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<title>Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging RSS feed</title>
<link>http://med-sci.cn/cgzcx/en/contents_list.asp?issue=201006</link>
<language>zh-cn</language>
<copyright>An RSS feed for Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging</copyright>
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<title><![CDATA[We must pay special attention to MR imaging for evaluation of vulnerable plaque]]></title>
<link>http://med-sci.cn/cgzcx/en/en_articlexml.asp?doi=10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2010.06.002</link>
<description><![CDATA[Studies have suggested that vulnerable plaque is the main cause that leads to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and stroke. The prevention and treatment of cardio-cerebrovascular disease focuses on the early detection of the vulnerable plaque and its pathogenic mechanism by using noninvasive techniques. During recent years, advanced MR techniques have increasingly been applied to observing the details of the vessel wall including the size, mass, composition of the vulnerable plaque, therefore MRI was widely used for diagnosis and prognosis of the atherosclerotic plaque. In these special reports, the definition and diagnostic criteria of vulnerable plaque, the comparison of different imaging techniques, the advantages and disadvantages of MR imaging, and the status of MRI in clinical evaluation of the vulnerable plaque will be systematically reviewed, meanwhile, the development trend of MR techniques in the detection of vulnerable plaque is also emphasized.]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun,20 Jun 2010 00:00:00  GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[The definitions and diagnostic criteria of vulnerable plaque]]></title>
<link>http://med-sci.cn/cgzcx/en/en_articlexml.asp?doi=10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2010.06.003</link>
<description><![CDATA[Vulnerable plaque was also called high-rish plaque, dangerous plaque, unstable plaque, soft plaque, non-calcified plaque or AHA type IV plaque, etc. In 2003, Naghavi et al established the diagnostic criteria for detection of vulnerable plaque based on the autopsy results, the major criteria included the following features: (1) Active inflammation, (2) A thin cap with a large lipid core, (3) Endothelial denudation with superficial platelet aggregation, (4) Fissured/Injured plaque, (5) Severe stenosis; the minor criteria included (1) Superficial calcified nodules, (2) Yellow color (on angioscopy), (3) Intraplaque hemorrhage, (4) Endothelial dysfunction, (5) Expansive (Positive) remodeling. The article stressed upon reviewing the diagnostic criteria.]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun,20 Jun 2010 00:00:00  GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Comparison of different imaging methods for detection of vulnerable plaque]]></title>
<link>http://med-sci.cn/cgzcx/en/en_articlexml.asp?doi=10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2010.06.004</link>
<description><![CDATA[The imaging methods for detection of atherosclerotic plaque can be divided into invasive and noninvasive techniques, the noninvasive techniques include color Doppler ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and MR imaging (MRI), etc; the invasive techniques include digital subtraction angiography (DSA), intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), and intravascular MRI, etc. Because every imaging method has its advantage and disadvantage, comparitive study on noninvasive imaging methods for the evaluation of vulnerable plaque will bring benefits for the methodological optimization. Combination of different methods can improve the accuracy.]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun,20 Jun 2010 00:00:00  GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Advantage and disadvantage of MR imaging for vulnerable plaque]]></title>
<link>http://med-sci.cn/cgzcx/en/en_articlexml.asp?doi=10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2010.06.005</link>
<description><![CDATA[Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is technically advantageous in discriminating among tissues with high resolution, which can be used to characterize the morphology and composition of atherosclerotic plaques. Screening and assessing vulnerable plaques with MRI technique has become a focus of clinical research lately. We summarized the state-of-the-art of MRI in evaluating vulnerable plaques in this review.]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun,20 Jun 2010 00:00:00  GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Current status of MR imaging for vulnerable plaque in clinical application]]></title>
<link>http://med-sci.cn/cgzcx/en/en_articlexml.asp?doi=10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2010.06.006</link>
<description><![CDATA[Atherosclerotic plaque rupture and thrombosis are considered to be induced cardiovascular event. Imaging plays an important role in the management of atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) of the carotid vessel wall is one promising modality in the evaluation of patients with carotid atherosclerotic disease. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding carotid vessel wall CMR and its potential clinical application for management of carotid atherosclerotic disease.]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun,20 Jun 2010 00:00:00  GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[MR imaging of vulnerable plaque: consensus and challenges]]></title>
