Signal intensity of the motor cortex on phase-weighted imaging at 3T.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It is known that the motor cortex shows hypointensity on T2-weighted images in older patients. The goal of this study was to assess the signal intensity of the motor cortices on the phase-weighted imaging performed with a Windows-based software program that we developed ourselves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All studies were performed at 3T MR imaging. First, the TE for the phase-weighted image was optimized; the best contrast between the motor and other cortices was obtained with a TE of 40 ms. The study population consisted of 45 healthy subjects (23 females, 22 males; mean age, 32.1 years). The signal intensity of the motor cortices was divided into 3 grades by 2 neuroradiologists in comparison with that of the superior frontal cortex (SFC): In grade I, the motor cortex was isointense to the SFC; in grade II, the motor cortex was slightly hypointense to the SFC; and in grade III, the motor cortex was markedly hypointense to the SFC. RESULTS: The motor cortex was classified as either grade II or III in all subjects older than 20 years of age on the phase-weighted images. Even at 10-19 years of age, the grade II or III appearance was found in 14 (88%) of 16 motor cortices (8 subjects) on the phase-weighted images. CONCLUSION: In adolescents, the motor cortex is hypointense to other cerebral cortices on phase-weighted MR imaging, which probably reflects differences in the concentration of nonheme iron and/or in the tissue architecture.

Traditional Chinese medicine and Kampo: a review from the distant past for the future.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a complete system of healing that developed in China about 3000 years ago, and includes herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion and massage, etc. In recent decades the use of TCM has become more popular in China and throughout the world. Traditional Japanese medicine has been used for 1500 years and includes Kampo-yaku (herbal medicine), acupuncture and acupressure. Kampo is now widely practised in Japan and is fully integrated into the modern health-care system. Kampo is based on TCM but has been adapted to Japanese culture. In this paper we review the history and characteristics of TCM and traditional Japanese medicine, i.e. the selection of traditional Chinese herbal medicine treatments based on differential diagnosis, and treatment formulations specific for the 'Sho' (the patient's symptoms at a given moment) of Japanese Kampo--and look at the prospects for these forms of medicine.