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J B Rubin

Publications and source records attributed to J B Rubin.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Use of cerebrospinal fluid gating to improve T2-weighted images. Part I. The spinal cord.

Ungated and gated magnetic resonance images of the spinal cord acquired with the use of long repetition times (TRs) and long echo-delay times (TEs) were compared in 21 studies performed on a 1.5-T system. Both normal and abnormal spinal cord conditions were compared. All images were acquired in an identical fashion except that ungated studies had TRs of 2,000 or 2,500 msec, whereas in gated studies, TR was determined by the patient's heart rate. The effective TR of images gated to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fell primarily in the range of 1,500-1,800 msec. Gating was accomplished using a peripheral pulse. Three image parameters were assessed: signal-to-noise ratio, object contrast, and resolving power. For each parameter, in both normal and abnormal spinal cords, the CSF-gated studies proved superior by eliminating spatially mismapped signal intensity from pulsatile CSF.

Cerebrospinal Fluid↗
PubMed1987

Use of cerebrospinal fluid gating to improve T2-weighted images. Part II. Temporal lobes, basal ganglia, and brain stem.

Ungated and gated magnetic resonance images of the temporal lobes, basal ganglia, and brain stem acquired with the use of long repetition times (TRs) and long echo-delay times (TEs), were compared quantitatively. Twenty-five pairs of images obtained on a 1.5-T system were evaluated. Ungated images (TR = 2,000 msec, TE = 80 msec) were acquired in the same manner as gated images except for TR, which, for gated studies, was determined by a patient's heart rate and generally fell into the 1,500-1,800-msec range. Three image parameters were assessed: signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), object contrast, and resolving power. In both normal and abnormal brain tissue, gated images were superior to ungated images in object contrast and resolving power and equivalent in S/N. More so than in comparable studies of the spinal cord, ungated studies were susceptible to both false-positive and false-negative interpretations. As in spinal cord studies, the major benefit of gating was the elimination of phase shift images arising from basal cisterns and the third ventricle.

Basal Ganglia↗
PubMed1987

Cervical spine MR imaging: generating high-signal CSF in sagittal and axial images.

Three magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques were compared as to their ability to generate images with high-signal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to provide a high-contrast CSF-dura interface. The three techniques were CSF gating to the peripheral pulse, selective saturation recovery with gradient refocusing (SSRGR), and gradient recalled acquisition in the steady state (GRASS). In sagittal views of the cervical spine, CSF gating proved to be a reliable technique for producing images with uniform high-signal CSF in a single-section or multi-section mode. In axial views, SSRGR and GRASS techniques were more consistent than CSF gating in producing high-signal CSF images, especially in a multisection mode. Although axial image quality was nearly equivalent for SSRGR and GRASS techniques, the latter was clinically more efficient because of shorter imaging times. These methods of imaging in the cervical spine yield sufficient CSF-dura contrast and spatial resolution to be of use in the diagnosis of cervical disk disease.

Cerebrospinal Fluid↗
PubMed1987

Optimizing conventional MR imaging of the spine.

With the use of conventional spin-echo pulse sequences with a long repetition time (TR), the echo time (TE) and the number of echoes were varied to minimize cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow artifacts in a spine phantom and in cervical spines of three volunteers. The following echo trains were compared in both axial and sagittal planes with a TR of 2,000 msec: TE of 25, 80 msec ("asymmetric"); TE of 40, 80 msec ("symmetric long TE"); and TE of 20, 40, 60, and 80 msec ("symmetric short TE"). Variable degrees of even-echo rephasing of CSF flow artifacts were observed during sagittal but not axial imaging, depending on the echo train used. Even-echo rephasing was most complete with the symmetric short-TE echo train, less complete with the symmetric long-TE echo train, and absent with the asymmetric echo train. Switching the orientation of the phase and frequency encoding gradients and slightly modifying TR on the basis of the heart rate further improved image quality. The results suggest that a symmetric short-TE echo train may be used to provide velocity compensation (similar to that observed with rephasing gradients) on even echoes of conventional spin-echo pulse sequences during spine imaging.

