Image Quality of the Coronary Angiography with Noise Reduction Technology to Decrease the Radiation Dose

We examined the effects of a reduced exposure dose on the quality of images from an angiography device augmented with a noise reduction algorithm. Before its clinical application, we compared the diameter of the discrimination limit of the hole with that in the conventional method by a visual evaluation with a contrast-detail (C-D) phantom imaged using the target dose. Based on the results, a reducible dose was determined and applied clinically. The sample population consisted of patients being followed up after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary artery disease; we evaluated the effects of the exposure reduction on image quality. A significant dose reduction was observed by the noise-reduction method compared to the conventional method; the radiation dose to the flat panel detector (FPD) could be reduced to 70 nGy per frame. Clinically, a dose reduction of approx. 40% was obtained while maintaining image quality almost equal to that of the conventional method

〔論 文〕高齢者の友人関係-友人関係機能,友人関係満足度と主観的幸福感との関連-

This study investigates characteristics of friendship among elderly people, particularly the relationships between the functions of friendship, the degree of satisfaction with friendship, and subjective well-being. Written questionnaires completed by 241 elderly people aged between 60 and 88(92 men, mean age 72.03 years; 149 women, mean age 72.11 years)were analyzed. Among men, the duration of friendship was longer than among women. The most common initial acquaintance among men were co-workers, followed by schoolmates and old playmates, while friends made through leisure and volunteer activities or in the neighborhood were more common for women. Factor analysis revealed the following two factors: "trust and support", and "companionship." Among both men and women, the degree of satisfaction with friendship was positively correlated with subjective well-being, and the study suggested that the level of "trust and support" influenced the degree of satisfaction with friendship

WATER INTOXICATION IN A DRUG-FREE SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENT

A 27-year-old woman with schizophrenia disorder developed water intoxica- tion due to primary polydipsia in drug-free state. Manner of vasopressin secretion was investigated with water loading and hypertonic saline infusion. The sensitivity of vasopres- sin secretion response to changing osmolality was low in this patient, which might be involved in the occurrence of water intoxication, linked to Type Ⅳ SIADH