Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of anesthesia on renal R2* measured by blood oxygen level‐dependent MRI

Blood oxygen level‐dependent (BOLD) MRI is increasingly being used to assess renal tissue oxygenation during disease based on the transverse relaxation rate (R2*). In preclinical small animal models, the requisite use of anesthesia during imaging may lead to functional changes which influence R2* and confound results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of four common anesthetic compounds on renal R2* in healthy mice. Five female ICR mice were imaged with BOLD MRI approximately 25 min after induction with isoflurane (Iso; 1% or 1.5%, delivered in 100% O2), ketamine/xylazine (KX), sodium pentobarbital (PB) or 2,2,2‐tribromoethanol (TBE). A significant effect of anesthetic agent on R2* was observed in all tissue layers of the kidney, including the cortex, outer stripe of the outer medulla (OSOM), inner stripe of the outer medulla (ISOM) and inner medulla (IM). Pairwise significant differences in R2* between specific agents were found in the cortex, OSOM and ISOM, with the largest difference observed in the ISOM between 1.5% Iso (26.6 ± 1.7 s–1) and KX (66.0 ± 7.1 s–1). The difference between 1% Iso and KX in the ISOM was not abolished when KX was administered with supplemental 100% O2 or when 1% Iso was delivered in 21% O2, indicating that the fraction of inspired oxygen did not account for the observed differences. Our results indicate that the choice of anesthesia has a large influence on the observed R2* in mouse kidney, and anesthetic effects must be considered in the design and interpretation of renal BOLD MRI studies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Heavy episodic drinking in Europe: a cross section study in primary care in six European countries.

AIMS We examined the prevalence of heavy episodic drinking in general practice attenders who were non-hazardous drinkers, the associated risk factors and the outcome over 6 months. METHODS Consecutive attenders aged 18-75 were recruited from the UK, Spain, Slovenia, Estonia, the Netherlands and Portugal and followed up after 6 months. Data were collected on alcohol use using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification test (at recruitment and 6 months) and risk factors for heavy episodic alcohol use at recruitment. RESULTS The prevalence of heavy episodic drinking in non-hazardous drinkers was 4.5% across Europe [lowest in Portugal (1.5%); highest Netherlands (8.4%)]. It was less frequent in Spain, Slovenia, Estonia and Portugal compared with the UK and Netherlands. It was higher in men [odd ratio (OR) 4.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.3, 5.9], people between 18 and 29 years of age, those employed (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3, 2.6) and those using recreational drugs (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4, 3.3). It was lower in people with existing DSMIV major depression (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.31, 0.96). Heavy episodic drinkers were more likely to become hazardous drinkers at 6 months (male: OR 7.2, 95% CI 4.1, 12.7; female: OR 9.4, 95% CI 4.3, 20.6). CONCLUSION Women and men in the UK, men in the Netherlands and younger people in all countries are at the greatest risk of exhibiting heavy episodic drinking behaviours even in the absence of hazardous alcohol use. There is hence an urgent need for general practitioners to consider early detection and management of heavy episodic drinking behaviour in this population.
Ultrashort‐TE stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) improves the quantification of lipids and fatty acid chain unsaturation in the human liver at 7 T

Ultrahigh‐field, whole‐body MR systems increase the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and improve the spectral resolution. Sequences with a short TE allow fast signal acquisition with low signal loss as a result of spin–spin relaxation. This is of particular importance in the liver for the precise quantification of the hepatocellular content of lipids (HCL). In this study, we introduce a spoiler Gradient‐switching Ultrashort STimulated Echo AcqUisition (GUSTEAU) sequence, which is a modified version of a stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) sequence, with a minimum TE of 6 ms. With the high spectral resolution at 7 T, the efficient elimination of water sidebands and the post‐processing suppression of the water signal, we estimated the composition of fatty acids (FAs) via the detection of the olefinic lipid resonance and calculated the unsaturation index (UI) of hepatic FAs. The performance of the GUSTEAU sequence for the assessment of UI was validated against oil samples and provided excellent results in agreement with the data reported in the literature. When measuring HCL with GUSTEAU in 10 healthy volunteers, there was a high correlation between the results obtained at 7 and 3 T (R2 = 0.961). The test–retest measurements yielded low coefficients of variation for HCL (4 ± 3%) and UI (11 ± 8%) when measured with the GUSTEAU sequence at 7 T. A negative correlation was found between UI and HCL (n = 10; p < 0.033). The ultrashort TE MRS sequence (GUSTEAU; TE = 6 ms) provided high repeatability for the assessment of HCL. The improved spectral resolution at 7 T with the elimination of water sidebands and the offline water subtraction also enabled an assessment of the unsaturation of FAs. This all highlights the potential use of this MRS acquisition scheme for studies of hepatic lipid composition in vivo. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cerebral multifrequency MR elastography by remote excitation of intracranial shear waves

