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Combined relaxation and displacement experiment: a fast method to acquire T2, diffusion and velocity maps.

A fast method for quantitative imaging of T2 and displacement (flow and diffusion) is presented. The pulse sequence combines multi-PGSE NMR with multi-echo acquisition and compensates for flow effects in the read gradient and diffusion during multi-echo trains. The impact of the gradient pulses in a multi-echo train on the signal phase and amplitude is discussed. It is shown that separate T2 and displacement images with microscopic resolution can be obtained within minutes. The capability for 3D flow imaging is demonstrated. The sequence is then used to investigate forced detachment of a biofilm in a tube.

Algorithms↗

The effects of 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging on early murine in-vitro embryo development.

Although no ionizing radiation is involved, patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are exposed to powerful static magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio-frequency fields that may be potentially damaging. Our study aims to document the effect of MRI imaging sequences on early murine embryo development (two-cell to blastocyst stage) in vitro. Two-cell murine embryos were exposed to various lengths of MRI using pulse sequences employed in present day clinical imaging. Early murine embryo development was documented in vitro, and blastocyst development rates were computed for both the control and exposed groups. There were no significant differences detected in the rate of blastocyst formation between the control groups and the embryos exposed to MRI.

Animals↗

Phase-contrast pulsatility measurements: preliminary results in normal and arteriosclerotic iliofemoral arteries. Work in progress.

Magnetic resonance (MR) flow measurements were obtained in six healthy volunteers and 30 patients with arteriosclerotic disease with a 1.5-T imager and a pulse sequence for flow quantification based on flow-induced phase shifts. The iliac arteries were investigated in eight and the femoral arteries in 28 subjects. A trigger pulse, followed by the acquisition of 30 evenly distributed data sets, was applied every second heartbeat, thus eliminating any acquisition gap in a full heart cycle. For quantitative analysis, flow velocity was plotted as a function of time. Systolic acceleration, postsystolic deceleration, and pulsatility of flow were calculated and compared with stenosis grades determined from recent intraarterial digital subtraction angiograms. The flattening of the temporal flow patterns correlated with local severity of vascular occlusive disease.

Adult↗

Diffusion anisotropy in excised normal rat spinal cord measured by NMR microscopy.

A conventional spin-echo NMR imaging pulse sequence was used to obtain high-resolution images of excised normal rat spinal cord at 7 and 14 T. It was observed that the large pulsed-field gradients necessary for high-resolution imaging caused a diffusion weighting that dominated the image contrast and that could be used to infer microscopic structural organization beyond that defined by the resolution of the image matrix (i.e., fiber orientation could be assigned based on diffusion anisotropy). Anisotropic diffusion coefficients were therefore measured using apparent diffusion tensor (ADT) imaging to assess more accurately fiber orientations in the spinal cord; structural anisotropy information is portrayed in the six unique images of the complete ADT. To reduce the dimensionality of the data, a trace image was generated using a separate color scale for each of the three diagonal element images of the ADT. This new image retains much of the invariance of the trace to the relative orientations of laboratory and sample axes (inherent to a greyscale trace image) but provides, by the use of color, contrast reflecting diffusion anisotropy. The colored trace image yields a pseudo-three-dimensional view of the rat spinal cord, from which it is possible to deduce fiber orientations.

Animals↗

Longitudinal relaxation time measurements with non-uniform tilt angles.

The effect of non-uniform tilt angles across the slice thickness on the determination of T1 in NMR imaging is investigated in saturation-recovery, spin-echo and inversion-recovery pulse sequences. It is shown that for each of these imaging protocols, non-uniform tilt angles imply a multi-exponential dependence of NMR signal on the pulse repetition interval TR.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy↗

"Cooking the sample": radiofrequency induced heating during solid-state NMR experiments.

Dissipation of radiofrequency (RF) energy as heat during continuous wave decoupling in solid-state NMR experiment was examined outside the conventional realm of such phenomena. A significant temperature increase could occur while performing dynamic NMR measurements provided the sample contains polar molecules and the sequence calls for relatively long applications of RF power. It was shown that the methyl flip motion in dimethylsulfone (DMS) is activated by the decoupling RF energy conversion to heat during a CODEX pulse sequence. This introduced a significant bias in the correlation time-temperature dependency measurement used to obtain the activation energy of the motion. By investigating the dependency of the temperature increase in hydrated lead nitrate on experimental parameters during high-power decoupling one-pulse experiments, the mechanisms for the RF energy deposition was identified. The samples were heated due to dissipation of the energy absorbed by dielectric losses, a phenomenon commonly known as "microwave" heating. It was thus established that during solid-state NMR experiments at moderate B0 fields, RF heating could lead to the heating of samples containing polar molecules such as hydrated polymers and inorganic solids. In particular, this could result in systematic errors for slow dynamics measurements by solid-state NMR.

