0.05 T MRI for whole body

Recently,a study on a 0.05 T,low-cost,low-power,and computing-driven shielding-free ultra-low-field(ULF)magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)scannerwas published.This work enhances the image quality of MRI and reduces the scanning time based on deep learning methods,which is of great significance to enhancing the popularization and availability of MRI[1](https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.adm7168).

WHOLE BODY DIFFUSION WEIGHTED IMAGING:A NEW ERA OF ONCOLOGICAL RADIOLOGY

Cancer has become the leading cause of mortality in the urban area of China. Whole body diffusion weigntea imaging （WB-DWI）, also known as virtual positron emission tomography, has gradually become accepted as an image tool in tumor localization, characterization, staging and monitoring response to therapy or tumor recurrence. Our article aimed to summarize the limited initial clinical use of WB-DWI in the referred area, and to analyze the most potential advantage of WB-DWI in therapeutic monitoring and tumor staging. WB-DWI as a highly sensitive, completely non-invasive, well-tolerated and low price technique has a promising furture in tumor assessment. Profound clinical study is necessary for its further application improvement.

PRELIMINARY STUDY OF FEASIBILITY OF WHOLE BODY DIFFUSION WEIGHTED IMAGING IN DIAGNOSIS OF METASTASIS OF TUMOR

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of whole body diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in the diagnosis of metastatic tumor. Methods Fifty-six patients (40 males and 16 females, age ranging from 29 to 84 years with a mean age of 57 years) with a variety of primary tumors were investigated by whole body DWI combined with computed tomography (CT) and/or conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Twelve patients underwent positron emission tomography. The final diagnosis was made on the basis of CT or high resolution CT result for lung lesion and MRI or CT result for skull, abdomen and other parts. All tumors were classified into four groups by their diameter: below 1.0 cm, 1.0-1.9 cm, 2.0-2.9 cm, and above 3.0 cm. The sensitivity and specificity of whole body DWI in the detection of metastatic tumor were analyzed. Results The sensitivities of whole body DWI for screening metastasis of the four groups were 38%, 75%, 97%, and 100%, respectively. Whole body DWI showed the highest sensitivity and specificity for detecting metastasis of the skeletal system. It was difficult to find metastatic tumor whose diameter was below 1.0 cm, or lymph nodes located in the pelvis with diameter below 2.0 cm. Conclusions Whole body DWI is a promising method in the diagnosis of metastastic tumors. With the perfection of scanning parameter, whole body DWI should be a new effective whole body technique for tumor detection.

DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF WHOLE BODY DIFFUSION WEIGHTED IMAGING FOR SCREENING PRIMARY TUMORS OF PATIENTS WITH METASTASES

Objective To evaluate the values of whole body diffusion weighted imaging （DWI） in screenmg pnmary unknown tumor in patients with metastases. Methods Totally, 34 patients with metastases of primary unknown tumors were scanned with whole body DWI, and conventional magnetic resonance （MR） imaging was performed if suspected lesions were detected. All the metastases including 27 cases of osseous metastases, 2 brain metastases, 2 liver metastases, 1 pulmonary multiple metastasis, 1 neck metastasis and 1 malignant ascites, were diagnosed by computed tomography, single photon emission computed tomography, or MR imaging. For the proven primary tumors diagnosed by biopsy or pathology of surgical specimens, apparent diffusion coefficient （ADC） values of the primary and metastatic lesions were measured respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of this technique for screening primary tumors were cvaluated. Results We found 24 cases with suspected primary lesions, in which 23 lesions were proved to be primary tumors, and 1 was proved to be benign lesion. And no definite primary lesion was found in 10 cases on whole body DWI, but in which 1 case was diagnosed with primary tumor by biopsy later, and the other 9 cases remained unknown within follow-up of over halfa year. The difference was not significant in ADC values between primary and metastatic lesions （P〉0.05）. The sensitivity and specificity of whole body DWI for searching primary tumors was 95.8% and 90.0%, respectively. Conclusion Combined with conventional MR scanning, whole body DWI can help to search primary lesions of patients with metastases.

