On the origin of the MR image phase contrast: an in vivo MR microscopy study of the rat brain at 14.1 T.

Recent studies at high magnetic fields using the phase of gradient-echo MR images have shown the ability to unveil cortical substructure in the human brain. To investigate the contrast mechanisms in phase imaging, this study extends, for the first time, phase imaging to the rodent brain. Using a 14.1 T horizontal bore animal MRI scanner for in vivo micro-imaging, images with an in-plane resolution of 33 microm were acquired. Phase images revealed, often more clearly than the corresponding magnitude images, hippocampal fields, cortical layers (e.g. layer 4), cerebellar layers (molecular and granule cell layers) and small white matter structures present in the striatum and septal nucleus. The contrast of the phase images depended in part on the orientation of anatomical structures relative to the magnetic field, consistent with bulk susceptibility variations between tissues. This was found not only for vessels, but also for white matter structures, such as the anterior commissure, and cortical layers in the cerebellum. Such susceptibility changes could result from variable blood volume. However, when the deoxyhemoglobin content was reduced by increasing cerebral blood flow (CBF) with a carbogen breathing challenge, contrast between white and gray matter and cortical layers was not affected, suggesting that tissue cerebral blood volume (and therefore deoxyhemoglobin) is not a major source of the tissue phase contrast. We conclude that phase variations in gradient-echo images are likely due to susceptibility shifts of non-vascular origin.

EPI Update, April 14, 2006

Weekly newsletter for Center For Acute Disease Epidemiology of Iowa Department of Public Health.

Liian hapokasta : terveyden edistämisprojekti 14-18 vuotiaille mielenterveyskuntoutujanuorille

Tämän toiminnallisen opinnäytetyön tarkoitus oli toteuttaa suun terveyden edistämisnäytelmä. HUS:n Kipinä ja Kunttari kuntoutumisosastoille, joiden asukkaat ovat 14-18-vuotiaita mielenterveyskuntoutujia. Opinnäytetyön tavoitteena oli lisätä nuorten suun terveydenlukutaitoa. Näytelmän tavoitteena oli innostaa nuoria suun terveydenhoitoon. Terveydenedistämismenetelmänä käytettiin draamaa. Lukuisat tutkimukset viittaavat siihen, että nuorten elintavat ovat muuttuneet epäterveellisempään suuntaan. Alueelliset terveyserot heijastuvat myös suunterveyteen. Helsingissä on moniongelmaisia perheitä, nuoria ja lapsia suhteellisesti enemmän kuin muualla Suomessa. Opinnäytetyössä sovellettiin Precede-Proceed -terveyden edistämismallia, joka näkyy työmme suunnittelu-, toteutus- ja arviointivaiheessa. Suun terveydenedistämisnäytelmä ”Liian hapokasta” suunniteltiin ja toteutettiin opinnäytetyöryhmässä yhteistyössä työelämäyhteistyökumppanin kanssa. Näytelmä oli luonteeltaan osallistava. Tämä tarkoittaa sitä, että yleisö sai itse vaikuttaa näytelmän kulkuun valitsemalla kahdesta eri vaihtoehdosta sopivimman. Näytelmän keskeiset aihealueet valittiin näyttöön ja kokemukseen perustuen ja ne olivat: suun hoito, tupakointi, iensairaudet, karies ja ravitsemus. Tälle työlle sovellus- ja jatkomahdollisuudet voisivat olla tutkia millaisen terveyden lukutaidon nuoret saavuttivat. Työmme voi toimia myös esimerkkinä tulevien terveyden edistämisnäytelmien toteutuksille ja käsikirjoituksille.

Iowa Department of Elder Affairs Legislative Update, January 14, 2005, Vol. 1, no.2

Iowa Department of Elder Affairs provides a brief summation of a Departmental program or other important Departmental information in each Legislative Update. The Legislative Update is produced for informational and educational purposes only.

Iowa Department of Elder Affairs Legislative Update, April 22, 2005, Vol. 1, no. 14

Iowa Department of Elder Affairs provides a brief summation of a Departmental program or other important Departmental information in each Legislative Update. The Legislative Update is produced for informational and educational purposes only.

Iowa Department of Elder Affairs Legislative Update, April 18, 2006, Vol. 2, no. 14

Iowa Department of Elder Affairs provides a brief summation of a Departmental program or other important Departmental information in each Legislative Update. The Legislative Update is produced for informational and educational purposes only.

