Correction of frequency and phase variations induced by eddy currents in localized spectroscopy with multiple echo times.

As a consequence of the time-varying magnetic field induced by eddy currents, frequency drifting occurs when the sampling window of localized spectroscopy continuously shifts. The frequency drifting and the concomitant phase variations can severely affect spectroscopy results when data are acquired with multiple echo times (TEs), such as in the measurement of glutamate (Glu) concentration using the TE-averaged method. Specifically, the averaged spectra are further broadened and distorted in the presence of residual eddy currents, and editing of the coupled spins of Glu C4 protons is affected, resulting in errors in the measured relative intensity ratio. Postacquisition correction using unsuppressed water as reference can effectively minimize this detrimental effect, as manifested by the significantly enhanced signal intensity. Also, it is demonstrated that the methyl signals of creatine (Cr) at 3.0 ppm and choline (Cho) at 3.2 ppm can be used as internal references in finding frequency and phase disparities between different TEs.     

持续弹性外牵引矫正乳头内陷

目的 探索一种行之有效的、微创的乳头内陷矫正方法。方法 用钢丝、弹簧和塑料注射器制成弹性可调式的乳头内陷矫治器，利用弹性牵引作用，持续牵拉内陷乳头3～6个月。结果 14例患者均得以矫正，并获得良好的近期效果。1例患者因左侧乳头内陷严重，治疗2周时钢丝接近脱出乳头而更换矫治器并延长佩戴时间。随访患者6～12个月。效果稳定。结论 弹性可调式乳头内陷矫治器用于先天性乳头内陷的治疗，近期临床效果较好，为目前较佳的非手术治疗乳头内陷的方法，但其机理和远期效果还需进一步研究和观察。     

The callous elbow and aging of the upper arm

The author describes his surgical approach to the problems of the aging upper arm and elbow region. Surgery at an appropriate age can prevent the progressive wrinkling of the elbow which is further aggravated by aging of the upper arm. The author's operation is aimed at correcting both portions of the arm anatomy at the same time.     

Scatter correction in scintigraphy: the state of the art

In scintigraphy, the detection of scattered photons degrades both visual image analysis and quantitative accuracy. Many methods have been proposed and are still under investigation to cope with scattered photons. The main features of the problem of scattering in radionuclide imaging are presented first, to provide a sound foundation for a critical review of the existing scatter correction techniques. These are described using a classification relating to their aims and principles. Their theoretical potentials are analysed, as well as the difficulties of their practical implementation. Finally, the problems of their evaluation and comparison are discussed. Correspondence to: I. Buvat     

前方牵引治疗安氏Ⅲ类骨性反(牙合)最佳矫治时机的研究

目的:进一步探寻前牵矫治器对以上颌发育不足为主的安氏Ⅲ类骨性反(牙合)患者的最佳矫治时机.方法:选取45例研究对象分成3组,即3～6岁组、7～10岁组、11～13岁组,每组各15例;采用上颌前方牵引进行治疗,拍摄治疗前后的头颅定位侧位片进行X线头影测量分析.结果:上颌前方牵引治疗对上述3个试验组的患者均产生了一定的矫治效果;上颌骨前移,下颌骨后旋,前牙反(牙合)纠正、覆合覆盖达正常、磨牙关系达中性关系;3组研究对象对比显示年龄最小的3～6岁组相对后两组具有更短的治疗时间(3.8±0.4)个月、更多的骨骼改变(69.5%)、更少的牙齿改变(31.5%)以及更少的副作用等优点(P＜0.05);11～13岁组相对前两组治疗时间较长(9±0.5)个月、骨骼改变较少(59.5%)牙齿的代偿性改变较多(41.0%,P＜0.05).结论: 前牵引治疗安氏Ⅲ类骨性反(牙合)矫治时机的选择在3～6岁组比7～10岁组效果好;7～10岁组比11～13岁组效果好.     