The aim of this study was to introduce remote wave excitation for high‐resolution cerebral multifrequency MR elastography (mMRE). mMRE of 25–45‐Hz drive frequencies by head rocker stimulation was compared with mMRE by remote wave excitation based on a thorax mat in 12 healthy volunteers. Maps of the magnitude |G*| and phase φ of the complex shear modulus were reconstructed using multifrequency dual elasto‐visco (MDEV) inversion. After the scan, the subjects and three operators assessed the comfort and convenience of cerebral mMRE using two methods of stimulating the brain. Images were acquired in a coronal view in order to identify anatomical regions along the spinothalamic pathway. In mMRE by remote actuation, all subjects and operators appreciated an increased comfort and simplified procedural set‐up. The resulting strain amplitudes in the brain were sufficiently large to analyze using MDEV inversion, and yielded high‐resolution viscoelasticity maps which revealed specific anatomical details of brain mechanical properties: |G*| was lowest in the pons (0.97 ± 0.08 kPa) and decreased within the corticospinal tract in the caudal–cranial direction from the crus cerebri (1.64 ± 0.26 kPa) to the capsula interna (1.29 ± 0.14 kPa). By avoiding onerous mechanical stimulation of the head, remote excitation of intracranial shear waves can be used to measure viscoelastic parameters of the brain with high spatial resolution. Therewith, the new mMRE method is suitable for neuroradiological examinations in the clinic. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Accelerometry—Simple, but challenging

Good science stems from both valid measurement of relevant data, and its processing, analysis, and interpretation in an appropriate way. Bad data will always lead to bad science irrespective of how well the data were analyzed and/or interpreted. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that the measurements are as accurate and reliable as possible, and the derived metrics are arguable, understandable, commensurable, comparable, unambiguous, and contextually meaningful. Only then is reasonable interpretation of measured data possible, and farreaching and solid conclusions drawn. Accelerometry is the most widely used method for objective measurement of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) in clinical and research settings.1 Its primary purpose is to translate the measured acceleration data into relevant information that describes adequately the individual behavior in terms of physical activity and sedentariness. This information can be specific both for the monitoring period of interest and for some feature(s) of the monitored individual: for example, his/her daily/weekly PA and SB profile, daily energy expenditure, met PA recommendations, or risk of diseases. Modern accelerometry is based on continuous measurement of movementinduced raw acceleration signal in three orthogonal directions.2 Present accelerometers are lightweight, small, waterresistant, and noninvasive electronic devices which can be attached to the body with an elastic belt, wristband, clip, or adhesive pad, as appropriate. As the commercial sensor components used in accelerometers usually are accurate, the task seems simple—just use a wellcalibrated triaxial accelerometer and start measuring the body acceleration and interpreting the measured data in a reasonable way. However, the actual task is much more complicated because of several inherent issues and concerns in accelerometry. These include (but are not limited to) technical specifications of the accelerometer, body site of attachment, wear time of the accelerometer, metrics derived from the acceleration data, epoch length used in the data analysis, and cutpoints used for classifying PA and SB. This editorial briefly addresses these topics.
Reducing signal loss of the parahippocampal gyrus improves imaging of the default‐mode network in 3.0‐T MRI: the effect of susceptibility‐induced field gradients

