Longitudinal gradient coil optimization in the presence of transient eddy currents.

The switching of magnetic field gradient coils in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) inevitably induces transient eddy currents in conducting system components, such as the cryostat vessel. These secondary currents degrade the spatial and temporal performance of the gradient coils, and compensation methods are commonly employed to correct for these distortions. This theoretical study shows that by incorporating the eddy currents into the coil optimization process, it is possible to modify a gradient coil design so that the fields created by the coil and the eddy currents combine together to generate a spatially homogeneous gradient that follows the input pulse. Shielded and unshielded longitudinal gradient coils are used to exemplify this novel approach. To assist in the evaluation of transient eddy currents induced within a realistic cryostat vessel, a low-frequency finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method using the total-field scattered-field (TFSF) scheme was performed. The simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for optimizing longitudinal gradient fields while taking into account the spatial and temporal behavior of the eddy currents.     

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.     

Effects of bile acids on ventricular muscle contraction and electrophysiological properties: studies in rat papillary muscle and isolated ventricular myocytes

Summary The effects of sodium salts of various bile acids on the contractile force and the electrophysiological properties of rat ventricular muscle were studied in vitro. Primary, conjugated, and secondary bile acids were studied in a concentration range of 10^–9–10^–6 mol/l, which corresponds to concentrations found in the plasm of patients with cholestatic jaundice. In general, the bile acid induced a negative inotropic effect which was manifested as a reduction in active tension, maximum rate of tension activation, and maximum rate of tension relaxation. Twitch duration and time to peak tension were unaffected by the bile acids. The negative inotropism was associated with a reduction in ventricular action potential duration. Resting potential, action potential amplitude, and maximum upstroke velocity of phase 0 depolarization were unaffected. Voltage clamp experiments in rat ventricular myocytes demonstrated that sodium taurocholate decreased the slow inward current and slightly increased the outward potassium current. Hence, these effects on the membrane currents are probably responsible for the negative inotropic effect. Send offprint requests to O. Binah at the above address     

Pharmacological properties of Ca2+-activated K+ currents of ramified murine brain macrophages

Using the whole-cell configuration of the patch clamp technique, calcium-activated potassium currents (I_K,Ca) were investigated in ramified murine brain macrophages. In order to induce I_K,Ca the intracellular concentration of nominal free Ca²⁺ was adjusted to 1μM. The Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ current of brain macrophages did not show any voltage dependence at test potentials between –120 and +30mV. A tenfold change in extracellular K⁺ concentration shifted the reversal potential of I_K,Ca by 51mV. The bee venom toxin apamin applied at concentrations of up to 1μM did not affect I_K,Ca. Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ currents of ramified brain macrophages were highly sensitive to extracellularly applied charybdotoxin (CTX). The half-maximal effective concentration of CTX was calculated to be 4.3nM. In contrast to CTX, the scorpion toxin kaliotoxin did not inhibit I_K,Ca at concentrations between 1 and 50nM. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) blocked 8.0% of I_K,Ca at a concentration of 1mM, whereas 31.4% of current was blocked by 10mM TEA. Several inorganic polyvalent cations were tested at a concentration of 2mM for their ability to block I_K,Ca. La³⁺ reduced I_K,Ca by 72.8%, whereas Cd²⁺ decreased I_K,Ca by 17.4%; in contrast, Ni²⁺ did not have any effect on I_K,Ca. Ba²⁺ applied at a concentration of 1mM reduced I_K,Ca voltage-dependently at hyperpolarizing potentials. Received: 17 January / Accepted: 5 May 1997     

福辛普利预处理对缺氧复氧期豚鼠心室肌细胞Na+/Ca2+交换电流的影响

目的:观察福辛普利晚期预处理对缺氧复氧心室肌细胞Na /Ca2 交换电流的影响。方法:应用全细胞膜片钳方法,记录观察酶解的成年豚鼠心室肌细胞Na /Ca2 交换电流在缺氧复氧期的变化。结果:缺氧复氧明显增加心肌Na /Ca2 交换电流,在-100mV和 60mV时较对照组分别增加41.05%及32.75%,福辛普利预处理后可明显抑制缺氧复氧心肌Na /Ca2 交换电流,在-100mV和 60mV时分别减少17.90%及14.20%,有助于减少钙内流,减轻钙超载。结论:福辛普利预处理可抑制缺氧复氧心肌Na /Ca2 交换电流逆向转运。     

