scholarly journals Multimodal MRI Assessment of Thalamic Structural Changes in Earthquake Survivors

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Federico Bruno ◽  
Alessandra Splendiani ◽  
Emanuele Tommasino ◽  
Massimiliano Conson ◽  
Mario Quarantelli ◽  
...  

Moving from the central role of the thalamus in the integration of inner and external stimuli and in the implementation of a stress-related response, the objective of the present study was to investigate the presence of any MRI structural and volumetric changes of the thalamic structures in earthquake witnesses. Forty-one subjects were included, namely 18 university students belonging to the experimental earthquake-exposed group (8 males and 10 females, mean age 24.5 ± 1.8 years) and a control group of 23 students not living in any earthquake-affected areas at the time of the earthquake (14 males and 9 females, mean age 23.7 ± 2.0 years). Instrumental MRI evaluation was performed using a 3-Tesla scanner, by acquiring a three-dimensional fast spoiled gradient-echo (FSPGR) sequence for volumetric analysis and an EPI (echoplanar imaging) sequence to extract fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. As compared to the control one, the experimental group showed significantly lower gray matter volume in the mediodorsal nucleus of the left thalamus (p < 0.001). The dominant hemisphere thalamus in the experimental group showed higher mean ADC values and lower mean FA values as compared to the control group.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhibin Xu ◽  
Zhenchi Li ◽  
Maomao Guo ◽  
Hao Bian ◽  
Tianli Niu ◽  
...  

Abstract We present here the three-dimensional (3D) visualization fused with ultrasound and to evaluate its clinical application effect preliminarily. One hundred and eighteen patients with renal calculi in our hospital from September 2017 to December 2019 were prospectively randomized into two groups. The experimental group was treated with percutaneous renal puncture guided by the 3D visualization fused with ultrasound. The control group was treated with percutaneous renal puncture guided by B-ultrasonography (B-US). The puncture time, operation time, and the loss of hemoglobin in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group, and the success rate of establishing the channel at one time, and the coincidence rate between the channel and the longitudinal axis of the target renal calyx were higher. The stone clearance rate in the experimental group was higher, while the postoperative blood transfusion rate and interventional embolization rate in the experimental group were significantly lower. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). 3D visualization assisted ultrasound could preliminarily guide precise navigation to puncture tissues, reduced operation time and bleeding, improved stone clearance rate and operation safety.


2015 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 609-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang-zhi Huang ◽  
Xiao-ning Yang ◽  
Da-cheng Liu ◽  
Yi-gong Sun ◽  
Xing-ming Dai

Abstract Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has been confirmed with induction osteoblastic differentiation, but if it can make the three-dimensional culture of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) to the osteoblastic differentiation, thus constructing tissue-engineered bone rare reports. To investigate the feasibility of exogenous CGRP-induced calcium alginate gel combined with ADSCs from rabbits in three-dimensional condition to construct tissue-engineered bone. ADSCs were obtained by collagenase I digestion of the subcutaneous adipose tissue of inguinal region of New Zealand rabbits. At the third passage, cells were mixed with sodium alginate to prepare calcium alginate gel, and the cells were assigned into two-group cultivates in 24 orifice plates. ADSCs in the control group were treated with DMEM/F-12 medium supplemented with 10−2 mol/L β-glycerophosphate sodium, 10−7mol/L dexamethasone, 50 mg/L ascorbic acid, 0.1 % volume fraction of fetal bovine serum. ADSCs in the experimental group were incubated with the same medium as above, and in addition 1.5 µg/L CGRP was added. The cells proliferation and the mRNA expressions of collagen I and osteocalcin were detected by MTT and RT-PCR assays, respectively and alkaline phosphatase(ALP)and calcium concentration at different induction time were detected. The cell proliferation curves were S shaped. The OD values of experimental group were higher than those of control group at 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 21 days after osteogenic induction (P < 0.05). ALP and alizarin red stains of ADSCs were all positive, but golden round nodes became bigger and more in the experimental group compared with the control group after 2 weeks. At 7 and 14 days, collagen I and osteocalcin mRNA expression were greater in the experimental group than the control group. ALP and calcium concentration of experimental group were higher than that of control group at 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks after osteogenic induction (P < 0.05). Thus, these results show that the CGRP-induced ADSCs combined with calcium alginate gel to osteoblasts differentiation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 636-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang Jun Kim ◽  
Sung Jae Kim ◽  
Yong Ho Cha ◽  
Keun Ho Lee ◽  
Jeong-Yi Kwon

