Objective To develop a localization strategy for magnetic resonance coronary angiography (MRCA). Methods In 89 subjects, the standard 4-chamber view and long-axis view of left and right ventricle were acquired using Fast-Imaging-Employing-Steady-State-Acquisition (FIESTA) sequence in CINE mode, and the trigger-delay time for mid-diastolic phase was determined. Coronary vessels including right coronary artery (RCA), left main (LM), left anterior descending (LAD), and left circumflex (LCX) were localized and imaged using 3-dimensional fat-suppressed FIESTA sequence during end-expiration. The reproducibility of the localization strategy was evaluated by taking the standard of coronary segmentation system recommended by American Heart Association. Results Eighty-six subjects completed the examination with full respiratory co-operation and the indication ratio was 96.63%. Nine planes were optimized as the standard to target the main branches of coronary arteries, and a comprehensive reproducibility reached 100% in demonstrating the proximal and middle segment of RCA (AHA-18, 19), LM (AHA-1, 2), proximal and middle segment of LAD (AHA-3, 5, 7), and proximal LCX (AHA-10). The reproducibility for the demonstration of distal segments of LAD, LCX, and RCA (AHA-9, 14, 21) was 94.19%, 72.09%, and 96.51%, respectively. Conclusion This is a simple and practical localization strategy for MRCA. It could image the proximal and middle segments of the coronary arteries with good reproducibility, which indicates the potential for clinical application.

OBJECTIVE:To find out the general rule in ware-house-in inspection for Chinese medicinal crop.METHO_ DS:135reports of consigned inspection for Chinese medicinal material were quantitatively analysed in linking with the pre?served specimens.RESULTS:Main specimens inspected included Radix Morindae Officinalis,Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae,Herba Cistarchis and Semen Cuscutae.The main cause of those unqualified Chinese medicine was due to fake and impure ma?terials adulterated.The target items of adulteration were herbal pieces and other small size Chinese medicinal materi?als.CONCLUSION:Chinese medicine should be purchased from the source of original unprocessed materials.During taking delivery of goods,formal differentiation and scientific inspection process should be performed to prevent fake and unqualified medicine being stored and used,to ensure the product quality up-to-standard.

Objective To get a MR imaging protocol for coronary arterial wall in vitro. Methods MR examinations were performed in 10 fresh porcine hearts. Three dimensional fast imaging employing steady state acquisition (3D FIESTA) was used to delineate left anterior descending artery (LAD), while 2D spin-echo T1W was performed with 8-channel head surface coil, temporomandibular surface coil and knee coil with the same parameters. T1WI was obtained with 384×256 and 512×512 in matrix using temporomandibular surface coil, and then T1WI, PDW and T2WI with fat saturation were obtained with different NEX using temporomandibular surface coil after injecting Resovist in LAD. Signal of the LAD wall, lumen, fat tissue adjacent to LAD, myocardium of anterior part of interventricular septum and noise were respectively measured. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of image, contrast to noise ratio (CNR) between the wall and lumen (CNR1), CNR between the wall and surrounding fatty tissue (CNR2) were calculated. Results The SNR and CNR1, CNR2 of SE T1WI with temporomandibular coil were higher than those with 8-channel head surface coil and knee coil. SNR and CNR1, CNR2 of SE T1WI with 384×256 matrix were higher than those with 512×512 matrix. SNR and CNR1, CNR2 using 3 NEX were the highest. Conclusion Good SNR and CNR of porcine coronary wall can be achieved using temporomandibular surface coil, 384×256 in matrix and NEX of 3.

Objective To evaluate the efficiency of coronary magnetic resonance angiography (CMRA) for stenoses detection by using breath-hold three-dimensional fast imaging employing steady state acquisition (FIESTA) sequence with the reference of conventional coronary catheter angiography. Methods~Consecutive 33 patients accepted CMRA examination within 3 weeks after the catheter angiography. Coronary stenoses was graded in 5 levels as 0%, 0%-25%, 25%-50%, 50%-75%, and 75%-100%, respectively, and CMRA and catheter angiogram were compared segment by segment. Results For the differentiation of the stenoses 50%, the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of CMRA was 84.3%, 84.8%, and 84.1%, respectively, and the negative prediction value was 92.3%. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for the differentiation of stenoses between 50%-75% and 75%-100% were all 61.5%. Conclusion The breath-holding three-dimensional FIESTA sequence for CMRA was practical to exclude hemodynamic significant coronary stenoses but limited in detail grading.

