A prospective study of dual-energy computed tomography for differentiating metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes of colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy worldwide, and lymph node metastasis is considered to be a risk factor for local recurrence and a poor prognosis in colorectal cancer. However, there remains a lack of reliable and non-invasive biomarkers to identify the lymph node status of CRC patients preoperatively. The purpose of this study was to explore the ability of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) to differentiate metastatic from non-metastatic lymph nodes in colorectal cancer.

Effect of Long-Term Diving on the Morphology and Growth of the Distal Radial Epiphyseal Plate of Young Divers: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Objective: To investigate the effects of long-term diving on the morphology and growth of the distal radial epiphyseal plate in young divers.

Study Design: Cohort study.

Setting: Guangzhou Sport University.

Evaluation of normal cadaveric Achilles tendon and enthesis with ultrashort echo time (UTE) magnetic resonance imaging and indentation testing.

Entheses are regions where tendons and ligaments attach to bone, and are the primary target in seronegative and other diseases of the musculoskeletal (MSK) system. MRI has been widely used for visualizing features of inflammatory and degenerative MSK disease; however, normal tendons and entheses have short transverse relaxation times (T ), and show little or no signal with conventional clinical MRI pulse sequences, making it difficult to investigate their MR properties. In this study we examined the normal MR morphology of the cadaveric Achilles tendon and enthesis at 3 T using novel three-dimensional ultrashort echo time (3D UTE) Cones sequences, and at 11.

Three-dimensional ultrashort echo time cones (3D UTE-Cones) magnetic resonance imaging of entheses and tendons.

We present three-dimensional ultrashort echo time Cones (3D-UTE-Cones) imaging as well as quantification of T2* and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) of Achilles tendon and its enthesis of healthy volunteers and patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) using a 3T scanner. Quantitative T2*, T2 and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) measurements of Achilles tendon and its enthesis were performed on healthy volunteers (n=7) and PsA patients (n=9) with 3D-UTE-Cones and clinical sequences at 3T. T2* was measured via single-component fitting of UTE images from two interleaved dual echo 3D-UTE-Cones acquisitions.

The influences of walking, running and stair activity on knee articular cartilage: Quantitative MRI using T1 rho and T2 mapping.

Objective: To explore the different influences of walking, running and stair activity on knee articular cartilage with T1 rho and T2 mapping sequences.

Materials And Methods: MRI (3.0-T) scans of the right knee were performed in twenty-three young healthy adults immediately after 30 minutes of rest, walking, running and stair activity respectively.

Mesoporous titanium dioxide nanocarrier with magnetic-targeting and high loading efficiency for dual-modal imaging and photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibits cancer cells and is an emerging and pioneering cancer therapeutic modality which can eliminate some of the drawbacks of other traditional anticancer therapies. To combine near-infrared (NIR) mediated PDT, chemotherapy and gene therapy in a synergistic manner, a novel NIR light activated photosensitizer for PDT was designed based on TiO-coated FeO nanoparticle core/shell nanocarriers (FeO@TiO@mTiO). The chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) was conjugated to the surface of the TiO mesopores through pH-reversible hydrazone bond linking and β-catenin siRNA was loaded in the mesopores.

[Correlation between Fractional Anisotropy and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Effect of Inte- grative Medical Treatment on ALS].

Objective: To explore whether fractional anisotropy (FA) value could be taken as a quantitative indicator for tracing and reexamining amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and to analyze the correlation between FA value and integrative medical treatment.

Methods: Totally 18 ALS patients were recruited in this study. All patients received diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) using 3.

Diffusion Weighted Imaging, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, and T2* Mapping of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc in Young Healthy Adults.

Background: Although conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could provide excellent detection of morphological changes in the diagnosis of lumbar disc degeneration (LDD), it has some difficulties in discriminating minimal changes associated with early LDD before morphological or clinical alterations. Therefore, newer MRI techniques have emerged for investigation of early LDD.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to use diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and T2* mapping to detect lumbar discs in healthy young adults, to evaluate if they could depict the microstructural changes of early LDD.

Role of quantitative intravoxel incoherent motion parameters in the preoperative diagnosis of nodal metastasis in patients with rectal carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic value of intravoxel incoherent motion imaging (IVIM) in differentiating metastatic and nonmetastatic lymph nodes in patients with rectal carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: In all, 68 patients with histologically proven rectal carcinoma underwent an IVIM sequence (b = 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, and 2000 s/mm(2) ) on a 3.0T MRI scanner.

Quantitative assessment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with diffusion tensor imaging in 3.0T magnetic resonance.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to measure the fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients to determine their diagnostic value. 69 ALS patients and 23 healthy controls were scanned with DTI sequence in 3.0T MR, and FA and ADC values in 18 regions were evaluated.

Similarities of biochemical abnormalities between major depressive disorder and bipolar depression: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

Background: Depression in the context of bipolar disorder (BD) is often misdiagnosed as major depressive disorder (MDD), leading to mistreatments and poor clinical outcomes for many bipolar patients. Previous neuroimaging studies found mixed results on brain structure, and biochemical metabolism of the two disorders. To eliminate the compounding effects of medication, and aging, this study sought to investigate the brain biochemical changes of treatment-naïve, non-late-life patients with MDD and BD in white matter in prefrontal (WMP) lobe, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and hippocampus by using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS).

