Gadolinium oxide: a protoype agent for contrast enhanced imaging of the liver and spleen with magnetic resonance

Gd2O3 particles (less than 2 microns) in suspension were evaluated as a potential contrast agent for liver-spleen imaging with magnetic resonance. The agent was administered IV to rabbits in doses ranging from 10 to 120 mumol/kg and the tissues removed after sacrifice for in vitro T1 and T2 analysis. The temporal response was determined in liver and spleen samples of rabbits given a fixed dose (60 mumol/kg) and sacrificed at intervals from 15 min to 60 hr later. Documentation of the subanatomic location of Gd2O3 particles in tissue was accomplished by electron microscopy and x-ray dispersion microanalysis. T1 weighted images were obtained at 0.12T on a prototype resistive scanner. The liver, spleen, and lung relaxation times are very responsive to Gd2O3 IV and the effect is dose related. A peak effect is observed between 3-7 hr after injection and relaxation times may normalize by 60 hr. By electron microscopic and x-ray analysis, Gd2O3 is most prominently found in the hepatic and splenic sinusoids. The images show marked enhancement of liver and splenic tissues, aiding in the clear delineation of these tissues from neighboring structures.     

Inhalation MR lymphography: A new method for selective enhancement of the lung hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes

On MR lymphography, a new approach to the lung hilar and mediastinal nodes was developed in an animal model. Five rabbits were made to inhale iron colloid (cideferron) that was nebulized to aerosol. Two days after inhalation of the agent, the mediastinal lymph nodes decreased in signal on SE 2000/30 and SE 2000/60 images and proved to have iron on histological evaluation, whereas the popliteal nodes did not have any iron. Experimental results indicate that inhalational administration can deliver the agent to the pulmonary lymphatic system and has the potential of lung hilar and mediastinal MR lymphography.     

Optimization of spin-valve parameters for magnetic bead trapping and manipulation

Magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) and magnetoresistance (MR) measurements were used to measure the switching characteristics of spin-valve (SV) arrays currently being developed to trap and release superparamagnetic beads within a fluid medium. The effect of SV size on switching observed by MOKE showed that a 1 μm×8 μm SV element was found to have optimal switching characteristics. MR measurements on a single 1 μm×8 μm SV switched with either an external applied magnetic field or a local magnetic field generated by an integrated write wire (current density ranging from 10⁶ to 10⁷ A/cm²) confirmed the MOKE findings. The 1 μm×8 μm SV low field switching was observed to be +8 and −2 mT with two stable states at zero field; the high field switching was observed to be −18 mT. The low switching fields and the large magnetic moment of the SV trap along with our observation of minimal magnetostatic effects for dense arrays are necessary design characteristics for high-force, “switchable-magnet,” microfluidic bead trap applications.     

Three-dimensional susceptibility-weighted imaging at 3 T using various image analysis methods in the estimation of grading intracranial gliomas

Object

Although three-dimensional (3D), high-spatial resolution susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) appears to be valuable in the evaluation of central nervous system gliomas, several evaluation methods are proposed in the literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of 3D SWI for grading intracranial gliomas with various analysis methods.

Materials and Methods

Twenty-three patients suspected of having gliomas participated in this study. SWI was performed in addition to conventional MR sequences. In 15 cases, post-gadolinium enhanced SWI was also obtained. Imaging evaluation criteria were conventional grade, hypointensity ratio in the tumor-dominant structure of hypointensity on SWI (hemorrhage or vascular structure) and presence of abnormal enhancement surrounding the tumor.

Results

Mean grading scores of conventional grade showed no statistically significant difference among WHO grades. Mean grading scores of hypointensity ratios in the tumor were higher for WHO Grades 3 and 4 than for lower grade tumors (P=.05, Mann–Whitney U test). Hemorrhagic foci were more frequently seen in the higher grade tumor. Post-contrast susceptibility-weighted images of five of 11 WHO Grade 3 and 4 cases showed bright enhancement surrounding the tumor, suggesting a breakdown of the blood–brain barrier.

Conclusions

SWI at 3 T may be a useful method to analyze the structural characteristics of gliomas and to evaluate pathology in vivo. Assessment of hypointensity ratios in the glioma was the most preferable method in grading glioma. However, more studies, specifically concerning a suitable method for image analysis, are needed to establish SWI at 3 T as a useful tool in clinical routine.     

