Análisis nosológico con parámetros de perfusión tisular de RM obtenidos mediante los modelos monocompartimental y farmacocinético en los glioblastomas cerebrales / Nosological analysis of MRI tissue perfusion parameters obtained using the unicompartmental and pharmacokinetic models in cerebral glioblastomas

Objetivos. Clasificar las áreas tumorales en pacientes con astrocitoma de grado IV mediante el cálculo y análisis estadístico de parámetros cuantitativos de perfusión por RM. Material y métodos. Se aplicaron 2 modelos de perfusión por RM, monocompartimental y farmacocinético, en 15 pacientes diagnosticados de astrocitoma grado IV. Con el modelo monocompartimental se cuantificó el volumen sanguíneo cerebral (VSC), el tiempo de tránsito medio (TTM) y el flujo sanguíneo cerebral (FSC). Con el farmacocinético se midió la constante de permeabilidad (Ktrans), el coeficiente de extracción (kep), la fracción de volumen del espacio intersticial (ve), la fracción de volumen vascular (vp), la permeabilidad en primer paso (Kfp) y el volumen vascular en primer paso (vpfp). Para cada parámetro se obtuvieron los histogramas del área tumoral total, peritumoral y sana. El análisis estadístico incluyó un análisis de varianza para cada parámetro y un análisis discriminante. Resultados. Las diferencias más significativas entre las regiones se obtuvieron con el VSC, FSC, Ktrans y vpfp, siendo VSC el que mostró mejores resultados. La mejor función clasificatoria mediante análisis discriminante se obtuvo para una combinación de Ktrans y VSC. El análisis de la forma del histograma evidenció diferencias estadísticamente significativas para la curtosis de Ktrans y kep, así como para la asimetría de VSC, FSC, Ktrans y vpfp. Conclusión. El VSC es el parámetro que aisladamente permitió diferenciar mejor entre área tumoral, peritumoral y sana. La función clasificatoria generada a partir de VSC y Ktrans consiguió mejorar estos resultados haciendo más eficaz la clasificación por áreas (AU)

Objectives. To classify the tumor areas in patients with grade IV astrocytoma by calculating and statistically analyzing quantitative MRI perfusion parameters. Material and methods. We applied two models of MRI perfusion, the unicompartmental and the pharmacokinetic models, in 15 patients diagnosed with grade IV astrocytoma. In the unicompartmental model, we quantified cerebral blood volume (CBV), mean transit time (MTT), and cerebral blood flow (CBF). In the pharmacokinetic model, we measured the permeability constant (Ktrans), the extraction coefficient (kep), the fraction of the volume in the interstitial space (ve), the fraction of the volume in the vessels (vp), the permeability in the first pass (Kfp), and the vascular volume in the first pass (vpfp). For each parameter, histograms were obtained for the total tumor area, for the peritumoral area, and for the healthy tissue. The statistical analysis included an analysis of variance for each parameter and a discriminant analysis. Results. The most significant differences between the regions were obtained with CBV, CBF, Ktrans, and vpfp; of these, CBV had the best results. The best classificatory function on the discriminant analysis was the combination of Ktrans and CBV. The analysis of the shape of the histogram showed statistically significant differences for the kurtosis of Ktrans and kep, as well as for the skewness of CBV, CBF, Ktrans, and vpfp. Conclusion. When parameters are considered individually, CBV is the one that best enables differentiation between tumor, peritumoral, and healthy tissue. The classificatory function generated from CBV and Ktrans results in improved classification by areas (AU)

[Nosological analysis of MRI tissue perfusion parameters obtained using the unicompartmental and pharmacokinetic models in cerebral glioblastomas]. / Análisis nosológico con parámetros de perfusión tisular de RM obtenidos mediante los modelos monocompartimental y farmacocinético en los glioblastomas cerebrales.

