Quantitative MRCP and metrics of bile duct disease over time in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis: A prospective study.

Background: Imaging markers of biliary disease in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) have potential for use in clinical and trial disease monitoring. Herein, we evaluate how quantitative magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) metrics change over time, as per the natural history of disease.

Methods: Individuals with PSC were prospectively scanned using non-contrast MRCP.

A composite score using quantitative magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography predicts clinical outcomes in primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Background & Aims: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for evaluation of biliary disease currently relies on subjective assessment with limited prognostic value because of the lack of quantitative metrics. Artificial intelligence-enabled quantitative MRCP (MRCP+) is a novel technique that segments biliary anatomy and provides quantitative biliary tree metrics. This study investigated the utility of MRCP+ as a prognostic tool for the prediction of clinical outcomes in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

Determination of oxygen relaxivity in oxygen nanobubbles at 3 and 7 Tesla.

Objective: Oxygen-loaded nanobubbles have shown potential for reducing tumour hypoxia and improving treatment outcomes, however, it remains difficult to noninvasively measure the changes in partial pressure of oxygen (PO) in vivo. The linear relationship between PO and longitudinal relaxation rate (R) has been used to noninvasively infer PO in vitreous and cerebrospinal fluid, and therefore, this experiment aimed to investigate whether R is a suitable measurement to study oxygen delivery from such oxygen carriers.

Methods: T mapping was used to measure R in phantoms containing nanobubbles with varied PO to measure the relaxivity of oxygen (r) in the phantoms at 7 and 3 T.

Promoting high contrast in Dy-doped MSNs through Curie effects.

Contrast agents retaining high relaxivities at ultrahigh magnetic fields underpin an enhanced image sensitivity within derived MRI scans. By varying the Dy loading density inside a mesoporous silica architecture the dominant Curie effect can be effectively tuned so as to optimise contrast at magnetic fields as high as 11.7 T.

Noninvasive assessment of steatosis and viability of cold-stored human liver grafts by MRI.

Purpose: A shortage of suitable donor livers is driving increased use of higher risk livers for transplantation. However, current biomarkers are not sensitive and specific enough to predict posttransplant liver function. This is limiting the expansion of the donor pool.

Ischemia-Reperfusion Injuries Assessment during Pancreas Preservation.

Maintaining organ viability between donation and transplantation is of critical importance for optimal graft function and survival. To date in pancreas transplantation, static cold storage (SCS) is the most widely practiced method of organ preservation. The first experiments in ex vivo perfusion of the pancreas were performed at the beginning of the 20th century.

Diagnostic accuracy of elastography and magnetic resonance imaging in patients with NAFLD: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE), point shear wave elastography (pSWE), 2-dimensional shear wave elastography (2DSWE), magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been proposed as non-invasive tests for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study evaluated their diagnostic accuracy for liver fibrosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Methods: PubMED/MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched for studies examining the diagnostic accuracy of these index tests, against histology as the reference standard, in adult patients with NAFLD.

Using a whole-body 31P birdcage transmit coil and 16-element receive array for human cardiac metabolic imaging at 7T.

Purpose: Cardiac phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) provides unique insight into the mechanisms of heart failure. Yet, clinical applications have been hindered by the restricted sensitivity of the surface radiofrequency-coils normally used. These permit the analysis of spectra only from the interventricular septum, or large volumes of myocardium, which may not be meaningful in focal disease.