Objective To study the relationship between MRI and histopathological findings of cerebral schistosomiasis,and the value of MRI on this disease. Methods 18 patients with cerebral schistosomiasis proved by pathological examination and laboratory test were enrolled in the study. Plain and Gd DTPA enhanced MRI were performed in all patients with GE 1.5 T MRI scanner. Results The lesions were located in infratentorial region in 7 cases and in supratentorial region in 11. There were three types of pathological pattern in the disease including focal encephalitis and meningiomas (5), granuloma (12), and encephalatrophy (1). Most of the lesions were iso or hypointensity on T 1WI, hyperintensity on T 2WI, with nodules, spot or ring like enhancement, and periphery edema. Conclusion MRI manifestations of cerebral schistosomiasis have specific features,which is a very important tool in early diagnosis and follows up for this disease.

Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic value of two-dimensional multiple-echo recalled gradient echo (2D MERGE) with flexural position in the hirayama disease. Materials and Methods Conventional MRI and axial MERGE images (7 cases) were analyzed and the anteroposterior diameter was measured at C6 vertebral body, and the structure of spinal, extramedullary and subdural space and extradural space were compared. Results The anteroposterior diameter was (5.7±0.6) cm and (4.7±0.5) cm in the neutral position and flexural position (t=-2.95, P<0.05). The“butterfly”shape of spinal grey matter could not be detected in the 4 cases on MERGE with flexural position, which could not demonstrated on the conventional MR images. 2D MERGE was not sensitive for the CSF flow artefacts and the contrast between spinal and surrounding structures was improved. However, the vascular images could not displayed on 2D MERGE images. Conclusion 2D MERGE sequence is better than T1WI and T2WI on sagittal view and T2WI on axial view in the pathological changes of hirayama disease except flow-empty vein sign, thus it has an important role in diagnosing hirayama disease.

The value of combined application of both ECG-gated cine MRA and 3D-CEMRA in the detection of large intracranial aneurysms was evaluated and the findings were compared with those of conventional MRA and DSA. Twenty-four patients with 26 large intracranial aneurysms underwent MRI and DSA. All these aneurysms, diameter from 15 to 39 mm, were located at internal cerebral artery (n=12), vertebral artery (n=3), basilar artery (n=4), anterior cerebral artery (n=2), middle cerebral artery (n=2), anterior communicate artery (n=2) and posterior communicate artery (n=1). Thirteen cases of hematoma or cavernoma were studied as control group. All patients were examined on GE 1.5T MR system. ECG-gated cine MRA was performed with 2D multi-phase fast gradient-recalled echo sequence in a single section. All the images were analyzed with signal intensity VS time curve for differentiating intraaneurysmal blood flow from static tissue. The results were analyzed by statistic "t" test. 3D-CEMRA was performed with spoiled gradient-recalled echo and one dose of Gd-DTPA. All data was processed with multi-plannar reformat (MPR) and tomography for the demonstration of aneurysms in detail. All 26 aneurysms were demonstrated successfully by combined application of both cine MRA and 3D-CEMRA. Compared to DSA and conventional 3D-MOTSA, its sensitivity and specificity figures were both 100%. Cine MRA could differentiate the blood flow from the static tissue. The intensity VS time curves of intraaneurysmal blood flow offered fluctuating form and average signal change between systole and diastole period was about 89.8 +/- 37.4; However, under the control group, intraaneurysmal thrombus or cerebral hemorrhage or cavernomas had no significant signal change and the curves offered steady form with the average signal change being about 8.2 +/- 6.3. There was statistically significant difference between the intraaneurysmal blood flow and static tissue (P=0.025, <0.05). 3D-CEMRA was very useful in demonstrating the aneurysmal size, intraaneurysmal thrombus formation, neck and the detailed relationship of the aneurysm to the surrounding structures. It was concluded that the combined application of both cine MRA and 3D-CEMRA might be a valuable clinical tool for the detection of large intracranial aneurysms.
Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Contrast Media ; Evaluation Studies ; Image Enhancement ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods ; Intracranial Aneurysm/*diagnosis ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography/*methods ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine

Objective:To investigate the role of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) in molecular mechanism of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Methods: Seventy-eight healthy female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups(n=26): rats in control group received no treatment; rats in EAE group were induced with complete Freund's adjuvant and Guinea pig spinal cord homogenate(CFA-GPSCH); and rats in pyrrolidine-dithiocharbamate (PDTC) group received PDTC (100 mg/kg), a specific inhibitor of NF-kB, 1 h before and after(once a day for 7 d) CFA-GPSCH treatment. HO-1 mRNA expression were analyzed with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) on 1 d,7 d,14 d,and 21 d after EAE induction, respectively. The relationship between HO-1 and symptoms of EAE was also investigated. Results: The expression of HO-1 mRNA was very low in the brains of the control group (0.27?0.05), whereas enhanced gradually with onset and development of EAE in EAE group, peaked on d 7 (1.11?0.12), kept at a high level till d 14(1.06?0.18) and decreased on d 21 (0.37?0.1). HO-1 mRNA expression change was in parallel with severities of EAE. In PDTC group,the EAE symptoms were mitigated markedly and the expression of HO-1 mRNA reduced noticeably compared with that of EAE group. Conclusion: Brain HO-1 mRNA expression may play an important role in the pathogenesis of EAE,and application of some inhibitors of NF-kB may be one of the potential therapies for prevention and treatment of EAE.

Objective To build position system based on a large ship ocean nursing needs.Methods Two rounds of expert consultation were carried out through the literature material method,field survey,comparative research method,and Delphi method to build nursing station system of the large ship.Results The expert authority coefficient was 0.81.Two rounds of expert coordination coefficients were 0.55,0.52.The nursing position system contained three parts:level Ⅰ position,level Ⅱ position and the post job responsibilities.Conclusions The system contains 21 stations,the expert opinions are concentrated with high credibility,it can provide certain theoretical support for the nursing personnel selection,training,and ship jobs management of large ship.

Objective To identify the diffusion alterations of deep gray matter(GM) and white matter (WM) among Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy people by atlas?based analysis (ABA), and to investigate the respective relationship with cognitive function. Methods Twenty?one AD patients (AD group), 8 MCI patients (MCI group) and 15 normal controls (control group) were performed by conventional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The raw data of DTI was processed by using DTI studio software to generate the fractional anisotropy (FA) images. Then ABA was used to quantify the FA value in 58 deep GM and WM structures. The differences of FA value among three groups were compared by using one way ANOVA, with a post?hoc analysis. In AD and MCI groups, the partial correlation was further investigated between mini?mental state examination (MMSE) score and FA value in the brain regions that have significant differences between AD and MCI group or between MCI and control group. Results Compared with control group, AD patients showed wide?spread FA decrease in most deep GM and WM regions (corrected P<0.05). The FA values of the hypothalamus, the fornix, the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) and the cingulum in AD group were significantly lower than those in MCI group (corrected P<0.05). The FA value of the right splenium of corpus callosum (SCC) in MCI group was significantly lower than that in control group (MCI:0.550±0.018 vs. Control:0.585±0.026, P<0.05). In AD and MCI group, the FA values of the left hypothalamus, the right hypothalamus, the left cingulum, the right cingulum, and the left SLF were positively correlated with MMSE scores(r=0.502, 0.515, 0.535, 0.527, 0.512; P<0.05). No significant correlation was found between the FA value of the right SCC, the right SLF, the right fornix/stria terminalis, the right fornix and MMSE scores(P>0.05). Conclusion Based on ABA, this study found the diffusion changes not only in the WM but also the deep GM in AD patients, but only WM diffusion disruptions in MCI group. The decreased FA value in the right SCC appeared early, but had no correlation with the cognitive impairment. The FA value in the hypothalamus, the fornix, the SLF and the cingulum decreased with the disease progression, and correlated positively with the cognition decline.

