Objectives Preclinical and non-medicinal interventions are essential for preventing and treating cognitive decline in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise is conducted on a platform that generates vertical sinusoidal vibrations, and WBV training may improve regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and cognitive function, however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether WBV exercise and a 24-week WBV training protocol increased rCBF and enhanced cognitive function in patients with amnestic MCI (aMCI). Methods [ 99m Tc]-ECD and SPECT studies were performed on 16 aMCI patients at baseline, during WBV exercise, and on 6 of the 16 patients after 24-week WBV training. To diagnose SPECT images and select the patients, a Z-score mapping approach was used, which revealed pathological hypoperfusion in the parietal association cortex, precuneus and/or posterior cingulate gyrus for MCI at baseline. rCBF was semi-quantitatively measured and underestimation in the high flow range was corrected. Since it is difficult to quantitatively measure rCBF during WBV exercise, the rCBF ratio was obtained by standardizing with the average of individual mean SPECT counts with correcting underestimation in the high flow range. The rCBF ratios at baseline and after WBV training were also obtained in a similar manner. Since the changes in rCBF were regarded as corresponding to the changes in rCBF ratio , the ratios were compared. Cognitive function was also evaluated and compared. ResultsWe found that the rCBF ratio changed with an average range of 11.5% during WBV exercise, and similar changes were observed after 24-week WBV training with a 13.0% change, resulting in improved cognitive function (MoCA-J, P = 0.028). The rCBF ratio increased in the parietal association cortex and occipital lobes, including the precuneus and posterior cingulate gyrus, at which hypoperfusion was detected at baseline, but decreased in the frontal lobe and anterior cingulate gyrus. The rCBF ratio increased on the right side of several motion-suppressive nuclei by WBV exercise; the bilateral red nuclei and right medial globus pallidus by WBV training. Conclusion WBV exercise and training increase rCBF in aMCI patients, and WBV training enhances cognitive function and may increase the cognitive reserve. Further investigation is necessary.

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Objectives Accurately evaluated regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is increasingly important for the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early Alzheimer's disease (AD). We propose a novel diagnostic approach to minimize artifacts and Z-score over- or underestimation caused by cerebral atrophy, better reflecting rCBF, thus improving diagnoses accuracy. Methods [99mTc]-ECD and SPECT studies were performed on 15 cognitively normal patients, 40 patients with MCI, and 16 patients with probable AD. Patient SPECT images were compared with those of age-matched controls using SPM2. The Z-scores obtained were displayed on a standardized MRI based on the orbito-meatal line. The atrophy correction method was incorporated to reduce artifacts through the MRI masking procedure applied to the target patient. Regional Z-score, percent extent, and atrophy correction rate obtained using the masking procedure, Mask (+), were compared with those obtained without the mask, Mask (-). The atrophy correction rate was defined as follows: atrophy correction rate = [ZscoreMask (-) - ZscoreMask (+)]/ZscoreMask (-)*100. To assess the approach, the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was conducted for five dementia-related regions. Results This approach significantly reduced artifacts, regional Z-score, and percent extent in most regions, leading to improved estimates. The mean atrophy correction rate ranged from 10.4 to 12.0%. In MCI and AD, the convexities of the frontal and parietal lobes and the posterior medial cerebrum were particularly sensitive to cerebral atrophy, and the Z-score Mask (-) were overestimated, whereas the posterior cingulate cortex and the cerebellum were less sensitive to artifacts. The diagnostic accuracy for MCI increased from 67% for Mask (-) to 69% for Mask (+), and for AD from 78% for Mask (-) to 82% for Mask (+). The mean Z-scores in the inferior parietal lobule were higher in AD than in MCI. Conclusion This approach demonstrated improved Z-score assessments with reduced artifacts and improved diagnostic accuracy. A semi-automatic implementation of this is recommended for routine clinical studies.

SummaryA questionnaire comprising 14 items, inquiring about the state of damage, whether safety could be ensured, and progress of repair and restoration was distributed to 984 facilities in seven prefectures on the Pacific coast as part of a fact-finding survey of damage caused to magnetic resonance (MR) devices by the Great East Japan Earthquake. In all, 458 responses (46.6%) were collected. In Miyagi Prefecture alone, 65 responses from 105 questionnaires were collected (response rate: 61.9%). The overall incidence of damage was 19.2%, with 57 facilities (12.4%) reporting that displacement of the magnets was the most common problem. The damage event rate in Miyagi Prefecture was 51.3%, with displacement of the magnet being highest at 17 cases (26.2%). There was a high rate of 13 cases (26.5%) of chiller and air conditioning failures and a rapid loss of He in ten MR scanners (20.4%). Notably, 87.8% of facilities in Miyagi Prefecture (24.5% of the total) were affected by earthquakes exceeding 6 on the Japanese Seismic Intensity Scale. Flood damage caused by the tsunami was also seen along the Sanriku coast to Sendai City (six MR scanners, 50% of the total), and was typical of the damage seen in Miyagi Prefecture.

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