The effects of reference selection methods on PROPELLER MRI.

PROPELLER MRI has been shown effective for rigid motion compensation, while the performance of existing PROPELLER reconstruction methods critically depend on selecting a proper reference blade. In this work, we proposed a robust implementation for PROPELLER reconstruction, which was incorporated with different reference selection methods, including single blade reference (SBR), combined blades reference (CBR), grouped blades reference (GBR) and Pipe et al.'s revised method, which requires no blade reference (NBR).

Quantification of pancreatic iron overload and fat infiltration and their correlation with glucose disturbance in pediatric thalassemia major patients.

Background: Diabetes mellitus affects more than a quarter of patients with thalassemia major (TM) worldwide, and increases the risk for cardiac complications, contributing to significant morbidity. Pancreatic iron overload (IO) and fat infiltration have been correlated with this endocrinal complication in adult TM patients. It has been shown that in adult TM patients, iron accumulation and fat infiltration are found to be heterogeneous in the pancreatic head, body, and tail region.

Vaccination with Consensus H7 Elicits Broadly Reactive and Protective Antibodies against Eurasian and North American Lineage H7 Viruses.

H7 subtype avian influenza viruses have caused outbreaks in poultry, and even human infection, for decades in both Eurasia and North America. Although effective vaccines offer the best protection against avian influenza viruses, antigenically distinct Eurasian and North American lineage subtype H7 viruses require the development of cross-protective vaccine candidates. In this study, a methodology called computationally optimized broadly reactive antigen (COBRA) was used to develop four consensus H7 antigens (CH7-22, CH7-24, CH7-26, and CH7-28).

Comparison of T2, T1rho, and diffusion metrics in assessment of liver fibrosis in rats.

Purpose: To evaluate the value of T , T rho, and diffusion metrics in assessment of liver fibrosis in rats.

Materials And Methods: Liver fibrosis in a rat model (n = 72) was induced by injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl ) at 3T. T , T rho, and diffusion parameters (apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), D ) via spin echo (SE) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) DWI with three diffusion times (DT: 80, 106, 186 msec) were obtained in surviving rats with hepatic fibrosis (n = 52) and controls (n = 8).

Regulated pH-Responsive Polymeric Micelles for Doxorubicin Delivery to the Nucleus of Liver Cancer Cells.

A diblock copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate) (PBLG), PEG-PBLG, was synthesized via the ring-opening polymerization of γ-benzyl L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride (BLG-NCA) using allyl-PEG-NH2 as a macroinitiator. After deprotection of the benzyl groups, N,N-diisopropyl ethylenediamine (DIP) was conjugated to poly(L-glutamic acid) (PGA) blocks as side groups. The pendant DIP groups on the PGA blocks greatly enhance the pH-sensitivity of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly[N-(N',N'-diisopropylaminoethyl) glutamide] [PEG-PGA(DIP)] micelles, and a higher grafting percentage of DIP favors a faster acid-response.

Intravoxel incoherent motion MRI in differentiation between recurrent carcinoma and postchemoradiation fibrosis of the skull base in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Purpose: To determine the capacity of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in differential diagnosis between recurrent carcinoma and postchemoradiation fibrosis of skull base in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Materials And Methods: Eleven patients with recurrent NPC and 21 patients with postchemoradiation fibrosis in the skull base were enrolled. All the diagnoses were proved by endoscopic biopsy or imaging follow-up.

Comparison of multislice breath-hold and 3D respiratory triggered T1 ρ imaging of liver in healthy volunteers and liver cirrhosis patients in 3.0 T MRI.

Purpose: To compare visual quality and quantitative measurements of multislice (MS) breath-hold and 3D respiratory-triggered T1 ρ sequences.

Materials And Methods: T1 ρ scans including MS BLOCK T1 ρ, MS HS8 T1 ρ, and 3D BLOCK T1 ρ were performed on 40 healthy volunteers and 17 liver cirrhosis patients on 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Value of severe liver iron overload for assessing heart iron levels in thalassemia major patients.

Purpose: The relationship between severe liver iron overload (LIO) and heart iron overload (HIO) in transfusion-dependent patients with thalassemia major (TM) is uncertain. Whether severe LIO can serve as an index for assessing heart iron deposition has vital clinical significance. Therefore, our aim is to determine if a close relationship exists between severe LIO and HIO.

MRI assessment of excess cardiac iron in thalassemia major: When to initiate?