APPLICATION OF WHOLE BODY DIFFUSION WEIGHTED MR IMAGING FOR DIAGNOSIS AND STAGING OF MALIGNANT LYMPHOMA

Objective To evaluate the clinical impact of whole body diffusion weighted imaging （WB-DWI） on diagnosis and staging of malignant lymphoma. Methods Thirty-one patients with suspected lymphadenopathy were enrolled. WB-DWI was performed by using short TI inversion recovery echo-planar imaging sequence with free breathing and built-in body coil. Axial T2- weighted imaging images of the same location were used as reference. The results of WB-DWI were compared with pathological results and other imaging modalities. The mean apparent diffusion coefficient （ADC） values of different kinds of lymph nodes were compared. Results WB-DWI was positive in all 18 cases with lymphoma, 5 cases with metastatic lymph nodes and 4 of 8 eases with benign lymphadenopathy. The mean ADC value of lymphomatous, metastatic and benign lymph nodes was （0.87 ± 0.17） × 10^3, （0.98± 0.09） × 10^3 and （1.20 ± 0.10） × 10^3 mm^2/s. There was significant difference in ADC value between benign lymph nodes and other two groups （P 〈 0.01）. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of WB-DWI in diagnosis of lymphoma were 100% （18/18）, 30.8% （4/13） and 71.0% （22/31）. When an ADC value of 1.08 × 10^-3 mm^2/s was used as the threshold value for differentiating malignant from benign lymph nodes, the best results were obtained with sensitivity of 87.8% and specificity of 91.3%. Sixteen of eighteen cases （88.9%） of lymphoma were accurately staged in accordance with clinical staging. Conclusions WB-DWI is a sensitive, but less specific technique for diagnosis of lymphoma. It is difficult to differentiate lymphnmatous from metastatic lymph nodes using WB-DWI. However, it is a valuable imaging modality for staging of patients with malignant lymphoma.

PRELIMINARY APPLICATION OF WHOLE BODY DIFFUSION WEIGHTED IMAGING IN SCREENING METASTASIS

Objective To investigate the feasibility of whole body diffusion weighted imaging (WB-DWI) in screening metastasis. Methods WB-DWI was performed in 24 patients diagnosed with various types of primary tumors. The three-dimensional maximum intensity projection reconstruction and black-and-white flip technique were used to observe metastatic lesions, and the results were compared with those of bone scintigraphy. Results By WB-DWI scanning sequence at b = 800 s/mm2, all the bone lesions found by bone scintigraphy in the cohort were well identified, and other lesions of soft tissue and organs were also well demonstrated. Its screening capability was equivalent with bone scintigraphy in screening metastases in bones (P = 0.062). Conclusion WB-DWI was practicable with the parameter settings attempted in metastases screening.

Application of whole body diffusion weighted imaging in bone metastasis

Objective： We evaluated （Whole-Body Diffusion Weighted Imaging, WB-DWl） application in bone metastasis. Methods： WB-DWI with GE 1.5T MR/I was performed on 10 healthy volunteers and 35 patients. WB-DWl and ECT was performed in all 35 patients. Using WB-DWl for detecting bone metastasis and compared them with that of ECT. Results： Background was suppressed in WB-DWl, fat, muscle, vessels and liver appeared same as background. Skeleton showed medium or slightly lower signal. Lymph nodes, some glandular organs, kidneys displayed medium signal. Spleen, testicle, brain tissue were low signal. Bladder, gallbladder were depicted as low signal because of ＂T2 through＂. Bone metastasis were multitude and inequality of size, punctiform, nodosity, column low intensity. Concordance between WB-DWI and ECT was seen in 4 cases. WB-DWl displayed 1 bone metastasis on skull, 46 on rib and sternum, 3 on scapula, 4 on extremities, 83 on vertebral, 36 on pelvic bone. ECT showed 2 bone metastasis on skull, 62 on rib and sternum, 7 on scapula, 9 on extremities, 64 on vertebral, 19 on pelvic bone. WB-DWl was 74% for bone metastasis on rib and sternum, ECT was 77%, 53% for vertebral and pelvic bone. All of the focus were statistics analyses, P 〈 0.05. Total probability distribution inequality if metastasis on different positions. Conclusion： WB-DWI was an effective imaging technology for screening bone metastasis.

