In comparison with conventional techniques, myocardial gated SPECT with automated quantitative analysis provides accurate and reproducible data for global and regional function. Quantitative concurrent assessment of myocardial perfusion and function by using 2-and 3-dimensional representations appears to be superior to other modalities and to contribute to nuclear cardiology practice.

A selective and sensitive method has been developed for the analysis of free and bound forms of O-phosphoamino acids, such as O-phosphoserine, O-phosphothreonine and O-phosphotyrosine, in urine samples by gas chromatography (GC). For free O-phosphoamino acid analysis, the urine sample was extracted with trichloroacetic acid and run through an ion exchange column. For total (free plus bound) O-phosphoamino acid analysis, the urine sample was hydrolysed in acid and base in order to release the O-phosphoamino acid from peptides or proteins. O-Phosphoamino acids in these prepared samples were converted into their N-isobutoxycarbonyl trimethyl ester derivatives and then measured by GC with flame photometric detection (FPD-GC). The calibration curve was linear in the range of 10-500 ng for each O-phosphoamino acid, and the detection limits were 30-80 pg as injection amounts. O-Phosphoamino acids in the urine samples could be selectively determined by the FPD-GC method without any influence from coexisting substances. The recoveries of O-phosphoamino acids added to urines and urine hydrolysates were 90-98% and relative standard deviations were 1.5-8.0%. By using this method, we investigated an age dependence of O-phosphoamino acid excretion in normal subjects.

Following a portacaval shunt, portal arterialization has been used to avoid a decrease in hepatic blood flow',*. In 1992 Iseki and colleagues3 described partial portal arterialization to raise the portal oxygen pressure for the prevention of liver necrosis due to obstruction of the hepatic artery after extended pancreatobiliary surgery. The authors carried out partial portal arterialization using the ileocolic artery and vein to prevent postoperative hepatic failure resulting from obstruction of the hepatic artery after hepatectomy. The technique of and indications for partial portal arterialization following hepatectomy are reported. Surgical techniqueAfter major hepatectomy, the ileocaecal region is mobilized. The ileocolic artery and vein are exposed at the proximal portion of the marginal vessels and are anastomosed with a side-to-side continuous suture using 7/0 polypropylene under a loupe. This technique is simple and easy.This method was applied for three major hepatectomies. The reasons for poor blood flow of the hepatic artery to the remnant liver were failure of the arterial reconstruction, insufficient collateral formation after obstruction of the proper hepatic artery, and inability to reconstruct the hepatic artery.The postoperative course was uneventful in the first and the third cases; the second patient died from pulmonary oedema and the effect of the method was not evaluated. In the first patient, postoperative angiography on day 43 after operation demonstrated obstruction of the anastomosis. In the third patient, postoperative angiography on the 29th postoperative day showed a patent anastomosis and no reflux to the splenic vein (Fig. 1). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy indicated no oesophageal varices at 6 months after surgery. Haemolysis and ascites due to portal hypertension did not occur in patients 1 and 3.

To plan stent-grafting for thoracic aortic aneurysm with complicated morphology, we created a virtual stent-grafting program [Semi Automatic Virtual Stent (SAVS) designer] using three-dimensional CT data. The usefulness of the SAVS designer was evaluated by measurement of transformed anatomical and straight stents. Curved model images (source, multi-planer reconstruction and volume rendering) were created, and a hollow virtual stent was produced by the SAVS designer. A straight Nitinol stent was transformed to match the curved configuration of the virtual stent. The accuracy of the anatomical stent was evaluated by experimental strain phantom studies in comparison with the straight stent. Mean separation length was 0 mm in the anatomical stent [22 mm outer diameter (OD)] and 5 mm in the straight stent (22 mm OD). The straight stent strain voltage was four times that of the anatomical stent at the stent end. The anatomical stent is useful because it fits the curved structure of the aorta and reduces the strain force compared to the straight stent. The SAVS designer can help to design and produce the anatomical stent.

We have developed a novel liver function indicator, the ABC, to count radioactivity in sequence. The ABC reflects liver function according to pathological deterioration of the liver. Although the ABC gave no significant advantage compared to HH15 and LHL15, it improved the AUC evaluation by 0.028-0.034.