Pulsed magnetization transfer spin-echo MR imaging

Cross relaxation between macromolecular protons and water protons is known to be important in biologic tissue. In magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequences, selective saturation of the characteristically short T2 macromolecular proton pool can produce contrast called magnetization transfer contrast, based on the cross-relaxation process. Selective saturation can be achieved with continuous wave irradiation several kilohertz off resonance or short, intense 0° pulses on resonance. The authors analyze 0° binomial pulses for T2 selective saturation, present design guidelines, and demonstrate the use of these pulses in spin-echo imaging sequences in healthy volunteers and patients. Using the phenomenologic Bloch equations modified for two-site exchange, the authors derive the analytic expressions for water proton relaxation under periodic pulsed saturation of the macromolecular protons. This relaxation is shown to be monoexpo-nential, with a rate constant dependent on the saturation pulse repetition rate and the individual and cross-relaxation rates.     

MR Lymphography with a Lymphotropic T1-Type MR Contrast Agent: Gd-DTPA-PGM

A model system of a paramagnetic lymphotropic MR contrast agent (Gd-DTPA labeled polyglucose associated macrocomplex, PGM) for T¹-weighted MR imaging of lymph nodes in rats and rabbits was evaluated. Pharmacokinetic (tissue accumulation) and MR imaging data (optimal dose and timing parameters) were obtained in normal rats (n = 88) after subcutaneous (SC) injection of paramagnetic, radiolabeled [111In]Gd-DTPA-PGM. A rabbit model of lymph node metastases (n = 8) was ultimately used to demonstrate the potential of MR imaging with Gd-DTPA-PGM for nodal tumor detection. Maximum concentrations of Gd-DTPA-PGM were found in popliteal and paraaortic lymph nodes within 24 h after SC administration, and highest lymph node SNR values were obtained by MR imaging at this time point. The optimum imaging dose was 6–12 μmol Gd/kg. Tumor-lymph node contrast increased from 0.0 ± 1.2 precontrast to 19.2 ± 6.5 (spoiled gradient echo sequence, TR 50/TE 7/flip angle 60°) postcontrast and conspicuity of nodal metastases was improved. Gd-DTPA-PGM accumulates in lymph nodes after SC administration and significantly enhances lymph node signal intensity of normal animals but not metastatic lymph nodes.     

How sensitive is hand transport to illusory context effects?

A recent report that hand transport was sensitive to a size-contrast illusion (SCI) implied that the distinction between visual processing for perception versus action might only affect visual information obtained late during reaching. In this study, the presence of a perceptual SCI did not affect reaction time, movement time, or movement amplitude. However, both perception and action became sensitive to the SCI with memory-based responses. It is concluded that the distinction between visual processing for perception versus action does extend to hand transport. Immediate action is entirely based on veridical visuo-motor representations, whereas even slightly delayed actions begin to reflect distorted perceptual representations.     

Diagnosis of iodinated contrast media hypersensitivity: results of a 6-year period

Background Iodinated contrast media (ICM) hypersensitivity reactions represent a serious problem. Very few clinical data concerning systematic skin testing to ICM are available. Objective To evaluate the utility of ICM skin testing in patients with ICM hypersensitivity. Material and methods All patients referred over a 6‐year period for ICM hypersensitivity past reactions were skin tested for (a) the implicated ICM, or (b) a set of ICM if they were positive for the implicated ICM or if its name was unknown. Results Forty‐four patients, with a median age of 56 years, were studied (15 males, 29 females). The ICM skin tests were positive in 10 patients (23%): one had a positive skin prick test, seven an immediate positive intradermal test (IDT) and two a delayed positive IDT. Skin tests were more often positive in patients with immediate (9/32) as compared with those with non‐immediate reactions (1/11). The time interval between the reaction and skin testing was shorter for those patients with an immediate ICM reaction and a positive skin test result (3 months [2.5–174.0]) as compared with those with an immediate ICM reaction and a negative skin test (48 months [6.8–159.0]), (P<0.05). Respiratory allergy was more frequent in the positive group (6/10 vs. 7/34, P<0.05). Conclusions Skin tests with ICM are positive in a subgroup of patients with ICM hypersensitivity and may play an important role in the diagnosis of ICM allergy.     

