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Kumar D, Benyard B, Soni ND, Swain A, Wilson N, Reddy R. Feasibility of transient nuclear Overhauser effect imaging in brain at 7 T. Magn Reson Med 2023; 89:1357-1367. [PMID: 36372994 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) quantification from the steady-state NOE imaging suffers from multiple confounding non-NOE-specific sources, including direct saturation, magnetization transfer, and relevant chemical exchange species, and is affected by B0 and B1 + inhomogeneities. The B0 -dependent and B1 + -dependent data needed for deconvolving these confounding effects would increase the scan time substantially, leading to other issues such as patient tolerability. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of brain lipid mapping using an easily implementable transient NOE (tNOE) approach. METHODS This 7T study used a frequency-selective inversion pulse at a range of frequency offsets between 1.0 and 5.0 parts per million (ppm) and -5.0 and -1.0 ppm relative to bulk water peak. This was followed by a fixed/variable mixing time and then a single-shot 2D turbo FLASH readout. The feasibility of tNOE measurements is demonstrated on bovine serum albumin phantoms and healthy human brains. RESULTS The tNOE measurements from bovine serum albumin phantoms were found to be independent of physiological pH variations. Both bovine serum albumin phantoms and human brains showed broad tNOE contributions centered at approximately -3.5 ppm relative to water peak, with presumably aliphatic moieties in lipids and proteins being the dominant contributors. Less prominent tNOE contributions of approximately +2.5 ppm relative to water, presumably from aromatic moieties, were also detected. These aromatic signals were free from any CEST signals. CONCLUSION In this study, we have demonstrated the feasibility of tNOE in human brain at 7 T. This method is more scan-time efficient than steady-state NOE and provides NOE measurement with minimal confounders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dushyant Kumar
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Blake Benyard
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Narayan Datt Soni
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Anshuman Swain
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Neil Wilson
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ravinder Reddy
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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2
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Wang P, Sisco N, Yoo W, Borazanci A, Karis J, Dortch R. Rapid whole-brain myelin imaging with selective inversion recovery and compressed SENSE. Magn Reson Med 2023; 89:1041-1054. [PMID: 36352756 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Quantitative magnetization transfer (QMT) using selective inversion recovery (SIR) can quantify the macromolecular-to-free proton pool size ratio (PSR), which has been shown to relate closely with myelin content. Currently clinical applications of SIR have been hampered by long scan times. In this work, the acceleration of SIR-QMT using CS-SENSE (compressed sensing SENSE) was systematically studied. THEORY AND METHODS Phantoms of varied concentrations of bovine serum albumin and human scans were first conducted to evaluate the SNR, precision of SIR-QMT parameters, and scan time. Based on these results, an optimized CS-SENSE factor of 8 was determined and the test-retest repeatability was further investigated. RESULTS A whole-brain SIR imaging of 6 min can be achieved. Bland-Altman analyses indicated excellent agreement between the test and retest sessions with a difference in mean PSR of 0.06% (and a difference in mean R1f of -0.001 s-1 ). In addition, the assessment of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) revealed high reliability in nearly all the white matter and gray matter regions. In white matter regions, the ICC was 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.88-0.96, p < 0.001) for PSR, and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.83-0.94, p < 0.001) for R1f . In gray matter, ICC was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.66-0.93, p < 0.001) in PSR, and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.95-0.99, p < 0.001) for R1f . The method also showed excellent capability to detect focal lesions in multiple sclerosis. CONCLUSION Rapid, reliable, and sensitive whole-brain SIR imaging can be achieved using CS-SENSE, which is expected to significantly promote widespread clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Wang
- Neuroimaging Innovation Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Nicholas Sisco
- Neuroimaging Innovation Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Wonsuk Yoo
- Ivy Brain Tumor Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Aimee Borazanci
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - John Karis
- Department of Neuroradiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Richard Dortch
- Neuroimaging Innovation Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Wilczynski E, Sasson E, Eliav U, Navon G, Nevo U. Quantitative Magnetization EXchange MRI Measurement of Liver Fibrosis Model in Rodents. J Magn Reson Imaging 2023; 57:285-295. [PMID: 35521943 PMCID: PMC10084184 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quantitative MRI can elucidate the complex microstructural changes in liver disease. The Magnetization EXchange (MEX) method estimates macromolecular fraction, such as collagen, and can potentially aid in this task. HYPOTHESIS MEX sequence, and its derived quantitative macromolecular fraction, should correlate with collagen deposition in rodents liver fibrosis model. STUDY TYPE Prospective. ANIMAL MODEL Sixteen adults Sprague-Dawley rats and 13 adults C57BL/6 strain mice given carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) twice weekly for 6 or 8 weeks. