The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of the new liver-specific magnetic resonance contrast agent gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) to detect hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Seventeen mice with 66 chemically induced HCCs underwent magnetic resonance imaging with both Gd-EOB-DTPA (30 mumol/kg) and superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO; 10 mumol/kg). After enhancement, lesion-to-liver contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) of 47 detected HCCs increased negatively from 3.7 +/- 10.7 (mean +/- SD) to -55.1 +/- 25.8 with Gd-EOB-DTPA (P < .001) and increased positively from 10.4 +/- 10.4 to 26.1 +/- 16.3 with SPIO (P < .001). The improvement of CNR after administration of SPIO was less in smaller lesions (< 4 mm), whereas that after administration of Gd-EOB-DTPA was independent of lesion size. However, Gd-EOB-DTPA positively enhanced four HCCs (8.5%), both highly differentiated (grade 1) and moderately differentiated (grade 2). Gd-EOB-DTPA allows the conspicuous detection of small HCCs; however, moderately differentiated HCCs occasionally may be positively enhanced.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis: CT findings.

Two patients with primary pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis are presented. In both cases, the sigmoid colon was involved and there were no major complications. On computed tomography (CT), at lung window settings, the gas cysts in the colonic wall were clearly delineated. CT was useful in confirming the intramural gas cysts in patients with primary pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis.

Colon, Sigmoid↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Dye-injection method for placement of an infusion catheter in regional hepatic chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of a dye-injection method in the placement of an infusion catheter and port via proximal branches of the axillary artery for hepatic infusion chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with surgically unresectable hepatic cancer underwent transfemoral hepatic arteriography. Then a 3-F coaxial catheter was inserted into a proximal branch of the left axillary artery. Dye injected through the coaxial catheter during the surgical procedure improved the visualization of the target branch. The coaxial catheter was also used as a guide for retrograde insertion through the target branch of an infusion catheter into the descending aorta. RESULTS: In 13 of 16 patients (81%), catheterization was successful without exposure of the axillary artery. In these patients, the acromial-deltoid branch of the thoracoacromial artery was chosen as the target. CONCLUSION: Injection of dye simplifies the surgical procedure for placement of a hepatic infusion catheter via proximal branches of the axillary artery. The depth and extent of incisions, as well as the risk of nerve injury, are reduced.

Acromion↗

PubMedDate not supplied

MR features of various histological grades of small hepatocellular carcinoma.

Twenty small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) < 20 mm in diameter in 18 patients, detected by MRI, were surgically resected and histologically confirmed. Quantitative analysis of signal intensity on MR images was performed with 14 homogeneous lesions. In the five grade I HCCs, T1-weighted SE sequences provided significantly higher mean tumor-liver contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio (C/N) than T2-weighted SE sequences (p < 0.01). However, in the other nine HCCs (grade I + II or greater), T2-weighted SE sequences had significantly higher mean tumor-liver contrast and C/N values than T1-weighted SE sequences (p < 0.001). The T2-weighted SE sequences appear superior to T1-weighted SE sequences for grade I + II or greater HCC detection, whereas T1-weighted SE sequences are valuable in the detection of grade I HCCs.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro antibacterial activities of FK037: a new parenteral cephalosporin.

The antibacterial and bactericidal activities and the stability of FK037 to beta-lactamases were investigated and compared with those of cefpirome, flomoxef, ceftazidime, ceftizoxime, and vancomycin. Against clinical isolates of methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, FK037 was less active than vancomycin but more potent than the other drugs tested. Among highly methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MIC for methicillin: 200 mg/l or higher), none of the strains were highly resistant to FK037 (MIC > or = 100 mg/l) unlike the other cephalosporins. With the exception of Enterococcus faecalis, FK037 had an activity equipotent to that of cefpirome and far superior to those of flomoxef, ceftazidime and ceftizoxime against other gram-positive clinical isolates. The activity of FK037 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas cepacia was equipotent to that of cefpirome but 2- to 4-fold less active than that of ceftazidime. FK037 inhibited 90% of Enterobacter cloacae and Citrobacter freundii growth at a concentration of 6.25 mg/l; it was as active as cefpirome and much more active than ceftazidime. Against the other gram-negative bacteria tested, FK037 was equipotent to cefpirome and ceftazidime and was more effective than flomoxef. FK037, like cefpirome, portrayed a high stability to various beta-lactamases except type II penicillinase and oxyimino-cephalosporinase (CXase). FK037 scored an MIC range of 0.013-6.25 mg/l against numerous beta-lactamase-producing bacterial strains with the exception of some CXase-producing strains and a cephalosporinase-producing C. freundii; and against strains other than P. aeruginosa FK037 was as active as cefpirome and 2- to 32-fold more active than ceftazidime. FK037 displayed highly potent activities against cephalosporinase-producing E. cloacae, C. freundii and Serratia marcescens which were resistant to flomoxef and ceftizoxime. FK037 was highly bactericidal against S. aureus and Escherichia coli at its MIC or higher.

Ceftizoxime↗