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Biomedical subjects

G J Stanisz

Publications and source records attributed to G J Stanisz.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Can MTR be used to assess cartilage in the presence of Gd-DTPA2-?

Magnetization transfer (MT) and T(1) and T(2) relaxation of normal, trypsinized, and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)-treated cartilage were measured in the absence and presence of Gd-DTPA(2-). Without the addition of Gd-DTPA(2-), neither T(1) nor T(2) showed any significant change with cartilage damage. However, with Gd-DTPA(2-), trypsinized cartilage exhibited substantially shorter T(1) than normal cartilage, as expected due to the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) loss in these samples, and associated increased Gd-DTPA(2-) concentration. The T(2) results were similar, but less dramatic. The MT pseudo first-order exchange rate, RM(0B), did not depend on the contrast agent concentration, as expected, and was significantly faster for trypsinized and slower for IL-1beta-treated cartilage. In both cases, the MT fraction of the macromolecular pool M(0B) decreased while only trypsinized cartilage showed an increase in MT exchange rate R. The MT ratio (MTR) decreased with increasing Gd-DTPA(2-) concentration. However, interpretation of the MTR results in the presence of Gd-DTPA(2-) was complicated due to competing effects of increased longitudinal relaxivity and MT exchange. Therefore, in a cartilage sample with an unknown degree of GAG depletion and some collagen damage, a full MT analysis might be used to probe the molecular state of cartilage, but it would not be possible to use a simple MTR measurement after the administration of Gd-DTPA(2-) to differentially determine the amount of cartilage degradation in the sample.

Animals↗

MR properties of rat sciatic nerve following trauma.

T(1) and T(2) relaxation times, magnetization transfer (MT), and diffusion anisotropy of rat sciatic nerve were measured at different time intervals following trauma. The nerve injury was induced by either cutting (irreversible nerve degeneration) or crushing (degeneration followed by regeneration). The MR properties were measured for proximal and distal portions of the injured nerve. The portions of the nerve proximal to the induced injury exhibited MR characteristics similar to those of normal nerves, whereas the distal portions showed significant differences in all MR parameters. These differences diminished in the regenerating nerves within approximately 4 weeks post injury. In the case of irreversible nerve damage, the differences in the distal nerves were slightly larger and did not resolve even 6 weeks after induced trauma. The MR measurements were correlated with histopathology exams. Observed changes in tissue microstructure, such as demyelination, inflammation, and axonal loss, can result in a significant increase in the average T(1) and T(2) relaxation times, reduction in the MT effect, and decrease in diffusion anisotropy. MR parameters, therefore, are very good indicators of nerve damage and may be useful in monitoring therapies that assist nerve regeneration. Magn Reson Med 45:415-420, 2001.

Animals↗

Magnetization transfer in MRI: a review.

This review describes magnetization transfer (MT) contrast in magnetic resonance imaging. A qualitative description of how MT works is provided along with experimental evidence that leads to a quantitative model for MT in tissues. The implementation of MT saturation in imaging sequences and the interpretation of the MT-induced signal change in terms of exchange processes and direct effects are presented. Finally, highlights of clinical uses of MT are outlined and future directions for investigation proposed.

Biophysical Phenomena↗

Gd-DTPA relaxivity depends on macromolecular content.

Gd-DTPA T(1) relaxivity of water protons was measured at 1.5 T and room temperature as a function of macromolecular content in model systems. Gd-DTPA relaxivity was found to increase with macromolecular concentration. The results of this study indicate that the Gd-DTPA relaxivity in tissue extracellular compartment could be as much as 30-70% higher than that of Gd-DTPA in saline. Quantitative MR analyses that use T(1) as an estimation of local Gd-DTPA concentration require a priori determination of the Gd relaxivity in tissue.

Animals↗

Tracking oxygen effects on MR signal in blood and skeletal muscle during hyperoxia exposure.

