[Multilocular angiosarcoma with involvement of the heart]. / Multilokuläres Angiosarkom mit Befall des Herzens.

A thyroid tumour, initially diagnosed as an anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid, was removed in a 66-year-old woman. Further examination, other than ultrasonography of the abdomen (normal), were refused, 26 months later a painful swelling was noted in the right buttock: a fist-sized haematoma, without evidence of malignancy was removed at another hospital. Computed tomography revealed a cystic tumour in the left upper abdomen, about 8 x 11 cm, not clearly related to any organ. Echocardiography, performed because of atrial fibrillation, demonstrated a space-occupying lesion, 42 x 38 mm, in the left atrium with central necroses and originating broad-based from the interatrial septum and the aortic root. The retroperitoneal upper-abdominal tumour encircling the root of the aorta and a gluteal tumour in the area of the previous haematoma could not be completely removed. Histologically they and the previously removed (and again examined) thyroid tumour were angiosarcomas. Removal of the atrial tumour was not attempted. Six months later it had penetrated the entire atrial septum and grown into the right atrium. The patient had lost 25 kg and three months later died of respiratory failure. Autopsy was refused. The findings suggest a left-atrial angiosarcoma which may well have been the primary tumour site. In case of angiosarcomatous tumours echocardiography should be performed as a staging examination.

[Computer-assisted contour detection in a complete heart cycle by levocardiography with adaptive raster tracking--validation of the method]. / Rechnergestützte Konturerkennung eines vollständigen Herzzyklus im Lävokardiogramm durch adaptive Rastersuche--Validierung der Methode.

A method for computer-assisted edge detection in a full heart cycle of the left ventricular cineangiogram is presented. Left ventricular cineangiograms were acquired in the 30 degrees RAO position on cinefilms with 50 frames/s. A selected heart cycle was digitized with a spatial resolution of 512 x 512 pixels and a grey-value range from 0 to 255. In the first frame of the heart cycle a raster was calculated from contour points marked by an operator. The raster was automatically adapted to the left ventricular contour in the following frames. The contour points were determined on the adaptive raster by a gradient method. The automatic calculation of all contours of the systolic contraction was possible in 28 of 30 cineangiograms, operator interaction was necessary in two cineangiograms. The calculation of the diastolic contours requested operator interaction in 4 of 30 cineangiograms. The mean deviation of the calculated from the true contours ranged from -1.2 +/- 1.9 mm to 0.9 +/- 2.9 mm. The correlation coefficients between volumes calculated from the computer-determined and manually drawn contours ranged from r = 0.98 to r = 1.0 at beginning of systole, midsystole, endsystole, middiastole, and enddiastole with a standard error of the estimate between 2.8 ml and 5.2 ml. A repeated automatic determination of the contours after an independent remarking of the starting points resulted in a linear correlation of the calculated volumes with a correlation coefficient of r = 1.0 and a standard error of the estimate between 1.3 ml and 4.7 ml. The correlation coefficient for the ejection fraction was r = 0.99 with a standard error of the estimate of 1.9%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Comparative study of 2 dosage forms of liquid dimethicone for ultrasound premedication]. / Vergleichsuntersuchung zweier Dosierungsformen von flüssigem Dimeticon zur Sonographie-Prämedikation.

A double-blind study was carried out to compare the effects of a premedication with 4 x 500 mg dimethylpolysiloxane (DPS)/24 hours and with 2 x 500 mg/12 hours before abdominal ultrasonography. The investigations covered 13 abdominal regions in specified planes. The incidence of the unobscured presentation of the selected organs and organ sections per patient served as a basis for a sonography index. This index was 67%, without significant difference between the two groups. We believe that the optimal conditions for sonography are given when the patient is fasting and two 500 mg doses of DPS are administered, one in the evening before and one in the morning at the day of investigation.

A simple technique for sonographic estimation of liver volume.

A procedure for estimation of liver volume with the sonographic real-time technique is reported. Testing of this procedure in vitro revealed a very good linear correlation of sonographically determined liver volumes and liver volumes measured by water displacement. In an in-vivo measurement of 70 healthy subjects, a mean of 1402 ccm was determined for men and 1257 ccm for women. A statistically significant correlation was found with body weight and body surface. The method presented is simple and can be carried out in a short time during a routine examination.

A model for the comparison of pharmacologic agents influencing gallbladder contraction.

Investigations on pharmacologic effects on gallbladder contraction must take into consideration the spontaneous motility of the gallbladder. In 20 healthy subjects, we measured the area of the gallbladder sonographically over 10 h at hourly intervals. The spontaneous motility expressed as a coefficient of variation varied between 1.6 and 13% (mean value, 6.3%). Afterwards, we checked the cholecystokinetic action of ceruletide and fatty meal in eight subjects. Here, an alteration of the area by four times the previously found coefficient of variation was defined as significant. A significant contraction occurred earlier after ceruletide administration than after a fatty meal (10 min as compared to 20 min). This lasted longer (40 min. vs. 25 min) and led to a very much more marked reduction in area (69% as compared to 53%). These differences were significant on a 5% level. The end of the contraction did not differ (50 min as compared to 45 min). We conclude that drugs which affect gallbladder contraction can be compared with consideration of spontaneous motility.

