Technical basis for magnetic resonance images

The spin-echo procedure is the basic technique in a magnetic resonance (MR) study (the magnetization vector is flipped by 90° onto the ortogonal plane to the main magnetic field). Very soon after the MR procedure was developed, it was pointed out how important it is to achieve the needed contrast with shorter repetition times (TRs) to reduce the imaging time. Recently, fast imaging techniques have been introduced (partial flip angles, short TRs, and the lack of 180° radiofrequency pulses to refocus the spins are their main characteristics; the spins are refocused by the application of a gradient reversal technique). These techniques are particularly needed in pediatric neuroradiology, where the examination time must be as short as possible. At present, partial flip-angle techniques are almost completely replacing the conventional spin-echo procedure, but the variations in flip angle could result in a change in contrast. For these reasons, conventional spin-echo techniques may still be useful in a routine MR study.Presented at the 11th Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Neurosurgery, Naples 1988     

Enzymic and nonenzymic release of NO accounts for the vasodilator activity of the metabolites of CAS 936, a novel long-acting sydnonimine derivative

Summary The molecular mechanism(s) underlying the vasodilator activity of CAS 936 (3-(cis-2,6-dimethylpiperidino)-N-(4-methoxybenzoyl)-sydnonimine) and its metabolites 3-(cis-2,6-dimethylpiperidino)-sydnonimine (C87 3754) and N-(cis-2,6-dimethylpiperidino)-N-nitroso-2-aminoacetonitril (C873786) was investigated. These compounds were tested for their relaxant activity in isolated rabbit arterial segments, activation of purified soluble guanylyl cyclase and release of nitric oxide (NO) in vitro and in vivo. C873754 and C873786 inhibited the noradrenalin-induced contraction and increased the cyclic GMP content of endothelium-denuded rabbit aortic and femoral segments, whereas CAS 936 was without effect. Similarly, both metabolites, but not CAS 936, activated purified soluble guanylyl cyclase (EC₅₀ about 30 M) and released NO in buffered aqueous solutions, as detected by electron spin resonance (esr) spectrometry. Both in vitro and in vivo an accumulation of NO was detected by esr spectrometry in vascular tissues exposed to the metabolites of CAS 936, whereas a significant release of NO from CAS 936 was only detected in the isolated rabbit liver, but not in vascular tissue. It is conceivable, therefore, that the metabolites of CAS 936 appearing in the systemic circulation after hepatic biotransformation induce vasodilatation by release of NO and activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase in vascular smooth muscle. Moreover, the activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase in vitro by the metabolites of CAS 936 was significantly enhanced by co-incubation with certain particulate fractions from bovine aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Thus, an enzymic release of NO from these metabolites in addition to their spontaneous decomposition may play a significant role for their vasodilator activity in vivo.Correspondence to A. Mülsch at the above address     

Assessment of high-energy phosphorus compounds in the rat kidney by in situ31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy: effect of ischemia and furosemide

Summary ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of the in situ rat kidney was performed by a surface coil method, and the effects of ischemia and furosemide infusion were assessed.³¹P NMR spectra of the kidney subjected to 30 min of ischemia returned completely to the pre-ischemic level after 60 min of reperfusion. But the³¹P NMR spectra after 60 min of ischemia did not recover, even after 120 min of reperfusion. Levels of -ATP and inorganic phosphate (Pi) decreased and the chemical shift of Pi increased after intravenous infusion of furosemide. This increase in chemical shift might signal an alkalotic change in intracellular pH. Furosemide infusion prior to ischemia is thought to protect the kidney from injury induced by 60 min of warm ischemia. The chemical shift of Pi returned to the pre-ischemic level earlier than -ATP and Pi. In conclusion, according to the findings of³¹P NMR spectroscopy, furosemide infusion prior to ischemia may be effective in protecting the kidney against ischemic injury. But the change in Pi peak and the causes of the dissociation of Pi and -ATP should be examined further.     

31P and23Na nuclear magnetic resonance study on forebrain ischemia in rats with shift reagent Dy(TTHA)

³¹P and ²³Na nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was employed to study the dynamic changes in intracellular high-energy phosphates and sodium during 15min of forebrain ischemia and recirculation in in vivo rat brain. In the presence of the shift reagent Dysprosium triethylenetetramine-N,N,N,N,N,N-hexaacetic and [Dy(TTHA)], the sodium peak separated into two peaks, unshifted and shifted. During 15min of ischemia, the unshifted sodium peak decreased and the shifted sodium peak increased. With recirculation, the unshifted and the shifted sodium peaks returned to the preischemia level within 10min, but the shifted one increased during 30–60min. Intracellular high-energy phosphates and intracellular pH (pHi) decreased during 15min of ischemia and returned to the preischemia levels within 20min of recirculation. We conclude that the decrease in unshifted sodium peak during ischemia is due to the decrease in subarachnoid sodium and the cellular influx of interstitial sodium would be minimum. The increase in shifted sodium peak during ischemia is considered to be due to the dilatation of cerebral blood vessels and the increase in interstitial sodium which was transported from subarachnoid space.(Kurata M: ³¹P and ²³Na nuclear magnetic resonance study on forebrain ischemia in rats with shift reagent Dy(TTHA). J Anesth 7: 325–333, 1993)     

