Automated Detection and Characterization of Multiple Sclerosis Lesions in Brain MR Images

In the present study an automatic algorithm for detection and contouring of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions in brain magnetic resonance (MR) images is introduced. This algorithm automatically detects MS lesions in axial proton density, T₂-weighted, gadolinium enhanced, and fast fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) brain MR images. Automated detection consists of three main stages: (1) detection and contouring of all hyperintense signal regions within the image; (2) partial elimination of false positive segments (defined herein as artifacts) by size, shape index, and anatomical location; (3) the use of an artificial neural paradigm (Back-Propagation) for final removal of artifacts by differentiating them from true MS lesions. The algorithm was applied to 45 images acquired from 14 MS patients. The algorithm’s sensitivity was 0.87 and the specificity 0.96. In 34 images, 100% of the lesions were detected. The algorithm potentially may serve as a useful preprocessing tool for quantitative MS monitoring via magnetic resonance imaging.     

基于多模态MRI与深度学习的乳腺病变良恶性鉴别

为提高基于动态增强磁共振成像（DCE-MRI）的计算机辅助（CAD）方法对乳腺病变良恶性鉴别的精度,本文基于多模态特征融合,提出一种联合非对称卷积和超轻子空间注意模块的卷积神经网络AC_Ulsam_CNN.首先,采用迁移学习方法预训练模型,筛选出对乳腺病变良恶性鉴别最为有效的DCE-MRI扫描时序.而后,基于最优扫描时序图像,搭建基于AC_Ulsam_CNN网络的模型,以增强分类模型的特征表达能力和鲁棒性.最后,将影像特征与乳腺影像数据报告和数据系统（BI-RADS）分级、表观扩散系数（ADC）和时间-信号强度曲线（TIC）类型等多模态信息进行特征融合,以进一步提高模型对病灶的预测性能.采用五折交叉验证方法进行模型验证,本文方法获得了0.826的准确率（ACC）和0.877的受试者工作曲线下面积（AUC）.这表明该算法在小样本量数据下可较好区分乳腺病变的良恶性,而基于多模态数据的融合模型也进一步丰富了特征信息,从而提高病灶的检出精度,为乳腺病灶良恶性的自动鉴别诊断提供了新方法.     

脑磁共振成像断层组合全息技术的研究

采用激光全息分层分区二步法，将一组磁共振成像片按不同层次组合成一张全息图，可在普通白炽灯下观察到清晰的三维层析透射图，以辅助医师准确，迅速地判断出患病部位的情况和位置。     

基于MRI影像组学的BI-RADS 3-5类乳腺病变三分类

医生根据磁共振影像征象对患者的乳腺病变程度进行BI-RADS分类评估时存在一定的主观性,且 BI-RADS 3-5类病变的良恶性存在交叉,在临床诊断时极易发生因诊断类别较高而造成不必要的有创治疗．针对这些问题,本文应用影像组学技术对乳腺的T₁加权（T1W）和动态对比增强（DCE）磁共振图像进行特征提取和融合,采用最小绝对收缩和选择算子（LASSO）算法筛选出各特征集的最优特征集,并分别使用支持向量机（SVM）、随机森林（RF）、K最近邻（KNN）及逻辑回归（LR）算法进行BI-RADS 3-5类乳腺病变三分类,并且在此基础上实现乳腺良恶性分类．结果显示基于特征融合的四个影像组学模型对乳腺病变BI-RADS 3-5类的分类准确率分别为81.25%、87.50%、78.38%、81.25%;对乳腺病变良恶性鉴别的准确率分别为90.91%、93.55%、92.73%、94.55%. 这表明MRI影像组学结合机器学习的算法对乳腺病变BI-RADS分类效果及良恶性鉴别效果均较好,且特征融合可进一步提高分类预测的准确率．     

Monitoring redox-sensitive paramagnetic contrast agent by EPRI, OMRI and MRI

A comparative study of tissue redox-status imaging using commonly used redox sensitive nitroxides has been carried out using electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI), Overhauser magnetic resonance imaging (OMRI) and conventional T(1)-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, MRI. Imaging studies using phantoms of different nitroxides at different concentration levels showed that EPRI and OMRI sensitivities were found to be linearly dependent on line width of nitroxides up to 2 mM, and the enhancement in MRI intensity was linear up to 5 mM. The sensitivity and resolution of EPRI and OMRI images depended significantly on the line width of the nitroxides whereas the MRI images were almost independent of EPR line width. Reduction of the paramagnetic 3-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-1-oxyl (3CP) by ascorbic acid (AsA) to the diamagnetic by hydroxylamine was monitored from a sequence of temporal images, acquired using the three imaging modalities. The decay rates determined by all the three modalities were found to be similar. However the results suggest that T(1)-weighted MRI can monitor the redox status, in addition to providing detailed anatomical structure in a short time. Therefore, a combination of MRI with nitroxides as metabolically responsive contrast agents can be a useful technique for the in vivo imaging probing tissue redox status.     