Blood and muscle T1 and T2 relaxivity was examined under normoxic (air; 20.8% O2) and hyperoxic (100% O2) conditions to determine whether the oxygenation state of blood in the large vessels and in the microcirculation can be monitored in vivo. The femoral artery/vein and the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles were examined in healthy human male volunteers. Arterial blood T1 decreased with hyperoxia, while venous blood T2 increased, due to increased dissolved O2 and decreased deoxyhemoglobin, respectively. A biexponential T2 model of muscle is proposed, where the short T2 component reflects primarily the intracellular and interstitial compartments (in fast exchange), and the long T2 reflects blood. In this model, the long T2 component increased with hyperoxia exposure. This was more evident in slow twitch (soleus) than in fast twitch (gastrocnemius) muscle. It is concluded that changes in the long T2 component reflect change in the microcirculation oxygenation state.

Adult↗

Analysis of changes in MR properties of tissues after heat treatment.

To characterize changes in the MR parameters of tissues due to thermal coagulation, a series of T(1), T(2), diffusion, and magnetization transfer measurements were performed on a variety of ex vivo tissues: murine slow twitch skeletal muscle, murine cardiac muscle, murine cerebral hemisphere, bovine white matter, murine liver tissue, bovine retroperitoneal adipose tissue, hen egg white, human prostate and human blood. Standardized heat treatments were performed for each tissue type, over the temperature range from 37 degrees C to 90 degrees C. For all tissues, changes in each MR measurement resulting from thermal coagulation were observed above a threshold temperature of approximately 60 degrees C. These changes are explained based on biophysical knowledge of thermal damage mechanisms and the MR properties of normal tissues, and are particularly relevant for interpreting the changes in image contrast that are observed when MRI is used to guide and monitor thermal coagulation therapy procedures. Magn Reson Med 42:1061-1071, 1999.

Adipose Tissue↗

Characterizing white matter with magnetization transfer and T(2).

A magnetization-transfer (MT) CPMG hybrid experiment was performed to analyze T(2) relaxation and MT characteristics in bovine optic nerve. Two exchanging liquid pools with their own, independent MT characteristics were necessary to model both the T(2) relaxation and the MT data. The model agrees well with the experimental data and yields physically realistic parameters. The MT effect for myelin water is approximately nine time larger than that for intra/intercellular water, indicating that the MT characteristics observed for white matter are mainly related to myelin. The model can be used to probe parameters that would be difficult to achieve experimentally. The exchange process between the two tissue compartments does not drastically affect the amplitudes and relaxation rates of the T(2) components, but is fast enough to significantly influence their MT characteristics. Although, both the MT and T(2) experiments described in this paper are too time consuming to be applied in routine clinical work, presented results can be useful in interpreting clinical pulse sequences that are sensitive to myelin. Magn Reson Med 42:1128-1136, 1999.

Animals↗

Water dynamics in human blood via combined measurements of T2 relaxation and diffusion in the presence of gadolinium.

An analytical model of tissue relaxation and restricted diffusion in human blood is presented. The blood tissue model is composed of three different compartments: red blood cells, plasma, and macromolecular protons. The relaxation rate constants and free diffusion coefficients of intracellular and extracellular water may differ. Analytical formulas for signal loss due to relaxation and diffusion in the Carr-Purcell Meiboom-Gill and pulsed-field-gradient multispin echo experiments for this tissue model are derived. The model is fitted to the experimental data for human blood with various concentrations of Gadolinium contrast agent. The obtained model parameters are realistic. The validity and sensitivity of the model are also discussed.

Blood↗

Integrated analysis of diffusion and relaxation of water in blood.

