A new ultra-fast imaging technique that does not place extreme demands on the speed of the gradient system is described. When used with comparable MRI systems, the rotating ultra-fast imaging sequence (RUFIS) can acquire images 4 to 5 times faster than gradient-moment nulled EPI and more than twice as fast as DUFIS, OUFIS, or BURST techniques. Because the technique uses free induction decays instead of echoes, it can be made particularly insensitive to effects of motion, flow, and diffusion. Preliminary images of turbulent flow are presented to demonstrate this insensitivity. However, with appropriate encoding, flow effects may be imaged.

Gene therapy is a promising approach to the treatment of many forms of disease, including cancer. Of critical concern in its implementation is the ability to control the location, duration, and level of expression of the therapeutic gene. Here, we propose the use of local heat in combination with a heat-sensitive promoter to help accomplish this. Certain members of the family of heat shock protein (hsp) promoters display a regulation that depends strongly on temperature. We present a study of natural hsp70 induction in rat leg by MRI-guided focused ultrasound to investigate the hsp70 promoter as a possible candidate for use in control of gene expression with local heat. A temperature increase of 5-8 degrees C in the focal region for 45 minutes led to a differential expression of the hsp70 mRNA between the focal region and the surrounding tissue ranging from a factor of 3 to 67.

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