Current role of magnetic resonance imaging on assessing and monitoring the efficacy of phototherapy.

Phototherapy, also known as photobiological therapy, is a non-invasive and highly effective physical treatment method. Its broad use in clinics has led to significant therapeutic results. Phototherapy parameters, such as intensity, wavelength, and duration, can be adjusted to create specific therapeutic effects for various medical conditions. Meanwhile, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), with its diverse imaging sequences and excellent soft-tissue contrast, provides a valuable tool to understand the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of phototherapy. This review explores the clinical applications of commonly used phototherapy techniques, gives a brief overview of how phototherapy impacts different diseases, and examines MRI's role in various phototherapeutic scenarios. We argue that MRI is crucial for precise targeting, treatment monitoring, and prognosis assessment in phototherapy. Future research and applications will focus on personalized diagnosis and monitoring of phototherapy, expanding its applications in treatment and exploring multimodal imaging technology to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic precision and effectiveness.

Isolation, characterization and anti-inflammatory activity of compounds from the Vernonia amygdalina.

The need to explore the abundance of natural products cannot be overemphasized particularly in the management of various disease conditions. In traditional medical practice, Vernonia amygdalina has been widely adopted in the management of various inflammatory disorders. The objective of this investigation was to isolate the bioactive principles from the stem-bark and root of V. amygdalina and assess the anti-inflammatory (in vitro) activity of both the crude extracts and the isolated compounds. Following extraction with the methanol, the extract was subjected to gravity column chromatography and the resultant fractions was further purified to obtained pure compounds. The structural elucidation of the compounds were based on data obtained from 1H to 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies as well as fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). Using diclofenac as a control drug, the albumin denaturation assay was used to determine the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts and isolates. Three distinct compounds characterized are vernoamyoside D, luteolin-7-α-o-glucuronide, and vernotolaside, a new glycoside. When compared to diclofenac, which has an IC50 of 167.8 µg/mL, luteolin-7-α-o-glucuronide, vernoamyoside D, and vernotolaside all showed significant inhibitions with respective IC50 values 549.8, 379.5, and 201.7 µg/mL. Vernotolaside is reported for the first time from the root. The assertion that the plant is used in traditional medicine for the management of inflammatory disorder is somewhat validated by the confirmation of the existence of the compounds with the biochemical actions. Further validation of the isolated compounds would be required in animal studies.

Early rectal cancer: The diagnostic performance of MRI supplemented with a rectal micro-enema and a modified staging system to identify tumors eligible for local excision.

Background: In staging early rectal cancers (ERC), submucosal tumor depth is one of the most important features determining the possibility of local excision (LE). The micro-enema (Bisacodyl) induces submucosal edema and may hypothetically improve the visualization of tumor depth. Purpose: To test the diagnostic performance of MRI to identify ERC suitable for LE when adding a pre-procedural micro-enema and concurrent use of a modified classification system. Material and Methods: In this prospective study, we consecutively included 73 patients with newly diagnosed rectal tumors. Two experienced radiologists independently interpreted the MRI examinations, and diagnostic performance was calculated for local tumors eligible for LE (Tis-T1sm2, n = 43) and non-local tumors too advanced for LE (T1sm3-T3b, n = 30). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were registered for each reader. Inter- and intra-reader agreements were assessed by kappa statistics. Lymph node status was derived from the clinical MRI reports. Results: Reader1/reader2 achieved sensitivities of 93%/86%, specificities of 90%/83%, PPV of 93%/88%, and NPV of 90%/81%, respectively, for identifying tumors eligible for LE. Rates of overstaging of local tumors were 7% and 14% for the two readers, and kappa values for the inter- and intra-reader agreement were 0.69 and 0.80, respectively. For tumors ≤T2, all metastatic lymph nodes were smaller than 3 mm on histopathology. Conclusion: MRI after a rectal micro-enema and concurrent use of a modified staging system achieved good diagnostic performance to identify tumors suitable for LE. The rate of overstaging of local tumors was comparable to results reported in previous endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) studies.

