Whole body MR imaging in ankylosing spondylitis: a descriptive pilot study in patients with suspected early and active confirmed ankylosing spondylitis

Background  

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disorder which usually begins in early adulthood. The diagnosis is often delayed by many years. MR imaging has become the preferred imaging method for detection of early inflammation of the axial skeleton in ankylosing spondylitis.     

Physical performance characteristics of spiral CT scanning

CT scanning in spiral geometry is achieved by continuously transporting the patient through the gantry in synchrony with continuous data acquisition over a multitude of 360-deg scans. Data for reconstruction of images in planar geometry are estimated from the spiral data by interpolation. The influence of spiral scanning on image quality is investigated. Most of the standard physical performance parameters, e.g., spatial resolution, image uniformity, and contrast, are not affected; results differ for pixel noise and slice sensitivity profiles. For linear interpolation, pixel noise is expected to be reduced by a factor of 0.82; reduction factors of 0.81 to 0.83 were measured. Slice sensitivity profiles are changed as a function of table feed d, measured in millimeters per 360-deg scan; they are smoothed as the original profile is convolved with the object motion function. The motion function is derived for linear interpolation that constitutes a triangle with a base line width of 2d and a maximal height equal to 1/d. Calculations of both the full width at half-maximum and the shape of the profiles were in good agreement with experimental results. The effect of the widened profiles, in particular of their extended tail ends, on image quality is demonstrated in phantom measurements.     

慢性低氧时小鼠肺组织低氧诱导因子-1α的表达

目的：研究低氧时小鼠肺组织中低氧诱导因子-1α(HIF-k)表达的变化。方法：实验用雄性小鼠，低氧仓浓度分别为10％、7％、5％。用免疫荧光组织化学技术及共聚焦显微术，检测小鼠在低氧条件下肺组织中HIF-1α表达的变化。结果：正常组小鼠肺组织HIF-1α无表达，低氧组HIF-1α表达增加，且随低氧时间的延长及低氧强度的增加而增强。结论：低氧可诱导小鼠肺组织中HIF-1α的表达增强，(HIF-k)可能参与肺组织细胞凋亡的发生。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">TCF7L2</Emphasis>variant genotypes and type 2 diabetes risk in Brazil: significant association,but not a significant tool for risk stratification in the general population

Background  

Genetic polymorphisms of the TCF7L2 gene are strongly associated with large increments in type 2 diabetes risk in different populations worldwide. In this study, we aimed to confirm the effect of the TCF7L2 polymorphism rs7903146 on diabetes risk in a Brazilian population and to assess the use of this genetic marker in improving diabetes risk prediction in the general population.