[Beat-by-beat validation of the Oxford Medilog 4500, a 24-hour long-term ECG system with real-time analysis]. / Schlaggenaue Validierung des Oxford Medilog 4500, eines 24-Stunden-Langzeit-EKG-Systems mit Echtzeitanalyse.

We compared the annotation of the AHA and MIT databases beat-to-beat with the classification preformed by the microprocessor of a 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic device, based on real-time analysis. Sensitivity and positive predictive accuracy for QRS detection were 99.9% (99.9%) and 99.9% (99.8%) for the AHA database (MIT database respectively). Sensitivity and positive predictive accuracy were 99.1% (96.6%) and 98.3% (94.9%) for ventricular ectopic beats, 98.3% (91.8%) and 96.0% (63.0%) for couplets and 96.4% (74.2%) and 99.2% (41.1%) for salvoes. On 90% of the AHA tapes (MIT tapes) sensitivity and positive predictive accuracy were at least 93.8% (76.6%) and 92.7% (65.5%) for ventricular ectopic beats, at least 98.0% (96.3%) and 54.5% (0%) for couplets and at least 100% (66.6%) and 100% (0%) for salvoes. A sensitivity of 100% was achieved for ventricular ectopic beats on 56% (45%), for couplets on 90% (82%) and for salvoes on 95% (84%) of the AHA tapes (MIT tapes). A positive predictive accuracy of 100% was achieved for ventricular ectopic beats on 49% (52%), for couplets on 76% (61%) and for salvoes on 97% (75%) of the AHA tapes (MIT tapes). Real-time analysis of the Oxford Medilog 4500 proved sufficient for QRS detection and classification of ventricular ectopic beats. The quantification of frequent couplets and salvoes was sufficient, too. Sporadic false-positive detections of complex ventricular ectopic beats produced the false Lown grade IVA/IVB on 10% of the tapes as a consequence. The final computer report must hence be edited by a physician.

Pharmacokinetics of n-propyl-ajmaline-bitartrate in elderly patients with ventricular ectopic activity.

11 patients (9m, 2f, median age 59 years) with ventricular ectopic activity of at least Lown grade III received 20 mg N-Propyl-ajmaline-bitartrate (N-PAB) p.o. Plasma concentrations of N-PAB were determined with HPLC from blood samples within 26 hours after administration. An open two-compartment model was used. In 8 patients with normal function of the liver and the kidneys, the median clearance of N-PAB was 6.86 ml/min/kg and the median volume of distribution was 1.56 l/kg. Two patients had a clearly diminished clearance of 1.58 ml/min/kg without obvious impairment of liver or renal function. One patient with chronic glomerulonephritis (plasma creatinine 3.4 mg/dl) had a N-PAB clearance of 2.79 ml/min/kg. None of the Spearman rank correlation coefficients between the pharmacokinetic parameters of N-PAB with age, plasma albumin/globulin-quotient, plasma creatinine and cholin-esterase were significant. All calculated parameters were in the range determined in young subjects. It is concluded that physiological changes with age do not lead to significant changes of the pharmacokinetics of N-PAB. On the other hand in patients with increased levels of plasma creatinine a diminished clearance of N-PAB can be expected. It is also possible that patients without an obvious impairment of liver or renal function may have diminished N-PAB clearance.

[Differential diagnosis of jaundice by combined noninvasive diagnostic means using a logistic discriminant analysis]. / Differentialdiagnose des Ikterus durch Kombination nichtinvasiver diagnostischer Massnahmen in einer logistischen Diskriminanzanalyse.

Using a logistic discriminant function we retrospectively evaluated the diagnostic value of laboratory features and abdominal sonography in 70 patients with jaundice. 18 patients had an extrahepatic obstruction of the common bile duct (EHO), 22 patients had metastatic liver disease (MLD) and 30 patients had an infectious or toxic hepatocellular disease (HCD). The sensitivity resp. specificity of the 5 laboratory values AP, GGT, GPT, GOT and bilirubin was 22% resp. 90% for diagnosing EHO, 82% resp. 79% for diagnosing MLD and 67% resp. 68% for diagnosing HCD. The diagnostic value determined by their Chi2-value was AP greater than GPT greater than bilirubin greater than GOT greater than GGT. An undoubtedly dilated common bile duct was seen in 56% of the patients with EHO and in none of the other patients. Metastatic lesions were seen exclusively in 81% of the patients with MLD. No distinct sonographic sign could be found for the patients with HCD. The combination of AP, GPT and bilirubin with the result of abdominal sonography in a logistic discriminant function led to a correct a posteriori classification of all patients. Using a mathematical classification model jaundiced patients can be diagnosed on the basis of noninvasive methods alone and invasive procedures should be restricted to therapeutic interventions.

