The total entropy for evaluating 31P-magnetic resonance spectra of the liver in healthy volunteers and patients with metastases.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The authors describe the clinical status of liver tissue with only a single numerical quantity (total entropy) derived from spectroscopic data of 31P-magnetic resonance (MR) spectra. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with liver metastases and 20 volunteers were investigated with image-guided volume selective 31P-MR spectroscopy on a 1.5-T whole body scanner. From each in vivo 31P-MR spectrum, the ratios of phosphomonoester (PME)/beta-adenosine triphosphate (ATP), inorganic phosphate (Pi)/beta-ATP and phosphodiester (PDE)/ beta-ATP and the total entropy (H*) were calculated. Mean values and standard deviations were determined and significance of the differences were tested with Student's t test. RESULTS: For patients, the H* = 4.7 +/- 4.3, PME/beta-ATP 0.72 +/- 0.28, Pi/beta-ATP = 1.00 +/- 0.39, PDE/beta-ATP = 1.68 +/- 0.59. For the volunteers, H* = 7.6 +/- 2.5, PME/beta-ATP = 0.39 +/- 0.15, Pi/beta-ATP = 0.90 +/- 0.19, PDE/beta-ATP = 1.25 +/- 0.28. The total entropy of patients' spectra showed significantly lower values compared with those of volunteers. PME/beta-ATP and PDE/beta-ATP of the patients increased and differed significantly from volunteer data. CONCLUSIONS: It was demonstrated that the results of in vivo 31P-MR spectroscopy may be described with a single criterion by means of the total entropy.

[31P-MR spectroscopy of liver diseases with reference to variable pulse recovery times]. / 31P-MR-Spektroskopie von Lebererkrankungen unter Berücksichtigung von unterschiedlichen Pulswiederholungszeiten.

The value of 31P-MRS for different types of liver disease and the effect of repetition time (TR) on measurements of relative phosphor metabolite concentrations was studied. Spectroscopy was performed on 26 patients with predominantly focal liver disease and on 14 normals, using a 1.5 Tesla clinical MR system. In all cases, (TR) of 2,400 ms was chosen and in 11 patients and 10 normals additionally shorter (TR) of 600 ms (with T1 weighted spectra) was chosen. The results show that PME/beta-ATP and PDE/beta-ATP are sensitive indicators of liver disease and differ widely from the findings in normal livers. In patients with liver metastases, the long (TR) of 2,400 ms (16 cases) showed an increase of PME/beta-ATP (0.96 +/- 0.32) and significant reduction of PDE/beta-ATP (1.89 +/- 0.47) as compared with normals (PME/beta-ATP = 0.75 +/- 0.26 and PDE/beta-ATP = 2.27 +/- 0.41), for a (TR) of 600 ms, PME/beta-ATP (0.87 +/- 0.47) and PDE/beta-ATP (1.82 +/- 0.67) are significantly increased. T1 weighted spectra showed more significant differences in phosphometabolites between patients and normals than density weighted spectra. The spectra in patients showed a significantly reduced signal to noise ratio independent of the (TR).

Radiant cured polymer optical waveguides on printed circuit boards for photonic interconnection use.

We report a simple technique for patterning channelized optical waveguides on standard electronic printed circuit card material. The technique exploits the abundance of transparent, radiant-curing polymer adhesives in the fiber optics and the dental industries. The process is compatible with standard printed circuit card fabrication processes; hence its applicability to optical interconnection scenarios. We report typical guide losses in the 0.4-0.6-dB/cm range. Measurements were made using an automated noninvasive, nondestructive technique, also briefly described here. Simple structures, such as splitters, bus lines, and 90 degrees bends were fabricated and are described. Optical coupling to the waveguides from packaged devices is also discussed.