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE A 7 T scanner. MEX sequence (selective suppression and magnetization exchange), spin-echo and gradient-echo scans. ASSESSMENT Macromolecular fraction (F) and T1 were extracted for each voxel and for livers' regions of interest, additional to calculating the percentage of F > 0.1 pixels in F maps (high-F). Histology included staining with hematoxylin and eosin, picrosirius red and Masson trichrome, and inflammation scoring. Quantitative collagen percentage calculated using automatic spectral-segmentation of the staining. STATISTICAL TESTS Comparing CCl4 -treated groups and controls using Welch's t-test and paired t-test between different time points. Pearson's correlation used between ROI MEX parameters or high-F fraction, and quantitative histology. F or T1 , and inflammation scores were tested with one-sided t-test. P < 0.05 was deemed significant. RESULTS Rats: F values were significantly different after 6 weeks of treatment (0.10 ± 0.02) compared to controls (0.080 ± 0.003). After 8 weeks, F significantly increased (0.11 ± 0.02) in treated animals, while controls are not significant (0.0814 ± 0.0008, P = 0.079). F correlated with quantitative histology (R = 0.87), and T1 was significantly different between inflammation scores (1: 1332 ± 224 msec, 2: 2007 ± 464 msec). Mice: F was significantly higher (0.062 ± 0.006) in treatment group compared to controls (0.042 ± 0.006). F and high-F fraction correlated with quantitative histology (R = 0.88; R = 0.84). T1 was significantly different between inflammation scores (1:1366 ± 99 msec; 2:1648 ± 45 msec). DATA CONCLUSION MEX extracted parameters are sensitive to collagen deposition and inflammation and are correlated with histology results of mouse and rat liver fibrosis model. EVIDENCE LEVEL 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella Wilczynski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Efrat Sasson
- School of Chemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Uzi Eliav
- School of Chemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Gil Navon
- School of Chemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Uri Nevo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Sagol School of Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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4
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Xiang B, Wen J, Schmidt RE, Sukstanskii AL, Mamah D, Yablonskiy DA, Cross AH. Evaluating brain damage in multiple sclerosis with simultaneous multi-angular-relaxometry of tissue. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2022; 9:1514-1527. [PMID: 36178006 PMCID: PMC9539387 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common demyelinating central nervous system disease. MRI methods that can quantify myelin loss are needed for trials of putative remyelinating agents. Quantitative magnetization transfer MRI introduced the macromolecule proton fraction (MPF), which correlates with myelin concentration. We developed an alternative approach, Simultaneous-Multi-Angular-Relaxometry-of-Tissue (SMART) MRI, to generate MPF. Our objective was to test SMART-derived MPF metric as a potential imaging biomarker of demyelination. METHODS Twenty healthy control (HC), 11 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 22 progressive MS (PMS), and one subject with a biopsied tumefactive demyelinating lesion were scanned at 3T using SMART MRI. SMART-derived MPF metric was determined in normal-appearing cortical gray matter (NAGM), normal-appearing subcortical white matter (NAWM), and demyelinating lesions. MPF metric was evaluated for correlations with physical and cognitive test scores. Comparisons were made between HC and MS and between MS subtypes. Furthermore, correlations were determined between MPF and neuropathology in the biopsied person. RESULTS SMART-derived MPF in NAGM and NAWM were lower in MS than HC (p < 0.001). MPF in NAGM, NAWM and lesions differentiated RRMS from PMS (p < 0.01, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively), whereas lesion volumes did not. MPF in NAGM, NAWM and lesions correlated with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (p < 0.01, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively) and nine-hole peg test (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.01, respectively). MPF was lower in the histopathologically confirmed inflammatory demyelinating lesion than the contralateral NAWM and increased in the biopsied lesion over time, mirroring improved clinical performance. INTERPRETATION SMART-derived MPF metric holds potential as a quantitative imaging biomarker of demyelination and remyelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Xiang
- Department of RadiologyWashington UniversitySt. LouisMissouri63110USA
| | - Jie Wen
- Department of RadiologyWashington UniversitySt. LouisMissouri63110USA
| | - Robert E. Schmidt
- Department of PathologyWashington UniversitySt. LouisMissouri63110USA
| | | | - Daniel Mamah
- Department of PsychiatryWashington UniversitySt. LouisMissouri63110USA
| | | | - Anne H. Cross
- Department of NeurologyWashington UniversitySt. LouisMissouri63110USA
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York EN, Thrippleton MJ, Meijboom R, Hunt DPJ, Waldman AD. Quantitative magnetization transfer imaging in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain Commun 2022; 4:fcac088. [PMID: 35652121 PMCID: PMC9149789 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Myelin-sensitive MRI such as magnetization transfer imaging has been widely used in multiple sclerosis. The influence of methodology and differences in disease subtype on imaging findings is, however, not well established. Here, we systematically review magnetization transfer brain imaging findings in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. We examine how methodological differences, disease effects and their interaction influence magnetization transfer imaging measures. Articles published before 06/01/2021 were retrieved from online databases (PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science) with search terms including 'magnetization transfer' and 'brain' for systematic review, according to a pre-defined protocol. Only studies that used human in vivo quantitative magnetization transfer imaging in adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (with or without healthy controls) were included. Additional data from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis subjects acquired in other studies comprising mixed disease subtypes were included in meta-analyses. Data including sample size, MRI acquisition protocol parameters, treatments and clinical findings were extracted and qualitatively synthesized. Where possible, effect sizes were calculated for meta-analyses to determine magnetization transfer (i) differences between patients and healthy controls; (ii) longitudinal change and (iii) relationships with clinical disability