<link>http://med-sci.cn/cgzcx/en/en_articlexml.asp?doi=10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2010.06.007</link>
<description><![CDATA[It has been shown that MR black-blood vessel wall imaging technique is able to identify and quantify the characteristics of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques, especially for carotid artery. The application of MR technique for early characterizing the critical features of vulnerable plaques will be helpful to prevent the cardiovascular events. Therefore, to promote the application of MR plaque imaging technique clinically is necessary. However, there are still some challenges for MR plaque imaging, such as the limited application in coronary artery and the benefit-cost ratio.  This chapter is describing the consensus and challenges of utilizing MR plaque imaging technique.]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun,20 Jun 2010 00:00:00  GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[The ankle joint: MR sectional anatomy, anatomic variation and pathology. Part II: variation and pathology (coutinuous)]]></title>
<link>http://med-sci.cn/cgzcx/en/en_articlexml.asp?doi=10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2010.06.008</link>
<description><![CDATA[Ankle pain is a very common clinical presentation.  There are many disorders that can cause ankle pain. This article reviewed the MRI features of common etiologies that cause ankle pain in the following three categories:  (1) Ligamentous injuries, which are commonly classified into lateral ankle injuries, medial ankle injuries, and high ankle (syndesmotic) injuries. Of the acute ligament injury, the ligament shows increased signal with adjacent surrounding soft tissue edema on MR imaging, and partial tear of the ligament is observed. Chronic ligament injuries mainly represent thickening or thinning, discontinuity or nonvisualization of the ligament. (2) Tendon disorders, which include tendinopathy, tendon tears, tenosynovitis, peritendinitis and dislocation. Traumatic tendon tear is uncommon, discrete tears of the ankle tendons commonly occur on a background of tendinopathy. MRI can accurately show the characteristics of the disorders above. (3) Bone, cartilage and other soft tissue disorders, including subtle fracture of the anterior process of the calcaneus, tarsal coalition, accessory navicular syndrome, Os Trigonum syndrome, osteochondral lesion of the talus, and avascular necrosis of the talus. MRI can make diagnosis or differential diagnosis from the disorders.]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun,20 Jun 2010 00:00:00  GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Feasibility of fMRI of the human cervical spinal cord using electrical acupoints stimulation]]></title>
<link>http://med-sci.cn/cgzcx/en/en_articlexml.asp?doi=10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2010.06.009</link>
<description><![CDATA[Objective: To explore the feasibility of spinal cord fMRI using electrical stimulation of the Hoku and Quchi acupoints. Materials and Methods: There were eight healthy volunteers whose Hoku acupoint in the right hand and Quchi acupoint in the right fore-arm were stimulated by electrical acupuncture simultaneously. Based on the block design method, functional responses were established by students' group t-test analysis of the SPM2 software. The total number of pixels and the maximum intensity value of spinal cord activation in sagittal plane were analyzed. Meanwhile, the location of activation in axial plane was observed. Furthermore, the inﬂuence of the different stimulation time on the signal distribution and strength was compared. Results: There were activations in both sagittal plane and axial plane of eight volunteers. The activations distributed in spinal segments C2-T1, but mainly concentrated in C2, C4, C5 and C6 segments. The ipsilateral main active regions, especially in the posterior horn of the spinal cord and anterior horn (functional area), were found in axial plane and less significantly active areas were also found on the lateral horn. The maximum signal strength of three times stimulation group is higher than that of ﬁve times stimulation group and there are fewer false activation in three times stimulation group. Conclusion: The spinal cord activation areas led by electrical simulation of Hoku and Quchi acupoints can be observed by fMRI. There are certain characteristics with the distribution of the activation.]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun,20 Jun 2010 00:00:00  GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Three-dimensional MR imaging in detection of congenital malformations of fetal colon]]></title>
<link>http://med-sci.cn/cgzcx/en/en_articlexml.asp?doi=10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2010.06.010</link>
