ObjectiveTo study the anatomical abnormalities of basal ganglia and research their influence on depression status in patients with post stroke depression (PSD)by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of MRI.MethodsPatients with basal ganglia infarction were recruited,and divided into groups of PSD and non depression control group by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) assessment. All the patients were evaluated with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale ( NIHSS). And the patients were checked by DTI sequence.Fractional anisotropy (FA),average diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and the number of nerve fiber were measured in bilateral caudatum,pallidum,putamen and thalamus.ResultsThe score of NIHSS (6.29 ± 3.45 ) was significantly higher in PSD group than that in non-depression group (3.95 ± 1.90 ;t =2.219,P =0.036). No significant difference was found between the two groups for the DTI data of the basal ganglia nuclei ( t =0.056-1.618,all P ＞ 0.05 ). Compared with contralateral construction (0.40 ± 0.02 ),the FA value decreased in the left putamen ( 0.37 ± 0.03 ) in the PSD group ( t =2.243,P =0.045 ).By Spearman correlations analysis,the HAMD score was positively correlated with NIHSS score ( r =0.464,P =0.017 ),and negatively correlated with the FA values of left pallidum (r=-0.563,P=0.005),right pallidum (r=-0.416,P=0.035) and left putamen (r =-0.428,P =0.029).Conclusions The occurrence of PSD was associated with neurological functional deficit following basal ganglia infarction.The depression level was correlated with the increasing of NIHSS score,the reductions in bilateral pallidum and left putamen FA values.This research contributes to evaluation of the PSD status in patients with basal ganglia infarction.

Objective To investigate the imaging characteristics of USPIO-enhanced and Gd-enhanced MRI in atherosclerosis and to compare the detection rate of atherosclerotic plaque between them. Methods Thirty-five healthy male rabbits were assigned to experimental group (n=30) to establish a model of atherosclerosis by damaging aortic tunica intima with Foley′s tube in combination with a high fat diet and 5 to control group without any intervention. At week 12, USPIO-enhanced and Gd-enhanced MRI scanning were conducted to compare the signal changes of atherosclerotic plaque before and after enhancement with the 2 contrast media. Ninety seven pictures were randomly selected respectively from the pictures enhanced by the 2 contrast media to compare the detection rate plaque between them. Pthology examination was used for detection standard. For the control group , pictures were randomly selected. Results In the experimental group, 7 rabbits died of Foley′s tube damaging, 2 died of raising and 1 died of anesthesia. All 5 rabbits in control group survived. A total of 172 pathological sections were made with 134 plaques and 72 vulnerable plaques pathologically confirmed. In pictures enhanced by USPIO , 84 plaques were confirmed by HE staining with a detection rate of 86.6%. In pictures enhanced by Gd, 72 plaques were confirmed by HE staining with a detection rate of 74.2%. Detection rate of USPIO-enhanced MRI in atherosclerosis plaque was significantly higher than that of Gd-enhanced MRI (X2=3.96, P=0.046). Conclusion USPIO shows its superiority as a new contrast medium in detection of atherosclerosis plaque.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (USPIO-MRA) combined with interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 detection for detecting atherosclerotic plaques in rabbits.

METHODSTwenty-four normal male rabbits were randomly assigned (n=8) into group A with atherosclerosis induced by damaging the aortic tunica intima with Foley's tube in combination with a high fat diet, group B with a high fat diet, and group C without any intervention. At week 12, plain and USPIO-MRA was performed in all the 24 rabbits and the results were compared with pathological examinations; blood samples were collected from the ear vein to examine blood lipids and levels of IL-6 and IL-10.

RESULTSThe rabbits in groups A and B showed significantly different IL-6 levels (167 ± 21.3 vs 116 ± 14.3 pg/ml, P<0.05) but comparable blood lipids and IL-10 levels (P>0.05). The levels of IL-6, IL-10, TC, TG, and LDL, but not HDL, differed significantly between groups A and C and between groups B and C (P<0.01). Continuous MRA scan showed significantly different signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) between the 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONUSPIO-MRA combined with IL-6 and IL-10 detection is feasible in detecting atherosclerotic plaques in rabbits.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; Contrast Media ; Dextrans ; Interleukin-10 ; analysis ; Interleukin-6 ; analysis ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; Male ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; diagnosis ; Rabbits