Journal Article↗

Orbital pseudotumors: value of short inversion time inversion-recovery MR imaging.

PURPOSE: To evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) signal intensities of orbital pseudotumors on short inversion time inversion-recovery (STIR) images and to predict the effect of treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sequential MR examinations were performed in 17 patients with orbital pseudotumors, before and after treatment. All patients underwent MR imaging with T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo or fast spin-echo sequences, and STIR sequences with two 0.5-T systems. Quantitatively and qualitatively, the differences in signal intensities among three therapeutic response groups (good, mild, and no responses) were analyzed for each pulse sequence. RESULTS: Quantitatively, both contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio on STIR images corresponded well to the results of response to therapy for all background markers; contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio values in the good response group were the largest, while those in the no response group were the smallest (P < .0001). Qualitatively, the signal intensities of the lesions in the good response group were interpreted as hyperintense to the cerebral cortex in 14 (93%) or 11 (73%) of 15 lesions by two observers, respectively, while in the no response group, both observers assessed 16 (89%) of 18 lesions as hypo- or isointense to the muscle (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: STIR images showed a variety of signal intensities in the lesions, and the signal intensities on the STIR images helped predict the response to the therapy in orbital pseudotumors.

Adult↗

Usefulness of MR imaging for diseases of the small intestine: comparison with CT.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of MR imaging for diseases of the small intestine, emphasizing a comparison with CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients who underwent both CT and MR imaging using FLASH 2D and HASTE sequences were analyzed. All patients had various small bowel diseases with variable association of peritoneal lesions. We compared the detectabilities of CT and MR imaging using different MR pulse sequences. The capability for analyzing the characteristics of small intestinal disease was also compared. RESULTS: MR imaging was nearly equal to CT for detecting intraluminal or peritoneal masses, lesions in the bowel and mesentery, and small bowel obstruction, but was definitely inferior for detecting omental lesions. The most successful MR imaging sequence was HASTE for demonstrating bowel wall thickening, coronal FLASH 2D for mesenteric lesions, and axial FLASH 2D for omental lesions. MR imaging yielded greater information than CT in six of 12 inflammatory bowel diseases, while it was equal to CT in six of seven neoplasms and inferior in five of seven mesenteric ischemia. In determining the primary causes of 15 intestinal obstructions, MR imaging was correct in 11 (73%) and CT in nine (60%) patients. CONCLUSION: MR imaging can serve as an alternative diagnostic tool for patients with suspected inflammatory bowel disease, small intestinal neoplasm or obstruction.

Female↗

Trigeminal ganglion and its divisions: detailed anatomic MR imaging with contrast-enhanced 3D constructive interference in the steady state sequences.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Visualization of the trigeminal system is important for imaging diagnosis but technically challenging. We assessed how well the trigeminal ganglion, its rootlets, and its branches (V1, V2, and V3) are depicted on three high-resolution pulse sequences. METHODS: Twenty-two patients (44 sides) underwent nonenhanced 3D constructive interference in the steady state (CISS) MR imaging. Two of these patients and another 20 (44 sides) also underwent contrast-enhanced 3D CISS and contrast-enhanced 3D time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiographic (MRA) imaging. Appearances of the ganglion, sinus ganglii, ganglion lip, and sensory and motor rootlets in the Meckel cave were assessed. RESULTS: The trigeminal ganglion was shown on enhanced 3D CISS images in all cases, on nonenhanced 3D CISS images in 77.3%, and on enhanced 3D TOF MRA images in 92.9%. Sinus ganglia and lips were demonstrated on 98% of enhanced 3D CISS images. Sensory rootlets were depicted with all 3D CISS sequences but no 3D TOF sequences. V1, V2, and V3 were displayed with all enhanced 3D TOF MRA sequences, 79.5-100% of enhanced 3D CISS sequences, and 0-50% of nonenhanced 3D CISS sequences. CONCLUSION: The enhanced 3D CISS sequence was best for displaying the trigeminal ganglion, sinus ganglii, and sinus lips, whereas the enhanced 3D TOF sequence best displayed the emerging V1, V2, and V3 roots. The enhanced 3D CISS sequence was most useful. Complete MR imaging evaluation of the trigeminal ganglion and roots is best performed by using enhanced 3D CISS and enhanced 3D TOF MRA sequences.

Adult↗

Multislice, dual-imaging sequence for increasing the dynamic range of the contrast-enhanced blood signal and CNR of myocardial enhancement at 3T.