[Dose-effect relation of N-prajmalium bitartrate with control of plasma levels]. / Dosis-Wirkungs-Beziehung von N-Prajmaliumbitartrat unter Plasmaspiegelkontrolle.

15 patients with ventricular ectopic beats classified to at least Lown class III with more than 100 ventricular ectopic beats in one hour were treated with N-prajmalium bitartrate (NPAB) in increasing dosages. The first dosage of 4 X 5 mg/d has been increased by 5 mg in three steps of three days to a level of 4 X 20 mg/d. A resting ECG, the systolic time intervals and a 24 h ECG were registered before treatment and after every dose. The median PQ time increased from 170 msec to 200 msec, the increase becoming significant (p less than 0.05) with a dose of 4 X 5 mg/d NPAB and above. Frequency, QRS and the frequency-corrected QT time did not change significantly. At a dose of 4 X 10 mg/d NPAB the increase of the quotient pre-ejection period to ejection time PEP/LVET became significant, increasing continuously from 0.35 to 0.48. Six of the 15 patients showed a significant reduction of ventricular ectopic beats, couplets and salvoes. In two patients the antiarrhythmic effect was significant at 4 X 5 mg/d. With an increasing dose from 4 X 10 mg/d each responder showed a significant reduction of ventricular ectopy. The lowest effective plasma concentrations ranged from 15 to 213 ng/ml with a median value of 58 ng/ml and an upper quartile of 94 ng/ml. There was no significant difference in plasma concentrations between responders and non-responders.

Automated determination of the right ventricular ejection fraction by digital processing of 81mKr scintigrams.

A method is presented for the automated determination of the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) by digital image processing of scintigrams obtained by intravenous infusion of Krypton 81m (81mKr) dissolved in a glucose solution. End-diastolic and end-systolic sum pictures were computed by the addition of approximately 30-40 frames selected from the time-activity curve of a preliminary, manually drawn, right ventricular region of interest. After processing these two images with an adaptive Wiener filter, the right ventricular contour was determined by a recently developed algorithm using morphological and functional criteria. The RVEF was calculated for a series of 51 patients from the counts in the detected right ventricular regions in the end-diastolic and end-systolic sum images. In 16 patients without evidence of cardiopulmonary disease, the mean RVEF was 50 +/- 6.1%. RVEF was significantly reduced in 18 patients with obstructive pulmonary disease (42 +/- 6.5%) and in 17 patients with congestive cardiomyopathy (36 +/- 7.1%). The correlation coefficient between two determinations of the RVEF was r = 0.94. Through digital image processing, the determination of the RVEF by radioventriculography with 81m Kr showed high reliability and reproducibility.

[Premedication for abdominal sonography--comparison of the efficacy of 2 dimethicone preparations]. / Prämedikation zur abdominellen Sonographie--Vergleich der Wirksamkeit zweier Dimeticon-Präparate.

Two commercially available preparations of dimethycon with different galenic properties (Paractol flüssig, Sab simplex) were tested for their usefulness as a premedication for abdominal sonography. According to the recommendations of the manufacturers each of 20 patients was pretreated with four different galenic preparations of the two substances that were administered in a randomly assigned sequence. 13 abdominal regions of interest were investigated for visualisation of organs and gas interposition. Both groups of drugs clearly improved the quality of imaging of the abdominal vessels and the epigastric structures, but Paractol proved to have significantly better effects. This is possibly due to a higher dosage of dimethycon in Paractol.

Kr-81m for determination of right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF).

A 10--12 mCi 81Rb leads to 81mKr generator was connected to a specially designed short-period infusion set, to produce an equilibrium activity distribution in the right heart. This procedure was tested in 25 individuals to calculate the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF). On average 30 heart cycles were analyzed per study. No background activity from the left heart was visualized because of the radionuclide exhalation. The background from the lungs could be neglected, which is partially due to the ultra-short half-life of the nuclide (t 1/2 = 13 S). Thus, an easy automatic procedure can be applied to delineate the ventricle and to calculate the RVEF. The data showed excellent reproducibility, when investigations were repeated. The method would benefit from use of higher activity generators.

Short-lived radionuclides for the assessment of rapid cardiovascular drug effects.

Continuous monitoring of cardiac output and sequential studies of right ventricular ejection fraction and of fractional myocardial uptake of substances with high cell affinity can be realized using 13N (t 1/2 = 9.6 min) and 81mKr (t 1/2 = 13 sec). Thus, it is possible to measure rapid changes of absolute myocardial blood flow and of the inotropic state of the right heart myocardium. This is shown in patients who underwent interventions with Dipyridamole and with Dobutamine which produce a marked increase in myocardial blood flow or cardiac dynamics, respectively.