Volumetric analysis of age- and sex-related changes in the corpus striatum and thalamus in the 1-18 age group: a retrospective magnetic resonance imaging study.

Studies of the development and asymmetry of the corpus striatum and thalamus in early childhood are rare. Studies investigating these structures across the lifespan have not presented their changes during childhood and adolescence in detail. For these reasons, this study investigated the effect of age and sex factors on the development and asymmetry of the corpus striatum and thalamus in the 1-18 age group. In this retrospective study, we included 652 individuals [362 (56%) males] aged 1-18 years with normal brain MRI between 2012 and 2021. Absolute and relative volumes of the corpus striatum and thalamus were obtained by segmentation of three-dimensional T1-weighted MRIs with volBrain1.0. We created age-specific volume data and month-based development models with the help of SPSS (ver.28). The corpus striatum and thalamus had cubic absolute volumetric developmental models. The relative volume of the caudate and thalamus (only males) is consistent with the decreasing "growth" model, the others with the decreasing cubic model. The absolute volumes of the males' bilateral corpus striatum and thalamus and the relative volumes of the caudate and thalamus of the females were significantly larger (P < 0.05). The caudate showed right > left lateralization; putamen, globus pallidus, and thalamus showed left > right lateralization.

Unravelling inulin molecules in food sources using a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization magnetic resonance mass spectrometry (MALDI-MRMS) pipeline.

Inulin, a polysaccharide characterized by a ß-2,1 fructosyl-fructose structure terminating in a glucosyl moiety, is naturally present in plant roots and tubers. Current methods provide average degrees of polymerization (DP) but lack information on the distribution and absolute concentration of each DP. To address this limitation, a reproducible (CV < 10 %) high throughput (<2 min/sample) MALDI-MRMS approach capable of characterizing and quantifying inulin molecules in plants using matched-matrix consisting of α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid butylamine salt (CHCA-BA), chicory inulin-12C and inulin-13C was developed. The method identified variation in chain lengths and concentration of inulin across various plant species. Globe artichoke hearts, yacón and elephant garlic yielded similar concentrations at 15.6 g/100 g dry weight (DW), 16.8 g/100 g DW and 17.7 g/100 g DW, respectively, for DP range between 9 and 22. In contrast, Jerusalem artichoke demonstrated the highest concentration (53.4 g/100 g DW) within the same DP ranges. Jerusalem artichoke (DPs 9-32) and globe artichoke (DPs 9-36) showed similar DP distributions, while yacón and elephant garlic displayed the narrowest and broadest DP ranges (DPs 9-19 and DPs 9-45, respectively). Additionally, qualitative measurement for all inulin across all plant samples was feasible using the peak intensities normalized to Inulin-13C, and showed that the ratio of yacón, elephant garlic and Jerusalem was approximately one, two and three times that of globe artichoke. This MALDI-MRMS approach provides comprehensive insights into the structure of inulin molecules, opening avenues for in-depth investigations into how DP and concentration of inulin influence gut health and the modulation of noncommunicable diseases, as well as shedding light on refining cultivation practices to elevate the beneficial health properties associated with specific DPs.

Comparison between pelvic MRI, CT, and PET/CT in baseline staging and radiation planning of anal squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the differences in baseline staging of anal squamous cell carcinoma based on CT, MRI, and PET/CT, and the resultant impact on the radiation plan. METHODS: This retrospective study included consecutive patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent baseline pelvic MRI, CT, and PET/CT (all examinations within 3 weeks of each other) from January 2010 to April 2020. CTs, MRIs, and PET/CTs were re-interpreted by three separate radiologists. Several imaging features were assessed; tumor stage was determined based on the eight edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging manual; and T (tumor), N (node), and M (metastasis) categories were determined based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. Radiologist assessments were then randomly presented to a radiation oncologist who formulated the radiation plan in a blinded fashion. RESULTS: Across 28 patients (median age, 62 years [range, 31-78], T-category classification was significantly different on PET/CT compared to MRI and CT (p = 0.037 and 0.031, respectively). PET/CT staged a higher proportion of patients with T1/T2 disease (16/28, 57%) compared to MRI (11/28, 39%) and CT (10/28, 36%). MRI staged a higher proportion of patients with T3/T4 disease (14/28, 50%) compared to CT (12/28, 43%) and PET/CT (11/28, 39%). However, there was no significant difference between the three imaging modalities in terms of either N-category, AJCC staging, or NCCN TNM group classification, or in treatment planning. CONCLUSION: Our exploratory study showed that MRI demonstrated a higher proportion of T3/T4 tumors, while PET/CT demonstrated more T1/T2 tumors; however, MRI, CT, and PET/CT did not show any significant differences in AJCC and TNM group categories, nor was there any significant difference in treatment doses between them when assessed independently by an experienced radiation oncologist.

