This book discusses information processing and communication in medicine, with the aim to improve quality in healthcare and diagnoses. By object-oriented analysis, modelling and design, the approach enables a development according to the needs of the medical environment. Following this approach, medical applications are realised using a heterogeneous distributed information management system. This system provides integration and communication of multimedia information for medical services. The book includes a contribution on medical terminology in clinical applications. The integrated hospital systems and the telemedicine services are well described and there is an interesting account on digital signal processing. It shows the underlying strengths the achievements in delivering such a huge and broad-ranging set of demonstrations in clinical practice. It forms an important record of a major contribution in the evolution of health informatics and discusses information processing and communication in medicine and presents a different approach.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the heart allows a quick and exact evaluation of global and regional pump function, regional myocardial wall motion, myocardial perfusion and coronary blood flow. Some of these parameters must also be analyzed under stress conditions to identify myocardial ischemia.

By combining these functional parameters with high-resolution anatomical images, which are even sufficient to depict the coronary arteries, magnetic resonance imaging has become one of the most important noninvasive procedures to study the condition of the heart and is being increasingly used in the clinical setting. Therefore, it is important not only to optimize and evaluate the technique in specialized centers, but also for a broad variety of users to become familiar with the wide range of applications for this method.

In this book, which is aimed at cardiologists, radiologists, and technical assistants, the physical fundamentals and scanning techniques are clearly described. In addition, practical guidelines for the anatomical planning of the examination and for patient care are offered. The accompanying CD-ROM contains additional figures and numerous videos.

Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty is presently the widest used non-surgi cal method for the treatment of stenotic lesions in coronary artery disease. Continuous development of the procedure and equipment has made complex and multi-vessel-inter ventions possible and has led to other techniques of intravascular angioplasty. In reviewing current results, this volume pays particular attention to causes, incidence, circumstances, recognition, treatment and outcome of complications of PTCA; it also considers restenosis, which still occurs at an unsatisfactory high rate after primarily successful procedures. To deal with these topics, experts on PTCA met to discuss their experiences and insights into peculiar aspects of complications in PTCA. The discussion was subdivided into: Recognition of complications; Complications in new interventional techniques; Management of complications; and Restenosis after angioplasty. The question of whether angiographic and pathological characteristics of sclerotic lesions allow the identification of complication-prone lesions in advance is discussed in the first chapter. One paper deals with the state of the art of digital cardiac imaging, which enables the operator to have an early knowledge of and adequate reaction to possible complications occurring during angioplasty. Special attention is directed to the so-called "high-risk"-PTCA, detailing the clinical variables, in order to have better knowledge about patients with a higher probability of unsuccessful or complicated procedures.

Bipolar disorder is among the most common conditions affecting humankind and one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. It is a complex and dynamic psychiatric condition that makes it difficult to both understand and manage. However, with good management, people affected by bipolar disorder can lead very successful lives. This book was written specifically with new psychiatrists and mental health practitioners in mind to facilitate their ability to care for this condition. Chapters review clinical presentation and epidemiology, etiology and neurobiology, and treatment of bipolar disorder.

Die nichtinvasive Untersuchung des Herzens und der grossen Gefasse mittels der Magnetresonanztomographie spielt eine zunehmende Rolle bei der Diagnostik von Patienten mit kardiovaskularen Erkrankungen. Dabei hat sich das Verfahren in einigen Standardindikationen bereits als Referenztechnik etabliert. Insbesondere im Bereich der Ischamiediagnostik gibt es jedoch eine Vielzahl neuer Anwendungsbereiche. In diesem Leitfaden fur Kardiologen, Radiologen und technische Assistenten werden die physikalischen Grundlagen und Scantechniken fur weniger erfahrene Anwender verstandlich erklart.