As a measure of variability, the median coefficient of variation (CV) of three analyses of echo intensity per muscle was assessed.
After a single injection of 0.1 mmol/kg meglumine gadoterate (Dotarem, Guerbet, Aulnay-sous-Bois, France), perfusion at rest was assessed by an echo-double diffusion imaging sequence in the SA plane.
In both panels A and B the MI expansion was assessed bi-monthly from Echo measurements and expressed as the percent of LV perimeter.
The degree of steatosis was assessed by the fall in echo amplitude with depth (rate of posterior beam attenuation), increasing discrepancy of echo amplitude between liver and kidney, and loss of echoes from the walls of the portal veins (28).
Each sonogram was assessed for lesion shape, margin, echo texture, echogenicity, and posterior acoustic phenomenon according to the BI-RADS criteria [8].
Bone mineral density (BMD) of eighteen femur specimens was assessed with pQCT, DXA, and MRI (using ultrashort echo times (UTE) and the MicroView software).
Lesion anatomy was assessed using T2 maps generated from spin-echo images acquired on day 2 after MCA occlusion, and on all fMRI sessions.
FI was assessed according to the Goutallier-derived classification as adapted for use on oblique parasaggital T1-weighted fast-spin echo sequences [ 1, 5].
Intraventricular dyssynchrony was assessed by colour-coded tissue velocity imaging (TVI) during spontaneous rhythm and sequential biventricular pacing with IEGM -and echo-optimized delays.
Tumour perfusion was assessed by monitoring the inflow of an intravenously injected MRI contrast agent, Gd-DTPA, using a series of rapidly acquired T1-weigthed spin echo images.
