Color doppler indices of proximal and distal parts of middle cerebral artery in fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction.

INTRODUCTION Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a major clinical issue for pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to evaluate color Doppler indices of the proximal and distal parts of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) of the fetus. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 350 pregnant patients, with gestation age of 32-40 who were suspected to have intrauterine growth restriction, participated. The patients were referred for color Doppler sonography at the Imam Reza Hospital (Kermanshah, Iran) from May 2011 to September 2012. The following indices were measured for the proximal and distal part of the MCA: pulsatility index (PI), resistive index (RI), fetal heart rate (FHR), systolic to diastolic (S/D) ratio, and peak systolic velocity (PSV). The data were analyzed applying Tukey's-test, Paired-Samples t-test, and simple linear regression analysis using SPSS 19. RESULTS Average age of the mother, the frequency of pregnancy, and fetus gestational age were 27.79±0.17 years, 2.09±1.3, and 34.19±2.52 weeks, respectively. For gestation age of 36 weeks, significant difference was found between the Doppler indices of the proximal parts as well as for the distal parts (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Measurement of fetus MCA indices may depend to the sampling location; however, this needs further investigation in order to find a clear probe location

Idiopathic generalized epilepsies and efficiency of advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques in present era; perspectives in future

Epilepsy is a common disorder worldwide, with a prevalence of 4.5/1000 (0.45%) for youngsters and youths, and 1.54/1000 (0.15%) for the adult Chinese population in Hong Kong. up to 15% of epileptic patients can still leak the screening process of any structural lesion. In addition, the structural lesions detected on structural MR images may not reveal the correct degree and practical position of the abnormalities, especially with respect to malformations of cortical development. These include magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and perfusion weighted imaging (PWI). The widespread application of most of these techniques in clinical practice depends on the availability of high-performance MR imagers with the ability to accomplish fast echo-planar pulse sequences (echo-planar imaging), as well as substantial data processing capabilities. Using and PWI in study of microcirculation of tissues and vascular of lesional area on mechanisms by which selective drugs work and will provide new treatment targets for drug development. Finally, there is coupling of cerebral blood flow and metabolism, MR perfusion can act as a surrogate marker of metabolism as measured by MRS

Grading of Glioma Tumors by Analysis of Minimum Apparent Diffusion Coefficient and Maximum Relative Cerebral Blood Volume

Gliomas are the most common primary neoplasms of the central nervous system. Relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) could estimate high-grade Gliomas computed with dynamic susceptibility contrast MR imaging which it is artificially lowered by contrast extravasation through a disrupted blood-brain barrier. Objectives: Our intent was to clarify the usefulness of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) and perfusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (PWI) in the grading of Gliomas. Materials and Methods: Both PWI and DWI with a three-tesla scanner investigated nineteen consecutive patients with Gliomas. The means of rCBV and ADC values have been compared among the tumor groups with t-test and ROC curve analysis to determine threshold values of Gliomas grading. Results: Mean maximum rCBV were 2.71±1.41 for low grades (I & II), and 8.14±2.58 for high grades (III & IV) Gliomas (p=0.001). Mean minimum ADC were 1.47±.46 ×103 mm2 /s for low grades (I & II), and .47±.38×103 mm2 /s for high grades (III & IV) Gliomas (p=0.001). We can get 0.94×103 mm2 /s for minimum ADC and 3.85 for maximum rCBV as a difference cutoff point between low and high-grade Gliomas. Conclusion: Combination of both DWI and PWI techniques, with measurement of minimum ADC and maximum rCBV can be used to distinguish between high grade and low-grade Glioma tumors

Role of diffusion tensor imaging as an imaging biomarker and theranostic tool in structural imaging of traumatic brain injury

Neuroimaging technology is at a "newborn" stage in the evaluation of TBI. While additional literature are obviously required to decide whether these modalities and progress in knowledge with noninvasive monitors will allow early and consistent recognition of revocable secondary brain damages, the final query is whether these new modalities will help in treatment plans that will absolutely mark result. DTI is an influential instrument for assessing white matter anatomy and related anomalies. DTI was formerly an investigation tool, but is using clinical practice. Accepting the terms and basic ideas of this method can aid in the clinical implementation and interpretation of this blend of structural and physiologic white matter evaluation. In conclusion, although DTI is as a diagnostic tool for severity of TBI and as an outcome predictor, but severe preclinical and clinical validation of each imaging method should be a top importance

Traumatic spinal cord injury; Theranostic applications of advanced MRI techniques

Imaging technology is an important part of the diagnosis and management of spinal trauma. However, many efforts have been made to develop new diagnostic biomarkers through advanced imaging techniques. Unfortunately, there is still no consensus for practical use of biomarkers in SCI patients. The authors conducted an all-encompassing literature review and relevant images were included as examples. Spinal cord and soft-tissue injuries are best evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, advanced MRI techniques provide researchers with a noninvasive approach that allows evaluation of physiological and biochemical condition of the spinal cord and the brain at cellular and molecular level. The advent of new rehabilitation and treatment strategies could demand more precise and advanced techniques to approach the pathophysiology and anatomy of the spinal cord, offering more accurate and non-invasive support to research and clinical follow up

Two rare cases with aortic dissection: Future prospective in imaging

Aortic dissection (AD) is an acute emergency condition of the aorta, which often has a fatal outcome. In the acute setting, management of AD is limited to control of hypertension, early recognition of the dissection, and activation of surgical services. In this article we reported two cases of 42 and 45 y/o male patients with chest pain, no hypertension having AD. They just lifted a roughly heavy (10Kg) object. A multi-detector CT applied to perform CT-angiography. To reduce morbidity and mortality, AD should always be considered in patients who present with severe chest pain of abrupt onset. Also, aortic dissections can occur in patients without atypical signs and symptoms

A rare case with basilar invagination anomaly in craniocervical junction: Role of CT &amp; MRI

In this paper we will present a 49 years old Iranian man with a totally different craniocervical junction. The case has referred with severe headache, as his chief complaint, to the emergency ward of Hazrat Rasoul hospital (Tehran, Iran) in March 2012. After admission and primary examinations, in order to find the cause of headache, the patient was referred to imaging department requesting brain CT scan. While, the case wasn't aware of his unusual cervical anatomy; after complementary examinations, i.e. MRI, we found an abnormal form of cervical spine junction with cranium and completely different craniocervical junction and chronic altered power ratio while the patient had no pathological symptoms