Varices in portal hypertension: evaluation with CT.

The portosystemic collateral channels that can develop in portal hypertension are numerous, widespread, and varied in appearance. The reported prevalences of varices at each anatomic site vary according to the diagnostic modality used. Dynamic computed tomography (CT) performed with a bolus of contrast material demonstrates collateral vessels with exquisite detail. On CT scans, varices appear as well-defined found, tubular, or serpentine structures that are smooth, have homogeneous attenuation, and enhance with contrast material to the same degree as adjacent vessels. In 60 consecutive patients with varices and evidence of cirrhosis, the most common portosystemic collateral channels were coronary venous collateral vessels in the lesser omentum, seen in 80% of cases. Esophageal, paraumbilical, abdominal wall, perisplenic, retrogastric, paraesophageal, omental, retroperitoneal-paravertebral, and mesenteric varices were also found, along with spontaneous splenorenal and gastrorenal shunts. Knowledge of the CT appearance and the prevalence of varices at each anatomic site will improve diagnostic accuracy.

Effects of diatrizoate and iopamidol on spermatogenesis.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The biological effects of iodinated contrast media were examined by using spermatogenesis in mouse testis as the experimental model. METHODS: Spermhead survival and abnormality assays were used as the biological end points. Diatrizoate meglumine/diatrizoate sodium and iopamidol were administered intravenously at equal rates and concentrations. Testicular uptake and clearance of these contrast agents were examined by high-performance liquid chromatography techniques. Appropriate mannitol solutions were employed as osmolality controls. RESULTS: Intravenous administration of the contrast agent or its respective mannitol control resulted in approximately a 30% decrease in spermhead count. A dose-related experiment with mannitol demonstrated that the spermhead count decreased rapidly until 600 mOsm/kg was reached, beyond which this decrease was minimal. Clearance of both contrast media was complete in approximately 4 hours. No significant increase in the induction of spermhead abnormalities was observed. CONCLUSION: Osmotic substances, such as iodinated contrast agents, affect the process of spermatogenesis.

Vascular interventions in the abdomen: current status.

Vascular and interventional radiology has grown at a remarkable pace due to three major factors. Firstly, many disease processes are now amenable to definitive diagnosis and management in a less invasive manner, by the radiologist. Secondly, most interventional procedures have low and acceptable complication and morbidity rates compared to surgery. Additionally, an interventive procedure does not preclude the patient from having a surgical procedure, if subsequently deemed necessary. Thirdly, the continuing surge and development of new innovative technology has provided for increased safety and better results. The advent of digital subtraction angiography, small balloon catheters, safe-guide wires, expandable stents, new thrombolytic agents and non-ionic contrast media have all contributed significantly to the expansion of interventional radiology.

Assay of radiographic contrast agents in mice plasma and testes by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A new buffer system is reported for the analysis of radiographic contrast agents (RCAs) sodium meglumine diatrizoate, iohexol, and iopamidol in mice plasma and testes, on a reversed-phase HPLC with UV detection. The buffer consisting of 0.1 M NaH2PO4, 0.2 mM Na2EDTA adjusted to pH 3.1 with orthophosphoric acid and 2.5-5.0% acetonitrile (v/v) resolved RCA peaks for clear quantitation. The main advantages of this system are the ambient temperature of operation and direct sample injection without prior sample purification as required in the earlier procedures. Using this procedure, uptake and clearance kinetics of these RCAs were studied in mice plasma and testes, following iv injections via tail veins. The plasma levels of all the RCAs reached maxima between 5 and 15 min and dropped down sharply. At the end of 12 h they were virtually undetected (detection limits 0.64-0.71 micrograms/mL). The testicular levels also showed a similar trend and reached undetectable levels after 4 h. There were no signs of metabolism of these RCAs in plasma or testes. The present clearance kinetics in plasma compares very well with earlier reports of non-HPLC methods of assay.

Physical localization of 70 polymorphic markers to human chromosome 5 by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

We used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to prepare a cytogenetic framework map of 21 polymorphic markers that had been used previously to construct a genetic linkage anchor map of chromosome 5. In addition, we localized 49 other markers that have been genotyped on CEPH families. This study demonstrates that FISH can be used to confirm genetic linkage data, and that it can provide a means of determining the cytogenetic locations and relative order of markers whose order could not be assigned by genetic linkage analysis alone. The cytogenetic map prepared by FISH may help to identify probes of interest for regional mapping studies.

