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Kanagasabai K, Palaniyappan L, Théberge J. Precision of metabolite-selective MRS measurements of glutamate, GABA and glutathione: A review of human brain studies. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2024; 37:e5071. [PMID: 38050448 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.5071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SV 1 H-MRS) is an in vivo noninvasive imaging technique used to detect neurotransmitters and metabolites. It enables repeated measurements in living participants to build explanatory neurochemical models of psychiatric symptoms and testing of therapeutic approaches. Given the tight link among glutamate, gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), glutathione and glutamine within the cellular machinery, MRS investigations of neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders must quantify a network of metabolites simultaneously to capture the pathophysiological states of interest. Metabolite-selective sequences typically provide improved metabolite isolation and spectral modelling simplification for a single metabolite at a time. Non-metabolite-selective sequences provide information on all detectable human brain metabolites, but feature many signal overlaps and require complicated spectral modelling. Although there are short-echo time (TE) MRS sequences that do not use spectral editing and are optimised to target either glutamate, GABA or glutathione, these approaches usually imply a precision tradeoff for the remaining two metabolites. Given the interest in assessing psychiatric and neurocognitive diseases that involve excitation-inhibition imbalances along with oxidative stress, there is a need to survey the literature on the quantification precision of current metabolite-selective MRS techniques. In this review, we locate and describe 17 studies that report on the quality of simultaneously acquired MRS metabolite data in the human brain. We note several factors that influence the data quality for single-shot acquisition of multiple metabolites of interest using metabolite-selective MRS: (1) internal in vivo references; (2) brain regions of interests; (3) field strength of scanner; and/or (4) optimised acquisition parameters. We also highlight the strengths and weaknesses of various SV spectroscopy techniques that were able to quantify in vivo glutamate, GABA and glutathione simultaneously. The insights from this review will assist in the development of new MRS pulse sequences for simultaneous, selective measurements of these metabolites and simplified spectral modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kesavi Kanagasabai
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Imaging Program, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lena Palaniyappan
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Imaging Program, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jean Théberge
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Imaging Program, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Imaging, St. Joseph's Health Care Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
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2
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Weng G, Slotboom J, Schucht P, Ermiş E, Wiest R, Klöppel S, Peter J, Zubak I, Radojewski P. Simultaneous multi-region detection of GABA+ and Glx using 3D spatially resolved SLOW-editing and EPSI-readout at 7T. Neuroimage 2024; 286:120511. [PMID: 38184158 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/08/2024] Open
Abstract
GABA+ and Glx (glutamate and glutamine) are widely studied metabolites, yet the commonly used magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) techniques have significant limitations, including sensitivity to B0 and B1+-inhomogeneities, limited bandwidth of MEGA-pulses, high SAR which is accentuated at 7T. To address these limitations, we propose SLOW-EPSI method, employing a large 3D MRSI coverage and achieving a high resolution down to 0.26 ml. Simulation results demonstrate the robustness of SLOW-editing for both GABA+ and Glx against B0 and B1+-inhomogeneities within the range of [-0.3, +0.3] ppm and [40 %, 250 %], respectively. Two protocols, both utilizing a 70 mm thick FOV slab, were employed to target distinct brain regions in vivo, differentiated by their orientation: transverse and tilted. Protocol 1 (n = 11) encompassed 5 locations (cortical gray matter, white matter, frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and cingulate gyrus). Protocol 2 (n = 5) involved 9 locations (cortical gray matter, white matter, frontal lobe, occipital lobe, cingulate gyrus, caudate nucleus, hippocampus, putamen, and inferior thalamus). Quantitative analysis of GABA+ and Glx was conducted in a stepwise manner. First, B1+/B1--inhomogeneities were corrected using water reference data. Next, GABA+ and Glx values were calculated employing spectral fitting. Finally, the GABA+ level for each selected region was compared to the global Glx within the same subject, generating the GABA+/Glx_global ratio. Our findings from two protocols indicate that the GABA+/Glx_global level in cortical gray matter was approximately 16 % higher than in white matter. Elevated GABA+/Glx_global levels acquired with protocol 2 were observed in specific regions such as the caudate nucleus (0.118±0.067), putamen (0.108±0.023), thalamus (0.092±0.036), and occipital cortex (0.091±0.010), when compared to the cortical gray matter (0.079±0.012). Overall, our results highlight the effectiveness of SLOW-EPSI as a robust and efficient technique for accurate measurements of GABA+ and Glx at 7T. In contrast to previous SVS and 2D-MRSI based editing sequences with which only one or a limited number of brain regions can be measured simultaneously, the method presented here measures GABA+ and Glx from any brain area and any arbitrarily shaped volume that can be flexibly selected after the examination. Quantification of GABA+ and Glx across multiple brain regions through spectral fitting is achievable with a 9-minute acquisition. Additionally, acquisition times of 18-27 min (GABA+) and 9-18 min (Glx) are required to generate 3D maps, which are constructed using Gaussian fitting and peak integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guodong Weng