Neural stem cells were labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) and tracked by MRI in vitro and in vivo after implantation. Rat neural stem cells were labeled with SPIO combined with PLL by the means of receptor-mediated endocytosis. Prussian blue staining and electron microscopy were conducted to identify the iron particles in these neural stem cells. SPIO-labeled cells were tracked by 4.7T MRI in vivo and in vitro after implantation. The subjects were divided into 5 groups, including 5 x 10(5) labeled cells cultured for one day after labeling, 5 x 10(5) same phase unlabeled cells, cell culture medium with 25 mug Fe/mL SPIO, cell culture medium without SPIO and distilled water. MRI scanning sequences included T(1)WI, T(2)WI and T(2)*WI. R(2) and R(2)* of labeled cells were calculated. The results showed: (1) Neural stem cells could be labeled with SPIO and labeling efficiency was 100%. Prussian blue staining showed numerous blue-stained iron particles in the cytoplasm; (2) The average percentage change of signal intensity of labeled cells on T(1)WI in 4.7T MRI was 24.06%, T2WI 50.66% and T(2)*WI 53.70% respectively; (3) T2 of labeled cells and unlabeled cells in 4.7T MRI was 516 ms and 77 ms respectively, R(2) was 1.94 s(-1) and 12.98 s(-1) respectively, and T(2)* was 109 ms and 22.9 ms, R(2)* was 9.17 s(-1) and 43.67 s(-1) respectively; (4) Remarkable low signal area on T(2)WI and T(2)*WI could exist for nearly 7 weeks and then disappeared gradually in the left brain transplanted with labeled cells, however no signal change in the right brain implanted with unlabeled cells. It was concluded that neural stem cells could be labeled effectively with SPIO. R2 and R(2)* of labeled cells were increased obviously. MRI can be used to track labeled cells in vitro and in vivo.

Objective To compare three dimensional arterial spin labeling(3D-ASL) and dynamic susceptibility contrast-perfusion weighted imaging(DSC-PWI) in evaluating the cerebral hemodynamic of Moyamoya disease. Methods Approved by the institutional review board, 26 cases of Moyamoya patients who were diagnosed by DSA were enrolled. Diffusion weighted image, 3D-TOF-MRA, 3D-ASL, DSC-WPI, and T1WI were performed in 3.0 T MR scanner. ROI were positioned in the abnormal perfusion areas and the control area according to the arterial dominant territory to obtain quantitative parameters of perfusion. Perfusion parameters including cerebral blood flow(CBF) of ASL, cerebral blood flow(CBF), cerebral blood volume(CBV), mean transit time(MTT), and time to peak(TTP)of DSC-PWI , and relative parameters (ASL-rCBF, DSC-rCBF, DSC-rCBV, DSC-rMTT, DSC-rTTP) that the ratio of abnormal perfusion area and the control area were calculated. Meanwhile, the areas of the lower perfusion region of ASL and TTP images in the same slice were measured. Difference of the above-mentioned parameters and areas was processed by paired Student′ t test. Furthermore, correlation of relative values of perfusion parameters(ASL-rCBF, DSC-rCBF, DSC-rCBV, DSC-rMTT, and DSC-rTTP) was processed by Pearson correlation test. Results There were significant statistics differences between values of ASL-CBF, DSC-MTT, and DSC-TTP in abnormal perfusion [(28.18 ± 10.19)ml · 100 g-1 · min-1,(7.98 ± 2.22)s,(29.93 ± 3.95)s] and the control areas [(49.50 ± 11.37)ml · 100 g-1 · min-1,(6.07 ± 1.11)s,(27.34 ± 2.58)s] (t=-12.818, 4.193, 6.163, all P<0.01). There was no significant statistics difference in the lower perfusion area between ASL-CBF [(5 729.63 ± 4 563.79) mm2]and DSC-TTP[(5 875.33 ± 4 723.08)mm2](t=-1.774,P>0.05). Furthermore, the Pearson correlation test showed significant linear dependence between ASL-rCBF(0.56±0.14)and DSC-rMTT(1.34± 0.42), and DSC-rTTP(1.09 ± 0.69)(r=-0.630,-0.748, P<0.01). Conclusions There is a correlation between 3D-ASL and DSC-PWI in assessing the magnitude and areas of the reduction of blood perfusion of Moyamoya patients. Moreover, the ASL technique possesses advantages of non-invasion use of the gadolinium contrast.

