Performance of a new gadolinium-based intravascular contrast agent in free-breathing inversion-recovery 3D coronary MRA.

In three-dimensional (3D) coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), the in-flow contrast between the coronary blood and the surrounding myocardium is attenuated as compared to thin-slab two-dimensional (2D) techniques. The application of a gadolinium (Gd)-based intravascular contrast agent may provide an additional source of signal and contrast by reducing T(1blood) and supporting the visualization of more distal or branching segments of the coronary arterial tree. In six healthy adults, the left coronary artery (LCA) system was imaged pre- and postcontrast with a 0.075-mmol/kg bodyweight dose of the intravascular contrast agent B-22956. For imaging, an optimized free-breathing, navigator-gated and -corrected 3D inversion recovery (IR) sequence was used. For comparison, state-of-the-art baseline 3D coronary MRA with T(2) preparation for non-exogenous contrast enhancement was acquired. The combination of IR 3D coronary MRA, sophisticated navigator technology, and B-22956 allowed for an extensive visualization of the LCA system. Postcontrast, a significant increase in both the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR; 46%, P < 0.05) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR; 160%, P < 0.01) was observed, while vessel sharpness of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery and the left coronary circumflex (LCX) were improved by 20% (P < 0.05) and 18% (P < 0.05), respectively.

The Poor Representation of the Poor in a Comparative Perspective

Due to diverging levels of political influence of various income groups, political institutions likely reflect¦the policy preferences of certain groups of citizens better than others, independently of their numerical¦weight. This runs counter the egalitarian principle of 'one citizen, one vote'. The present article documents¦a general trend of underrepresentation of the preferences of relatively poor citizens both by¦parties and by governments across Western democracies, although important cross-national differences¦exist.

[Voyage en Italie : 1824-1830]. , Montenero, près Livourne : [vue perspective] : [dessin] / h. L. [Henri Labrouste]

Référence bibliographique : Weigert, 201

[Voyage en Italie : 1824-1830]. , Madona del Soccorso : [vue perspective, plan et coupe longitudinale] : [dessin] / h. L. [Henri Labrouste]

Référence bibliographique : Weigert, 106

[Voyage en Italie : 1824-1830]. , [Vue perspective d'un palais] : [dessin] / h. L. [Henri Labrouste]

Référence bibliographique : Weigert, 205

[Voyage en Italie : 1824-1830]. , [Vestibule d'un palais] : [plan et vue perspective] : [dessin] / h. L. [Henri Labrouste]

Référence bibliographique : Weigert, 204

[Voyage en Italie : 1824-1830]. , Eglise Stradone S. Ambrogio : [vue perspective de l'atrium] : [dessin] / h. L. [Henri Labrouste]

Référence bibliographique : Weigert, 209

[Voyage en Italie : 1824-1830]. , Eglise Stradone S. Ambrogio : [vue d'ensemble, vue perspective du Ciborium] : [dessin] / h. L. [Henri Labrouste]

Référence bibliographique : Weigert, 210

[Voyage en Italie : 1824-1830]. , Eglise Stradone S. Ambrogio : [vue perspective de l'escalier du Ciborium, plan d'ensemble de l'église] : [dessin] / h. L. [Henri Labrouste]

Référence bibliographique : Weigert, 211

[Voyage en Italie : 1824-1830]. , Sta Maria Novella : [vue perspective] : [dessin] / h. L. [Henri Labrouste]

Référence bibliographique : Weigert, 140

[Voyage en Italie : 1824-1830]. , Eglise du St Esprit : détail d'une Chapelle : [élévation intérieure, plan et vue perspective] : [dessin] / h. L. [Henri Labrouste]

Référence bibliographique : Weigert, 134

[Voyage en Italie : 1825-1830]. , Fontaine au-dessus d'un égout : [statue d'Hercule luttant avec le Centaure par Giambologna] : [vue perspective, plan , coupe] : [dessin] / h. L. [Henri Labrouste]

Référence bibliographique : Weigert, 154

[Voyage en Italie : 1825-1830]. , [Une habitation] : [vue perspective et plan] : [dessin] / h. L. [Henri Labrouste]

Référence bibliographique : Weigert, n.d