Emerging methods in radiology.

Imaging modalities have developed rapidly in recent decades. In addition to improved resolution as well as whole-body and faster image acquisition, the possibilities of functional and molecular examination of tissue pathophysiology have had a decisive influence on imaging diagnostics and provided ground-breaking knowledge. Many promising approaches are currently being pursued to increase the application area of devices and contrast media and to improve their sensitivity and quantitative informative value. These are complemented by new methods of data processing, multiparametric data analysis, and integrated diagnostics. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of technological innovations that will enrich clinical imaging in the future, and to highlight the resultant diagnostic options. These relate to the established imaging methods such as CT, MRI, ultrasound, PET, and SPECT but also to new methods such as magnetic particle imaging (MPI), optical imaging, and photoacoustics. In addition, approaches to radiomic image evaluation are explained and the chances and difficulties for their broad clinical introduction are discussed. The potential of imaging to describe pathophysiological relationships in ever increasing detail, both at whole-body and tissue level, can in future be used to better understand the mechanistic effect of drugs, to preselect patients to therapies, and to improve monitoring of therapy success. Consequently, the use of interdisciplinary integrated diagnostics will greatly change and enrich the profession of radiologists.

[Functional relations of the adrenal cortex, thyroid and pineal body. II. Adrenal cortex reaction following epiphysectomy and administration of melatonin]. / Zur Frage funktioneller Beziehungen zwischen Nebennierenrinden, Schilddrüsen und Epiphysis cerebri. Teil II: Nebennierenrindenreaktionen nach Epiphysektomie sowie Melatoninapplikation.

Histologic-cytological and morphometrical changes were investigated in the adrenal cortex of male Wistar-rats following pinealectomy and application of melatonin in eu-, hypo-, and hyperthyroid situations. A rat experiment (at an average of 45 d) to find a possible functional connection between the pineal gland and the adrenal cortex was carried out. In the literature, there are only a few of informations about the role of the pineal in regulating ACTH secretion. The results are very contrarily. We found that pinealectomy is connected with a progressive transformation and melatonin with a little regressive transformation in the adrenal cortex. But, it is not evident, that the glomerular zone is activated after both pinealectomy and application of melatonin. In our opinion, the glomerular zone and the secretion of aldosterone increased after as well pinealectomy as melatonin. Application of melatonin diminishes the function of the pineal gland (see group 4-pinealectomy plus melatonin-where was found a progressive transformation). Under these experimental conditions, one can speak of a "pharmacological pinealectomy" after application of melatonin alone. However, the effect of melatonin on the fascicular zone and the glomerular zone is different. The effects of pinealectomy or application of melatonin in combination with methylthiouracil or thyroxin are relatively unimportant.

[Functional relations between the adrenal cortex, thyroid gland and pineal body. I. Reactions of the adrenal cortex following interference with the thyroid regulatory cycle]. / Zur Frage funktioneller Beziehungen zwischen Nebennierenrinden, Schilddrüsen und Epiphysis cerebri. Teil I: Nebennierenrindenreaktionen nach Eingriffen am Schilddrüsenregelkreis.

Histologic-cytological and morphometrical changes were investigated in the adrenal cortex of male Wistar-rats in experimental hypo- and hyperthyroid situation. Under hypothyroid metabolism's situation (methylthiouracil-application or thyroidectomy) a regressive transformation was found: It is a decrease of secretion of the fascicular zone. The glomerular zone was activated. After long-time application of high dosis of thyroxin, the histological findings show some criteria of an increasing function and also of a beginning exhaustion, too. It is evident, that the duration of the hyperthyroid situation is important. Thyroxin is an unspecific stressor. The long-time application of high thyroxin dosis induced a regressive transformation and atrophic changes in the adrenal cortex. The nuclei of the fascicular and the glomerular zone were diminuated significantly.

[Morphological studies on the adrenal cortex of Wistar rats following lead poisoning and experimental hypothyroidism]. / Morphologische Untersuchungen and den Nebennierenrindenzonen von Wistar-Ratten nach Bleiintoxikation und experimenteller Hypothyreose.

In a chronic experiment, male Wistar-rats were treated alone and in combination with methylthiouracil and lead acetate. Additionally, the animals of 2 groups were thyroidectomised. The suprarenal organs were investigated gravimetrically. Histologic-cytological and caryometrical investigations were made on the suprarenal cortex. After lead acetate application in the cortex, strong histologic-cytological alterations were obtained. There are marked damages especially in the zona fasciculata; a great number of pycnotic nuclei, a small subcapsular blastem, and a spreading out of the zona reticularis are observed. The size of nuclei is significantly diminished. These results indicated a regressive transformation and a toxic effect is discussed. After application of methylthiouracil or thyroidectomy, a regression transformation is found too. Cellular degenerations in all zones of the cortex are rarely or not obtained. As well methylthiourail as thyroidectomy diminish the weights of suprarenal organs high significantly. These results are not found after combined application of methylthiouracil and lead acetate. Methylthiouracil reduced the effect of lead acetate. The results allow to draw the following conclusion: In our opinion, a hypothetic methylthiouracil-lead-compound is built. This interpretation is supported by the persistent effect of lead acetate whenever lead acetate is combined with thyroidectomy.