[en] Ethiodol (or lipiodol) is selectively retained in hepatocellular carcinoma and is used as a vehicle to deliver radioactive agents following intraarterial hepatic infusion. We prepared the lipophilic complex ⁹⁰Y-oxine with a radiolabeling efficiency of 97.6±1.1%. After extraction into ethiodol, a stability test in serum at 37 deg. C showed that 87.8% of the ⁹⁰Y remained ethiodol-bound for 7 days. Bremsstrahlung imaging of a rabbit for 48 h confirmed that the homogeneous mixture of radiolabeled ⁹⁰Y-oxine and ethiodol stayed in the targeted liver lobe. This radiopharmaceutical is thus a potential candidate for the treatment of non-resectable liver cancer

[en] Objective: To evaluate a new animal model of venous stenosis induced by local mechanical injury with the presence of surgical arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Methods: Twelve arteriovenous (AV) fistulae were surgically formed between the carotid artery and internal jugular vein in six adult pigs, one on each side of the neck. Direct mechanical injury was made by crush injury with fingers or forceps to the jugular vein at the sites 1-2 cm above and below the AV anastomosis. Angiographic follow-up was performed at 3 and 6 weeks, and the animals were sacrificed. Fistulae and injured veins were harvested for histopathology. Results: At angiography six AV anastomoses were patent without stenosis, five were stenosed and one had occluded. Eleven of twelve venous injury sites with open AV anastomosis and six of ten venous injury sites with AV anastomotic stenoses developed greater than 50% diameter stenosis. Dilation was found in the non-injury segment of eight jugular veins. Stenoses were caused by neo-intimal hyperplasia as seen on histologic examination. Conclusions: Neo-intimal venous stenosis can be induced by creation of a surgical AV fistula and local venous mechanical injury. This model may be used to study methods to reduce or inhibit neo-intimal hyperplasia, with particular reference to venous stenoses that occur in arteriovenous shunts created for dialysis access

[en] Home-made ⁹⁰Y glass microspheres were given via portal vein for testing their toxicity in 15 rabbits, of which 10 were in experimental group with the liver absorbed doses between 24.6 ∼ 437.4 Gy, and 5 in control group with the microsphere doses between 35 ∼ 140 mg. By comparing the changes of blood and hepatic routine examinations, we found that the rabbits can tolerate the radio-embolization up to 4-fold of the upper limit of clinical dose (100 Gy). 19 patients (18 cases with primary hepatocellular carcinoma, 1 case with metastatic colorectal cancer) were treated with ⁹⁰Y glass microspheres by intra hepatic artery injection, with dose levels ranging from 40 to 186 Gy. The average ratio of tumor to liver was 3.1 (from 0.8 to 8). During the 2 to 6 months follow-up, treatments were successful in alleviating symptoms in all patients. The tumor size decreased in three patients and the AFP level decreased in about 50% patients. No hematologic toxicity was observed

[en] Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of portal CO₂-DSA with fine needle splenic puncture. Methods: The splenic tails of seven adult white rabbits were exteriorized by laparotomy, and followed by a 25 gauge fine needle inserting about 1.0 cm into the splenic parenchyma. Portal CO₂-DSA was performed (2.0 ml/s, 10 ml) and the images were evaluated. After removal of the needle, the puncture site was observed for bleeding till coagulation occurred. The spleen were taken for gross and histological examination. Results: All the CO₂-DSA clearly showed the portal trunk with intrahepatic branches above 3-4 orders, the main splenic vein, and the main mesenteric veins with parts of its branches. CO₂ disappeared from the intrahepatic portal vein over 2-3 minutes. In one animal, the left renal vein and the inferior vena cava were also displayed by CO₂ through communication between splenic vein and renal vein. After removal of the needle, there was small amount of bleeding at the puncture site which ceased spontaneously over 3-5 minutes. In all animals, no extravasation of CO₂ at the puncture site, no subcapsular dissection or intrasplenic hematoma was observed. Microscopically, the splenic capsule appeared intact and there was no evidence of subcapsular hematoma formation. Conclusions: Portal CO₂-DSA with fine needle splenic puncture is feasible, safe and efficient. In normal adult rabbit, CO₂ may help to visualize the left renal vein and inferior vena cava through communication between splenic and renal vein. (authors)