Prospective evaluation of term neonate brain damage following preceding hypoxic sentinel events using enhanced T₂* weighted angiography (eSWAN).

Purpose: To evaluate the brain damage of term neonates with evidence of a preceding hypoxic sentinel event using eSWAN prospectively.

Methods: The study was approved by the institutional research ethics committee. Among the neonates who were examined during the first 8 days after birth with conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and eSWAN, 39 neonates with a preceding acute hypoxic sentinel event were divided into two groups: the hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) group and the high-risk group.

Assessment of brain maturation in the preterm infants using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and enhanced T2 star weighted angiography (ESWAN).

Purpose: To assess the brain maturation of preterm infants using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and enhanced T2 star weighted angiography (ESWAN).

Materials And Methods: Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), DTI and ESWAN were performed in 60 preterm infants and 21 term controls. 60 preterm infants were subgrouped to two groups according to the age at imaging: before and at term-equivalent age (TEA).

Assessment of levator ani morphology and function in asymptomatic nulliparous women via static and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: To evaluate levator ani morphology and function in healthy nulliparous women using static and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods: Eighty asymptomatic, healthy nulliparous Chinese women (mean age, 25.3±3.

Hippocampal N-acetylaspartate and morning cortisol levels in drug-naive, first-episode patients with major depressive disorder: effects of treatment.

An excess of glucocorticoids has been associated with hippocampal pathology in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the relationships between depression, hippocampal structure and function, and cortisol levels are unclear, and the effects of antidepressant treatment on the measures are not well studied. For this study, 26 first-episode, treatment-naive, non-late-life adult depressed patients and 13 healthy controls were enrolled.

Abnormalities of magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion tensor imaging are correlated with executive dysfunction in patients with ischemic leukoaraiosis.

Abnormal diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) results have been observed in the periventricular white matter in patients with ischemic leukoaraiosis (ILA). However, the underlying pathological changes and their relationship to cognitive impairments are obscure. In addition, damage in the thalamus, an important structure in the executive function network, has been suggested in ILA, but is poorly understood.

Frontal white matter biochemical abnormalities in first-episode, treatment-naive patients with major depressive disorder: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

Background: Previous neuroimaging studies found evidence of brain functional and structural abnormalities in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), but they rarely excluded compounding effects of some important factors, such as medication and brain degeneration. This study sought to explore the brain biochemical changes of first-episode, treatment-naive, non-late-life adult patients with MDD in the frontal white matter and gray matter by using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS).

Methods: Twenty-four first-episode, treatment-naive, non-late-life adult depressed patients and 13 healthy controls were enrolled in this study.

Dissociated brain organization for two-digit addition and subtraction: an fMRI investigation.

The present study compared the patterns of brain activation elicited by two-digit addition and subtraction problems. Thirty-two Chinese undergraduates of the same educational background and of similar age were asked to assess whether arithmetic operations were true or false during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Results showed that both complex addition and subtraction were supported by the broad neural system that involved regions within the inferior parietal lobule, the precuneus, and the inferior occipital gyrus, as well as some subcortical structures.

Early detection of secondary damage in ipsilateral thalamus after acute infarction at unilateral corona radiata by diffusion tensor imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Background: Traditional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can identify abnormal changes in ipsilateral thalamus in patients with unilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarcts. However, it is difficult to demonstrate these early changes quantitatively. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) are potentially sensitive and quantitative methods of detection in examining changes of tissue microstructure and metabolism.

Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the knee: an experimental approach.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for monitoring cartilage degeneration.

Methods: This is a proof-of-concept study in an animal model. Adult New Zealand rabbits were randomly stratified into five groups.

Progression of pathological changes in the middle cerebellar peduncle by diffusion tensor imaging correlates with lesser motor gains after pontine infarction.

Background: Wallerian degeneration in pyramidal tract following supratentorial stroke has been detected by some studies using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), but the Wallerian degeneration in middle cerebellar peduncle after pontine infarction and its potential clinical significance remain to be confirmed.

Methods: Seventeen patients with a recent focal pontine infarct underwent 3 DTIs at week 1 (W1), week 4 (W4), and week 12 (W12) after onset. Seventeen age-matched and gender-matched controls underwent DTI one time.

Longitudinal investigations on the anterograde and retrograde degeneration in the pyramidal tract following pontine infarction with diffusion tensor imaging.

Background: Secondary degeneration following supratentorial stroke has been detected by some studies using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), but the anterograde and retrograde degeneration in pyramidal tract after pontine infarction and its potential clinical significance are not well understood.

Methods: Fourteen patients with a recent pontine infarct underwent three DTIs at week 1, week 4, and week 12 after onset. Fourteen age- and gender-matched controls underwent DTI once.

A prospective study of secondary degeneration following subcortical infarction using diffusion tensor imaging.

Background: Secondary degeneration of the pyramidal tract distal to the primary lesion after a stroke has been detected by some studies using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) but its potential clinical significance and the degeneration of the fibre tract proximal to the primary lesion have received little attention.

Methods: Twelve patients underwent DTI on the 1st, 4th and 12th week following a subcortical infarct involving the posterior limb of the internal capsule, and 12 age and sex matched controls underwent DTI once. The DTI parameters mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy (FA), and the clinical scores before DTI examination, including the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the Fugl-Meyer (FM) scale and the Barthel index (BI), were assessed.