人脑GABA测量在临床3 T磁共振成像系统上的实现

γ-氨基丁酸(γ-Aminobutyric Acid,GABA)是人脑中枢神经系统中一种重要的抑制性神经递质,对神经活动的调节起着主导作用.由于人脑GABA固有含量低以及与其他代谢物谱峰的重叠,在临床用磁共振成像系统中使用点分辨波谱(PRESS)序列或受激回波采集模式(STEAM)序列难以直接检测到GABA δ 3.01信号. 该文报道了MEGA-PRESS脉冲序列在临床用3 T磁共振成像系统上的实现,采用J差分谱编辑技术实现了对GABA的检测. 水模实验和人脑在体实验显示,MEGA-PRESS序列对GABA δ 3.01信号具有较好的检测效果.     

前概念对物理概念教学的影响及教学策略

物理概念是“整个物理学理论的基石”，是“物理思维的细胞”．学生对物理概念的掌握程度会直接影响到其物理学的学习质量，物理概念教学的重要性是不言而喻的．但是，物理概念教学却并非易事，一般来讲，它要受到诸多因素的影响和制约，其中，学生头脑中前概念的存在就是一个很重要的影     

Quantification of Flow of Cerebrospinal Fluid on Basal Level of Brain by a Phase-Contrast MRI Technique

Here we present on the ability of phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to accurately measure dynamic properties of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow on basal level of brain. CSF characteristics were compared in a group of 55 healthy volunteers. MRI study was performed using 1.5 T system with the following parameters: repetition time TR/echo time TE = 14/8.3 ms; flip angle FA = 15°; slice thickness = 4 mm. Velocity values of CSF flow on basal level of brain obtained in the study were statistically analyzed by capturing mean values and building confidence intervals (p = 0.05). Student’s paired t-test was performed to determine significance of the differences between mean values and between caudal and cranial CSF flows. Normal values of mean velocity, mean flux and peak velocity were defined by Q-flow technique. The highest values of CSF flow characteristics were observed in the Sylvian aqueduct and pontomedullaris cistern. Mean velocity and mean flux of caudal CSF flow had significantly higher values compared to the cranial CSF flow in all investigated structures.     

Application of Proton Chemical Shift Imaging in Monitoring of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery on Brain Tumors

Our objective was to assess proton chemical shift imaging for potential clinical application in monitoring response to gamma knife radiosurgery. Twenty-five proton chemical shift imaging studies and conventional magnetic resonance images were performed on six patients with intracranial tumors. The peak areas of N-acetylaspartate, choline-containing compounds (Cho), creatine, and lipids were calculated and normalized to N-acetylaspartate in the contralateral hemisphere. The spectra from the lesion before treatment showed a relatively high Cho peak, reported as a characteristic spectrum of tumors. Tumor size and Cho level after radiosurgery did not increase except in two cases. In these cases, radiation necrosis was observed with elevated Cho and a mobile lipid peak. Stable or decreased Cho seems to suggest a loss of tumor viability, and changes in Cho indicate the effectiveness of radiosurgery. Increasing Cho and the appearance of the mobile lipid peak may distinguish radiation necrosis from recurrent tumors, which cannot be distinguished by magnetic resonance imaging.     

Voice Analysis of Postlingually Deaf Adults Pre- and Postcochlear Implantation

Objectives

To ascertain whether cochlear implantation (CI), without specific vocal rehabilitation, is associated with changes in perceptual and acoustic vocal parameters in adults with severe to profound postlingual deafness.

Hypothesis

Merely restoring auditory feedback could allow the individual to make necessary adjustments in vocal pattern.

Study Design

Prospective and longitudinal.

Methods

The experimental group composed of 40 postlingually deaf adults (20 males and 20 females) with no previous laryngeal or voice disorders. Participants’ voices were recorded before CI and 6–9 months after CI. To check for chance modifications between two evaluations, a control group of 12 postlingually deaf adults, six male and six female, without CI was also evaluated. All sessions composed of the recording of read sentences from Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice and sustained vowel /a/. Auditory and acoustic analyses were then conducted.

Results

We found a statistically significant reduction in overall severity, strain, loudness, and instability in auditory analysis. In vocal acoustic analysis, we found statistically significant reduction fundamental frequency (F0) values (in male participants) and F0 variability (in both genders). The control group showed no statistically significant changes in most vocal parameters assessed, apart from pitch and F0 (in female participants only). On comparing the interval of variation of results between the experimental and control groups, we found no statistically significant difference in vocal parameters between CI recipients and nonrecipients, with the exception of F0 variability in male participants.

