Histological validation of three-dimensional variable flip angle turbo spin echo multi-contrast magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging in characterizing carotid vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.

Background: Accurate assessment of the vulnerability of carotid atherosclerotic plaques is crucial for stroke prevention. The three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance (MR) vessel wall imaging (VWI) has been increasingly employed to evaluate carotid plaques due to its extensive coverage and isotropic high spatial resolution. However, the accuracy of such techniques lacks validation by histology.

A preliminary study of renal function for renal artery stenosis using multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: To comprehensively evaluate the renal structure and function of patients with renal artery stenosis (RAS) using multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and analyze the correlation between magnetic resonance (MR) parameters and renal function.

Materials And Methods: Renal multiparametric MRI was conducted on 62 patients with RAS utilizing a Philips Ingenia CX 3.0 T MRI system.

Accurate and robust segmentation of cerebral vasculature on four-dimensional arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance angiography using machine-learning approach.

Segmentation of cerebral vasculature on MR vascular images is of great significance for clinical application and research. However, the existing cerebrovascular segmentation approaches are limited due to insufficient image contrast and complicated algorithms. This study aims to explore the potential of the emerging four-dimensional arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance angiography (4D ASL-MRA) technique for fast and accurate cerebrovascular segmentation with a simple machine-learning approach.

Carotid artery perivascular adipose tissue on magnetic resonance imaging: a potential indicator for carotid vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has the potential in assessing the inflammation of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) due to its excellent soft tissue contrast. However, evidence is lacking for the association between carotid PVAT measured by MRI and carotid vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. This study aimed to investigate the association between signal intensity of PVAT and vulnerable plaques in carotid arteries using multi-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) vessel wall imaging.

Diffusing capacity of lungs for carbon monoxide associated with subclinical myocardial impairment in systemic sclerosis: A cardiac MR study.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterised by microvascular and fibrotic lesions, which are located not only in skin but also in lungs and heart.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between lung function and myocardial T1 values using cardiac MR (CMR) imaging in patients with SSc without cardiovascular symptoms.

Methods: The SSc patients and age- and sex-matched healthy subjects underwent CMR.

Atherosclerotic plaque characteristics in extracranial carotid artery may indicate closer association with white matter hyperintensities than intracranial arteries: A CARE-II study.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the associations of atherosclerotic plaque characteristics in intracranial and extracranial carotid arteries with severity of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) in symptomatic patients using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Method: Patients with cerebrovascular symptoms and carotid plaque were recruited from the cross-sectional, multicenter study of CARE-II. Luminal stenosis of intracranial and extracranial carotid arteries, carotid plaque compositional features, and WMHs were evaluated by brain structural and vascular MR imaging.

Three-dimensional High-Resolution Dark-Blood Late Gadolinium Enhancement Imaging for Improved Atrial Scar Evaluation.

Background Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a widely used treatment for atrial fibrillation, reducing the risk of cardiac arrhythmia. Detailed visualization and quantification of atrial scarring has the potential to improve preprocedural decision-making and postprocedural prognosis. Conventional bright-blood late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) MRI can help detect atrial scars; however, its suboptimal myocardium to blood contrast inhibits accurate scar estimation.

Single breath-hold three-dimensional whole-heart T mapping with low-rank plus sparse reconstruction.

The purpose of the current study was to develop and evaluate a three-dimensional single Breath-hOLd cardiac T mapping sequence (3D BOLT) with low-rank plus sparse (L + S) reconstruction for rapid whole-heart T measurement. 3D BOLT collects three highly accelerated electrocardiogram-triggered volumes with whole-heart coverage, all within a single 12-heartbeat breath-hold. Saturation pulses are performed every heartbeat to prepare longitudinal magnetization before T preparation (T -prep) or readout, and the echo time of T -prep is varied per volume for variable T weighting.

Segmentation and differentiation of periventricular and deep white matter hyperintensities in 2D T2-FLAIR MRI based on a cascade U-net.

Background: White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are a subtype of cerebral small vessel disease and can be divided into periventricular WMHs (pvWMHs) and deep WMHs (dWMHs). pvWMHs and dWMHs were proved to be determined by different etiologies. This study aimed to develop a 2D Cascade U-net (Cascade U) for the segmentation and differentiation of pvWMHs and dWMHs on 2D T2-FLAIR images.

