Nationwide survey of fluoroscopy: radiation dose and image quality

PURPOSE: To determine the average abdominal entrance air kerma, low-contrast sensitivity, and spatial resolution in upper gastrointestinal tract fluoroscopy in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A random sample of fluoroscopic facilities was selected to be surveyed for the Nationwide Evaluation of X-ray Trends program. Measurements were performed by using a newly developed fluoroscopic phantom. The surveys were conducted by state radiation control personnel. RESULTS: Average air kerma rates 1 cm above the tabletop, free in air, were 43 mGy/min (n = 340). The rate increased to 64 mGy/min when a 1.6-mm-thick copper filter, which simulated the use of barium contrast medium, was added to increase attenuation. The average entrance air kerma, free in air, for radiographs was 3.4 mGy, and an average of 12 radiographs were obtained per examination. Of 352 facilities surveyed, 306 (87%) were able to resolve wire mesh with 20 or more lines per inch. Of 339 facilities for which percentage contrast could be calculated, 192 (57%) had minimum percentage contrast values of 4% or more. CONCLUSION: Spatial resolution for fluoroscopy is adequate for most of the facilities surveyed, but a substantial proportion of facilities could not visualize low-contrast test objects, which strongly suggests image quality problems.     

Relationship between prothrombin activation fragment F1.2 and international normalized ratio in patients with atrial fibrillation. Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Investigators

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The prothrombin time (expressed as the international normalized ratio [INR]) is the standard method of monitoring warfarin therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation. Prothrombin activation fragment F1.2 provides an index of in vivo thrombin generation and might provide a better index of the effective intensity of anticoagulation. We examined the relationship between F1.2 and INR in patients with atrial fibrillation. METHODS: We measured INR and F1.2 levels in 846 patients with atrial fibrillation participating in the Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation III study. Two hundred nineteen (26%) were taking aspirin alone, 326 (39%) were taking adjusted-dose warfarin, and 301 (36%) were taking a low fixed dose of warfarin (1 to 3 mg) plus aspirin (combination therapy). F1.2 levels were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Patients receiving adjusted-dose warfarin or combination therapy had significantly higher INR and significantly lower F1.2 values than those on aspirin alone (P < or = .0001 for each of the four comparisons). F1.2 values (nanomolar) were inversely correlated with INR (F1.2 = -0.1 + 2.3[1/INR]; R2 = .37; P < .0001; simple linear regression). However, significant variability remained. Among patients receiving warfarin, older patients had higher F1.2 values than younger patients after adjustment for INR intensity (P < .001) in the model. There was no difference in the relationship between F1.2 and INR between men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing intensity of anticoagulation, as measured by the INR, is associated with decreasing thrombin generation as measured by the F1.2 level, but significant variability exists in this relationship. Older anticoagulated patients have higher F1.2 values than younger patients at equivalent INR values. The clinical significance of these differences is not clear. F1.2 measurement might provide information regarding anticoagulation intensity in addition to that reflected by the INR.     

A new structural model of effective thermal conductivity for heterogeneous materials with co-continuous phases

A new structural model for a heterogeneous material with multiple continuous phases is proposed. The corresponding equation for effective thermal conductivity was derived using three methods. The new model is substantially different from the conventional five fundamental structural models (Series, Parallel, two forms of Maxwell–Eucken, Effective Medium Theory). The model has two applications. First, as a new fundamental structural model to produce composite models using the combinatory rules previously proposed by J.F. Wang, J.K. Carson, M.F. North, D. J. Cleland, A new approach to modelling the effective thermal conductivity of heterogeneous materials, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 49 (17–18) (2006) 3075–3083. Second, to narrow the bounds of the effective thermal conductivity for heterogeneous materials where the physical structure can be characterised into general classes.     

Effect of ectoparasite removal procedures on recapture of Microtus californicus

We tested the null hypothesis that anesthetizing meadow voles (Microtus californicus) and brushing them vigorously for ectoparasites would have no effect on the later recapture of these voles. Voles were trapped from 6 December 1993 to 10 January 1994 at Faye Slough Wildlife Area near Eureka, Humboldt County, California (USA). Alternate trapped voles were anesthetized with ethyl ether and brushed vigorously for ectoparasites. There was no significant difference in the frequency of recapture nor in the time to first recapture between those voles anesthetized and brushed, compared to control animals.     