Localization of the human urate oxidase gene (UOX) to 1p22.

The human urate oxidase (E.C.1.7.3.3) gene, UOX, is assigned to chromosome 1 by Southern analysis of human x hamster cell hybrids. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization, we have mapped this gene to 1p22.

Mapping chromosome band 11q23 in human acute leukemia with biotinylated probes: identification of 11q23 translocation breakpoints with a yeast artificial chromosome.

Translocations involving chromosome 11, band q23, are frequent recurring abnormalities in human acute lymphoblastic and acute myeloid leukemia. We used 19 biotin-labeled probes derived from genes and anonymous cosmids for hybridization to metaphase chromosomes from leukemia cells that contained four translocations involving band 11q23: t(4;11)(q21;q23), t(6;11)(q27;q23), t(9;11)(p22;q23), and t(11;19)(q23;p13). The location of the cosmid probes relative to the breakpoint in 11q23 was the same in all translocations. Of the cosmid clones containing known genes, CD3D was proximal and PBGD, THY1, SRPR, and ETS1 were distal to the breakpoint on 11q23. Hybridization of genomic DNA from a yeast clone containing yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs), that carry 320 kilobases (kb) of human DNA including CD3D and CD3G genes, showed that the YACs were split in all four translocations. These results indicate that the breakpoint at 11q23 in each of these translocations occurs within the 320 kb encompassed by these YACs; whether the breakpoint within the YACs is precisely the same in the different translocations is presently unknown.

Incidental abnormalities detected during scintigraphy for gastrointestinal bleeding.

The authors describe a number of abnormalities that were incidentally found in a series of 132 scintigraphic studies performed for acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage. These incidental abnormalities involved the vascular system, reticuloendothelial system, and soft tissues. Correlative radiographs and computed tomographic scans are presented for some cases. The authors explore the potential impact of these abnormalities on subsequent patient evaluation and care, including radiologic workup.

Technical development: a modified pigtail catheter for transbrachial aortography.

A high flow right angled 5 gauge polyethylene pigtail catheter was used in 24 patients for aorto-femoral angiography via the transbrachial approach. Its small size and right angled configuration allow easy, rapid introduction of the catheter into the abdominal aorta.

Ruptured mycotic aneurysms.

Two cases of ruptured mycotic aneurysms in intravenous drug abusers are presented. The pathogenesis, clinical presentation, radiological diagnosis, and management of mycotic aneurysms are discussed. Early diagnosis and therapy are required to salvage these patients.

Fraley's syndrome: case report and update on current diagnostic methods.

A 38-year-old woman presented with fever, right flank pain, and a clinical diagnosis of pyelonephritis. Work-up revealed the presence of a crossing arterial branch causing obstruction of the superior infundibulum of the right kidney, which is an uncommon cause of nephralgia and urinary infection initially described by Fraley in 1966. Intravenous urography, retrograde pyelography, and angiography remain the mainstay of diagnosis, much as in the initial descriptions of this entity. [131I]Hippuran imaging, with analysis of the upper and lower pole regions of interest, provides a simple yet powerful method of evaluating functional and excretory changes in the superior infundibulum, and has proved more efficacious than previously reported whole-kidney renograms. Renal scintigraphy represents a relatively noninvasive method of serial functional examination in this disorder. Ultrasound imaging, by monitoring upper-pole dilatation, may provide complementary morphologic information important for long-term follow-up.

Rupture of an aortic dissection into the pericardium.

This case report illustrates the angiographic demonstration of a hemopericardium in aortic dissection. A dense collection of contrast and/or a "halo" sign may be seen in the pericardial cavity.

Malignant paragangliomas of the retroperitoneum: value of computed tomography and angiography.

Four patients with malignant paragangliomas of the retroperitoneum were examined by computed tomography. Angiography was performed in two patients. Computed tomography guided the surgeon in obtaining a biopsy and in considering the possibility of resection. Angiography demonstrated the vascular supply and vascularity of the tumours. Pathological correlation was made.