in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Eighty-six studies met inclusion criteria. MRI acquisition parameters varied widely, and were also underreported. The majority of studies examined the magnetization transfer ratio in white matter, but magnetization transfer metrics, brain regions examined and results were heterogeneous. The analysis demonstrated a risk of bias due to selective reporting and small sample sizes. The pooled random-effects meta-analysis across all brain compartments revealed magnetization transfer ratio was 1.17 per cent units (95% CI -1.42 to -0.91) lower in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis than healthy controls (z-value: -8.99, P < 0.001, 46 studies). Linear mixed-model analysis did not show a significant longitudinal change in magnetization transfer ratio across all brain regions [β = 0.12 (-0.56 to 0.80), t-value = 0.35, P = 0.724, 14 studies] or normal-appearing white matter alone [β = 0.037 (-0.14 to 0.22), t-value = 0.41, P = 0.68, eight studies]. There was a significant negative association between the magnetization transfer ratio and clinical disability, as assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale [r = -0.32 (95% CI -0.46 to -0.17); z-value = -4.33, P < 0.001, 13 studies]. Evidence suggests that magnetization transfer imaging metrics are sensitive to pathological brain changes in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, although effect sizes were small in comparison to inter-study variability. Recommendations include: better harmonized magnetization transfer acquisition protocols with detailed methodological reporting standards; larger, well-phenotyped cohorts, including healthy controls; and, further exploration of techniques such as magnetization transfer saturation or inhomogeneous magnetization transfer ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth N. York
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Rozanna Meijboom
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - David P. J. Hunt
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic,
University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Adam D. Waldman
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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6
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Wilczynski E, Sasson E, Eliav U, Navon G, Nevo U. An in vivo implementation of the MEX MRI for myelin fraction of mice brain. MAGMA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 35:267-276. [PMID: 34357453 DOI: 10.1007/s10334-021-00950-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Magnetization EXchange (MEX) sequence measures a signal linearly dependent on the myelin proton fraction by selective suppression of water magnetization and a recovery period. Varying the recovery period enables extraction of the percentile fraction of myelin bound protons. We aim to demonstrate the MEX sequence sensitivity to the fraction of protons associated with myelin in mice brain, in vivo. METHODS The cuprizone mouse model was used to manipulate the myelin content. Mice fed cuprizone (n = 15) and normal chow (n = 8) were imaged in vivo using MEX sequence. MR images were segmented into corpus callosum and internal capsule (white matter) and cortical gray matter, and fitted to the recovery equation. Results were analyzed with correlation to MWF and histopathology. RESULTS The extracted parameters show significant differences in the corpus callosum between the cuprizone and control groups. The cuprizone group exhibited reduced myelin fraction 26.5% (P < 0.01). The gray matter values were less affected, with 13.5% reduction (P < 0.05); no changes were detected in the internal capsule. Results were validated by MWF scans and good correlation to the histology analysis (R2 = 0.685). CONCLUSION The results of this first in vivo implementation of the MEX sequence provide a quantitative measure of demyelination in brain white matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella Wilczynski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Efrat Sasson
- School of Chemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Uzi Eliav
- School of Chemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Gil Navon
- School of Chemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Uri Nevo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. .,Sagol School of Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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7
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Sisco NJ, Wang P, Stokes AM, Dortch RD. Rapid parameter estimation for selective inversion recovery myelin imaging using an open-source Julia toolkit. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13043. [PMID: 35368333 PMCID: PMC8973461 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used extensively to quantify myelin content, however computational bottlenecks remain challenging for advanced imaging techniques in clinical settings. We present a fast, open-source toolkit for processing quantitative magnetization transfer derived from selective inversion recovery (SIR) acquisitions that allows parameter map estimation, including the myelin-sensitive macromolecular pool size ratio (PSR). Significant progress has been made in reducing SIR acquisition times to improve clinically feasibility. However, parameter map estimation from the resulting data remains computationally expensive. To overcome this computational limitation, we developed a computationally efficient, open-source toolkit implemented in the Julia language. Methods To test the accuracy of this toolkit, we simulated SIR images with varying PSR and spin-lattice relaxation time of the free water pool (R 1f) over a physiologically meaningful scale from 5% to 20% and 0.5 to 1.5 s-1, respectively. Rician noise was then added, and the parameter maps were estimated using our Julia toolkit. Probability density histogram plots and Lin's concordance correlation coefficients (LCCC) were used to assess accuracy and precision of the fits to our known simulation data. To further mimic biological tissue, we generated five cross-linked bovine serum albumin (BSA) phantoms with concentrations that ranged from 1.25% to 20%. The phantoms were imaged at 3T using SIR, and data were fit to estimate PSR and R 1f. Similarly, a healthy volunteer was imaged at 3T, and SIR parameter maps were estimated to demonstrate the reduced computational time for a real-world clinical example. Results Estimated SIR parameter maps from our Julia toolkit agreed with simulated values (LCCC > 0.98). This toolkit was further validated using BSA phantoms and a whole brain scan at 3T. In both cases, SIR parameter estimates were consistent with published values using MATLAB. However, compared to earlier work using MATLAB, our Julia toolkit provided an approximate 20-fold reduction in computational time. Conclusions Presented here, we developed a fast, open-source, toolkit for rapid and accurate SIR MRI using Julia. The reduction in computational cost should allow SIR parameters to be accessible in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Sisco