Previous investigations have indicated that the default‐mode network (DMN) is highly involved in memory processing in the parahippocampal gyrus (PHC). However, because of susceptibility‐related signal loss, parahippocampal activation in the DMN is difficult to detect in resting‐state functional MRI experiments that are conducted using a 3.0‐T MRI scanner. This study investigated the magnetic field gradients of various brain regions and attempted to compensate for signal loss in the PHC using an optimized slice orientation. The field gradients, signal intensities and DMN functional connectivity (FC) of the PHC were investigated using datasets acquired from 18 healthy volunteers. The results show that the field gradient component parallel to the main magnetic field dominates the PHC. The results indicate that the signal intensities and FC of the DMN are significantly low in the PHC when the slice orientation of the imaging plane is transversal. Whether the voxel dimension is isotropic or anisotropic exerts a minimal effect in altering the slice orientation dependence. In conclusion, the results of this study support the selection of the coronal or sagittal planes for imaging of the DMN. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combined Medical Treatment Of Chronic Pancreatitis

Abstract The aim of the study was to determine the most effective medical treatment of patients with chronic pancreatitis, by using either pancreatin alone or in combination with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) or PPI and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Patients with chronic pancreatitis, who did not require a surgical treatment, received medical treatment for a one–month period: 20 patients received pancreatin monotherapy; 48 patients were given a combination of pancreatin and PPI; 38 patients were treated with a combination of pancreatin, PPI and NSAID (PNP therapy group). In comparison with other groups, patients in the PNP therapy group showed improvement in body mass index, abdominal pain, bowel movements, chronic pancreatitis severity, as well as their quality of life assessment (p < 0.05). The combination of pancreatin, PPI and NSAID was the most effective among those applied in chronic pancreatitis patient treatment. A one–month long course of this therapy was safe and did not cause any significant adverse effects. The combination of pancreatin, PPI and NSAID for treatment of chronic pancreatitis can be recommended, as it is based on pathogenesis of the disease, effective, safe and economically advantageous.
Influence of fat–water separation and spatial resolution on automated volumetric MRI measurements of fibroglandular breast tissue

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of fat–water separation and spatial resolution in MRI on the results of automated quantitative measurements of fibroglandular breast tissue (FGT). Ten healthy volunteers (age range, 28–71 years; mean, 39.9 years) were included in this Institutional Review Board‐approved prospective study. All measurements were performed on a 1.5‐T scanner (Siemens, AvantoFit) using an 18‐channel breast coil. The protocols included isotropic (Di) [TR/TE1/TE2 = 6.00 ms/2.45 ms/2.67 ms; flip angle, 6.0°; 256 slices; matrix, 360 × 360; 1 mm isotropic; field of view, 360°; acquisition time (TA) = 3 min 38 s] and anisotropic (Da) (TR/TE1/TE2 = 10.00 ms/2.39 ms/4.77 ms; flip angle, 24.9°; 80 slices; matrix 360 × 360; voxel size, 0.7 × 0.7 × 2.0 mm3; field of view, 360°; TA = 1 min 25 s) T1 three‐dimensional (3D) fast low‐angle shot (FLASH) Dixon sequences, and a T1 3D FLASH sequence with the same resolution (T1) without (TR/TE = 11.00 ms/4.76 ms; flip angle, 25.0°; 80 slices; matrix, 360 × 360; voxel size, 0.7 × 0.7 × 2.0 mm3; field of view, 360°; TA = 50 s) and with (TR/TE = 29.00 ms/4.76 ms; flip angle, 25.0°; 80 slices; matrix, 360 × 360; voxel size, 0.7 × 0.7 × 2.0 mm3; field of view, 360°; TA = 2 min 35 s) fat saturation. Repeating volunteer measurements after 20 min and repositioning were used to assess reproducibility. An automated and quantitative volumetric breast density measurement system was used for FGT calculation. FGT with Di, Da and T1 measured 4.6–63.0% (mean, 30.6%), 3.2–65.3% (mean, 32.5%) and 1.7–66.5% (mean, 33.7%), respectively. The highest correlation between different MRI sequences was found with the Di and Da sequences (R2 = 0.976). Coefficients of variation (CVs) for FGT calculation were higher in T1 (CV = 21.5%) compared with Dixon (Di, CV = 5.1%; Da, CV = 4.2%) sequences. Dixon‐type sequences worked well for FGT measurements, even at lower resolution, whereas the conventional T1‐weighted sequence was more sensitive to decreasing resolution. The Dixon fat–water separation technique showed superior repeatability of FGT measurements compared with conventional sequences. A standard dynamic protocol using Dixon fat–water separation is best suited for combined diagnostic purposes and prognostic measurements of FGT. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Usefulness of maximal oxygen pulse in timing of pulmonary valve replacement in patients with isolated pulmonary regurgitation