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland; Translational Imaging Center, sitem-insel, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Johannes Slotboom
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland; Translational Imaging Center, sitem-insel, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Schucht
- Department of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ekin Ermiş
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roland Wiest
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland; Translational Imaging Center, sitem-insel, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Klöppel
- University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jessica Peter
- University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Irena Zubak
- Department of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Piotr Radojewski
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland; Translational Imaging Center, sitem-insel, Bern, Switzerland
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3
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Gudmundson AT, Koo A, Virovka A, Amirault AL, Soo M, Cho JH, Oeltzschner G, Edden RAE, Stark CEL. Meta-analysis and open-source database for in vivo brain Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy in health and disease. Anal Biochem 2023; 676:115227. [PMID: 37423487 PMCID: PMC10561665 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2023.115227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Proton (1H) Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) is a non-invasive tool capable of quantifying brain metabolite concentrations in vivo. Prioritization of standardization and accessibility in the field has led to the development of universal pulse sequences, methodological consensus recommendations, and the development of open-source analysis software packages. One on-going challenge is methodological validation with ground-truth data. As ground-truths are rarely available for in vivo measurements, data simulations have become an important tool. The diverse literature of metabolite measurements has made it challenging to define ranges to be used within simulations. Especially for the development of deep learning and machine learning algorithms, simulations must be able to produce accurate spectra capturing all the nuances of in vivo data. Therefore, we sought to determine the physiological ranges and relaxation rates of brain metabolites which can be used both in data simulations and as reference estimates. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we've identified relevant MRS research articles and created an open-source database containing methods, results, and other article information as a resource. Using this database, expectation values and ranges for metabolite concentrations and T2 relaxation times are established based upon a meta-analyses of healthy and diseased brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron T Gudmundson
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Annie Koo
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Anna Virovka
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Alyssa L Amirault
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Madelene Soo
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jocelyn H Cho
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Georg Oeltzschner
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Craig E L Stark
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
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Gudmundson AT, Koo A, Virovka A, Amirault AL, Soo M, Cho JH, Oeltzschner G, Edden RA, Stark C. Meta-analysis and Open-source Database for In Vivo Brain Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Health and Disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.10.528046. [PMID: 37205343 PMCID: PMC10187197 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.10.528046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Proton ( 1 H) Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) is a non-invasive tool capable of quantifying brain metabolite concentrations in vivo . Prioritization of standardization and accessibility in the field has led to the development of universal pulse sequences, methodological consensus recommendations, and the development of open-source analysis software packages. One on-going challenge is methodological validation with ground-truth data. As ground-truths are rarely available for in vivo measurements, data simulations have become an important tool. The diverse literature of metabolite measurements has made it challenging to define ranges to be used within simulations. Especially for the development of deep learning and machine learning algorithms, simulations must be able to produce accurate spectra capturing all the nuances of in vivo data. Therefore, we sought to determine the physiological ranges and relaxation rates of brain metabolites which can be used both in data simulations and as reference estimates. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we've identified relevant MRS research articles and created an open-source database containing methods, results, and other article information as a resource. Using this database, expectation values and ranges for metabolite concentrations and T 2 relaxation times are established based upon a meta-analyses of healthy and diseased brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron T. Gudmundson
