The MRI appearances of 7 adult patients with pathologically proven intracranial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) were retrospectively analyzed. The MRI features were compared with findings in pathology and surgery. In this group, the tumor masses were most commonly found in the semisphere of cerebrum and in the vermis of cerebellum. They were relatively large and 4 were in lobulated shape. All of them had well-defined margins. MR images showed the tumors to be mildly or obviously hypointense on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. Most masses had heterogeneous appearances with some cystic and necrotic areas. Intratumoral haemorrhage and focal calcification were occasionally seen. Mostly, there was no or only mild surrounding edema. Marked inhomogeneous contrast enhancement on MRI was seen in 6 cases except one. Two patients with multiple intracranial metastases were revealed on MR images. In this series, there was good correlation between MRI features and findings in pathology and surgery. These results showed that certain MRI features might suggest the diagnosis of intracranial PNET in adults. MRI is an effective technique to detect these tumors and is helpful to treatment planning and follow-up.
Brain Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Brain Neoplasms/*pathology ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive/*diagnosis ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive/*pathology ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To investigate the MRI features of cardiac myxoma by correlated with its pathological findings. Methods MRI features of 22 cases of pathologically confirmed cardiac myxomas were retrospectively reviewed. Results Of 22 cases, 21 are solitary, 12 located in left atrium, 6 located in right atrium, 2 located in left ventricle and 1 located in right ventricle. The other one occupied multiple chambers. MRI: 19 are heterogeneous and 3 are homogeneous. Cine-MRI: 18 attach to the endocardium with a pedunculated stalk and 4 are sessile and with a broad attachment. Thirteen cases had secondary valve insufficience or stenosis. Nine have compromised cardiac function. Nineteen cases demonstrated mild to moderate heterogeneous enhancement after Gd-DTPA administration and 3 ease showed no enhancement. Four cases had gadolinium first-pass perfusion study and showed a slow and continuous increasing time-intensity, lower than normal myocardium. The pedicles and wall showed delay enhancement. Pathologic findings: 21 are oval and lobalar configuration, 1 is grape-like. Ten cases had fresh hemorrhage and 5 had chronic hemorrhage. Fourteen had necrosis , 2 had cystic change and 4 had calcification. Blood vessels or inflanmmtory cells could be detected in 19 cases. Conclusions MRI can evaluate the size, location, morphology, especially the vascularity, histologic features and cardiac function of cardiac myxomas.

Objective To compare the image quality of renal artery in-flow inversion recovery MR angiography (IFIR MRA), CTA and contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) and to assess the value of renal artery IFIR MRA. Methods Thirty five patients were prospectively included in this study.Renal artery CTA was performed in 19 patients and renal artery CE-MRA was performed in 16 patients. In addition to renal artery CTA or CE-MRA, all patients underwent renal artery IFIR MRA. Two radiologists separately graded renal artery image quality, renal venous artifact and the visualization of renal artery branches regarding these three different techniques. Wilcoxon signed rank test of paired samples was used to compare the grading results, t test of paired samples was applied to compare the results of renal artery (accessory renal artery) trunk diameter. The consistency evaluation of renal artery image quality and renal venous artifact grades between two radiologists employed Kappa analysis. Results There was no significant difference between IFIR MRA and CTA with renal artery image quality and renal venous artifact (P>0.05). There was significant difference between IFIR MRA and CE-MRA with renal artery image quality and renal venous artifact (P<0.05). The consistency evaluation results of renal artery image quality and renal venous artifact grades between two radiologists were both good. Kappa value were 0.425 to 1.000. CTA of 19 cases depicted 48 renal arteries (38 renal arteries, 10 accessory renal arteries), IFIR MRA depicted them all. The grades of visualization of renal artery branches about IFIR MRA and CTA were (3.7 ± 0.7) and (3.8 ± 0.6) respectively, renal artery trunk diameter of IFIR MRA and CTA were (4.9 ± 1.3) and (5.0 ± 1.4) mm respectively, there was no significant difference between IFIR MRA and CTA (P>0.05).CE-MRA of 16 cases depicted 38 renal arteries (32 renal arteries, 6 accessory renal arteries), IFIR MRA depicted them all. The grades of visualization of renal artery branches about IFIR MRA and CE-MRA were (3.4±0.8) and (2.5±0.9) respectively, and there was significant difference between IFIR MRA and CE-MRA (Z=-4.040, P<0.01). Renal artery trunk diameter of IFIR MRA and CE-MRA were (4.7±1.3) and (4.7±1.2) mm respectively, there was no significant difference between IFIR MRA and CE-MRA (P>0.05). Conclusions The image quality of renal artery IFIR MRA was equal to CTA and superior to CE-MRA. It could be considered as an alternative technique for renal artery angiography.

Objective To investigate the level of the clinical nurses' critical thinking disposition and the competence about nursing ethical decision making,and analyze the relationship between them.Methods A total of 359 clinical nurses were recruited by stratified random sampling method.They were investigated with general situation questionnaire,critical thinking disposition inventory-Chinese version (CTDI-CV) and judgment about nursing decisiors(JAND).Results The total score of CTDI-CV was (285.06±26.79),the total score of JAND was(267.91±16.62).The influencing factors of clinical nurses' competence about nursing ethical decision making was education background,ways of obtaining occupational knowledge,training of nursing ethical decision.The clinical nurses' competence about nursing ethical decision making was positively correlated with critical thinking disposition.Conclusions The level of clinical nurses' critical thinking disposition and competence about nursing ethical decision making are medium,in order to improve the level of competence about nursing ethical decision making,both school education and the continue education among hospital should strengthen the training of nurses' critical thinking disposition.

Objective To explore the brain changes of electroacupuncturing (EA) different acupoints of peripheral facial paralysis (PFP) with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods Eighteen patients with left PFP were randomly divided into three groups. Six of them received electroacupuncturing left Dicang, 6 received electroacupuncturing left Hegu, and 6 received electroacupuncturing left Houxi. fMRI data were obtained from scanning of the whole brain. Functional data were processed by SPM99 software and functional responses were established with t-test analysis (P<0.05). Results Electroacupuncturing Dicang and Hegu on the left induced decreasing of signal in bilateral middle frontal gyrus, left cingulate gyrus, signal increased of right precentral gyrus, bilateral postcentral gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus and right insular, while electroacupuncturing Houxi on the left induced decrease of signal in bilateral inferior frontal gyrus, left lentiform nucleus, right middle temporal gyrus, right cerebellar tonsil, signal increased of right caudate head, right cingulate gyrus, brainstem, cerebellar vermis and right parahippocampal gyrus. Conclusion Electroacupunctuing Hegu and Dicang can cause corresponding functional activation in cerebrum, while electroacupuncturing Houxi can not, suggesting that there is association between cerebral and acupoint of owned meridian.

This study described the radiological features on echocardiography and MRI specific to cardiac amyloidosis confirmed on biopsy. Eleven cases of biopsy-proven cardiac amyloidosis were retrospectively reviewed in this study. All patients underwent biopsy, cardiac MRI and echocardiography. The main echocardiography and MRI findings were as follows: diffuse ventricular and septum wall thickening, atrial enlargement, pericardial effusion, restricted left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function, characteristic granular sparkling of myocardium. MRI revealed a characteristic pattern of global subendocardial late enhancement, extending in varying degrees into the neighboring myocardium. The findings agreed with the infiltration distribution of amyloid protein. Typical abnormalities seen on echocardiography and MRI should have important diagnostic and prognostic value of cardiac amyloidosis. MRI should be considered in the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis if echocardiographic features are suspicious.

This study examined the effect of different b values on diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) of human prostate by using single-shot spin echo echo planar imaging (SE-EPI) sequences, observed the normal appearances and measured apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in anatomical regions of normal prostate. Twenty-four healthy volunteers (mean age: 32 y) were studied by using a 1.5T system with a phased array surface multicoil. Two kinds of single-shot SE-EPI sequence were used to perform DWI in the prostate in volunteers, with five b values being 0, 30, 300, 500 to 1000 s/mm(2). The image quality with different imaging parameters was analyzed and the ADC values in anatomical regions of normal prostate were measured. DWI of prostate was successfully obtained in all volunteers. The images were of good quality, without artifacts containing pixels within the prostate. The contrast was good between the different anatomical regions of the prostatic gland, i.e., the peripheral zone (PZ), which exhibited higher signal intensity, and the central gland (CG). Signal intensity contrast was related to the magnitude of b values. The ADC values in PZ and CG were (1.27+/-0.22)x10(-3) mm(2)/s and (1.01+/-0.17)x10(-3) mm(2)/s, respectively. The ADC values were found to be significantly higher in PZ than in CG (P<0.05, paired t-test). Significant differences were found between the slice-selecting component and both the read-out and phase-encoding components of the ADC values. It is concluded that SE-EPI is a suitable DWI sequence for human prostate. The contrast between PZ and CG is good when b values are low, while the diffusion and ADC values are accurate when b values are high. ADC values are higher in PZ than in CG in normal prostate. Diffusional anisotropy is present in normal prostatic tissue.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Prostate/*anatomy & histology

