Detection of changes in cartilage water content using MRI T2-mapping in vivo.

Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent chronic disease in the elderly, and it is generally diagnosed at an advanced state when treatment is difficult if not impossible. The early form of OA is characterized by an elevated water content in the cartilage tissue. The purpose of this study was to verify in vivo if changes in the water content of patellar cartilage typically occurring in early OA can be detected using T(2) mapping MRI methods.

Characterization of ultrasmall magnetite [correction of paramagnetic magnetite] particles as superparamagnetic contrast agents in MRI.

Rationale And Objectives: Very small dextran-coated magnetite particles were developed. These particles can be used either as immunospecific contrast agents for MRI by coupling to antibodies or as an interstitial contrast agent.

Methods: The particles were synthesized from iron chloride/dextran solutions.

Quantitation of renal perfusion using arterial spin labeling with FAIR-UFLARE.

Quantitative perfusion imaging of human kidneys was performed using arterial spin labeling MRI with a fast spin echo readout-sequence. Perfusion maps of centrally located single slices were obtained in axial and coronal orientations. In ten healthy volunteers, the mean value of perfusion was 213+/-55 mL/(100g min) with a range from 140 to 319 mL/(100g min).

Temperature dependence of the rotational mobility of the sugar and water molecules in concentrated aqueous trehalose and sucrose solutions.

Carbon-13 and deuteron spin lattice relaxation times T1 of concentrated solutions of trehalose and sucrose in heavy water are given as function of temperature. From the temperature dependence of the T1 ideal glass transitions temperatures T0 are derived. For both compounds the T0 derived for the disaccharides are at high concentrations larger than the T0 of the water molecules.

[Spontaneous cecal perforation following cesarean section].

A very rare complication after cesarean section is reported. The spontaneous cecal perforation observed caused an acute abdomen. The re-laparotomy required clarified the situation and led to the correct therapy.