<description><![CDATA[Objective: To investigate the clinical value of three-dimensional MR imaging (3D-MRI) in displaying the normal and abnormal fetal colon. Materials and Methods: Thirty-eight pregnant women (gestational age ranged from 19-37 weeks, mean of 28.5 weeks) diagnosed or suspected of fetal malformations underwent conventional prenatal US and MRI. Sagittal and coronal SSFSE T2WI examinations by a 1.5 T GE superconducting MR scanner within 1-2 days after US examinations were performed. 3D MR colonography (3D-MRC) were performed with 3D fast spoiled gradient echo (3D-FSPGR). Volume rendering (VR), maximum intensity projection (MIP), multi-planar reconstruction (MPR), and MR virtual colonoscopy (MRVC) were employed in image post-processing on a dedicated workstation, the volume of normal colon between 19 and 37 weeks was measured. The MRI and US appearances of fetal malformations were compared to each other, autopsy, and follow-up results. Results: The acquisition time and reconstruction time of 3D-MRC during a single breath-hold is 10-14 seconds and 5-10 minutes, respectively. The success rate was up to 89.47%(34/38). Fetal colon showed high signal intensity on 3D-MRC, similar to the ﬁndings obtained by Barium enema in neonates. MPR, VR, and MRVC could clearly display normal colonic topography, haustra of colon, and ﬂexures. The region of interest could be viewed from various directions by using MPR. Dilatation and stenosis of intestinal lumen were displayed by using MRVC. The range of colon volumes between 19 and 37 weeks was 5.1 to 69.2 ml. The transverse diameter of colon during fetal period was lesser than 1.8 cm. Colonic atresia (3 cases), congenital left diaphragmatic hernia (3 cases), and congenital magacolon (2 cases) as well as cloacal exstrophy (1 case) were detected and diagnosed by 3D-MRC. Conclusion: 3D-MRC is feasible in clinical practice, which is helpful for antepartum console and planning of fetal surgery.]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun,20 Jun 2010 00:00:00  GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[MR imaging for graft non-neoplastic lesions after liver transplantation]]></title>
<link>http://med-sci.cn/cgzcx/en/en_articlexml.asp?doi=10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2010.06.011</link>
<description><![CDATA[Objective: To discuss the role of MR examination for graft non-neoplastic lesions after liver transplantation and the clinical value of MR results. Materials and Methods: From Jan 2005 to Dec 2009, 23 receptors received MR examination during the follow-up period and were detected graft non-neoplastic lesions. Post-operative histopathology or biopsy confirmed moderate/severe acute rejection in 9 cases, inﬂammatory lesions in 4 cases (3 with liver abscess, 1 with eosinophilic granuloma), liver ischemia or infarction in 3 cases; liver congestion in 2 cases; fatty liver in 2 cases. Long-term follow-up conﬁrmed hepatic arteriovenous shunt in 6 cases. Among them, 22 received orthotopic liver transplantation and the other one received right lobe living donor liver transplantation. We discussed the MR performances of above non-neoplastic lesions and its role for the etiological diagnosis. Results: Based on MR examination, all the inﬂammatory lesions, liver ischemia, infarction, congestion and fatty liver were correctly diagnosed without missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of cases. But in 1 case, according to MR performances, liver lesions only were judged as inflammatory, eosinophilic granuloma was not diagnosed. Intrahepatic peripheral arteriovenous shunt was correctly diagnosed in 5/6 cases based on the first MR examination, and 1 case was confirmed in the follow-up period. In the patients with acute rejection, MR signal was normal in 7/9 cases and abnormal in 2/9 cases only with homogeneous or patchy slightly higher signal in T2WI. All cases were not diagnosed in MR examinations. Based on LAVA data, MR angiography (MRA) presented all the vascular complications confirmed by DSA for the patients with graft ischemia, infarction or congestion, including 3 hepatic artery stenosis, 1 portal venous stenosis, 1 middle hepatic vein stenosis and 1 middle hepatic vein occlusion. In the 3 cases with liver abscess, 2 were detected ischemic biliary stricture in MR Cholangiopancreatography and hepatic artery stenosis in MRA. Conclusion: MR examination played an important role in deciding the location, property and etiology for graft non-neoplastic lesions after liver transplantation. However, it could not help for the non-invasive diagnosis of acute rejection.]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun,20 Jun 2010 00:00:00  GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[MR imaging of bucket-handle tears of menisci of the knee]]></title>
<link>http://med-sci.cn/cgzcx/en/en_articlexml.asp?doi=10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2010.06.012</link>
<description><![CDATA[Objective: To analyze the MRI manifestation of bucket-handle tears of menisci of the knee. Materials and Methods: Sixteen patients with bucket-handle tears of menisci of the knee were studied with MRI. All the signs were summarized and analyzed, including double posterior cruciate ligament sign, double anterior cruciate ligament sign, ﬂipped meniscus sign, absent bow tie sign, internal displaced fragment sign and abnormal circumferential meniscus sign. Results: Of 16 cases, the double posterior cruciate ligament signs were seen in 8 cases, the double anterior cruciate ligament signs were seen in 2 cases, the internal displaced fragment signs were seen in 16 cases, the abnormal circumferential meniscus signs were seen in 16 cases, the absent bow tie signs were seen in 16 cases, and the flipped meniscus signs were seen in 3 cases. Conclusion: Bucket-handle tears of menisci of the knee has some characteristic manifestations on MRI. MRI is an effective examination method to bucket-handle tears of menisci of the knee.]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun,20 Jun 2010 00:00:00  GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Changes in relaxation value and cerebral blood flow observed in rat brain with delivery of pure oxygen under 7.0 T]]></title>
<link>http://med-sci.cn/cgzcx/en/en_articlexml.asp?doi=10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2010.06.013</link>
