[The magnetic resonance imaging of abdominal aortic aneurysms]. / L'imaging con Risonanza Magnetica degli aneurismi dell'aorta addominale.

The diagnostic role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was investigated in the study of abdominal aortic aneurysms and compared with that of Computed Tomography (CT) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Magnetic Resonance angiography (MRA) was performed on 21 patients with radiologically proved abdominal aortic aneurysms, using a superconductive 1.5 T magnet (GE, Signa Advantage); the 2D TOF technique with gradient-echo sequences was used (SPGR: FA 45-60 degrees, TR/TE 33/7, ST 2 mm, 1 nex, 256 x 128 matrix, inferior presaturation and flow compensation). The images acquired on the axial plane were reconstructed according to MIP and rotated on the z-axis from +90 degrees to -90 degrees. In all cases SE 2D T1- and T2-weighted sequences were acquired on the axial plane. Twelve patients were examined with MRI, CT and DSA; 3 with MRI and CT; 2 with MRI and DSA and finally 4 with MRI only. The radiologic studies were then reviewed blind and the results of the different methods compared. In all cases MRI yielded similar information to CT and DSA as to aneurysm extent and size, vessel involvement, status of visceral, iliac and common femoral arteries and finally the conditions of perianeurysmatic tissues. The authors conclude that MRI is a useful and accurate technique for the preoperative examination of abdominal aortic aneurysm patients.

Comparative effects of ibopamine and captopril in mild congestive heart failure. Focus on the long-term effects of inodilation on ventricular arrhythmias.

Twenty-three patients with mild heart failure (I-II NYHA classes) on digitalis and diuretics were assigned to the following treatment in a random and double-blind fashion: ibopamine-captopril, ibopamine-placebo, captopril-placebo, and placebo-placebo. The doses of captopril and ibopamine were respectively 25 mg t.i.d. and 100 mg t.i.d. The incremental exercise time (until exhaustion) and the peak VO2 (oxygen consumption), the indexes of left ventricular function (by echo and nuclear stethoscope) and ventricular arrhythmias (evaluated by prolonged Holter monitoring) were assessed before randomization, at 45 days and at 3 months. Ejection fraction, exercise time, peak VO2, ventricular arrhythmias and heart rate (at rest and during exercise) appeared to be equally unaffected by each treatment. Our results show that ibopamine exerts no significant effects on either heart rate or ventricular arrhythmias and that indexes of left ventricular function are not modified by any treatment in mild congestive heart failure.

[Afferent loop syndrome as an epiphenomenon of neoplasms of the gastric stump]. / La sindrome dell'ansa afferente come epifenomeno della neoplasia del moncone gastrico.

A clinical case is the basis for a report on the possibility that afferent loop syndrome might present as an epiphenomenon in gastric stump cancer. Stress is laid above all on the rarity of the syndrome and on the clinical and diagnostic difficulties of demonstrating it. The possibility that it might be a pointer to a pathology of greater clinical importance is pointed out.