Diffusion and T2 relaxation of water both inside and outside red blood cells (RBCs) in human blood were investigated using a hybrid NMR pulse sequence to obtain a more quantitative understanding of the diffusion and relaxation behavior of water in paramagnetic-doped blood samples. The data were analyzed by both examining the relaxation properties of the system after each diffusion weighting and looking at the diffusion properties at each echo time. The results illustrate how diffusion-sensitizing gradients affect the T2 spectra of blood and how relaxation weighting changes the curvature of the diffusion curves, thereby demonstrating the close coupling between diffusion and T2 relaxation. A three-pool model, consisting of RBCs, plasma, and macromolecular protons, was used to model the data from the diffusion-relaxation hybrid experiments. The model was found to describe all the characteristic features of the experimental data well and was used to evaluate the approximations involved in the conventional analysis methods and elucidate the nature of the relaxing and diffusing components. Compared with the separate diffusion and relaxation experiments, the diffusion-relaxation hybrid experiments are less time-consuming, result in better parameter determinations, and may be useful in analyzing diffusion-T2 coupling in tissues with more complicated multiexponential T2 behavior.

Biological Transport↗

Diffusional anisotropy of T2 components in bovine optic nerve.

A diffusion-CPMG hybrid experiment was used to analyze the diffusion characteristics of different T2 relaxation components in bovine optic nerve. Data were collected using a pulsed field gradient (PFG) multi spin echo (MSE) CPMG sequence for parallel and perpendicular axon orientation and four diffusion times. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was evaluated for two observed T2 components as a function of axonal orientation and diffusion time delta. The short T2 component exhibited minor diffusional anisotropy and larger ADC, whereas the long T2 component showed significant anisotropy effects. This is consistent with the hypothesis that the short T2 component is associated with water within the myelin sheath, which is less restricted than axonal water that is limited by cell membrane permeability.

Animals↗

An analytical model of restricted diffusion in bovine optic nerve.

An analytical model of restricted diffusion in bovine optic nerve is presented. The nerve tissue model is composed of two different objects: prolate ellipsoids (axons) and spheres (glial cells) surrounded by partially permeable membranes. The free diffusion coefficients of intracellular and extracellular water may differ. Analytical formulas for signal loss due to diffusion in the pulsed gradient spin echo (PGSE) experiment for this tissue model are derived. The model is fitted to experimental data for bovine optic nerve. The obtained model parameters are shown to be reasonable. The model describes all of the characteristics of the PGSE data: anisotropy, upward curvature of decay curves, and diffusion time dependence. The validity and sensitivity of the model are also discussed.

Animals↗

Anisotropy of NMR properties of tissues.

Orientational anisotropy of T2 and T1 relaxation times, diffusion, and magnetization transfer has been investigated for six different tissues: tendon, cartilage, kidney, muscle, white matter, and optic nerve. Relaxation anisotropy was observed for tendon and cartilage, and diffusional anisotropy was measured in kidney, muscle, white matter, and optic nerve. All other NMR measurements of these tissues showed no orientational dependence. This pattern of NMR anisotropies can be interpreted from the underlying geometrical structures of the tissues.

Achilles Tendon↗

Relaxivity and magnetization transfer of white matter lipids at MR imaging: importance of cerebrosides and pH.

PURPOSE: To measure the effect of the major lipid components of white matter on the relaxation times and magnetization transfer (MT) of water protons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multilamellar vesicle (MLV) suspensions of pure phosphatidylcholine (PC) and PC with varying proportions of cholesterol (CHOL), sphingomyelin (SPH), and galactocerebroside (GC) were produced at varying pH. T1, T2, and MT were measured. RESULTS: Suspensions consisting of PC with CHOL or SPH caused greater shortening of T1 and T2 and slightly greater MT effects than did PC alone. Suspensions consisting of GC and PC caused the greatest decrease in relaxation times, and the MT effect was two to three times greater than with either CHOL-PC or SPH-PC suspensions. At acidic pH, the relaxation time changes and the MT effects with CHOL-PC, SPH-PC, and GC-PC suspensions were greater than the effects of the same MLVs at physiologic pH. CONCLUSION: GC has the strongest effect on relaxivity and MT of all the major white matter lipids. The relaxivity and MT observed with white matter lipids is pH dependent, indicating that chemical exchange of protons likely contributes to relaxivity and MT.

Animals↗

Quantitative interpretation of magnetization transfer.

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.

Agar↗