Biomedical subjects

I Zagar

Publications and source records attributed to I Zagar.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Doses in the vicinity of mobile X-ray equipment in a children's intensive care unit.

Most of the patients in the intensive care unit for children are newborns and infants having an infection of the central nervous system, with systemic septic and respiratory infections. Therefore, mobile X-ray equipment including mobile shields is routinely used for diagnosis of the respiratory tract, heart and endovascular catheterization. The aim of this work was to determine the radiation exposure to the children in the vicinity of the exposed patient in the same or next room. Three measurement runs were carried out with thermoluminescence dosimetry system. The results show that the homogeneity of the irradiation field is adequate, the exposure of children to radiation in the vicinity of the exposed patient in the same or next room is very low, practically in the range of the lowest detectable dose. The entrance dose on the breast of the patient was found to be 0.07 mSv. Therefore, there is no basis for the risk estimation of genetic, leukemogenic and cancerogenic detriment.

Humans↗

PubMed2000

Overweight and fatness in Dalmatia, Croatia: comparison with the U.S. population reference.

Subscapular skinfold, elbow breadth and upper arm indicators of nutritional status were studied in the population of Dalmatia in Croatia. Age- and sex-specific percentiles were obtained from 4373 subjects, 18 to 74 years of age, and compared to the U.S. NHANES I and II reference data. There were significant differences between these data sets in all studied variables. The results complement those reported previously for BMI and triceps skinfold and indicate that high prevalence of overweight in Dalmatians largely reflects their muscularity and skeletal robustness rather than excess body fatness. The findings suggest that the U.S. upper percentiles of BMI and skinfolds are inadequate for the assessment of excess body fatness in Dalmatian population. The obtained population-specific percentile distributions should be used provisionally as the reference data for group comparisons in the Dalmatian region.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Interobserver variability in 99mTc-DMSA renal scintigraphy reports: multicentric study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the interobserver variability and reproducibility of the renal scintigraphy reports. METHODS: The study was prospective performed in 60 99mTc DMSA scintigraphies (116 kidneys), done in one centre, displayed on X ray films as analogue 300 kcounts images in 4 standard projections. Six observers from 4 different centres (group A), including three observers from one institution (group B), were asked to interpret original scans. Seven parameters of scintigraphy protocol were analysed with at least two responses: kidney size (1), uptake (2), outlines (3), scars (4), SOL (5), differential function (6) and conclusion (7). RESULTS: Among 116 kidneys, concordant results in interpretation of seven points of report from 1 to 7, in the group A were found in 62%, 42.5%, 45%, 9%, 47%, 52% and 34%, and In the group B in 72%, 55%, 59%, 22%, 62%, 60% and 41% respectively. Some improvement in concordant reporting was noted in the group of 3 observers, in comparison of group of all, statistically significant in category of scar reports (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest to use of standardised criteria and terminology in interpretations, to improve low interobserver reproducibility and objectivity of renal scintigraphy reports, particularly in evaluation of renal scars.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1995

Meta-[131I]iodobenzylguanidine in the scintigraphic evaluation of neural crest tumors.

Since February 1990, 74 patients (116 studies) underwent scintigraphy with meta-[131I]iodobenzylguanidine ([131I]MIBG). Eighteen patients had pheochromocytomas, 2 paragangliomas, 2 malignant insulinomas, 1 carcinoid, 2 medullary thyroid carcinoma and 49 children had neuroblastomas. Scintigraphy was performed following a thyroid blockade, at 24 and 48 hours after i.v. injection of 0.5 mCi/1.7 m2 [131I]MIBG. Grade of heart intensity (GHI) uptake and the intensity of salivary gland visualization (SGI) were estimated semiquantitatively, according to the method of Nakajo et al. Sensitivity in the primary pheochromocytomas was 93.9%; sensitivity and specificity in the primary neuroblastomas were 93.7% and 100% respectively; in the secondary neuroblastomas they were 100%, and 100%. Metastases in 2 malignant insulinomas and in 1 case of medullary thyroid carcinoma were also demonstrated. Only one false negative (in pheochromocytoma) and one false positive (Conn's syndrome) result was obtained. Mean values and range of MIBG uptake measured according to Shulkin's procedure were: for pheochromocytoma 3.95% (0.1-15), primary neuroblastoma 0.7% (0.05-1.92%), and neuroblastoma metastases 0.12% (0.002-0.83%). Assessment of [131I]MIBG uptake seems to be helpful in the follow-up of some neural crest tumors and is essential as a prelude to [131I]MIBG therapy.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

PubMed1993

Salivary excretory index--quantification of the ascorbic acid response in dynamic radionuclide sialography.

Dynamic radionuclide sialography (DRS) provides data about the aptitude of salivary glands to accumulate the tracer and to secrete the saliva. Visual interpretation of the t/a curves may be onerous when salivary glands uptake function is impaired. The purpose of the study has been to quantify the ascorbic acid (AA) response by means of salivary excretion index (SEI). DRS was performed in 10 healthy subjects and in 118 patients with various diseases of the parotid glands. Data acquisition (80 frames/15 s) started simultaneously with i.v. administration of 99mTcO4. Fifteen minutes later AA was given per os. Regions of interest were set over parotid glands. SEI was derived using the formula: SEI = (2b-a-c)/b, where a, b and c were cpm 3 minutes prior, in the moment when, and 3 minutes after AA was given. In 9 of 10 controls SEI was greater than 55 (mean = 63.2). Results in patients with Sjögren's and Mikulicz's syndrome and sialoadenitis, were significantly lower than in healthy subjects. Lowest results were found in patients with sialolithiasis. It may be concluded that SEI improves objective assessment of the AA response particularly in patients with minute or asymmetric disorders of salivary glands function.

Ascorbic Acid↗

PubMed1993

The clinical use of 131I-meta-iodo-benzylguanidine (MIBG) for the diagnosis of neuroblastoma.

Whole-body scintigraphy with 131I-meta-iodo-benzylguanidine 131I-MIBG) was performed in 41 patients with neuroblastoma. In patients with clinical remission no pathological concentration of 131I-MIBG was found. In 30 patients with residual, recurrent or metastatic disease neuroblastoma was correctly localized by 131I-MIBG scintigraphy. It is concluded that 131I-MIBG whole-body scintigraphy is useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of neuroblastoma.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