range 0.89-1.97) and the time-activity curve over the liver area were measured by equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography (RNV). The RI differed significantly between group I (1.6 +/- 0.5), II (1.0 +/- 0.3), and III (0.8 +/- 0.3) (p less than 0.01). An RI-value below 0.89 as an index of right-ventricular volume overload was found in 14% (group I), 45%, (group II) and 77% (group III). The time-activity curve over the liver area, as graded by count variation in phase with the right atrium from 1 (no count variation) to 4 (typical count variation) showed all grades in groups I and II, but only grade 2 to 4 in group III. The RI resp. the time-activity curve over the liver is a sensitive parameter for the detection of moderate to severe TR. If TR is ascertained, severe regurgitation can be differentiated from mild regurgitation by RNV-derived RI as an index of right-ventricular volume overload.

Adult

Reproducibility of quantitative hexakis-2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile single photon emission tomography in stable coronary artery disease.

The quantification of myocardial perfusion abnormalities is necessary to allow comparison of repeated studies, especially in the evaluation of the success of medical, interventional or combined treatment in stable coronary artery disease or in evolving myocardial infarction. The purpose of this study was to assess inter-observer reproducibility of tomographic study processing using a semi-automatic quantitative programme. Technetium 99m hexakis-2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-Sestamibi) was chosen for tomographic imaging of repeated rest-stress studies in patients with stable coronary artery disease. The quantification was performed using a modification of the Cedars polar coding and comparison with the normal data base. The perfusion defects were quantified separately for each standard perfusion area [left anterior descending (LAD), right coronary (RCA) and left circumflex (LCX) arteries] and total area of hypoperfused myocardium. The inter-observer variability for 40 tomographic studies was accomplished. The defects were the largest in the LAD perfusion area (average 19.7% of the normalized LAD supply area) with an inter-observer correlation of 0.84 for this region. The greatest variability was found for the LCX region (r = 0.55) and is attributed to a small average perfusion defect (7.1%), only 18 studies having abnormal perfusion in this area. In total, an average 14.3% of the left ventricular myocardium was significantly hypoperfused, and the inter-observer correlation was 0.87. These results show good inter-observer reproducibility using semi-automatic quantitation of perfusion defects. Careful interpretation of smaller defects in the evaluation of treatment results is advised when repeated 99mTc-Sestamibi single photon emission tomography studies are processed by more than one observer.

Coronary Disease

Localization of ectopic ventricular depolarization by ISPECT-radionuclide ventriculography and by magnetocardiography. ISPECT and MCG for ectopic mapping.

Since catheter or surgical techniques for ablating the arrhythmogenic substrate in patients with SVT due to accessory pathways or those with VT are now available, exact localization of the substrate is mandatory. We report preliminary results of two new non-invasive techniques for localizing either the site of earliest ventricular contraction using ISPECT, or the site of initial ventricular depolarization by magnetocardiography (MCG) in WPW syndrome and in VT patients. Thirteen patients with WPW syndrome and 8 patients with sustained VTs were studied with ISPECT. In 9/13, comparative catheter mapping data were available. Two patients had two Kent bundles. 13/15 Kent bundles could be localized by ISPECT. In 5/9 patients the area of Kent bundle insertion was identical with ISPECT and catheter mapping, in 3 correlation was fair, and in 2 patients with 2 Kent bundles ISPECT failed to localize their insertion. In 3/8 patients with VT catheter mapping could not be performed for hemodynamic reasons. In 2/5 patients the area of VT focus was identical with both methods, in one patient it was adjacent to each other, and in 2/5 patients a larger anatomic distance of the focus was found with both methods. In 3/7 patients with WPW the MCG showed the site of Kent bundle insertion, which was identical to that seen by catheter mapping. In one patient the area was adjacent, and in 3 more distant from the site determined by catheter mapping. In 1/2 patients with 2 Kent bundles, one of these could be detected by MCG. In 1/3 patients with VT, the site of VT focus was identical with both methods, but in the remaining two a distance of 3-4 cm was observed between the area seen with MCG and that with catheter mapping. In 4 further VT patients with stable and uniform ventricular late potentials, ventricular late magnetic activity was found with different QRS lengths within the single MCG channels. From our results we conclude that both ISPECT and MCG seem to become very promising non-invasive techniques for localizing ectopic ventricular depolarization in WPW syndrome and VT patients. However, these methods have to be refined, improved and validated by further systematical studies.