Hepatic hemangioma. Analysis of 103 cases. Clinical considerations and imaging methods

Hemangiomas are the most common benign vascular tumor found in the liver. In this study, 103 cases of hepatic hemangiomas were analysed in a retrospective manner. Image aspects such as those seen in ultrassonography, computed tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance and arteriography are discussed. The incidence was higher amongst the female sex, between individuals from 40 to 60 years old, which presented predominantly without symptoms (66%) and localized mainly in the right hepatic lobe (74%). The meaning of those aspects, when adopted, permits the clinicians to differentiate benign from malignant nodular lesions in the liver.     

Escherichia coli purine repressor: key residues for the allosteric transition between active and inactive conformations and for interdomain signaling

The Escherichia coli purine repressor, PurR, exists in an equilibrium between open and closed conformations. Binding of a corepressor, hypoxanthine or guanine, shifts the allosteric equilibrium in favor of the closed conformation and increases the operator DNA binding affinity by 40-fold compared to aporepressor. Glu70 and Trp147 PurR mutations were isolated which perturb the allosteric equilibrium. Three lines of evidence indicate that the allosteric equilibrium of E70A and W147A aporepressors was shifted toward the closed conformation. First, compared to wild-type PurR, these mutant repressors had a 10-30-fold higher corepressor binding affinity. Second, the mutant aporepressors bound to operator DNA with an affinity that is characteristic of the wild-type PurR holorepressor. Third, binding of guanine to wild-type PurR resulted in a near-UV circular dichroism spectral change at 297-305 nm that is attributed to the closed conformation. The circular dichroism spectrum of the E70A aporepressor at 297-305 nm was that expected for the closed conformation, and it was not appreciably altered by corepressor binding. Mutational analysis was used to identify an Arg115-Ser46' interdomain intersubunit hydrogen bond that is necessary for transmitting the allosteric transition in the corepressor binding domain to the DNA binding domain. R115A and S46G PurR mutants were defective in DNA binding in vitro and repressor function in vivo although corepressor binding was identical to the wild type. These results establish that the hydrogen bond between the side chain NH2 of Arg115 and the main chain CO of Ser46' plays a critical role in interdomain signaling.     

Properties and functions of the thiamin diphosphate dependent enzyme transketolase

This review highlights recent research on the properties and functions of the enzyme transketolase, which requires thiamin diphosphate and a divalent metal ion for its activity. The transketolase-catalysed reaction is part of the pentose phosphate pathway, where transketolase appears to control the non-oxidative branch of this pathway, although the overall flux of labelled substrates remains controversial. Yeast transketolase is one of several thiamin diphosphate dependent enzymes whose three-dimensional structures have been determined. Together with mutational analysis these structural data have led to detailed understanding of thiamin diphosphate catalysed reactions. In the homodimer transketolase the two catalytic sites, where dihydroxyethyl groups are transferred from ketose donors to aldose acceptors, are formed at the interface between the two subunits, where the thiazole and pyrimidine rings of thiamin diphosphate are bound. Transketolase is ubiquitous and more than 30 full-length sequences are known. The encoded protein sequences contain two motifs of high homology; one common to all thiamin diphosphate-dependent enzymes and the other a unique transketolase motif. All characterised transketolases have similar kinetic and physical properties, but the mammalian enzymes are more selective in substrate utilisation than the nonmammalian representatives. Since products of the transketolase-catalysed reaction serve as precursors for a number of synthetic compounds this enzyme has been exploited for industrial applications. Putative mutant forms of transketolase, once believed to predispose to disease, have not stood up to scrutiny. However, a modification of transketolase is a marker for Alzheimer's disease, and transketolase activity in erythrocytes is a measure of thiamin nutrition. The cornea contains a particularly high transketolase concentration, consistent with the proposal that pentose phosphate pathway activity has a role in the removal of light-generated radicals.