PURPOSE: To develop a multislice, first-pass perfusion imaging sequence for increasing the effective dynamic range of the contrast-enhanced blood signal and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of myocardial wall enhancement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hybrid echo-planar imaging (EPI) pulse sequence was modified to acquire data for both the arterial input function (AIF) and the myocardium, using two different saturation-recovery time delays (TDs) and spatial resolutions, after a single saturation pulse. Five healthy subjects were scanned at 3T in three short-axis levels of the heart per heartbeat during passage of a high-dose bolus of contrast agent. The T(1)-weighted signal-time curve of the blood was converted to AIF using empirical conversion tables derived from phantom experiments. RESULTS: In all subjects the calculated AIF was consistently less distorted and higher for the short-TD protocol than for the long-TD protocol (peak concentration: 5.0 +/- 1.0 mM vs. 3.0 +/- 0.6 mM; P < 0.01). A combination of EPI, long TD, high-dose bolus of contrast agent, and 3T imaging yielded relatively strong peak enhancement in the myocardium (CNR = 11.9 +/- 3.3). CONCLUSION: Our dual-imaging approach at 3T seems promising for acquiring both a relatively accurate AIF and a high CNR of myocardial wall enhancement in multiple slices per heartbeat.

Adult↗

One- and two-dimensional NMR spectral analysis of the consequences of single amino acid replacements in proteins.

The traditional approach of using homologous sequences to elucidate the role of specific amino acid residues in protein structure and function becomes more meaningful as the number of differences is minimized, with the limit being alteration of a single residue. For small proteins in solution, NMR spectroscopy offers a means of obtaining detailed information about each residue and its response to a given change in the protein sequence. Extraction of this information has been aided by recent progress in spectrometer technology (higher magnetic fields, more sensitive signal detection, more sophisticated computers) and experimental strategies (new NMR pulse sequences including multiple-quantum and two-dimensional NMR methods). The set of avian ovomucoid third domains, which consists of the third domain proper plus a short leader (connecting peptide) and has a maximum of 56 amino acid residues, offers an attractive system for developing experimental methods for investigating sequence-structure and structure-function relationships in proteins. Our NMR results provide examples of sequence effects on pKa' values, average conformation, and internal motion of amino acid side chains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Atypical appearance of lipomatous tumors on MR images: high signal intensity with fat-suppression STIR sequences.

Lipomatous tumors generally have signal characteristics that allow them to be diagnosed with great accuracy by means of magnetic resonance imaging. These tumors usually have signal intensities similar to those of subcutaneous fat on both T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo images. Previous reports have not, to the authors' knowledge, described the appearance of lipomatous tumors on images obtained with a short-inversion-time inversion-recovery (STIR) sequence, which can be used to suppress signal from fat. Three lipomatous tumors (two liposarcomas and one lipoma) with signal characteristics unlike those of normal subcutaneous fat at all pulse sequences are presented.

Adult↗

Zero- to low-field MRI with averaging of concomitant gradient fields.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) encounters fundamental limits in circumstances in which the static magnetic field is not sufficiently strong to truncate unwanted, so-called concomitant components of the gradient field. This limitation affects the attainable optimal image fidelity and resolution most prominently in low-field imaging. In this article, we introduce the use of pulsed magnetic-field averaging toward relaxing these constraints. It is found that the image of an object can be retrieved by pulsed low fields in the presence of the full spatial variation of the imaging encoding gradient field even in the absence of the typical uniform high-field time-independent contribution. In addition, error-compensation schemes can be introduced through the application of symmetrized pulse sequences. Such schemes substantially mitigate artifacts related to evolution in strong magnetic-field gradients, magnetic fields that vary in direction and orientation, and imperfections of the applied field pulses.

Brain↗

[Optimization of obtaining magnetic resonance images in relation to ultra-low fields].

The authors discuss possible approaches to optimization of magnetic resonance images in connection with ultralow fields with consideration for external and internal factors modifying the contrast. Of the internal factors the crucial role is played by protonic density and relaxation time of different tissues; the internal factors significant are magnetic induction, characteristics of the device and programs, radiofrequency sequence and its parameters, as well as use of special contrast agents. Practical measures whose use helps optimize a magnetic resonance image, that is, the choice of an adequate pulse sequence, a greater number of repetitions, a larger imaging field, a thicker section and its better orientation, are described. Standard schemes for obtaining MR images of various organs with due account of the before factors with an ultralow field tomographer have been developed.