Cognitive and Hippocampal Changes in Older Adults With Subjective Cognitive Decline After Acupuncture Intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Converging evidence indicates that subjective cognitive decline (SCD) could be an early indicator of dementia. The hippocampus is the earliest affected region during the progression of cognitive impairment. However, little is known about whether and how acupuncture change the hippocampal structure and function of SCD individuals. METHODS: Here, we used multi-modal MRI to reveal the mechanism of acupuncture in treating SCD. Seventy-two older participants were randomized into acupuncture or sham acupuncture group and treated for 12 weeks. RESULTS: At the end of the intervention, compared to sham acupuncture, participants with acupuncture treatment showed improvement in composite Z score from multi-domain neuropsychological tests, as well as increased hippocampal volume and functional connectivity. Moreover, the greater white matter integrity of the fornix, which is the major output tract of the hippocampus, was shown in the acupuncture group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that acupuncture may improve the cognitive function of SCD individuals, and increase hippocampal volume on the regional level and enhance the structural and functional connectivity of hippocampus on the connective level.

Reduced sleep quality defines a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder with lower Glx levels in the resting thalamus and worse response inhibition.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the differences between resting and active thalamic neurometabolite levels and inhibitory function in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) patients with poor sleep quality (PSQ was defined as Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index >5 and sleep efficiency ≤85%) compared to OCD patients with good sleep quality (GSQ) and healthy controls (HCs), as well as the relationship of these indices to obsessive compulsive symptoms. METHODS: Functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (fMRS) was used to measure resting and active thalamic neurometabolite levels in 72 subjects (20 HCs and 38 OCD patients included in study analysis). Response inhibition function was measured by the Go-Nogo task before and during MRS recording. Subjective sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The symptoms of OCD, anxiety and depression were evaluated using relevant clinical scales. RESULTS: OCD patients exhibited significantly reduced Glx/Cr levels in the resting thalamus. The levels of resting thalamic Glu/Cr and Glx/Cr in OCD patients with PSQ were significantly lowest. OCD patients had significantly lower correct rates on Go tasks, higher error rates on Nogo tasks, and longer error average response times (EART) to the Nogo task. OCD patients with PSQ demonstrated the highest Nogo task error rate and the longest EART to Nogo task. Furthermore, PSQI scores exhibited negative correlations with Glu/Cr and Glx/Cr in the resting thalamus. CONCLUSION: OCD patients with PSQ demonstrated reduced levels of thalamic resting Glx and more pronounced response inhibitory function impairment. Aberrant neurometabolite levels in critical brain regions, coupled with heightened response inhibition function deficits, may be a neurobiological basis for the PSQ that OCD patients generally exhibit.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy neurobiology in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: A domain-related resting-state networks approach.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) stands out as a promising augmentation psychological therapy for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). To identify potential predictive and response biomarkers, this study examines the relationship between clinical domains and resting-state network connectivity in OCD patients undergoing a 3-month MBCT programme. Twelve OCD patients underwent two resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging sessions at baseline and after the MBCT programme. We assessed four clinical domains: positive affect, negative affect, anxiety sensitivity, and rumination. Independent component analysis characterised resting-state networks (RSNs), and multiple regression analyses evaluated brain-clinical associations. At baseline, distinct network connectivity patterns were found for each clinical domain: parietal-subcortical, lateral prefrontal, medial prefrontal, and frontal-occipital. Predictive and response biomarkers revealed significant brain-clinical associations within two main RSNs: the ventral default mode network (vDMN) and the frontostriatal network (FSN). Key brain nodes -the precuneus and the frontopolar cortex- were identified within these networks. MBCT may modulate vDMN and FSN connectivity in OCD patients, possibly reducing symptoms across clinical domains. Each clinical domain had a unique baseline brain connectivity pattern, suggesting potential symptom-based biomarkers. Using these RSNs as predictors could enable personalised treatments and the identification of patients who would benefit most from MBCT.

