MRI Device Research Articles

The Role of MR Enterography in Crohn’s Disease

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) in the diagnosis and follow-up of Crohn’s Disease. Material and Methot: Between November 2013 and April 2014, patients who were MRE examinations for a preliminary or definitive diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease were reviewed retrospectively. MRE imaging of the patients was performed on an 8-channel 1.5 Tesla MRI device. Primary and secondary MRE results and contrast enhancement patterns of active and chronic inflammation of Crohn’s disease in jejunum, ileum, terminal ileum, and colon segments were evaluated by two radiologists. Results: The results consistent with Crohn’s Disease were detected in 19 (10 male, 9 female) of 42 patients (24 male, 18 female, mean age was 40.64 years, min-max: 20-69, SD±14.27). Signs of active inflammation which were intestinal wall thickening, T2 signal reduction, and pathological mucosal contrast enhancement were observed in 19 patients (26 intestinal segments). Active inflammation findings were most common in the terminal ileum, with 16 (61.5%), followed by 5 (19.2%) in the ascending colon, 2 (7.6%) in the jejunum, 2 (7.6%) in the nonterminal ileum, and 1 (3.8%) in the sigmoid colon. Chronic inflammation findings such as intestinal stenosis (18 intestinal segments), submucosal fat deposition (16 intestinal segments), and prestenotic dilatation (13 intestinal segments) were observed in 13 patients. There was an ileosigmoid fistula in 1 patient, enterovesical fistula in 1 patient, and enterocutaneous fistula in 1 patient. Conclusion: MRE is an appropriate diagnostic method without ionizing radiation, which can be used to detect the stage of inflammation (active or chronic) in the diseased intestinal segments in the diagnosis and follow-up of Crohn’s disease.

Simulated diagnostic performance of low-field MRI: Harnessing open-access datasets to evaluate novel devices

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate a method for virtually evaluating novel imaging devices using machine learning and open-access datasets, here applied to a new, low-field strength portable 64mT MRI device. Paired 3 T and 64mT brain images were used to develop and validate a transformation converting standard clinical images to low-field quality images. Separately, 3 T images were aggregated from open-source databases spanning four neuropathologies: low-grade glioma (LGG, N = 76), high-grade glioma (HGG, N = 259), stroke (N = 28), and multiple sclerosis (MS, N = 20). The transformation method was then applied to the open-source data to generate simulated low-field images for each pathology. Convolutional neural networks (DenseNet-121) were trained to detect pathology in axial slices from either 3 T or simulated 64 mT images, and their relative performance was compared to characterize the potential diagnostic capabilities of low-field imaging. Algorithm performance was measured using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Across all cohorts, pathology detection was similar between 3 T and simulated 64mT images (LGG: 0.97 vs. 0.98; HGG: 0.96 vs. 0.95; stroke: 0.94 vs. 0.94; MS: 0.90 vs 0.87). Pathology detection was further characterized as a function of lesion size, intensity, and contrast. Simulated images showed decreasing sensitivity for lesions smaller than 4 cm2. While simulations cannot replace prospective trials during the evaluation of medical devices, they can provide guidance and justification for prospective studies. Simulated data derived from open-source imaging databases may facilitate testing and validation of new imaging devices.

Stress Level Detection and Evaluation from Phonation and PPG Signals Recorded in an Open-Air MRI Device

This paper deals with two modalities for stress detection and evaluation—vowel phonation speech signal and photo-plethysmography (PPG) signal. The main measurement is carried out in four phases representing different stress conditions for the tested person. The first and last phases are realized in laboratory conditions. The PPG and phonation signals are recorded inside the magnetic resonance imaging scanner working with a weak magnetic field up to 0.2 T in a silent state and/or with a running scan sequence during the middle two phases. From the recorded phonation signal, different speech features are determined for statistical analysis and evaluation by the Gaussian mixture models (GMM) classifier. A database of affective sounds and two databases of emotional speech were used for GMM creation and training. The second part of the developed method gives comparison of results obtained from the statistical description of the sensed PPG wave together with the determined heart rate and Oliva–Roztocil index values. The fusion of results obtained from both modalities gives the final stress level. The performed experiments confirm our working assumption that a fusion of both types of analysis is usable for this task—the final stress level values give better results than the speech or PPG signals alone.

Magnetic resonance imaging-related programmable ventriculoperitoneal shunt valve setting changes occur often.

