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Biomedical subjects

R T Go

Publications and source records attributed to R T Go.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Ineffectiveness of dipyridamole SPECT thallium imaging as a screening technique for coronary artery disease in patients with end-stage renal failure.

The efficacy of dipyridamole single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) thallium as a screening test for coronary artery disease (CAD), was studied in 45 patients with end-stage renal failure undergoing evaluation for renal transplantation. Coronary arteriography, dipyridamole SPECT thallium imaging and clinical follow-up were performed in all patients. Nineteen patients (42%) had an obstruction of 50% or more in at least one coronary artery. Fourteen patients had a positive thallium scan, but 7 of these were false-positives (sensitivity 37%, specificity 73%). The sensitivity was considerably lower than that quoted for non-ESRF patients in the literature, and significantly lower than a control group of 19 patients without ESRF having comparable severity and distribution of CAD. Five of the 6 patients who died of cardiac causes over a mean follow-up period of 25 months had normal thallium imaging, but all had significant coronary artery disease at cardiac catheterization. Dipyridamole SPECT thallium imaging has not proved a useful screening test for angiographically significant CAD, and does not predict cardiac prognosis in this population.

Adult↗

A prospective comparison of rubidium-82 PET and thallium-201 SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging utilizing a single dipyridamole stress in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

The purpose of the present study is to prospectively compare myocardial perfusion imaging with rubidium-82 (82Rb) by positron emission tomography (PET) with thallium-201 (201Tl) imaging by single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) by recording both studies with a single dipyridamole handgrip stress, and reading both sets of images with the same display technique. In a series of 202 patients with previous coronary arteriography, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 82Rb PET were 93%, 78%, and 90% and for 201Tl SPECT 76%, 80%, and 77%, respectively. When 70 patients with previous therapeutic interventions were excluded, the remaining 132 patients showed a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 95%, 82% and 92% for 82Rb PET and 79%, 76%, and 78% for 201Tl SPECT. The improved contrast resolution of PET resulted in markedly superior images and a more confident identification of defects.

Coronary Circulation↗

The incorporation of tibial allografts in total knee arthroplasty.

Twelve knees in ten patients had revision total knee replacement with insertion of an allograft for a large tibial defect. The knees were retrospectively evaluated at an average of thirty-two months (range, twenty-five to fifty-one months) by clinical examination, radiography, planar bone scintigraphy, and single-photon-emission computed tomography. The average age of the patients was sixty-two years (range, fifty-four to seventy-nine years). A constrained total-condylar prosthesis was used for all revisions. A contained tibial defect was present in five knees, and seven knees had an uncontained defect that was treated with a massive composite structural allograft, five of which were secured with internal fixation. The knee scores improved from an average of 51 points before operation to an average of 87 points post-operatively. Seven knees had a score of 85 points or more and were considered to have an excellent clinical result. Two knees had a good result, with scores of 77 and 72 points. One knee had another revision because of painful non-union of a medial structural graft, and the result in that knee was considered a failure. The average range of motion improved from 84 degrees to 105 degrees. There were no deep infections, and no graft showed evidence of fracture or collapse. Radiographs demonstrated complete incorporation of the graft in eleven of the twelve knees at an average of twenty-three months after operation. Single-photon-emission computed-tomography scans showed uniform activity in the area of the graft in four of the five knees that were studied.

Aged↗

Conditions of radioiodination with iodogen as oxidizing agent.

Different factors that give the maximum iodination of proteins by iodogen method have been evaluated. The quantity of iodogen was varied from 2 to 20 micrograms; pH from 3 to 9; the quantity of bovine serum albumin (BSA) from 25 micrograms to 2 mg; the 131I activity from 200 microCi to 5 mCi and the reaction time from 2 to 30 min. The maximum iodination of proteins is achieved with iodogen-to-iodide molar ratio of 100-200 and iodogen-to-protein molar ratio of 1-2 at pH 6-8 for 10-15 min at room temperature.

Animals↗

Verification of Fourier phase and amplitude values from simulated heart motion using a hydrodynamic cardiac model.

Using pusher-plate-type artificial hearts, changes in the degree of synchrony and stroke volume were compared to phase and amplitude calculations from the first Fourier component of individual-pixel time-activity curves generated from gated radionuclide images (RNA) of these hearts. In addition, the ability of Fourier analysis to quantify paradoxical volume shifts was tested using a ventricular aneurysm model by which the Fourier amplitude was correlated to known increments of paradoxical volume. Predetermined phase-angle differences (incremental increases in asynchrony) and the mean phase-angle difference calculated from RNAs showed an agreement of -7 degrees +/- 4.4 degrees (mean +/- SD). A strong correlation was noted between stroke volume and Fourier amplitude (r = 0.98; P less than 0.0001) as well as between the paradoxical volume accepted by the 'aneurysm' and the Fourier amplitude (r = 0.97; P less than 0.0001). The degree of asynchrony and changes in stroke volume were accurately reflected by the Fourier phase and amplitude values, respectively. In the specific case of ventricular aneurysms, the data demonstrate that using this method, the paradoxically moving areas may be localized, and the expansile volume within these regions can be quantified.

