Retrospective case-analysis of the magnetic resonance imaging characteristics in the brain of patients with Wilson disease

INTRODUCTION Wilson disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder of copper metabolism. It was firstly reported by Wilson in 1912. Its inci- dence was about 0.005‰ to 0.03‰[1,2]. WD is the disorder of copper metabolism caused by the genic mu…     

Changes in brain function and anatomical structure following treatment of hyperbaric oxygen for visual pathway abnormalities in 16 cases★ Evaluation of functional magnetic resonance imaging combined with diffusion tensor imaging

BACKGROUND： There is a growing research focus on the combination of blood oxygenation level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging （BOLD-fMRI） and diffusion tensor imaging （DTI） to evaluate visual cortical function and structural changes in the cerebrum, as well as morphological changes to the white matter fiber tracks, after visual pathway lesions. However, the combined application of BOLD-fMRI and DTI in treating of visual pathway abnormalities still requires further studies.
OBJECTIVE： To observe and evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen on visual pathway abnormalities, and to evaluate the characteristics of cerebral function and anatomic structural changes by using BOLD-fMRI combined with DTI technique. DESIGN： Case contrast observation.
SETTING： Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA.
PARTICIPANTS： Sixteen patients （9 males and 7 females, 15-77 years old） with lateral or bilateral visual disorder induced by visual pathway lesions were selected from the Department of Neurology, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA from January 2006 to May 2007. These patients comprised the lesion group. Measures of interventional therapy： hyperbaric oxygen of two normal atmospheres for three courses （10 d/course） and routine internal medicine treatment. In addition, 12 healthy subjects of similar sex and age to the lesion group were regarded as the control group. The control group underwent routine ophthalmological and ocular fundus examinations; diagnostic results were normal. The experiment received confirmed consent from the local ethic committee, and all patients provided informed consent.
METHODS： BOLD-fMRI and DTI manifestations in the lesion group were observed before and after hyperbaric oxygen intervention, and the results were compared with the control group. The subjects were positioned on their back, and BOLD-fMRI images were collected with the following GRE EPI sequence： TR = 2 000 ms, TE = 40     

Tracking of iron-labeled human neural stem cells by magnetic resonance imaging in cell replacement therapy for Parkinson’s disease

Human neural stem cells (hNSCs) derived from the ventral mesencephalon are powerful research tools and candidates for cell therapies in Parkinson’s disease. However, their clinical translation has not been fully realized due, in part, to the limited ability to track stem cell regional localization and survival over long periods of time afterin vivo transplantation. Magnetic resonance imaging provides an excellent non-invasive method to study the fate of transplanted cellsin vivo. For magnetic resonance imaging cell tracking, cells need to be labeled with a contrast agent, such as magnetic nanoparticles, at a concentration high enough to be easily detected by magnetic resonance imaging. Grafting of human neural stem cells labeled with magnetic nanoparticles allows cell tracking by magnetic resonance imaging without impairment of cell survival, prolif-eration, self-renewal, and multipotency. However, the results reviewed here suggest that in long term grafting, activated microglia and macrophages could contribute to magnetic resonance imaging signal by engulifng dead labeled cells or iron nanoparticles dispersed freely in the brain parenchyma over time.