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Barrow Neuroimaging Innovation Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Barrow Neuroimaging Innovation Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Ashley M. Stokes
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Barrow Neuroimaging Innovation Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Richard D. Dortch
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Barrow Neuroimaging Innovation Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
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O'Grady KP, Satish S, Owen QR, Box BA, Bagnato F, Combes AJE, Cook SR, Westervelt HJ, Feiler HR, Lawless RD, Sarma A, Malone SD, Ndolo JM, Yoon K, Dortch RD, Rogers BP, Smith SA. Relaxation-Compensated Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer MRI in the Brain at 7T: Application in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Front Neurol 2022; 13:764690. [PMID: 35299614 PMCID: PMC8923037 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.764690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can probe tissue biochemistry in vivo with high resolution and sensitivity without requiring exogenous contrast agents. Applying CEST MRI at ultrahigh field provides advantages of increasing spectral resolution and improving sensitivity to metabolites with faster proton exchange rates such as glutamate, a critical neurotransmitter in the brain. Prior magnetic resonance spectroscopy and CEST MRI studies have revealed altered regulation of glutamate in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). While CEST imaging facilitates new strategies for investigating the pathology underlying this complex and heterogeneous neurological disease, CEST signals are contaminated or diluted by concurrent effects (e.g., semi-solid magnetization transfer (MT) and direct water saturation) and are scaled by the T1 relaxation time of the free water pool which may also be altered in the context of disease. In this study of 20 relapsing-remitting MS patients and age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers, glutamate-weighted CEST data were acquired at 7.0 T. A Lorentzian fitting procedure was used to remove the asymmetric MT contribution from CEST z-spectra, and the apparent exchange-dependent relaxation (AREX) correction was applied using an R1 map derived from an inversion recovery sequence to further isolate glutamate-weighted CEST signals from concurrent effects. Associations between AREX and cognitive function were examined using the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS battery. After isolating CEST effects from MT, direct water saturation, and T1 effects, glutamate-weighted AREX contrast remained higher in gray matter than in white matter, though the difference between these tissues decreased. Glutamate-weighted AREX in normal-appearing gray and white matter in MS patients did not differ from healthy gray and white matter but was significantly elevated in white matter lesions. AREX in some cortical regions and in white matter lesions correlated with disability and measures of cognitive function in MS patients. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these relationships due to potential confounding effects. The application of MT and AREX corrections in this study demonstrates the importance of isolating CEST signals for more specific characterization of the contribution of metabolic changes to tissue pathology and symptoms in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin P. O'Grady
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Sanjana Satish
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Quinn R. Owen
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Bailey A. Box
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Francesca Bagnato
- Neuroimaging Unit, Division of Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Neurology, Nashville VA Medical Center, TN Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Anna J. E. Combes
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Sarah R. Cook
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Holly James Westervelt
- Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Haley R. Feiler
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Richard D. Lawless
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Asha Sarma
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Shekinah D. Malone
- School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Josephine M. Ndolo
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Keejin Yoon
- Neuroimaging Unit, Division of Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Richard D. Dortch
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Baxter P. Rogers
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Seth A. Smith
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
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9