Patients with programmable ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt valves undergo multiple skull radiographs to evaluate for setting changes resulting from MRI. Our purpose was to determine the rates of inadvertent, MRI-related, programmable VP shunt valve setting changes. In this retrospective cohort with a study period of January 2015-December 2018, we reviewed the pre- and post-MRI skull radiographs of patients with programmable VP shunts and collected the following data: Demographics, commercial type of the valve used, magnetic field strength of the MRI device used, and whether a setting change occurred. We used the chi-square test to identify variables associated with valve setting change. We identified 210 MRI exposure events in 156 patients, and an MRI-related valve setting change rate of 56.7%. The setting change rate was significantly higher with higher magnetic field strength (p = 0.03), and with Medtronic Strata™ valves compared to Codman Hakim™ valves (p < 0.0001). Inadvertent, MRI-related shunt valve setting changes are frequent with valves that lack a locking mechanism. Therefore, we suggest that when feasible, the clinicians could opt to manually reprogram the valves after the MRI to the preferred setting without the need for pre- and post-MRI radiographs. We believe that this protocol modification could help reduce ionizing radiation exposure and cost. Manufacturers may consider incorporating locking mechanisms into the design of such devices in order to reduce the unintended setting change rates.

Inter-rater and inter-session reliability of lumbar paraspinal muscle composition in a mobile MRI device.

Objective:To assess the reliability of measurements of paraspinal muscle transverse relaxation times (T2 times) between two observers and within one observer on different time points.Methods:14 participants (9f/5m, 33 ± 5 years, 176 ± 10 cm, 73 ± 12 kg) underwent 2 consecutive MRI scans (M1,M2) on the same day, followed by 1 MRI scan 13–14 days later (M3) in a mobile 1.5 Tesla MRI. T2 times were calculated in T2 weighted turbo spin-echo-sequences at the spinal level of the third lumbar vertebrae (11 slices, 2 mm slice thickness, 1 mm interslice gap, echo times: 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 ms) for M. erector spinae (ES) and M. multifidius (MF). The following reliability parameter were calculated for the agreement of T2 times between two different investigators (OBS1 & OBS2) on the same MRI (inter-rater reliability, IR) and by one investigator between different MRI of the same participant (intersession variability, IS): Test–Retest Variability (TRV, Differences/Mean*100); Coefficient of Variation (CV, Standard deviation/Mean*100); Bland–Altman Analysis (systematic bias = Mean of the Differences; Upper/Lower Limits of Agreement = Bias+/−1.96*SD); Intraclass Correlation Coefficient 3.1 (ICC) with absolute agreement, as well as its 95% confidence interval.Results:Mean TRV for IR was 2.6% for ES and 4.2% for MF. Mean TRV for IS was 3.5% (ES) and 5.1% (MF). Mean CV for IR was 1.9 (ES) and 3.0 (MF). Mean CV for IS was 2.5% (ES) and 3.6% (MF). A systematic bias of 1.3 ms (ES) and 2.1 ms (MF) were detected for IR and a systematic bias of 0.4 ms (ES) and 0.07 ms (MF) for IS. ICC for IR was 0.94 (ES) and 0.87 (MF). ICC for IS was 0.88 (ES) and 0.82 (MF).Conclusion:Reliable assessment of paraspinal muscle T2 time justifies its use for scientific purposes. The applied technique could be recommended to use for future studies that aim to assess changes of T2 times, e.g. after an intense bout of eccentric exercises.

CT-008: The Positive Effect of SKD Plus IOT and HBO2T in the Treatment of Cancer [Introducing Sorush Cancer Treatment Protocol (SCTP)

