Abstract: The present invention provides a method of magnetic resonance investigation of a sample, preferably of a human or non-human animal body. The method comprises the step of ex vivo polarization of a high T1 agent. The polarizing agent is optionally separated from the high T1 agent before the high T1 agent is administered to the sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of magnetic imaging (MR) of a living sample comprising the steps of hyperpolarizing a hyperpolarizable gas ex-vivo and transferring the nuclear polarization from the hyperpolarized gas to the nuclei of an MR imaging agent, that is not hyperpolarizable, that is exposed to a uniform magnetic field and that is introduced in contact to the hyperpolarizable gas, separating the hyperpolarizable gas from the MR imaging agent, administering the MR imaging agent to the living sample, exciting NMR transitions in the nuclei of the imaging agent and detecting an NMR signal thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides low viscosity iodinated aryl compounds, useful as X-ray contrast agents, of formula C6R6 wherein three non-adjacent R groups are iodine and the remaining R groups are non-ionic, hydrophilic moieties, said compound being water soluble at 20° C. to a concentration of at least 350 mgl/ml and which in aqueous solution at 20° C. at a concentration of 350 mgl/ml has a viscosity no greater than 13.8 mPas.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of MR investigation of a sample, the method comprising: (i) placing in a uniform magnetic field a composition comprising an OMRI contrast agent and an MR imaging agent containing nuclei (MR imaging nuclei) capable of emitting magnetic resonance signals (e.g. the primary magnetic field B0) and capable of exhibiting a T1 relaxation time of 6 s or more (at 37° C. in D2O in a field of 7T); (ii) exposing the composition to a first radiation of a frequency selected to excite electron spin transitions in the OMRI contrast agent; (iii) optionally but preferably separating the whole, substantially the whole, or a portion of said OMRI contrast agent from said MR imaging agent; (iv) administering said MR imaging agent to said sample, (v) exposing the sample to a second radiation of a frequency selected to excite nuclear spin transitions; (vi) detecting magnetic resonance signals from the sample; and (vii) optionally, generating an image or dynamic flow data from the detected signals.

Abstract: The use in diagnostic imaging, in particular X-ray, MRI, ultrasound and scintigraphy, of contrast agents comprising bismuth clusters and/or organic bismuth compounds, and contrast media containing such bismuth compounds. The bismuth compounds are also useful in therapy, in particular as antimicrobial agents and antiulcer agents. Novel bismuth compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of magnetic resonance investigation of a sample, preferably of a human or non-human animal body, said method comprising the step of ex vivo polarisation of a high T1 agent and wherein the polarising agent is optionally seperated from the high T1 agent before the high T1 agent is administered to the sample.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of functional imaging of a human or non-human animal body, which method comprises administering into the gastrointestinal tract of a said body an effective amount of a composition comprising (a) a first contrast agent comprising a physiologically tolerable manganese compound or a salt thereof, together with (b) a second contrast agent, and generating a functional image of the gastrointestinal tract of said body.This imaging technique has surprisingly been found to provide clear delineation of those portions of the gut wall in which manganese uptake is occurring, thereby enabling not only the detection of tumors in the gut, but also the identification of regions of the gut which may be functioning abnormally.

Abstract: A method of generating an image of a human or non-human animal body which comprises administering to said body a physiologically tolerable contrast enhancing amount of a non-cluster type bismuth compound, and methods of treating gastrointestinal disorders using the same. Diagnostic imaging contrast media comprising non-cluster type bismuth compounds are also disclosed, together with novel covalent non-cluster type bismuth compounds.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of electron spin resonance enhanced magnetic resonance imaging which relies on ex vivo dynamic nuclear polarisation of an MR imaging agent.

Abstract: The invention provides low viscosity iodinated aryl compounds, useful as X-ray contrast agents, of formula I ##STR1## (wherein n is 0 or 1, and where n is 1 each C.sub.6 R.sub.5 moeity may be the same or different; each group R is a hydrogen atom, an iodine atom or a hydrophilic moiety M or M.sub.1, two or three non-adjacent R groups in each C.sub.6 R.sub.5 moiety being iodine and at least one, and preferably two or three, R groups in each C.sub.6 R.sub.5 moiety being M or M.sub.1 moieties; X denotes a bond or a group providing a 1 to 7 atom chain linking two C.sub.6 R.sub.5 moieties or, where n is 0, X denotes a group R; each M independently is a non-ionic hydrophilic moiety; and each M.sub.1 independently represents a C.sub.1-4 alkyl group substituted by at least one hydroxyl group and optionally linked to the phenyl ring via a carbonyl, sulphone or sulphoxide group, at least one R group being an M.sub.1 moiety; with the proviso that where n is zero either at least one M.sub.

Abstract: There is provided a contrast medium composition comprising: (a) a first contrast agent comprising a physiologically tolerable manganese compound, a physiologically tolerable reducing compound containing an .alpha.-hydroxy ketone group, or salt thereof, having a manganese concentration of at least 0.3 mM or being in a dosage unit form containing at least 300 .mu.mol manganese, together with (b) a second contrast agent. Such compositions have been found to be particularly suited to imaging of the liver.