Reliability and Value of 3D Sequential QUantitative T -T -T * MAppings (SQUMA) MR Multi-Parametric Imaging in Characterizing Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis.

Background: T , T , and T * mappings are seldom performed in a single examination, and their values in evaluating symptomatic atherosclerosis are lacking.

Purpose: To perform three-dimensional (3D) quantitative T , T , and T * mappings (SQUMA) multi-parametric imaging for carotid vessel wall and evaluate its reliability and value in assessing carotid atherosclerosis.

Study Type: Prospective.

Slice-based and time-specific hemodynamic measurements discriminate carotid artery vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.

Background And Objective: Hemodynamic patterns play key roles in progression of carotid vulnerable plaques. However, most of previous studies utilized maximum or averaged value of hemodynamic measurements which is not an ideal representative of hemodynamic patterns. This study aimed to investigate the association of slice-based and time-specific hemodynamic measurements with carotid vulnerable plaque using magnetic resonance (MR) vessel wall imaging and histology.

Associations between cerebral blood flow and progression of white matter hyperintensity in community-dwelling adults: a longitudinal cohort study.

Background: White matter hyperintensity (WMH) is prevalent in elderly populations. Ischemia is characterized by a decline in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and may play a key role in the pathogenesis of WMH. However, the association between CBF reduction and WMH progression remains controversial.

Association between antiplatelet medication and cerebral microbleeds in stroke-free population.

Background: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) may increase the risk of future intracerebral hemorrhage and ischemic stroke. However, It is unclear whether antiplatelet medication is associated with CMBs. This study aimed to investigate the association between antiplatelet medication and CMBs in a community-based stroke-free population.

Association between haemoglobin A1c and cerebral microbleeds in community-based stroke-free individuals: A cross-sectional study.

Aims: The association between haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between HbA1c and CMBs in community-based individuals without stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and whether the association differs between individuals with and without diabetes mellitus (DM).

Materials And Methods: All individuals were recruited from a community in Beijing, China, from January 2015 to September 2019.

Saturated multi-delay renal arterial spin labeling technique for simultaneous perfusion and T quantification in kidneys.

Purpose: To propose a free-breathing simultaneous multi-delay arterial spin labeling (ASL) and T mapping technique with a stepwise kinetic model for renal assessment in a single 4-min scan at 3 T.

Methods: The proposed saturated multi-delay renal arterial spin labeling (SAMURAI) sequence used flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) preparation, followed by acquisition of 9 images with Look-Locker spoiled gradient recalled echo (SPGR). Pre-saturation at the imaging slice was used to achieve saturation-based T mapping.

Free-breathing three-dimensional isotropic-resolution MR sequence for simultaneous vessel wall imaging of bilateral renal arteries and abdominal aorta: Feasibility and reproducibility.

Purpose: Many diseases can simultaneously involve renal arteries and the adjacent abdominal aorta. This study proposed a free-breathing three-dimensional (3D) isotropic-resolution magnetic resonance sequence for simultaneous vessel wall imaging (VWI) of bilateral renal arteries and adjacent abdominal aorta.

Methods: A respiratory-triggered isotropic-resolution sequence that combined the improved motion-sensitized driven-equilibrium (iMSDE) preparation with the spoiled gradient recalled (SPGR) readout (iMSDE-SPGR) was proposed for simultaneous VWI of renal arteries and abdominal aorta.

Comparing Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis in Patients With Bilateral Carotid Vulnerable Plaques Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

We compared plaque characteristics between symptomatic and asymptomatic sides in patients with bilateral carotid vulnerable plaques using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Participants (n = 67; mean age: 65.8 ± 7.

Evaluating renal arterial wall by non-enhanced 2D and 3D free-breathing black-blood techniques: Initial experience.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and reproducibility of 2D and 3D black-blood sequences in measuring morphology of renal arterial wall.

Methods: The 2D and 3D imaging sequences used variable-refocusing-flip-angle and constant-low-refocusing-flip-angle turbo spin echo (TSE) readout respectively, with delicately selected black-blood scheme and respiratory motion trigger for free-breathing imaging. Fourteen healthy subjects and three patients with Takayasu arteritis underwent renal artery wall imaging with 3D double inversion recovery (DIR) TSE and 2D Variable Flip Angle-TSE (VFA-TSE) black-blood sequences at 3.