Acoustic characterization of a new trisacryl contrast agent. Part I: In vitro study

The objective of the study was to acoustically characterize trisacryl polymeric microparticles (TMP), which are derived from biocompatible embolic agents.With significant acoustic properties, these polymeric particles could be potentially used as targeted ultrasound contrast agents, directed towards a specific site, with ligands conjugation on the polymeric network surface. In the in vitro study, a pulser/receiver (PRF of 1 kHz), associated to different transducers (5, 10 and 15 MHz), was used to measure the acoustic properties of the TMP inserted in a Couette flow device. Acoustic characterization according to TMP concentration (0.12-15.63 mg/ml), frequency (4.5-17 MHz, defined by each transducer bandwidth), ultrasound pressure (137-378 kPa) and exposure time (0-30 min) was conducted. Particle attenuation was also evaluated according to TMP concentration and emission frequency. Backscattering increased non linearly with concentration and maximum enhancement was of 16.4 dB ± 0.89 dB above 7.8 mg/ml. This parameter was found non-linear with increasing applied pressure and no harmonic oscillation could be noticed. Attenuation reached approximately 1.4 dB/cm at 15 MHz and for the 15.6 mg/ml suspension.The TMP have revealed in vitro ultrasound properties comparable to those observed with known contrast agents, studied in similar in vitro systems. However, such set-ups combined with a rather aqueous suspending medium, have some limitations and further investigations need now to be conducted to approach in vivo conditions in terms of flow and blood environment.     

基于Contrast box算法的图像序列有用目标段搜寻方法

提出一种基于Contrast box算法的红外弱小多目标图像序列有用目标段搜寻方法,引用每帧图像的信号量来搜索红外图像序列中含有目标的有用信息段.描述了Contrast box算法和搜索有用目标段处理过程,分析了阈值权值系数和目标所占像元面积选取的不同对图像有用目标段搜索的影响,给出了每幅图像的统计信号量.实验表明,该方法在执行效率和搜索时间上能够取得满意的结果.     

Comparison of T2 and LASER T2dagger image contrast in a rat model of acute cerebral ischemia

Previous studies have shown that T2(dagger)-weighted magnetic resonance images acquired using localization by adiabatic selective refocusing (LASER) can provide early tissue contrast following ischemia, possibly due to alterations in microscopic susceptibility within the tissue. The purpose of this study was to make a direct in vivo comparison of T2-, T2(dagger)- and diffusion-weighted image contrast during acute ischemia. Acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion was attempted in 14 rats using a modified Tamura approach incorporating electrocoagulation of the left MCA. T2(dagger)-weighted LASER images (Echo Time [TE]=108 ms), T2-weighted Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) images (TE=110 ms) and diffusion-weighted images (b value=105 s/mm(2)) were acquired at 4 T within 1.5 h of ischemia onset. Tissue contrast in the MCA territory was quantified for histologically verified ischemic tissue (n=6) and in sham controls (n=4). T2(dagger)-weighted LASER images demonstrated greater contrast compared to the T2-weighted CPMG images, and more focal contrast compared to the diffusion-weighted images, suggesting different contrast mechanisms were involved.     

Optimized 3D bright blood MRI of aortic plaque at 3 T

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of an optimized bright blood MRI protocol at 3 T in combination with contrast agent administration for the detection and characterization of aortic high-risk plaques for the improved workup of acute stroke patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ECG synchronized T1-weighted 3D gradient echo MRI was performed in 45 acute stroke patients. Data were acquired with high near isotropic spatial resolution (approximately 1 mm(3)) covering the entire thoracic aorta. To compensate for breathing and vessel motion artifacts, images were collected using respiratory navigator gating in combination with short diastolic data acquisition windows adjusted on a patient-by-patient basis. In patients with aortic plaques > or =3 mm in thickness, gadolinium contrast agent was administered and both pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted 3D measurements with identical vessel coverage were performed. RESULTS: Bright blood 3D MRI detected 33 high-risk plaques with an average maximum plaque thickness of 4.2+/-1.0 mm in 23 of 45 acute stroke patients. The availability of pre- and post-contrast images acquired within the same session enhanced the identification of calcified plaque components in 77% of all analyzed plaques: post-contrast MRI clearly improved the delineation of hypointense plaque cores in 23 of 30 cases and assisted in the classification of core shape and of core fraction. CONCLUSION: 3D bright blood MRI at 3 T was feasible for the detection of aortic high-risk sources and may help to improve the detection of causes of cerebral embolism in acute stroke patients.     