[en] Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of lung volume reduction by trans-catheter bronchial occlusion with Pingyangmycin-lipiodol emulsion (PLE) followed by occlusion of the selective proximal segmental bronchial lumen with bone cement. Methods: After selective segmental bronchial catheterization in 12 adult rabbits, occlusion with PLE was performed. The animals were divided into 3 treatment groups (n=4 in each group) and 4 mg, 8 mg and 16 mg of Pingyangmycin mixed with 1 ml lipiodol were used respectively. For control , occlusion with pure lipiodol 1 ml was carried out in another 2 rabbits. After all bone cement 0.5 ml was added to occlude the selective proximal segmental bronchial lumen in all animals. Followed up procedures were carried out with imaging examination at 1, 2, 4 week after the occlusion procedures in all animals, and finally the whole lungs were harvested for histological examination. Results: The findings in pure lipiodol group were similar with those in PLE group. Significant atelectasis was observed at occluded segments, with filling of lipiodol and contraction of lung gradually on chest X-films and CT images. Pathologically, the lesions of target areas showed acute alveolitis in the initial stage, mild pulmonary fibrosis surrounded by collapsing pulmonary alveoli with interstitial imfiltration of eosinophile granulocytes and lymphocytes along with a lot of aggregating pulmonary macrophages together with small necrosis or abscess formation in partial target areas(6/14) after 4 weeks of the procedure. Macroscopically, visceral pleura of target areas, remained intact without pleural effusion or adhesion. Pneumonia was not happened in the non-target areas. Conclusions: Transbronchial occlusion with PLE or pure lipiodol followed by occlusion of the selective proximal segmental bronchial lumen with bone cement is safe and effective. No significant difference was shown between the extents of pulmonary fibrosis between the two groups, probably due to the limitation of small sampling numbers and short following periods in this study. (authors)

[en] Objective: To explore the technique and value of CO₂ angiography in surveillance of vascular access in hemodialysis. Methods: CO₂ angiography was undertaken in 10 chronic renal failure (CRF) patients with native arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis. The injection sites were the vein dorsale manus (n=7) and the fistula (n=3). The whole draining veins were obtained using a Toshiba DSA unit, when 40-60 ml gas were injected by hands every time. The compression on elbow and image stacking technique were used. Results: All patients had a safe examination, and the vessels on the CO₂ venogram were tubular or bubble-flow. A significant draining vein was revealed in 4 cases (3 of them injection from fistula). The elbow compression had the effect on venogram in 2 cases. All of the draining veins above the elbow were clearly visualized, and the stacking technique imp roved the display of veins. Conclusion: Internal fistula CO₂ angiography is safe, cheap, and efficacy for dialysis access surveillance. The draining veins of vascular access in CRF patients have their own characteristics, and can be best revealed by direct internal fistula CO₂ venography. CO₂ angiogram of the vascular access can be improved with various kinds of skills. (authors)

[en] The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of lung volume reduction by transbronchial alcohol and lipiodol suspension infusion with the aid of balloon-tipped catheter occlusion. Twenty-six healthy adult rabbits were divided into four treatment groups: alcohol and lipiodol suspension infusion (n = 8), lipiodol infusion (n = 8), alcohol infusion (n = 5), or bronchial lumen occlusion (n = 5). After selective lobar or segmental bronchial catheterization using a balloon-tipped occlusion catheter, the corresponding drug infusion was performed. Bone cement was used to occlude the bronchial lumen in the occlusion group. The animals were followed up for 10 weeks by chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT), and then the whole lungs were harvested for histological examination. Alcohol and lipiodol suspension or lipiodol could be stably retained in alveoli in the first two groups based on chest X-ray and CT, but obvious collapse only occurred in the group receiving alcohol and lipiodol suspension or the bronchial lumen occlusion group. Histological examination revealed damage and disruption of the alveolar epithelium and fibrosis in related lung tissue in the group receiving alcohol and lipiodol suspension. Similar changes were seen in the bronchial lumen occlusion group, apart from obvious marginal emphysema of the target areas in two animals. Interstitial pneumonia and dilated alveoli existed in some tissue in target areas in the lipiodol group, in which pulmonary fibrosis obliterating alveoli also occurred. Chronic alveolitis and pleural adhesion in target areas occurred in the group infused with alcohol alone, whereas visceral pleura of the other three groups was regular and no pleural effusion or adhesion was found. Alcohol and lipiodol suspension that is stably retained in alveoli can result in significant lung volume reduction. Through alcohol and lipiodol suspension infusion, obstructive emphysema or pneumonia arising from bronchial lumen occlusion could be avoided

