Leaf hydraulic maze: Abscisic acid effects on bundle sheath, palisade, and spongy mesophyll conductance.

Leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) facilitates the supply of water, enabling continual CO2 uptake while maintaining plant water status. We hypothesized that bundle sheath and mesophyll cells play key roles in regulating the radial flow of water out of the xylem by responding to abscisic acid (ABA). Thus, we generated transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants that are insensitive to ABA in their bundle sheath (BSabi) and mesophyll (MCabi) cells.

Tracking the mammary architectural features and detecting breast cancer with magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging.

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer among women worldwide. Early detection of breast cancer has a critical role in improving the quality of life and survival of breast cancer patients. In this paper a new approach for the detection of breast cancer is described, based on tracking the mammary architectural elements using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

Parametric diffusion tensor imaging of the breast.

Objectives: To investigate the ability of parametric diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), applied at 3 Tesla, to dissect breast tissue architecture and evaluate breast lesions.

Materials And Methods: All protocols were approved and a signed informed consent was obtained from all subjects. The study included 21 healthy women, 26 women with 33 malignant lesions, and 14 women with 20 benign lesions.

Principal component analysis of dynamic contrast enhanced MRI in human prostate cancer.

Objectives: To develop and evaluate a fast, objective and standardized method for image processing of dynamic contrast enhanced MRI of the prostate based on principal component analysis (PCA).

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the institutional internal review board; signed informed consent was obtained. MRI of the prostate at 3 Tesla was performed in 21 patients with biopsy proven cancers before radical prostatectomy.

Principal component analysis of breast DCE-MRI adjusted with a model-based method.

Purpose: To investigate a fast, objective, and standardized method for analyzing breast dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) applying principal component analysis (PCA) adjusted with a model-based method.

Materials And Methods: 3D gradient-echo DCE breast images of 31 malignant and 38 benign lesions, recorded on a 1.5T scanner, were retrospectively analyzed by PCA and by the model-based three-timepoints (3TP) method.

Non-invasive imaging of barriers to drug delivery in tumors.

Solid tumors often develop high interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) as a result of increased water leakage and impaired lymphatic drainage, as well as changes in the extracellular matrix composition and elasticity. This high fluid pressure forms a barrier to drug delivery and hence, resistance to therapy. We have developed techniques based on contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for mapping in tumors the vascular and transport parameters determining the delivery efficiency of blood borne substances.

Model-based and model-free parametric analysis of breast dynamic-contrast-enhanced MRI.

A wide range of dynamic-contrast-enhanced (DCE) sequences and protocols, image processing methods, and interpretation criteria have been developed and evaluated over the last 20 years. In particular, attempts have been made to better understand the origin of the contrast observed in breast lesions using physiological models that take into account the vascular and tissue-specific features that influence tracer perfusion. In addition, model-free algorithms to decompose enhancement patterns in order to segment and classify different breast tissue types have been developed.

Water-soluble contrast agents targeted at the estrogen receptor for molecular magnetic resonance imaging.

Novel estrogen-conjugated pyridine-containing Gd(III) and Eu(III) contrast agents (EPTA-Gd/Eu) were designed and effectively synthesized. Convenient to administration and MRI experiments, both EPTA-Gd and EPTA-Eu are soluble in water. The EPTA-Gd selectively binds with a micromolar affinity to the estrogen receptor and induces proliferation of human breast cancer cells.