Background: Three-dimensional printer technology can produce the personalized orthosis in various forms. Objective: To develop a personalized wrist orthosis using a three-dimensional scanner and three-dimensional printer for patients with wrist pain. Study design: A preliminary, prospective, randomized, open-label study. Methods: A total of 22 patients with wrist pain were randomly assigned to the control and experimental groups. The control group wore a cock-up orthosis and the experimental group wore a three-dimensional-printed wrist orthosis for 1 week. The Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation, Jebsen Hand Function Test, and Orthotics and Prosthetics Users’ Survey were checked before and 1 week after the application. Results: The Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation showed significant pain relief in both groups. Two items of the 28 Orthotics and Prosthetics Users’ Survey questions, “Put toothpaste on brush and brush teeth” and “Dial a touch tone phone,” showed high satisfaction scores, with statistically significant difference in the experimental group ( p = 0.036 and 0.004). Conclusion: The three-dimensional-printed wrist orthosis was superior to the cock-up orthosis for two items of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Users’ Survey. Wrist pain was reduced in the group wearing the three-dimensional-printed wrist orthosis as well as the group wearing the cock-up orthosis, so the three-dimensional-printed wrist orthosis could possibly play the same role as the cock-up orthosis. Clinical relevance A three-dimensional-printed wrist orthosis can be a substitute for a conventional ready-made wrist orthosis for patients with wrist pain with more satisfaction.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinghui Niu ◽  
Qi Qi ◽  
Kang Piao ◽  
Kuo Hao ◽  
Fei Wang

Abstract Background: Torsional malalignment has been considered as a risk factor for patella dislocation. But the influence of patella dislocation for torsional alignment development remains unknown. The present study aims to investigate whether the torsion alteration of the hindlimb occur after patella dislocation in growing rabbits. Methods: In the present study, 30 one-month old rabbits were included. The experimental group consists of 30 left knees of rabbits and were underwent patella lateral dislocation. And the control group consists of 30 right knees and no surgical procedure was performed. A CT scan was performed on each knee when the surgery was finished and at the time the rabbits were skeletal mature (5 months post-surgery). The angles of femoral version and tibial torsion were measured using a three-dimensional method and analyzed between the experimental group and control group. Results: The femoral version and tibia torsion in the experimental and control group immediately after surgery were not different significantly. However, 5 months after surgery, the femoral version angle of the experimental group (-5.50±6.13°) was significantly different with that of the experimental group (-10.90±4.74°)(P < 0.05). But the tibia torsion angle in the experimental group (7.17±7.25°) and control group (4.47±6.34°) were not significantly different (P = 0.144). Conclusion: From this study, patella dislocation can lead to alteration of femoral version in growing rabbits. This may indicate the early treatment for patella dislocation in children is particularly important to avoid torsional malalignment in the future. These findings may develop pathology and etiology of patella dislocation.


2019 ◽  
pp. 29-35
Author(s):  
P. Herych ◽  
I. Popadynets ◽  
R. Yatsyshyn ◽  
V. Mygovych ◽  
V. Kaminskyi

The objective of the work was to determine the possibility of drug correction of endothelial dysfunction, structural changes in peripheral arteries and the synthesis of end products of nitric oxide metabolism by the use of a combination of roflumilast and quercetin in the baseline therapy. In contrast to the baseline, the use of integrated therapy was followed in 6 months by a probable increase in the initial rate by 18.76 % (0.61 ± 0.04) m/s to (0.75 ± 0.04) m/s (t = 2.47; P < 0.05) and a probable decrease in the initial diameter of the brachial artery to (3.69 ± 0.29) mm (t = 2.49; P < 0.05). Patients of the experimental group have shown a significant increase in mean values of EDVD at the end of in-patient treatment and after 6 months of intensive supportive therapy (t = 2.17; Р < 0.05). The appointment of complex therapy after 6 months showed an increase in concentration in the blood of metabolites of NO in 1,3 times to (10.35 ± 1.89) μmol/l (t = 1.00; P > 0.1) at normal (12.05 ± 2.11) μmol/l. In patients of the index group after six months of the background therapy, IMT index has appeared in 1.07 times lower than the input data and has not reached the level of the control group. The IMT index for patients in the experimental group was considerably lower than the index before treatment (t = 0.31; P > 0.1).  Application of complex therapy in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the exacerbation phase in combination with stable coronary heart disease, stable angina pectoris I–II FK contributes to the restoration of endothelial function, improves structural changes in the peripheral arteries and has a stimulating effect on the synthesis of nitric oxide.