Background: To determine optimal initial age of cardiac iron screening with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2* in patients with thalassemia major (TM).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed black blood cardiac T2* assessments from 102 TM patients from the ages of 3 to 32 years. Cases of patients under and above 7 years old with detectable cardiac iron overload were analyzed separately.

Magnetic resonance imaging-visible and pH-sensitive polymeric micelles for tumor targeted drug delivery.

Folate-functionalized copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) and 2-(diisopropylamino) ethylamine grafted poly(L-aspartic acid) are synthesized. The copolymers can self-assemble into nanoscaled micelles encapsulated with hydrophobic model drug Fluorescein Diacetate (FDA) and MRI diagnostic agents superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in aqueous solution of a neutral pH resembling physiological environment, whereas disassemble in acidic endosomal/lysosomal compartments of tumor cells to achieve rapid drug release. In vitro drug release study showed that FDA release from the pH-sensitive micelles was much faster at pH 5.

Acid-triggered core cross-linked nanomicelles for targeted drug delivery and magnetic resonance imaging in liver cancer cells.

Purpose: To research the acid-triggered core cross-linked folate-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly[N-(N',N'-diisopropylaminoethyl) glutamine] (folated-PEG-P[GA-DIP]) amphiphilic block copolymer for targeted drug delivery and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in liver cancer cells.

Methods: As an appropriate receptor of protons, the N,N-diisopropyl tertiary amine group (DIP) was chosen to conjugate with the side carboxyl groups of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly (L-glutamic acid) to obtain PEG-P(GA-DIP) amphiphilic block copolymers. By ultrasonic emulsification, PEG-P(GA-DIP) could be self-assembled to form nanosized micelles loading doxorubicin (DOX) and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in aqueous solution.

Effects and safety of allogenic mesenchymal stem cell intravenous infusion in active ankylosing spondylitis patients who failed NSAIDs: a 20-week clinical trial.

Our objective was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of intravenous (IV) infusion of allogenic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients who are refractory to or cannot tolerate the side effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). AS patients enrolled in this study received four IV infusions of MSCs on days 0, 7, 14, and 21. The percentage of ASAS20 responders (the primary endpoint) at the fourth week and the mean ASAS20 response duration (the secondary endpoint) were used to assess treatment response to MSC infusion and duration of the therapeutic effects.

Clinical manifestations and MRI features of vaginal endodermal sinus tumors in four children.

Background: Vaginal endodermal sinus tumor is a rare entity.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to report the clinical manifestations and MRI features in a case series.

Materials And Methods: Children with vaginal endodermal sinus tumor admitted to our hospitals between January 2008 and August 2012 were included.

MRI manifestations of adult choledochal cysts associated with biliary malignancy: a report of ten cases.

Background: To retrospectively review the MRI imaging features of adult choledochal cysts associated with biliary malignancy.

Patients And Methods: Ten out of 72 cases of adult choledochal cysts were found to be associated with biliary malignancy between January 1, 2003 and April 1, 2011 in our hospital database. The following MRI findings of these ten patients were retrospectively reviewed: the type of choledochal cysts, the presence of anomalous union of the pancreaticobiliary duct (AUPBD), manifestations of biliary malignancy, and concomitant findings.

Development of an MRI-visible nonviral vector for siRNA delivery targeting gastric cancer.

An antibody-directed nonviral vector, polyethylene glycol-grafted polyethylenimine functionalized with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and a gastric cancer-associated CD44v6 single-chain variable fragment (scFv(CD44v6),-PEG-g-PEI-SPION), was constructed as a gastric cancer-targeting and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-visible nanocarrier for small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery. Biophysical characterization of PEG-g-PEI-SPION and scFv(CD44v6)-PEG-g-PEI-SPION was carried out, including siRNA condensation capacity, cell viability, and transfection efficiency. Both the targeting and nontargeting nanocarriers were effective for transferring siRNA in vitro.

[Value of magnetic resonance imaging in preoperative staging of endometrial carcinoma according to International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (2009) staging criteria].

Objective: To analyze the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of endometrial carcinoma and their value in endometrial carcinoma staging according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO 2009) staging criteria.

Methods: Fifty-four patients with pathologically confirmed endometrial carcinoma and complete clinical data underwent preoperative MRI examination. According to FIGO 2009 staging criteria of endometrial carcinoma, the MRI features of the tumor lesions were evaluated for assessment of myometrial invasion and cervical involvement and preoperative staging.

Synergistic anticancer effect of rAd/P53 combined with 5-fluorouracil or iodized oil in the early therapeutic response of human colon cancer in vivo.