Deuterium chemical shift imaging for the estimation of cerebral perfusion in rabbit infarction model

In order to develop a new technique for the measurement of local cerebral blood flow (CBF), the deuterium chemical shift imaging (²H-CSI) technique, an application of in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), was used for the estimation of cerebral perfusion in rabbit infarction model. The ²H chemical shift images of rabbit brain were obtained every 30 seconds before and after intravenous injection of deuterated saline. The changes in ²H NMR signal intensity documented that the cerebral perfusion in the damaged area due to infarction decreased obviously compared to that in the intact area. These findings indicate that the ²H-CSI technique can be applied to the measurement of local CBF. The readily availability and limited toxicity of deuterated water may make possible to use this method in clinical cases.(Kito K, Arai T, Mori K, et al.: Deuterium chemical shift imaging for the estimation of cerebral perfusion in rabbit infarction model. J Anesth 7: 447–453, 1993)     

利用磁共振定量测定海马结构体积

目的：应用磁共振（ＭＲＩ）测定颞叶癫痫（ＴＬＥ）患者,非ＴＬＥ患者及正常人的海马结构（ＨＦ）体积。讨论该方法在确定ＴＬＥ致痫灶中的价值。方法：用ＭＲＩ对１３例ＴＬＥ患者,１７例非ＴＬＥ患者及３７例正常人作为脑干长轴平行的倾斜冠状位扫描,ＳＥ序列Ｔ１加权像,测量ＨＦ的体积。采用正常人ＨＦ体积的正常范围及左右两侧ＨＦ体积的差值的正常范围对ＴＬＥ患者可能存在的海马硬化进行定位定侧。结果：正常人ＨＦ的体积范围：右侧为１．９５～３．６８ｃｍ＾３,左侧为１．９３～３．６１ｃｍ＾３。ＴＬＥ组有７例患者的ＨＦ体积缩小,其中２例为双侧萎缩,而非ＴＬＥ组无一例ＨＦ体积缩小。结论：利用ＭＲＩ定量测定ＨＦ技术对ＴＬＥ患者可能存在的海马萎缩（ＨＡ）的定位定侧有较高的敏感性,比目测读片敏感,能提高ＴＬＥ患者ＨＡ的检出率。     

80例强直性脊柱炎临床X线分析

目的：分析和研究强直性脊柱炎的临床Ｘ线检查诊断方法,Ｘ线分级、分期的表现及在诊断中的重要性,方法：对８０例强直性脊柱炎患者进行Ｘ摄片分级,分期,结合血沉（ＥＳＲ）,Ｃ－反应蛋白（ＣＲＰ）和ＨＬＡ－Ｂ２检查诊断。并进行统计学分析。结果：９０％患者ＨＬＡ－Ｂ２阳性,６０％血沉增快,骶髂关节和髋关节片以２级改变为主,腰椎病变以早、中期Ｘ线病变者较多。结论：强直性脊柱炎以青壮年男性为多见,ＨＬＡ－Ｂ２阳性     

利用核磁技术确定游离羟基碳苷的结构和构型

确定游离羟基碳苷的结构和苷键的构型。方法 :以核磁共振谱 (氢谱 ,碳谱 ,氢氢相关谱等 )为主 ,辅以其它波谱数据推断。结果 :证实了所合成的五个游离羟基碳苷a～e均为 β 吡喃构型。 结论 :在无对照品的情况下采用多种波谱数据直接确证游离羟基碳苷的结构和构型是可行的。     

主动脉瘤25例的影像诊断

目的探讨螺旋CT(SCT)和MRI对主动脉瘤的诊断价值。方法25例主动脉瘤,13例行MRI检查,12例行SCT及三维重建技术检查。三维重建方法采用表面阴影显示法(SSD)、最大密度投影(MaxIP)及多层面重建法(MPVR)。结果13例主动脉夹层MRI和SCT均较好显示主动脉夹层内膜片和真假腔,SCT显示内膜破口5例,MRI无一例显示;SCT及三维重建较好地显示了主动脉夹层的内膜撕裂的范围、真性主动脉瘤(TAA)瘤壁的厚度及钙化、附壁血栓的情况及与邻近大血管分支的关系。结论SCT及三维重建技术的联合应用较低场MRI更能明确主动脉瘤的病变,对帮助和指导手术更具有价值。