Fourier Analysis↗

Prediction of improvement in left ventricular function after ventricular aneurysmectomy using Fourier phase and amplitude analysis of radionuclide cardiac blood pool scans.

Postoperative improvement in left ventricular (LV) function is a common objective of LV aneurysmectomy, but is difficult to predict. The first Fourier component of time-activity curves of pre- and postoperative gated radionuclide angiographic studies was evaluated for this purpose in 20 patients who had undergone aneurysmectomy. LV aneurysms had portions that characteristically exhibited marked phase delay with varying degrees of amplitude. Total aneurysmal amplitude was obtained preoperatively by summing the amplitude component of all pixels that exhibited phase delay, suggesting paradoxical motion. LV ejection fraction (EF) before and after aneurysmectomy and the absolute postoperative increase in LVEF were calculated. Nine of 20 patients had an absolute increase of EF less than 10% despite resection of large aneurysms. A strong correlation was found between the absolute increase in EF after aneurysmectomy and the total amplitude within paradoxically moving areas (r = 0.93, p less than 0.0001). Thus, preoperative measurement of the total paradoxical amplitude predicts absolute change in EF and may be important in selecting patients for aneurysmectomy. The data also suggest that the total aneurysmal amplitude reflects the stroke volume ejected into an aneurysm in systole and that paradoxical expansion of an aneurysm contributes to LV dysfunction in some of these patients.

Adult↗

Videodensitometric ejection fraction from intravenous digital subtraction right ventriculograms: correlation with first pass radionuclide ejection fraction.

Thirty-one consecutive patients undergoing intravenous blurred mask digital subtraction right ventriculography were submitted to first pass radionuclide angiography. Second order mask resubtraction of end-diastolic and end-systolic right ventricular digital image frames was executed using preinjection end-diastolic and end-systolic frames to rid the digital subtraction images of mis-registration artifact. End-diastolic and end-systolic perimeters were drawn manually by two independent observers with a light pen. Ejection fractions calculated from the integrated videodensitometric counts within these perimeters correlated well with those derived from the first pass radionuclide right ventriculogram (r = 0.84) and the interobserver correlation was acceptable (r = 0.91). Interobserver differences occurred more frequently in patients with atrial fibrillation and in those whose tricuspid valve planes were difficult to discern on the digital subtraction right ventriculograms. These results suggest that videodensitometric analysis of digital subtraction right ventriculograms is an accurate method of determining right ventricular ejection fraction and may find wide clinical applicability.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Gated cardiac magnetic resonance structural imaging: optimization by electronic axial rotation.

Most magnetic resonance imaging has used body orthogonal axes with the Z axis placed along the length of the body and the X and Y axes at right angles to the body. This orientation is not optimum for the heart; visualization of sections along the short and long cardiac axes would best define cardiac structural detail and functional status. The new orientation was accomplished by selection of electronic angulation of the magnetic fields for each subject rather than by attempting to approximate the cardiac axes by altering the position of the patient. This technique improved visualization of comparative wall segments, valvular structures, and the true four-chamber view of the heart, and also gave the best visualization of the pericardium. In addition, more accurate estimates of chamber size and myocardial mass can be made from the short-axis orientation, since the sections are orthogonal to the myocardium.

Cardiomegaly↗

Videodensitometric ejection fractions from intravenous digital subtraction left ventriculograms: correlation with conventional direct contrast and radionuclide ventriculography.

Forty-three patients who had undergone direct-contrast ventriculography were submitted to intravenous digital subtraction ventriculography and first-pass radionuclide ventriculography to compare the left ventricular ejection fractions obtained by each method. Ejection fractions were calculated by the area-length method from the direct contrast ventriculograms, by both area-length and videodensitometric methods from the digital subtraction ventriculograms, and by count densitometry from the radionuclide ventriculograms. Satisfactory correlations were found between values obtained by the late mask resubtracted videodensitometric method and the radionuclide method (r = 0.85) and by the digital ventriculographic area length method and direct-contrast method (r = 0.88). Videodensitometric methods may be an alternative way to estimate left ventricular ejection fractions accurately without reliance on geometric assumptions about the shape of the left ventricular cavity.

Analog-Digital Conversion↗

Comparison of gated cardiac MRI and 2D echocardiography of intracardiac neoplasms.