Conclusions

The patients in our sample showed changes in overall severity, strain, loudness, and instability values, and reductions in F0 and its variability. On comparing the variation of results between the groups, we were able to prove in our study that implant recipients postlingually deaf adults (experimental group), without specific vocal rehabilitation, differed from nonrecipients (control group) in loudness and F0 variability sustained vowel /a/ in male participants.     

Monitoring chemotherapeutic response in RIF-1 tumors by single-quantum and triple-quantum-filtered (23)Na MRI, (1)H diffusion-weighted MRI and PET imaging

The effects of 5-fluorouracil (5FU, 150 mg/kg, ip) on subcutaneously implanted radiation-induced fibrosarcoma (RIF-1) tumors were monitored by in vivo (1)H MRI to evaluate the water apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), by single-quantum (SQ) and triple-quantum-filtered (TQF) (23)Na MRI to evaluate compartmental Na(+) content and by positron emission tomography (PET) to evaluate 2-[(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) uptake in the tumor. The MRI experiments were performed on untreated control and treated mice once before and then daily for 3 days after treatment. The PET experiments were performed on separate groups of age- and tumor-volume-matched animals once before and then 3 days after treatment. Tumor volumes significantly decreased in treated animals 2 and 3 days posttreatment. At the same time points, in vivo MRI measurements showed an increase in both total tissue SQ (23)Na signal intensity (SI) and water ADC in treated tumors while control tumors showed no change in these parameters. TQF (23)Na SI and FDG uptake were significantly lower in treated tumors compared with control tumors 3 days after 5FU treatment. The correlated increases in total tissue (23)Na SI and water ADC following chemotherapy reflect an increase in extracellular space, while the lower TQF (23)Na SI and FDG uptake in treated tumors compared with control tumors suggest a shift in tumor metabolism from glycolysis to oxidation and/or a decrease in cell density.     

An Analysis of Ensembles that are Both Pre- and Post-Selected

The idea of ensembles which are both pre- and post-selected was introduced by Aharonov, Bergmann, and Lebowitz and developed by Aharonov and his school. To derive formulae for the probabilities of outcomes of a measurement performed on such an ensemble at a time intermediate between pre-selection and post-selection, the latter group introduces a two-vector formulation of quantum mechanics, one vector propagating in the forward direction in time and one in the backward direction. The formulae which they obtain by this radical generalization are vindicated by a rigorous derivation using Bayess theorem together with standard quantum mechanical predictions regarding ensembles that are only pre-selected. Their own two-vector derivation, however, suffers from a serious lacuna.     

Brain MRI lesion load quantification in multiple sclerosis: a comparison between automated multispectral and semi-automated thresholding computer-assisted techniques

Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesion volume measurement is an advantageous tool for assessing disease burden in multiple sclerosis (MS). We have evaluated two computer-assisted techniques: MSA multispectral automatic technique that is based on bayesian classification of brain tissue and NIH image analysis technique that is based on local (lesion by lesion) thresholding, to establish reliability and repeatability values for each technique. Brain MRIs were obtained for 30 clinically definite relapsing-remitting MS patients using a 2.0 Tesla MR scanner with contiguous, 3 mm thick axial, T1, T2 and PD weighted modalities. Digital (Dicom 3) images were analyzed independently by three observers; each analyzed the images twice, using the two different techniques (Total 360 analyses). Accuracy of lesion load measurements using phantom images of known volumes showed significantly better results for the MSA multispectral technique (p < 0.001). The mean intra-and inter-observer variances were, respectively, 0.04 ± 0.4 (range 0.04–0.13), and 0.09 ± 0.6 (range 0.01–0.26) for the multispectral MSA analysis technique, 0.24 ± 2.27 (range 0.23–0.72) and 0.33 ± 3.8 (range 0.47–1.36) for the NIH threshold technique. These data show that the MSA multispectral technique is significantly more accurate in lesion volume measurements, with better results of within and between observers’ assessments, and the lesion load measurements are not influenced by increased disease burden. Measurements by the MSA multispectral technique were also faster and decreased analysis time by 43%. The MSA multispectral technique is a promising tool for evaluating MS patients. Non-biased recognition and delineation algorithms enable high accuracy, low intra-and inter-observer variances and fast assessment of MS related lesion load.     

The value of MRI in evaluating perirectal and pelvic disease

MRI of the perirectal region is facilitated by the superb soft tissue contrast, multiplanar imaging capability, lack of respiratory motion artifact and absence of clip artifact which can hamper visualization by CT scan. MRI provides distinct advantages over CT scanning without the need for ionizing radiation or the injection of intravenous contrast material. This study reviews the findings in 18 consecutive patients with a variety of perirectal pathologies including rectal carcinoma (3), gynecologic neoplasm (8), sacral lesions (2), pelvic arteriovenous malformations (2), inflammatory bowel disease (2), and a pelvic kidney (1). In the perirectal region, MR was useful to show normal tissue planes, benign processes which can mimic neoplasm, intrapelvic extension of malignancy and adenopathy.