Cerebrospinal Fluid↗
PubMed1987

CSF-gated MR imaging of the spine: theory and clinical implementation.

A spine phantom and cervical spines of seven volunteers were studied with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-gated magnetic resonance imaging to optimize acquisition factors reducing CSF flow artifacts. Peripheral gating was performed with either an infrared reflectance photoplethysmograph or peripheral arterial Doppler signal. The effects of effective repetition time, echo train, trigger delay, number of sections, and imaging plane on image quality were evaluated. Gated imaging of oscillatory CSF motion simulated constant-velocity flow and reduced CSF flow artifacts caused by cardiac-dependent temporal phase-shift effects. Velocity compensation on sagittal even-echo images with a symmetric short-echo time echo train reduced the remaining CSF flow artifacts caused by spatial phase-shift effects. Overall gated imaging time was not increased compared with nongated imaging and was reduced when improved image quality permitted the use of fewer excitations. These results suggest that the combination of CSF gating and flow compensation is clinically useful and efficient because it improves image quality without prolonging imaging time.

Cerebrospinal Fluid↗
PubMed1987

Potential false-negative MR images of the thoracic spine in disk disease with switching of phase- and frequency-encoding gradients.

Two patients with thoracic disk protrusion were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging. A T1-weighted spin-echo sequence was used, with and without switching of the phase- and frequency-encoding gradients. Both disks were well delineated when the frequency-encoding gradient was parallel to the spinal axis. When the gradients were switched (with the phase-encoding gradient parallel to the spinal axis), both herniated disks were partially obscured by a posteriorly displaced fat signal from marrow, caused by a chemical shift artifact. In addition, the anterior subarachnoid space appeared falsely narrowed, and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) signal intensity was increased, which reduced the CSF-cord contrast. These findings suggest that switching the orientation of the frequency- and phase-encoding gradients may result in false-negative T1-weighted sagittal images of the thoracic spine.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Dyke award. Imaging of spinal CSF pulsation by 2DFT MR: significance during clinical imaging.

Understanding the MR appearance of spinal CSF is important in interpreting clinical spine images because the diagnosis of spinal pathology requires an accurate delineation of spinal CSF from spinal cord and thecal sac. During conventional 2DFT MR imaging of the spine, CSF pulsation caused two interdependent flow phenomena, signal loss and phase-shift images. Signal loss was observed as decreased signal intensity arising from pulsatile spinal CSF. Phase-shift images were observed as signal intensity arising from and morphologically identical to the spinal subarachnoid space but symmetrically displaced from it along the phase-encoding axis of MR images, either added to or subtracted from stationary signal intensity. These phenomena were common, occurring in most cervical and thoracic long-TR images. Both phenomena were less apparent in the lumbar region in most cases. CSF pulsation flow phenomena decreased CSF-spinal cord and CSF-thecal sac conspicuity, thereby obscuring normal and pathologic anatomy and, at times, simulating pathology. The areas of signal loss showed variable but characteristic patterns in the cervical and thoracic spine corresponding to regions of greatest flow. Signal loss in the axial plane was more pronounced when thin slices were used. Phase-shift images degraded overall image quality secondary to spatial mismapping of spinal CSF signal intensity. With the use of CSF gating, both signal loss and phase-shift images were eliminated. Understanding these features will be important in the accurate interpretation of MR spine images because analysis of CSF pulsation flow phenomena provides physiologic and pathologic information, and awareness of their existence avoids diagnostic confusion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Dyke award. Harmonic modulation of proton MR precessional phase by pulsatile motion: origin of spinal CSF flow phenomena.

