High-rate x-ray spectroscopy in mammography with a CdTe detector: a digital pulse processing approach.

PURPOSE: Direct measurement of mammographic x-ray spectra under clinical conditions is a difficult task due to the high fluence rate of the x-ray beams as well as the limits in the development of high resolution detection systems in a high counting rate environment. In this work we present a detection system, based on a CdTe detector and an innovative digital pulse processing (DPP) system, for high-rate x-ray spectroscopy in mammography. METHODS: The DPP system performs a digital pile-up inspection and a digital pulse height analysis of the detector signals, digitized through a 14-bit, 100 MHz digitizer, for x-ray spectroscopy even at high photon counting rates. We investigated on the response of the digital detection system both at low (150 cps) and at high photon counting rates (up to 500 kcps) by using monoenergetic x-ray sources and a nonclinical molybdenum anode x-ray tube. Clinical molybdenum x-ray spectrum measurements were also performed by using a pinhole collimator and a custom alignment device. RESULTS: The detection system shows excellent performance up to 512 kcps with an energy resolution of 4.08% FWHM at 22.1 keV. Despite the high photon counting rate (up to 453 kcps), the molybdenum x-ray spectra, measured under clinical conditions, are characterized by a low number of pile-up events. The agreement between the attenuation curves and the half value layer values, obtained from the measured spectra, simulated spectra, and from the exposure values directly measured with an ionization chamber, also shows the accuracy of the measurements. CONCLUSIONS: These results make the proposed detection system a very attractive tool for both laboratory research and advanced quality controls in mammography.

Visual evoked potentials altered by serum IgG of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Immunoglobulin G, isolated from serum of patients with multiple sclerosis was repeatedly injected into guinea pigs and serial visual evoked potentials were recorded. Latency changes indicated a reversible delay in conduction velocity in the central visual pathways. This finding suggests that some component of immunoglobulin plays a role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis.

[The clinical usefulness of tumor markers in thyroid neoplastic pathology. Our experience]. / Utilizzazione clinica dei markers oncologici nella patologia neoplastica della tiroide. Nostra esperienza.

The authors report on the last 100 cases of intervention in which thyroid pathology has been used and also prove how, in their experience, thyroglobulin is an MO, highly specific for CDT. In some cases its dosage changes even in the course of benign thyroid pathology but the value has never exceeded, in these cases, twice the norm. This also confirms, therefore the importance of this MO for the follow up of patients operated on using CDT.

[Primary mucinous carcinoid of the ovary]. / Il carcinoide mucinoso primitivo dell'ovaio.

A case of primary mucinous carcinoid of the ovary observed in a 52-year-old woman is reported after some remarks on the various histogenetic theories. The observation of this extremely rare cancer was fortuitous during surgery carried out for benign pathology in the contralateral organ. Careful postoperative controls absolutely excluded the possibility of a metastatic tumour. The patient was treated by combining surgery with chemotherapy and eight months after operation is apparently free of cancer.

[Splenic pseudoaneurysms following acute pancreatitis]. / Gli pseudoaneurismi splenici conseguenti a pancreatite acuta.

Splenic artery pseudoaneurysms are the most common of visceral artery pseudoaneurysms. Splenic pseudoaneurysms appear to have developed as a consequence of inflammatory processes adjacent to the splenic artery, particularly acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis with associated pseudocysts. They are often asymptomatic and picked up on abdominal examination for ultrasound or CT scanning for other conditions. Complications include rupture with retroperitoneal hemorrhage or intraperitoneal hemorrhage. Two cases of splenic pseudoaneurysms, following acute pancreatitis, are reported between the years 1987 and 1996.

[Intralobular pulmonary sequestration: apropos a case]. / La sequestrazione polmonare intralobare: a proposito di un caso.

The authors report their experience with a patient suffering from an intralobar bronchopulmonary sequestration (IBS). The lesion was misdiagnosed as metapneumonic lung abscess. IBS is a rare, diagnostically binding lung congenital malformation. So far, TC and MR angiography achieve pathognomonic findings with low invasivity. The best treatment of IBS could be surgical resection.

Two-dimensional, M-mode and Doppler-derived echocardiographic parameters in sedated healthy growing female sheep.

Despite the fact that sheep are a widely used animal model in cardiovascular research, reference values for transthoracic echocardiography in normal growing animals are not available. Eight healthy female lambs underwent two-dimensional, M-mode and pulsed wave Doppler echocardiographic examination at 100 days of age and every three months thereafter over a 12-month period. The study was conducted under sedation with midazolam, butorphanol and constant rate infusion of intravenous propofol. Their growth phase was completed at about one year of age. All the echocardiographic parameters considered were significantly correlated with body weight and age class except for the left ventricular systolic and diastolic diameters. Functional indices were not correlated to body weight or age except for the E-point to septal separation distance (EPSS). Doppler-derived parameters were not influenced by independent variables. Transthoracic echocardiography can be considered an applicable method for cardiovascular research using a growing lamb animal model after appropriate adjustments for age and body size.