The gross diagnostic factors of intracardiac tumor in four patients imaged by two-dimensional echocardiography (2D echo) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were compared. Three cases had left and one had a right atrial tumor, all histologically identified as myxoma. Gated cardiac MRI depicted the size, shape, and surface characteristics of the tumors more clearly than 2D echo, because MRI provides better spatial and contrast resolution. Depiction of tumor attachment was poor to good with both techniques. Both techniques were highly accurate in localizing the tumor and displaying whether it was fixed or mobile. The global field of view provided by MRI allows better definition of tumor prolapse, secondary valvular obstruction, and cardiac chamber size. This study shows that despite its early stage of development, gated cardiac MRI provides superior image quality and is complementary to 2D echo for characterization and diagnosis of intracardiac tumor.

Adult↗

Clinical evaluation of 360 degrees and 180 degrees data sampling techniques for transaxial SPECT thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging.

The most serious controversy regarding the application of transaxial SPECT technology to 201Tl myocardial perfusion imaging is the choice between 360 degrees compared with 180 degrees data sampling techniques. The present study utilized the original 360 degrees sampled raw data of 25 patients who had both SPECT 201Tl myocardial perfusion imaging and coronary angio/ventriculography for back projection reprocessing to accomplish the 360 degrees/180 degrees comparison. The results show a high incidence, 36% (9/25), of false-positive segmental perfusion abnormality and a high incidence, 24% (6/25), of moderate to severe degree of image distortion with the 180 degrees data sampled reconstructed images. These were not observed in the 360 degrees data sampled reconstructed images. The above findings confirmed our previous preliminary conclusion that even though the 180 degrees data sampling technique has the advantage of providing improved image contrast and reduction in acquisition time it is not a reliable technique and should be abandoned. The 360 degrees data sampling is the technique of choice for transaxial SPECT 201Tl myocardial perfusion imaging.

Adult↗

Volume and planar gated cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: a correlative study of normal anatomy with thallium-201 SPECT and cadaver sections.

Magnetic resonance (MR) gated cardiac imaging was performed in ten subjects using a prototype 0.15-T resistive magnet imaging system. Volume and planar imaging techniques utilizing saturation recovery, proton Tl-weighted relaxation time pulse sequences produced images of the heart and great vessels with exquisite anatomic detail that showed excellent correlation with cadaver sections of the heart. The left ventricular myocardial segments also showed excellent correlation with the thallium-201 cardiac single photon emission computed tomography images. Volume acquisition allowed postprocessing selection of tomographic sections in various orientations to optimize visualization of a particular structure of interest. The excellent spatial and contrast resolution afforded by MR volume imaging, which does not involve the use of ionizing radiation and iodinated contrast material, should assure it a significant role in the diagnostic assessment of the cardiovascular system.

Aorta↗

Magnetic resonance signal intensity patterns obtained from continuous and pulsatile flow models.

The purpose of this investigation was to extend previous steady state flow studies with magnetic resonance (MR) to pulsatile flow measurements obtained with gated cardiac techniques in man with a pulsatile artificial heart device. Bovine blood and a solution of MnCl2 were studied. Correlation was made with complex and time-varying MR signals observed in the descending aorta on cardiac gated images obtained through the midthorax. MR signals from flowing fluids represent velocity distribution as shown in a velocity profile, and laminar flow is distinguished from nonlaminar. At very slow flow rates, signal intensity is lower than background. As the rate is increased, paradoxical enhancement occurs followed by loss of signal, which is complete at 7 liters per minute with fluid and 15 liters per minute with blood. These areas correspond to maximum fluid velocities of 41 and 88 cm/sec, respectively.

Animals↗

Bayesian probability analysis: a prospective demonstration of its clinical utility in diagnosing coronary disease.

One hundred fifty-four patients referred for coronary arteriography were prospectively studied with stress electrocardiography, stress thallium scintigraphy, cine fluoroscopy (for coronary calcifications), and coronary angiography. Pretest probabilities of coronary disease were determined based on age, sex, and type of chest pain. These and pooled literature values for the conditional probabilities of test results based on disease state were used in Bayes' theorem to calculate posttest probabilities of disease. The results of the three noninvasive tests were compared for statistical independence, a necessary condition for their simultaneous use in Bayes' theorem. The test results were found to demonstrate pairwise independence in patients with and those without disease. Some dependencies that were observed between the test results and the clinical variables of age and sex were not sufficient to invalidate application of the theorem. Sixty-eight of the study patients had at least one major coronary artery obstruction of greater than 50%. When these patients were divided into low-, intermediate-, and high-probability subgroups according to their pretest probabilities, noninvasive test results analyzed by Bayesian probability analysis appropriately advanced 17 of them by at least one probability subgroup while only seven were moved backward. Of the 76 patients without disease, 34 were appropriately moved into a lower probability subgroup while 10 were incorrectly moved up. We conclude that posttest probabilities calculated from Bayes' theorem more accurately classified patients with and without disease than did pretest probabilities, thus demonstrating the utility of the theorem in this application.

Angiography↗