Brain iron concentration in childhood ADHD: A systematic review of neuroimaging studies.

Iron deficiency may play a role in the pathophysiology of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Due to its preponderant function in monoamine catecholamine and myelin synthesis, brain iron concentration may be of primary interest in the investigation of iron dysregulation in ADHD. This study reviewed current evidence of brain iron abnormalities in children and adolescents with ADHD using magnetic resonance imaging methods, such as relaxometry and quantitative susceptibility mapping, to assess brain iron estimates. The study was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A literature search was performed for studies published between January 1, 2008 and July 7, 2023 in Medline, Scopus and Proquest. Regions of interest, brain iron index values and phenotypical information were extracted from the relevant studies. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified version of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute quality assessment tool. Seven cross-sectional studies comparing brain iron estimates in children with ADHD with neurotypical children were included. Significantly reduced brain iron content in medication-naïve children with ADHD was a consistent finding. Two studies found psychostimulant use may increase and normalize brain iron concentration in children with ADHD. The findings were consistent across the studies despite differing methodologies and may lay the early foundation for the recognition of a potential biomarker in ADHD, although longitudinal prospective neuroimaging studies using larger sample sizes are required. Lastly, the effects of iron supplementation on brain iron concentration in children with ADHD need to be elucidated.

The Emotion Regulation of Acupuncture in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Neuroimaging Protocol.

Introduction: Acupuncture is effective for patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), which can relieve pain intensity and regulate negative emotional states such as pain-related anxiety and depression. Previous studies mainly discuss the analgesic mechanism of acupuncture treatment of CLBP, but there are multiple dimensions to pain, including sensation, emotion and cognition. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the central mechanism of acupuncture for CLBP from the perspective of emotional regulation by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods and Analysis: A total of 72 patients with CLBP will be recruited in the study and randomly assigned to the verum acupuncture group or the sham acupuncture group. The trail will last for 18 weeks including a 2-week baseline, a 4-week treatment and a 12-week for follow-up period. The primary outcomes are the visual analog scale (VAS) and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores (JOA) score. The secondary outcomes are the 12-item short form health survey (SF-12), the state trait anxiety inventory (STAI), the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS). The VAS, JOA, STAI SAS and SDS will be collected at baseline, week 2, week 4, and after follow-up. The SF-12 will be evaluated at baseline, week 2 and week 4. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data will be collected at baseline and the end of treatment. Emotion-related brain regions will be chosen as regions of interest (ROIs). The gray matter volume (GMV), amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), functional connectivity (FC), and large-scale functional brain network based on these ROIs will be analyzed within and between the two groups. Discussion: This study will verify the emotional regulation of acupuncture and explore the mechanism of acupuncture for emotion regulation in patients with CLBP. Trial Registration Number: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=195486, identifier: ChiCTR2300070557.

Application of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Lumbar Vertebral Bone Quality Scoring System in Patients with Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Although dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is still the gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis, it can lead to inaccurate bone mineral density measurements due to lumbar degeneration and scoliosis. Many researchers have investigated diagnostic methods for osteoporosis in patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS). This study aimed to investigate the differences between conventional vertebral bone quality (VBQ) scores and modified VBQ scores in patients with DLS and the influence of lumbar scoliosis on VBQ scores. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the clinical and radiological data of 68 patients with DLS admitted to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital from July 2018 to April 2023. The patients were classified into one of 2 groups based on the T score of the left femoral neck. VBQ scores relative to cerebrospinal fluid at different levels, VBQ scores on different planes and single-level VBQ scores were compared. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was also performed. Different modified VBQ scores were compared between the moderate scoliosis group (10°

