Dear MRI Insider,
The new year may be a week old, but perhaps some of us are still lamenting the loss of brain cells that occurred during the last major blowout of 2006. Never fear -- the brain is a most resilient organ, according to two MRI studies.
First, researchers in Germany found that the brain can repair some of the damage caused by excessive drinking. With MRI and MR spectroscopy, they determined that brain volume actually increases once a person stops indulging in alcohol.
In another study, a Canadian group used MRI to show that sometimes a case of hysteria is just a case of hysteria -- an uncontrollable physical response to psychological distress. Moreover, there is the possibility of teaching the brain to overcome this conversion disorder.
And, working with functional MRI, neuroscientists demonstrated that women under stress could find some relief by holding onto their spouse's hand, giving credence to the connection between emotional relationships and improved health.
Also, stop by the MRI Digital Community for articles on high-field MRI in patients with pacemakers, how to safely provide medical gases in the MRI suite, and a calcium-sensitive contrast agent for molecular MR studies of the brain.
Finally, check out the MRI Insider Exclusive, in which Dr. Christiane Kuhl offers a new perspective on the role of breast MRI in invasive breast cancer, specifically the modality's sensitivity for diagnosing ductal carcinoma in situ. Click here for the full story.