Electromagnetic Fields↗

Cerebral edema attenuated inversion recovery MR sequence in low magnetic field: a feasibility study.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Minimally invasive neurosurgery requires methods to specify surgical boundaries of target tissue, such as brain tumors. This study investigated technical possibilities and clinical usefulness of adapting edema attenuated inversion recovery (EDAIR) pulse sequences to suppress magnetic resonance signal from cerebral edema in brain tumor patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A resistive 0.23-T magnetic resonance scanner with magnitude-encoded inversion recovery sequences was used. Twenty-eight separate scanning tests in 25 neurosurgical brain tumor patients were performed on the day before surgery. An inversion recovery sequence with several inversion times between 150 and 2,200 ms was tested. The same sequences were also used intraoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: T(1) relaxation time of brain edema varied from case to case. An inversion recovery sequence with an inversion time of 400-800 milliseconds attenuated brain edema and seemed to help in demarcating gross brain tumor for surgical resection. These features were helpful for the evaluation of resectable tumor tissue particularly using neuronavigation techniques. CONCLUSIONS: According to these preliminary findings, inversion recovery sequences supplement other imaging modalities and assist neurosurgeons in evaluating different surgical trajectories and in estimating brain tumor volume before craniotomy.

Adolescent↗

Quantification of liver iron concentration with magnetic resonance imaging by combining T1-, T2-weighted spin echo sequences and a gradient echo sequence.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to quantify hepatic iron by MRI for practical use. METHODS: In twenty-three patients with various degrees of iron overload, measurements were carried out with a 1.5 Tesla MR unit. A combination of pulse sequences (T1, T2 and gradient echo) enabled us to quantify smaller amounts of liver iron as accurately as larger amounts of liver iron. The gradient echo sequence provided us with a good correlation when detecting smaller amounts of iron in the liver where the T1 sequence provided a good correlation when larger amounts of iron were present. RESULTS: The combination of the three sequences showed a nice correlation (r=-0. 93, P<0.001) and provided us with an accurate estimate of the liver iron content (LIC). This correlation was achieved with a LIC from the lower range of normal up to LIC of 146 mmol/kg dry weight, which seems the highest measurable liver iron content for a 1.5 Tesla MRI. Measuring in the lower range makes it possible to decide whether further invasive diagnostic investigations by a liver biopsy are indicated. CONCLUSION: MRI is a useful tool to quantify iron overload non-invasively. In cases where a liver biopsy is hazardous MRI can easily be used to obtain reliable, quantitative information about the initial LIC. Quantification by MRI could also be used for follow up of the iron content during depletion treatment by phlebotomy or iron chelation. The stronger the magnet the more sensitive the detection of concentrations up to 150 mmol/kg is. A semi-quantitative judgement will only be possible with severe iron overload over 150 mmol/kg. If such an iron excess is found, a liver biopsy should be performed to exclude cirrhosis.

Adult↗

Single-shot diffusion trace (1)H NMR spectroscopy.

Ignoring diffusion anisotropy can severely hamper the quantitative determination of water and metabolite diffusion in complex tissues. The measurement of the trace of the diffusion tensor provides unambiguous and rotationally invariant ADC values, but usually requires three separate experiments. A single-shot technique developed earlier, originally designed for diffusion trace MR imaging (Mori and van Zijl, Magn Reson Med 1995;33:41-52), was improved and adapted for diffusion trace MR spectroscopy. A double spin-echo pulse sequence was incorporated with four pairs of bipolar gradients with specific predetermined relative signs in each of the three orthogonal directions. The combination of gradient directions leads to cancellation of all off-diagonal tensor elements while constructively adding the diagonal elements. Furthermore, the pulse scheme provides complete compensation for cross-terms between static magnetic field gradients and the applied diffusion gradients, while simultaneously avoiding cross-terms with localization gradients. The sequence was tested at 4.7 T in vivo on rat brain for MRI and on rat skeletal muscle and brain for MRS. It is shown that the average ADC as determined from the measurement of the ADCs in the three orthogonal directions is in close agreement with the ADC obtained along the trace of the diffusion tensor in a single acquisition, for both water and metabolite diffusion. The large differences in water and metabolite diffusion coefficients as measured in the individual orthogonal directions illustrate the need for diffusion trace measurements when accurate and rotationally invariant diffusion quantitation is required. The pulse scheme presented here may be applied for such purposes in MRS and MRI studies.

Algorithms↗

Improved metabolite editing by the 1D soft COSY technique with 270 degrees Gaussian-shaped pulses.

Recently we proposed Gaussian-shaped pulses to overcome the dynamic range problem within a 1D Soft COSY pulse sequence for the editing of metabolites in their natural environment. Similar to the development of the application of a COSY technique, the ECZOTIC sequence was introduced for the same purpose. A brief comparison of the abilities of both sequences is given in the first part of this communication, and the second part deals with the improvement of phase behavior within 1D Soft COSY by use of 270 degrees pulses.

Filtration↗