The effects of pulsatile motion on MR imaging of spinal CSF were quantitatively evaluated with a spine phantom that simulated spinal CSF pulsation. Two fundamental interdependent pulsation flow phenomena were observed: variable reductions in signal intensity of pulsatile CSF (signal loss) and spatial mismapping of this signal beyond the confines of the subarachnoid space (phase-shift images). Phase-shift images were observed as multiple regions of signal intensity conforming morphologically to the subarachnoid space but displaced symmetrically from it along the phase-encoding axis, either added to or subtracted from stationary signal intensity. Both CSF pulsation flow phenomena occurred secondary to harmonic modulation of proton precessional phase (temporal phase shift) by the unique pulsatile motion of spinal CSF when the repetition time was not an integral multiple of the pulsation period. Each flow phenomenon was analyzed with the spine phantom independently to control individual imaging and physiologic parameters including imaging plane, repetition time, echo time, slice thickness, number of echoes, number of excitations, CSF pulsation amplitude, and CSF pulsation period. In the axial plane, signal loss was present on both first- and second-echo images and was more pronounced with larger pulsation amplitudes and smaller slice thicknesses. A quantitative relationship between these two parameters allowed the prediction of CSF pulsation amplitude when the slice thickness was known and the CSF signal intensity was measured. In the sagittal plane, signal loss was present on first-echo images, was more pronounced with larger pulsation amplitudes, and underwent incomplete even-echo rephasing on second-echo images. Phase-shift images were influenced by the relationship between repetition time and CSF pulsation period. They were partly eliminated on sagittal but not on axial second-echo images because of incomplete even-echo rephasing. Both signal loss and phase-shift images were completely eliminated with CSF gating or pseudogating, indicating the rationale for gating during clinical spinal MR. The clinical significance of these findings is that awareness of the existence of spinal CSF pulsation flow phenomena avoids diagnostic confusion, whereas understanding their etiology provides a rational approach, such as CSF gating, to eliminate them.

Cerebrospinal Fluid↗
PubMed1987

CSF pulsations within nonneoplastic spinal cord cysts.

Because of its sensitivity to fluid motion, MR imaging was used to investigate fluid dynamics in syringomyelia. Three major findings characterized syringomyelia: pulsatile fluid in cysts, nonpulsatile fluid in cysts, and damaged cord tissue. The fluid in preoperative syrinx cavities pulsated in a fashion similar to subarachnoid CSF. Pulsation was more prominent in large cysts but was also seen in small cysts. Nonpulsatile cysts were generally of smaller diameter, were shorter in length, and often were single; they could, however, coexist with pulsatile cysts. Nonpulsatile cysts had etiologies similar to those of pulsatile cysts: Chiari malformation, trauma, and unknown. Damaged cord, characterized by abnormal high signal on T2-weighted sequences, was seen in 15 of 16 patients and could be either focal or diffuse but was always adjacent to syrinx cavities. Postsurgical MR scans had a lower incidence of pulsatile cysts. In five patients with both pre- and postoperative MR scans, shunting of the cyst reduced the size of the pulsating cyst (two patients) or reduced the size of the cyst and eliminated pulsation altogether (three patients). Axial, T2-weighted images are recommended in the investigation of spinal cord cysts to determine the presence or absence of pulsatile fluid. The presence of pulsation indicates a nonneoplastic cyst. The absence or reduction of CSF pulsation may prove to be a valuable indicator of the success of a shunting procedure.

Cerebrospinal Fluid↗
PubMed1986

Structural requirements for the transmembrane activation of the insulin receptor kinase.

Tetrameric insulin holoreceptor (alpha 2 beta 2) was reduced with dithiothreitol into alpha beta dimers such that they maintain up to 50% of insulin binding at tracer ligand concentrations. Scatchard analysis of insulin binding to dimers revealed that they had a reduced affinity for ligand by a factor of 3-6 compared to holoreceptor, whereas the maximum number of high affinity binding sites was not affected. The alpha beta dimers can be separated from holoreceptor by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and hence, they are not associated by noncovalent interactions. Insulin-dependent autophosphorylation of alpha beta dimers isolated from low ionic strength sucrose density gradients was minimal and was always accompanied by reoxidation of dimers to the tetrameric holoreceptor. The reformed tetramer exhibited a strong insulin-dependent autophosphorylation reaction. Reoxidation was prevented by isolating alpha beta dimers in sucrose density gradients containing 0.15 M NaCl. Under these conditions, no insulin-dependent autophosphorylation was observed. When insulin receptor was first autophosphorylated and then reduced, receptor kinase activity, as assayed by histone phosphorylation, was not affected. Also, the insulin-independent, basal autophosphorylation was maintained after reduction into alpha beta dimers. We conclude that alpha beta-alpha beta interaction is not necessary for the maintenance of basal kinase activity or for insulin-activated kinase activity once autophosphorylation occurs. However, dimer-dimer interaction appears critical for the insulin-dependent activation of the receptor's intrinsic kinase activity.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1986