2020 ◽  
pp. 919-926
Author(s):  
P KOZLER ◽  
V HERYNEK ◽  
D MAREŠOVÁ ◽  
P PEREZ ◽  
L ŠEFC ◽  
...  

Magnetic resonance imaging has been used for evaluating of a brain edema in experimental animals to assess cytotoxic and vasogenic edema by the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and T2 imaging. This paper brings information about the effectiveness of methylprednisolone (MP) on experimental brain edema. A total of 24 rats were divided into three groups of 8 animals each. Rats with cytotoxic/intracellular brain edema induced by water intoxication were assigned to the group WI. These rats also served as the additional control group CG when measured before the induction of edema. A third group (WIMP) was intraperitoneally administered with methylprednisolone 100 mg/kg during water intoxication treatment. The group WI+MP was injected with methylprednisolone 50 mg/kg into the carotid artery within two hours after the water intoxication treatment. We evaluated the results in four groups. Two control groups (CG, WI) and two experimental groups (WIMP, WI+MP). Rats were subjected to MR scanning 24 h after edema induction. We observed significantly increased ADC values in group WI in both evaluated areas – cortex and hippocampus, which proved the occurrence of experimental vasogenic edema, while ADC values in groups WIMP and WI+MP were not increased, indicating that the experimental edema was not developed and thus confirming the protective effect of MP.


QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Omina Ahmed Kamal ◽  
Aya Yassin Ahmed ◽  
Mona Mohamed Ali ◽  
Mai Ahmed Mostafa

Abstract Objectives To investigate the value of liver ADC normalization using spleen as a reference organ in liver fibrosis assessment, in comparison with transient elastography (Fibroscan). Materials and methods A total of 60 participants were included,30 HCV positive patients and 30 in the control group. We calculated mean Spleen apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), liver mean ADC and normalized liver ADC (defined as the ratio of Liver ADC to spleen ADC) which were compared between cirrhotic patients and the control group. Data was analyzed and ROC was used to evaluate the performance of nADC. Results No significant difference between spleen ADC values of patient group and control group or in-between different fibrosis stages. A significant negative linear correlation between control and patient groups using ADC (r = -0.900; p = 0.0374) or nADC(r=-1:p&lt;0,001).We also found that the mean liver ADC and nADC value in patients with hepatic fibrosis was significantly lower than that of volunteers (1.53 × 10 − 3 mm2/s vs.1.65 × 10 − 3 mm2/s, p = 0.001 &1.). Liver ADC only could distinguish F0 from F4. After analysis with ROC, there was a statistically significant difference between area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of normalized liver ADC and ADC for all groups except for F4 stage. nADC AUC was 0.878 for detection of stage ≥ F2 with sensitivity and specificity of 87% & 80% respectively while ADC AUC was 0.548 with sensitivity and specificity of 62 % & 72% respectively(p = 0.021), ≥ F3 AUC of nADC was0.891 with sensitivity and specificity of 88.7 % & 80% respectively while ADC AUC is 0.603 with sensitivity and specificity of 72% & 72% respectively(p = 0.03), and F4 stage nADC AUC was0.879 for with sensitivity and specificity of 90% & 80% respectively ,while ADC AUC was 0.648 with sensitivity and specificity of 80 % & 72% respectively(p = 0.054) Conclusion Normalized liver ADC using the spleen as a reference organ increases the diagnostic performance of MRI in evaluation of liver fibrosis in comparison to ADC alone.


2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 694-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans-Jonas Meyer ◽  
Oliver Ziemann ◽  
Malte Kornhuber ◽  
Alexander Emmer ◽  
Ulf Quäschling ◽  
...  

Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely used in several muscle disorders. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is an imaging modality, which can reflect microstructural tissue composition. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) is used to quantify the random motion of water molecules in tissue. Purpose To investigate ADC values in patients with myositis and non-inflammatory myopathy and to analyze possible associations between ADC and laboratory parameters in these patients. Material and Methods Overall, 17 patients with several myositis entities, eight patients with non-inflammatory myopathies, and nine patients without muscle disorder as a control group were included in the study (mean age = 55.3 ± 14.3 years). The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology in every case. DWI was obtained in a 1.5-T scanner using two b-values: 0 and 1000 s/mm2. In all patients, the blood sample was acquired within three days to the MRI. The following serological parameters were estimated: C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, and myoglobine. Results The estimated mean ADC value for the myositis group was 1.89 ± 0.37 × 10–3 mm2/s and for the non-inflammatory myopathy group was 1.79 ± 0.33 × 10–3 mm2/s, respectively. The mean ADC values (1.15 ± 0.37 × 10–3 mm2/s) were significantly higher to unaffected muscles (vs. myositis P = 0.0002 and vs. myopathy P = 0.0021). There were no significant correlations between serological parameters and ADC values. Conclusion Affected muscles showed statistically significantly higher ADC values than normal muscles. No linear correlations between ADC and serological parameters were identified.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexey Surov ◽  
Lisa Paul ◽  
Hans Meyer ◽  
Stefan Schob ◽  
Cornelius Engelmann ◽  
...  

Diffusion weighted imaging can provide information regarding tissue composition and can quantitatively characterize different pathological changes by means of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). The study comprised of 114 patients with liver cirrhosis—22 women and 92 men with a mean age of 56.5 ± 9.0 years. In all patients, the Model for End Stage-Liver Disease (MELD) score was calculated. Furthermore, 12 healthy persons (5 women, 7 men), mean age, 42.1 ± 16.2 years, were investigated as a control group. In all cases, magnetic resonance imaging of the liver/trunk was performed using different 3T scanners and diffusion weighted images were obtained with a multi-shot SE-EPI sequence. In all cases, polygonal regions of interest were manually drawn on the ADC maps along the contours of the iliopsoas and paravertebral muscles. The comparison of ADC values in groups was performed by Mann-Whitney-U tests. The association between ADC and MELD score was calculated by Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. ADC values of the skeletal musculature were statistically much higher in comparison to those in the control group: 1.85 ± 0.46 × 10−3 mm2 s−1 vs. 1.23 ± 0.12 × 10−3 mm2 s−1, p = 0.001. ADC values showed statistically significant correlation with the MELD score (r = 0.473, p = 0.0001). Furthermore, ADC values differed between the subgroups with different values of the MELD score. ADC values correlated slightly with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (r = 0.381, p = 0.0001) and tended to correlate with C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = 0.171, p = 0.07) and alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) (r = −0.167, p = 0.076). ADC can reflect muscle changes in liver cirrhosis and shows statistically significant correlation with the MELD score. Therefore, ADC can be used as an imaging biomarker of myopathic changes in liver cirrhosis.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-223
Author(s):  
Adrian Hruşcã ◽  
Andreea Liana Rãchişan ◽  
Siegfried Rödl ◽  
Erich Sorantin

Introduction Pediatric cerebral hypoxic-ischemic injury frequently results in severe neurological outcome. Imaging with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWi) demonstrates that the acute cerebral injury and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) allow the assessment of the severity of brain damage. The main objective was to examine if spatial distribution of reductions in ADC values is associated with clinical outcome in drowned children. Methods This is a retrospective study of 7 children (7 examinations) suffering from a hypoxic-ischemic event who underwent DWi. Seven subjects with normal DWi served as controls. The mean patient age was 4.88 ± 2.93 years and the male-to-female ratio was 5:2. The neurological outcome was divided into 2 categories: 4 children with Apallic syndrome and 3 deaths. We analysed the differences between the drowned children and the control group regarding clinical data, DWi abnormalities, and ADC values. Results The ADC values in the occipital and parietal grey matter were significantly different between the drowned children (765.14 ± 65.47 vs 920.95 ± 69.62; P = .003) and the control group (670.82 ± 233.99 vs 900.66 ± 92.72; P = .005). The ADC showed low values in the precentral area also ( P = .044). Conclusion The ADC reduction may be useful to predict the poor outcome in drowned children and can be a valuable tool for clinical assessment.


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