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Roentgen-video-techniques for dynamic studies of structure and function of the heart and circulation
Compur Biol. Med. Vol. 9. 271-271. Pergamon Press Ltd. 1979. Printed in Great Britain.
BOOK
REVIEWS
(Excerpted from the Prefaces) Rkntgea-Video-Techniques for Dynamic Studies of Structure and Function of the Heart and Circulation, Edited by P. H. HEINTZEN AND J. H. BURXH. Georg Thieme Publishers,
Stuttgart. A seven year interval between two meetings related to the same subject is unusually long in our hectic times. However, such a long interval may have the advantage of allowing a more critical survey on the essential developments, the real, often slow progress and the long-term trends in a particular field of research. The Proceedings of the first Kiel Workshop were published in 1971 under the title Roentgen-, Cine-, and Videodensitometry - Fundamentals and Applications to Blood Flow and Heart Volume Determination, by the same publisher. In the meantime, this volume became an important source of information for those interested in quantitation of cardiovascular function and morphology by roentgendensitometric techniques. It can now serve as a reference, and the progress made by an increasing number of investigators may thus be tested. In videodensitometry, the basic technical problems are solved and, besides the conventional analog method, “digital” approaches are proposed or already introduced for video-data processing. Through a period of model studies and animal experiments several important clinical applications have been worked out in recent years : quantitation of flow rates, determination of parameters characterizing left and right ventricular pump function, like ejection fraction, stroke volume and, in particular, regurgitant fractions at the arterial or mitral valve level. Possible ways for blood flow measurements in smaller vessels, e.g. the coronary arteries, are still under discussion. Furthermore, there remains a wide field for the application of videodensitometry for studies with or without contrast agents. Videometry as a method for dimensional analysis of structure and function of the heart and circulation turned out to be an area where assistance of computers is indispensable. Hardware and software approaches for border recognition of dye filled ventricles became increasingly sophisticated. Automated left and right ventricular volume determination is now an established procedure with well defined accuracy and is, therefore, ready for routine application. Furthermore, computerized videometry became a powerful tool for contraction pattern analysis of both ventricles. Complete digital video-data processing may become the method of choice in the future for different purposes. Using ECG-“gated” image integration and subtraction techniques, the angiocardiographic image quality can be improved remarkably for subjective and objective analysis, thereby allowing reduction of contrast material and/or roentgen radiation. Some papers in this volume are slightly updated and completed by members of the groups : attending the symposium. Computing
in Clinical Laboratories,
Edited by FREDERICKSIEMASZKO,Pitman Medical,
Kent. The Second International Conference on Computing in Clinical Laboratories held in Birmingham, England, attracted over 300 participants, over twice the number that attended the First Conference. Participants came from 16 different countries and included computer scientists working in industry and clinical laboratories as well as clinical laboratory scientists representing the various disciplines associated with clinical laboratory investigations. Frequently there are four phases in the application of technological innovations in medicine. The over optimistic introductory period lead by enthusiastics, a second phase of 277
BOOK
REVIEWS
(Excerpted from the Prefaces) Rkntgea-Video-Techniques for Dynamic Studies of Structure and Function of the Heart and Circulation, Edited by P. H. HEINTZEN AND J. H. BURXH. Georg Thieme Publishers,
Stuttgart. A seven year interval between two meetings related to the same subject is unusually long in our hectic times. However, such a long interval may have the advantage of allowing a more critical survey on the essential developments, the real, often slow progress and the long-term trends in a particular field of research. The Proceedings of the first Kiel Workshop were published in 1971 under the title Roentgen-, Cine-, and Videodensitometry - Fundamentals and Applications to Blood Flow and Heart Volume Determination, by the same publisher. In the meantime, this volume became an important source of information for those interested in quantitation of cardiovascular function and morphology by roentgendensitometric techniques. It can now serve as a reference, and the progress made by an increasing number of investigators may thus be tested. In videodensitometry, the basic technical problems are solved and, besides the conventional analog method, “digital” approaches are proposed or already introduced for video-data processing. Through a period of model studies and animal experiments several important clinical applications have been worked out in recent years : quantitation of flow rates, determination of parameters characterizing left and right ventricular pump function, like ejection fraction, stroke volume and, in particular, regurgitant fractions at the arterial or mitral valve level. Possible ways for blood flow measurements in smaller vessels, e.g. the coronary arteries, are still under discussion. Furthermore, there remains a wide field for the application of videodensitometry for studies with or without contrast agents. Videometry as a method for dimensional analysis of structure and function of the heart and circulation turned out to be an area where assistance of computers is indispensable. Hardware and software approaches for border recognition of dye filled ventricles became increasingly sophisticated. Automated left and right ventricular volume determination is now an established procedure with well defined accuracy and is, therefore, ready for routine application. Furthermore, computerized videometry became a powerful tool for contraction pattern analysis of both ventricles. Complete digital video-data processing may become the method of choice in the future for different purposes. Using ECG-“gated” image integration and subtraction techniques, the angiocardiographic image quality can be improved remarkably for subjective and objective analysis, thereby allowing reduction of contrast material and/or roentgen radiation. Some papers in this volume are slightly updated and completed by members of the groups : attending the symposium. Computing
in Clinical Laboratories,
Edited by FREDERICKSIEMASZKO,Pitman Medical,
Kent. The Second International Conference on Computing in Clinical Laboratories held in Birmingham, England, attracted over 300 participants, over twice the number that attended the First Conference. Participants came from 16 different countries and included computer scientists working in industry and clinical laboratories as well as clinical laboratory scientists representing the various disciplines associated with clinical laboratory investigations. Frequently there are four phases in the application of technological innovations in medicine. The over optimistic introductory period lead by enthusiastics, a second phase of 277