Assessment of Rat Sciatic Nerve Using Diffusion-Tensor Imaging With Readout-Segmented Echo Planar Imaging.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare readout-segmented-3, readout-segmented-5, and readout-segmented-7 echo-planar imaging (RS3-EPI, RS5-EPI, and RS7-EPI) of DTI in the assessment of rat sciatic nerve at 3T MR.

Methods: Eight male adult healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were scanned at 3T MR with RS-3 EPI, RS5-EPI, and RS-7 EPI DTI. The image quality of RS-3 EPI, RS-5 EPI, and RS-7 EPI in terms of the nerve morphology, distortions of the nearby femur, muscles, and homogeneity of neuromuscular were evaluated by two experienced radiologists.

Different patterns of functional and structural alterations of hippocampal sub-regions in subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment with and without depression symptoms.

In addition to cognitive impairments, depression symptoms were reported in subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment. Although hippocampal alterations were associated with cognitive decline in subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment, the neural mechanism underlying depression symptoms remains unclear. Thus, a cohort of 18 patients with depression symptoms, 17 patients without depression symptoms, and 23 normal controls was used.