芪丹通脉片对缺血/再灌注犬心肌微血管功能的影响

目的评价中药复方芪丹通脉片对急性缺血再灌注致心肌微血管功能的影响。方法应用12只健康犬,随机分为对照组(control)和芪丹通脉片治疗组(QDTMT treatment group),对照组经十二指肠给予生理盐水(1.5ml/kg),给药后30min分离冠状动脉左前降支,放置电磁流量计探头测定血流量,在其下缘左前降支1/2处结扎90min,松开后再灌注180min观察,分别于灌胃前、缺血90min和再灌注180min静脉快速均匀推入微泡声学造影剂SONOVUE,FLASH模式进行静脉声学造影,实时连续记录心肌声学造影前后的图像采用,采用Echopac图象工作站软件包进行分析心肌声学造影的图像视频密度,根据时间-视频密度曲线计算曲线下面积(area under curve,AUC)以评价心肌微血管的血流灌注状态,根据图像分析缺血心肌范围的影响。芪丹通脉片组则经十二指肠给予芪丹通脉片浸膏混悬液(1g/ml,1.5ml/kg),其余实验过程同对照组。并在不同时间点从冠状静脉窦采血,检测血清中NO和血浆中ET-1的含量。结果在基础状态、缺血前和缺血90min,对照组和芪丹通脉片干预组的时间-视频密度曲线计算曲线下面积(AUC)以及缺血后出现的灌注缺损所占左心室的百分比没有显著差异。然而再灌注180min两组的AUC存在显著差异(14.09±2.31 vs 11.47±1.55,P<0.05),左心室心肌灌流均没有完全恢复,但芪丹通脉片能够显著促进再灌注后心肌微循环灌流的恢复(92.10±2.2)%,与对照组(87.49±4.12)%比较,存在显著差异(P<0.05)。在缺血90min和再灌注180min,芪丹通脉片处理组血清中NO和血浆中ET-1分别为(68.98±10.01)μmol/L、(67.55±9.81)μmol/L和(114.73±11.89)μg/L,(139.97±12.36)μg/L,与对照组存在显著差异(56.38±8.27)μmol/L,(53.55±6.03)μmol/L和(137.40±13.48)μg/L,(161.90±19.14)μg/L,(P<0.05)。结论芪丹通脉片能够促进心肌缺血/再灌注后微循环血流的恢复,调节循环血中的NO和ET含量,改善微循环功能,抑制缺血/再灌注所致的心肌损伤。     

Central nervous system inflammatory response after cerebral infarction as detected by magnetic resonance imaging

Brain inflammation contributes to the tissue injury caused by ischemic stroke. Macrophages as the most abundant inflammatory cell population in stroke lesions can be visualized using ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) as a cell-specific contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of our present study was to delineate the inflammatory response during experimental cerebral infarction by means of USPIO-enhanced MRI and to correlate the spatial distribution of USPIO-induced MR signal alterations with cellular infiltration and iron deposition. To this end USPIOs were administered to Wistar rats 5 days after photothrombotic cerebral infarction. MR imaging at 7 T performed 24 h later displayed a rim-like signal loss around the infarction in the USPIO treated animals. On histological brain sections obtained from the same animals after MRI the distribution of iron and ED1+ phagocytes was in full spatial agreement with the signal loss seen on T2*-weighted images. Our study validates USPIO-enhanced MRI as an important tool for the noninvasive visualization of brain inflammation in stroke and other CNS pathologies.     

Assessment of PACS Display Systems

This work describes our experience in reviewing the performance criteria for display systems and how we have implemented a practical approach to the assessment of the workstation environment in a large tertiary care hospital. The acceptance criteria contained in the draft report of Topic Group 18 of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) were used as a basis for assessment of primary and secondary displays. A telescopic photometer was used to measure the maximum luminance and the contrast ratio of the image for the displays used in our radiology department and in the operating and emergency rooms using the standard Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) pattern, in ambient light and with light decreased as much as possible. About half of the displays met the AAPM criteria for minimum luminance and contrast ratio in low light. None of the systems met the contrast ratio criteria in ambient light. The challenges in improving the performance and calibrating displays are discussed.     

Contrast sensitivity function of sound eye after occlusion therapy in the amblyopic children

To verify the changes of mesopic and photopic contrast sensitivity function of sound eye whose visual acuity was kept the same after occlusion therapy in the amblyopic children. Fourteen sound eyes of amblyopic children (mean; 7.67 years; S.D., 1.50 years) who kept their visual acuity the same after the occlusion therapy were tested. The children had 6 hours of part-time patch therapy for 3 months prior to this examination. Among 14 amblyopic children, 8 were anisometric and 6 were strabismic amblyopes. Using the visual capacity analyzer which measures the minimal contrast level at from low to high spatial frequencies, the contrast sensitivity of sound eye was measured, under both photopic and mesopic condition, before and after 3 months of occlusion therapy. Comparing the contrast sensitivity of sound eye after the occlusion therapy to that before the occlusion, there was no statistical difference in photopic condition. When it comes to mesopic condition, the contrast sensitivity decreased at the intermediate spatial frequency level (3-13 c.p.d, p=0.028) after the occlusion therapy. The occlusion caused statistically significant decrease in mesopic contrast sensitivity, when the visual acuity was not changed after the occlusion therapy. It may indicate that mesopic contrast sensitivity can be considered as a useful tool for early detection of hidden occlusion amblyopia.     

Comparativein vitro study of the effect of contrast media on complement activity and eicosanoid content in rat blood

The study comparesin vitro effect of different contrast media on complement activity and eicosanoid content. Ionic agents (Bilignost>Iodamide>Triombrast>Hexabrix) exert pronounced complement-activating effect, while nonionic agents markedly increase blood content of arachidonic acid metabolites. The complement-activating effect of contrast media did not correlate with their ability to elevate blood content of prostaglandin F_2α and leukotrienes C₄ and B₄. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 125, No. 6, pp. 637–640, June, 1998