[Detection of liver lesions with gadolinium-enhanced VIBE sequence in comparison with SPIO-enhanced MRI]. / Detektion von Leberläsionen mit der Gadolinium-verstärkten VIBE-Sequenz im Vergleich zur SPIO-verstärkten MRT.

PURPOSE: Detection of malignant liver lesions with gadolinium-enhanced volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) in comparison with SPIO-enhanced MRT (four different SPIO-enhanced T2w sequences) and histological and imaging follow-up in non-cirrhotic livers at 1.5 T. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients with suspected focal liver lesions prospectively underwent a gadolinium-enhanced 3D VIBE. Four T2w sequences (HASTE sequence, fast spin-echo-sequence with and without fat-saturation, FLASH 2D gradient echo-sequence) after administration of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) served as gold standard combined with histological work-up in 17 patients and histological and imaging follow-up in five patients. The image quality was evaluated and the detectability of intrahepatic lesions was rated by the alternative free-response receiver operating characteristic (AFROC) analysis. In addition, the contrast-to-noise ratio was compared. RESULTS: Altogether 49 malignant and 35 benign liver lesions were found. Concerning the image quality, VIBE turned out to be of slightly poorer image quality than the SPIO-enhanced examination with HASTE sequence (4.95 vs. 5.0). The fast spin-echo-sequence without fat-saturation demonstrated the highest contrast-to-noise ratio. All sequences showed a comparable certainty in detecting lesion (area under the curve 0.68-0.73) and identifying malignant liver lesions. CONCLUSION: Despite the small number of patients, VIBE seems to be a comparable, inexpensive and fast method in diagnosing malignant liver lesions.

Biosynthesis of phytochelatins in the fission yeast. Phytochelatin synthesis: a second role for the glutathione synthetase gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

By complementation screening of a cadmium-sensitive Schizosaccharomyces pombe mutant deficient in phytochelatin synthesis, but with 44% of the wild-type glutathione content, we cloned a DNA fragment involved in phytochelatin synthesis. Sequence analysis revealed that it encodes the second enzyme involved in glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis, glutathione synthetase (GSH2) (E.C.6.3.2.3, Wang and Oliver, 1997). The mutant allele shows a single base-pair exchange at the 3' end of the reading frame leading to a single amino acid change from glycine to aspartate. This mutation leads to a significant reduction of phytochelatin synthesis, whereas glutathione synthesis is impaired to a far lesser extent. Complementation with the Arabidopsis thaliana GSH2 cDNA led to a partial restoration of phytochelatin synthesis. These data strongly suggest that the GSH2 gene encodes a bifunctional enzyme that is able to catalyse both the synthesis of GSH by adding glycine to the dipeptide (gammaGlu-Cys) and the synthesis of phytochelatins. The sequence has been submitted to EMBL, Accession No. Y08414.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type VI (EDS VI): problems of diagnosis and management.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type VI (EDS VI) is a rare autosomal recessively inherited connective tissue disorder, which poses several problems of diagnosis and management. We report on a patient who developed severe kyphoscoliosis long before the diagnosis was reached. We conclude that early biochemical diagnosis and a timely operative procedure by extensive posterior instrumentation is the basis for successful management of this disorder.

Hydrogen sulfide in parenteral amino-acid solutions.

We have previously reported appreciable concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in paediatric amino-acid solutions, apparently formed from cysteine during the production process. Since manufacturers assured us of their aim to reduce the contents of the potentially toxic H2S in these solutions, we determined whether lower amounts have been achieved 2 years after our first report. Median H2S content of 13 paediatric amino-acid solutions was 22.8 microg/l (range: not detectable to > 280 microg/l which is comparable to the amounts previously found. Median H2S content of 8 special solutions for renal and hepatic disorders was 15.8 microg/l (range not detectable to > 280 microg/l). We conclude that manufacturers should make further efforts to reduce H2S amounts in parenteral amino-acid solutions.

Congenital blindness with ocular developmental anomalies, including retinal dysplasia, in Doberman Pinscher dogs.

Hereditary, congenital blindness was studied in 15 Doberman Pinscher pups. The eyes were smaller than normal, and there was complete absence of the anterior chamber, aphakia, retinal detachment, and dysplasia as well as an irregular swelling and partial depigmentation of the retinal pigment epithelial cells. It was concluded that the condition was inherited as a recessive, autosomal trait.