OBJECTIVESTo reveal the relationship of brain motion and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow by phase-contrast cine MRI, and to evaluate this technique in differentiating between arachnoid cysts and subarachnoid space enlargement.

METHODSUsing a phase-contrast cine MRI pulse sequence, we measured brain motion and CSF flow during the cardiac cycle in 10 healthy volunteers and 10 patients with MRI-suspected arachnoid cyst or subarachnoid space enlargement. CSF stroke volume curve was illustrated according to flow quantification, and time-signal intensity curve was traced. The two curves were compared.

RESULTSThis study showed that brain motion was due to the volume difference between arterial and venous blood flow during a cardiac cycle, and thus drives CSF pulsation. Arachnoid cysts and subarachnoid space enlargement carried different curve patterns, demonstrating that phase-contrast MRI and flow quantification can be a useful and reliable technique for non-invasive evaluation of brain motion and CSF flow.

CONCLUSIONArachnoid cysts can be successfully differentiated using phase-contrast cine MRI from subarachnoid space enlargement.

Adult ; Arachnoid Cysts ; diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine ; Male ; Subarachnoid Space ; pathology

Objective To assess the values of MRI and echocardiography for the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis (CA). Methods Eleven cases with CA proved pathologically performed MRI and echocardiography, the findings were analyzed retrospectively. Results The characteristic features of cardiac amyloidosis on MRI and echocardiography were:diffuse slight myocardial thickening of the left ventricular wall and interventricular septum (11 cases ), slight myocardial thickening of the interatrial septum (5 cases), increased left ventricular mass (7 cases), enlarged left atrium ( 7 cases), impaired ventricular systolic and diastolic function (10 cases ), pleural and pericardial effusions (11 and 9 cases ).Echocardiography showed that myocardium was hyperechoic and presented as ground glass with some spotty hyperechoes in 6 cases. MRI revealed a distinct diffuse delayed enhancement of subendocardial and entire myocardium in 8 cases. Conclusion Doppler echocardiography is the first-choice imaging technique and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging can provide more information for the diagnosis of CA.

OBJECTIVE： To prepare Jinlei capsule and evaluate its quality. METHODS： Wet granulation was adopted. The molding technology of Jinlei capsule content granule was optimized with drug-excipient ratio， excipient ratio and ethanol volume fraction as factors， using comprehensive score of particle forming rate， moisture content and fluidity as the evaluation index. According to 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia （part Ⅳ）， the characters， moisture， volume difference， disintegration time limit were checked. Qualitative identification of Gentianopsis paludosa and Lysimachia christinale were analysed by TLC， and quantitative analysis of luteolin and kaempferol were analysed by HPLC. RESULTS： The optimal molding technology of Jinlei capsule content granule was that the maltodextrin and the micro-silica gel are mixed as a mixed auxiliary material according to 10 ∶ 1 and then mixed with the drug powder by 1 ∶ 0.5， using the wet granulation method with 90％ ethanol as wetting agent. The characters， moisture， volume difference and disintegration time limit of Jinlei capsule were in line with Chinese Pharmacopoeia. TLC showed the same color spots on the corresponding positions of the reference chromatogram. The linear range of luteolin and kaempferol were 4.4-88.0 μg/mL and 9.6-96.0 μg/mL （all r＝0.999 9）. RSD of precision （n＝6）， reproducibility （n＝6） and stability （18 h， n＝7） tests were all lower than 2.5％. The average recoveries were 95.74％ and 99.77％ （RSD＝1.50％， 2.72％， n＝6）； the content of them were 2.52， 0.34 mg/g. CONCLUSIONS： The optimal molding technology of Jinlei capsule is stable and feasible； prepared Jinlei capsule in controllable in quality.