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The aim of this study is exploring the value of diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) in the diagnosis of acute carbon monoxide poisoning encephalopathy in vivo rats. Forty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, were divided into a control group and CO poisoning model group. DKI during 7.0 T MR were performed in the globus pallidus, hippocampus and parietal cortex in the rats. During acute CO poisoning, compared with controls, Mean kurtosis values (MK) and Mean diffusivity (MD) values were significantly decreased both in the hippocampus and parietal cortex, however, in the globus pallidus were significantly increased.The pathological findings showed emerged granular cytoplasmic changes, thickening of chromatin of the neurons, and local lymphocytic infiltration. However, the condition in the hippocampus and parietal cortex was significantly milder than in the globus pallidus region in the first day or 3 days later. Both Immunohistochemical analysis of the heme oxygenase-1 of rats and MK values increased only in globus pallidus with a statistical difference between the CO poisoning group and the normal group both in the day 1 and day 3. DKI can possess sufficient sensitivity for tracking pathophysiological changes associated with carbon monoxide intoxication. The higher MK values in acute stage of carbon monoxide intoxication might indicate poor prognosis in the evolution of the condition.

Finding new ways to prevent and reduce the incidence of dementia is a serious world problem. This study aimed to perform imaging comparisons between pre- and post-meridian sinew therapy using arterial spin labeling (ASL) and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). Meanwhile, the results were studied to provide imaging evidence to support the effect of this meridian sinew therapy to slow down the brain aging and to reveal the related neurological mechanisms. Eighteen sub-healthy volunteers were selected as subjects. Three treatment strategies were adopted, acupuncture (group A), myofascial release (group B), and the integrated acupuncture and myofascial release (group C). The subjects were assigned to receive the three treatment modalities sequentially. 3T MRI examinations were provided before and after each treatment, including routine brain MRI plain scan, ASL and rs-fMRI scan. Compared with the results before and after treatment, the number of brain regions with increased cerebral blood flow (CBF) values in the group A, group B, and group C were respectively 1, 15 and 10 brain regions, all including the right cingulate gyrus. And rs-fMRI showed that multiple brain regions was activated, mainly temporal lobe and frontal lobe. The independent component analysis showed that the right intraorbital superior frontal gyrus and the occipital region was activated. Meridian sinew therapy can increase CBF and enhance neuronal activity in brain regions significantly associated with cognitive and memory functions, which may be the main targets where it actions on to achieve “Xingshen Yizhi (waking up the spirit and reinforcing thinking activity)” effect. The combination of ASL and rs-fMRI may be an effective imaging modality for future quantitative monitoring of the preventive and therapeutic effects of the meridian sinew therapy.