OBJECTIVES: To classify the tumor areas in patients with grade IV astrocytoma by calculating and statistically analyzing quantitative MRI perfusion parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We applied two models of MRI perfusion, the unicompartmental and the pharmacokinetic models, in 15 patients diagnosed with grade IV astrocytoma. In the unicompartmental model, we quantified cerebral blood volume (CBV), mean transit time (MTT), and cerebral blood flow (CBF). In the pharmacokinetic model, we measured the permeability constant (K(trans)), the extraction coefficient (k(ep)), the fraction of the volume in the interstitial space (v(e)), the fraction of the volume in the vessels (v(p)), the permeability in the first pass (K(fp)), and the vascular volume in the first pass (v(pfp)). For each parameter, histograms were obtained for the total tumor area, for the peritumoral area, and for the healthy tissue. The statistical analysis included an analysis of variance for each parameter and a discriminant analysis. RESULTS: The most significant differences between the regions were obtained with CBV, CBF, K(trans), and v(pfp); of these, CBV had the best results. The best classificatory function on the discriminant analysis was the combination of K(trans) and CBV. The analysis of the shape of the histogram showed statistically significant differences for the kurtosis of K(trans) and k(ep), as well as for the skewness of CBV, CBF, K(trans), and v(pfp). CONCLUSION: When parameters are considered individually, CBV is the one that best enables differentiation between tumor, peritumoral, and healthy tissue. The classificatory function generated from CBV and K(trans) results in improved classification by areas.

Modificación del tiempo de relajación longitudinal (T1) como biomarcador de la degeneración del cartílago patelar / Modification of longitudinal relaxation time (T1) as a biomarker of patellar cartilage degeneration

Objetivos. Estudiar la viabilidad del tiempo de relajación longitudinal (T1) en RM del cartílago patelar como biomarcador del grado de degeneración. Material y métodos. Se incluyeron 15 sujetos clasificados mediante criterios clínicos (dolor, limitación funcional y duración de la sintomatología) y de imagen como normales (3 hombres, 2 mujeres, 30±14 años), con degeneración inicial del cartílago patelar (3 hombres, 2 mujeres, 30±6 años) y con degeneración avanzada (3 hombres, 2 mujeres, 57±10 años). A todos se les realizó un estudio de RM con secuencias especiales eco de gradiente para segmentar el cartílago y calcular los mapas de T1. Se seleccionó el cartílago completo y las regiones de interés clasificadas en base a criterios clínico-radiológicos como normalidad, degeneración inicial y degeneración avanzada. Los valores de T1 del cartílago se obtuvieron píxel a píxel y se calcularon como la media para todo el cartílago o por subregiones (normal, inicial, avanzada). Las diferencias entre grupos para el cartílago completo y las regiones se analizaron mediante ANOVA Student-Newman-Keuls. La reproducibilidad se estudió mediante el coeficiente de varianza. Resultados. El análisis global del cartílago no presentó diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los 3 grupos (normal: 1.003±172ms; inicial: 1.064±124ms; avanzada: 1.041±308ms, p=0,665). En cambio, en el análisis por regiones se obtuvieron diferencias significativas (normal: 908±53ms; degeneración inicial: 1.057±157 ms; degeneración avanzada: 1.133±116 ms; p=0,029). El estudio de reproducibilidad ofreció variaciones del 1,3% para el cálculo global, del 3,7% para el regional, y del 8,2% para la adquisición. Conclusión. En este estudio preliminar, el cálculo del T1 del cartílago permite diferenciar regiones con diferente grado de degeneración (AU)

Objectives. To study the viability of longitudinal relaxation time (T1) of patellar cartilage as a biomarker of the degree of degeneration. Material and methods. We included 15 subjects classified into three groups according to clinical criteria (pain, functional limitation, and duration of symptoms) and imaging criteria as follows: (a) normal (3 men, 2 women; age 30±14 years), (b) with initial degeneration of the patellar cartilage (3 men, 2 women; age 30±6 years), or (c) with advanced degeneration (3 men, 2 women; age 57±10 years). All underwent MRI examination using special echo-gradient sequences to segment the cartilage and calculate the T1 maps. We selected the entire cartilage and the regions of interest classified according to clinical and imaging criteria as normal, initial degeneration, and advanced degeneration. The T1 values of the cartilage were obtained pixel by pixel and were calculated as the mean for the entire cartilage or by subregions (normal, initial, advanced). Differences between groups for the entire cartilage and the regions were analyzed using Student-Newman-Keuls post-hoc ANOVA. Reproducibility was evaluated using the coefficient of variance. Results. No significant differences in the overall analysis of the entire cartilage were found between the three groups (normal: 1003±172ms, initial: 1064±124ms, advanced: 1041±308ms, p=0.665). However, the analysis by regions revealed significant differences (normal: 908±53ms, initial degeneration: 1057±157ms, advanced degeneration: 1133±116ms, p=0.029). The reproducibility analysis found variations of 1.3% for the overall calculation, 3.7% for the regional calculation, and 8.2% for the acquisition. Conclusion. In this preliminary study, calculating the T1 of the cartilage enabled regions with different degrees of degeneration to be differentiated (AU)

[Modification of longitudinal relaxation time (T1) as a biomarker of patellar cartilage degeneration]. / Modificación del tiempo de relajación longitudinal (T1) como biomarcador de la degeneración del cartílago patelar.