Magnetic properties of novel superparamagnetic MRI contrast agents based on colloidal nanocrystals

Novel systems based on colloidal magnetic nanocrystals (NCs), potentially useful as superparamagnetic (SP) contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been investigated. The NCs we have studied comprise organic-capped single-crystalline maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃) cores possessing controlled sizes and shapes. We have comparatively examined spherical and tetrapod-like NCs, the latter being branched particles possessing four arms which depart out at tetrahedral angles from a central point. The as-synthesized NCs are passivated by hydrophobic surfactant molecules and thus are fully dispersible in nonpolar media only. The NCs have been made soluble in aqueous solution by applying a procedure based on the surface intercalation and coating with an amphiphilic polymer shell. NMR relaxivities R₁ and R₂ were compared with ENDOREM^®, one of the standard commercial SP-MRI contrast agent. We found that the spherical NCs exhibit R₁ and R₂ relaxivities slightly lower than those of ENDOREM^®, over the whole frequency range; on the contrary, tetrapods show relaxivities about one order of magnitude lower. The physical origin of such difference in relaxivities between tetrapod- and spheres-based nanostructures is under investigation and it is possibly related to different sources of the magnetic anisotropy.     

磁共振成像的安全性

对磁共振成像(MRI)的安全性进行了综述,主要涉及五个方面:静磁场、梯度场、射频场、噪声和造影剂.在没有铁磁性外源性物质的条件下,静磁场对人体没有明显的损害,有较高的安全系数.随时间变化的梯度场(dB/dt)可在受试者体内诱导出电场而兴奋神经或肌肉.当梯度上升时间只有数毫秒时,外周神经兴奋是梯度场安全的上限指标.在MRI测定过程中,射频场发射的功率在患者组织内转化成热能,使组织温度升高.MRI运行过程中可产生各种噪声,可能使某些患者的听力受到损伤,使用耳塞仍是削弱噪声最简单和最经济的方法.目前使用的造影剂主要为含钆的化合物,副作用发生率在2%~4%.     

Leveraging re-chargeable nanobubbles on amine-functionalized ZnO nanocrystals for sustained ultrasound cavitation towards echographic imaging

Nanoparticles able to promote inertial cavitation when exposed to focused ultrasound have recently gained much attention due to their vast range of possible applications in the biomedical field, such as enhancing drug penetration in tumor or supporting ultrasound contrast imaging. Due to their nanometric size, these contrast agents could penetrate through the endothelial cells of the vasculature to target tissues, thus enabling higher imaging resolutions than commercial gas-filled microbubbles. Herein, Zinc Oxide NanoCrystals (ZnO NCs), opportunely functionalized with amino-propyl groups, are developed as novel nanoscale contrast agents that are able, for the first time, to induce a repeatedly and over-time sustained inertial cavitation as well as ultrasound contrast imaging. The mechanism behind this phenomenon is investigated, revealing that re-adsorption of air gas nanobubbles on the nanocrystal surface is the key factor for this re-chargeable cavitation. Moreover, inertial cavitation and significant echographic signals are obtained at physiologically relevant ultrasound conditions (MI < 1.9), showing great potential for low side-effects in in-vivo applications of the novel nanoscale agent from diagnostic imaging to gas-generating theranostic nanoplatforms and to drug delivery.     

《光谱学与光谱分析》2020年征订启事

《光谱学与光谱分析》1981年创刊,国内统一刊号:CN 11-2200/O4,国际标准刊号:ISSN 1000-0593,CODEN码:GYGFED,国内外公开发行,大16开本,332页,月刊;是中国科协主管,中国光学学会主办,钢铁研究总院、中国科学院物理研究所、北京大学、清华大学共同承办的学术性刊物。北京大学出版社出版,每期售价95元,全年1140元。刊登主要内容:激光光谱测量、红外、拉曼、紫外、可见光谱、发射光谱、吸收光谱、X射线荧光光谱、激光显微光谱、光谱化学分析、国内外光谱化学分析领域内的最新研究成果、开创性研究论文、学科发展前沿和最新进展、综合评述、研究简报、问题讨论、书刊评述。     

Severe anaphylactoid reaction after IV Gd-DTPA

Serious adverse reactions following the IV administration of Gd-DTPA (Magnevist^®, gadopenetate dimeglumine, Berlex Laboratories, Wayne, NJ), although extremely rare, can occur. As yet, there has been no published case of a severe anaphylactoid-type reaction to Gd-DTPA.     

X射线荧光弱图象的去噪与增强

本文分析了X射线荧光弱图象的特点,以图象直方图分析为指南,采用多帧平均、灰度分段线性变换、邻域平均等空域处理方法,取得了去噪与增强的良好效果,并实现了快速处理。