Biomedical subjects

J Hrabe

Publications and source records attributed to J Hrabe.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Two analytical solutions for a model of pulsed arterial spin labeling with randomized blood arrival times.

A fairly general theoretical model for pulsed arterial spin labeling perfusion methods has been available for some time but analytical solutions were derived for only a small number of arterial blood input functions. These mostly assumed a sudden and simultaneous arrival of the tagged blood into the imaged region. More general cases had to be handled numerically. We present analytical solutions for two more realistic arterial input functions. They both allow the arrival times of the molecules of tagged arterial blood to be statistically distributed. We consider cases of (1) a uniform distribution on a finite time interval and (2) a normal distribution characterized by its mean and standard deviation. These models are physiologically meaningful because the statistical nature of the arrival times reflects the distribution of velocities and path lengths that the blood water molecules undertake from the tagging region to the imaged region. The model parameters can be estimated from the measured dependency of the perfusion signal on the tag inversion time.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2001

RF excitation profiles with FAIR: impact of truncation of the arterial input function on quantitative perfusion.

This study investigates the impact of imaging coil length and consequent truncation of the arterial input function on the perfusion signal contrast obtained in the flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) perfusion imaging measurement. We examined the difference in perfusion contrast achieved with head, head and neck, and body imaging coils based on the hypothesis that the standard head coil provides a truncated input function compared with that provided by the body coil and that this effect will be accentuated at long inversion times. The TI-dependent cerebral response of the FAIR sequence was examined at 1.5 T by varying the TI from 200 to 3500 msec with both the head and whole body coils (n = 5) as well as using a head and neck coil (n = 3). Difference signal intensity DeltaM and quantitative cerebral blood flow (CBF) were plotted against TI for each coil configuration. Despite a lower signal-to-noise ratio, relative CBF was significantly greater when measured with the body or head and neck coil compared with the standard head coil for longer inversion times (two-way ANOVA, P < or = 0.002). This effect is attributed to truncation of the arterial input function of labeled water by the standard head coil and the resultant inflow of unlabeled spins to the image slice during control image acquisition, resulting in overestimation of CBF. The results support the conclusion that the arterial input function depends on the anatomic extent of the inversion pulse in FAIR, particularly at longer mixing times (TI > 1200 msec at 1.5 T). Use of a head and neck coil ensures adequate inversion while preserving SNR that is lost in the body coil.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

MOSES: multiple oversampled slabs EPI sequence.

A new technique is proposed which combines the advantages of phase encoded and multi-slice echo planar imaging (EPI) methods. Its principle is to interleave multiple phase encoded EPI slabs. This approach can provide a larger spatial coverage than multi-slice EPI for the same signal to noise ratio and total imaging time and a shorter minimum imaging time than 3D EPI for the same coverage and repetition time. Other advantages include availability of the steady state image contrasts and potentially lower acoustic noise and RF specific absorption rate compared to the standard multi-slice EPI. A full discussion of its potential as well as in vivo results at 1.5 and 3 Tesla are presented in this paper.

Echo-Planar Imaging↗

PubMed2000

Distribution of protein kinase Mzeta and the complete protein kinase C isoform family in rat brain.

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a multigene family of at least ten isoforms, nine of which are expressed in brain (alpha, betaI, betaII, gamma, delta, straightepsilon, eta, zeta, iota/lambda). Our previous studies have shown that many of these PKCs participate in synaptic plasticity in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Multiple isoforms are transiently activated in the induction phase of long-term potentiation (LTP). In contrast, a single species, zeta, is persistently activated during the maintenance phase of LTP through the formation of an independent, constitutively active catalytic domain, protein kinase Mzeta (PKMzeta). In this study, we used immunoblot and immunocytochemical techniques with isoform-specific antisera to examine the distribution of the complete family of PKC isozymes and PKMzeta in rat brain. Each form of PKC showed a widespread distribution in the brain with a distinct regional pattern of high and low levels of expression. PKMzeta, the predominant form of PKM in brain, had high levels in hippocampus, frontal and occipital cortex, striatum, and hypothalamus. In the hippocampus, each isoform was expressed in a characteristic pattern, with zeta prominent in the CA1 stratum radiatum. These results suggest that the compartmentalization of PKC isoforms in neurons may contribute to their function, with the location of PKMzeta prominent in areas notable for long-term synaptic plasticity.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

MR perfusion imaging in human brain using the UNFAIR technique. Un-inverted flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery.

Pulsed arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance techniques have been developed recently to estimate cerebral blood flow (CBF). Flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) is one such technique that has been implemented successfully in humans. Un-inverted FAIR (UNFAIR) is an alternative technique in which the flow-sensitive image is acquired following inversion of all spins outside the slice of interest, and the control image is acquired without any spin labeling. This approach is potentially more efficient than FAIR since the UNFAIR control image is entirely flow independent and need only be acquired once. Here, we describe implementation of the sequence on a clinical 1.5 T magnetic resonance system. Both FAIR and UNFAIR perfusion-weighted images were obtained from six normal volunteers. Wash-in/wash-out curves measured in cortical gray and white matter were practically identical for the two techniques, as predicted by our model.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Dynamic neuroimaging of brain function.

To fully characterize the brain processes underlying sensorimotor and cognitive function, the spatial distribution of active regions, their interconnected regions must be measured. We describe methods for imaging brain sources from surface-recorded EEG and magnetoencephalographic data, called electromagnetic source imaging (EMSI). EMSI provides brain source locations within the common framework of magnetic resonance (MR) images of brain anatomy. This allows integration of data from other functional brain imaging methods, like positron emission tomography and functional MR imaging, which can improve the accuracy of EMSI localization. EMSI also provides submillisecond temporal resolution of the dynamic processes within brain systems. Examples are given of applications to visual perceptual and attentional studies.

Arousal↗

PubMed1994

Developmental expression of the protein kinase C family in rat hippocampus.

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a heterogeneous family of ten or more isoforms which plays an important role in neuronal signal transduction. Isoforms from all subclasses are prominently expressed in the rat hippocampus, as demonstrated by immunoblot with isozyme-specific antisera: Ca(2+)-dependent (alpha, beta I, beta II and gamma), Ca(2+)-independent (delta, epsilon and a newly characterized PKC related to eta) and atypical (zeta). In addition, the zeta isoform is also found as the free, constitutively active catalytic domain, protein kinase M zeta (PKM zeta). Two distinct patterns of expression of PKC isozymes in rat hippocampus are found during development from E18 to P28. PKC zeta, PKM zeta and PKC delta are present at birth and their expression does not increase postnatally. In contrast, the other isoforms are expressed only at low levels at birth and then increase in the first 4 weeks postnatally. These two patterns of expression suggest distinct functions for PKC isozymes during development.

Aging↗