RESUMEN
The first magnetic resonance imaging studies of laser-polarized (129)Xe, dissolved in the blood and tissue of the lungs and the heart of Sprague-Dawley rats, are described. (129)Xe resonances at 0, 192, 199, and 210 ppm were observed and assigned to xenon in gas, fat, tissue, and blood, respectively. One-dimensional chemical-shift imaging (CSI) reveals xenon magnetization in the brain, kidney, and lungs. Coronal and axial two-dimensional CSI show (129)Xe dissolved in blood and tissue in the thorax. Images of the blood resonance show xenon in the lungs and the heart ventricle. Images of the tissue resonance reveal xenon in lung parenchyma and myocardium. The (129)Xe spectrum from a voxel located in the heart ventricle shows a single blood resonance. Time-resolved spectroscopy shows that the dynamics of the blood resonance match the dynamics of the gas resonance and demonstrates efficient diffusion of xenon gas to the lung parenchyma and then to pulmonary blood. These observations demonstrate the utility of laser-polarized (129)Xe to detect exchange across the gas-blood barrier in the lungs and perfusion into myocardial tissue. Applications to measurement of lung function, kidney perfusion, myocardial perfusion, and regional cerebral blood flow are discussed. Magn Reson Med 42:1137-1145, 1999.
Asunto(s)
Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Espectroscopía de Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Animales , Rayos Láser , Masculino , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Distribución Tisular , XenónRESUMEN
The magnetic coupling between methyl lactate protons and water protons in samples of cross-linked bovine serum albumin (BSA) is studied. Cross-relaxation spectroscopy shows efficient magnetization transfer from immobilized BSA to both water and methyl lactate protons. Transient and steady-state NOE experiments reveal a negative intermolecular NOE between methyl lactate and water protons. Lactate is indirectly detected by selectively saturating the methyl lactate protons and measuring the decrease in water proton magnetization. Indirect detection of methyl lactate protons is an order of magnitude more sensitive than direct detection in these model systems. Lactate was indirectly imaged, via the water proton resonance, with 1.1-microliter voxels in 2 min. Immobilized BSA reduces the intermolecular correlation time between water and lactate protons into the spin-diffusion limit where the NOE is negative. Possible molecular mechanisms for this coupling and applications to in vivo spectroscopy are discussed.
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Ácido Láctico/análisis , Espectroscopía de Resonancia Magnética , Albúmina Sérica Bovina/química , Agua/análisis , Animales , Bovinos , Óxido de Deuterio/análisis , Procesamiento de Imagen Asistido por Computador , Magnetismo , Protones , Sensibilidad y EspecificidadRESUMEN
Shear wave elasticity imaging (SWEI) is a new approach to imaging and characterizing tissue structures based on the use of shear acoustic waves remotely induced by the radiation force of a focused ultrasonic beam. SWEI provides the physician with a virtual "finger" to probe the elasticity of the internal regions of the body. In SWEI, compared to other approaches in elasticity imaging, the induced strain in the tissue can be highly localized, because the remotely induced shear waves are attenuated fully within a very limited area of tissue in the vicinity of the focal point of a focused ultrasound beam. SWEI may add a new quality to conventional ultrasonic imaging or magnetic resonance imaging. Adding shear elasticity data ("palpation information") by superimposing color-coded elasticity data over ultrasonic or magnetic resonance images may enable better differentiation of tissues and further enhance diagnosis. This article presents a physical and mathematical basis of SWEI with some experimental results of pilot studies proving feasibility of this new ultrasonic technology. A theoretical model of shear oscillations in soft biological tissue remotely induced by the radiation force of focused ultrasound is described. Experimental studies based on optical and magnetic resonance imaging detection of these shear waves are presented. Recorded spatial and temporal profiles of propagating shear waves fully confirm the results of mathematical modeling. Finally, the safety of the SWEI method is discussed, and it is shown that typical ultrasonic exposure of SWEI is significantly below the threshold of damaging effects of focused ultrasound.
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Ultrasonografía/métodos , Acústica , Elasticidad , Estudios de Factibilidad , Humanos , Modelos Teóricos , Fantasmas de Imagen , Proyectos PilotoRESUMEN
The feasibility of brain MRI with laser-polarized 129Xe in a small animal model is demonstrated. Naturally abundant 129Xe is polarized and introduced into the lungs of Sprague-Dawley rats. Polarized xenon gas dissolves in the blood and is transported to the brain where it accumulates in brain tissue. Spectroscopic studies reveal a single, dominant, tissue-phase NMR resonance in the head at 194.5 ppm relative to the gas phase resonance. Images of 129Xe in the rat head were obtained with 98-microliter voxels by 2D chemical shift imaging and show that xenon is localized to the brain. This work establishes that nuclear polarization produced in the gas phases survives transport to the brain where it may be imaged. Increases in polarization and delivered volume of 129Xe will allow clinical measurements of regional cerebral blood flow.