Action Potentials

Upward creep of the heart in exercise thallium 201 single photon emission tomography: clinical relevance and a simple correction method.

The upward creep of the heart during myocardial single photon emission tomography (SPET) acquisition has been reported as a frequent source of false-positive results. The aim of this study was to simplify the detection and correction of this upward creep and to estimate its clinical relevance during routine patient care. To recognize the upward heart motion a straight line was fitted to the upper and lower border of consecutively displayed tomographic projection images. In this way, vertical translation of at least 1 pixel in size could be detected easily. On the assumption of a slow but continuous upward motion a fast interpolation correction method was developed. From 100 consecutive, supine, ergometric exercise studies, 1, 2 or 3 pixels of upward creep were found in 16, 4 or 3 patients, respectively. It was found that an upward creep of at least 2 pixels (7/100 cases) led to evident, mostly antero-septal defects on quantitative bull's-eyes, whereas only upward creeps of 3 pixels or more (3/100 cases) produced false-positive diagnostic results. The simple correction method offered a sufficient compensation of image and/or bull's-eye artefacts. These clinical findings could be reproduced in a computer model. Thus, it can be stated that clinically significant upward creep of the heart during stress SPET acquisition is relatively rare; it may have been overestimated in the past, and its artificial effects can be corrected by a quick and simple algorithm.

Algorithms

Application of P-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to a new experimental kidney perfusion model using cadaveric porcine kidneys from slaughterhouse.

Larger NMR magnets with relatively high field strengths have become available recently, allowing the application of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in larger mammalian organs. The aim of this study was to develop and test a new and simple kidney perfusion model from slaughterhouse swine using a new 4.7-tesla/40-cm diameter system, with the intention behind to provide a human-like mammalian experimental kidney perfusion model, and to avoid sensitive in vivo animal experiments on higher-developed mammalians, 35 pig kidneys obtained 10-15 min post mortem were studied to evaluate and define conditions for optimum metabolic preservation with the following perfusion protocols: (1) immediate plegia with cold Collins solution, 1-3 h cold storage, P-31 MRS; (2) immediate plegia, 1-3 h cold storage, blood reperfusion, P-31 MRS; (3) immediate blood reperfusion, plegia, 1-3 h cold storage, blood reperfusion, P-31 MRS; (4) immediate blood reperfusion, plegia, 24 h cold storage, blood reperfusion, P-31 MRS, P-31 MRS at 81 MHz with a double-tuned surface coil yielded the following results: [table: see text] Blood flow showed a weak correlation with beta-ATP/inorganic phosphate in protocols 3 and 4 of r = 0.64. Repeated reperfusion and ischemia experiments of this model allowed the on-line observation of the metabolic response of the energy phosphate pattern for several hours. In conclusion, slaughterhouse-harvested swine kidneys lend themselves to a simple, low-cost in vitro perfusion model, provided they are reperfused with arterial blood immediately after harvesting.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate

The orthopan tomoscintigram--a new application of emission computed tomography for facial bone scanning.

The exact regional correlation of findings of facial bone scans, planar or SPECT, to dental orthopan X-ray films (OPT) is difficult because of the very different projection techniques. To improve correlative imaging in this regard a projection algorithm was developed that uses SPECT data of the skull for reconstructing an orthopan tomoscintigraphic projection. Fourteen conventional SPECT slices of the upper and lower jaws were obtained during bone scanning. All mandibular slices were superimposed resulting in a horseshoe shaped structure, while was marked by an ROI which was divided into segments. All 14 SPECT slices were then masked by this segmental ROI, thereby marking the teeth-carrying bone in all slices. The information from this horseshoe like ROI is then transformed into lines. Line by line arrangement results in an orthopan projection, the orthopan tomoscintigram. This new display allows 1:1 true scale superimposition with the X-ray OPT and markedly facilitates correlative imaging.

