Chest
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Lung mucociliary clearance was measured in 14 patients with primary obstructive azoospermia and chest involvement (Young's syndrome) using the objective, in vivo radioaerosol technique. Lung mucociliary transport was significantly reduced in patients with Young's syndrome compared to 14 control subjects matched for physical characteristics, tobacco consumption and initial topographic distribution of tracer particles within the lungs. This finding indirectly supports the hypothesis that congenital abnormality in the propulsion of sperm in the ciliated epididymis results in the absence of sperm in the ejaculate.
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Case Reports
Spontaneous dissection of the ascending aorta diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiography.
In two patients with acute dissection of the ascending aorta, the diagnosis was made with two-dimensional echocardiography and confirmed by aortography. The echocardiograms localized the intimal flap and false channel in both cases. Although clinical evaluation and indicated radiologic studies remain the primary modalities of diagnosis in acute aortic dissection, two-dimensional echocardiography may be a useful additional diagnostic technique.
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The use of a mobile gamma camera with thallium 201 myocardial imaging is described to exclude myocardial infarction in a patient admitted to the coronary care unit in shock and with clinical, enzyme, and ECG changes consistent with infarction. The patient suffered from acute aortic dissection associated with congenital coarctation of the aorta. The myocardial scan excluded transmural myocardial injury.
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Comparative Study
The use of a new ultra-thin fiberoptic bronchoscope to determine endotracheal tube position in the sick newborn infant.
The various techniques available for determining endotracheal tube position after intubation of a newborn are auscultation of the chest, observation of distance rings on the endotracheal tube, and chest radiology. Radiology is considered to be the most reliable method. ⋯ Adverse changes in transcutaneous PO2 were observed during both procedures but were more marked during radiology than bronchoscopy. We conclude that the bronchoscopic technique of determining endotracheal tube position is both as safe and as accurate as radiologic technique.