Background The aim of this research is to figure out the effectiveness of the Sorush Cancer Treatment Protocol (SCTP) which is based on the Evolutionary Metabolic Hypothesis of Cancer (EMHC) and introducing the Specific Ketogenic Diet (SKD) plus Intravenous Ozone Therapy (IOT) in Phase (1) on 54 cancer patients, and combination of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy with vitamin/mineral and herbal supplementation beside the SKD and IOT in Phase (2) of this research on the remaining 31 cancer patients. Materials and Methods Based on the research from 1928–2016 and the experimentation of cancer treatments and protocols on cancer patients, we have reached a treatment and decided to test it on 54 voluntary cancer patients in the first stage of their disease. In this treatment we used a 5-day water fasting state, the Specific Ketogenic Diet (SKD) designed by ourselves and Intravenous Ozone Therapy (IOT) in the duration of 90 days (Phase 1) and another 90 days (Phase 2) with the entrance of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO2T) and several supplements which have been effective in previous studies on cancer patients. We have used the measurement of saliva pH, the MRI device and statistical methods to test the shrinkage of the tumors. Results After Phase (1) of this research on 54 patients the average percentage decrease in the tumors was 58% and after Phase (2) on 31 remaining cancer patients the average percentage decrease in the tumors was 98.8%. The average saliva pH in the fasting state of the cancer patients improved from acidic to alkaline as well. Conclusion In conclusion, we have reached an effective cancer treatment based on SCTP by the usage of SKD, IOT, HBO2T and several supplements. There was an obvious improvement of cancer tumor decrease, lifestyle, saliva pH and we did not observe any side effects or cachexia in any of the patients.

Reduced spatial resolution MRI suffices to image and quantify drought induced embolism formation in trees

BackgroundMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is uniquely suited to non-invasively and continuously monitor embolism formation in trees. Depending on the MRI method used, quantitative parameter maps of water content and MRI signal relaxation behavior can be generated. The ability to measure dynamic differences in water content and relaxation behavior can be used to detect xylem embolism formation, even if xylem conduits are too small to be spatially resolved. This is especially advantageous when using affordable small-scale low-field MRI scanners. The amount of signal that can be obtained from an object strongly depends on the strength of the magnetic field of the imager’s magnet. Imaging at lower resolutions thus would allow to reduce the cost, size and weight of the MRI scanner and to shorten image acquisition times.ResultsWe investigated how much spatial resolution can be sacrificed without losing the ability to monitor embolism formation in coniferous softwood (spruce, Picea abies) and diffuse porous beech (Fagus sylvatica). Saplings of both species were bench dehydrated, while they were continuously imaged at stepwise decreasing spatial resolutions. Imaging was done by means of a small-scale MRI device, utilizing image matrix sizes of 128 × 128, 64 × 64 and 32 × 32 pixels at a constant FOV of 19 and 23 mm, respectively. While images at the lowest resolutions (pixel sizes 0.59 × 0.59 mm and 0.72 × 0.72 mm) were no longer sufficient to resolve finer details of the stem anatomy, they did permit an approximate localization of embolism formation and the generation of accurate vulnerability curves.ConclusionsWhen using MRI, spatial resolution can be sacrificed without losing the ability to visualize and quantify embolism formation. Imaging at lower spatial resolution to monitor embolism formation has two advantages. Firstly, the acquisition time per image can be reduced dramatically. This enables continuous imaging at high time resolution, which may be beneficial to monitor rapid dynamics of embolism formation. Secondly, if the requirements for spatial resolution are relaxed, much simpler MRI devices can be used. This has the potential to make non-invasive MR imaging of embolism formation much more affordable and more widely available.

Race, Socioeconomic Status, and Cerebellum Cortex Fractional Anisotropy in Pre-Adolescents.

Cerebellum cortex fractional anisotropy is a proxy of the integrity of the cerebellum cortex. However, less is known about how it is shaped by race and socioeconomic status (SES) indicators such as parental education and household income. In a national sample of American pre-adolescents, this study had two aims: to test the effects of two SES indicators, namely parental education and household income, on cerebellum cortex fractional anisotropy, and to explore racial differences in these effects. Using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, we analyzed the diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI) data of 9565, 9-10-year-old pre-adolescents. The main outcomes were cerebellum cortex fractional anisotropy separately calculated for right and left hemispheres using dMRI. The independent variables were parental education and household income; both treated as categorical variables. Age, sex, ethnicity, and family marital status were the covariates. Race was the moderator. To analyze the data, we used mixed-effects regression models without and with interaction terms. We controlled for propensity score and MRI device. High parental education and household income were associated with lower right and left cerebellum cortex fractional anisotropy. In the pooled sample, we found significant interactions between race and parental education and household income, suggesting that the effects of parental education and household income on the right and left cerebellum cortex fractional anisotropy are all significantly larger for White than for Black pre-adolescents. The effects of SES indicators, namely parental education and household income, on pre-adolescents' cerebellum cortex microstructure and integrity are weaker in Black than in White families. This finding is in line with the Marginalization-related Diminished Returns (MDRs), defined as weaker effects of SES indicators for Blacks and other racial and minority groups than for Whites.