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD
| | - Annie Koo
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Anna Virovka
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Alyssa L. Amirault
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Madelene Soo
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Jocelyn H. Cho
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Georg Oeltzschner
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD
| | - Richard A.E. Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD
| | - Craig Stark
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
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Mayeli A, Janssen SA, Huston CA, Rupp JS, Sharma K, Moon CH, Keihani A, Hetherington HP, Ferrarelli F. N-Acetylaspartate and Choline Metabolites in Cortical and Subcortical Regions in Clinical High Risk Relative to Healthy Control Subjects: An Exploratory 7T MRSI Study. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097682. [PMID: 37175389 PMCID: PMC10178465 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and choline (Cho) are two brain metabolites implicated in several key neuronal functions. Abnormalities in these metabolites have been reported in both early course and chronic patients with schizophrenia (SCZ). It is, however, unclear whether NAA and Cho's alterations occur even before the onset of the disorder. Clinical high risk (CHR) individuals are a population uniquely enriched for psychosis and SCZ. In this exploratory study, we utilized 7-Tesla magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) to examine differences in total NAA (tNAA; NAA + N-acetylaspartylglutamate [NAAG]) and major choline-containing compounds, including glycerophosphorylcholine and phosphorylcholine [tCho], over the creatine (Cre) levels between 26 CHR and 32 healthy control (HC) subjects in the subcortical and cortical regions. While no tCho/Cre differences were found between groups in any of the regions of interest (ROIs), we found that CHR had significantly reduced tNAA/Cre in the right dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) compared to HC, and that the right DLPFC tNAA/Cre reduction in CHR was negatively associated with their positive symptoms scores. No tNAA/Cre differences were found between CHR and HC in other ROIs. In conclusion, reduced tNAA/Cre in CHR vs. HC may represent a putative molecular biomarker for risk of psychosis and SCZ that is associated with symptom severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Mayeli
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Sabine A Janssen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Chloe A Huston
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Julia S Rupp
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Kamakashi Sharma
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Chan-Hong Moon
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Ahmadreza Keihani
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Hoby P Hetherington
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Fabio Ferrarelli
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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6
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Veeraiah P, Jansen JFA. Multinuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy at Ultra-High-Field: Assessing Human Cerebral Metabolism in Healthy and Diseased States. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13040577. [PMID: 37110235 PMCID: PMC10143499 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13040577] [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: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain is a highly energetic organ. Although the brain can consume metabolic substrates, such as lactate, glycogen, and ketone bodies, the energy metabolism in a healthy adult brain mainly relies on glucose provided via blood. The cerebral metabolism of glucose produces energy and a wide variety of intermediate metabolites. Since cerebral metabolic alterations have been repeatedly implicated in several brain disorders, understanding changes in metabolite levels and corresponding cell-specific neurotransmitter fluxes through different substrate utilization may highlight the underlying mechanisms that can be exploited to diagnose or treat various brain disorders. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a noninvasive tool to measure tissue metabolism in vivo. 1H-MRS is widely applied in research at clinical field strengths (≤3T) to measure mostly high abundant metabolites. In addition, X-nuclei MRS including, 13C, 2H, 17O, and 31P, are also very promising. Exploiting the higher sensitivity at ultra-high-field (>4T; UHF) strengths enables obtaining unique insights into different aspects of the substrate metabolism towards measuring cell-specific metabolic fluxes in vivo. This review provides an overview about the potential role of multinuclear MRS (1H, 13C, 2H, 17O, and 31P) at UHF to assess the cerebral metabolism and the metabolic insights obtained by applying these techniques in both healthy and diseased states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pandichelvam Veeraiah
