• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.126-133
• /
• 2019

Objective: To compare the lumbar vertebral bone marrow fat-signal fractions obtained from six-echo modified Dixon sequence (6-echo m-Dixon) with those from single-voxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in patients with low back pain. Materials and Methods: Vertebral bone marrow fat-signal fractions were quantified by 6-echo m-Dixon (repetition time [TR] = 7.2 ms, echo time (TE) = 1.21 ms, echo spacing = 1.1 ms, total imaging time = 50 seconds) and single-voxel MRS measurements in 25 targets (23 normal bone marrows, two focal lesions) from 24 patients. The point-resolved spectroscopy sequence was used for localized single-voxel MRS (TR = 3000 ms, TE = 35 ms, total scan time = 1 minute 42 seconds). A 2 × 2 × 1.5 cm³ voxel was placed within the normal L2 or L3 vertebral body, or other lesions including a compression fracture or metastasis. The bone marrow fat spectrum was characterized on the basis of the magnitude of measurable fat peaks and a priori knowledge of the chemical structure of triglycerides. The imaging-based fat-signal fraction results were then compared to the MRS-based results. Results: There was a strong correlation between m-Dixon and MRS-based fat-signal fractions (slope = 0.86, R² = 0.88, p < 0.001). In Bland-Altman analysis, 92.0% (23/25) of the data points were within the limits of agreement. Bland-Altman plots revealed a slight but systematic error in the m-Dixon based fat-signal fraction, which showed a prevailing overestimation of small fat-signal fractions (< 20%) and underestimation of high fat-signal fractions (> 20%). Conclusion: Given its excellent agreement with single-voxel-MRS, 6-echo m-Dixon can be used for visual and quantitative evaluation of vertebral bone marrow fat in daily practice.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.28-33
• /
• 2017

Purpose: To investigate and compensate the effects of respiration-induced B0 variations on fat quantification of the bone marrow in the lumbar spine. Materials and Methods: Multi-echo gradient echo images with navigator echoes were obtained from eight healthy volunteers at 3T clinical scanner. Using navigator echo data, respiration-induced B0 variations were measured and compensated. Fat fraction maps were estimated using $T2^*$-IDEAL algorithm from the uncompensated and compensated images. For manually drawn bone marrow regions, the estimated B0 variations and the calculated fat fractions (before and after compensations) were analyzed. Results: An increase of temporal B0 variations from inferior level to superior levels was observed for all subjects. After compensation using navigator echo data, the effects of the B0 variations were reduced in gradient echo images. The calculated fat fractions show significant differences (P < 0.05) in L1 and L3 between the uncompensated and the compensated. Conclusion: The results of this study raise the need for considering respiration-induced B0 variations for accurate fat quantification using gradient echo images in the lumbar spine. The use of navigator echo data can be an effective way for the reduction of the effects of respiratory motion on the quantification.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.16-24
• /
• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a significant correlation between vertebral marrow fat fraction measured using Dixon quantitative chemical shift MRI (QCSI) and BMD on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 68 healthy individuals [mean age, 50.7 years; range, 25-76; male/female (M/F) = 36/32] who underwent DXA of the L-spine and whole body MRI including QCSI of the L-spine and chemical shift MRI of the liver. The enrolled individuals were divided into subgroups according to sex and T-score [i.e., normal bone density (M/F=27/23) and osteopenia (M/F=9/9)]. Vertebral marrow (Dixon QCSI, TR/TE 10.2/4.8 ms) and hepatic fat fractions (chemical shift technique, TR/TE 110/4.9 and 2.2 ms) were calculated on MRI. We evaluated whether there were significant differences in age, body mass index (BMI), vertebral marrow fat fraction, or hepatic fat fraction among the subgroups. Whether or not the participant had reached menopause was also evaluated in females. The correlations among variables (i.e., age, BMI, vertebral marrow and hepatic fat fractions, BMD) were evaluated using Spearman's correlation method. Results: There were no significant differences in age, BMI, or vertebral marrow and hepatic fat fractions between the two male subgroups (normal bone density vs. osteopenia). In female subjects, mean age in the osteopenic subgroup was greater than that in the normal subgroup (p=0.01). Presence of menopause was more common in the osteopenic subgroup [77.8% (7/9)] than the normal subgroup [26.1% (6/23), p<0.05]. The other variables showed no significant difference between female subgroups. The only significant correlation with marrow fat fraction after partial correlation analysis was that with age in the female subjects (r=0.43, p<0.05). Conclusion: The vertebral marrow fat fraction calculated using the Dixon QCSI does not precisely reflect the mild decrease in BMD for either sex.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.50-55
• /
• 2018

