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Biomedical subjects

R Kasrai

Publications and source records attributed to R Kasrai.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Precision, accuracy, and range of perceived achromatic transparency.

How accurately do human observers perceive the properties of an achromatic transparent filter with both reflective and transmissive components? To address this question, a novel six-luminance stimulus was employed, consisting of three transparent layer luminances set against three background luminances, which satisfied the conventional constraints of perceptual transparency. In one experiment, subjects adjusted one of the three layer luminances to complete the impression of a uniform transparent disk. It was found that the luminance-based formulation of Metelli's episcotister model and a model based on ratios of Michelson contrasts best predicted the subjects' settings, which were both accurate and precise. In another experiment, pairs of stimuli selected from a range with various values of the adjustable layer luminance were presented in a series of forced-choice trials. A modified implementation of the pair comparisons method was employed to recover the distribution that describes each subject's preference pattern. Results showed that there exists a reasonably wide range of stimuli that give rise to at least some degree of perceived transparency.

Humans↗

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy guided brain tumor resection: differentiation between recurrent glioma and radiation change in two diagnostically difficult cases.

BACKGROUND: It is often difficult to differentiate a recurrent glioma from the effects of post-operative radiotherapy by means of conventional neurodiagnostic imaging. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI), that allows in vivo measurements of the concentration of brain metabolites such as choline-containing phospholipids (Cho), may provide in vivo biochemical information helpful in distinguishing areas of tumor recurrence from areas of radiation effect. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two patients who had undergone resection and post-operative radiotherapy for a cerebral glioma became newly symptomatic. Computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed after the intravenous infusion of contrast material, and in one case, [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET), could not differentiate between the possibilities of recurrent glioma and radiation effect. The patients underwent 1H-MRSI prior to reoperation and the 1H-MRSI results were compared to histological findings originating from the same locations. RESULTS: A high Cho signal measured by 1H-MRSI was seen in areas of histologically-proven dense tumor recurrence, while low Cho signal was present where radiation changes predominated. CONCLUSIONS: The differentiation between the recurrence of a cerebral glioma and the effects of post-operative irradiation was achieved using 1H-MRSI in these two patients whose conventional neurodiagnostic imaging was equivocal for such a distinction. Where these two conditions are present, metabolite images from 1H-MRSI, such as that based on Cho, can be co-registered with other imaging modalities such as MRI and may also be integrated with functional MRI or functional PET within a multimodal imaging-guided surgical navigation system to assure maximal resection of recurrent tumor while minimizing the risk of added neurological damage.

Adult↗

Automated atlas integration and interactive three-dimensional visualization tools for planning and guidance in functional neurosurgery.

Many critical functionally distinct subcortical structures are not distinguishable on anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. In order to provide the neurosurgeon with this missing information, a deformable volumetric atlas of the basal ganglia and thalamus has been created from the Schaltenbrand and Wahren atlas of cryogenic slices. The volumetric atlas can be automatically deformed to an individual patient's MRI. To facilitate the clinical use of the atlas, a visualization platform has been developed for preoperative and intraoperative use which permits manipulation of the merged atlas and MRI data sets in two- and three-dimensional views. The platform includes graphical tools which allow the visualization of projections of a leukotome and other surgical tools with respect to the atlas data, as well as preregistered images from any other imaging modality. In addition, a graphical interface has been designed to create custom virtual lesions using computer models of neurosurgical tools for intraoperative planning. To date this system has been employed as an adjunct to over 30 functional neurosurgical cases including surgery for movement disorders.

Algorithms↗

Turbine flow sensor for volume-flow rate verification in MR.

A turbine flow sensor for MR flow experiments has been evaluated using reference volume-flow rate measurements obtained using an electromagnetic (EM) flow meter measurements and simultaneous phase contrast (PC) MR acquisitions. After calibration, the device was found to have accuracy (compared with the EM flow meter), linearity, and precision of better than +/- 1%, +/- 3.5%, 3.5%, respectively, in constant flow mode (0 to 30 ml s-1). The frequency response of the flow sensor was flat (within +/- 10%) up to 13.9 Hz. Volume-flow rate measurements on constant and simulated physiologic flow waveforms were in close agreement with both the electromagnetic (EM) flow meter and the gated MR PC estimates.

Calibration↗