BONE MINERAL ANALYSIS OF WHOLE BODY IN 292 NORMAL SUBJECTS ASSESSED BY DUAL X-RAY ABSORPTIOMETRY

Objective. To study the whole body bone mineral changes in normal subjects.Methods. Bone mineral was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry(DXA) in 292 normal subjectsaged 10～79 years, including 152 females and 140 males. They were divided into age-groups by decade.Results. In males, the ages with peak value of total bone mineral content (TBMC), total bone min-eral density (TBMD), anteroposterior spine BMD(L2-4 BMD) were in the 30～39,20～39, 20～29 age-groups respectively. In females, they were all in the 30～39 age-group. Peak values of TBMC, TBMD,L2-4 BMD were higher in males than those in females. Loss of bone mineral for females was more pro-nounced than that for males. Loss of L2-4 BMD was more pronounced than TBMD.Conclusion. This study provides the normal bone mineral data of whole body for males and females,and the characteristic of changes.

Clinical study of gamma ray whole body therapeutic system for malignant tumors (report of 643 cases)

Objective： To evaluate the feasibility of the whole body gamma knife in the treatment of malignant solid tumors. Methods： 643 patients diagnosed by pathology or cytology were treated with the whole body gamma knife. They received a total dose from 40-60 Gy/2-3 w, 3-10 Gy/fraction, 5 fractions/week. Results： The rates of response, complete remission, partial remission, no remission, and tumor progression were 94.6%, 39.2%, 55.4%, 5.1% and 0.3%, respectively. Conclusion： Whole body γ-radiation system （y-knife） was an effective method in treatment of patients with malignant tumor.

Evaluation of the Whole Body Scanner in the Management of Severe Traumas at Armentieres Hospital Centre (France): Scanographic and Clinical Correlation about 180 Cases

Goal: This study aims to evaluate the contribution of the whole body scanner in the management of severe traumas. Patient and Method: It is a retrospective analytical study, carried out at the Armentieres Hospital Centre (France) over a period of 14 months. It analyzes computed tomography reports and emergency department results of severe trauma patients immediately stabled at the entrance or stabilized after benefiting from a full body scanner according to Vittel criteria. Results: One hundred eighty patients were included in the study with an average age of 32.71 years old. One hundred and twelve patients (62.2%) had at least one clinical sign and only 48 patients presented a lesion on the computed tomography (26.7%). Sixty-two patients (34.4%) showed neither clinical signs nor damage in scan. The radio-clinical correlation was bad at spinal and abdominal level, mediocre at brain and chest level, but it was medium in the pelvis. The average radiation dose per patient was 3319.21 mGy⋅cm. Conclusion: The whole body computed tomography or scanning allows fast images acquisition compatible with emergency situation and with a satisfactory diagnostic reliability, but still remains an irradiating exam. The results of this study lead to reflect on the use of Vittel criteria that could be improved to reduce the number of normal tests carried out.

Health risk of whole body vibration in mining trucks during various operational conditions

Mining machineries are generally exposed to intensive vibrations in harsh mining environment. If vibrations are beyond the tolerable limit, the machine and its operator health will be under the risk. In this work, the vibration of a mining truck at different operational conditions are simulated and discussed. To achieve this aim, three haul roads with low, medium and poor qualities are considered based on the ISO standard. Accordingly, the vibration of a mining truck in different speeds, payload and distribution qualities of materials in the dump body are evaluated in each haul road quality using Trucksim software. The simulation results with statistical discussions indicate that the truck speed and the materials distribution quality have significant effects on the root mean square(RMS) of vertical vibrations. However, the effect of the payload is not considerable on the RMS. Moreover, the accumulation of materials on the rear side of the truck dump body is efficient on the vibrational health risk.

