Fast spin echo vs conventional spin echo in cervical spine imaging

The major attraction of fast-spin-echo (FSE) imaging is reduced acquisition time; however, careful review of the literature reveals many weaknesses: phase-encoded blurring, truncation artefact, bright fat signal, reduced magnetic susceptibility and increased motion artefact. Our aim was a prospective, blinded comparison of FSE and conventional spin echo (CSE) in the cervical spine. Both sequences were performed in 43 patients (19 males and 24 females; mean age 45 years, range 15-66 years). Twenty-eight patients were studied at 1.5 T and 15 at 0.5 T. Typical sequence parameters were: at 1.5 T, TR/TE 2000/90 CSE and 3000/120 FSE, and at 0.5 T, 2200/80 CSE and 2800/120 FSE. Time saved on the FSE was used to increase the matrix and the number of acquisitions. Two neuroradiologists evaluated the images for pathology, artefacts, disc signal intensity, thecal sac compression and image quality. Ten patients had cord lesions; 2 (20 %) were missed on CSE. In 4 of 10 patients with moderate/severe thecal sac compression, the degree of stenosis was apparently exaggerated on CSE. The mean degree of confidence for the CSE sequences was 1.8 and for the FSE 1.1, where 1 is optimal. For cervical spine imaging, FSE should be preferred to CSE.     

New amino-nitroxide spin labels

Stable free mono- and diradicals containing reactive primary or secondary amino groups in the side-chain have been synthesized by transesterification of amino-substituted esters with paramagnetic alcohols or from spin-labeled acid derivatives and amines. In the second approach the new radical 18 (1-oxyl-3-(2-bromoethoxycarbonyl)-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrroline) is proposed as an efficient alkylating species. The nitroxides described are pH-sensitive spin probes and spin labels potentially useful for a diversity of ESR applications in chemistry and biology. New spin-labeled tyramine 16 (N-(1-oxyl-3-carbonyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-pyrroline)tyramine) was successfully employed in a novel assay of protein oxidative damage.