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Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and phosphorus-31 MR spectroscopy were used to examine four patients with dermatomyositis and five control subjects. T2-weighted images of the thigh muscles of patients showed increased signal intensity, with focal and inhomogeneous involvement predominantly in the vastus lateralis and secondarily in the vastus intermedius and vastus medialis. T1 and T2 values of the vastus lateralis in patients were significantly higher than those of the control subjects. T1 values of the rectus femoris and biceps femoris with more generalized inflammation were moderately elevated but still significantly higher than those of the control subjects. P-31 MR spectra of the quadriceps muscles were obtained during rest, during exercise at two graded levels, and in recovery. Concentrations of adenosine triphosphate and phosphocreatine (PCr) in the diseased muscles were 30% below normal values, and the inorganic phosphate/PCr ratios were increased in the patients' muscles at rest and throughout exercise. The T1 and T2 values as well as the P-31 metabolite data correlated with symptoms and clinical assessment.

This study examines multicomponent diffusion in isolated single neurons and discusses the implications of the results for macroscopic water diffusion in tissues. L7 Aplysia neurons were isolated and analyzed using a 600 MHz Bruker wide-bore instrument with a magnetic susceptibility-matched radiofrequency microcoil. Using a biexponential fit, the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) from the cytoplasm (with relative fraction) were 0.48 ؎ 0.14 ؋ 10 -3 mm

Chronic alcohol-dependent patients have reduced brain volumes and concomitant neurobehavioral deficits that may recover during abstinence. In 10 chronic alcoholic patients, using localized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we found reliable increases during the first 3-4 weeks of abstinence in the concentrations within the superior cerebellar vermis of choline (Cho)-containing compounds relative to the neuronal marker, N-acetylaspartate (NAA). Lesser changes were observed following 1 month of abstinence, and in one of the patients studied longitudinally over 3 months, a marked reduction in the Cho/NAA ratio was associated with relapse. After detoxification, the Cho/NAA ratio correlated with a composite clinical impression of brain functions. The lowest Cho/NAA was observed in a patient with persisting alcoholic dementia, in striking contrast to reduced relative concentrations of NAA reported in dementia of the Alzheimer's type. Possible molecular explanations for these brain metabolic changes are discussed.

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