- Scannexus (Ultra-High-Field MRI Center), 6229 EV Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jacobus F A Jansen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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Genovese G, Deelchand DK, Terpstra M, Marjańska M. Quantification of GABA concentration measured noninvasively in the human posterior cingulate cortex with 7 T ultra-short-TE MR spectroscopy. Magn Reson Med 2023; 89:886-897. [PMID: 36372932 PMCID: PMC9792442 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The increased spectral dispersion achieved at ultra-high field permits quantification of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentrations at ultra-short-TE without editing. This work investigated the influence of spectral quality and different LCModel fitting approaches on quantification of GABA. Additionally, the sensitivity with which cross-sectional and longitudinal variations in GABA concentrations can be observed was characterized. METHODS In - vivo spectra were acquired in the posterior cingulate cortex of 10 volunteers at 7 T using a STEAM sequence. Synthetically altered spectra with different levels of GABA signals were used to investigate the reliability of GABA quantification with different LCModel fitting approaches and different realizations of SNR. The synthetically altered spectra were also used to characterize the sensitivity of GABA quantification. RESULTS The best LCModel fitting approach used stiff spline baseline, no soft constraints, and measured macromolecules in the basis set. With lower SNR, coefficients of variation increased dramatically. Longitudinal and cross-sectional variations in GABA of 10% could be detected with 79 and 48 participants per group, respectively. However, the small cohort may bias the calculation of the coefficients of variation and of the sample size that would be needed to detect variations in GABA. CONCLUSION Reliable quantification of normal and abnormal GABA concentrations was achieved for high quality 7 T spectra using LCModel fitting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guglielmo Genovese
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of
Radiology, University of Minnesota, 2021 6 St SE, Minneapolis, MN
55455, USA
| | - Dinesh K. Deelchand
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of
Radiology, University of Minnesota, 2021 6 St SE, Minneapolis, MN
55455, USA
| | - Melissa Terpstra
- NextGen Imaging Facility, NextGen Precision Health
Institute, University of Missouri, 1011 Hospital Dr, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Małgorzata Marjańska
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of
Radiology, University of Minnesota, 2021 6 St SE, Minneapolis, MN
55455, USA
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Hippocampal Metabolic Alterations in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13020571. [PMID: 36836928 PMCID: PMC9965919 DOI: 10.3390/life13020571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been overwhelmingly applied to motor regions to date and our understanding of frontotemporal metabolic signatures is relatively limited. The association between metabolic alterations and cognitive performance in also poorly characterised. MATERIAL AND METHODS In a multimodal, prospective pilot study, the structural, metabolic, and diffusivity profile of the hippocampus was systematically evaluated in patients with ALS. Patients underwent careful clinical and neurocognitive assessments. All patients were non-demented and exhibited normal memory performance. 1H-MRS spectra of the right and left hippocampi were acquired at 3.0T to determine the concentration of a panel of metabolites. The imaging protocol also included high-resolution T1-weighted structural imaging for subsequent hippocampal grey matter (GM) analyses and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for the tractographic evaluation of the integrity of the hippocampal perforant pathway zone (PPZ). RESULTS ALS patients exhibited higher hippocampal tNAA, tNAA/tCr and tCho bilaterally, despite the absence of volumetric and PPZ diffusivity differences between the two groups. Furthermore, superior memory performance was associated with higher hippocampal tNAA/tCr bilaterally. Both longer symptom duration and greater functional disability correlated with higher tCho levels. CONCLUSION Hippocampal 1H-MRS may not only contribute to a better academic understanding of extra-motor disease burden in ALS, but given its sensitive correlations with validated clinical metrics, it may serve as practical biomarker for future clinical and clinical trial applications. Neuroimaging protocols in ALS should incorporate MRS in addition to standard structural, functional, and diffusion sequences.
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Arumugham SS, Praharaj SK, Shreekantiah U, Sreeraj VS, Roy C, Shenoy S, Purohith AN, Chithra U, Bagali KB, Venkataramaiah S, Nanjundaiah GKK, Thennarasu K, Kumar CN, Goyal N, Das B, Mehta UM, Muralidharan K, Venkatasubramanian G, Sinha P, Thirthalli J. Clinical efficacy and neurobiological correlates of electroconvulsive therapy in patients with clozapine-resistant/intolerant schizophrenia: study protocol of multi-site parallel arm double-blind randomized sham-controlled study. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 7:212. [PMID: 37953926 PMCID: PMC10636350 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.18028.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: A substantial proportion of patients with treatment resistant schizophrenia do not respond well or partially to clozapine, with a subset that does not tolerate an adequate trial of clozapine. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is regarded as one of the augmenting options, but there is a lack of high-quality evidence for this practice. This protocol describes a double-blind randomised sham-controlled modified-ECT trial to evaluate its efficacy in patients with clozapine resistant/intolerant schizophrenia. The study also involves multimodal investigations to identify the response predictors and the mechanistic basis of modified ECT in this population. Methods: One hundred consenting schizophrenia patients with resistance/intolerance to clozapine referred by clinicians for ECT would be randomly assigned to receive true ECT or sham ECT at three study centers. Sham ECT would mimic all the procedures of modified ECT including anaesthesia and muscle relaxation, except the electrical stimulation. After a blinded course, non-responders to sham ECT would be offered open-label true ECT. Clinical assessments, neurocognitive assessments and multimodal investigations (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], electroencephalography, heart rate variability, investigative transcranial magnetic stimulation-transcranial direct current stimulation, gene polymorphism) would be conducted at baseline and repeated after the end of the trial, as well as open-label ECT course. The trial would evaluate the improvement in positive symptoms (scale for assessment of positive symptoms) of schizophrenia as the primary outcome measure with prediction of this change by resting-state functional-MRI based brain-connectivity as the second primary objective. Registration: Clinical Trial Registry of India (Reg no: CTRI/2021/05/033775) on 24 th May 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Sundar Arumugham
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, 560029, India
| | - Samir K. Praharaj
- Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
| | | | - Vanteemar S. Sreeraj
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, 560029, India
| | - Chandramouli Roy
- Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 834006, India
| | - Sonia Shenoy
- Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
| | - Abhiram Narasimhan Purohith
- Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
| | - Uppinkudru Chithra
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, 560029, India
| | - Kiran Basawaraj Bagali
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, 560029, India
| | - Sudhir Venkataramaiah
- Department of Neuroanaesthsia and Neuro Critical Care, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India
| | - Gopala Krishna Kadarapura Nanjundaiah
- Department of Neuroanaesthsia and Neuro Critical Care, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India
| | - Kandavel Thennarasu
- Department of Biostatistics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560029, India
| | - Channaveerachari Naveen Kumar
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, 560029, India
| | - Nishant Goyal
- Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 834006, India
| | - Basudeb Das
- Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 834006, India
| | - Urvakhsh Meherwan Mehta
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, 560029, India
| | - Kesavan Muralidharan
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, 560029, India
| | - Ganesan Venkatasubramanian
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, 560029, India
| | - Preeti Sinha
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, 560029, India
| | - Jagadisha Thirthalli
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, 560029, India
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McCarthy L, Verma G, Hangel G, Neal A, Moffat BA, Stockmann JP, Andronesi OC, Balchandani P, Hadjipanayis CG. Application of 7T MRS to High-Grade Gliomas. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2022; 43:1378-1395. [PMID: 35618424 PMCID: PMC9575545 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a7502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
MRS, including single-voxel spectroscopy and MR spectroscopic imaging, captures metabolites in high-grade gliomas. Emerging evidence indicates that 7T MRS may be more sensitive to aberrant metabolic activity than lower-field strength MRS. However, the literature on the use of 7T MRS to visualize high-grade gliomas has not been summarized. We aimed to identify metabolic information provided by 7T MRS, optimal spectroscopic sequences, and areas for improvement in and new applications for 7T MRS. Literature was found on PubMed using "high-grade glioma," "malignant glioma," "glioblastoma," "anaplastic astrocytoma," "7T," "MR spectroscopy," and "MR spectroscopic imaging." 7T MRS offers higher SNR, modestly improved spatial resolution, and better resolution of overlapping resonances. 7T MRS also yields reduced Cramér-Rao lower bound values. These features help to quantify D-2-hydroxyglutarate in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 gliomas and to isolate variable glutamate, increased glutamine, and increased glycine with higher sensitivity and specificity. 7T MRS may better characterize tumor infiltration and treatment effect in high-grade gliomas, though further study is necessary. 7T MRS will benefit from increased sample size; reductions in field inhomogeneity, specific absorption rate, and acquisition time; and advanced editing techniques. These findings suggest that 7T MRS may advance understanding of high-grade glioma metabolism, with reduced Cramér-Rao lower bound values and better measurement of smaller metabolite signals. Nevertheless, 7T is not widely used clinically, and technical improvements are necessary. 7T MRS isolates metabolites that may be valuable therapeutic targets in high-grade gliomas, potentially resulting in wider ranging neuro-oncologic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- L McCarthy
- From the Department of Neurosurgery (L.M., C.G.H.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Health System, New York, New York
| | - G Verma
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute (G.V., P.B.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - G Hangel
- Department of Neurosurgery (G.H.)