The effects of different environmental conditions on thermoregulation and clinical and hematological variables in long-distance road-transported calves.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of long-distance road transport (19 h, from Poland to Italy) during 2 seasons (summer vs. winter) on clinical and hematological variables in calves. The environmental temperature range that could compromise the thermoregulation system (thermal stress) of the calves was tested. For the 7 Holstein calves in each transport, the BW and rectal temperature (RT) were measured, and blood samples were collected at the farm of origin, before loading at the transit center (T2), after unloading at the farm of destination (T3), and 1, 2, 3, and 4 d after arrival. The body temperature (BT) and heart rate (HR) were continuously monitored from T2 to T3. The data were statistically analyzed according to a mixed model that considered the fixed effects of transport (repeated measurements), season of journey, and their interaction. Within the observed temperature-humidity index (THI) range (30 to 80), effective thermoregulation allowed the calves to maintain their BT with small physiologic changes to prevent thermal stress, particularly in the summer. With no seasonal differences, the HR was greater at loading than unloading (120 vs. 115 beats per min; P = 0.012). As for the transport effect, the BW was less (P < 0.001) after unloading, and the RT was greater (P = 0.004). This effect was more marked in summer. The hematological variables indicated a moderate effect of transport on the hydration condition, reactive and muscular systems, and metabolism, although hematocrit (P = 0.004), erythrocytes, cortisol, NEFA, ß-hydroxybutyrate, lactate, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and aspartate aminotransferase activity (P < 0.001), and total protein (P = 0.007) were greater after unloading. This was confirmed by a moderate decrease in total leukocytes (P = 0.031) and glucose concentration (P = 0.002). The changes in the clinical variables were similar for both seasons even though in the summer, hematocrit (P < 0.001), urea (P = 0.008), and total protein (P = 0.010) increased and glucose concentration (P = 0.038) decreased. In conclusion, the data did not show a pronounced effect attributable to the season of the journey. Long-distance road transport leads to notable changes in clinical and hematological variables at the end of the journey. However, these variables remained within their physiological ranges and returned to basal values within a few days after the journey.

Relationship between milk fatty acid composition and dietary roughage source in dairy cows.

According to a 2 x 2 crossover design, 14 Holstein dairy cows were fed two isoenergetic diets based on either grass hay (GH) or maize silage (MS). Milk samples were collected during the third week of each period, and fatty acid (FA) profiles were analyzed using gas chromatography. The data obtained were subjected to ANOVA. Dietary treatment had no effect on either dry matter intake or milk yield. Milk from animals fed the GH-diet contained lower concentrations of saturated FAs (61.9 vs. 63.4% of total FAs; P < 0.05) and higher levels of polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) (6.1 vs. 5.8; P < 0.01). Feeding additional hay also increased conjugated linoleic acid and n-3 FA levels and decreased C16:0 levels. Increases in both PUFAs and n-3 FAs resulted in lower (P < 0.01) atherogenic and thrombogenic indices in milk from animals fed the GH diet compared with those fed the MS diet. A complete substitution of GH for MS appeared to improve milk FA profiles, even using different types of concentrates to provide a balanced diet.

Urban hospital reaches out to its area's aged.

In the medically underserved Bronx, NY, a hospital's gerontology center provides screening, health education, and outpatient services to elderly residents in the community.

[Pressure and metabolic effects of terazosin in essential hypertension]. / Effetti pressori e metabolici della terazosina nell'ipertensione essenziale.

To assess the efficacy and safety of different doses of the alpha-1 blocker terazosin on long-term therapy, 12 essential hypertensives (7 males, 5 females, aged 27-61) were investigated. The study was conducted according to the Latin square design and each patient underwent 4 periods of treatment with 2, 5, 10 mg/day terazosin and placebo, in a double-blind, randomized order. Each treatment lasted 4 weeks. In comparison to placebo, a fall in diastolic pressure was observed already with the 2 mg/daily dose, with a decrease > 10 mmHg in 7 patients (responders). Body weight increased in a dose dependent manner, while atrial natriuretic peptide, serum glucose and insulin during oral glucose tolerance test, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides were unaffected. It is concluded that terazosin is effective and safe in essential hypertensives already at 2 mg daily dose. Further reduction in blood pressure at higher doses is likely to be counteracted by salt and water retention.

Spirometric lung function. Distribution and determinants of test failure in a young adult population.

Spirometric test failure has been defined as failure by a subject to meet the acceptability and/or reproducibility criteria laid down by the American Thoracic Society for measurements derived from forced expiratory maneuvers. The prevalence and determinants of spirometric test failure were examined in 416 men and women aged 20 to 45 yr working in an office environment. In this study population, 11.5% (28 men and 20 women) exhibited test failure for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). The main determinant of test failure in men was bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine challenge (odds ratio 6.7; confidence interval 1.7, 27.1) and in women being a current smoker (odds ratio 4.02; confidence interval 1.13, 14.33). There was also a relationship to eczema in both men and women, but not at a statistically significant level. When FEV1 variability was defined as the difference (in milliliters) between the two best FEV1 values and the results of men and women combined for analysis, significant predictors were a history of eczema, recurrent chest illness in the past 3 yr, and level of bronchial responsiveness to inhaled methacholine. These findings contribute to the gathering evidence that test failure may be of itself an indicator of impaired respiratory health, and its association with bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine in men suggests that in them test failure is related to airway lability, but in women the relationship to smoking suggests an irritative mechanism.