Biomedical subjects

Craig J Galbán

Publications and source records attributed to Craig J Galbán.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Accelerating MR elastography: a multiecho phase-contrast gradient-echo sequence.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the feasibility of using a multiecho phase-contrast (PC) gradient-echo sequence with motion-sensitizing gradient (MSG) to accelerate MR elastography (MRE) acquisitions in comparison to single-echo PC sequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sequence was implemented and compared with a conventional single-echo sequence as the standard of reference in both agarose phantoms and in vivo in the biceps of three healthy volunteers. For reconstruction of the elasticity modulus, a local frequency estimation (LFE) algorithm was used. ETL factors of 1-16 were evaluated. RESULTS: Phantom experiments demonstrated excellent consistency between single-echo and multiecho measurements in terms of wave equivalency, SNR, and reconstructed shear modulus. Additionally, the in vivo MRE examinations showed an excellent correspondence to the single-echo results. Minor loss of wave amplitude was observed at higher ETL factors. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that a multiecho sequence is suitable for accelerating MRE in nearly homogeneous tissue, such as muscle. It provides equivalent elasticity values in a significantly reduced scan time compared to a single-echo sequence. The maximum achievable ETL factor must be individually determined for the target tissue.

Acceleration↗

PubMed2005

A diffusion tensor imaging analysis of gender differences in water diffusivity within human skeletal muscle.

The diffusive properties of adjacent muscles at rest were evaluated in male (n = 12) and female (n = 12) subjects using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The principle, second and third eigenvalues, trace of the diffusion tensor [Tr(D)], and two anisotropic parameters, ellipsoid eccentricity (e) and fractional anisotropy (FA), of various muscles in the human calf were calculated from the diffusion tensor. Seven muscles were investigated in this study from images acquired of the left calf: the soleus, lateral gastrocnemius, medial gastrocnemius, posterior tibialis, anterior tibialis, extensor digitorum longus and peroneus longus. A mathematical model was also derived that relates the eigenvalues of the diffusion tensor to the muscle fiber volume fraction, which is defined as the volume of muscle fibers within a well-defined arbitrary muscle volume. Females on average had higher eigenvalues and Tr(D) compared with males, with the majority of muscles being statistically different between the sexes. In contrast, males on average had higher e and FA than females, with the large plantar flexors--soleus, lateral gastrocnemius, and medial gastrocnemius--producing statistically different results. The behavior of the mathematical model for variations in fiber volume fraction produced similar trends to those seen when the experimental data were fit to the model. The model predicts that a larger volume fraction of skeletal muscle in males is devoted to fibers than in females, but the true underlying source of the gender discrepancy remains unclear. Although the model does not fully account for other transport processes, it does provide some insight into the limiting factors that affect the diffusion of water in skeletal muscle measured by DTI.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Diffusive sensitivity to muscle architecture: a magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging study of the human calf.

The aim of this study was to examine the diffusive properties of adjacent muscles at rest, and to determine the relationship between diffusive and architectural properties, which are task-specific to muscles. The principle, second, and third eigenvalues, trace of the diffusion tensor, and two anisotropic parameters, ellipsoid eccentricity (e) and fractional anisotropy (FA), of various muscles in the human calf were calculated by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Linear correlations of the calculated parameters to the muscle physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), which is proportional to maximum muscle force, were performed to ascertain any linear relation between muscle architecture and diffusivity. Images of the left calf were acquired from six healthy male volunteers. Seven muscles were investigated in this study. These comprised the soleus, lateral gastrocnemius, medial gastrocnemius, posterior tibialis, anterior tibialis, extensor digitorum longus, and peroneus longus. All data were presented as the mean and standard error of the mean (SEM). In general, differences in diffusive parameter values occurred primarily between functionally different muscles. A strong correlation was also found between PCSA and the third eigenvalue, e, and FA. A mathematical derivation revealed a linear relationship between PCSA and the third eigenvalue as a result of their dependence on the average radius of all fibers within a single muscle. These findings demonstrated the ability of DTI to differentiate between functionally different muscles in the same region of the body on the basis of their diffusive properties.

Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging↗

PubMed2004

Global analysis of HuR-regulated gene expression in colon cancer systems of reducing complexity.

