Focal malignant hepatic lesions: MR imaging enhanced with gadolinium benzyloxypropionictetra-acetate (BOPTA) - Preliminary results of Phase II clinical application

PURPOSE: To investigate enhancement with gadolinium benzyloxypropionictetraacetate (BOPTA) at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to detect focal malignant hepatic lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A phase 11 trial was performed in 34 patients. Gd-BOPTA-enhanced spin-echo (SE) and gradient-recalled-echo (GRE) T1-weighted MR imaging were performed at 40 and 90 minutes after intravenous injection of 0.05 and 0.10 mmol/kg Gd-BOPTA. RESULTS: The percentage of enhancement in liver parenchyma was significantly (P lt .05) increased on GRE T1-weighted compared with SE T1-weighted images at 40 and 90 minutes after injection of the higher dose and compared with SE and GRE T1-weighted images obtained with the lower dose. The contrast-to-noise ratio of metastases was significantly increased on GRE T1-weighted images (0.10 mmol/kg) at 90 minutes compared with precontrast images. Significantly more small primary metastases were detected on GRE T1-weighted images (0.10 mmol/kg) at 90 minutes compared with precontrast SE T1-weighted images. CONCLUSION: Gd-BOPTA is a safe hepatobiliary contrast agent that helps detection of small metastases

Virtual anthropology and forensic arts: the facial reconstruction of Ferrante Gonzaga

L'analisi della tomba di Ferrante Gonzaga ha portato allo studio dei resti mortali con un approccio multidisciplinare: archeologia, paleontropologia, storia e storia dell'arte si sono integrate per fornire una lettura ampia e articolata. Attraverso le analisi non invasive e l'applicazione del protocollo di Manchester si \ue8 giunti alla ricostruzione del volto del condottiero confrontata con la ritrattistica gi\ue0 nota

Detection of malignant primary hepatic neoplasms with gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA) enhanced T1-weighted hepatocyte phase MR imaging: results of off-site blinded review in a phase-II multicenter trial

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA) enhanced MR imaging for the detection of liver lesions in patients with primary malignant hepatic neoplasms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients with histologically proven primary malignancy of the liver were evaluated before and after administration of Gd-BOPTA at dose 0.05 or 0.10 mmol/kg. T1-weighted spin echo (T1W-SE) and gradient echo (T1W-GRE) images were evaluated for lesion number, location, size and confidence by three off-site independent reviewers and the findings were compared to reference standard imaging (intraoperative ultrasound, computed tomography during arterial portography or lipiodol computed tomography). Results were analyzed for significance using a two-sided McNemar's test. RESULTS: More lesions were identified on Gd-BOPTA enhanced images than on unenhanced images and there was no significant difference in lesion detection between either concentration. The largest benefit was in detection of lesions under 1 cm in size (7 to 21, 9 to 15, 16 to 18 for reviewers A, B, C respectively). In 68% of the patients with more than one lesion, Gd-BOPTA increased the number of lesions detected. CONCLUSION: Liver MR imaging after Gd-BOPTA increases the detection of liver lesions in patients with primary malignant hepatic neoplasm

MRI of liver metastases

MR Imaging of liver metastases thanks to liver specific contrast media is able to identify small metastases, with higher sensitivity than computed tomograph

A prototype expert system for large scale energy auditing in buildings

A brief discussion is presented of the increasingly important role being played by informatic techniques in the building sector. Computer aided design packages for the architect have existed for some time, but other types of software are also needed now. The profusion and complexity of norms and standards, together with the large number of technical solutions available, make it very difficult to master all the knowledge required for building design and retrofit without informatic help. This is particularly true in building energy auditing, which is an essential prelude to the retrofitting of older buildings. To illustrate the way ahead, an expert system being developed by the Joint Research Centre is described. This system, known as BEAMES, employs a neural network allowing the system to “learn” from the experience of past audits