Geographic variation in the frequency of isolation and fluconazole and voriconazole susceptibilities of Candida glabrata: an assessment from the ARTEMIS DISK Global Antifungal Surveillance Program.

Geographic differences in frequency and azole resistance among Candida glabrata may impact empiric antifungal therapy choice. We examined geographic variation in isolation and azole susceptibility of C. glabrata. We examined 23 305 clinical isolates of C. glabrata during ARTEMIS DISK global surveillance. Susceptibility testing to fluconazole and voriconazole was assessed by disk diffusion, and the results were grouped by geographic location: North America (NA) (2470 isolates), Latin America (LA) (2039), Europe (EU) (12 439), Africa and the Middle East (AME) (728), and Asia-Pacific (AP) (5629). Overall, C. glabrata accounted for 11.6% of 201 653 isolates of Candida and varied as a proportion of all Candida isolated from 7.4% in LA to 21.1% in NA. Decreased susceptibility (S) to fluconazole was observed in all geographic regions and ranged from 62.8% in AME to 76.7% in LA. Variation in fluconazole susceptibility was observed within each region: AP (range, 50-100% S), AME (48-86.9%), EU (44.8-88%), LA (43-92%), and NA (74.5-91.6%). Voriconazole was more active than fluconazole (range, 82.3-84.2% S) with similar regional variation. Among 22 sentinel sites participating in ARTEMIS from 2001 through 2007 (84 140 total isolates, 8163 C. glabrata), the frequency of C. glabrata isolation increased in 14 sites and the frequency of fluconazole resistance (R) increased in 11 sites over the 7-year period of study. The sites with the highest cumulative rates of fluconazole R were in Poland (22% R), the Czech Republic (27% R), Venezuela (27% R), and Greece (33% R). C. glabrata was most often isolated from blood, normally sterile body fluids and urine. There is substantial geographic and institutional variation in both frequency of isolation and azole resistance among C. glabrata. Prompt species identification and fluconazole susceptibility testing are necessary to optimize therapy for invasive candidiasis.

Motor Vehicle Accident Fatalities for the Week Ending, July 14, 2006

Record of the Fatalities for Motor Vehicle Accidents in Iowa per week.

EPI Update, July 14, 2006

Weekly newsletter for Center For Acute Disease Epidemiology of Iowa Department of Public Health.

ABD e-News, July 14, 2006

Weekly Newsletter

Hki 14/7 1945

Kirje 14.7.1945

Professori Göran von Bonsdorff 14/12 1972

Kirje 14.12.1972

CT arthrography of the glenohumeral joint: CT fluoroscopy versus conventional CT and fluoroscopy--comparison of image-guidance techniques.

PURPOSE: To compare examination time with radiologist time and to measure radiation dose of computed tomographic (CT) fluoroscopy, conventional CT, and conventional fluoroscopy as guiding modalities for shoulder CT arthrography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Glenohumeral injection of contrast material for CT arthrography was performed in 64 consecutive patients (mean age, 32 years; age range, 16-74 years) and was guided with CT fluoroscopy (n = 28), conventional CT (n = 14), or conventional fluoroscopy (n = 22). Room times (arthrography, room change, CT, and total examination times) and radiologist times (time the radiologist spent in the fluoroscopy or CT room) were measured. One-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni-Dunn posthoc tests were performed for comparison of mean times. Mean effective radiation dose was calculated for each method with examination data, phantom measurements, and standard software. RESULTS: Mean total examination time was 28.0 minutes for CT fluoroscopy, 28.6 minutes for conventional CT, and 29.4 minutes for conventional fluoroscopy; mean radiologist time was 9.9 minutes, 10.5 minutes, and 9.0 minutes, respectively. These differences were not statistically significant. Mean effective radiation dose was 0.0015 mSv for conventional fluoroscopy (mean, nine sections), 0.22 mSv for CT fluoroscopy (120 kV; 50 mA; mean, 15 sections), and 0.96 mSv for conventional CT (140 kV; 240 mA; mean, six sections). Effective radiation dose can be reduced to 0.18 mSv for conventional CT by changing imaging parameters to 120 kV and 100 mA. Mean effective radiation dose of the diagnostic CT arthrographic examination (140 kV; 240 mA; mean, 25 sections) was 2.4 mSv. CONCLUSION: CT fluoroscopy and conventional CT are valuable alternative modalities for glenohumeral CT arthrography, as examination and radiologist times are not significantly different. CT guidance requires a greater radiation dose than does conventional fluoroscopy, but with adequate parameters CT guidance constitutes approximately 8% of the radiation dose.