1. Mice in MARS: Fatty Liver Measurements using Novel Spectroscopic Imaging Kyra Berg, Biochemistry, Working with Nicola and Nigel Fatty liver currently imaged by: MRI (in and out phase) dual CT, by referencing liver HU to spleen HU, only “see” very fatty liver Hope that difference in absorption curves between liver and fat will allow them to be distinguished by spectroscopic CT. Experimental Plan: prepare fat and liver phantoms (packed syringes) construct absorption curves and determine energy levels which will help distinguish the two tissues scan phantoms for inclusion as standards in PCA analysis of biological specimens (fatty meat, then fatty mice)

2. CALCIUM AND IRON Two other elements of clinical interest: calcium and iron CALCIUM: atherosclerotic plaques become calcified (bone-like matrix) as disease progresses quantification of micro-calcifications is important for monitoring progression of disease and for treatment plan currently imaged by dual CT by setting a lower threshold HU, quantified roughly by summing over: voxels meeting threshold times their intensity (not specific) IRON: atherosclerotic lesions have iron depositions iron load may be linked to risk of heart disease Iron currently imaged by MRI

3. CALCIUM AND IRON Hope to perform quantification of these elements in biological tissues using spectroscopic CT and PCA. Experimental Plan: prepare standard curves of calcium (CaCl2) and iron (FeCl3.6H20) solutions at biologically relevant concentrations, as well as solutions of hydrochloric acid (HCl) at chloride-equivalent concentrations for subtraction of chloride contribution construct absorption curves and determine energy levels which will help distinguish these elements scan the standards for inclusion in PCA analysis of biological specimens (possible phantom of PCR tubes in plexiglass?)

4. CURRENT AND FUTURE PLANS CURRENTLY: have prepared standards am waiting for energy calibration of chip WHEN NICOLA GETS BACK: Hopefully, we will have seen that PCA, when standards/phantoms are stitched into the image, can quantify iron and calcium and distinguish fat from surrounding tissues (quantify volume of fat). We will give 10 mice oral gavages of oil mixed with different concentrations of iron and calcium. We will attempt to quantify iron and calcium by PCA with images of standards stitched into biological image. We will sacrifice and scan 4 of Nicola’s fatty transgenic mice and hopefully look at fat in the liver specifically by PCA with fat and liver phantoms stitched into biological image.