Patients with pulmonary regurgitation after tetralogy of Fallot repair have impaired aerobic capacity; one of the reasons is the decreasing global ventricular performance at exercise, reflected by decreasing peak oxygen pulse. The aims of our study were to evaluate the impact of pulmonary valve replacement on peak oxygen pulse in a population with pure pulmonary regurgitation and with different degrees of right ventricular dilatation and to determine the predictors of peak oxygen pulse after pulmonary valve replacement. The mean and median age at pulmonary valve replacement was 27 years. Mean pre-procedural right ventricular end-diastolic volume was 182 ml/m2. Out of 24 patients, 15 had abnormal peak oxygen pulse before pulmonary valve replacement. We did not observe a significant increase in peak oxygen pulse after pulmonary valve replacement (p=0.76). Among cardiopulmonary test/MRI/historical pre-procedural parameters, peak oxygen pulse appeared to be the best predictor of peak oxygen pulse after pulmonary valve replacement (positive and negative predictive values, respectively, 0.94 and 1). After pulmonary valve replacement, peak oxygen pulse was well correlated with left ventricular stroke and end-diastolic volumes (r=0.67 and 0.68, respectively). Our study confirms the absence of an effect of pulmonary valve replacement on peak oxygen pulse whatever the initial right ventricular volume, reflecting possible irreversible right and/or left ventricle lesions. Pre-procedural peak oxygen pulse seemed to well predict post-procedural peak oxygen pulse. These results encourage discussions on pulmonary valve replacement in patients showing any decrease in peak oxygen pulse during their follow-up.
ASSESSING THE EFFICACY OF THE CALENDAR METHOD WITH OKLAHOMA CITY ARRESTEES

ABSTRACT While a plethora of research has ascertained that respondents underreport their recent use of illicit drugs, few studies have attempted to improve the validity of self-reported drug use. The Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) Program is a federally funded drug use surveillance system that has been collecting data from arrestees since 1987. In 2000, the ADAM Program fielded a new data collection instrument that uses a calendar method to enhance the reporting of personal drug use. To date, however, no research has assessed the degree to which this calendar method has improved drug use reporting among ADAM arrestees. To address this limitation, urinalysis results and 30-day self-report measures for marijuana, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and heroin use collected in Oklahoma City in 1999 are compared to identical drug use measures collected in 2000. In addition, kappa statistics for marijuana, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and heroin use are generated for each of the two time frames. Results indicate that, despite virtually identical drug-positive rates within the two samples of arrestees, the introduction of the calendar method in 2000 had no significant effect on the reporting of recent marijuana, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and heroin use. Implications for the ADAM Program and survey methodology are discussed.
Comparison of single‐ and dual‐monitor approaches to differentiate sitting from lying in free‐living conditions

High levels of sedentary time have been detrimentally linked to health outcomes. Differentiating sitting from lying may help to further understand the mechanisms associated with these health impacts. This study compares the inter‐method agreement between the “single‐monitor” method (thigh‐worn activPAL3TM) and a more robustly validated “dual‐monitor” method (trunk and thigh‐worn activPAL3TM) in their classifications of sitting and lying under free‐living conditions. Thirty‐five participants (20‐50 years) wore two activity monitors (thigh and trunk) for 24 hours. Total time spent lying and sitting was calculated for both methods, and agreement was determined using ICC and Bland‐Altman methods. As there was no gold standard, further data were collected from five participants during structured activities that were designed to challenge classification, to better understand any disagreement between the methods. ICCs were 0.81 for sitting time and 0.64 for lying time. The single‐monitor method detected less lying time than the dual‐monitor method, with a mean difference of −25 minutes (95% agreement limits: −172 to 221 minutes), including three cases with extreme disagreement (mostly in daytime lying classification). The additional data collection suggested a major source of disagreement was failure of the single‐monitor method to identify lying that involved no rotation around the longitudinal axis. In conclusion, there was some agreement between the single‐ and dual‐monitor estimates of lying time under free‐living conditions, but measures were not interchangeable. The main disagreement was in how the methods classified daytime lying and lying tasks involving no lateral movement. Both methods yield promise for measuring time in bed.
Characterization of the response of taurine protons to PRESS at 9.4 T for Resolving choline and Determining taurine T2