Estimation of Reynolds number on microvasculature capillary bed using diffusion and perfusion MRI: the theoretical and experimental investigations

Microvasculature biomechanical physiology may be characterized by the Reynolds number toward better diagnosis of vascular obstruction. The Reynolds number is formulated by the diffusion, perfusion and dynamical relaxation parameters such as the contrast-enhanced transverse relaxation rates (ΔR2, ΔR2*), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and mean transit time (MTT) along with a set of simple assumptions. The measurements were performed on different vasculature areas in 8 rats of male Wistar species by an MRI (7 T) device, and the diffusion/perfusion weighted was applied to the imaging. The spin–spin relaxation time was gauged via a standard two-dimensional Fourier transform multi-echo (4 echoes) multi-slice (7 slices). The practical maps obtained (ΔR2*, ΔR2, ADC, MTT, CBF and CBV) were assessed. The mean Reynolds number in the four various areas of the rats such as infarct-border, infarct-core, remote-border, and remote-core zones were found to be 128.93 ± 5.69, 130.72 ± 10.93, 91.48 ± 7.44, and 102.38 ± 3.63, respectively. Here, while this number is less than about 102, one may say that the flow is laminar, and by increasing this number, the flow will go toward turbulence. In general, this number for laminar flow is less than that of the turbulent one. The results based on our theory have demonstrated that the Reynolds number in the normal areas is less than that of the injured ones as well as is severely inversely dependent on the ADC, MTT, ΔR2*2/ΔR23 value, viscosity, and the power of fifth of the mean capillary radius. The estimation of the Reynolds number may be used for better diagnosis and treatment planning.

Head‐only21MHzradiofrequency exposure system design and implementation

In this work a 21 MHz radiofrequency (RF) exposure system was designed, constructed and evaluated as a testing platform for MRI device safety. The exposure system consisted of a birdcage coil powered in quadrature by a power system consisting of a hybrid coupler, a power splitter, a phase shifter and two baluns. The birdcage coil was designed as a low-pass 16 rung coil. Both the coil and the power system were fabricated as printed circuit boards with a copper thickness of 205.7 μm and a G10 substrate thickness of 581.7 μm. The birdcage was assembled by wrapping the copper clad G10 inside of an acrylic tube. A shield for the coil was created as a cylindrical ground plane with a diameter of 39.7 cm. The birdcage and the power system were simulated in ADS and EMPro, Keysight Technologies Inc. both as lumped elements and using full wave 3D simulations. Simulation results were compared to measurements of the produced components to validate each component and entire system. In addition, a 3D magnetic field probe was developed to measure and compare the fields to analytical and numerical calculations.

Assessment of BOLD response in the fetal lung.

Assessment of lung development and maturity is of utmost importance in prenatal counseling. Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) effect MRI was developed for functional evaluations of organs. To date, no data are available in fetal lungs and nothing is known about the existence of a BOLD effect in the lungs. The aim of our study was to evaluate if a BOLD response could be detected in fetal lungs. From January 2014 to December 2016, 38 healthy pregnant women were prospectively enrolled. After a routine scan on a 1.5-T MRI device (normoxic period), maternal hyperoxia was induced for 5 min before the BOLD sequence (hyperoxic period). R2* was evaluated by fitting average intensity of the signal, both for normoxic (norm) and hyperoxic (hyper) periods. A significant BOLD response was observed after maternal hyperoxia in the lungs with a mean R2* decrease of 12.1 ± 2.5% (p < 0.001), in line with the placenta response with a mean R2* decrease of 19.2 ± 5.9% (p < 0.0001), confirming appropriate oxygen uptake. Conversely, no significant BOLD effect was observed for the brain nor the liver with a mean ∆R2* of 3.6 ± 3.1% (p = 0.64) and 2.8 ± 3.7% (p = 0.23). This study shows for the first time in human that a BOLD response can be observed in the normal fetal lung despite its prenatal "non-functional status." If confirmed in congenital lung and chest malformations, this property could be used in addition to the lung volume for a better prediction of postnatal respiratory status. • Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) effect MRI was developed for functional evaluations of organs and could have interesting implications for the fetal organs. • Assessment of lung development is of utmost importance in prenatal counseling, but to date no data are available in fetal lungs. • BOLD response can be observed in the normal fetal lung opening the way to studies on fetus with pathological lungs.