N-乙酰半胱氨酸对脑死亡巴马小型猪心脏的保护作用及其机制

目的 探讨N-乙酰半胱氨酸（NAC）对脑死亡状态下巴马小型猪心脏形态与功能的影响。方法 应用改进的缓慢间断颅内加压法建立巴马小型猪脑死亡模型。将实验动物随机分为3组，每组5只。对照组（A组）：动物麻醉后仅行开颅与开关腹手术。非药物干预组（B组）：建立脑死亡模型，不进行药物干预。NAC处理组（N组）：建立脑死亡模型，于脑死亡后1和12h，按200mg／kg的剂量将NAC加入100ml生理盐水中，经静脉缓慢滴注。分别于脑死亡后6、12和24h检测各组血清中肌钙蛋白T（cTnT）的水平以及干扰素α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素1β（IL-1β）以及白细胞介素6（IL-6）含量。脑死亡后24h，取各组心尖部心肌组织，光镜下观察心脏组织结构变化，电镜下观察心脏组织超微结构变化，免疫组织化学染色法观察核因子κB（NF-κB）的表达水平，逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）检测NF-κB mRNA的变化。结果 脑死亡6h后，B组及N组的血清cTnT、IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α水平均开始升高，但N组升高幅度显著低于B组。脑死亡后24h可见心肌细胞出现损伤性改变；N组心肌细胞损伤明显轻于B组。B组及N组心肌细胞中NF-κB mRNA及其蛋白表达水平均升高，但N组显著低于B组。结论 N-乙酰半胱氨酸能够减轻脑死亡状态下心脏的形态和功能损伤性改变，其机制可能与抑制NF-κB mRNA及其蛋白的表达，减少炎症介质的释放有关。     

Voltage-gated Currents in Rabbit Retinal Astrocytes

The voltage-gated currents of the astrocytes associated with the retinal capillaries of the rabbit retina were studied using whole-cell patch clamp recording. The resting potential of these cells was −70 ± 4.8 mV (mean ± SEM; n = 54), and the input resistance and cell capacitance were 558 ± 3.6 MΩ and 19.5 ± 1.8 pF respectively. Depolarization to potentials positive to −50 mV evoked rapidly activating inward and outward currents. The inward current was transient, eliminated by substitution of choline for Na⁺ in the bathing solution, and reduced by 50% in the presence of 1 μM tetrodotoxin. The time-to-peak of the Na⁺ current was more than twice that for the Na⁺ current found in retinal neurons. The glial Na⁺ current was half-inactivated at −55 mV. A transient component of the outward K⁺ current was blocked by external 4-aminopyridine while a more sustained component was blocked by external tetraethylammonium. At potentials between −150 and −50 mV the membrane behaved Ohmically. Voltage-gated currents in retinal astrocytes recorded in situ appear qualitatively similar to those described for some glial cells in vitro.     

贵州小型香猪麻醉方法的比较研究

目的　探索快速安全地麻醉贵州小型香猪的方法。方法　 90头贵州小型香猪随机分为肌内注射组、腹腔注射组、静脉注射组 ,比较用 3%戊巴比妥钠溶液麻醉的显效时间、麻醉效果及死亡率。结果　肌内注射显效时间 (15± 5 )min ,麻醉效果优 80 %、良 16 7%、死亡 3 3% ;腹腔注射显效时间 (13± 4 )min ,麻醉效果优 6 0 %、良2 0 %、差 16 7%、死亡 3 3% ;静脉注射显效时间 (10± 2 )min ,麻醉效果优 73 3%、良 16 7%、死亡 10 % ;结论　肌内注射麻醉是一种安全可靠的麻醉方法。     

View ordering for magnetization prepared steady state free precession acquisition: application in contrast-enhanced MR angiography.

Magnetization prepared segmented acquisition requires a view order that maximizes signal contrast during the acquisition of the central portion of k-space. Steady state free precession (SSFP) acquisition further requires a view order that minimizes changes in phase-encoding gradients from one repetition to the next in order to minimize eddy current artifacts. In this article, optimal view ordering schemes satisfying these two requirements are formulated and applied to inversion prepared 3D SSFP contrast-enhanced MR angiography (MRA). Experiments on phantoms and pigs demonstrated improved background suppression and reduced image artifacts.