CONTRAST‐ENHANCED MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY FOR DIAGNOSIS OF PORTOSYSTEMIC SHUNTS IN 10 DOGS

Computed tomography angiography, sonography, scintigraphy, and portography can be used to evaluate the portal vasculature to evaluate for a portosystemic shunt (PSS). Time‐of‐flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF‐MRA) and contrast‐enhanced MRA (CE‐MRA) are other potentially useful techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate CE‐MRA in 10 dogs suspected of having a PSS. Noncontrast MR images of the abdomen were obtained using a Siemens Symphony MR‐scanner (1.5 T) and a T1‐weighted FLASH‐3D sequence with a very short scan time (about 20 s). After injection of contrast medium, the initial sequence was repeated five times. The sequence with the best contrast medium filling of the portal vasculature was selected subjectively, subtracted from the initial survey image series, and a maximum intensity projection (MIP) of the subtraction data, in multiple views, was created. The cross‐sectional and MIP images were evaluated for abnormal portosystemic vasculature. A single PSS was identified and confirmed at surgery in all dogs. A portocaval shunt was found in five dogs, a portophrenic shunt in three dogs, a portoazygos shunt in one, and a central divisional intrahepatic shunt in one other dog. Based on our results, CE‐MRA is a useful tool for imaging abdominal and portal vasculature and for the diagnosis of a PSS.     

52Mn translocation in barley monitored using a positron-emitting tracer imaging system

Abstract

Until now, the real-time uptake and movement of manganese (Mn), an essential plant nutrient, has not been documented in plants. In this study, the real-time translocation of Mn in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Ehimehadaka no. 1) was visualized using the positron-emitting tracer ⁵²Mn and a positron-emitting tracer imaging system (PETIS). PETIS allowed the non-destructive monitoring of Mn translocation in barley under various conditions. In all cases, ⁵²Mn first accumulated in the discrimination center (DC) at the basal portion of the shoot, suggesting that this region may play an important role in Mn distribution in graminaceous plants. Manganese-deficient barley showed greater translocation of ⁵²Mn from roots to shoots than did Mn-sufficient barley, demonstrating that Mn deficiency causes enhanced Mn uptake and loading into vascular bundles. In contrast, the translocation of ⁵²Mn from roots to shoots was suppressed in Mn-excess barley. In these plants, the uptake of Mn may be suppressed or Mn may accumulate in the intercellular organelles of root cells, resulting in low rates of Mn translocation to shoots. In Mn-sufficient barley, the dark treatment did not suppress the translocation of ⁵²Mn to the youngest leaf, suggesting that the translocation of Mn to the youngest leaf is independent of the transpiration stream. When ⁵²Mn was supplied to the cut end of an expanded leaf, ⁵²Mn was transported to the DC within 27 min and then retranslocated to roots and other leaves. Our results show that the translocation of Mn from the roots to the DC depends passively on water flow, but actively on the Mn transporter(s).     

EX VIVO MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE DISTAL ROW OF EQUINE CARPAL BONES: ASSESSMENT OF BONE SCLEROSIS AND CARTILAGE DAMAGE

The distal row of carpal bones (C2, C3, and C4) from eight left intercarpal joints--four from Standardbred Trotters and four from Swedish Warmblood horses--were used to assess the potential of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to detect cartilage and bone lesions. The joints used in the study were classified by macroscopic and radiographic examinations as having normal, mild, moderate, or severe articular cartilage lesions and bone sclerosis. Those classifications correlated well with the appearance of the MR images. Bone sclerosis in the MR images was observed as regions of decreased signal intensity. Upon quantitative analysis of the MR images there was a significant difference (p < 0.0001) in the MR signal intensity from areas where radiographic bone sclerosis was observed compared to areas of radiographic nonsclerotic bone. In addition, the MR images were used to pilot the location of histology slices through areas of interest that were then examined microscopically; hence, the lesions found from the MR imaging examination were verified microscopically. It was concluded that cartilage lesions and cartilage loss are related to the sclerotic state of the underlying bone. The MR protocols developed in this study were applied on five intact cadaveric carpal joints, and it was concluded that MR imaging could successfully be used in the intact joint to detect minor cartilage and bone lesions not visualized by either radiography or macroscopic examination. Hence, MR imaging can be used to delineate interactions between articular cartilage and subchondral bone over time and in vivo.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF CANINE DEGENERATIVE LUMBAR SPINE DISEASES

Degenerative lumbar spine diseases, i.e., sacrolumbar stenosis, intervertebral disk degeneration and protrusion and spondylosis deformans of the canine lumbar spine were studied in eleven canine patients and three healthy controls using radiography and 0.02 T and 0.04 T low field magnetic resonance imaging. The T1 and T2 weighted images were obtained in sagittal and transverse planes. The loss of hydration of nucleus pulposus, taken as a sign of degeneration in the intervertebral disks, could be evaluated in both T1 and T2 weighted images. As a noninvasive method magnetic resonance imaging gave more exact information about the condition of intervertebral disks than did radiography. Sacrolumbar stenosis and compression of the spinal cord or cauda equina and surrounding tissue could be evaluated without contrast medium.     

QUANTIFICATION OF CEREBRAL VENTRICULAR VOLUME IN ENGLISH BULLDOGS

Quantitative measurement of cerebral ventricle volume of eight English bulldogs was performed using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The mean ventricular volume was 14.8 ml. with a range of 8.6 m1.-38.1 ml. The mean ventricular volume of two beagles was 2.2 ml with a range of 0.7 m1.3.7 ml. The percent of intracranial volume occupied by ventricle was found to be significantly larger in bulldogs (14.0%; S.D. = 7.9%) than in beagles (Range = 1.048%). The relationship between the percent of intracranial volume occupied by ventricle and measurements of body weight, age, sex, and various measures of skull anatomy of the bulldog was also determined. The relationship between ventricular volume and neurologic dysfunction was examined. There was a possible trend between high percent of intracranial volume occupied by ventricle and low body weight. This study will serve as a pilot study for examining the relationship between ventricular volume and neurologic disease in bulldogs.     