Facial Bones

Hemodynamic effects of alinidine (ST 567) at rest and during exercise in patients with chronic congestive heart failure.

Selective inhibition of sinus node function offers the possibility to decrease heart rate and reduce myocardial oxygen consumption in patients with impaired cardiac function, if myocardial contractility is not further attenuated. To study the influence of a specific sinus node inhibitor on myocardial function, alinidine was given to 10 patients with chronic congestive heart failure and stable sinus rhythm. Radionuclide ventriculography was used to monitor left ventricular function at rest and during a standardized exercise protocol. After a bolus injection of 45 mg of alinidine followed by infusion of 10 mg/hr, radionuclide studies were repeated 1.5 and 3 hours later. The results show that left ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume, and end-diastolic volume index were essentially unchanged, whereas cardiac index decreased by 10% at rest and during exercise. Heart rate decreased markedly by 14% at rest and by 13% during exercise. Systolic blood pressure was reduced by 6% at rest and by 14% during exercise. As a result of the marked decrease of these two parameters, a pronounced effect was seen on rate-pressure product with a 19% decrease at rest and a 24% decrease during exercise. No significant side effects were observed. Alinidine might be given to patients with chronic congestive heart failure and sinus rhythm in doses up to 45 mg without exerting a clinically relevant negative inotropic effect. Therefore it may represent an alternative to other drugs when a decrease in heart rate is desired to reduce myocardial oxygen consumption.

Aged

[Localization of premature and ectopic ventricular depolarization using a new nuclear medicine tomographic technique].

In planar radionuclide ventriculography (RNV) identification of the site of initial contraction is possibly by the Fourier phase. First clinical experiences will be presented with a new integrated tomographic technique--ISPECT--in noninvasively assessing the site of ectopic or premature ventricular depolarization. In six patients Fourier phases of RNV and ISPECT were performed and compared in five with results from the corresponding electrophysiologic study. It was possible to exactly localize the beginning of mechanical contraction in the two orthogonal planes: during pacemaker stimulation at the apex of the right ventricle, at the lateral border of a large aneurysm during ventricular tachycardia, and at the site of three of five WPW bundles. In the other two bundles the site of first contraction was near the area found during invasive mapping procedure. Thus, this new ISPECT approach together with planar radionuclide imaging may help in noninvasively localizing the site of ectopic and premature depolarization in addition to surface ECG.

Adult

[Late vascular damage after unilateral leg amputation].

The higher incidence of infrarenal aortic aneurysms in war-veterans with above knee amputations indicates that leg amputation besides arteriosclerotic risk factors constitutes a relevant pathogenetic factor for the late development of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. A retrospective study of 25 mainly young patients with above knee amputation showed that already one year after leg-loss a typical adaptive narrowing of the pelvic and leg arteries with significant reduction of the flow volume of 37% on the amputated side could be registered. Unilateral flow reduction resp. interruption causes an asymmetric flow pattern at the aortic bifurcation. The changed hemodynamics are probably the main cause for late damage to the aorto-iliac vessels. The clinical importance of these results is that patients with unilateral leg amputation should have regular follow up investigation in order to detect late sequelae on the aorto-iliac vessels and to perform elective surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Ipsilateral occlusive arterial disease as well as abdominal aortic aneurysms must be regarded as secondary late damage after leg amputation justifying obligatory indemnification.

Adolescent

Validation of a simplified carbon-14-urea breath test for routine use for detecting Helicobacter [correction of Heliobacter] pylori noninvasively.