HuR, a protein that binds to target mRNAs and can enhance their stability and translation, is increasingly recognized as a pivotal regulator of gene expression during cell division and tumorigenesis. We sought to identify collections of HuR-regulated mRNAs in colon cancer cells by systematic, cDNA array-based assessment of gene expression in three systems of varying complexity. First, comparison of gene expression profiles among tumors with different HuR abundance revealed highly divergent gene expression patterns, and virtually no changes in previously reported HuR target mRNAs. Assessment of gene expression patterns in a second system of reduced complexity, cultured colon cancer cells expressing different HuR levels, rendered more conserved sets of HuR-regulated mRNAs. However, the definitive identification of direct HuR target mRNAs required a third system of still lower complexity, wherein HuR-RNA complexes immunoprecipitated from colon cancer cells were subject to cDNA array hybridization to elucidate the endogenous HuR-bound mRNAs. Comparison of the transcript sets identified in each system revealed a strikingly limited overlap in HuR-regulated mRNAs. The data derived from this systematic analysis of HuR-regulated genes highlight the value of low-complexity, biochemical characterization of protein-RNA interactions. More importantly, however, the data underscore the broad usefulness of integrated approaches comprising systems of low complexity (protein-nucleic acid) and high complexity (cells, tumors) to comprehensively elucidate the gene regulatory events that underlie biological processes.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Long repetition time experiments for measurement of concentrations in systems with chemical exchange and undergoing temporal variation-comparison of methods with and without correction for saturation.

The purpose of this paper is to compare two methods for quantifying metabolite concentrations using the one-pulse experiment for a sample undergoing chemical exchange and subject to an intervention or other temporal variation. The methods, LATR-C (Long Acquisition TR (interpulse delay); Corrected for partial saturation) and LATR-NC (Long Acquisition TR; Not Corrected), are compared in terms of signal-to-noise ratio, SNR, per unit time and quantitation errors. Parameters relevant to the isolated perfused rat heart are used as a specific application, although the results are general. We assume throughout that spin-lattice relaxation times, T(1), do not change. For a given flip angle, theta, TR's are calculated which result in maximal SNR per unit time under 10%, 5%, and 1% constraints on quantitation errors. Additional simulations were performed to demonstrate explicitly the dependence of the quantitation errors on TR for a fixed theta. We find (i) if the allowed error is large, and when both metabolite concentrations and rate constants vary, LATR-C permits use of shorter TR, and hence yields greater SNR per unit time, than LATR-NC; (ii) for small allowed error, the two methods give similar TR's and SNR per unit time, so that the simpler LATR-NC experiment may be preferred; (iii) large values of theta result in similar constrained TR's and hence SNR per unit time for the two methods; (iv) the ratio of concentrations of metabolites with similar T(1) exhibit similar errors for the two methods.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed2003

Experimental demonstration of quantitation errors in MR spectroscopy resulting from saturation corrections under changing conditions.

Metabolite concentration measurements in in vivo NMR are generally performed under partially saturated conditions, with correction for partial saturation performed after data collection using a measured saturation factor. Here, we present an experimental test of the hypothesis that quantitation errors can occur due to application of such saturation factor corrections in changing systems. Thus, this extends our previous theoretical work on quantitation errors due to varying saturation factors. We obtained results for two systems frequently studied by 31P NMR, the ischemic rat heart and the electrically stimulated rat gastrocnemius muscle. The results are interpreted in light of previous theoretical work which defined the degree of saturation occurring in a one-pulse experiment for a system with given spin-lattice relaxation times, T(1)s, equilibrium magnetizations, M(0)s, and reaction rates. We found that (i) the assumption of constancy of saturation factors leads to quantitation errors on the order of 40% in inorganic phosphate; (ii) the dominant contributor to the quantitation errors in inorganic phosphate is most likely changes in T(1); (iii) T(1) and M(0) changes between control and intervention periods, and chemical exchange contribute to different extents to quantitation errors in phosphocreatine and gamma-ATP; (iv) relatively small increases in interpulse delay substantially decreased quantitation errors for metabolites in ischemic rat hearts; (v) random error due to finite SNR led to approximately 4% error in quantitation, and hence was a substantially smaller contributor than were changes in saturation factors.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed2002

Optimized pulse parameters for reducing quantitation errors due to saturation factor changes in magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

We present an analysis of the effects of chemical exchange and changes in T(1) on metabolite quantitation for heart, skeletal muscle, and brain using the one-pulse experiment for a sample which is subject to temporal variation. We use an optimization algorithm to calculate interpulse delay times, TRs, and flip angles, theta, resulting in maximal root-mean-squared signal-to-noise per unit time (S/N) for all exchanging species under 5 and 10% constraints on quantitation errors. The optimization yields TR and theta pairs giving signal-to-noise per unit time close or superior to typical literature values. Additional simulations were performed to demonstrate explicitly the dependence of the quantitation errors on pulse parameters and variations in the properties of the sample, such as may occur after an intervention. We find that (i) correction for partial saturation in accordance with the usual analysis neglecting variations in metabolite concentrations and rate constants may readily result in quantitation errors of 15% or more; the exact degree of error depends upon the details of the system under consideration; (ii) if T(1)'s vary as well, significantly larger quantitation errors may occur; and (iii) optimal values of pulse parameters may minimize errors in quantitation with minimal S/N loss.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