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West DJ, Cruz G, Teixeira RPAG, Schneider T, Tournier JD, Hajnal JV, Prieto C, Malik SJ. An MR fingerprinting approach for quantitative inhomogeneous magnetization transfer imaging. Magn Reson Med 2022; 87:220-235. [PMID: 34418151 PMCID: PMC7614010 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Magnetization transfer (MT) and inhomogeneous MT (ihMT) contrasts are used in MRI to provide information about macromolecular tissue content. In particular, MT is sensitive to macromolecules, and ihMT appears to be specific to myelinated tissue. This study proposes a technique to characterize MT and ihMT properties from a single acquisition, producing both semiquantitative contrast ratios and quantitative parameter maps. THEORY AND METHODS Building on previous work that uses multiband RF pulses to efficiently generate ihMT contrast, we propose a cyclic steady-state approach that cycles between multiband and single-band pulses to boost the achieved contrast. Resultant time-variable signals are reminiscent of an MR fingerprinting acquisition, except that the signal fluctuations are entirely mediated by MT effects. A dictionary-based low-rank inversion method is used to reconstruct the resulting images and to produce both semiquantitative MT ratio and ihMT ratio maps, as well as quantitative parameter estimates corresponding to an ihMT tissue model. RESULTS Phantom and in vivo brain data acquired at 1.5 Tesla demonstrate the expected contrast trends, with ihMT ratio maps showing contrast more specific to white matter, as has been reported by others. Quantitative estimation of semisolid fraction and dipolar T1 was also possible and yielded measurements consistent with literature values in the brain. CONCLUSION By cycling between multiband and single-band pulses, an entirely MT-mediated fingerprinting method was demonstrated. This proof-of-concept approach can be used to generate semiquantitative maps and quantitatively estimate some macromolecular-specific tissue parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. West
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gastao Cruz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rui P. A. G. Teixeira
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom,Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jacques-Donald Tournier
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom,Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph V. Hajnal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom,Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Prieto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shaihan J. Malik
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom,Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
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10
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Bayer FM, Bock M, Jezzard P, Smith AK. Unbiased signal equation for quantitative magnetization transfer mapping in balanced steady-state free precession MRI. Magn Reson Med 2021; 87:446-456. [PMID: 34331470 PMCID: PMC8951070 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) imaging can be used to quantify the proportion of protons in a voxel attached to macromolecules. Here, we show that the original qMT balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP) model is biased due to over‐simplistic assumptions made in its derivation. Theory and Methods We present an improved model for qMT bSSFP, which incorporates finite radiofrequency (RF) pulse effects as well as simultaneous exchange and relaxation. Furthermore, a correction relating to finite RF pulse effects for sinc‐shaped excitations is derived. The new model is compared to the original one in numerical simulations of the Bloch‐McConnell equations and in previously acquired in vivo data. Results Our numerical simulations show that the original signal equation is significantly biased in typical brain tissue structures (by 7%‐20%), whereas the new signal equation outperforms the original one with minimal bias (<1%). It is further shown that the bias of the original model strongly affects the acquired qMT parameters in human brain structures, with differences in the clinically relevant parameter of pool‐size‐ratio of up to 31%. Particularly high biases of the original signal equation are expected in an MS lesion within diseased brain tissue (due to a low T2/T1‐ratio), demanding a more accurate model for clinical applications. Conclusion The improved model for qMT bSSFP is recommended for accurate qMT parameter mapping in healthy and diseased brain tissue structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fritz M Bayer
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB Division, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,D-BSSE, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michael Bock
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Peter Jezzard
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB Division, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Alex K Smith
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB Division, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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11
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Clarke MA, Lakhani DA, Wen S, Gao S, Smith SA, Dortch R, Xu J, Bagnato F. Perilesional neurodegenerative injury in multiple sclerosis: Relation to focal lesions and impact on disability. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2021; 49:102738. [PMID: 33609957 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2021.102738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Axonal injury is the primary source of irreversible neurological decline in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Identifying and quantifying myelin and axonal loss in lesional and perilesional tissue in vivo is fundamental for a better understanding of multiple sclerosis (MS) outcomes and patient impairment. Using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods, consisting of selective inversion recovery quantitative magnetization transfer imaging (SIR-qMT) and multi-compartment diffusion MRI with the spherical mean technique (SMT), we conducted a cross-sectional pilot study to assess myelin and axonal damage in the normal appearing white matter (NAWM) surrounding chronic black holes (cBHs) and how this pathology correlates with disability in vivo. We hypothesized that lesional axonal transection propagates tissue injury in the surrounding NAWM and that the degree of this injury is related to patient disability. METHODS Eighteen pwMS underwent a 3.0 Tesla conventional clinical MRI, inclusive of T1 and T2 weighted protocols, as well as SIR-qMT and SMT. Regions of interests (ROIs) were manually delineated in cBHs, NAWM neighboring cBHs (perilesional NAWM), distant ipsilateral NAWM and contra-lateral distant NAWM. SIR-qMT-derived macromolecular-to-free pool size ratio (PSR) and SMT-derived apparent axonal volume fraction (Vax) were extracted to infer on myelin and axonal content, respectively. Group differences were assessed using mixed-effects regression models and correlation analyses were obtained by bootstrapping 95% confidence interval. RESULTS In comparison to perilesional NAWM, both PSR and Vax values were reduced in cBHs (p < 0.0001) and increased in distant contra-lateral NAWM ROIs (p < 0.001 for PSR and p < 0.0001 for Vax) but not ipsilateral NAWM (p = 0.176 for PSR and p = 0.549 for Vax). Vax values measured in cBHs correlated with those in perilesional NAWM (Pearson rho = 0.63, p < 0.001). No statistically relevant associations were seen between PSR/Vax values and clinical and/or MRI metrics of the disease with the exception of cBH PSR values, which correlated with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (Pearson rho = -0.63, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Our results show that myelin and axonal content, detected by PSR and Vax, are reduced in perilesional NAWM, as a function of the degree of focal cBH axonal injury. This finding is indicative of an ongoing anterograde/retrograde degeneration and suggests that treatment prevention of cBH development is a key factor for preserving NAWM integrity in surrounding tissue. It also suggests that measuring changes in perilesional areas over time may be a useful measure of outcome for proof-of-concept clinical trials on neuroprotection and repair. PSR and Vax largely failed to capture associations with clinical and MRI characteristics, likely as a result of the small sample size and cross-sectional design, however, longitudinal assessment of a larger cohort may unravel the impact of this pathology on disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margareta A Clarke
- Neuroimaging Unit, Neuro-immunology Division, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Dhairya A Lakhani
- Neuroimaging Unit, Neuro-immunology Division, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Sijin Wen
- Department of Biostatistics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Si Gao
- Department of Biostatistics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Seth A Smith
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Sciences, Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Richard Dortch
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Sciences, Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Junzhong Xu
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Sciences, Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Francesca Bagnato
- Neuroimaging Unit, Neuro-immunology Division, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Neurology, VA Hospital, TN Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, USA.
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12
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Hou J, Wong VWS, Jiang B, Wang YX, Wong GLH, Chan AWH, Chu WCW, Chen W. Macromolecular proton fraction mapping based on spin-lock magnetic resonance imaging. Magn Reson Med 2020; 84:3157-3171. [PMID: 32627861 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE In MRI, the macromolecular proton fraction (MPF) is a key parameter of magnetization transfer (MT). It represents the relative amount of immobile protons associated with semi-solid macromolecules involved in MT with free water protons. We aim to quantify MPF based on spin-lock MRI and explore its advantages over the existing MPF-mapping methods. METHODS In the proposed method, termed MPF quantification based on spin-lock (MPF-SL), off-resonance spin-lock is used to sensitively measure the MT effect. MPF-SL is designed to measure a relaxation rate (Rmpfsl ) that is specific to the MT effect by removing the R1ρ relaxation due to the mobile water and chemical exchange pools. A theory is derived to quantify MPF from the measured Rmpfsl . No prior knowledge of tissue relaxation parameters, including T1 or T2 , is needed to quantify MPF using MPF-SL. The proposed approach is validated with Bloch-McConnell simulations, phantom, and in vivo liver studies at 3.0T. RESULTS Both Bloch-McConnell simulations and phantom experiments show that MPF-SL is insensitive to variations of the mobile water pool and the chemical exchange pool. MPF-SL is specific to the MT effect and can measure MPF reliably. In vivo liver studies show that MPF-SL can be used to detect collagen deposition in patients with liver fibrosis. CONCLUSION A novel MPF imaging method based on spin-lock MRI is proposed. The confounding factors are removed, and the measurement is specific to the MT effect. It holds promise for MPF-sensitive diagnostic imaging in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Hou
- Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Vincent Wai-Sun Wong
- Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Baiyan Jiang
- Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yi-Xiang Wang
- Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Grace Lai-Hung Wong
- Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Anthony Wing-Hung Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Winnie Chiu-Wing Chu
- Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Weitian Chen
- Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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13
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Cronin MJ, Xu J, Bagnato F, Gochberg DF, Gore JC, Dortch RD. Rapid whole-brain quantitative magnetization transfer imaging using 3D selective inversion recovery sequences. Magn Reson Imaging 2020; 68:66-74. [PMID: 32004710 PMCID: PMC8609909 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2020.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 01/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Selective inversion recovery (SIR) is a quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) method that provides estimates of parameters related to myelin content in white matter, namely the macromolecular pool-size-ratio (PSR) and the spin-lattice relaxation rate of the free pool (R1f), without the need for independent estimates of ∆B0, B1+, and T1. Although the feasibility of performing SIR in the human brain has been demonstrated, the scan times reported previously were too long for whole-brain applications. In this work, we combined optimized, short-TR acquisitions, SENSE/partial-Fourier accelerations, and efficient 3D readouts (turbo spin-echo, SIR-TSE; echo-planar imaging, SIR-EPI; and turbo field echo, SIR-TFE) to obtain whole-brain data in 18, 10, and 7 min for SIR-TSE, SIR-EPI, SIR-TFE, respectively. Based on numerical simulations, all schemes provided accurate parameter estimates in large, homogenous regions; however, the shorter SIR-TFE scans underestimated focal changes in smaller lesions due to blurring. Experimental studies in healthy subjects (n = 8) yielded parameters that were consistent with literature values and repeatable across scans (coefficient of variation: PSR = 2.2-6.4%, R1f = 0.6-1.4%) for all readouts. Overall, SIR-TFE parameters exhibited the lowest variability, while SIR-EPI parameters were adversely affected by susceptibility-related image distortions. In patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (n = 2), focal changes in SIR parameters were observed in lesions using all three readouts; however, contrast was reduced in smaller lesions for SIR-TFE, which was consistent with the numerical simulations. Together, these findings demonstrate that efficient, accurate, and repeatable whole-brain SIR can be performed using 3D TFE, EPI, or TSE readouts; however, the appropriate readout should be tailored to the application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Cronin