A REVIEW OF NONCONVENTIONAL ULTRASOUND TECHNIQUES AND CONTRAST-ENHANCED ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF NONCARDIAC CANINE DISORDERS

Modern ultrasound contrast media are gas-containing stabilized microbubbles that remain intact in the circulating blood for several minutes after intravenous injection and increase the intensity of the backscattered ultrasound. When the microbubbles disappear from the blood, they can be detected in the parenchyma of the liver and the spleen for about 30 more minutes (late liver- and spleen-specific phase). The insonated microbubbles produce second harmonic ultrasound frequencies, whose detection requires nonconventional ultrasound modalities such as pulsed inversion imaging. Nonconventional ultrasound techniques can also be used without microbubbles because second harmonics can be generated by ultrasound in tissues as well. The physical principles and advantages of nonconventional ultrasound techniques are described. The circulating microbubbles can be used not only to enhance weak Doppler signals, but also to perform dynamic contrast studies. Contrast-enhanced dynamic ultrasound studies--similar to contrast-enhanced CT and MRI examinations--have been used in humans to characterize lesions noninvasively (i.e., without biopsies) found during conventional ultrasound examinations. To map the distribution of contrast medium in a nodule or in an organ, specific scanning techniques such as stimulated acoustic emission have been developed. Stimulated acoustic emission occurs when high acoustic pressure ultrasonic waves disrupt the stationary or slowly moving microbubbles. This results in the release of a large amount of harmonic ultrasound frequencies. When the stimulated acoustic emission technique is used for dynamic studies, scanning must be interrupted several times to allow the microvasculature of the lesion to refill with microbubbles (interval delay imaging). The contrast patterns of malignant and benign hepatic nodules in humans have been the most intensively studied. Another type of dynamic study in humans measures the transit time of the contrast medium; that is, how fast the peripherally injected microbubbles reach the hepatic veins. Hepatic cirrhosis can be differentiated from other diffuse parenchymal liver diseases by a shorter transit time. Introducing nonconventional ultrasound techniques and ultrasound contrast media in veterinary diagnostic imaging may have potential value; however, intensive research should be carried out before ultrasound contrast agents can routinely be used in clinical practice.     

Examining brain oedema through brain electrical impedance topographic mapping

Change of Brain Electrical Impedance has great relations with brain oedema and brain block, a new method of Examining Brain Oedema through Brain Electrical Impedance Topographic Mapping(BEITM)is reviewed. Network topology structure that used in BEITM are also presented. According to topology, we discuss the drawing algorithm that based on triangle element. Some patients have been measured to make clinical data, according to this data Brain Electrical Impedance topographic come into being by computer at last, functional imaging has been implemented. Clinical case analysis compared with change state of an illness and repeatability of steady patient's data has proved the method is feasible.     

全方位高速瓜果图像采集系统的研究

快速可靠的图像采集系统是实现对瓜果进行准确分拣的基础。介绍了一种全方位高速瓜果图像采集系统。该系统实现了果实多个表面图像的同步采集，采用多线程程序结构提高图像采集速度，采用单场提取模式提高图像质量。利用开发的智能瓜果精选分级试验样机对图像采集系统的性能进行了试验，试验结果证明获得的图像质量和采集速度可以满足实时瓜果分级系统的需要。     

利用无人机多光谱影像的多品种玉米成熟度监测

基于遥感监测多品种玉米成熟度进而掌握最佳收获时机，对提高其产量和品质至关重要。该研究在玉米成熟阶段获取无人机多光谱影像，同步采集叶片叶绿素含量（chlorophyll content，C）、籽粒含水率（moisture content，M）、乳线占比（proportion of milk line，P）等地面实测数据，以此构建玉米成熟度指数（maize maturity index，MMI），从而定量表征玉米成熟度。通过MMI与植被指数构建回归模型和随机森林模型，验证MMI适用性，并分析无人机遥感对不同品种玉米成熟度的监测精度。结果表明：1）不同品种玉米的叶片叶绿素含量、籽粒含水率、乳线占比的变化速率均存在差异。2）MMI与所选植被指数的相关性均可达到0.01显著水平，其中与归一化植被指数（normalized difference vegetation index，NDVI）、转换叶绿素吸收率（transformed chlorophyll absorbtion ratio index，TCARI）相关性最高，相关系数均为0.87。3）该研究基于不同组合的数据集进行了模型验证，其中随机森林模型对MMI的估测精度最高，测试集决定系数（coefficient of determination，R²）为0.84，均方根误差（root mean squared error，RMSE）为8.77%，标准均方根误差（normalized root mean squared error，nRMSE）为12.05%。此外，随机森林模型对不同品种MMI的估测精度较好，京九青贮16精度最优，其中R²、RMSE、nRMSE为0.76、10.67%、15.88%，模型精度证明了可以利用无人机平台对不同品种玉米成熟度进行监测。研究结果可为多光谱无人机实时监测农田多品种玉米成熟度的动态变化提供参考。     

近红外图像和光谱分析技术在农产品品质无损检测中的应用与展望

介绍了现代近红外分析技术的发展及其技术特点,并就近红外图像技术和光谱分析技术两方面综合分析了国外利用近红外分析技术在农产品品质检测上的研究,以促进我国在该领域的研究.