Reproducibility of the gadolinium concentration measurements and of the fitting parameters of the vascular input function in the superior sagittal sinus in a patient population

It is widely recognised that the measurement of the arterial input function (AIF) is a key issue and a major source of errors in the pharmacokinetic modelling of dynamic, contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) data, and the modality of the AIF determination is still a matter of debate. In this study we addressed the problem of the intrinsic variability of the AIF within the imaged volume of a DCE-MRI scan by systematically investigating the change in the concentration of contrast agent over time and the fit parameters of the derived vascular input function (VIF) obtained from the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) of a patient population that was scanned longitudinally during treatment for high grade glioma. From a total of 82 scanning sessions, we compared the results obtained with three different DCE-MRI protocols and between two different fitting functions. We applied a correction algorithm to the measured concentration-time curves to minimize the effect of the low temporal resolution on the VIF, and investigated the effect of this algorithm on the reproducibility. Finally, where possible, we compared the signal obtained in the SSS to the signal obtained in the middle cerebral artery. We found a good intrapatient reproducibility of both the measured gadolinium concentrations and VIF parameters, and that the variation of the parameters due to slice location within a patient was significantly lower than the intra patient variation. Intrapatient, interscan differences were significantly less marked than inter-patient differences showing a good intraclass correlation coefficient. We did encounter a MRI protocol dependence of the VIF fitting parameters. The correction algorithm significantly improved the reproducibility of the fitting parameters. These results support the idea that the use of a patient specific measured AIF, not necessarily averaged over a large volume, offers a significant benefit with respect to an external AIF or a measured cohort average AIF.     

Measurements of retinal aerial image modulation (AIM) for white light based on wave-front aberration of human eye

The aerial image modulation (AIM) curve of retina under the condition of white light is obtained based on the wave-front aberration of human eye. According to the relationship between the wavelength and defocus, we modify the monochromatic wave-front aberration data to calculate the modulation transfer function (MTF) of human eye in the white-light illumination. Combined with the measurement of contrast sensitivity function (CSF) for complete eye and visual acuity (VA) under the same luminance condition, we deduce the AIM curve in natural light. We find that AIM varies slightly at lower and intermediate spatial frequencies among different eyes; at higher frequencies AIM is the predominant factor for VA when the wave-front aberration is not significant. In addition, retinal AIM is expressed in terms of neural contrast sensitivity function (NCSF) which is the clinical valuable for ophthalmologists. Considering the real illumination circumstance, it is of practical significance to obtain the AIM curve and NCSF curve under white-light condition.     

New existence and nonexistence results for strong external difference families

In this paper, we use character-theoretic techniques to give new nonexistence results for $(n,m,k,\lambda )$-strong external difference families (SEDFs). We also use cyclotomic classes to give two new classes of SEDFs with $m=2$.     

Preparing, manipulating, and measuring quantum states on a chip

We use gate voltage control of the exchange interaction to prepare, manipulate, and measure two-electron spin states in a GaAs double quantum dot. By placing two electrons in a single dot at low temperatures we prepare the system in a spin singlet state. The spin singlet is spatially separated by transferring an electron to an adjacent dot. The spatially separated spin singlet state dephases in due to the contact hyperfine interaction with the GaAs host nuclei. To combat the hyperfine dephasing, we develop quantum control techniques based on fast electrical control of the exchange interaction. We demonstrate coherent spin-state rotations in a singlet–triplet qubit and harness the coherent rotations to implement a singlet–triplet spin echo refocusing pulse sequence. The singlet–triplet spin echo extends the spin coherence time to .     

Entanglement of Fermi gases in a harmonic trap

For both cases with and without interactions, bipartite entanglement of two fermions from a Fermi gas in a trap is investigated. We show how the entanglement depends on the locations of the two fermions and the total particle number of the Fermi gas. Fermions at the edge of trap have longer entanglement distance (beyond it, the entanglement disappears) than those in the center. We derive a lower limitation to the average overlapping for two entangled fermions in the BCS ground state, it is shown to be , a function of Cooper pair number Q and the total number of occupied energy levels M.     

Recent advances in direct current electrokinetic manipulation of particles for microfluidic applications

Microfluidic devices have been extensively used to achieve precise transport and placement of a variety of particles for numerous applications. A range of force fields have thus far been demonstrated to control the motion of particles in microchannels. Among them, electric field‐driven particle manipulation may be the most popular and versatile technique because of its general applicability and adaptability as well as the ease of operation and integration into lab‐on‐a‐chip systems. This article is aimed to review the recent advances in direct current (DC) (and as well DC‐biased alternating current) electrokinetic manipulation of particles for microfluidic applications. The electric voltages are applied through electrodes that are positioned into the distant channel‐end reservoirs for a concurrent transport of the suspending fluid and manipulation of the suspended particles. The focus of this review is upon the cross‐stream nonlinear electrokinetic motions of particles in the linear electroosmotic flow of fluids, which enable the diverse control of particle transport in microchannels via the wall‐induced electrical lift and/or the insulating structure‐induced dielectrophoretic force.