A carbon-14 (14C) urea breath test for detecting Helicobacter pylori with multiple breath sampling was developed. Carbon-14-urea (110 kBq) administered orally to 18 normal subjects and to 82 patients with Helicobacter infection. The exhaled 14C-labeled CO2 was trapped at 10-min intervals for 90 min. The total 14C activity exhaled over 90 min was integrated and expressed in %activity of the total dose given. In normals, a mean of 0.59% +/- 0.24% was measured, resulting in an upper limit of normal of 1.07%. In 82 patients, a sensitivity of 90.2%, a specificity of 83.8%, and a positive predictive value of 90.2% was found. The single probes at intervals of 40-60 min correlated best with the integrated result, with r ranging from 0.986 to 0.990. The test's diagnostic accuracy did not change at all when reevaluated with the 40-, 50-, or 60-min sample data alone. Thus, the 14C-urea breath test can be applied routinely as a noninvasive, low-cost and one-sample test with high diagnostic accuracy in detecting Helicobacter pylori colonization.

Adult

[The role of radionuclide ventriculograms in determining the indications for valve replacement in chronic aortic valve insufficiency].

Timing of aortic valve replacement (AVR) in chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) remains a difficult problem in clinical practice. Radionuclide ventriculography (RNV) yields information on the extent of valvular regurgitation, the enlargement and the systolic function of the left ventricle. A "well-timed" AVR is defined by 1) postoperative improvement of clinical symptoms, decrease in left ventricular end-diastolic volume (EDV) and normalization of ejection fraction (EF) as well as by 2) greater improvement under surgical therapy as compared to conservative management. In "too early" AVR the latter condition is not fulfilled, while in "too late" AVR the first condition is not accomplished. In this study 54 patients with chronic aortic incompetence were evaluated by RNV to see whether these three groups ("too early", "well timed", "too late" AVR, resp.) can be separated by the relation between EDV and regurgitant volume (RV), the level of the EDV and the clinical status. The examination was based on pre- and postoperative RNV studies as well as on follow-up studies. A good postoperative result can be expected in cases with a preoperative EDV/RV-ratio similar to that observed in 30 patients with AR in whom AVR was not indicated. In contrast, in the majority of those cases with an EDV/RV-ratio exceeding this normal range the postoperative outcome will be unsatisfactory. If the EDV/RV-ratio is normal, AVR should be performed in cases with an EDV exceeding 400 ml, while in cases with an EDV between 300-400 ml AVR is only indicated in the presence of additional symptoms (NYHA greater than or equal to II).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Reconstruction of Fourier coefficients: a fast method to get polar amplitude and phase images of gated SPECT.

Gated SPECT (GASPECT) during radionuclide ventriculography (RNV) is a time-consuming procedure requiring extended hard- and software. Furthermore, the procedure suffers from poor count statistics. Our method tries to overcome these difficulties by exploiting the count summation effect of Fourier analysis. The sine and cosine coefficients of the first harmonic are extracted from the gated views and reconstructed. This, in fact, results in an improvement of the count statistics by a factor of four combined with a tremendous reduction of disc space requirements. Using short-axis slices, bull's-eye plots of the amplitude and phase of the left ventricle are calculated. Cardiac functions and localization and extent of any malfunction are documented three-dimensionally without superposition.

Data Interpretation, Statistical

[The effect of 3-dimensional data stabilization in radionuclide ventriculography on the statistical numerical error in the ejection fraction].

The suitability of a 3-dimensional filter in diminishing the statistical noise of left ventricular volume curves without any systematical error in the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) was investigated. The EF values were compared in 50 studies on 24 patients. There was no significant systematical difference between the EFs before and after filtering. The filter diminishes the statistical uncertainty of the EF by a factor of 0.47. Therefore, the method may possibly be employed in processing the left ventricular volume curves.

Adult

Aortic aneurysms as late sequelae of above-knee amputation.

The infrarenal aorta was examined by ultrasound in 329 men who had lost a leg in World War II and in 702 war veterans. The groups were similar in terms of age and risk factors for arteriosclerosis. Abdominal aortic aneurysms were found in 5.8% of the amputees compared with 1.1% of the non-amputees. Unilateral flow reduction after leg amputation causes an asymmetrical flow pattern at the aortic bifurcation, and this is probably the main cause of late damage to the aorta.

Aged