- High-field MR Center (G.H.), Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - A Neal
- Department of Medicine (A.N.), Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Neurology (A.N.), Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - B A Moffat
- The Melbourne Brain Centre Imaging Unit (B.A.M.), Department of Radiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - J P Stockmann
- A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (J.P.S., O.C.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School (J.P.S., O.C.A.), Boston, Massachusetts
| | - O C Andronesi
- A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (J.P.S., O.C.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School (J.P.S., O.C.A.), Boston, Massachusetts
| | - P Balchandani
- BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute (G.V., P.B.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - C G Hadjipanayis
- From the Department of Neurosurgery (L.M., C.G.H.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Health System, New York, New York
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11
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Sinha P, Shreekantiah U, Goyal N, Sreeraj VS, Arumugham SS, Samantaray S, Jammigumpula A, Nanjundaiah GKK, Venkataramaiah S, Thennarasu K, Roy C, Purohith AN, Shenoy S, Kumar CN, Shivakumar V, Udupa K, Muralidharan K, Venkatasubramanian G, Thirthalli J, Praharaj SK, Mehta UM. Study protocol for evaluating the clinical efficacy and neurobiological correlates of sequential treatment with tDCS primed iTBS and ECT in treatment-resistant depression. Wellcome Open Res 2022. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.18192.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Treatment-resistant depression is a burdensome condition. Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is considered a treatment option in early course of resistance with a proportion of such patients responding to it. Preliminary evidence suggests a role of priming iTBS stimulation with preconditioning using cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). This protocol describes a double-blind randomized sham-controlled study to evaluate the clinical efficacy and tolerability of tDCS-primed iTBS in the treatment of resistant depression. Non-responders to this trial will be offered open-label electroconvulsive therapy. All participants will undergo neurobiological investigations that will enable the identification of potential response predictors and mechanisms. Methods: Three hundred and fifty consenting patients with treatment resistant depression will be randomly assigned to receive 20–30 daily sessions of true-tDCS or sham-tDCS primed iTBS over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex at three study centers. After this blinded sham-controlled trial, non-responders to the intervention will be offered open-label true ECT. Clinical assessments, neurocognitive assessments and multimodal investigations (magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, heart rate variability, investigative transcranial magnetic stimulation-transcranial direct current stimulation, gene polymorphisms) will be conducted at baseline and repeated after the end of the trial, as well as open-label ECT course. The trial will evaluate the improvement in depressive symptoms (Hamilton depression rating scale) between the two groups as the primary outcome measure.
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12
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Arumugham SS, Praharaj SK, Shreekantiah U, Sreeraj VS, Roy C, Shenoy S, Purohith AN, Chithra U, Bagali KB, Venkataramaiah S, Nanjundaiah GKK, Thennarasu K, Kumar CN, Goyal N, Das B, Mehta UM, Muralidharan K, Venkatasubramanian G, Sinha P, Thirthalli J. Clinical efficacy and neurobiological correlates of electroconvulsive therapy in patients with clozapine-resistant/intolerant schizophrenia: study protocol of multi-site parallel arm double-blind randomized sham-controlled study. Wellcome Open Res 2022. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.18028.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: A substantial proportion of patients with treatment resistant schizophrenia do not respond well or partially to clozapine, with a subset that does not tolerate an adequate trial of clozapine. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is regarded as one of the augmenting options, but there is a lack of high-quality evidence for this practice. This protocol describes a double-blind randomised sham-controlled modified-ECT trial to evaluate its efficacy in patients with clozapine resistant/intolerant schizophrenia. The study also involves multimodal investigations to identify the response predictors and the mechanistic basis of modified ECT in this population. Methods: One hundred consenting schizophrenia patients with resistance/intolerance to clozapine referred by clinicians for ECT would be randomly assigned to receive true ECT or sham ECT at three study centers. Sham ECT would mimic all the procedures of modified ECT including anaesthesia and muscle relaxation, except the electrical stimulation. After a blinded course, non-responders to sham ECT would be offered open-label true ECT. Clinical assessments, neurocognitive assessments and multimodal investigations (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], electroencephalography, heart rate variability, investigative transcranial magnetic stimulation-transcranial direct current stimulation, gene polymorphism) would be conducted at baseline and repeated after the end of the trial, as well as open-label ECT course. The trial would evaluate the improvement in positive symptoms (scale for assessment of positive symptoms) of schizophrenia as the primary outcome measure with prediction of this change by resting-state functional-MRI based brain-connectivity as the second primary objective. Registration: Clinical Trial Registry of India (Reg no: CTRI/2021/05/033775) on 24th May 2021.
