Elisa
Placidi1, C. L. Hoad1, L. Marciani2, R. C.
Spiller2, P. A. Gowland1
1SPMMRC, School of Physics and
Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; 2Nottingham
Digestive Diseases Centre Biomedical Research Unit, University of Nottingham,
Nottingham, United Kingdom
MRI
was used to investigate the colonic response to two contrasting test meals: a
readily absorbable glucose drink (control) and a non absorbable mannitol
drink, which acts as a model of acute diarrhoeal disease. Eight healthy
volunteers were imaged on a 1.5 T Philips Achieva scanner with several sequences
up to 8 hours after the drink, to assess changes in the ascending colon in
terms of water content, volume, and image signal intensity. Differences
between the two conditions have been quantified. A scoring system based on
subjective assessment of colonic contents has also been developed.