<description><![CDATA[Objective: To compare the changes in relaxation value of the cortex, striatum and corpus callosum in rats, and clarify the relationship between the cerebral blood ﬂow (CBF) and changes in relaxation value during hyperoxia. Materials and Methods: Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats weighting 200-250g were examined with 7.0 T MR scanner. T1, T2 and T2* value of the cortex, striatum and corpus callosum were determined in air, respectively. After the air changed to 100% oxygen, T1, T2 and T2* value were determined again. Percentage changes in all values were compared. Changes in CBF value between the cerebral cortex and striatum in frontal lobe were also compared using the FAIR sequence in eight male rats. Results: Compared with room air, T1 values of the cortex, striatum and corpus callosum decreased obviously, whereas significant T2 and T2* prolongation of which was demonstrated. Percentage changes in all values between the cortex, striatum and corpus callosum were different (P<0.001) when exposed to 100% oxygen. Percentage changes of T1 and T2* value was respectively biggest in the cortex, whereas that of T2 value was biggest in the corpus callosum. The decrease of CBF value was more obvious in the cerebral cortex than that of striatum. Conclusion: Using 7.0 T MR scanner permits getting higher spatial resolution and more reliable experiment data. The shortening T1 was induced by the increased amount of paramagnetic free oxygen. The contribution of reduction of CBF was negligible in changes to T1 and T2* value. The prolonging T2 and T2* was caused by the increased fraction of oxyhaemoglobin. The different T2 percentage changes between the cortex, striatum and corpus callosum may be decided by the distribution of vascular population. Administered 100% oxygen was shown to be effective as a exogenous ‘contrast agent’ on high ﬁeld MRI system that can be used as a new method to study the cerebrovascular responses.]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun,20 Jun 2010 00:00:00  GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Improved diagnosis of breast diseases with Siemens MR techniques]]></title>
<link>http://med-sci.cn/cgzcx/en/en_articlexml.asp?doi=10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2010.06.014</link>
<description><![CDATA[With the rapid development of Siemens MR techniques, MR breast imaging can produce images of provide high temporal and spatial resolution, which can provide true and accurate information of breast disease combined with advanced motion correction method. Breast spectroscopy plays a very important role in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant diseases, and it is used for post-treatment assessment and follow-up. In addition, MR-guided breast biopsy greatly improve the accuracy of differentiation of benign and malignant disease, and it is a useful guidance for breast diseases treatment.]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun,20 Jun 2010 00:00:00  GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Current status of magnetization transfer imaging in psychiatric disorders]]></title>
<link>http://med-sci.cn/cgzcx/en/en_articlexml.asp?doi=10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2010.06.015</link>
<description><![CDATA[For many central nervous system diseases, MRI has been proved to be a sensitive tool for detecting abnormalities, understanding site and extent of lesions. Despite such a high sensitivity, conventional MRI does not provide an accurate assessment for subtle or early neuropathological changes in some disorders. Magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) is a relative new, more sensitive MRI technique to detect subtle pathological changes of macromolecular structure. MTI can selectively decrease macromolecular tissue signal through applying off-resonance saturating pulses, thus improving image contrast and acquiring more tissue structural information. Many studies have suggested that MTI can detect brain abnormalities of normal-appearing white and gray matter on conventional MRI, such as multiple sclerosis. Recently, there is growing evidence that MTI can provide new complementary information for better understanding pathophysiological mechanism of psychiatric disease. In this review, we summarized clinical application and advancement of MTI in psychiatric disorders.]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun,20 Jun 2010 00:00:00  GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Utilization of low-field MR scanner on cerebral diseases]]></title>
<link>http://med-sci.cn/cgzcx/en/en_articlexml.asp?doi=10.3969/j.issn.1674-8034.2010.06.016</link>
<description><![CDATA[Central nervous system examination takes the majority of MR scan in clinical practice. A statistic data by Neusoft from 148 second-rank hospitals which equipped with low-field MR scanners showed that brain MR examination occupied 33.0% of the total studies. Although it is expected that the low-field MR scanner could fulfill the requirement of brain examination in most cases, there are still some problems remained due to the major drawback of low signal-to-noise ratio of low-field MR imaging. Recent improvements in low-field MR scanners have generated a renewed interest in low-field MR imaging with higher image quality and shorter scan times. In this article, we reviewed brain imaging in low-field MR, focusing on the imaging feature of intracranial hemorrhage, application of pulse sequences and the usage of contrast medium.]]></description>
<pubDate>Sun,20 Jun 2010 00:00:00  GMT</pubDate>
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