Biomedical subjects

M I Altbach

Publications and source records attributed to M I Altbach.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Chemical-shift imaging utilizing the positional shifts along the readout gradient direction.

In this work, we describe a method that uses the linear phase acquired during the readout period due to chemical shift to generate individual magnetic resonance (MR) images of chemically shifted species. The method utilizes sets of Fourier (or k-space) data acquired with different directions of the readout gradient and a postprocessing algorithm to generate chemical shift images. The methodology is developed for both Cartesian data acquisition and for radial data acquisition. The method is presented here for two chemically shifted species but it can be extended to more species. In this work, we present the theory, show the results in phantoms and in human images, and discuss the artifacts and signal-to-noise ratio of the images obtained with the technique.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2000

Reconstruction of MR images from data acquired on a general nonregular grid by pseudoinverse calculation.

A minimum-norm least-squares image-reconstruction method for the reconstruction of magnetic resonance images from non-Cartesian sampled data is proposed. The method is based on a general formalism for continuous-to-discrete mapping and pseudoinverse calculation. It does not involve any regridding or interpolation of the data and therefore the methodology differs fundamentally from existing regridding-based methods. Moreover, the method uses a continuous representation of objects in the image domain instead of a discretized representation. Simulations and experiments show the possibilities of the method in both radial and spiral imaging. Simulations revealed that minimum-norm least-squares image reconstruction can result in a drastic decrease of artifacts compared with regridding-based reconstruction. Besides, both in vivo and phantom experiments showed that minimum-norm least-squares image reconstruction leads to contrast improvement and increased signal-to-noise ratio compared with image reconstruction based on regridding. As an appendix, an analytical calculation of the raw data corresponding to the well-known Shepp and Logan software head phantom is presented.

Humans↗

PubMed1999

Plasmalemmal pH-gradients in drug-sensitive and drug-resistant MCF-7 human breast carcinoma xenografts measured by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

31p Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was employed to investigate tumor pH in xenografts of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells. Measured extracellular pH values were found to be lower than the intracellular pH in all three tumor types investigated. The magnitude of this acid-outside plasmalemmal pH gradient increased with increasing tumor size in tumors of two drug-resistant variants of MCF-7 cells, but not in tumors of the parent (drug-sensitive) cells. The partitioning of weak-base or weak-acid drug molecules across the plasma membrane of a tumor cell is dependent upon the acid-dissociation constant (pKa) of the drug as well as the plasmalemmal pH gradient. A large acid-outside pH gradient, such as those seen in MCF-7 xenografts, can exert a protective effect on the cell from weak-base drugs such as anthracyclines and Vinca alkaloids, which have pKa values of 7.5 to 9.5. The possibility of enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of weak-base drugs by dietary or metabolic manipulation of the extracellular pH, in order to reduce or reverse the plasmalemmal pH gradient, deserves investigation.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

High-resolution diffusion imaging with DIFRAD-FSE (diffusion-weighted radial acquisition of data with fast spin-echo) MRI.

A novel MRI method, DIFRAD-FSE (diffusion-weighted radial acquisition of data with fast spin-echo), is demonstrated that enables rapid, high-resolution multi-shot diffusion-weighted MRI without significant artifacts due to motion. Following a diffusion-weighting spin-echo preparation period, multiple radial lines of Fourier data are acquired using spin-echo refocusing. Images can be reconstructed from the radial data set using a magnitude-only filtered back-projection reconstruction algorithm that removes phase errors due to motion. Results from human brain imaging demonstrate the ability of DIFRAD-FSE to acquire multiple radial lines of Fourier data each TR period without significant artifacts due to relaxation and to produce high-resolution diffusion-weighted MRI images without significant artifacts from motion.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1999

Early increases in breast tumor xenograft water mobility in response to paclitaxel therapy detected by non-invasive diffusion magnetic resonance imaging.

An important goal in cancer chemotherapy is to sensitively and quantitatively monitor the response of individual patients' tumors to successful, or unsuccessful, therapy so that regimens can be altered iteratively. Currently, tumor response is monitored by frank changes in tumor morphology, yet these markers take long to manifest and are not quantitative. Recent studies suggest that the apparent diffusion coefficient of water (ADCw), measured noninvasively with magnetic resonance imaging, is sensitively and reliably increased in response to successful CTx. In the present study, we investigate the combination chemotherapy response of human breast cancer tumor xenografts sensitive or resistant to Paclitaxel by monitoring changes in the ADCw. Our results indicate that there is a clear, substantial, and early increase in the ADCw after successful therapy in drug sensitive tumors and that there is no change in the ADCw in p-glycoprotein-positive tumors, which are resistant to Paclitaxel. The mechanism underlying these changes is unknown yet is consistent with apoptotic cell shrinkage and a concomitant increase in the extracellular water fraction.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed1997

MRI and NMR spectroscopy of the lipids of atherosclerotic plaque in rabbits and humans.

The early stages of atherosclerosis are characterized by the deposition of cholesteryl esters and triglycerides into the arterial wall. In the excised human atherosclerotic plaque these lipids are in a liquid-like state at body temperature and observable via MRI and NMR spectroscopy. To assess the ability of MRI to quantitatively image the lipids of atherosclerotic plaque in vivo, we have investigated eight New Zealand White rabbits fed atherogenic diets (2 weight (wt)% cholesterol, 1 wt% cholesterol + 6 wt% peanut oil, and 1 wt% cholesterol + 6 wt% com oil). Postmortem examination indicated that all rabbits developed atherosclerosis in the aorta. Except for one animal, magnetic resonance angiography showed no noticeable obstruction in the aorta. MRI was carried out in an attempt to image atherosclerotic plaque lipids directly, but no signal was detected in vivo. However, a plaque lipid signal was observed from excised tissue using a small diameter RF coil. 1H NMR spectroscopy of the atherosclerotic plaque from excised aortas indicated that the major fraction of plaque lipids in rabbits is not in a liquid state at physiological temperature and are only marginally MRI-visible compared to human plaque lipid. The differences in the MRI characteristics of rabbit and human plaque are due to differences in the fatty acid profile of the cholesteryl esters, chiefly a decrease of linoleic acid in rabbit lesions.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Magnetic resonance imaging of lipid deposits in human atheroma via a stimulated-echo diffusion-weighted technique.

NMR images of subintimal lipid deposits within the vessel walls of atherosclerotic human aortas were obtained at 37 and 27 degrees C at 4.7 T. A combination of a stimulated-echo and pulsed-field gradients was used for suppressing the mobile tissue water relative to the less mobile tissue lipids. At 27 degrees C there was also a substantial reduction of the subintimal lipid signal intensity, which is consistent with the characteristic phase transition of cholesteryl esters in human atheroma. These results represent the first direct detection of lipid deposits in nonprotruding atherosclerotic lesions with NMR imaging.

Aorta↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Analysis and comparison of motion-correction techniques in diffusion-weighted imaging.

Motion continues to be a significant problem in MRI, producing image artifacts that can severely degrade image quality. In diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), the problem is amplified by the presence of large gradient fields used to produce the diffusion weighting. Three correction methods applicable for correction of specific classes of motion are described and compared. The first is based on a generalised projection onto convex sets (GPOCS) postprocessing algorithm. The second technique uses the collection of navigator echoes to track phase errors. The third technique is based on a radial-scan data acquisition combined with a modified projection-reconstruction algorithm. Although each technique corrects well for translations, the radial-scan method proves to be more robust when more complex motions are present. A detailed description of the causes of MR data errors caused by rigid body motion is included as an appendix.

Algorithms↗