Fast 3D P B mapping with a weighted stack of spiral trajectory at 7 Tesla.

Purpose: Phosphorus Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (P MRS) enables non-invasive assessment of energy metabolism, yet its application is hindered by sensitivity limitations. To overcome this, often high magnetic fields are used, leading to challenges such as spatial inhomogeneity and therefore the need for accurate flip angle determination in accelerated acquisitions with short repetition times . In response to these challenges, we propose a novel short and look-up table-based Double-Angle Method for fast 3D P mapping (fDAM).

Diffusion of brain metabolites highlights altered brain microstructure in type C hepatic encephalopathy: a 9.4 T preliminary study.

Introduction: Type C hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a decompensating event of chronic liver disease leading to severe motor and cognitive impairment. The progression of type C HE is associated with changes in brain metabolite concentrations measured by H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), most noticeably a strong increase in glutamine to detoxify brain ammonia. In addition, alterations of brain cellular architecture have been measured by histology in a rat model of type C HE.

SPARCQ: A new approach for fat fraction mapping using asymmetries in the phase-cycled balanced SSFP signal profile.

Purpose: To develop SPARCQ (Signal Profile Asymmetries for Rapid Compartment Quantification), a novel approach to quantify fat fraction (FF) using asymmetries in the phase-cycled balanced SSFP (bSSFP) profile.

Methods: SPARCQ uses phase-cycling to obtain bSSFP frequency profiles, which display asymmetries in the presence of fat and water at certain TRs. For each voxel, the measured signal profile is decomposed into a weighted sum of simulated profiles via multi-compartment dictionary matching.

Abnormal brain oxygen homeostasis in an animal model of liver disease.

Background & Aims: Increased plasma ammonia concentration and consequent disruption of brain energy metabolism could underpin the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Brain energy homeostasis relies on effective maintenance of brain oxygenation, and dysregulation impairs neuronal function leading to cognitive impairment. We hypothesised that HE is associated with reduced brain oxygenation and we explored the potential role of ammonia as an underlying pathophysiological factor.

Probiotics combined with rifaximin influence the neurometabolic changes in a rat model of type C HE.

Type C hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric disease caused by chronic liver disease. Management of type C HE remains an important challenge because treatment options are limited. Both the antibiotic rifaximin and probiotics have been reported to reduce the symptoms of HE, but longitudinal studies assessing their effects on brain metabolism are lacking and the molecular mechanisms underpinning their effects are not fully understood.

Chromophore of an Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein Can Play a Photoprotective Role Due to Photobleaching.

Under stress conditions, elevated levels of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) may impair crucial cellular structures. To counteract the resulting oxidative damage, living cells are equipped with several defense mechanisms, including photoprotective functions of specific proteins. Here, we discuss the plausible ROS scavenging mechanisms by the enhanced green fluorescent protein, EGFP.

Residual hip dysplasia in children: osseous and cartilaginous acetabular angles to guide further treatment-a pilot study.

Purpose: In case of residual hip dysplasia (RHD) in children, pelvic radiographs are sometimes insufficient to precisely evaluate the entire coverage of the femoral head, when trying to decide on the need for further reconstructive procedures.

Methods: This study retrospectively compares the bony and the cartilaginous acetabular angle of Hilgenreiner (HTE) of 60 paediatric hips on pelvic MRI separated in two groups. Group 1 included 31 hips with RHD defined by a bony HTE > 20°.

Longitudinal neurometabolic changes in the hippocampus of a rat model of chronic hepatic encephalopathy.

Background & Aims: The sequence of events in hepatic encephalopathy (HE) remains unclear. Using the advantages of in vivo 1H-MRS (9.4T) we aimed to analyse the time-course of disease in an established model of type C HE by analysing the longitudinal changes in a large number of brain metabolites together with biochemical, histological and behavioural assessment.

Metabolomics reveals tepotinib-related mitochondrial dysfunction in MET-activating mutations-driven models.

Genetic aberrations in the hepatocyte growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase MET induce oncogenic addiction in various types of human cancers, advocating MET as a viable anticancer target. Here, we report that MET signaling plays an important role in conferring a unique metabolic phenotype to cellular models expressing MET-activating mutated variants that are either sensitive or resistant toward MET small molecule inhibitors. MET phosphorylation downregulated by the specific MET inhibitor tepotinib resulted in markedly decreased viability and increased apoptosis in tepotinib-sensitive cells.

Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis of postoperative outcomes and management.

Purpose: TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas are rare pituitary tumors. An efficient treatment is essential to limit the mortality and morbidity in untreated patients. The aim of this study is to summarize the evidence about the postoperative outcomes and management of this rare pathology.

Pedicle Screw Insertion Accuracy Using O-Arm, Robotic Guidance, or Freehand Technique: A Comparative Study.

Study Design: A retrospective radiological study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of pedicle screw insertion using O-Arm navigation, robotic assistance, or a freehand fluoroscopic technique.

Summary Of Background Data: Pedicle screw insertion using either "O-Arm" navigation or robotic devices is gaining popularity.

Influence of anatomical variations on lumbar foraminal stenosis pathogenesis.

Introduction: Symptomatic foraminal stenosis has been observed in patients with degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, asymmetrical disc degeneration and spondylolisthesis. Nevertheless not all patients with the above pathologies will develop symptomatic foraminal stenosis. We hypothesised that symptomatic patients have anatomical predisposition to foraminal stenosis, namely a larger pedicle height (PH) to vertebral body height (VH) ratio, leaving less room below the pedicle for the exiting nerve root compared to asymptomatic patients.

Secular changes of spinal canal dimensions in Western Switzerland: a narrowing epidemic?

Study Design: Computed tomography-based anatomical study.

Objective: To study the secular changes in lumbar spinal canal dimensions.

Summary Of Background Data: Development of symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis, among other factors, is related to the dimensions of the bony canal.

Photocatalytic and phototoxic properties of TiO2-based nanofilaments: ESR and AFM assays.

There is uncertainty in understanding of the relationship between physico-chemical parameters of nanosized titanium dioxide (nano-TiO(2)) and its toxicity when brought into contact with living cells. This study provides a multidisciplinary experimental insight into the toxicity and phototoxicity of the custom-made TiO(2)-based nanowires (TiO(2)-NWs). We employed electron spin resonance (ESR) to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in aqueous suspensions of TiO(2)-NWs and combined these results with atomic force microscopy (AFM) to trace the onset of toxic effects towards human melanoma cells.

Atom-transfer radical addition reactions catalyzed by RuCp* complexes: a mechanistic study.

Kinetic and spectroscopic analyses were performed to gain information about the mechanism of atom-transfer radical reactions catalyzed by the complexes [RuCl2Cp*(PPh3)] and [RuClCp*(PPh3)2] (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl), in the presence and in the absence of the reducing agent magnesium. The reactions of styrene with ethyl trichloroacetate, ethyl dichloroacetate, or dichloroacetonitrile were used as test reactions. The results show that for substrates with high intrinsic reactivity, such as ethyl trichloroacetate, the oxidation state of the catalyst in the resting state is +3, and that the reaction is zero-order with respect to the halogenated compound.