Objective To evaluate the effect of quick injection combining with slow infusion of Gd-DTPA on T1 relaxation of the blood. Methods Fifteen volunteers were recruited for coronary MRA study using a navigator-gated 3D-FIESTA sequence. Coronary MRA were acquired on the same segments two times at 5 minutes and 15 minutes after Gd-DTPA administration. Contrast agent was injected biphasically with 10 ml at a flow rate of 1.5 ml/s and 20 ml at 0. 05 ml/s to prolong the T1 relaxation effect. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated pre- and post-contrast MRA. Image quality was compared using t-test. Results The SNR and CNR at 5 minutes after contrast injection (35.37 ±6. 84 and 21.57 ± 6. 08 ) were significantly higher than that of pre-contrast MRA ( 27.38 ± 6. 24 and 13.19 ±6. 50). The SNR at 15 minutes after contrast injection (33. 81 ±9. 43) was higher than that of precontrast MRA, but there was no statistically difference(t = 1. 885 ,P =0. 074). The CNR at 15 minutes after contrast injection (21.20 ± 7.65) was significantly higher than that of pre-contrast MRA. The SNR and CNR at 15 minutes after contrast injection were no significant different compared with those at 5 minutes after contrast injection. Conclusion T1-shorting effect in the blood can be prolonged by quick injection combining with slow infusion of Gd-DTPA ,which meet with the need of multiple scans of coronary MRA.

INTRODUCTIONMotor neuron damage and cortical spinal tract (CST) degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are difficult to visualise and quantify on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

CLINICAL PICTUREWe studied 8 ALS patients and 12 normal volunteers using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and fibre tractography using fibre assignment by continuous tracking (FACT) to study the fibres of the CST and the posterior thalamic radiation (PTR), a nonmotor tract.

OUTCOMEFibre tractography was successfully performed in all normal volunteers and all patients except 1. The fibre bundles of the CST, but not the PTR, were significantly reduced (P <0.05) in patients compared to normal volunteers.

CONCLUSIONFibre tractography can visualise axonal degeneration in the CST and may provide supplementary information about upper motor neuron disease in ALS patients.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Echo-Planar Imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Degeneration ; pathology ; Pyramidal Tracts ; pathology

Objective:To investigate the impact of switching to low iodine drinking water in areas with high water iodine levels on the iodine nutritional status and thyroid function of pregnant women.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Gaoqing County, Zibo City, Shandong Province. Pregnant women who underwent prenatal examinations at the Obstetrics Clinic of Gaoqing County People's Hospital from 2019 to 2021 were selected as the survey subjects. With reference to the Criteria for the Classification of Water Source High Iodine Areas and High Iodine Disease Areas (GB/T 19380-2016), pregnant women with drinking water iodine > 100 μg/L were considered as the high water iodine group and ≤100 μg/L was the non-high water iodine group. Basic information, one random urine sample, fasting blood sample, 24-hour urine sample and drinking water sample of pregnant women were collected, and thyroid ultrasound examination was performed on pregnant women. Urinary iodine (UI) concentration (UIC) and drinking water iodine concentration (WIC) were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and 24-hour urinary iodine excretion (UIE) and daily iodine intake (TII) of pregnant women were calculated. Serum thyroid hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT 3), free thyroxine (FT 4), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and anti-thyroid autoantibodies (TgAb) were determined by automatic chemiluminescence immunoassay. Creatinine (CR) was determined using deproteinized endpoint microplate method and UI/CR was calculate. Results:A total of 797 pregnant women were included, and the UIC was 150.2 (88.1, 281.3) μg/L, the iodine nutrition was generally at an appropriate level. Among them, 584 pregnant women in the non-high water iodine group had a UIC of 120.9 (74.9, 191.5) μg/L, which was at the iodine deficiency level; 213 pregnant women in the high water iodine group had a UIC of 321.1 (201.9, 569.1) μg/L, which was at the iodine super-appropriate level; the differences in WIC, UIC, UIE, TII, and UI/CR between the two groups were statistically significant ( Z = 21.63, 13.34, 15.14, 15.14, 11.81, P < 0.001). After stratification by different gestational periods, the differences were statistically significant when comparing WIC and TSH in pregnant women in the non-high water iodine group and UI/CR in pregnant women in the high water iodine group by gestational period ( H = 59.13, 7.30, 13.60, P < 0.05). A total of 744 pregnant women were tested for thyroid function, and 128 cases of TSH > 2.5 mU/L, 15 cases of hypothyroxemia, and 19 cases of subclinical hypothyroidism were detected, with detection rates of 17.2%, 2.0%, and 2.6%, respectively. The differences were statistically significant when comparing TSH and TPOAb levels and the proportion of pregnant women with TSH > 2.5 mU/L in the high water iodine and non-high water iodine groups ( Z = 3.04, - 2.17, χ 2 = 6.94, P = 0.002, 0.030, 0.008). The thyroid glands of pregnant women were examined in 720 cases, and 30 cases of goiter and 150 cases of thyroid nodules were detected, with detection rates of 4.2% and 20.8%, respectively. The median thyroid volume was 8.92 ml in the high water iodine group and 8.60 ml in the non-high water iodine group, which were both within the normal range, with no statistically significant difference between the groups ( Z = - 0.75, P = 0.455). Conclusions:After changing to low iodine water, the overall iodine nutrition of pregnant women in Gaoqing County is now at an appropriate level, and the reduction of water iodine effectively reduces the risk of TSH abnormalities in local pregnant women. However, pregnant women in the non-high water iodine group are iodine deficiency, and pregnant women in the high water iodine group are at iodine super-appropriate, and the iodine nutrition level of pregnant women in this area is highly variable, which causes the "illusion" that the overall iodine level of local pregnant women is suitable.