RADIONUCLIDE WHOLE BODY BONE IMAGING IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF SKELETAL METASTASES

Of 628 patients with extra-osseous malignancies diagnosed by surgery and/or pathology, 207 (33.0%) were identified as having skeletal metastasis by bone imaging. There was statistical significant difference in the incidence of metastasis in different malignancies (P<0.02). The metastatic rates of nasopharyn-geal, lung, prostate and breast cancers were higher than gastrointestinal, kidney, and other malignancies. There was significant differences in the different sites of skeletal metastasis (P<0.01). They were thorax, spine, pelvis, limbs and skull in order of incidence. Solitary metastatic rate was 15.9%. Biopsy is advised for patients suspected to have metastatic disease but with only one single 'hot spot' in skeletal imaging, particularly in the rib.

Effect of 4-week Whole Body Vibration onDistal Radius Density

Objective To assess the effects of high-frequency loading using whole body vibration on distal radius density in adults. Methods The volunteers diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia in the First Hospital of Jilin University from January 2011 to December 2014 were recruited. All the subjects performed foot-based, whole body vibrations on the vibration platform(35 Hz, 0.25 g) once a day, for 15 minutes per session over a period of 4 weeks. The bone mineral density of distal radius(rB MD) was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at before, 2-week, and 4-week after the vibration treatment. Blood pressures were measured at the end of the vibration treatment. Results A total of 114 volunteers were enrolled. The average rB MD before the treatment was 0.331±0.014 g/cm^2. It was reached 0.337±0.019 g/cm2 at the end of the fourth week, increased by 1.79%(P<0.05). Whole body vibration increased rB MD of men and women respectively(1.77% and 1.80%, P<0.05). Blood pressures did not change in any of the groups. Conclusion A 4-week whole body vibration was feasible and contributed to increase of rBMD.

Evaluation of whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance in elderly Japanese

We evaluated whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance in elderly Japanese. A total of 2059 elderly Japanese (730 men and 1329 women), aged 60 - 79 years, were enrolled in the cross-sectional investigation study. Anthropometric parameters, whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance were measured. Whole body reaction time was significantly higher and one leg with eye closed balance was significantly lower in 70’s than those in 60’s in both sexes. Two hundred twenty seven men (31.1%) and 533 women (40.1%) were having no medications. In men, whole body reaction time was significantly higher and one leg with eye closed balance was significantly lower in subjects with medications than those in subjects without in 60’s. However, significant differences of whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance between subjects with and without medications in men with 70’s and women with 60’s and 70’s were not noted. This standard mean value may provide a useful reference database for evaluating whole body reaction time and one leg with eye closed balance in Japanese elderly subjects.

Assessment of Biological Reaction to Whole Body Vibration Training by Evaluating Changes in Salivary Components and Cutaneous Blood Flow

Aim: Whole body vibration (WBV) is thought to improve blood flow and autonomic balance and thereby induce a relaxation effect, which suggests its use for stress management. However, the relaxation effect of WBV training has not been objectively evaluated thus far. The purpose of this study was to determine the biological response to WBV training by measuring peripheral blood flow and salivary components using non-invasive techniques. Methods: Participants included 10 healthy volunteers (7 men, 3 women;mean age 33.8 ± 2.3) who provided oral consent and served as their own control. Each participant performed 15 types of stretching exercises for 10.5 min on the Power Plate? and cutaneous blood flow and salivary components were measured before and after the exercise. One week later, all participants performed the same exercise regimen for 10.5 min on a non-vibratory plate, and blood flow measurement and salivary tests were performed in a similar manner. Cutaneous blood flow was measured in the 4th digit for 1 min using the laser speckle flowgraphy. Saliva samples were evaluated for cortisol levels and α-amylase activity. To determine the effects of stretching exercises on the Power Plate? vs a non-vibratory plate, the differences in pre- and post-exercise peripheral blood flow, salivary cortisol levels, and salivary α-amylase activity were statistically evaluated by the t-test. Results: Mean blood flow before and after the exercise on the Power Plate? was 122.0 ± 54.2 and 156.7 ± 51.2, respectively;on a non-vibratory plate, blood flow was 136.6 ± 47.9 and 146.3 ± 38.3, respectively. The differences in pre-exercise and post-exercise values of the two training methods were not significant (p = 0.215). Mean cortisol levels before and after the exercise on the Power Plate? were 266.6 ± 125 and 204.9 ± 61.6, respectively;on a non-vibratory plate, the levels were 439.0 ± 121.7 and 425.8 ± 118.8, respectively. The differences in pre-exercise and post-exercise values of the two training methods were not significant (p = 0.384). Mean α-amylase activity before and after the exercise on the Power Plate? was 3.74 ± 2.89 and 5.40 ± 3.76, respectively;on a non-vibratory plate, the activity was 3.95 ± 2.23 and 3.28 ± 1.73. The differences in pre-exercise and post-exercise values of the two training methods were not significant (p = 0.115). Conclusion: Our results showed that a brief WBV training increased peripheral blood flow, reduced cortisol levels, and increased α-amylase activity. WBV appears to regulate autonomic activity, in particular, suppress sympathetic activity and improve bodily functions. Thus WBV exercise may be conductive for stress management, but further investigation is warranted to determine the optimal duration of WBV training for stress relief.

Atherogenic lipids profile relates to postprandial hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia due to whole body insulin resistance in prediabetic subjects

Backgrounds: Differences in serum lipids profiles in different type of glucose intolerance are unclear. Aims: To characterize lipid profiles in different type of glucose intolerance, and to assess relationships between serum lipids profile and disturbance of glucose metabolism in prediabetic subjects. Methods: Using the measurements in medical check-up with 75 goral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), total of 620 male subjects, who are not on medications for metabolic diseases or hypertension, were divided into normal fasting glucose and glucose tolerance (NFG/ NGT), isolated impaired fasting glucose (iIFG), isolated impaired glucose tolerance (iIGT) and combined IFG and IGT (IFG/IGT) based on results of the OGTT. Results: Age and body mass index (BMI) were similar in the four groups. Matsuda index (an index of whole body insulin sensitivity) was lower in iIFG, iIGT and IFG/IGT as compared with NFG/NGT. Plasma insulin excursion during the OGTT was significantly higher in IFG/IGT versus NFG/NGT. Serum triglyceride level (TG) and TG to HDL ratio (TG/HDL) were higher in IFG/IGT versus NFG/NGT. Matsuda index was positively correlated with HDL and was inversely correlated with TG, LDL, non-HDL, TG/ HDL and LDL to HDL ratio (LDL/HDL). Backward stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that increases in BMI, plasma insulin level at 60 min (PI60) and plasma glucose level at 120 min in the OGTT were independently associated with increases in TG and TG/HDL. Increases in BMI and PI60 were related to an increase in non-HDL and LDL/HDL and a decrease in HDL. Conclusions: These results indicate that postprandial hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia based on advanced insulin resistance are closely related to lipid risk factors of atherosclerotic macrovascular disease in prediabetic subjects.

