PURPOSE: To evaluate the spatial distribution of various proton metabolites in the human brain with use of water-suppressed in vivo 1H MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) technique MATERIALS AND METHODS: All of water-suppressed in vivo 1H MRSI were performed on 1.5 T whole-body MRI/MRS system using Stimulated Echo Acquisition Method (STEAM) Chemical shift Imaging (CSI) pulse sequence. T1 -weighted MR images were used for CSl Field Of View (FOV; 24 cm). Voxel size of 1.S cm3 was designated from the periphery of the brain which was divided by 1024 x 16 x 16data points. RESULTS: Metabolite images of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine/phosphocreatine (Cr) + choline/phosphocholine (Cho), and complex of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) -I- glutamate (Glu) were obtained on the human brain. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary study suggests that in vivo 1H MRSl could provide the metabolite imaging to compensate for hypermetabolism on Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans on the basis of the metabolic informations on brain tissues. The unique ability of in vivo 1H MRSI to offer noninvasive informations about tissue biochemistry in disease states will stimulate on clinical research and disease diagnosis.
Biochemistry ; Brain* ; Diagnosis ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Glutamic Acid ; Humans* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Protons

PURPOSE: To evaluate the various phosphorus metabolism' of breast tumors with use of in vivo phosphorus-31 (31P) M R spectroscopy (MRS) MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five patients with breast tumor (benign in two, malignant in three) and three normal healthy volunteers participated in this study. All in vivo31P MRS examinations were performed on 1.5 Twhole-body MRI/MRS system by using a Free Induction Decay (FID) pulse sequence. Tl-weighted MR images were used for localization of tumors. Peak areas for each phosphorus metabolite were measured using a Marquart algorithm. RESULTS: Breast carcinoma had a substantially larger phosphomonoester (PME) and a smaller phosphocreatine (PCr) peak intensity than normal breast tissue. This was reflected in the relatively higher PME/PCr ratio of breast carcinomas as well as phosphodiester (PDE)/PCr, inorganic phosphate (Pi)/PCr, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)/PCr ratios, compared with normal controls. The mean pH value of breast tumor demonstrating the alkaline nature was higher than that of normal controls. Spectral patterns between benign breast disease and normal breast tissue were quite similar, and differentiation was not established. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary study suggests that in vivo 31P MRS is a noninvasive examination which may be useful in the early differentiation of malignant breast tumors from normal and benign conditions. However, normal control and benign conditions could not be characterized on the basis of the phosphorus metabolite ratios.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Breast Diseases ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy* ; Phosphocreatine ; Phosphorus ; Spectrum Analysis

Image-guided localized, water-suppressed in vivo 1H MR spectroscopic studies were performed on the brain tumors in 3 patients. In all 3 patients, in vivo 1H MR spectra in brain neoplastic tissues revealed that the signal intensities of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) choline (Cho) resonances were decreased and increased, respectively, comparing with healthy normal tissue. A distinct lactate signal was identified in all three patients. A ratio that the observed metabolite alterations from localized, water-suppressed in vivo 1H MR spectroscopy can be useful as an index of brain tumors, and that the technique is clinically to highlight as one promising modalities in brain tumors for more accurate diagnosis.
Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Choline ; Diagnosis ; Humans* ; Lactic Acid ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy*

In vivo 1H MR spectroscopic studies were performed on the human brain in six normal volunteers. Some distinct proton metabolites, such as N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine/phosphoccreatine (Cr), choline/phosphocholine (Cho), myo-inostitol (Ins) and lipid (fat) were clearly identified in normal brain tissues. The signal intensity of NAA resonance is strongest. The standard ratios of metabolites from the normal brain tissues in specific regions were obtained for the references of further in vivo 1H MR spectroscopic studies. Our initial results suggest the in vivo 1H MR spectroscopy may provide more precise diagnosis on the basis of the metabolic informations on brain tissues. The unique ability of in vivo 1H MR spectroscopy to offer noninvasive information about tissue biochemistry in patients will stimulate its impact on clinical research and disease diagnosis.
Biochemistry ; Brain* ; Diagnosis ; Healthy Volunteers* ; Humans* ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy* ; Protons

PURPOSE: By using the micro-imaging unit modified from NMR spectrometer, the high resolution MRI protocols of finer than 100 micron in 5 minutes, is sought for mouse, which plays a central role in animal studies MATERIALS AND METHODS: C57BL/6 mouse, lighter than 50 gram, is used for the experiments. The superconducting magnet is vertical type with 89 mm inner diameter at 4.9 Tesla. The diameter of rf-coil is 30 mm. Mostly used techniques are the fast spin echo and the gradient echo pulse sequence. RESULTS: For 2D images, proton density and T2 weighted images are obtained and their optimum experimental variables were sought. Minute structure of mouse brain can be recognized and 3D brain image is also obtained additionally. 3D image will be useful particularly for the dynamic contrast study using various contrast agents. CONCLUSION: Like the case of human and other small animals, the high resolution of mouse brain is enough to recognize the minute structure of it. Recently, similar studies are reported domestically, but it seems only a beginning stage. Due to easiness of breeding /control, mouse MRI study will soon play a vital part in brain study.
Animals ; Brain ; Breeding ; Humans ; Magnets ; Mice ; Protons

