Ultra-High Contrast (UHC) MRI of the Brain, Spinal Cord and Optic Nerves in Multiple Sclerosis Using Directly Acquired and Synthetic Bipolar Filter (BLAIR) Images.

In this educational review, the basic physics underlying the use of ultra-high contrast (UHC) bipolar filter (BLAIR) sequences, including divided subtracted inversion recovery (dSIR), is explained. These sequences can increase the contrast produced by small changes in T by a factor of ten or more compared with conventional IR sequences. In illustrative cases, the sequences were used in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients during relapse and remission and were compared with positionally matched conventional (T-weighted spin echo, T-FLAIR) images.

Insulin-like growth factor I concentrations in infancy predict differential gains in body length and adiposity: the Cambridge Baby Growth Study.

Background: Formula milk-fed infants show faster rates of growth and weight gain than do breastfed infants, and they have higher concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I).

Objective: Our objective was to determine the influence of IGF-I concentrations on gains in weight, length, body mass index (BMI), and adiposity in the first year of life.

Design: IGF-I concentrations were measured in 953 capillary blood samples from 675 unselected infants at ages 3 and 12 mo.