Bilateral effect of acupuncture on cerebrum and cerebellum in ischaemic stroke patients with hemiparesis: a randomised clinical and neuroimaging trial.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture involving the limb region may be effective for stroke rehabilitation clinically, but the visualised and explanatory evidence is limited. Our objectives were to assess the specific effects of acupuncture for ischaemic stroke (IS) patients with hemiparesis and investigate its therapy-driven modification in functional connectivity. METHODS: IS patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive 10 sessions of hand-foot 12 needles acupuncture (HA, n=30) or non-acupoint (NA) acupuncture (n=16), enrolling gender-matched and age-matched healthy controls (HCs, n=34). The clinical outcomes were the improved Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores including upper and lower extremity (ΔFM, ΔFM-UE, ΔFM-LE). The neuroimaging outcome was voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC). Static and dynamic functional connectivity (sFC, DFC) analyses were used to study the neuroplasticity reorganisation. RESULTS: 46 ISs (mean(SD) age, 59.37 (11.36) years) and 34 HCs (mean(SD) age, 52.88 (9.69) years) were included in the per-protocol analysis of clinical and neuroimaging. In clinical, ΔFM scores were 5.00 in HA group and 2.50 in NA group, with a dual correlation between ΔFM and ΔVMHC (angular: r=0.696, p=0.000; cerebellum: r=-0.716, p=0.000) fitting the linear regression model (R2=0.828). In neuroimaging, ISs demonstrated decreased VMHC in bilateral postcentral gyrus and cerebellum (Gaussian random field, GRF corrected, voxel p<0.001, cluster p<0.05), which fitted the logistic regression model (AUC=0.8413, accuracy=0.7500). Following acupuncture, VMHC in bilateral superior frontal gyrus orbital part was increased with cerebro-cerebellar changes, involving higher sFC between ipsilesional superior frontal gyrus orbital part and the contralesional orbitofrontal cortex as well as cerebellum (GRF corrected, voxel p<0.001, cluster p<0.05). The coefficient of variation of VMHC was decreased in bilateral posterior cingulate gyrus (PPC) locally (GRF corrected, voxel p<0.001, cluster p<0.05), with integration states transforming into segregation states overall (p<0.05). There was no acupuncture-related adverse event. CONCLUSIONS: The randomised clinical and neuroimaging trial demonstrated acupuncture could promote the motor recovery and modified cerebro-cerebellar VMHC via bilateral static and dynamic reorganisations for IS patients with hemiparesis.

Usefulness of fat-containing agents: an initial study on estimating fat content for magnetic resonance imaging.

This initial study aimed at testing whether fat-containing agents can be used for the fat mass estimation methods using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). As an example for clinical application, fat-containing agents (based on soybean oil, 10% and 20%), 100% soybean oil, and saline as reference substances were placed outside the proximal femurs obtained from 14 participants and analyzed by 0.3 T MRI. Fat content was the estimated fat fraction (FF) based on signal intensity (SIeFF, %). The SIeFF values of the femoral bone marrow, including the femoral head, neck, shaft, and trochanter area, were measured. MRI data were compared in terms of bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in the proximal femur. Twelve pig femurs were also used to confirm the correlation between FF by the DIXON method and SIeFF. According to Pearson's correlation coefficient, the SIeFF and total BMC and BMD data revealed strong and moderate negative correlations in the femoral head (r < - 0.74) and other sites (r = - 0.66 to - 0.45). FF and SIeFF showed a strong correlation (r = 0.96). This study was an initial investigation of a method for estimating fat mass with fat-containing agents and showed the potential for use in MRI. SIeFF and FF showed a strong correlation, and SIeFF and BMD and BMC showed correlation; however, further studies are needed to use SIeFF as a substitute for DXA.