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13
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Lavigne KM, Kanagasabai K, Palaniyappan L. Ultra-high field neuroimaging in psychosis: A narrative review. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:994372. [PMID: 36506432 PMCID: PMC9730890 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.994372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia and related psychoses are complex neuropsychiatric diseases representing dysconnectivity across multiple scales, through the micro (cellular), meso (brain network), manifest (behavioral), and social (interpersonal) levels. In vivo human neuroimaging, particularly at ultra-high field (UHF), offers unprecedented opportunity to examine multiscale dysconnectivity in psychosis. In this review, we provide an overview of the literature to date on UHF in psychosis, focusing on microscale findings from magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), mesoscale studies on structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and multiscale studies assessing multiple neuroimaging modalities and relating UHF findings to behavior. We highlight key insights and considerations from multiscale and longitudinal studies and provide recommendations for future research on UHF neuroimaging in psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie M Lavigne
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Kesavi Kanagasabai
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Lena Palaniyappan
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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14
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Sandström KO, Baltzersen OB, Marsman A, Lemvigh CK, Boer VO, Bojesen KB, Nielsen MØ, Lundell H, Sulaiman DK, Sørensen ME, Fagerlund B, Lahti AC, Syeda WT, Pantelis C, Petersen ET, Glenthøj BY, Siebner HR, Ebdrup BH. Add-On MEmaNtine to Dopamine Antagonism to Improve Negative Symptoms at First Psychosis- the AMEND Trial Protocol. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:889572. [PMID: 35669271 PMCID: PMC9163784 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.889572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antipsychotic drugs are primarily efficacious in treating positive symptoms by blocking the dopamine D2 receptor, but they fail to substantially improve negative symptoms and cognitive deficits. The limited efficacy may be attributed to the fact that the pathophysiology of psychosis involves multiple neurotransmitter systems. In patients with chronic schizophrenia, memantine, a non-competitive glutamatergic NMDA receptor antagonist, shows promise for ameliorating negative symptoms and improving cognition. Yet, it is unknown how memantine modulates glutamate levels, and memantine has not been investigated in patients with first-episode psychosis. AIMS This investigator-initiated double-blinded randomized controlled trial is designed to (1) test the clinical effects on negative symptoms of add-on memantine to antipsychotic medication, and (2) neurobiologically characterize the responders to add-on memantine. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT Antipsychotic-naïve patients with first-episode psychosis will be randomized to 12 weeks treatment with [amisulpride + memantine] or [amisulpride + placebo]. We aim for a minimum of 18 patients in each treatment arm to complete the trial. Brain mapping will be performed before and after 12 weeks focusing on glutamate and neuromelanin in predefined regions. Regional glutamate levels will be probed with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), while neuromelanin signal will be mapped with neuromelanin-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We will also perform structural and diffusion weighted, whole-brain MRI. MRS and MRI will be performed at an ultra-high field strength (7 Tesla). Alongside, participants undergo clinical and neuropsychological assessments. Twenty matched healthy controls will undergo similar baseline- and 12-week examinations, but without receiving treatment. OUTCOME MEASURES The primary endpoint is negative symptom severity. Secondary outcomes comprise: (i) clinical endpoints related to cognition, psychotic symptoms, side effects, and (ii) neurobiological endpoints related to regional glutamate- and neuromelanin levels, and structural brain changes. ANTICIPATED RESULTS We hypothesize that add-on memantine to amisulpride will be superior to amisulpride monotherapy in reducing negative symptoms, and that this effect will correlate with thalamic glutamate levels. Moreover, we anticipate that add-on memantine will restore regional white matter integrity and improve cognitive functioning. PERSPECTIVES By combining two licensed, off-patent drugs, AMEND aims to optimize treatment of psychosis while investigating the memantine response. Alongside, AMEND will provide neurobiological insights to effects of dual receptor modulation, which may enable future stratification of patients with first-episode psychosis before initial antipsychotic treatment. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION [ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT04789915].