Cerebrospinal fluid pulsation: benefits and pitfalls in MR imaging.

Physiologic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulsation causes a harmonic modulation of proton precessional phase with two-dimensional Fourier transform (2DFT) imaging, which results in predictable regions of signal loss and the presence of phase-shift images ("ghost images"). CSF that is not pulsating exhibits a higher signal than does pulsatile CSF. This phenomenon can be diagnostically useful in disease entities associated with decreased CSF pulsation amplitude, such as arachnoid cyst, intraventricular cyst, spinal stenosis, and spinal block caused by extramedullary or epidural tumor. Unfortunately, this increased signal can also mimic disease such as epidural tumor in the spine or acoustic neuroma in the internal auditory canal. An abnormal pattern of CSF pulsation, as occurs in patients with arachnoiditis, can cause unusual areas of signal loss, which complicate image interpretation and can mimic pathologic conditions. Recognition of CSF pulsation effects will increase in importance as thin-section magnetic resonance imaging becomes more common, because thin sections enhance these effects with 2DFT.

Central Nervous System Diseases↗
PubMed1983

The insulin receptor protein kinase. Physicochemical requirements for activity.

We determined that the rate of insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation of the insulin receptor is independent of receptor concentration and thus proceeds via an intramolecular process. This result is consistent with the possibility that ligand-dependent autophosphorylation may be a means by which cells can distinguish occupied from unoccupied receptors. We employed dithiothreitol to dissociate tetrameric receptor into alpha beta halves in order to further elucidate the structural requirements for the receptor-mediated kinase activity. Dithiothreitol had a complex biphasic effect on insulin-stimulated receptor kinase activity. Marked stimulation of kinase activity was observed at 1-2 mM dithiothreitol when the receptor was predominantly tetrameric and kinase activity diminished when dimeric alpha beta receptor halves predominate (greater than 2 mM dithiothreitol). N-Ethylmaleimide inhibits insulin-stimulated receptor kinase activity. We suggest that the tetrameric holoreceptor is the most active kinase structure and this structure requires for maximal activity, a reduced sulfhydryl group at or near the active site. We treated receptor preparations with elastase to generate receptor proteolytically "nicked" in the beta subunit. This treatment completely abolishes insulin-dependent autophosphorylation and histone phosphorylation with essentially no effects on insulin binding as determined by affinity labeling of the receptor alpha subunit. We suggest such treatment functionally uncouples insulin binding from insulin-stimulated receptor kinase activity. The possible physiological significance of these findings is discussed.

Dithiothreitol↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Stimulation of tyrosine-specific phosphorylation in vitro by insulin-like growth factor I.

Several mitogens elicit tyrosine-specific protein kinase activities. Although the physiological significance of this is unclear, the generality of these reactions implies that this may be an inherent feature of growth factor-growth factor receptor interactions. The observed mitogenic properties of the polypeptide insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) indicated that it might also stimulate such activity. We report here that IGF-I stimulates a tyrosine-specific protein kinase in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. The close correspondence between an approximate 50% effective dose (ED50) of phosphorylation and an approximate Kd for IGF-I binding leads us to conclude that a high-affinity IGF-I receptor, not the structurally similar insulin receptor, is the mediator of IGF-I stimulated kinase activity. Immunoprecipitation indicates that both the beta-subunit of the IGF-I receptor and the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor are targets for the IGF-I-stimulated protein kinase.

Enzyme Activation↗