Neuroimaging research progress of acupuncture treatment for patients with functional dyspepsia. / é’ˆåˆºæ²»ç–—åŠŸèƒ½æ€§æ¶ˆåŒ–ä¸è‰¯çš„ç¥žç»å½±åƒå­¦ç ”ç©¶è¿›å±•.

Neuroimaging technology provides objective and visualized research tool to study the mechanisms of acupuncture effects. Building on a systematic review of previous clinical studies on acupuncture treatment for functional dyspepsia using neuroimaging technology, this paper summarizes and synthesizes past researches from 4 aspects： acupoint-specific effects, factors influencing the effects, different physiological responses, and predictive factors for acupuncture efficacy. It suggests that acupuncture treatment for FD involves central integration with disease-targeted (acupuncture treatment can target and regulate abnormal brain functional activity patterns in patients with FD), meridian-specific (stimulation of specific acupuncture points along the stomach meridian can significantly regulate abnormal brain functional activity patterns in FD patients), and dynamic conditional features(the effects of acupuncture treatment for FD are influenced by multiple factors). Lastly, considering the current research status, this paper outlines prospects in terms of research subjects, influencing factors, and result validation, aiming to provide references for future in-depth research.

The Importance of Early Detection of Spinal Tumors Through Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Chiropractic Practices.

Primary spinal tumors such as schwannomas are uncommon causes of back pain that can be easily missed during the initial workup. Delayed diagnosis is associated with further neurological impairment. A 46-year-old man presented with a six-month history of progressive lower back pain and left leg radiculopathy. Previous treatments failed, including medications, physical therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic manipulations. Examination revealed weakness (4/5) in left knee extension and ankle dorsiflexion. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 2-cm intraspinal schwannoma at the L4 level with nerve root compression. The patient underwent laminectomy and gross total resection without any complications. The patient had near-complete symptomatic resolution six weeks postoperatively and returned to normal functioning. After four months of postoperative rehabilitation, the patient remained asymptomatic. This case reinforces the urgent need for early MRI in the presence of neurological deficits and other symptoms, despite normal radiographs. An increased suspicion of spinal tumors can prevent delays in diagnosis and minimize adverse outcomes. Multidisciplinary care optimizes the treatment of complex cases.

Preeclampsia Associated Differences in the Placenta, Fetal Brain, and Maternal Heart Can Be Demonstrated Antenatally: An Observational Cohort Study Using MRI.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is a multiorgan disease of pregnancy that has short- and long-term implications for the woman and fetus, whose immediate impact is poorly understood. We present a novel multiorgan approach to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) investigation of preeclampsia, with the acquisition of maternal cardiac, placental, and fetal brain anatomic and functional imaging. METHODS: An observational study was performed recruiting 3 groups of pregnant women: those with preeclampsia, chronic hypertension, or no medical complications. All women underwent a cardiac MRI, and pregnant women underwent a placental-fetal MRI. Cardiac analysis for structural, morphological, and flow data were undertaken; placenta and fetal brain volumetric and T2* (which describes relative tissue oxygenation) data were obtained. All results were corrected for gestational age. A nonpregnant cohort was identified for inclusion in the statistical shape analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-eight MRIs were obtained during pregnancy. Cardiac MRI analysis demonstrated higher left ventricular mass in preeclampsia with 3-dimensional modeling revealing additional specific characteristics of eccentricity and outflow track remodeling. Pregnancies affected by preeclampsia demonstrated lower placental and fetal brain T2*. Within the preeclampsia group, 23% placental T2* results were consistent with controls, these were the only cases with normal placental histopathology. Fetal brain T2* results were consistent with normal controls in 31% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: We present the first holistic assessment of the immediate implications of preeclampsia on maternal heart, placenta, and fetal brain. As well as having potential clinical implications for the risk stratification and management of women with preeclampsia, this gives an insight into the disease mechanism.

The role of tumor parenchyma and brain cortex signal intensity ratio in differentiating solitary fibrous tumors and meningiomas.

