Technical report: gadoxetate-disodium-enhanced 2D R2* mapping: a novel approach for assessing bile ducts in living donors

Abstract

Purpose: Gadoxetate-disodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced 3D T1- weighted (T1w) MR cholangiography (MRC) is an efficient method to evaluate biliary anatomy due to T1 shortening of excreted contrast in the bile. A method that exploits both T1 shortening and T2* effects may produce even greater bile duct conspicuity. The aim of our study is to determine feasibility and compare the diagnostic performance of two-dimensional (2D) T1w multi-echo (ME) spoiled gradient-recalled-echo (SPGR) derived R2* maps against T1w MRC for bile duct visualization in living liver donor candidates. Materials and methods: Ten potential living liver donor candidates underwent pretransplant 3T MRI and were included in our study. Following injection of Gd-EOBDT-PA and a 20-min delay, 3D T1w MRC and 2D T1w ME SPGR images were acquired. 2D R2* maps were generated inline by the scanner assuming exponential decay. The 3D T1w MRC and 2D R2* maps were retrospectively and independently reviewed in two separate sessions by three radiologists. Visualization of eight bile duct segments was scored using a 4-point ordinal scale. The scores were compared using mixed effects regression model. Results: Imaging was tolerated by all donors and R2* maps were successfully generated in all cases. Visualization scores of 2D R2* maps were significantly higher than 3D Tlw MRC for right anterior (p = 0.003) and posterior (p = 0.0001), segment 2 (p < 0.0001), segment 3 (p = 0.0001), and segment 4 (p < 0.0001) ducts. Conclusions: Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced 2D R2* mapping is a feasible method for evaluating the bile ducts in living donors and may be a valuable addition to the living liver donor MR protocol for delineating intrahepatic biliary anatomy.

Analysis of Contractile Function of Permeabilized Human Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Multicellular Heart Tissue

“…The difference in Ca 2+ sensitivity between single and double heterozygous mutations fits to the often-observed clinical difference in phenotypes. Patients with double mutations generally show an earlier disease presentation, more severe LV hypertrophy, higher prevalence of advanced heart failure, and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death than patients with single heterozygous mutations (Maron et al., 2012; Biagini et al., 2014; Fazeli Dehkordy et al., 2018). A differential Ca 2+ sensitivity has also been observed in other studies with different HCM disease genes (Ren et al., 2018; Mamidi et al., 2019).…”

Morphological features of the wall of common bile duct under the conditions of experimental opioid exposure

“…The morphological state of the bile ducts remains one of the most pressing problems of modern medical science [5,6,13,17]. Damage to the bile ducts often poses a serious threat to the patient's life [4,24,26].…”