Accuracy and Consistency of Respiratory Inductive Plethysmography for Overnight Tidal Volume Measurement

To validate the accuracy and consistency of respiratory inductive plethysmography (RIP) in measuring tidal volume after an overnight sleep, tidal volumes of 18 patients with suspected sleep disordered breathing and 8 normal volunteers were measured simultaneously with RIP (V TRIP ) and with an ultrasonic airflow meter (V TUFM ) before and after an unstrained overnight sleep on supine and lateral decubitus. The bias of the V TRIP was expressed as (V TRIP V TUFM )/ V TUFM ·100 %, limits of agreement between V TRIP and V TUFM was measured by averaged bias ±2 s . Results showed that in normal subjects, the bias of RIP before and after overnight sleep was precise and consistent in both supine (0.7 % and -1.6 %) and lateral decubitus (3.7 % and -0.56 %). In these patients, the bias of RIP before and after sleep in supine also remained small (1.9 % and 1.7 %), but it became larger in lateral decubitus (24.5 % and 20.4 %) and 11.5 % exceeded the limits of agreement observed in the evening. The patients′ body mass indices (BMI) were higher than those of normal subjects (median 34.2 vs. 27.8 kg/m 2). Pooled data showed that the bias of V TRIP in the morning on lateral decubitus but not on supine was correlated to BMI (Spearman R=0.32, n =52, P =0.02). Thus, we were led to conclude that the accuracy of V TRIP overnight was precise and consistent in normal subjects, but the deviation of V TRIP measured on lateral decubitus in patients especially in those with excessive obesity was greater, thus, the method should not be used for quantitative determination.

Automatic detection of respiratory rate from electrocardiogram,respiration induced plethysmography and 3D acceleration signals

Respiratory monitoring is increasingly used in clinical and healthcare practices to diagnose chronic cardio-pulmonary functional diseases during various routine activities.Wearable medical devices have realized the possibilities of ubiquitous respiratory monitoring,however,relatively little attention is paid to accuracy and reliability.In previous study,a wearable respiration biofeedback system was designed.In this work,three kinds of signals were mixed to extract respiratory rate,i.e.,respiration inductive plethysmography(RIP),3D-acceleration and ECG.In-situ experiments with twelve subjects indicate that the method significantly improves the accuracy and reliability over a dynamic range of respiration rate.It is possible to derive respiration rate from three signals within mean absolute percentage error 4.37%of a reference gold standard.Similarly studies derive respiratory rate from single-lead ECG within mean absolute percentage error 17%of a reference gold standard.

Development of forearm impedance plethysmography for the minimally invasive monitoring of cardiac pumping function

It is essential to continuously and non-invasively monitor the cardiac pumping function in clinical setting. Thus, the study aimed to explore a regional impedance phethysmographic method to assess the changes in stroke volume. To do this, we developed a plethysmographic device that was capable of delivering a single-frequency current with constant amplitude and of recording electrical impedance signals of biological tissue. The electrical impedance plethy- smographic waveform form the lower arm was measured with the impedance plethysmographic device, and simultaneously the end-systolic and end- diastolic volumes of the left ventricle were obtained with a two-dimension echocardiographic system in fourteen healthy subjects before and immediately after a thirty-second breath-hold maneuver. For the 14 subjects, a linear correlation coefficient of 0.79 (p < 0.001) was obtained between the changes in peak amplitude of the forearm impedance waveform and the changes in stroke volume before and just after the breath-hold test. In addition, the changes in the mean area under the impedance curve and the change in stroke volume were also correlated linearly (r = 0.71, p < 0.005). In summary, the forearm impedance plethysmography may be employed to evaluate the beat-to-beat alteration in cardiac stroke volume, suggesting its potential for long-term monitoring cardiac pumping performance.

Bile acid signaling in the regulation of whole body metabolic and immunological homeostasis

Bile acids(BAs)play a crucial role in nutrient absorption and act as key regulators of lipid and glucose metabolism and immune homeostasis.Through the enterohepatic circulation,BAs are synthesized,metabolized,and reabsorbed,with a portion entering the vascular circulation and distributing systemically.This allows BAs to interact with receptors in all major organs,leading to organ-organ interactions that regulate both local and global metabolic processes,as well as the immune system.This review focuses on the whole-body effects of BA-mediated metabolic and immunological regulation,including in the brain,heart,liver,intestine,eyes,skin,adipose tissue,and muscle.Targeting BA synthesis and receptor signaling is a promising strategy for the development of novel therapies for various diseases throughout the body.