Correction of magnetization transfer saturation maps optimized for 7T postmortem MRI of the brain

PurposeMagnetization transfer saturation (MTsat) is a useful marker to probe tissue macromolecular content and myelination in the brain. The increased B1+ inhomogeneity at 7T and significantly larger saturation pulse flip angles which are often used for postmortem studies exceed the limits where previous B1+correction methods are applicable. Here, we develop a calibration-based correction model and procedure, and validate and evaluate it in postmortem 7T data of whole chimpanzee brains.TheoryThe B1+ dependence of was investigated by varying the off-resonance saturation pulse flip angle. For the range of saturation pulse flip angles applied in typical experiments on postmortem tissue, the dependence was close to linear. A linear model with a single calibration constant C is proposed to correct bias in MTsat by mapping it to the reference value of the saturation pulse flip angle.MethodsMTsat was estimated voxel-wise in five postmortem chimpanzee brains. “Individual-based global parameters” were obtained by calculating the meanC within individual specimen brains and “group-based global parameters” by calculating the means of the individual-based global parameters across the five brains.ResultsThe linear calibration model described the data well, though C was not entirely independent of the underlying tissue and B1+. Individual-based correction parameters and a group-based global correction parameter (C=1.2) led to visible, quantifiable reductions of B1+-biases in high-resolution MTsat maps.ConclusionThe presented model and calibration approach effectively corrects for B1+inhomogeneities in postmortem 7T data

A hipertensão arterial e a família: a necessidade do cuidado familiar La hipertensión arterial y la familia: la necesidad del cuidado familiar Arterial hypertension in the family: the need for family care

O estudo, de caráter qualitativo, foi desenvolvido no período de março a julho de 2007, em Maringá - PR, com o objetivo de compreender a experiência da família com a hipertensão arterial (HA), utilizando a Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados como referencial metodológico. Os informantes foram 14 famílias que convivem com diferentes estágios da HA. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevistas abertas. Os resultados revelaram que a participação da família é um importante fator para o tratamento e controle da doença, e que esta atuação é diferenciada quando o indivíduo apresenta alguma dependência. Se ocorre dependência, há sobrecarga do cuidador; quando esta não existe, a participação da família é esporádica, resumindo-se em auxiliá-lo no tratamento medicamentoso e acompanhá-lo em visitas ao médico. Em alguns casos, outros membros familiares apresentam mudanças de hábitos relacionadas à alimentação e à prática de atividades físicas. Os resultados reforçam a necessidade de uma assistência ao hipertenso centrada na família.<br>El estudio, de carácter cualitativo, fue desarrollado en el período de marzo a julio de 2007, en Maringá - PR, con el objetivo de comprender la experiencia de la familia con hipertensión arterial (HA). La Teoría Fundamentada en los Datos fue utilizada como marco metodológico. Los informantes fueron 14 familias que conviven con diferentes niveles de la HA. Los datos fueron obtenidos por medio de entrevistas abiertas. Los resultados revelaron que la participación de la familia constituye un importante factor para el tratamiento y control de la enfermedad y que esta actuación es diferenciada cuando el individuo presenta alguna dependencia. Si ocurre dependencia, aparece una sobrecarga para el cuidador; cuando esta no existe, la participación de la familia es esporádica, resumiéndose a auxiliarlo en el tratamiento medicamentoso y a acompañarlo en las visitas al médico. En algunos casos, otros miembros familiares presentan un cambio de hábitos, relacionados a la alimentación y a la práctica de actividades físicas. Los resultados refuerzan la necesidad de ofrecer una asistencia al hipertenso centrada en la familia.<br>This qualitative study was performed from March to July 2007 in the city of Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil, and aimed to understand the family's experience with arterial hypertension (AH), using Grounded Theory as the methodological framework. Informants were 14 families that live with different AH stages. The data were obtained through open interviews. The results showed that family participation is an important factor for disease treatment and control, and that this action is differentiated when individuals present some sort of dependence. If dependence occurs, there is caregiver overload; when dependence does not exist, family participation is sporadic, being limited to helping the patients in the drug treatment and accompanying them to the medical appointment. In some cases, other family members present habit changes relating to food and practicing physical activities. The results reinforce the need for family-centered hypertensive patient care

Folic acid content and antioxidant activity of different types of beers available in Hungarian retail

In this study 40 Hungarian retail beers were evaluated for folic acid content, antioxidant profile and physicochemical parameters. The physicochemical parameters, folic acid content and antioxidant activity of alcohol-free beers were the lowest. Folic acid content of beers aged with sour cherries showed high values, more than 0.4 mg/l and an alcohol-free beer-based mixed drink made with lemon juice contained more than 0.2 mg/l of folic acid. Dark beers and beers aged with sour cherries had the highest antioxidant activity probably owing to their high extract content, components released from the fruits and special malts. These results highlight the possibility of achieving adequate folic acid and relevant antioxidant intake without excessive alcohol and energy consumption by selecting appropriate beer types

Effect of Dilute Alkaline Steeping on Mold Contamination, Toxicity, and Nutritive Value of Maize Malt

The primary aim of this research was to investigate the effect of dilute alkaline steeping on molds and toxicity of maize malt. Samples of maize were collected from one farm located in the Serbian autonomous region Vojvodina. Steeping regimes were performed by using 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3% NaOH solutions. The effects of these solutions on mold contamination, total aflatoxin (AFLA), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZON), rootlet length, moisture, total nitrogen, content of protein, fat content, ash content, content of total carbohydrates, and energy value of maize malt were evaluated. Steeping in 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3% NaOH reduced the levels of molds from 10(6) to 10(4) CFU/g, and steeping in 0.3% NaOH eliminated some of the mold genera. Also, it significantly reduced (P lt 0.05) the level of total AFLA, DON, and ZON. However, steeping in (control) water also significantly reduced (P lt 0.05) the level of DON and ZON. Malting also significantly reduced (P lt 0.05) total nitrogen and therefore content of proteins. However, steeping in 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3% NaOH caused significantly smaller reductions (P lt 0.05). Significant reduction (P lt 0.05) was also observed in the rootlet length, content of fat, and ash content. Steeping in 0.3% NaOH is proposed as a method for the reduction of mold and AFLA, DON, and ZON contamination during maize malting. Energy value of maize increases in the malting process regardless of the steeping regime