Accelerated Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using Multiband Echo-Planar Imaging with Controlled Aliasing

PURPOSE: To report the use of multiband accelerated echo-planar imaging (EPI) for resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) to achieve rapid high temporal resolution at 3T compared to conventional EPI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: rs-fMRI data were acquired from 20 healthy right-handed volunteers by using three methods: conventional single-band gradient-echo EPI acquisition (Data 1), multiband gradient-echo EPI acquisition with 240 volumes (Data 2) and 480 volumes (Data 3). Temporal signal-to-noise ratio (tSNR) maps were obtained by dividing the mean of the time course of each voxel by its temporal standard deviation. The resting-state sensorimotor network (SMN) and default mode network (DMN) were estimated using independent component analysis (ICA) and a seed-based method. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed between the tSNR map, SMN, and DMN from the three data sets for between-group analysis. P < 0.05 with a family-wise error (FWE) correction for multiple comparisons was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: One-way ANOVA and post-hoc two-sample t-tests showed that the tSNR was higher in Data 1 than Data 2 and 3 in white matter structures such as the striatum and medial and superior longitudinal fasciculus. One-way ANOVA revealed no differences in SMN or DMN across the three data sets. CONCLUSION: Within the adapted metrics estimated under specific imaging conditions employed in this study, multiband accelerated EPI, which substantially reduced scan times, provides the same quality image of functional connectivity as rs-fMRI by using conventional EPI at 3T. Under employed imaging conditions, this technique shows strong potential for clinical acceptance and translation of rs-fMRI protocols with potential advantages in spatial and/or temporal resolution. However, further study is warranted to evaluate whether the current findings can be generalized in diverse settings.

Guild-wire for selective biliary cannulation of proximal biliary obstruction / 中华消化内镜杂志

Objective To explore the application value of the guide-wire for selective biliary cannulation of proximal biliary obstruction.Methods A total of 344 patients with proximal biliary obstruction were treated by endosocopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography.Various guide-wire skills,were applied to pass through the stricture of bile duct,so as to reach the target bile duct,and analyzed for their therapeutic effects.Results Selective biliary cannulation of proximal biliary obstruction was completed in 336 patients,after successful cholangiography for therapeutic operation.The overall success rate was 97.67％.There was no procedure-related complications,such as hemobilia or perforation.Conclusion The guide-wire for selective biliary cannulation of proximal biliary obstruction not only improves the success rate of therapeutic endoscopy but also reduces the procedure time and the incidence of complications.

Endoscopic precut sphincterotomy for malignant biliary obstruction / 中华消化内镜杂志

Objective To evaluate the endoscopic precut sphincterotomy for malignant biliary obstruction. Methods Endoscopic precut sphincterotomy was performed in different ways for 46 patients with malignant biliary obstruction and difficult biliary cannulation according to the anatomic structure of the papilla and cannulation. Ways of precut were summarized and complications were analyzed. Results Precut sphincterotomy was performed with bow-like knife in 4 patients, with needle-knife in 24, with trans-pancreatic sphincterotomy in 12 and with combined ways in 6. The procedure succeeded in 35 cases (76. 1%, 35/46). Post-procedure complications included bleeding in 3 patients, pancreatitis in 1, hyper-amylasemia in 2and cholangitis in 1. No perforation was found. Conclusion Endoscopic precut sphincterotomy is not only able to improve the therapeutic endoscopy achievement rate in patients with malignant biliary obstruction, but also to lower the incidence of complications if used adequately.

Study on the pit patterns of colorectal neoplastic lesions with the expression of PCNA and survivin mRNA / 中国医师杂志

Objective To study the relationship of pit pattern in the progress of colorectal and the expression of PCNA and survivin in pit pattern. Methods Chromoendoscopy observation results were recorded according to the pit pattern classification proposed by Kudo. These results were divided into 6 groups according to the pit pattern and the results of histophathology. Expression of PCNA and surviving mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. Statistical analysis was performed using χ2 test , Fisher's exact test or Spearman rank correlation with SPSS 12.0 software package. Results In 6 groups classified according to the pit patterns, the expression rate of PCNA mRNA in type Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ L, Ⅳ, V 1 and VN were 0% (0/13), 12.5% (1/8), 38.9% (7/18), 66.7% (12/18), 75.0% (3/4) and 100.0% (9/9), the expression rate of survivin mRNA in type Ⅰ,Ⅱ, Ⅲ L, Ⅳ, V 1 and V N were 0%, (0/13), 12.5% (1/8), 22.2% (4/18), 44.4% (8/18), 50.0% (2/4) and 77.8% (7/9), respectively. Conclusions The expression of survivin and PCNA mRNA had positive correlation in the coloree-tal lesions classified whether by the pit patterns or histophathology. Study of the two genes simultaneously could complement each other and reflect the biological characteristics of colorectal cancer more accurately.