Gelatinous transformation of bone marrow is characterized by hypoplasia of fat cells with focal loss of hematopoietic cells and deposition of extracellular gelatinous substances. It is known to be associated with devastating underlying diseases that starve bone marrow. Here, we present a case of a patient whose magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of vertebral column were interpreted as metastasis or hematologic malignancy, however, the final diagnosis revealed a gelatinous transformation of bone marrow. This is the first report of gelatinous transformation of bone marrow without evidence of underlying devastating disease.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.115-120
• /
• 2024

Components derived from an infected lesion within the bone can spread through various passages in the mandible, particularly via the mental foramen. Radiologically, the spread of infection is typically nonspecific and challenging to characterize; however, multislice computed tomography (MSCT) can effectively detect pathological changes in soft tissues and the bone marrow space. This report describes the case of a 55-year-old woman who experienced mental nerve paresthesia due to a periapical infection of the right mandibular second premolar. MSCT imaging revealed increased attenuation around the periapical lesion extending into the mandibular canal and loss of the juxta-mental foraminal fat pad. Following endodontic treatment of the tooth suspected to be the source of the infection, the patient's symptoms resolved, and the previous MSCT imaging findings were no longer present. Increased bone marrow attenuation and obliteration of the fat plane in the buccal aspect of the mental foramen may serve as radiologic indicators of inflammation spreading from the bone marrow space.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.451-469
• /
• 1990

The present study was carried out to investigate whether the aloe had a radioprotective effect in mice exposed to cobalt-60 gamma radiation or not. The survival ratio of mice for 30 days, hematopoiesis of blood-forming stem cells by spleen colony assay, chromosomal aberration frequency of bone marrow cells and histopathological findings of bone marrow were investigated. The survival ratios of aloe administered groups with concentration of 250, 500, 1,000 and 1,500mg for 3 days before irradiation and control group in cobalt-60 gamma irradiated mice(700rads whole body irradiation, dose rate of 50rads/min.) were 77.4, 79.3, 80.6, 90.0 and 53.1％, respectively. The survival ratios of pre-irradiation aloe administered groups were superior to those of post-irradiation aloe groups and control group. In spleen colony assay, Aloe vera administration before irradiation enhanced the recoveries of numbers of blood-forming stem cells of bone marrow of irradiated mice. There were decreased chromosomal aberrations of bone marrow cells at the first day after irradiation in aloe administered groups compared to that of control group. Histopathological findings in the bone marrow of irradiated mice were hypocellularity due to the depletion of myelocytes, abundant of fat vacuoles and these changes were weakened in aloe administered groups compared to that of control group.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.11-18
• /
• 2008

Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells are thought to be multipotent cells, which are present in adult marrow, that can replicate as undifferentiated cells and that have the potential to differentiate to lineages of mesenchymal tissues, including bone, cartilage, fat, tenden, muscle, and marrow stroma. Cells that have the characteristics of human mesenchymal stem cells could be isolated from marrow aspirates of human and animals. This study was designed to identify and characterize genes specifically expressed by osteogenic supplements -treated cells by suppression subtractive hybridization(SSH) method. The results were as follows: 1. 2 genes were upregulated genes in osteogenic diffeentiation of hMSCs, which is further proved by Northern blot analysis. 2. IGFBP-2 has been identified playing an important role in bone formation. 3. HF1 was also upregulated during osteogenic differentiation, but its role in bone formation is not clear yet.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.42-48
• /
• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Seaweeds have been reported to have various health beneficial effects. In this study, we investigated the potential anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory effects of four types of domestic brown seaweeds in a high-fat diet-induced obese mouse model and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). MATERIALS/METHODS: Male C57BL/6N mice were fed low-fat diet (LFD), high-fat diet (HFD) or HFD containing Undaria Pinnatifida, HFD containing Laminaria Japonica (LJ), HFD containing Sargassum Fulvellum, or HFD containing Hizikia Fusiforme (HF) for 16 weeks. RESULTS: Brown seaweed supplementation did not affect long-term HFD-associated changes in body weight or adiposity, although mice fed HFD + LJ or HFD + HF gained slightly less body weight compared with those fed HFD at the beginning of feeding. Despite being obese, mice fed HFD + LJ appeared to show improved insulin sensitivity compared to mice fed HFD. Consistently, we observed significantly reduced blood glucose concentrations in mice fed HFD + LJ compared with those of mice fed HFD. Although no significant differences in adipocyte size were detected among the HFD-fed groups, consumption of seaweeds decreased formation of HFD-induced crown-like structures in gonadal adipose tissue as well as plasma inflammatory cytokines. BMDM from mice fed HFDs with seaweeds showed differential regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 compared with BMDM from mice fed HFD by LPS stimulation. CONCLUSION: Although seaweed consumption did not prevent long-term HFD-induced obesity in C57BL/6N mice, it reduced insulin resistance (IR) and circulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, seaweeds may ameliorate systemic inflammation and IR in obesity partially due to inhibition of inflammatory signaling in adipose tissue cells as well as bone marrow-derived immune cells.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.517-525
• /
• 2005

This study was performed to evaluate using wild-type (WT) and $C{\times}32$ knockout (KO) mice if lack of cell to cell communication by connexin 32 gap junction enhances the benzene-induced hematotoxicity and hemopoietic tumor development. The WT and $C{\times}32$ KO mice were exposed to 300 ppm of benzene for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week for a total of 26 weeks by inhalation, and then sacrificed to evaluate the toxicities of hemopoietic organs or allowed to live out their life span to evaluate the hemopoietic tumor incidence. The significant increase and decrease of organ weight were respectively noted in spleen and thymus of both WT and $C{\times}32$ KO mice without significant difference between the genotypes. Histopathologically, benzene exposure for 26 weeks induced the morphological changes in hemopoietic organs, characterized by fat cell accumulation in the bone marrow and extramedullary hemopoiesis in the spleen. The fat cell accumulation was, compared with that of WT mice, considerably exacerbated in the $C{\times}32$ KO mice. However, no significant difference was observed in the changes of hematological values and bone marrow cellularity as well as in the onset and incidence of hemopoietic tumors between WT and $C{\times}32$ KO mice. In conclusion, this study indicated little significant role of the cellular communication by $C{\times}32$ gap junction in the action mechanism of benzene hematotoxicity and leukemogenicity.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.392-397
• /
• 2007

We investigated whether ethanol extracts of the safflower seeds containing phenolic compounds were responsible for the bone-protecting effects. Crude ethanol extract (CEE) of the safflower seeds was fed for 4 weeks at the level of 1% in diet to female Sprague-Dawley rats that had been subjected to bilateral ovariectomy (OVX). The CEE effects (OVX+CEE) were evaluated by comparing results obtained from OVX, Sham, and OVX injected with $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($OVX+E_2$) groups. OVX resulted in a dramatic reduction in the trabecular bone mass of the proximal tibia (approximately 40% of the Sham group) and an increase in fat deposition in bone marrow. In $OVX+E_2$ group, the bone loss was completely prevented as well as marrow adiposity. In OVX+CEE group, approximately 80% of the bone mass was maintained compared with Sham group and fat deposition in the bone marrow was prevented. Meanwhile, the partially purified ethanol extract containing the phenolic compounds stimulated proliferation of the ROS 17/2.8 osteoblast-like cells in a dose-dependent manner, as potently as positive controls of $E_2$ and genistein. The present data demonstrate that the ethanol extracts of safflower seeds reduced bone loss caused by estrogen deficiency. The bone-protecting effect of safflower seeds seems to be mediated, at least partly, by the stimulating effect of the phenolic compounds on the growth of osteoblasts.