Abstract: The invention provides iodinated bis phenyl compounds, useful as X-ray contrast agents, of formula I ##STR1## (wherein each C.sub.6 R.sub.5 moeity may be the same or different; each R denotes a hydrogen or iodine atom or a group M, two or three non-adjacent R groups on each C.sub.6 R.sub.5 moiety denoting iodine atoms and one, two or three R groups on each C.sub.6 R.sub.5 moiety denoting M groups;X denotes a group providing a 1, 2 or 3 atom chain linking the two C.sub.6 R.sub.5 groups, preferably where X is or contains in the bridging chain a carbonyloxy group each C.sub.6 R.sub.5 group being a triodophenyl group or a group in which each R is other than hydrogen; and each M is independently a non-ionic hydrophilic moiety, M preferably being a non-ionic hydrophilic moiety comprising a monohydroxy- or polyhydroxy-alkyl group) and isomers, especially stereoisomers and rotamers, thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides iodinated bis phenyl compounds, useful as X-ray contrast agents, of formula (I) (wherein each C.sub.6 R.sub.5 moiety may be the same or different; each denotes a hydrogen or iodine atom or a group M, two or three non-adjacent R groups on each C.sub.6 R.sub.5 moiety denoting iodine atoms and one, two or three R groups on each C.sub.6 R.sub.5 moiety denoting M groups; X denotes a group providing a 1, 2 or 3 atom chain linking the two C.sub.6 R.sub.5 groups, preferably where X is or contains in the bridging chain a carbonyloxy group each C.sub.6 R.sub.5 group being a triodophenyl group or a group in which each R is other than hydrogen; and each M is independently a non-ionic hydrophilic moiety, M preferably being a non-ionic hydrophilic moiety comprising a monohydroxy- or polyhydroxy-alkyl group) and isomers, especially stereoisomers and rotamers, thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides low viscosity iodinated aryl compounds, useful as X-ray contrast agents, of formula I ##STR1## (wherein n is 0 or 1, and where n is 1 each C.sub.6 R.sub.5 moeity may be the same or different; each group R is a hydrogen atom, an iodine atom or a hydrophilic moiety M or M.sub.1, two or three non-adjacent R groups in each C.sub.6 R.sub.5 moiety being iodine and at least one, and preferably two or three, R groups in each C.sub.6 R.sub.5 moiety being M or M.sub.1 moieties; X denotes a bond or a group providing a 1 to 7 atom chain linking two C.sub.6 R.sub.5 moieties or, where n is 0, X denotes a group R; each M independently is a non-ionic hydrophilic moiety; and each M.sub.1 independently represents a C.sub.1-4 alkyl group substituted by at least one hydroxyl group and optionally linked to the phenyl ring via a carbonyl, sulphone or sulphoxide group, at least one R group being an M.sub.1 moiety; with the proviso that where n is zero either at least one M.sub.

Abstract: There is provided a contrast medium composition comprising: (a) a first contrast agent comprising a physiologically tolerable manganese compound together with an uptake promoter, having a manganese concentration of at least 0.3 mM or being in a dosage unit form containing at least 300 .mu.mol manganese, wherein the uptake promoter comprises a physiologically tolerable reducing compound containing an .alpha.-hydroxy ketone group or a physiologically tolerable acid containing .alpha.- and/or .beta.- hydroxy or amino groups, or a salt thereof, and/or vitamin D; together with (b) a second contrast agent.Such compositions are particularly suitable for imaging of the liver.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating an electron spin resonance enhanced magnetic resonance image of a sample which comprises introducing into the sample a magnetic resonance signal enhancing amount of a free radical and generating an enhanced electron spin resonance image of the sample. The method comprises using as the free radical an inert triarylmethyl free radical, wherein each aryl moiety of said triarylmethyl radical, which may be identical or different, comprises an optionally substituted 6-membered carbocyclic or thienyl ring. The invention also relates to the use of trityls in ESR imaging.

Abstract: The use in diagnostic imaging, in particular X-ray, MRI, ultrasound and scintigraphy, of contrast agents comprising bismuth clusters and/or organic bismuth compounds, and contrast media containing such bismuth compounds. The bismuth compounds are also useful in therapy, in particular as antimicrobial agents and antiulcer agents. Novel bismuth compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a contrast medium composition for magnetic resonance imaging comprising a physiologically tolerable manganese compound, a physiologically tolerable reducing compound containing an .alpha.-hydroxy ketone group, or salt thereof and a physiologically tolerable carrier or excipient, having a manganese concentration of at least 0.3 mM or being in a dosage unit form containing at least 300 .mu.mol manganese. Such compositions are particularly suitable for imaging of the liver.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of persistent free radicals, in particular persistent free radicals having a carbon-based .pi.-bonded electronic system available for delocalization of the unpaired electrons as image enhancing agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in particular electron spin resonance enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (ESREMRI). The invention also relates to contrast media containing such radicals and to the use of such radicals and their non-radical precursors in the manufacture of MRI and ESREMRI contrast media.

Abstract: A radical compound of formula Ia.C(Ar.sup.12).sub.3 (Ia)wherein:each Ar.sup.12, which may be the same or different, represents a 6-membered carbocyclic, at least one group Ar.sup.12 being a group Ar.sup.1 ;each group Ar.sup.1 represents a 6-membered ring optionally substituted at the or any ortho carbon by a group R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 or R.sup.4, at the or any meta carbon by a group R.sup.2 or R.sup.3, and at any para carbon by a group R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 or R.sup.4,with the proviso that no more than two ring carbons are unsubstituted;each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 or R.sup.4, which may be the same or different, independently represents a group of formula --M, --XM, --XAr.sup.2 or --Ar.sup.2 ;M represents a water solubilizing group, each group X, which may be the same or different, represents an oxygen or sulphur atom or a NH or CH.sub.2 group.