The single-shot fast spin echo sequence (SSFSE) or RARE sequence [15] uses spin echoes (compared with FLASH and bSSFP, which utilise gradient echoes) and is thus conceptually different from the previous imaging sequences.
The liver was graded for markers of hepatic steatosis using established criteria (13– 15) including a bright hepatic echo pattern (compared with the echo response of the right kidney), increased attenuation of the echo beam, and the presence of focal fatty sparing.
Three graders (one sonographer, one specialist registrar in radiology and one consultant radiologist) independently graded the liver for evidence of fatty infiltration using accepted criteria including a bright hepatic echo pattern (compared with the right kidney), increased attenuation of the echo beam and loss of intrahepatic architectural details.
This agreement is more evident with the Davis 55 MHz meteor comparisons, possibly due to the interleaved experiment sequence run on that radar and the typically lower echo rates when compared with observations made at 33.2 MHz.
In this series, stronger correlation was observed relative to serum CK-MB, BNP and 3D Echo LVEF, when compared with 2D Echo LVEF.
However, this latter concern has been addressed by Rao et al. who found improved performances for rectal cancer detection with a combination of DW-SSEPI and T2-weighted fast spin-echo MR images compared with T2-weighted fast spin-echo MR images alone.
Generally, the diagnosis of fatty liver was based on the presence of stronger echoes in the hepatic parenchyma compared with echoes in the kidney or spleen parenchyma [ 21].
In addition, the material elastic constants measured are validated by an ultrasound test based on a pulse-echo method and compared with previous published results at room temperature.
With increasing sensitivity, the score largely reduced the number of echoes needed as compared with NT-proBNP alone.
Regardless, multivariate models (Table 3) echoed bivariate findings: compared with the non-mood disorder population, individuals with bipolar disorder had about 4.6 times the odds of not working (95% CI 3.52, 6.04), 3.56 times the odds of missing at least two weeks of work (95% CI 2.12, 6.04), and 4.6 times the odds of spending at least 10 missed work days in bed (95% CI 2.75, 7.80).