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Nashville, TN, United States of America; Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, United States of America
| | - Junzhong Xu
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Nashville, TN, United States of America; Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, United States of America; Vanderbilt University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Nashville, TN, United States of America
| | - Francesca Bagnato
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Neuro-Immunology Division/Neuro-Imaging Unit, Nashville, TN, United States of America
| | - Daniel F Gochberg
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Nashville, TN, United States of America; Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, United States of America; Vanderbilt University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Nashville, TN, United States of America
| | - John C Gore
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Nashville, TN, United States of America; Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, United States of America; Vanderbilt University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Nashville, TN, United States of America; Vanderbilt University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Nashville, TN, United States of America
| | - Richard D Dortch
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Nashville, TN, United States of America; Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, United States of America; Vanderbilt University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Nashville, TN, United States of America.
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14
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Bagnato F, Franco G, Ye F, Fan R, Commiskey P, Smith SA, Xu J, Dortch R. Selective inversion recovery quantitative magnetization transfer imaging: Toward a 3 T clinical application in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler 2020; 26:457-467. [PMID: 30907234 PMCID: PMC7528886 DOI: 10.1177/1352458519833018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Assessing the degree of myelin injury in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is challenging due to the lack of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods specific to myelin quantity. By measuring distinct tissue parameters from a two-pool model of the magnetization transfer (MT) effect, quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) may yield these indices. However, due to long scan times, qMT has not been translated clinically. OBJECTIVES We aim to assess the clinical feasibility of a recently optimized selective inversion recovery (SIR) qMT and to test the hypothesis that SIR-qMT-derived metrics are informative of radiological and clinical disease-related changes in MS. METHODS A total of 18 MS patients and 9 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent a 3.0 Tesla (3 T) brain MRI, including clinical scans and an optimized SIR-qMT protocol. Four subjects were re-scanned at a 2-week interval to determine inter-scan variability. RESULTS SIR-qMT measures differed between lesional and non-lesional tissue (p < 0.0001) and between normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) of patients with more advanced disability and normal white matter (WM) of HCs (p < 0.05). SIR-qMT measures were associated with lesion volumes, disease duration, and disability scores (p ⩽ 0.002). CONCLUSION SIR-qMT at 3 T is clinically feasible and predicts both radiological and clinical disease severity in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Bagnato
- Department of Neurology, Neuro-Immunology Division/Neuro-Imaging Unit, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, TN
| | - Giulia Franco
- Department of Neurology, Neuro-Immunology Division/Neuro-Imaging Unit, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, TN
- IRCCS Foundation Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Dino Ferrari Center, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Fei Ye
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; USA
| | - Run Fan
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; USA
| | | | - Seth A. Smith
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science; Nashville, TN
| | - Junzhong Xu
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science; Nashville, TN
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Richard Dortch
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science; Nashville, TN
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
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15