Robotic-assisted transrectal MRI-guided biopsy. Technical feasibility and role in the current diagnosis of prostate cancer: an initial single-center experience.

To evaluate the potential clinical and technical utility to manage in practice the use of a robotic MRI in-bore-targeted prostate biopsies in the current work-up of prostate cancer diagnosis. Thirty patients with a single cancer suspicious lesion interpreted on MRI using PI-RADSv2.1 category ≥ 3 underwent in-bore robotic transrectal MRI remote-controlled-guided biopsy. It was analyzed the technical success, clinical details, biopsy findings in correlation with the MRI examination, complications and cancer detection rate (CDR). The overall CDR for any cancer was 73% (22/30). It was 86% (19/22) for significant tumors (Gleason score of more than 6 or maximum cancer core length greater than 3mm for Gleason 6) and 77% (17/22) for tumors with Gleason > 6. CDR for biopsy-naïve patients was 89% (16/18) and 50% (6/12) for patients with prior negative transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsies. The CDR for PI-RADS > 3 was 92% (22/24). All the lesions (n = 30) were reachable with the robotic MRI device. A self-limited rectal hemorrhagic complication was reported. This initial data show that a robotic MRI-guided biopsy could be useful, efficient and feasible procedure in the new paradigm to diagnose significant prostate cancer in selected patients.

The Importance of Energy Quality in Medical Devices and Evaluation of Measurements Made in Kırıkkale University Medical Faculty MRI Device within the Scope of TS EN 50160

Today, the increase in demand for electrical energy has revealed a more reliable and higher quality energy concept. This subject has taken its place in electrical engineering as Power Quality or Electric Energy Quality and has made a point for its importance with the studies on it. Especially in the process of working with devices containing electronic circuits with direct current and using the alternating current offered from the network by using rectifiers, the devices may fail or become disabled due to self-protection circuits in case of power quality problems arising from the mains or the rectifiers of the device. In this article, a detailed analysis is carried out considering the problem may be due to the power quality due to the fact that the MRI device in Kirikkale University Faculty of Medicine is in continuous failure mode. In addition, the analyzes made in accordance with TS EN 50160 standard within the scope of the research were analyzed in computer environment and the results were shared in our article. In this article, the relationship between power quality problems and grounding is also examined.

Controlled Release of Therapeutics from Thermoresponsive Nanogels: A Thermal Magnetic Resonance Feasibility Study.

Thermal magnetic resonance (ThermalMR) accommodates radio frequency (RF)-induced temperature modulation, thermometry, anatomic and functional imaging, and (nano)molecular probing in an integrated RF applicator. This study examines the feasibility of ThermalMR for the controlled release of a model therapeutics from thermoresponsive nanogels using a 7.0-tesla whole-body MR scanner en route to local drug-delivery-based anticancer treatments. The capacity of ThermalMR is demonstrated in a model system involving the release of fluorescein-labeled bovine serum albumin (BSA-FITC, a model therapeutic) from nanometer-scale polymeric networks. These networks contain thermoresponsive polymers that bestow environmental responsiveness to physiologically relevant changes in temperature. The release profile obtained for the reference data derived from a water bath setup used for temperature stimulation is in accordance with the release kinetics deduced from the ThermalMR setup. In conclusion, ThermalMR adds a thermal intervention dimension to an MRI device and provides an ideal testbed for the study of the temperature-induced release of drugs, magnetic resonance (MR) probes, and other agents from thermoresponsive carriers. Integrating diagnostic imaging, temperature intervention, and temperature response control, ThermalMR is conceptually appealing for the study of the role of temperature in biology and disease and for the pursuit of personalized therapeutic drug delivery approaches for better patient care.

Abstract A61: The positive effect of SKD plus IOT and HBO2T in the treatment of cancer