[en] Objective: To evaluate the imaging findings of carbon dioxide hepatic arterial DSA and CT angiography in normal swine. Methods: In general anaesthesia, hepatic arterial DSA was performed with 10 ml iodinated contrast medium (5 ml/s, 10 ml) in 5 normal swine, and then repeated hepatic arterial CO₂-DSA was performed with a total of 30-50 ml CO₂ injected by manually operated syringe at the velocity of 5-8 ml/s, followed by CO₂-CT angiography. All the swine were sacrificed after the procedure, the selective hepatic segments were removed, and pathological examination was carried out. The radiological features of hepatic arterial DSA with iodinated contrast medium and CO₂ and CT angiography with CO₂ were analyzed. The ability of showing the arterio-venous shunt was compared. Results: Hepatic arterio-portal shunt was found in the advanced arterial phase of CO₂-DSA in three of five swine, which was furthermore demonstrated by CO₂-CT angiography, but iodinated contrast medium DSA showed no arterio-portal shunt in all swine. The gaseous CO₂ in portal vein was absorbed within 1-3 minutes. No CO₂ shunted into the hepatic vein during CO₂-DSA and CO₂-CTA. Histology didn't reveal any abnormal changes caused by CO₂ shunt in the swine liver. Conclusion: (1) Hepatic arterial CO₂-DSA and CO₂-CTA can reveal arterio-portal shunt that isn't seen with iodinated contrast medium, the gaseous CO₂ in portal vein was absorbed within 1-3 minutes. (2) The gaseous CO₂ can't shunt into hepatic vein when the hepatic artery is perfused with CO₂ in normal swine. (authors)

[en] Objective: To explore the feasibility and usefulness of carbon dioxide digital subtraction angiography (CO₂-DSA) in deep veins of lower extremity via the dorsal is pedis vein. Methods: CO₂-DSA in lower extremity veins was performed in 15 patients (15 limbs affected, male 9, female 6) by injection of CO₂ via the dorsal is pedis vein. Among them, 8 patients were suspected with deep venous thrombosis (DVT), 6 patients with saphena magna dilation, and 1 patient with a follow-up after thrombolysis due to DVT. Results: Excellent image was obtained in 12 cases, which showed branches of the venous system clearly, as well as the details of DVT. Good image was obtained in 2 cases. Technical failure was encountered in one patient due to inaccessible puncture veins. Mild discomfort (transient pain at the percutaneous site) during the procedure was demonstrated in 11 patients. There was no severe side effects or complications in this series. Conclusion: CO₂-DSA in lower extremity veins is feasible and safe, the preliminary result is satisfactory. (authors)

[en] Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of CO₂ venography by fine-needle direct-puncture of abdominal viscera. Methods: Two healthy female pigs and two healthy female dogs were used in this study. Multi-point punctures of abdominal viscera including liver, spleen, kidney, pancreas, walls of small intestines, and uterus with 25-gauge needle were performed for CO₂ venography in all animals. Diagnostic image quality of the angiographic images was assessed by 3 independent observers. Results: Splenic-portal vein, hepatic vein, portal vein, renal vein and inferior vena cava, uterine vein and ovarian vein could be visualized by fine needle direct CO₂ injection into the related organic parenchyma, while draining vein of small intestines and pancreas could not be shown. Splenic-portal veins were revealed especially well with grade A of 87.5% (7/8) , grade B of 12.5% (1/8), and grade C of 0%. The image quality of hepatic veins were 81.8% (9/11), 18.2% (2/11), and 0% for grade A, B, and C, respectively. The portal veins were 77.8% (7/9), 22.2%(2/9), and 0% for grade A, B, and C, respectively. The renal vein and inferior vena cava were 38.5% (5/13), 61.5% (8/13), and 0% for grade A, B, and C respectively. The uterine veins and ovarian veins were 0%, 33.3% (2/6), and 66.7% (4/6) for grade A, B, and C, respectively. During the CO₂ angiographic procedure, vital signs remained stable in all animals. Conclusion: CO₂ venography with fine-needle direct-puncture of abdominal viscera, excluding small intestines and pancreas, is feasible and safe. (authors)