PURPOSE: To compare MRI appearance between plicae syndrome and normal plicae. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR images of 60 cases of arthroscopically-confirmed plicae syndrome and 18 of arthroscopically-proven normal plicae were retrospectively analyzed. Sagittal T2-weighted MR images in all cases and MPGR(200) in 37 cases of plicae syndrome were obtained. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test. RESULTS: On the basis of operatingresults, we observed 55 medial plicae, eight combined medial and suprapatellar plicae, four suprapatellar plicae,and one lateral plica. T2-weighted sagittal MR scans of the 60 cases demonstrated 37 medial plicae, 8 suprapatellar and one lateral plica. Joint effusion was found in 26 cases of 55 medial plicae. In T2-weighted sagittal MR scans, the identification of medial plicae was superior in the presence of joint effusion than its absence(plicae syndrome, p < 0.001 ; normal plicae group, p < 0.05). Medial plicae were well demonstrated onMPGR(200) axial images; on T2-weighted sagittal MR scans, they could be more frequently identified in the plicae syndrome group than in the normal control group(p < 0.001). Plicae syndrome-associated pathology included degenerative change of the articular cartilage of the medial femoral condyle in eight cases(14.5%), discoidmeniscus in nine(16.4%), lateral meniscus tear in 12(21.8%), medial meniscus tear in 21(38.1%), anterior cruciate ligament tear in three(5.5%), medial collateral ligament tear and osteochondritis dissecans in one case. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that synovial plicae were well demonstrated in T2-weighted sagittal images, particularly on the presence of joint effusion. Medial plicae could be more frequently identified in the plicae syndrome group than in the normal control group, especially on T2-weighted sagittal MR scans.
Cartilage, Articular ; Collateral Ligaments ; Humans ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Menisci, Tibial ; Osteochondritis Dissecans ; Pathology

Although MR imaging is generally applicable to depict knee joint deterioration it, is sometimes occurred to mis-read and mis-diagnose the common knee joint diseases. In this study, we employed magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) method to improve the diagnosis of the various knee joint diseases. Spin-echo (SE) T2-weighted images (TR/TE 3,400-3,500/90?100 ms) were obtained in seven cases of knee joint deterioration, FSE T2-weighted images (TR/TE 4,500-5,000/100?108 ms) were obtained in seven cases of knee joint deterioration, gradient-echo (GRE) T2-weighted images (TR/TE 9/4.56/50degrees flip angle, NEX 1) were obtained in 3 cases of knee joint deterioration, In six cases of knee joint deterioration, fat suppression was performed using a T2-weighted short T1/tau inverse recovery (STIR) sequence (TR/TE =2,894-3,215 ms/70 ms, NEX 3, ETL 9). Calculation of MTR for individual pixels was performed on registration of unsaturated and saturated images. After processing to make MTR images, the images were displayed in gray color. For improving diagnosis, three-dimensional isotropic volume images, the MR tristimulus color mapping and the MTR map was employed. MTR images showed diagnostic images quality to assess the patients' pathologies. The intensity difference between MTR images and conventional MRI was seen on the color bar. The profile graph on MTR imaging effect showed a quantitative measure of the relative decrease in signal intensity due to the MT pulse. To diagnose the pathologies of the knee joint, the profile graph data was shown on the image as a small cross. The present study indicated that MTR images in the knee joint were feasible. Investigation of physical change on MTR imaging enables to provide us more insight in the physical and technical basis of MTR imaging. MTR images could be useful for rapid assessment of diseases that we examine unambiguous contrast in MT images of knee disorder patients.
Knee ; Knee Joint ; Magnets

No abstract available.
Gamma Cameras* ; Head*

No Abstract Available.

In recent decades, laws for involuntary treatment have evolved in ways that protect human rights as well as public safety. Globally, many nations have legislation for psychiatric patients that provide procedural advocacy during their involuntary treatment while a court or another independent organization reviews its lawfulness. In contrast, people with severe mental illness in Korea risk encountering human rights violations and loss of timely treatment, because their involuntary admissions are primarily initiated by family members and civil doctors and not by courts or government. The Mental Health Promotion and Welfare Act, revised in 2016, does not address this fundamental weakness, instead restricting involuntary admission criteria and bypassing the implementation of any procedural assistance programs. Subsequently untreated patients lead to clinical aggravation and even serious felony offenses. This paper introduces New York State’s court-ordered treatment system via the Mental Hygiene Law as a model for the revision of Korean legislation. The findings show that involuntary admissions in New York State are initiated by many parties as well as familial relatives and may be held up to 60 days without any court order.However, patients are assigned legal counsel for the ability to request for a court hearing at any time during their admission. The Assisted Outpatient Program is another legal intervention that requires a person with a mental illness that would likely result in serious harm to self or others to receive supervised outpatient treatment. We argue that the New York State model can be implemented effectively in Korea considering its current medical and judicial status.