Visco-Elastic Parameters at Three-Dimensional MR Elastography for Diagnosing Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis and Substantial Fibrosis in Mice.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing worldwide and is a growing cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer. The performance of the magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) visco-elastic parameters in diagnosing progressive forms of NAFLD, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and substantial fibrosis (F ≥ 2), needs to be clarified.

Purpose: To assess the value of three-dimensional MRE visco-elastic parameters as markers of NASH and substantial fibrosis in mice with NAFLD.

A Preclinical Validation of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Treatment of Perianal Fistulizing Crohn's Disease.

Fistulizing anoperineal lesions are severe complications of Crohn's disease (CD) that affect quality of life with a long-term risk of anal sphincter destruction, incontinence, permanent stoma, and anal cancer. Despite several surgical procedures, they relapse in about two-thirds of patients, mandating innovative treatments. Ultrasmall particles of iron oxide (USPIO) have been described to achieve in vivo rapid healing of deep wounds in the skin and liver of rats thanks to their nanobridging capability that could be adapted to fistula treatment.

Prospective comparison of transient elastography, MRI and serum scores for grading steatosis and detecting non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in bariatric surgery candidates.

Background & Aims: Tools for the non-invasive diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in morbidly obese patients with suspected non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are an unmet clinical need. We prospectively compared the performance of transient elastography, MRI, and 3 serum scores for the diagnosis of NAFLD, grading of steatosis and detection of NASH in bariatric surgery candidates.

Methods: Of 186 patients screened, 152 underwent liver biopsy, which was used as a reference for NAFLD (steatosis [S]>5%), steatosis grading and NASH diagnosis.

Analysis Protocols for MRI Mapping of Renal T.

The computation of T maps from MR datasets represents an important step toward the precise characterization of kidney disease models in small animals. Here the main strategies to analyze renal T mapping datasets derived from small rodents are presented. Suggestions are provided with respect to essential software requirements, and advice is provided as to how dataset completeness and quality may be evaluated.