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Trujillo P, Petersen KJ, Cronin MJ, Lin YC, Kang H, Donahue MJ, Smith SA, Claassen DO. Quantitative magnetization transfer imaging of the human locus coeruleus. Neuroimage 2019; 200:191-198. [PMID: 31233908 PMCID: PMC6934172 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.06.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The locus coeruleus (LC) is the major origin of norepinephrine in the central nervous system, and is subject to age-related and neurodegenerative changes, especially in disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Previous studies have shown that neuromelanin (NM)-sensitive MRI can be used to visualize the LC, and it is hypothesized that magnetization transfer (MT) effects are the primary source of LC contrast. The aim of this study was to characterize the MT effects in LC imaging by applying high spatial resolution quantitative MT (qMT) imaging to create parametric maps of the macromolecular content of the LC and surrounding tissues. Healthy volunteers (n = 26; sex = 17 F/9M; age = 41.0 ± 19.1 years) underwent brain MRI on a 3.0 T scanner. qMT data were acquired using a 3D MT-prepared spoiled gradient echo sequence. A traditional NM scan consisting of a T1-weighted turbo spin echo sequence with MT preparation was also acquired. The pool-size ratio (PSR) was estimated for each voxel using a single-point qMT approach. The LC was semi-automatically segmented on the MT-weighted images. The MT-weighted images provided higher contrast-ratio between the LC and surrounding pontine tegmentum (PT) (0.215 ± 0.031) than the reference images without MT-preparation (-0.005 ± 0.026) and the traditional NM images (0.138 ± 0.044). The PSR maps showed significant differences between the LC (0.090 ± 0.009) and PT (0.188 ± 0.025). The largest difference between the PSR values in the LC and PT was observed in the central slices, which also correspond to those with the highest contrast-ratio. These results highlight the role of MT in generating NM-related contrast in the LC, and should serve as a foundation for future studies aiming to quantify pathological changes in the LC and surrounding structures in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Trujillo
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Kalen J Petersen
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Matthew J Cronin
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ya-Chen Lin
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Hakmook Kang
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Manus J Donahue
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Seth A Smith
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Daniel O Claassen
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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16
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7T quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) of cortical gray matter in multiple sclerosis correlates with cognitive impairment. Neuroimage 2019; 203:116190. [PMID: 31525497 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment (CI) is a major manifestation of multiple sclerosis (MS) and is responsible for extensively hindering patient quality of life. Cortical gray matter (cGM) damage is a significant contributor to CI, but is poorly characterized by conventional MRI let alone with quantitative MRI, such as quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT). Here we employed high-resolution qMT at 7T via the selective inversion recovery (SIR) method, which provides tissue-specific indices of tissue macromolecular content, such as the pool size ratio (PSR) and the rate of MT exchange (kmf). These indices could represent expected demyelination that occurs in the presence of gray matter damage. We utilized selective inversion recovery (SIR) qMT which provides a low SAR estimate of macromolecular-bulk water interactions using a tailored, B1 and B0 robust inversion recovery (IR) sequence acquired at multiple inversion times (TI) at 7T and fit to a two-pool model of magnetization exchange. Using this sequence, we evaluated qMT indices across relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients (N = 19) and healthy volunteers (N = 37) and derived related associations with neuropsychological measures of cognitive impairment. We found a significant reduction in kmf in cGM of MS patients (15.5%, p = 0.002), unique association with EDSS (ρ = -0.922, p = 0.0001), and strong correlation with cognitive performance (ρ = -0.602, p = 0.0082). Together these findings indicate that the rate of MT exchange (kmf) may be a significant biomarker of cGM damage relating to CI in MS.
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17
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Battiston M, Schneider T, Grussu F, Yiannakas MC, Prados F, De Angelis F, Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott CAM, Samson RS. Fast bound pool fraction mapping via steady-state magnetization transfer saturation using single-shot EPI. Magn Reson Med 2019; 82:1025-1040. [PMID: 31081239 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To enable clinical applications of quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) imaging by developing a fast method to map one of its fundamental model parameters, the bound pool fraction (BPF), in the human brain. THEORY AND METHODS The theory of steady-state MT in the fast-exchange approximation is used to provide measurements of BPF, and bound pool transverse relaxation time ( T 2 B ). A sequence that allows sampling of the signal during steady-state MT saturation is used to perform BPF mapping with a 10-min-long fully echo planar imaging-based MRI protocol, including inversion recovery T1 mapping and B1 error mapping. The approach is applied in 6 healthy subjects and 1 multiple sclerosis patient, and validated against a single-slice full qMT reference acquisition. RESULTS BPF measurements are in agreement with literature values using off-resonance MT, with average BPF of 0.114(0.100-0.128) in white matter and 0.068(0.054-0.085) in gray matter. Median voxel-wise percentage error compared with standard single slice qMT is 4.6%. Slope and intercept of linear regression between new and reference BPF are 0.83(0.81-0.85) and 0.013(0.11-0.16). Bland-Altman plot mean bias is 0.005. In the multiple sclerosis case, the BPF is sensitive to pathological changes in lesions. CONCLUSION The method developed provides accurate BPF estimates and enables shorter scan time compared with currently available approaches, demonstrating the potential of bringing myelin sensitive measurement closer to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Battiston
- Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Francesco Grussu
- Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marios C Yiannakas
- Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ferran Prados
- Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Floriana De Angelis
- Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia A M Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott
- Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Brain MRI 3T Research Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Rebecca S Samson
- Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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