A Bayesian iterative transmission gradient reconstruction algorithm for cardiac SPECT attenuation correction

Background  High-quality attenuation maps are critical for attenuation correction of myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography studies. The filtered backprojection (FBP) approach can introduce errors, especially with low-count transmission data. We present a new method for attenuation map reconstruction and examine its performance in phantom and patient data. Methods and Results  The Bayesian iterative transmission gradient algorithm incorporates a spatially varying gamma prior function that preferentially weights estimated attenuation coefficients toward the soft-tissue value while allowing data-driven solutions for lung and bone regions. The performance with attenuation-corrected technetium 99m sestamibi clinical images was evaluated in phantom studies and in 50 low-likelihood patients grouped by body mass index (BMI). The algorithm converged in 15 iterations in the phantom studies. For the clinical studies, soft-tissue estimates had significantly greater uniformity of mediastinal coefficients (mean SD, 0.005 cm⁻¹ vs 0.011 cm⁻¹; P<.0001). The accuracy and uniformity of the Bayesian iterative transmission gradient algorithm were independent of BMI, whereas both declined at higher BMI values with FBP. Attenuation-corrected perfusion images showed improvement in myocardial wall variability (4.8% to 4.1%, P=.02) for all BMI groups with the new method compared with FBP. Conclusion  This new method for attenuation map reconstruction provides rapidly converging and accurate attenuation maps over a wide spectrum of patient BMI values and significantly improves attenuation-corrected perfusion images.     

Time-resolved MR imaging by automatic data segmentation

A method for time-resolved imaging that provides a flexible trade-off between imaging time and temporal resolution is presented. It is based on a view order selection technique that automatically segments the acquired raw data into appropriate temporal frames. When used with cardiac monitoring and phase-contrast imaging, data similar to that obtained with a conventional gated phase-contrast sequence are acquired rapidly. For many applications, the temporal resolution can be reduced enough to permit imaging within a breath-hold interval, while still allowing accurate time-averaged flow quantitation. This is a general technique that can be implemented within a variety of pulse sequences and can resolve other motion cycles, including the respiratory cycle.     

Impact of photon energy recovery on the assessment of left ventricular volume using myocardial perfusion SPECT

BACKGROUND: Photon energy recovery (PER) is a spectral deconvolution technique validated for scatter removal in patients and phantom studies. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of PER on left ventricular volume measurement based on myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). METHODS AND RESULTS: SPECT acquisitions were performed by use of a static cardiac phantom and in 25 patients after a rest injection of technetium 99m sestamibi by use of multiple energy windows (126-136, 137-144, and 145-154 keV). Data were successively reconstructed with and without PER, by use of iterative reconstruction and post-processing filtering (Butterworth filter; order, 5; cutoff, 0.30 cycles/pixel). Image contrast was evaluated in reconstructed data, and volumes were calculated by use of QGS. PER increased reconstructed image contrast from 62% +/- 2.7% to 84.3% +/- 5.7% in the phantom studies (P <.0001) and from 49% +/- 2% to 73% +/- 2% in patients (P <.0001). Although it remained underestimated (P <.0001), phantom volume was higher after PER correction compared with uncorrected data (50.9 +/- 0.8 mL vs 44.6 +/- 1 mL, P <.0001). The error in volume measurement was decreased by PER correction (16.6% +/- 1.3% vs 27% +/- 1.7% [uncorrected data], P <.0001). In patients, left ventricular volume increased from 83 +/- 10 mL to 91 +/- 10 mL (P <.0001), and the PER-induced volume increase was correlated with the image contrast increase (r = 0.61, P =.001). Finally, the percentage of volume increase was higher in patients with small left ventricular volumes. CONCLUSIONS: PER has a significant impact on image contrast and left ventricular volume measurement by use of perfusion SPECT. PER improves the accuracy of phantom volume assessment. In patients, volume increase is correlated to image contrast increase and is higher in those with small ventricles.