Objective To investigate the value of 3.0 T MRI in-phase/opposed-phase (IP-OP) imaging features in the quantitative assessment of hepatic steatosis after liver transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 115 patients who underwent liver transplantation and completed MRI IP-OP examination and liver biopsy within 3 months were retrospectively collected. According to the gold standard of pathological results, patients were divided into the steatosis group (n=18) and the non-steatosis group (n=97). The relative signal intensity of hepatic parenchyma was measured on MRI IP-OP sequences, and the hepatic fat fraction (HFF) was calculated. Differences in clinical data and imaging features between the two groups were compared, and the efficacy of HFF in the diagnosis of graft hepatic steatosis was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results Among the 115 recipients, 18 cases were diagnosed with hepatic steatosis by liver biopsy, including 13 cases of mild steatosis, 3 cases of moderate steatosis and 2 cases of severe steatosis. Compared with the non-steatosis group, the steatosis group had a lower proportion of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma, higher proportions of HBV-related liver failure and alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and higher platelet levels (all P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in hepatic imaging features between the two groups (all P<0.05). The ROC curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of the quantitative value calculated by IP-OP in the diagnosis of graft hepatic steatosis was 0.925 (95% confidence interval 0.870-0.980). Conclusions 3.0 T MRI IP-OP sequence may accurately and non-invasively quantitatively assess the severity of hepatic steatosis after liver transplantation, which is of great value for the early detection of graft hepatic steatosis and the guidance of clinical intervention.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of hs-CRP,Tbil and BUA in the diagnosis of coronary atherosclerosis on 320 slice dynamic volume computed tomography(320-DVCT).Methods 160 patients with stable angina pectoris were included.All patients underwent 320-DVCT coronary artery imaging and laboratory testing including plasma hs-CRP,Tbil and BUA.The plaques of coronary artery were classified as soft plaque,fibrous plaque and calcified plaque on CT values.The three indicators were used to confirm the ability of diagnosis on number of lesions,plaque character and the degree of stenosis.100 healthy persons served as the control group.Results With the concentration of hs-CRP,BUA increased and Tbil concentration decreased,the number and the stenosis degree of coronary lesions became increased,and easier to form a soft plaque.Conclusion The hs CRP,Tbil and BUA can offer the accurate diagnosis of lesions number,plaque character and stenosis degree of the coronary artery,which is showed on 320-DVCT.The hs-CRP,Tbil and BUA are conducive to the risk assessment of coronary atherosclerosis.

Objective To investigate the value of 320-detector row CT angiography for evaluating diabetic dorsalis pedis arterio-sclerotic disease.Methods 18 patients with diabetes and 20 healthy volunteers underwent 320-detector row CT angiography.The obtained thin-slice images were reformatted using maximum intensity projection,volume rendering,curved planar reformation and multiplanar reconstruction to evaluate the features of dorsalis pedis artery.Results 320-detector row CT angiography could exactly show the course,morphological features of the dorsalis pedis artery and the anatomical detail of arteriosclerotic disease.Arterioscle-rostic was found in variant degree in 18 cases.Among all,6 and 7 sides were slight arteriostenosis in proximal and distal segment,re-spectively.Moreover,2 and 3 sides were medium arteriostenosis in proximal and distal segment,respectively.The most common type of plaque property were mixed plaque.Conclusion 320-detector row CT angiography is of significant value in the assessment of arte-riosclerotic disease of dorsalis pedis arteries in the patients with diabetes.

Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with adrenocorticotropin-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (AIMAH).Methods A total of 10 AIMAH cases were enrolled in this retrospective study.The clinical and laboratory findings of all patients were collected and analyzed.Results All patients manifested some clinical features and biochemical evidence of Cushing's syndrome.The plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level was undetectable in all the patients and their serum cortisol secretion rhythm was abnormal.Low and high-dose dexamethasone suppression tests failed to suppress the cortisol secretion.The bilateral macronodular adrenal enlargement was shown by CT/magnetic resonance imaging.The supine-upright posture test was positive in four patients.Three patients were performed bilateral adrenalectomy,five were unilateral adrenalectomy and the remaining two patients were taken propranolol.All the patients had followed up for 10 to 89 months.Contralateral adrenalectomy was performed in two patients with recurrent symptoms after unilateral adrenalectomy and two patients given propranolol were underwent bilateral adrenalectomy when their symptoms had not been improved or recurred.Conclusion AIMAH is a relatively rare subtype of Cushing's syndrome with unique clinical and laboratory findings.Propranolol is a good choice if the supine-upright posture test is positive.Unilateral adrenalectomy appears to be an effective and safe alternative treatment for AIMAH.Bilateral adrenalectomy could be performed if the symptoms have not been improved or recurred after unilateral adrenalectomy.

Objective To explore the value of Gadofluorine M,a novel M RI enhancement agent,in the diagnosis the early radiation brain injury.Methods Seventy-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 equal groups.To establish the radiation injury model,the rat's posterior brain was irradiated with 0(blank controls),25,35,45,55,and 65 Gy,respectively.After irradiation MR plain scanning and Gadofluorine M enhancement scanning (after the T1WI and T2WI scanning Gf at the dosage of 0.1 mmol/kg was injected intravenously and scanning was performed again 12 h later) were performed once a week for 8 weeks.Another 12 rats were randomly divided into 2 equal groups to exposure to 55 and 65Gy,respectively,and MR scanning was performed once a week for 8 weeks since the third week after MR.After T1WI and T2WI scanning Gd-DTPA was injected intravenously,MR was conducted again 30 min later,and Gf was injected intravenously (Gd-DTPAenhancement and Gf enhancement contrast).The MR image and the pixel count were compared.Since the third week 2 rats from the Gf enhancement scanning group and 1 rat from the Gd-DTPA enhancement and Gf enhancement contrast were killed after MR with their brains taken out to undergo pathological examination.Results No abnormal signal changes were found in MRI in 25 and 35 Gy groups within 2 months after irradiation.A high signal in the Gf enhancement T1 WI image was found in 45,55,and 65 Gy groups within the period of 4-6 weeks after radiation.The signal intensity was significantly higher than that of the control,25,and 35 Gy groups(F =2.15,P <0.05).The emerge time of this signal was negatively correlated with the dose of radiation(r =-0.62,P < 0.05).When there was no obvious change was found by Gd-DTPA enhancement,a high signal representing change of injury could be found in Gf enhancement in the same rat.The signal intensity was significantly enhanced in Gf enhancement compared to the Gd-DTPA enhancement (F = 2.74,P <0.01).Histopathology examination of the 65 Gy group showed frosted degeneration in part of the region,however,no obvious necrotic damage was found in other groups.Conclusions The Gf enhancement change appears before histopathological changes,it helps discover early radiation injury in brain.Compared to the regular MRI and Gd-DTPA enhancement,Gadofluorine M enhancement has obvious advantage and is worth further research and application.