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Encéfalo/anatomía & histología , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Animales , Estudios de Factibilidad , Femenino , Rayos Láser , Espectroscopía de Resonancia Magnética , Masculino , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Isótopos de XenónRESUMEN
Magnetic resonance imaging of the knee was performed in 28 patients (ages 15-72 years), using a 1.5-T unit. Volume gradient echo (3D GRASS) acquisition with and without presaturation off-resonance RF pulse was used to evaluate magnetization transfer (MT) effects, determined by placing regions of interest on muscle, fat, hyaline, and fibrocartilage; the percent change in signal intensity was calculated and compared using a paired two-sample t test. An in vitro study of the normal meniscus from a cadaver containing a scalpel cut extending to an articular surface was performed to observe the relative improvement in contrast in the presence of a small meniscal defect. MR imaging of the specimen was performed using an Omega CSI 2.0-T system (General Electric Medical Systems, Fremont, CA). Analysis of clinical images resulted in signal loss, compared to that of the identically timed and tuned non-MT images of 47 +/- 5, 8 +/- 5, 49 +/- 5, and 57 +/- 7% for muscle, fat, articular cartilage and fibrocartilage, respectively. Application of MT improved the depiction of the artificially introduced meniscal defect. Meniscal fibrocartilage demonstrates significant MT effect after application of off-resonance RF presaturation, which may improve visualization of meniscal defects.
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Imagen por Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Meniscos Tibiales/patología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Cadáver , Femenino , Humanos , Procesamiento de Imagen Asistido por Computador , Rodilla/patología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
A projection-operator technique is applied to a general three-component model for magnetization transfer, extending our previous two-component model [R.S. Adler and H.N. Yeung, J. Magn. Reson. A 104, 321 (1993), and H.N. Yeung, R. S. Adler, and S.D. Swanson, J. Magn. Reson. A 106, 37 (1994)]. The PO technique provides an elegant means of deriving a simple, effective rate equation in which there is natural separation of relaxation and source terms and allows incorporation of Redfield-Provotorov theory without any additional assumptions or restrictive conditions. The PO technique is extended to incorporate more general, multicomponent models. The three-component model is used to fit experimental data from samples of human hyaline cartilage and fibrocartilage. The fits of the three-component model are compared to the fits of the two-component model.
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Cartílago/anatomía & histología , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Modelos Teóricos , Adulto , Algoritmos , Agua Corporal/química , Cartílago/química , Cartílago Articular/anatomía & histología , Cartílago Articular/química , Espectroscopía de Resonancia por Spin del Electrón , Humanos , Hialina/química , Sustancias Macromoleculares , MasculinoRESUMEN
The utility of MRI using magnetization transfer (MT) enhanced pulse sequences to diagnose hepatic cirrhosis in a rat model was investigated. Hepatic T1 was measured with and without MT off-resonance RF pulses in 17 treated and six control rats. The livers were evaluated histologically, and the hydroxyproline content quantitatively measured. We did not find a statistically significant linear correlation between the MR relaxation times and the degree of tissue injury. However, the MR measurements performed with MT were superior to those without differentiating the treated and control groups. Specifically, the T1 times were 695 +/- 76 ms for the treated group, versus 748 +/- 61 ms in the controls; P = 0.095. The T1sat times were also lower in the treated group, with statistical significance: 367 +/- 51 ms versus 421 +/- 38 ms, P = 0.016. Finally, the change in the relaxation rates (the inverse of the relaxation times) with and without saturation were 1.31 +/- 0.22 s-1 (treated group) versus 1.05 +/- 0.12 s-1 (controls), which differed significantly, P = 0.001.
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Cirrosis Hepática Experimental/diagnóstico , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Animales , Agua Corporal/química , Tetracloruro de Carbono/efectos adversos , Hidroxiprolina/análisis , Aumento de la Imagen/métodos , Hígado/química , Hígado/patología , Cirrosis Hepática Experimental/inducido químicamente , Cirrosis Hepática Experimental/metabolismo , Cirrosis Hepática Experimental/patología , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Magnetismo , Tamaño de los Órganos , Fenobarbital/efectos adversos , Protones , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-DawleyRESUMEN
Magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) experiments using off-resonance irradiation have been performed with an agar gel model by systematically varying offset frequency, amplitude of the RF irradiation and gel concentration. The experimental results are shown to be quantitatively modelled by a two-pool system consisting of a liquid pool with a Lorentzian line shape and a small semisolid pool with a Gaussian lineshape. The fitted model yields physically realistic fundamental parameters with a T2 of the semisolid pool of 13 microseconds. Further analysis shows that the off-resonance irradiation MTC experiment had significant limitations in its ability to saturate the semisolid pool without directly affecting the liquid component.