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina O Sandström
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CNSR), Centre for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CINS), Mental Health Centre Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Olga B Baltzersen
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CNSR), Centre for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CINS), Mental Health Centre Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Anouk Marsman
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cecilie K Lemvigh
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CNSR), Centre for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CINS), Mental Health Centre Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Vincent O Boer
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kirsten B Bojesen
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CNSR), Centre for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CINS), Mental Health Centre Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Mette Ø Nielsen
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CNSR), Centre for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CINS), Mental Health Centre Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Lundell
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daban K Sulaiman
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CNSR), Centre for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CINS), Mental Health Centre Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Mikkel E Sørensen
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CNSR), Centre for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CINS), Mental Health Centre Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Birgitte Fagerlund
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CNSR), Centre for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CINS), Mental Health Centre Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark.,Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adrienne C Lahti
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Warda T Syeda
- Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, VIC, Australia
| | - Christos Pantelis
- Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, VIC, Australia
| | - Esben T Petersen
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Section for Magnetic Resonance, DTU Health Tech, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Birte Y Glenthøj
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CNSR), Centre for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CINS), Mental Health Centre Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hartwig R Siebner
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bjørn H Ebdrup
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CNSR), Centre for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CINS), Mental Health Centre Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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15
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Finkelman T, Furman-Haran E, Paz R, Tal A. Quantifying the excitatory-inhibitory balance: A comparison of SemiLASER and MEGA-SemiLASER for simultaneously measuring GABA and glutamate at 7T. Neuroimage 2021; 247:118810. [PMID: 34906716 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of the excitatory-inhibitory (E/I) balance in a wide range of cognitive and behavioral processes has prompted a commensurate interest in methods for reliably quantifying it. Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS) remains the only method capable of safely and non-invasively measuring the concentrations of the brain's major excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitory (γ-aminobutyric-acid, GABA) neurotransmitters in-vivo. MRS relies on spectral Mescher-Garwood (MEGA) editing techniques at 3T to distinguish GABA from its overlapping resonances. However, with the increased spectral resolution at ultrahigh field strengths of 7T and above, non-edited spectroscopic techniques become potential viable alternatives to MEGA based approaches, and also address some of their shortcomings, such as signal loss, sensitivity to transmitter inhomogeneities and temporal resolution. We present a comprehensive comparison of both edited and non-edited strategies at 7T for simultaneously quantifying glutamate and GABA from the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), and evaluate their reproducibility and relative bias. The combined root-mean-square test-retest reproducibility of Glu and GABA (CVE/I) was as low as 13.3% for unedited MRS at TE=80 ms using SemiLASER localization, while edited MRS at TE=80 ms yielded CVE/I=20% and 21% for asymmetric and symmetric MEGA editing, respectively. An unedited SemiLASER acquisition using a shorter echo time of TE=42 ms yielded CVE/I as low as 24.9%. Our results show that non-edited sequences at an echo time of 80 ms provide better reproducibility than either edited sequences at the same TE, or non-edited sequences at a shorter TE of 42 ms. This is supported by numerical simulations and is driven in part by a pseudo-singlet appearance of the GABA multiplets at TE=80 ms, and the excellent spectral resolution at 7T. Our results uphold a transition to non-edited MRS for monitoring the E/I balance at ultrahigh fields, and stress the importance of using a properly-optimized echo time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Finkelman
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel; Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, 234 Herzel St., Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Edna Furman-Haran
- Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Rony Paz
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Assaf Tal
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, 234 Herzel St., Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
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16
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Younis S, Hougaard A, Christensen CE, Vestergaard MB, Paulson OB, Larsson HBW, Ashina M. Interictal pontine metabolism in migraine without aura patients: A 3 Tesla proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2021; 32:102824. [PMID: 34619653 PMCID: PMC8498457 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
In the pons, glutamatergic mechanisms are involved in regulating inhibitory descending pain modulation, serotoninergic neurotransmission as well as modulating the sensory transmission of the trigeminovascular system. Migraine involves altered pontine activation and structural changes, while biochemical, genetic and clinical evidence suggests that altered interictal pontine glutamate levels may be an important pathophysiological feature of migraine abetting to attack initiation. Migraine without aura patients were scanned outside attacks using a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy protocol optimized for the pons at 3 Tesla. The measurements were performed on two separate days to increase accuracy and compared to similar repeated measurements in healthy controls. We found that interictal glutamate (i.e. Glx) levels in the pons of migraine patients (n = 33) were not different from healthy controls (n = 16) (p = 0.098), while total creatine levels were markedly increased in patients (9%, p = 0.009). There was no correlation of glutamate or total creatine levels to migraine frequency, days since the last attack, usual pain intensity of attacks or disease duration. In conclusion, migraine is not associated with altered interictal pontine glutamate levels. However, the novel finding of increased total creatine levels suggests that disequilibrium in the pontine energy metabolism could be an important feature of migraine pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samaira Younis
- Danish Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Anders Hougaard
- Danish Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Casper E Christensen
- Danish Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Mark B Vestergaard
- Functional Imaging Unit, Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine and PET, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Olaf B Paulson
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik B W Larsson
- Functional Imaging Unit, Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine and PET, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Messoud Ashina
- Danish Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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