Abstract Background: The aim of this research is to figure out the effectiveness of the Sorush Cancer Treatment Protocol (SCTP), which is based on the Evolutionary Metabolic Hypothesis of Cancer (EMHC) and introducing the Specific Ketogenic Diet (SKD) plus Intravenous Ozone Therapy (IOT) in phase (1) on 54 cancer patients, and combination of hyperbaric oxygen therapy with vitamin/mineral and herbal supplementation beside the SKD and IOT in phase (2) of this research on the remaining 31 cancer patients. Introduction: Cancer based on the introduction of EMHC by Dr. Somayeh Zaminpira and Dr. Sorush Niknamian in 2017 is an evolutionary metabolic disease and through the incline of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the Butterfly Effect in normal eukaryotic cells, the mitochondria become damaged or shut down. Cancer cells are primitive eukaryotic cells that have existed since around 1.5 billion years ago before the entrance of mitochondrion as endosymbiont. Materials and Methods: Based on the researches from 1928-2016 and the experimentation of cancer treatments and protocols on cancer patients, we have reached a treatment and decided to test it on 54 voluntary cancer patients in the first stage of their disease. In this treatment we used a 5-day water fasting state, the Specific Ketogenic Diet (SKD) designed by ourselves and Intravenous Ozone Therapy (IOT) in the duration of 90 days (phase 1) and another 90 days (phase 2) with the entrance of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO2T) and several supplements that have been effective in previous studies on cancer patients. We have used the measurement of saliva PH, the MRI device and statistical methods to test the shrinkage of the tumors. Results: After phase (1) of this research on 54 patients, the average percentage decrease in the tumors was 58%, and after phase (2) on 31 remaining cancer patients the average percentage decrease in the tumors was 98.8%. The average saliva PH in the fasting state of the cancer patients improved from acidic to alkaline as well. Conclusion: We have reached an effective cancer treatment based on SCTP by the usage of SKD, IOT, HBO2T and several supplements. There was an obvious improvement of cancer tumor decrease, lifestyle, and saliva PH, and we did not observe any side effects or cachexia in any of the patients. Citation Format: Sorush Niknamian. The positive effect of SKD plus IOT and HBO2T in the treatment of cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2018 Nov 27-30; Miami Beach, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2020;8(4 Suppl):Abstract nr A61.

An MRI and MEG Compatible Device for the Study of Somatosensory Information Processing.

In previous publications we have reported methods for applying multi-site vibratory stimuli to the fingertips. Typically, this involves the use of multiple, individual vibrotactile stimulator and limitations of such an arrangement include difficulty with both positioning the stimuli as well as ensuring that stimuli are delivered in a synchronized and deliberate manner. The device that we reported is a significant improvement on multiple independent stimulators (Holden et al, 2011), and due to both the success of that stimulator and the consequent need to validate a number of findings that have been made with both that device and the precursor of that device (Tannan et al, 2007a), we designed and fabricated a four-site stimulator that could be used in MRI and MEG compatible environments. The device can stimulate four independent skin sites and is primarily designed for stimulating the digit tips. The device is similar to the previously reported device in that it is portable and is ergonomically suited for delivering stimuli to the finger tips, but it has the advantage of being MRI and MEG compatible. However, the fundamental mechanisms of the device are significantly different from the device that we recently reported since the device is piezo-based rather than VCA based. The device was tested in both MEG and MRI environments and demonstrated that no detectable signal (or noise) was introduced by the stimulator in those environments. To demonstrate the reliability of the device for delivering tactile stimulation in a magnetic field, tactile stimuli were presented in an MRI to a single individual. The study produced results that were consistent with prior studies that produced activation of cortical ensembles.

Wideband Self‐Grounded Bow‐Tie Antenna for Thermal MR

The objective of this study was the design, implementation, evaluation and application of a compact wideband self-grounded bow-tie (SGBT) radiofrequency (RF) antenna building block that supports anatomical proton (1 H) MRI, fluorine (19 F) MRI, MR thermometry and broadband thermal intervention integrated in a whole-body 7.0 T system. Design considerations and optimizations were conducted with numerical electromagnetic field (EMF) simulations to facilitate a broadband thermal intervention frequency of the RF antenna building block. RF transmission (B1 + ) field efficiency and specific absorption rate (SAR) were obtained in a phantom, and the thigh of human voxel models (Ella, Duke) for 1 H and 19 F MRI at 7.0 T. B1 + efficiency simulations were validated with actual flip-angle imaging measurements. The feasibility of thermal intervention was examined by temperature simulations (f = 300, 400 and 500 MHz) in a phantom. The RF heating intervention (Pin = 100 W, t = 120 seconds) was validated experimentally using the proton resonance shift method and fiberoptic probes for temperature monitoring. The applicability of the SGBT RF antenna building block for in vivo 1 H and 19 F MRI was demonstrated for the thigh and forearm of a healthy volunteer. The SGBT RF antenna building block facilitated 19 F and 1 H MRI at 7.0 T as well as broadband thermal intervention (234-561 MHz). For the thigh of the human voxel models, a B1 + efficiency ≥11.8 μT/√kW was achieved at a depth of 50 mm. Temperature simulations and heating experiments in a phantom demonstrated a temperature increase ΔT >7 K at a depth of 10 mm. The compact SGBT antenna building block provides technology for the design of integrated high-density RF applicators and for the study of the role of temperature in (patho-) physiological processes by adding a thermal intervention dimension to an MRI device (Thermal MR).