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Imagen por Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Agar , Geles , Humanos , Magnetismo , Modelos Estructurales , Modelos TeóricosRESUMEN
The metabolic effects of adenosine on regionally ischemic myocardium were investigated in an open-chest rabbit model by means of phosphorus 31 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Sixteen anesthetized New Zealand white rabbits were subjected to thoracotomy; a reversible snare occluder was placed around a large branch of the left circumflex coronary artery, and an NMR surface coil was positioned adjacent to the myocardium perfused by this vessel. The animals were placed in a 2.0 T CSI spectrometer (GE Medical Systems, Fremont, Calif.), and baseline spectra were acquired. Eight animals were treated with intravenous adenosine (25 mg/kg), and eight rabbits served as control subjects. All animals were subjected to a 10-minute period of ischemia followed by a period of reperfusion. NMR spectra were acquired during both intervals. During the occlusion period, expected increases in inorganic phosphate levels and decreases in phosphocreatine levels were observed in both groups; however, inorganic phosphate increased less in adenosine-treated animals (adenosine: 33 +/- 2.8% total spectral area during occlusion vs control: 41 +/- 3.1%) and phosphocreatine diminished less with adenosine (adenosine: 26 +/- 3% vs control: 13 +/- 1.2%; p < 0.002). No significant differences were seen in beta-adenosine triphosphate levels. In both groups the metabolite levels during reperfusion recovered to near baseline values, although phosphocreatine remained slightly higher in the treated group during early reperfusion. An apparent cardioprotective effect of adenosine on relative phosphocreatine and inorganic phosphate levels can be observed in intact rabbits by means of phosphorus 31 NMR spectroscopy.
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Adenosina/farmacología , Corazón/efectos de los fármacos , Isquemia Miocárdica/metabolismo , Miocardio/metabolismo , Adenosina Trifosfato/metabolismo , Animales , Espectroscopía de Resonancia Magnética , Reperfusión Miocárdica , Fosfatos/metabolismo , Fosfocreatina/metabolismo , Fósforo , ConejosRESUMEN
13C-nmr measurements are reported for samples of poly (L-lysine) both static and spinning at the magic angle in the beta-sheet form as a function of water content. The addition of water decreases the side-chain line widths considerably. Measurements of the cross-polarization time constants indicate that hydration by either H2O or D2O increases the time constant. Measurements of spin-lattice relaxation times in the laboratory frame and the rotating frame indicate that hydration does not change the dynamics of the backbone carbon atoms in the beta-sheet structure appreciably, but the side-chain atoms experience considerable increase in local mobility with increasing hydration. Deuteration of the exchangeable protons or the water has only small effects on the carbon relaxation times, indicating that relaxation is driven by intramolecular dipole-dipole interactions.
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Polilisina/química , Agua/química , Espectroscopía de Resonancia Magnética , Conformación ProteicaRESUMEN
Carbon-13 magnetic resonance imaging/spectroscopy (CMRI/S) was performed using polarization transfer techniques where sensitivity of the carbon signal was enhanced by transferring the proton spin order to the carbon nuclei. The experimental feasibility of using polarization transfer techniques at 2.0 T was demonstrated with a phantom and an intact chicken egg. The potential clinical applications of CMRI/S with polarization transfer include the assessment of prostate cancer. Preliminary results using human prostate specimens are presented.
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Imagen por Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Espectroscopía de Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Animales , Isótopos de Carbono , Huevos , Humanos , Masculino , Modelos Estructurales , Próstata/anatomía & histología , Neoplasias de la Próstata/diagnóstico , ProtonesRESUMEN
Recovery of myocardial high-energy phosphate (HEP) metabolism after coronary occlusion and reperfusion may vary with ischemic duration and may provide information about the extent of tissue viability. To evaluate the differences between varying durations of ischemia and to attempt to identify metabolic indexes of salvaged viable tissue, intact New Zealand white rabbits underwent either 30 (group 1; n = 8) or 60 (group 2; n = 8) minutes of coronary occlusion followed by reperfusion. HEP metabolism was evaluated with cardiac gated phosphorus 31 (31P) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy with a 2.0 T spectrometer. While similar HEP changes were observed during ischemia in both groups, differences in HEP recovery between groups were seen following reperfusion. Group 1 animals demonstrated a gradual decrease in inorganic phosphates (Pi) (p less than 0.05 versus group 2), an immediate recovery of phosphocreatine (PCr) (p = ns versus baseline), and a gradual increase of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to pre-ischemic levels. Group 2 animals had elevated levels of Pi (p less than 0.05 versus baseline; p less than 0.05 versus group 1), slow recovery of PCr, and continued reduction of ATP (p less than 0.05 versus baseline; p less than 0.05 versus group 1). Group 1 rabbits had a greater extent of viable myocardium than group 2 (77.1 +/- 9.7% of risk area versus 39.4 +/- 9.4%; p less than 0.001). Significant correlations were found between PCr and Pi reperfusion values and myocardial viability (r = 0.59, p less than 0.05; r = 0.73, p less than 0.01, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)