Lung MRI in Children: The Road Less Travelled

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lungs is one of the most underutilized imaging modality when it comes to imaging of thoracic diseases in children. This is largely due to less-than-optimal image quality and multiple technical challenges involved with MRI of the lungs. Advances in MRI technology along with increased awareness about optimization of MR protocol have led to it being viewed as a feasible option for evaluation of various chest diseases in children. This short review article takes the reader to the road less travelled to explore newer horizons for applications of this rapidly evolving magnetic resonance technique in the field of thoracic diseases in children.

Detection and Imaging of Damages and Defects in Fibre-Reinforced Composites by Magnetic Resonance Technique

Defectively manufactured and deliberately damaged composite laminates fabricated with different continuous reinforcing fibres (respectively, carbon and glass) and polymer matrices (respectively, thermoset and thermoplastic) were inspected in magnetic resonance imaging equipment. Two pulse sequences were evaluated during non-destructive examination conducted in saline solution-immersed samples to simulate load-bearing orthopaedic implants permanently in contact with biofluids. The orientation, positioning, shape, and especially the size of translaminar and delamination fractures were determined according to stringent structural assessment criteria. The spatial distribution, shape, and contours of water-filled voids were sufficiently delineated to infer the amount of absorbed water if thinner image slices than this study were used. The surface texture of composite specimens featuring roughness, waviness, indentation, crushing, and scratches was outlined, with fortuitous artefacts not impairing the image quality and interpretation. Low electromagnetic shielding glass fibres delivered the highest, while electrically conductive carbon fibres produced the poorest quality images, particularly when blended with thermoplastic polymer, though reliable image interpretation was still attainable.

Quantitative Determination of Acrolein in Cider by 1H NMR Spectrometry

Acrolein occasionally appears in cider, completely spoiling its quality due to its bitter taste. It is crucial to detect it in the early steps, before the taste is severely affected, to apply the appropriate treatment. A simple and rapid analytical method to determine this compound in cider is therefore desirable. In this work, a quantitative determination method of acrolein in cider is proposed using the proton nuclear magnetic resonance technique (1H NMR). Acrolein produces a doublet signal in the spectrum at 9.49 ppm, whose area is used to determine the concentration of this compound. 3-(trimethylsilyl)-2,2,3,3-d4-propionic acid sodium salt is added to the cider as a reference for 0.00 ppm and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid as an internal standard for acrolein determination. The method is validated by gas chromatography (GC). There is a good correlation between the acrolein concentrations obtained by 1H NMR and by gas chromatography in different commercial ciders (Pearson coefficient 0.9994). The 95% confidence interval for the intercept is 0.15 ± 0.49 (includes 0) and for the slope is 0.98 ± 0.03 (includes 1). When applying the paired t test, no significant difference is observed. The proposed method is direct, and no prior derivatization is needed.

A Wireless Magnetic Resonance Device for Optogenetic Applications in an Animal Model

The currents of optical stimulation devices with tethered or untethered systems have various disadvantages, including optical fiber breakage, disrupted animal movements, heavy batteries carried on heads, and high-frequency electromagnetic impacts. Our novel wireless remote control was developed to address these issues. The novel wireless device uses a magnetic resonance technique to modify the deficits of the conventional magnetic induction or radio-frequency power sources. The present device emits a strong and steady electromagnetic power. It is cheaper than previous versions, and the receiver coil on its head is very light (≦ 1 g). For the present wireless remote-controlled device, the electromagnetic field’s range (i.e., +5 cm and −5 cm of the outside coil) is larger than the range for the magnetic induction and radio-frequency power sources. The present device controls animals’ behavior by the electromagnetic field’s effective range via photostimulation. The novel wireless remote-controlled device with a magnetic resonance technique can be applied in many behavioral tasks in mice and rats. To avoid the adverse effects of high radio frequency and to extend the electromagnetic field’s range, this novel technique serves as a helpful tool to modulate the neuronal activity of target neurons in specific brain areas for optogenetic experiments.

Medical Image Application in Fetal Weight Prediction Between Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Systematic Review

Fetal magnetic resonance imaging has raised up scholars’ interest since first incepted in 1983. It has been proved to be more accurate when estimating fetal weight comparing to ultrasound. The purpose of this review was to assess the efficiency of MRI on fetal body weight estimation as well as its ability of diagnosing congenital malformation. The papers were researched from three online databases, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, by using terms “MRI,” “fetal weight,” and “ultrasound.” Inclusion criteria were demonstrated as follows: (i) MRI, (ii) ultrasound, (iii) fetal weight, (iv) research article. Up to now, with the improvement of magnetic resonance technique, the time to perform MRI is shorten, however, higher cost, lack of equipment and radiology expertise still exist, which limit its wide use in clinical. Nonetheless, MRI shows more great efficiency in fetal weight estimation and diagnosing congenital malformation compared to US.

Determination of d-Cycloserine Impurities in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms: Comparison of the International Pharmacopoeia HPLC–UV Method and the DOSY NMR Method

d-cycloserine is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is currently being used as a secondary choice in the treatment of tuberculosis. In recent years, it has become more popular, due to its effect on the nervous system. In this current study, we provide evidence that The International Pharmacopoeia HPLC–UV method for d-cycloserine impurity profiling is not repeatable due to the variable response of cycloserine dimer, one of d-cycloserine impurities. Therefore, we introduced the DOSY (diffusion ordered spectroscopy) NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) technique to determine the levels of d-cycloserine impurities in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The DOSY NMR technique allowed separation of d-cycloserine, its degradation products, and key process impurities in concentrations below pharmacopoeial specification limits. The proposed DOSY NMR method allowed accurate identification and quantification of the cycloserine dimer, which was not possible through the use of the pharmacopoeial HPLC method. The current method has the potential for practical use in analytical laboratories of the pharmaceutical industry.

Обменные взаимодействия в паре ионов Cr-=SUP=-3+-=/SUP=--Cr-=SUP=-3+-=/SUP=- в диамагнитной матрице ABO-=SUB=-3-=/SUB=- (A=Ga, In, Sc)

The exchange interactions in the Cr^3+–Cr^3+ ion pairs in the isostructural ABO_3 (A = Ga, In, Sc) diamagnetic compounds have been examined using the magnetic resonance technique. The values of bilinear and biquadratic exchange interactions have been determined. It is shown that the biquadratic exchange in the Cr^3+–Cr^3+ pair in these compounds is caused by the exchange striction.