A BrainNet Classification Technique Based on Deep Convolutional Neural Network for Detection of Brain Tumor in FLAIR MRI Images

Classification process plays a key role in diagnosing brain tumors. Earlier research works are intended for identifying brain tumors using different classification techniques. The logical gap between the visual representation of data captured by MRI device and the information apparent to the person evaluating poses a key challenge in the medical field. Research in computerized segmentation of tumor is widely gaining popularity nowadays, which may lead to an accurate analysis of MRI images and planned treatment of patients. The recent field of deep learning and neural networks promises to classify images with higher accuracy. This work proposes a new BrainNet classification technique that combines fuzzy c means, morphological operators and CNN to identify image regions that are suspicious. The proposed method is assessed with the help of imaging data obtained from Multimodal Brain Tumor Image Segmentation Challenge (BRATS) 2015 and IXI dataset. The effectiveness of the proposed method is computed with traditional machine learning and Convolutional Neural Networks. Experimental results show that our proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art classification on the BRATS 2015 dataset.

UJI KINERJA PESAWAT MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING MERK SIEMENS MAGNETOM CONCERTO 0,2T DI INSTALASI RADIOLOGI RSUD. DR. KANUJOSO DJATIWIBOWO BALIKPAPAN

Background : Radiology quality control is a part of radiology quality assurance which is directly linked with physical measurements of facility performance and indirectly linked with the expected image quality. The advantage of proceeding with the performance test on MRI device are the consistency of operational testing that integrated of all MRI system and producing high quality image, reducing the possibility of artifact appearance, and also preemptive identification of potential problems. Methods : The method of this Research is Qualitative Survey. The researchers are doing the survey on Quality Control test on MRI device brand Siemens Magnetom Concerto 0,2T on Radiology department of RSUD. DR. Kanujoso Djatiwibowo Balikpapan. Results : The whole result of this research shows that MRI device on RSUD. DR. Kanujoso Djatiwibowo Balikpapan has yet to fulfill the international standard. Conclusion : The whole result of this research shows that MRI device on RSUD. DR. Kanujoso Djatiwibowo Balikpapan has yet to fulfill the international standard on 5 parameter, such as the SNR testing, Artifact Analysis, Geometric Accuracy, High Contrast Resolution and Low Contrast Resolution. On the other hand, 2 other parameter such as slice thickness accuracy and slice position accuracy of the MRI device has already fulfill the standard and have to improve on the 5 parameter which hasn’t fulfill the factory and international standards

The Impacts of Elastic Band Training on the Posterior Abdominal Wall Muscles of Olympic-Style Weightlifters

Purpose: In this study, it was aimed to examine the impacts of elastics band trainings, which were applied for 12 weeks on the Olympic-style weightlifters, on their sportive performances and psoas, ilacus, and quadratus lumborum muscle volumes.Materials and Methods: This research study was conducted on 4 groups, comprising of 12 men (elastic band training group (n=6), control group (n=6)), and 12 women (elastic band training group (n=6), control group (n=6)) Olympic-style weightlifters. The athletes in the elastic band training groups were engaged in standing hip flexion exercises, clamshell exercises, lying hip flexion exercises, and side bend exercises. Before and after the elastic band training applied to the Olympic-style weightlifters for 12 weeks, (1.5 Tesla) MRI device was used for the axial images of the regions starting from the 12th thoracic vertebrae to the trochanter minor of femur. The volume calculations of the muscles were conducted via the Cavalieri method.Results: After the elastic band training, it was determined that the total volume of posterior abdominal wall muscles of the men and women weightlifters in the elastic band training groups and the total weights lifted by them were higher compared to those of the control group individuals (p&lt;0,001).Conclusion: As the result, it can be stated that including the posterior abdominal wall muscle developing trainings into the general programs of the weightlifters in the Olympic weightlifting sport can both enable an increase in the volumes of the muscles in this region and positively influence the performance of the athletes.