Balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) is a highly efficient pulse sequence that is known to provide the highest signal-to-noise ratio per unit time. Recently, bSSFP is getting increasingly popular in both the research and clinical communities. This review will be focusing on the application of the bSSFP technique in the context of probing the physiological and functional information. In the first part of this review, the basic principles of bSSFP are briefly covered. Afterwards, recent developments related to the application of bSSFP, in terms of physiological and functional imaging, are introduced and reviewed. Despite its long development history, bSSFP is still a promising technique that has many potential benefits for obtaining high-resolution physiological and functional images.
Cervical Vertebrae/*blood supply/radiography ; Head/*blood supply/radiography ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/*methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of three-phase CT to characterize the hemodynamics of vascular lesions in the head and neck area. MATERIALS AND METHODS:We analyzed vascular malformations of head and neck regions in 21 patients with the use of three-phase CT, including pre-contrast phase, vascular phase (scan delay: 20-35 seconds after intravenous contrast material injection) and equilibrium phase (scan delay: 3-5 minutes) imaging. The flow characteristic of each lesion was determined and categorized as either a high- or a low-flow lesion according to findings on selective arteriography and/or direct puncture venography. The CT number was acquired from two areas in a vascular lesion, sorted by the enhancement pattern: area 1, a highly enhanced area seen on the vascular phase; area 2, a delayedly enhanced area seen on the equilibrium phase. The CT numbers of each phase were compared between high- and low-flow lesions with use of the unpaired t-test. The flow patterns of high- and low-flow lesions were analyzed by assessment of time-density curves of three phase CT. RESULTS: High-flow lesions were detected in nine patients and low-flow lesions were detected in 12 patients. On the vascular phase, the CT number of areas 1 and 2 of high-flow lesions was significantly higher than for low-flow lesions (p < 0.05). Contrary to early peaks seen in time-density curves of high-flow lesions, low-flow lesions showed a delayed peak. CONCLUSION: Three-phase CT seems to be a valuable non-invasive method to differentiate a high-flow lesion from a low flow lesion of head and neck vascular lesions.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Angiography/methods ; Arteriovenous Malformations/*radiography ; Child ; Female ; Head/*blood supply ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck/*blood supply ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods

OBJECTIVETo introduce a new method using calcium phosphate cement/Danshen drug delivery system for treating ischemic necrosis of the femoral head and evaluate its curative effect.

METHODSFrom May 2000 to June 2005, 48 adult patients (54 hips) with ischemic necrosis of the femoral head at Stages I, II and III of antigen reactive cell opsonization (ARCO) were treated with implantation of calcium phosphate cement/Danshen drug delivery system in the involved femoral head. The operation consisted of removal of the necrotic bone under weight-loading cartilage and the implantation of phosphate cement/Danshen drug delivery system, and all manipulations were made percutaneously through a bone tunnel in the trochanter. The functions of the hip joint were evaluated and X-ray films were taken preoperatively and postoperatively.

RESULTSPostoperative follow-up was 45.5 months on average, ranging from 27 to 78 months. According to the evaluation criterion of "Dandong 1995" for therapeutic effect of adult ischemic necrosis of the femoral head, the therapeutic effects were excellent in 33 hips, good in 17, fair in 3 and poor in 1, with the excellent and good rate of 92.6%.

CONCLUSIONSThis method is relatively simple with little invasion. It not only improves the microcirculation of the femoral head by local application of traditional Chinese medicine, but also provides mechanic buttress in the weight-loading area to prevent collapse during repairing, which is beneficial to repair and reconstruction of femoral head. It may be a choice of minimal invasion surgery for ischemic necrosis of the femoral head at Stages I, II and III of ARCO.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Cements ; Calcium Phosphates ; administration & dosage ; Decompression, Surgical ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Female ; Femur Head ; blood supply ; Femur Head Necrosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Humans ; Ischemia ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Salvia miltiorrhiza

OBJECTIVETo analyze the influence of prior radiotherapy on free tissue transfer in head and neck region.

METHODSOne thousand and sixty-six consecutive free flap transfers performed in 1007 patients in head and neck region from May 1999 to March 2005 were reviewed. Among the 1007 cases, 146 had a history of prior radiotherapy (radiation group), and the other 896 without prior radiotherapy (non-radiation group). The two groups were compared in terms of free flap success rate and postoperative complication rate.

RESULTSThe success rate of free flap was 97.6% in the radiation group, and 98.4% in the non-radiation group. The postoperative complication rate was 38.4% in the radiation group, and 36.4% in the non-radiation group.

CONCLUSIONSPrior radiotherapy poses no significant influence on free tissue transfer in head and neck region.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Graft Survival ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Radiography ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effect of interventional therapy with Chinese and Western medicine for avascular necrosis of femoral head (ANFH).

METHODSA total of 168 ANFH patients (285 hips) were subjected to interventional therapy with Chinese and Western medicine (prostaglandin E1 injection, uroki-nase and Compound Danshen Injection) and examined by digital substruction arterography (DSA) before and after treatment. The imaging of DSA and clinical effect were observed and compared.

RESULTSAfter treatment, hip pain and joint dysfunction were alleviated to different degrees, and the blood vessel count shown by DSA significantly increased. The effect was obviously better in patients of Grade III than in those of other grades.

CONCLUSIONInterventional therapy with Chinese and Western medicine could improve the blood circulation of the femoral head, and is an effective method for the treatment of ANFH.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alprostadil ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Femur Head ; blood supply ; drug effects ; Femur Head Necrosis ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Injections, Intra-Arterial ; Middle Aged ; Phenanthrolines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Radiography, Interventional ; Treatment Outcome ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult