• Multiparametric MRI methods for collagen fibers quantification in cartilage and tendons using relaxation parameters mapping
  
• The role of mid-myocardial and epicardial cells in T-wave alternans development - simulation study
  
• Project COST TD1201 „Colour and Space in Cultural Heritage"

Result 1: Multiparametric MRI methods for collagen fibers quantification in cartilage and tendons using relaxation parameters mapping

Projects: Projekt VEGA 2/0013/14. (Ústav merania SAV).

Authors: V. Juráš, P. Szomolányi

Modern medicine faces very challenging task to define a high quality diagnostics of the degenerative and traumatic joint lesions. Hence, muskulo-skeletal radiology discovered lately the advantages of the quantitative MRI over morphological (qualitative) MRI. Mostly, a quantification of the basic structural molecules such as collagen fibers and glycosaminoglycan macromolecules as well as a free sodium ions is interesting for human articular cartilage in the knee and ankle, and Achilles tendon. The result of this study was an in-vivo quantitative approach for detecting the changes in articular cartilage under physiological loading. The glycosaminoglycan content can be non-invasively assessed by 23Na (sodium) MRI, collagen fibers with the T2 (and T2*) mapping. Using these methods, it is possible to distinguish between various cartilage repair techniques as well as to follow-up the maturation of the repair tissue.

Co-operating Institution: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Siegfried Trattnig, MR Center, Highfield MR, Department of Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.  

Result 2: The role of mid-myocardial and epicardial cells in T-wave alternans development - simulation study

Projects:

• Project MAD (2012-2015): Multiple-lead ECG measurement for model based interpretation of cardiac electric field. Spolupráca s Nalecz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering Polish Academy of Sciences Warsaw, Poland.
• VEGA No. 2/0131/13 „Methods and systems for measurement, imaging and evaluation of cardiac electrical field in hypertension and hypertrophy".

Authors: D. Janusek, J. Švehlíková, J. Zelinka, R. Zaczek, M. Tyšler, R. Maniewski

T-Wave Alternans (TWA) was simulated using a heart model by introducing changes of the action potential duration and the action potential amplitude during first part of repolarization phase. It was hypothesized that different patterns of the intracardiac alternans distribution would differently influence the measurement of the surface TWA. The changes were performed globally in the whole left and right ventricles to simulate concordant TWA and locally in selected regions to simulate discordant and regional TWA. Body surface potential maps, standard 12-lead ECG signals as well as vectocardiographic representation were computed. It was shown that the influence of mid-myocardial cells on TWA development was significantly lower than the influence of epicardial cells. The highest sensitivity of TWA detection in standard ECG was reached in lead V1. A parameter Vector Magnitude Alternans, indicating the processes which are responsible for TWA development, was proposed. The simulated discordant and regional action potential properties changes had a higher influence on TWA development than the concordant changes. Regarding the mid-myocardial cells, the sub-endocardial layer had the highest influence on TWA development. QT interval alternans was shown as a phenomenon correlated with TWA.

Publication:

1. JANUSEK, D. - ŠVEHLÍKOVÁ, Jana - ZELINKA, Ján - ZACZEK, R. - TYŠLER, Milan - MANIEWSKI, R.: The role of mid-myocardial and epicardial cells in T-wave alternans development - simulation study. Submitted to Medical & Biological Engineering and Computing. 

Result 3: Project COST TD1201 „Colour and Space in Cultural Heritage"

Project: Projekt COST TD1201

Author: M. Hain

In the European project COST "Colour space and in the cultural heritage" the investigators from the Institute of Measurement Science in 2015 became involved in the case study "Roman silver coins" and they have developed and applied the X-ray microtomographic methods for analyzing, testing and documentation of valuable historical artefacts of cultural heritage. In this project are involved, beside the Institute of Measurement Science SAS, also many other leading scientific institutions from 27 European countries, where scientific scope covers the area of multispectral and hyperspectral imaging, X-ray computed tomography, scanning of 3D objects using structured light, laser scanning, terahertz imaging and other optical - physical methods. Institute of Measurement Science within the case study "Roman silver coins" conducted this year microtomographic measurement of 3D shape and internal structure of two selected artefacts - silver coins from the times of ancient Rome. Microtomographic measurements have revealed hidden cracks and traces of internal corrosion, which are an important factor in determining the authenticity of historical coins.