We compared high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) with chest radiography (CR) to determine if there is any advantage to using HRCT in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Simultaneously obtained chest radiographs were compared with HRCT scans for 47 patients with clinical symptoms and signs suspicious for CAP, HRCT identified all 18 CAP cases (38.3%) apparent on radiographs as well as eight additional cases (i.e., 55.3%); P = .004. The corresponding figures for bilateral involvement were six by CR (33.3%) and 16 by HRCT (61.5%), P = .001. CR did not show changes particularly affecting the upper and lower lung lobes and the lingula. Bronchopneumonia was visualized by CR in 11 cases (61.1%) and by HRCT in 22 cases (84.6%). The corresponding figures for airspace pneumonia were four (22.2%) and one (3.8%), respectively. The use of HRCT seems to increase the number of CAP cases confirmed by imaging and to improve the accuracy of diagnosing and typing of CAP.

The range of movement of the liver, pancreas and kidneys in maximum and normal respiration, and the ability to suspend respiration repeatedly leaving the organs in exactly the same position with the aid of given instructions or a combination of instructions and a simple tool were investigated. The range of movement of the most mobile organ (liver) was 5.5 cm during maximum, 2.5 cm during normal, 0.9 cm during suspended respiration, and 0.2 cm during suspended respiration with a bar placed above the abdomen.

US, MR imaging and MR sialography with modern technology have reached such a good accuracy in visualizing glandular structural changes that they are promising alternatives to the conventional invasive examinations in the diagnostics of SS.

A significant association is indicated between atheromatous lesions in the abdominal aorta and low back pain.

The present study evaluated the association of ultrasonographic manifestations of carotid atherosclerosis with glucose status, various components of the insulin resistance syndrome, and insulin sensitivity measured by a novel quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI = 1/[log(I0) + log (G0)]). Carotid ultrasonographic measurements were performed on 54 diabetic subjects, 97 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and 57 normoglycemic subjects. QUICKI and insulin resistance measured by a HOMA (homeostasis model assessment) method had a high negative correlation (r = -0.995, P < 0.001). QUICKI was lower in diabetic subjects (0.319 +/- 0.022) than in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (0.334 +/- 0.027) or normoglycemia (0.335 +/- 0.022, P = 0.002). There was an increasing trend in the mean and maximal intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery (CCA) with worsening of glucose status. The maximal IMT of the CCA correlated inversely with QUICKI (r = -0.158, P = 0.027). The prevalence of severe CCA atherosclerosis (maximal IMT of the CCA > or = 1.2 mm) was 41% in men and 16% in women (P < 0.001). It was also associated with a long (> or =26 yr) smoking history. The prevalence of severe CCA atherosclerosis was 11% in the highest QUICKI tertile, 36% in the middle tertile, and 33% in the lowest tertile (P = 0.002). Systolic blood pressure was higher and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol lower in subjects with severe CCA atherosclerosis, compared with those without it. In multiple regression analysis, the adjusted odds ratio for severe CCA atherosclerosis was 5.7 (95% confidence interval, 2.2-15.1) in subjects in the two lowest tertiles of QUICKI, compared with those in the highest tertile.