Point‐resolved spectroscopy (PRESS), characterized by two TEs (TE1 and TE2), can be employed to perform animal magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies at 9.4 T. Taurine (Tau) and choline (Cho) are relevant metabolites that can be measured by MRS. In this work, the response of the J‐coupled protons of Tau as a function of PRESS TE1 and TE2 was characterized at 9.4 T to achieve two objectives. The first was to determine two TE1 and TE2 combinations that could be used to obtain T2‐corrected measures of Tau (3.42 ppm) that were minimally influenced by J coupling. The second was to exploit the Tau J coupling to find a timing combination that minimized the 3.25‐ppm Tau signal to enable the Cho (3.22 ppm) resonance to be resolved from the overlapping Tau signal. The response of Tau protons was investigated both numerically and experimentally. It was numerically determined that the timings {TE1, TE2} = {17 ms, 10 ms} and {TE1, TE2} = {80 ms, 70 ms} yielded similar 3.42‐ppm Tau resonance areas (5% difference), rendering them suitable for Tau T2 determination. {TE1, TE2} = {25 ms, 50 ms} was found to yield minimal 3.25‐ppm Tau signal, reducing its interference with Cho. The efficacy of the timings was demonstrated on phantom solutions and in vivo in four Sprague Dawley rats. LCModel was employed to analyse the in vivo spectra and Tau T2 values were estimated by fitting the Tau peak areas obtained with {TE1, TE2} = {17 ms, 10 ms} and {TE1, TE2} = {80 ms, 70 ms} to a monoexponentially decaying function. An average Tau T2 of 106 ms (standard deviation, 12 ms) was obtained. LCModel analysis of rat spectra obtained with {TE1, TE2} = {25 ms, 50 ms} demonstrated negligible levels of Tau signal, compared with that obtained with short TE.
Ultra-rapid opiate detoxification in hospital

Aims and method To evaluate ultra-rapid opiate detoxification under sedation. Symptom control was analysed in the first 12 hours of detoxification in 20 patients and case notes were examined 12 weeks later for outcome. Results Good symptom control was achieved, except for restlessness. At 12 weeks 25% patients were abstinent. Clinical implications While long-term outcome is similar to conventional methadone detoxification, the ultra-rapid technique is safe, more acceptable to patients and more cost-effective.
Effects of biological tissue structural anisotropy and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility on the gradient echo MRI signal phase: theoretical background

Quantitative susceptibility mapping is a potentially powerful technique for mapping tissue magnetic susceptibility from gradient recalled echo (GRE) MRI signal phase. In this review, we present up‐to‐date theoretical developments in analyzing the relationships between GRE signal phase and the underlying tissue microstructure and magnetic susceptibility at the cellular level. Two important phenomena contributing to the GRE signal phase are at the focus of this review – tissue structural anisotropy (e.g. cylindrical axonal bundles in white matter) and magnetic susceptibility anisotropy. One of the most intriguing and challenging problems in this field is calculating the so‐called Lorentzian contribution to the phase shift induced by the local environment – magnetized tissue structures that have dimensions smaller than the imaging voxel (e.g. cells, cellular components, blood capillaries). In this review, we briefly discuss a “standard” approach to this problem, based on introduction of an imaginary Lorentzian cavity, as well as a more recent method – the generalized Lorentzian tensor approach (GLTA) – that is based on a statistical approach and a direct solution of the magnetostatic Maxwell equations. The latter adequately accounts for both types of anisotropy: the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and the structural tissue anisotropy. In the GLTA the frequency shift due to the local environment is characterized by the Lorentzian tensor L^ , which has a substantially different structure than the susceptibility tensor χ^ . While the components of χ^ are compartmental susceptibilities “weighted” by their volume fractions, the components of L^ are weighted by specific numerical factors depending on tissue geometrical microsymmetry. In multi‐compartment structures, the components of the Lorentzian tensor also depend on the compartmental relaxation properties, hence the MR pulse sequence settings. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.