OBJECTIVES: To study the viability of longitudinal relaxation time (T1) of patellar cartilage as a biomarker of the degree of degeneration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 15 subjects classified into three groups according to clinical criteria (pain, functional limitation, and duration of symptoms) and imaging criteria as follows: (a) normal (3 men, 2 women; age 30+/-14 years), (b) with initial degeneration of the patellar cartilage (3 men, 2 women; age 30+/-6 years), or (c) with advanced degeneration (3 men, 2 women; age 57+/-10 years). All underwent MRI examination using special echo-gradient sequences to segment the cartilage and calculate the T1 maps. We selected the entire cartilage and the regions of interest classified according to clinical and imaging criteria as normal, initial degeneration, and advanced degeneration. The T1 values of the cartilage were obtained pixel by pixel and were calculated as the mean for the entire cartilage or by subregions (normal, initial, advanced). Differences between groups for the entire cartilage and the regions were analyzed using Student-Newman-Keuls post-hoc ANOVA. Reproducibility was evaluated using the coefficient of variance. RESULTS: No significant differences in the overall analysis of the entire cartilage were found between the three groups (normal: 1003+/-172 ms, initial: 1064+/-124 ms, advanced: 1041+/-308 ms, p=0.665). However, the analysis by regions revealed significant differences (normal: 908+/-53 ms, initial degeneration: 1057+/-157 ms, advanced degeneration: 1133+/-116 ms, p=0.029). The reproducibility analysis found variations of 1.3% for the overall calculation, 3.7% for the regional calculation, and 8.2% for the acquisition. CONCLUSION: In this preliminary study, calculating the T1 of the cartilage enabled regions with different degrees of degeneration to be differentiated.

Haloanisole and halophenol contamination in Spanish aged red wines.

This is the first study to be carried out on the incidence of halophenols and haloanisoles, including trichloroanisole, in aged red wines. A total of 966 red wines, aged for 6, 12 and 24 months in oak barrels and from different Spanish production areas, were analysed by stir bar sorptive extraction followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). From the wines sampled, 155 (16.1%) were contaminated with one or several compounds, with 7.6, 6.9 and 1.5% corresponding to the 12- (aged-12), 6- (aged-6) and 24-month-aged (aged-24) wines, respectively. The most abundant compounds causing taint were 2,3,4,6-tetrachloroanisole and 2,4,6-trichloroanisol (6.8 and 5.3%, respectively). No 2,4,6-tribromophenol was found in any of the samples. Contamination with halo compounds was highest in samples from South-West Spain, followed by those from Northern Spain. The mean concentration for all compounds were always higher than their respective olfactory threshold, but none of these halo compounds represent a health hazard to humans through the consumption of commercial red aged wines.

Mood changes after delivery: role of the serotonin transporter gene.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphic variations in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) moderate the depressogenic effects of tryptophan depletion. After childbirth there is a sharp reduction in brain tryptophan availability, thus polymorphic variations in 5-HTT may play a similar role in the post-partum period. AIMS: To study the role of 5-HTT polymorphic variations in mood changes after delivery. METHOD: One thousand, eight hundred and four depression-free Spanish women were studied post-partum. We evaluated depressive symptoms at 2-3 days, 8 weeks and 32 weeks post-partum. We used diagnostic interview to confirm major depression for all probable cases. Based on two polymorphisms of 5-HTT (5-HTTLPR and STin2 VNTR), three genotype combinations were created to reflect different levels of 5-HTT expression. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-three women (12.7%) experienced major depression during the 32-week post-partum period. Depressive symptoms were associated with the high-expression 5-HTT genotypes in a dose-response fashion at 8 weeks post-partum, but not at 32 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: High-expression 5-HTT genotypes may render women more vulnerable to depressive symptoms after childbirth.