BACKGROUND: Solitary fibrous tumors (SFT) and meningiomas (MA) have similar clinical and radiographic presentations but require different treatment approaches and have different prognoses. This emphasizes the importance of a correct preoperative diagnosis of SFT versus MA. OBJECTIVE: In this study, investigated the differences in imaging characteristics between SFT and MA to improve the accuracy of preoperative imaging diagnosis of SFT. METHODS: The clinical and imaging data of 26 patients with SFT and 104 patients with MA who were pathologically diagnosed between August 2017 and December 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical and imaging differences between SFT and MA, as well as between the various pathological grades of SFT, were analyzed. RESULTS: Age, gender, cystic change, flow void phenomenon, yin-yang sign, lobulation, narrow base, tumor/cortex signal ratio (TCSR) > 1.0 in T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), TCSR ≥ 1.1 in T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), peritumoral edema, and absence of dural tail sign varied between SFT and MA. As per the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, TCSR > 1 in T1WI has the maximum diagnostic accuracy for SFT. Cranial or venous sinus invasion had a positive effect on SFT (Grade III, World Health Organization (WHO) grading). CONCLUSION: Among the many radiological and clinical distinctions between SFT and MA, TCSR ≥ 1 exhibits the highest predictive efficacy for SFT; while cranial or venous sinus invasion may be a predictor of WHO grade III SFT.

Phosphorus-31: A table-top method for 3D B1-field amplitude and phase measurements.

A novel method of high-spatial-resolution, 3D B1-field distribution measurements is presented. The method is independent of the MR-scanner, and it allows for automated acquisitions of complete maps of all magnetic field vector components for both proton and heteronuclear MR coils of arbitrary geometrical shapes. The advantage of the method proposed here, compared with methods based on measurements with an MR-scanner, is that a complete image of both receive and transmit B1-fields, including the phase of the B1-field, can be acquired. The B1 field maps obtained in this manner can be used for absolute quantification of metabolites in MRS experiments, as well as for intensity compensations in imaging experiments, both of which are important concepts in biological and medical MR applications. Another use might be in coil development and testing. A comparison with B1 field magnitude maps obtained with an MR-scanner was included to validate the accuracy of the proposed method.

Brain mechanism of acupuncture for children with anisometropic amblyopia: a resting functional magnetic resonance imaging study based on voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity.

AIM: To explore the brain mechanism of acupuncture for children with anisometropic amblyopia using the voxel-mirror homotopic connectivity (VMHC) analysis method of resting functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) technology based on clinical effectiveness. METHODS: Eighty children with anisometropic monocular amblyopia were randomly divided into two groups: control (40 cases, 1 case of shedding) and acupuncture (40 cases, 1 case of shedding) groups. The control group was treated with glasses, red flash, grating, and visual stimulations, with each procedure conducted for 5min per time. Based on routine treatment, the acupuncture group underwent acupuncture of "regulating qi and unblocking meridians to bright eyes", Jingming (BL1), Cuanzhu (BL2), Guangming (GB37), Fengchi (GB20) acupoints were taken on both sides, with the needle kept for 30min each time. Both groups were treated once every other day, three times per week, for a total of 4wk. After the treatment, the overall curative effect of the two groups and the latency and amplitude changes of P100 wave of pattern visual-evoked potential were counted. At the same time, nine children with left eye amblyopia were randomly selected from the two groups and were scanned with rs-fMRI before and after treatment. The differences in the brain regions between the two groups were compared and analyzed with VMHC. RESULTS: Chi-square test showed a notable difference in the total efficiency rate between the acupuncture (94.87%) and control groups (79.49%). Regarding the P100 wave latency and amplitude, the acupuncture group had significantly shorter latency and higher amplitude of P100 wave than the control group. Moreover, the VMHC values of the bilateral temporal lobe, superior temporal gyrus, and middle temporal gyrus were notably increased in the acupuncture group after treatment. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with conventional treatment can significantly improve the corrected visual acuity and optic nerve conduction in children with anisometropic amblyopia. Compared with the conventional treatment, the regulation of acupuncture on the functional activities of the relevant brain areas in the anterior cerebellum may be an effective acupuncture mechanism for anisometropic amblyopia.