Objective To concentrate on the morbidity of cerebral microbleed (CMB) in patients with hypertension and to analyze the predilection and risk-factor of cerebral microbleed.Method Hypertensive patients were divided into the simple hypertention group, hypertention group with lacunar infarction and hypertention group with cerebral infarction.All of these 65 patients received examination of susceptibility-weighted imaging.Results Ninety-one focuses of cerebral microbleeds were found in these patients:58.2% of these focuses were in both basal ganglia and cerebral ganglion;35.2 percent were in cortex and subcortex;6.6 percent were in brainstem and cerebellum.The total morbidity of CMB was 33.8 percent, 52.4 percent in the group with lacunar infarction and 38.1 percent in the group with cerebral infarction, both were significantly higher than that of 8.7 percent in the simple hypertensive group (χ2= 8.08,P<0.01 andχ2=3.86, P<0.05).Conclusions The focus of CMB suggested the hemorrhagic tendency in endocranial capillary.CMB can be used as a routine exam for the hemorrhagic tendency in endocranial capillary.Synthetic analysis of risk-factor and the result of SWI help clinicians choose suitable treatment for each patient.

Objective To investigate the time course of cerebral infarction with diffusion kurtosis imaging-related parameters.Methods According to the time interval from symptom onset to MRI examination, 114 cases of cerebral infarction were divided into five groups:8 cases of hyperacute phase(less than 6 hours), 14 cases of acute(>6-24 h), 60 cases of early subacute(>24 h-7 d), 20 cases of late subacute(>7-14 d), and 12 cases of chronic phase ( >14 d-2 months).They underwent routine diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) scanning, and apparent diffusion coefficient ( ADC) and DKI-derived parameters were obtained from them.The derived diffusion parameters were compared among different phases in the patients , and the percent of changes in the infarcted regions were calculated.Paired t-test was used to compare the difference of each parameter between the infarcted region and contralateral normal region , and their correlation with time interval was tested using Pearson correlation analysis.Results Except for chronic phase , mean kurtosis ( MK) , axial kurtosis ( K∥) , radial kurtosis (K⊥)map showed uneven high signal in the infarcted regions , while mean diffusion(MD), axial diffusion(D∥), radial diffusion(D⊥) showed uniform low signal.MK values in the infarcted regions of hyperacute, acute, early subacute and late subacute phase (1.331 ±0.357,1.578 ±0.453,1.519 ±0.455, 1.403 ±0.275 ) increased significantly , compared with the contralateral normal mirror regions ( 0.850 ± 0.236,0.827 ±0.194,0.865 ±0.144,0.939 ±0.212) (t values were 5.242,6.907,12.416,5.629, respectively.P values were all less than 0.01 ).MK, K∥, K⊥ achieved a peak in the acute and early subacute phase , and showed more amplitude than the decrease of MD , D∥, D⊥.Then they gradually reduced, and tended to normalize.MK, MD, ADC had a significant correlation with the time onset of cerebral infarction ( r was 0.354, 0.747, 0.723, respectively, P values were all less than 0.05 ).Conclusion Diffusion kurtosis imaging can provide more diffusion information than conventional DWI , which can better reflect the microstructure changes in tissue.