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J H Maki

Publications and source records attributed to J H Maki.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

The use of gradient flow compensation to separate diffusion and microcirculatory flow in MRI.

This paper describes a new MR imaging technique termed Modified Stejskal Tanner versus Flow Compensation (MST/FC) for the separation of diffusion and microcirculatory flow. The theory behind the sequence is explained, along with a five-component model of microcirculation applicable to any "perfusion" imaging technique. Phantom data is presented showing that (1) diffusion effects can be matched between MST and FC (suggesting the possibility of flow-compensated diffusion imaging), and (2) the technique is a quantitative method of separating diffusion and slow (less than 0.25 mm/s) tortuous flow through a Sephadex column. Furthermore, animal images show the technique to be feasible and quantitative in measuring rat brain microcirculation under normal, vasodilated (hypercarbia), and no-flow (post mortem) conditions.

Acetone

Diffusion/microcirculation MRI in the rat brain.

The CO2 fraction of an anesthetized rat's breathing mixture was changed (from 0 to 10%) to attempt to change the brain microcirculation and observe these changes in diffusion measurements of the neural tissue. Brain apparent diffusion coefficients were measured to be (0.71 +/- 0.01) X 10(-3) mm2/s before sacrifice and (0.39 +/- 0.01) X 10(-3) mm2/s after sacrifice. Multiple diffusion components were observed, consistent with flowing material, but the extra components did not increase with increased CO2. It is proposed that the additional components may be due to extracellular, extravascular water such as CSF.

Animals

Pre- and postmortem diffusion coefficients in rat neural and muscle tissues.

Pulsed gradient diffusion-weighted spin-echo images (7 to 11 gradient strengths) were obtained in a coronal slice through the midbrain for five normal adult white rats before and after sacrifice in a 2-T CSI system with air temperature control. The pulse sequence was cardiac gated and respiratory synchronized in order to minimize motion artifacts (Tr greater than 2 s. Te = 30 ms). Diffusion coefficients reflecting several tissue compartments (D*) in brain and muscle were calculated and referenced to simultaneously imaged tubes of water. In the living animals, brain cortical matter had a value of D* = (0.82 +/- 0.02) x 10(-3) mm2/s. deeper brain regions had a value of D* = (0.73 +/- 0.02) x 10(-3) mm2/s, and the muscle had a value of D* = (1.4 +/- 0.1) x 10(-3) mm2/s. Postmortem the values in brain dropped by approximately 30%, while remaining constant in muscle. Signal intensity in the spin-echo images for muscle tissue rose by 50% over a 1- to 2-h interval after sacrifice while that of brain tissue remained relatively stable.

Animals

In vivo measurement of proton diffusion in the presence of coherent motion.

Measurement of the self-diffusion coefficient D of water in tissue has been performed traditionally using the technique proposed by Stejskal and Tanner. A variant of that technique is shown here, employing flow-compensated gradients that significantly reduce the sensitivity to small coherent motions that are common in body imaging. An interleaved sequence with four values of diffusion-sensitizing gradient (b) minimizes registration errors. Eddy currents and other systematic errors are reduced, permitting the measurement of standards in an imaging context within 5% of nonimaging values in the literature. The flow-compensated sequence permits the measure of D for tissues in the abdominal cavity of the rat. We present in vivo measurements of D for the following rat tissues; liver, kidney (cortex), kidney (medulla) muscle, brain, fat.

Acetone

Maximization of contrast-to-noise ratio to distinguish diffusion and microcirculatory flow.

Optimization of the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) is described for microcirculation magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques based on flow-compensated/flow-dephased sequences, both with and without even-echo rephasing. The authors present the most advantageous manner of applying flow-dephased gradients, such that dephasing is maximal while diffusion losses are minimal. The theoretical considerations include phase, diffusion, echo time, and bandwidth in the determination of the optimal parameters for microcirculation imaging. Studies in phantoms consisting of stationary and flowing copper sulfate in Sephadex columns demonstrate the validity of the calculations. Optimized in vivo images of a rat stroke model demonstrate the potential of the flow-compensated/flow-dephased technique and the importance of optimizing CNR.

Animals

MR imaging of microcirculation in rat brain: correlation with carbon dioxide-induced changes in blood flow.

Considerable interest has been shown in developing a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technique with quantitative capability in the evaluation of tissue microcirculation ("perfusion"). In the present study, the flow-dephased/flow-compensated (FD/FC) technique is evaluated for measuring rat cerebral blood flow (CBF) under nearly optimal laboratory conditions. Imaging was performed on a 2.0-T system equipped with shielded gradient coils. Rat CBF was varied by manipulating arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2). In parallel experiments, optimized MR imaging studies (seven rats) were compared with laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) studies (nine rats). LDF values showed a high degree of correlation between CBF and PaCO2, agreeing with results in the literature. MR imaging values, while correlating with PaCO2, showed considerable scatter. The most likely explanation is unavoidable rat motion during the requisite long imaging times. Because of this motion sensitivity, the FD/FC technique cannot provide a quantitative measure of CBF. It can, however, provide a qualitative picture.

Animals