Exogenous wild-type p53 (wt-p53) tumor suppression increases the sensitivity of tumor cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. An iodized oil emulsion was used as a p53 vector for intra-arterial gene delivery to treat hepatic tumors. Whether the chemotherapeutic agent or the iodized oil affects exogenous wt-p53 activity remains poorly understood.

Optimal technique of three-dimensional MRI of the lumbar nerve root and its radicular vein in normal and lumbar disc herniation patients.

Background: Although three-dimensional MRI (3D-MRI) of short T1 inversion recovery turbo spin-echo (STIR TSE) has showed superior to two-dimensional MRI (2D-MRI) in showing the spinal cord and lumbar nerve roots, it remains difficult in demonstrating radicular vein at present. We have found that short T1 inversion recovery long time echo (STIR LONG TE) was better in showing radicular vein. To further study the methods and character of the 3D-MRI of lumbar nerve root, ganglions and radicular vein in normal and lumbar disc herniation (LDH) adults, in the present study, we evaluated two 3D-MRI techniques, STIR TSE and STIR LONG TE for demonstrating lumbar nerve roots and especial radicular vein in normal and LDH adults.

Hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct tumor thrombus: dynamic computed tomography findings and histopathologic correlation.

Purpose: This purpose of this study was to analyze the computed tomography (CT) findings of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with bile duct tumor thrombus (BDTT) and explore their correlations with pathological manifestations.

Methods: The clinical data, CT findings, and pathological manifestations of the 16 HCC patients with BDTT were retrospectively reviewed. All cases were pathologically proven.

Juxta-adrenal schwannoma: dynamic multi-slice CT and MRI findings.

Background: We retrospectively analyzed the MSCT and MRI findings of three cases of juxta-adrenal schwannoma and reviewed literature.

Methods And Results: Three patients were male, and showed no signs for endocrine activity. The three cases of juxta-adrenal schwannoma were all well-circumscribed, oval masses with cystic components, and one case with hemorrhage.

In vivo MR imaging tracking of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells in a rabbit model of acute peripheral nerve traction injury.

Purpose: To investigate in vivo MRI tracking mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in peripheral nerve injures using a clinically available paramagnetic contrast agent (Gd-DTPA) and commercially available rhodamine-incorporated transfection reagents (PEI-FluoR).

Materials And Methods: After bone marrow MSCs were labeled with Gd-DTPA and PEI-FluoR complex, the labeling efficacy and longevity of Gd-DTPA maintenance were measured and cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis were assessed. Thirty-six rabbits with acute sciatic nerve traction injury randomly received 1 × 10(6) labeled (n = 12) or unlabeled MSCs (n = 12) or vehicle alone injection.

Targeting EGFR-overexpressing tumor cells using Cetuximab-immunomicelles loaded with doxorubicin and superparamagnetic iron oxide.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a cellular transmembrane receptor, plays a key role in cell proliferation and is linked to a poor prognosis in various human cancers. In this study, we constructed Cetuximab-immunomicelles in which the anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody was linked to poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PEG-PCL) nanomicelles that were loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) and superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO). The specific interactions between EGFR-overexpressing tumor cells (A431) and immunomicelles were observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and flow cytometry.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of bone: two cases occurring in long bone.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is an unusual tumor composed of differentiated myofibroblastic spindle cells usually accompanied by numerous plasma cells and lymphocytes. IMT was originally described in the lung; occurrence in a long bone is rare. We present two examples of IMT arising in a long bone: one in the humerus and one in the femur.

[Value of magnetic resonance imaging in displaying the parotid gland segments of the facial nerve].

Objective: To evaluate the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in displaying the parotid gland segments of the facial nerve.

Methods: Sixteen volunteers (9 males and 7 females) and 132 surgically confirmed patients with parotid tumors locating in the deep or shallow lobe of the parotid gland (including 89 with benign and 43 with malignant tumors) underwent MRI using T1WI and T2WI. The transverse images were obtained with the plane tilted 35 degrees to the foot, and the coronal images were acquired using conventional scanning.

Intraspinal primitive neuroectodermal tumor: imaging findings in six cases.

Purpose: To retrospectively review CT and MRI findings in a series of six intraspinal primitive neuroectoderal tumors and to find out their radiological features.

Methods: CT and MRI of six patients with surgically and pathologically proved intraspinal primitive neuroectoderal tumor were retrospectively reviewed. The tumor location, morphological features, signal intensity, calcification, contrast enhancement characteristics, involvement of paraspinal soft tissues and adjacent bony structures were assessed.