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Biomedical subjects

Susumu Mori

Publications and source records attributed to Susumu Mori.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Fiber-tracking method reveals sensorimotor pathway involvement in stroke patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We tested the feasibility of a new MRI technique that provides visualization of the sensorimotor tracts in vivo in a group of stroke victims. SUMMARY OF REPORT: Fourteen patients with small infarctions involving the white matter of the supratentorial brain were evaluated. Sensorimotor tracts on the lesional and contralesional sides were successfully depicted in all cases. The position of the sensorimotor tracts relative to the infarct was in good agreement with clinical symptoms. The overall sensitivity and specificity for sensorimotor tract involvement were 100% and 77%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our proposed fiber-tracking method was shown to be a clinically feasible technique that correlates well with clinical symptoms.

Aged↗

Mechanism of magnetization transfer during on-resonance water saturation. A new approach to detect mobile proteins, peptides, and lipids.

The mechanism of magnetization transfer (MT) between water and components of the proton spectrum was studied ex vivo in a perfused cell system and in vivo in the rat brain (n = 5). Water was selectively labeled and spectral buildup consequential to transfer of longitudinal magnetization was followed as a function of time. At short mixing time (T(m)), nitrogen-bound solvent-exchangeable protons were observed, predominantly assigned to amide groups of proteins and peptides. At longer T(m), intramolecular nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) was observed in the aliphatic proton region, leading to a mobile-macromolecule-weighted spectrum that resembles typical protein spectra described in the literature. This effect on the proton spectrum is distinct from that of classical off-resonance MT, which has been shown to be due to the immobile solid-like proton pool. When studying a solution of major brain metabolites under physiological concentrations and conditions (pH), no transfer effects were observed, in line with expectations based on reduced NOE effects in rapidly tumbling molecules and the fast proton exchange rates of amino, amine, SH, and OH groups. The spectral intensities of the amide protons may serve as indicators for pH and cellular levels of mobile proteins and peptides, while the aliphatic components are representative of several types of mobile macromolecules, including proteins, peptides, and lipids.

Animals↗

Spatial normalization of diffusion tensor fields.

A method for the spatial normalization and reorientation of diffusion tensor (DT) fields is presented. Spatial normalization of tensor fields requires an appropriate reorientation of the tensor on each voxel, in addition to its relocation into the standardized space. This appropriate tensor reorientation is determined from the spatial normalization transformation and from an estimate of the underlying fiber direction. The latter is obtained by treating the principal eigenvectors of the tensor field around each voxel as random samples drawn from the probability distribution that represents the direction of the underlying fiber. This approach was applied to DT images from nine normal volunteers, and the results show a significant improvement in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) after spatial normalization and averaging of tensor fields across individuals. The statistics of the spatially normalized tensor field, which represents the tensor characteristics of normal individuals, may be useful for quantitatively characterizing individual variations of white matter structures revealed by DT imaging (DTI) and deviations caused by pathology. Simulated experiments using this methodology are also described.

Algorithms↗

Brain fiber tracking with clinically feasible diffusion-tensor MR imaging: initial experience.

Two technical challenges must be overcome before brain fiber tracking with diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can be applied to clinical practice: Imaging time must be shortened, and image distortion must be minimized. Single-shot echo-planar MR imaging with parallel imaging technique enabled both objectives to be accomplished. Twenty-three consecutive patients with brain tumors underwent MR imaging with a 1.5-T whole-body MR system. Fiber tracts on the lesion side in the brain had varying degrees of displacement or disruption as a result of the tumor. Tract disruption resulted from direct tumor involvement, compression on the tract, and vasogenic edema surrounding the tumor. This diffusion-tensor MR imaging method with the parallel imaging technique allows clinically feasible brain fiber tracking.

Adolescent↗

Brain white matter anatomy of tumor patients evaluated with diffusion tensor imaging.

We applied multislice, whole-brain diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to two patients with anaplastic astrocytoma. Data were analyzed using DTI-based, color-coded images and a 3-D tract reconstruction technique for the study of altered white matter anatomy. Each tumor was near two major white matter tracts, namely, the superior longitudinal fasciculus and the corona radiata. Those tracts were identified using the color-coded maps, and spatial relationships with the tumors were characterized. In one patient the tumor displaced adjacent white matter tracts, whereas in the other it infiltrated the superior longitudinal fasciclus without displacement of white matter. DTI provides new information regarding the detailed relationship between tumor growth and nearby white matter tracts, which may be useful for preoperative planning.

Adult↗

Imaging cortical association tracts in the human brain using diffusion-tensor-based axonal tracking.

Diffusion-tensor fiber tracking was used to identify the cores of several long-association fibers, including the anterior (ATR) and posterior (PTR) thalamic radiations, and the uncinate (UNC), superior longitudinal (SLF), inferior longitudinal (ILF), and inferior fronto-occipital (IFO) fasciculi. Tracking results were compared to existing anatomical knowledge, and showed good qualitative agreement. Guidelines were developed to reproducibly track these fibers in vivo. The interindividual variability of these reconstructions was assessed in a common spatial reference frame (Talairach space) using probabilistic mapping. As a first illustration of this technical capability, a reduction in brain connectivity in a patient with a childhood neurodegenerative disease (X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy) was demonstrated.

Adrenoleukodystrophy↗

Origin and minimization of residual motion-related artifacts in navigator-corrected segmented diffusion-weighted EPI of the human brain.

Motion sensitivity in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can be effectively suppressed using single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI). However, segmented (multishot) EPI is often used to increase resolution and reduce spatial distortions, which in turn increases susceptibility to brain motion. The sources of these residual motion artifacts in navigator-echo-corrected segmented EPI images of the brain were investigated. The results indicate that the dominant source of these artifacts is cardiac pulsation with occasional involuntary movement of the subject. The relationship between the cardiac cycle and motion artifacts shows that optimum timing for the data acquisition is possible. In addition it is shown that the effects of involuntary motion can be removed by swapping k-space data between redundant datasets.

Artifacts↗

High-resolution isotropic 3D diffusion tensor imaging of the human brain.

High-resolution cardiac-gated 3D diffusion tensor imaging (3D-DTI) is demonstrated in vivo for several areas of the human brain. Anatomical mapping of subcortical white matter (WM), as well as definition and identification of major WM bundles from the brainstem were performed in humans for the first time using this technique. Improved intrinsic signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and relatively reduced sensitivity to physiological motion (e.g., brain pulsations) with respect to cardiac-gated multislice acquisition are demonstrated. The advantages and weaknesses of this approach are discussed.

Brain↗

Three-dimensional diffusion tensor magnetic resonance microimaging of adult mouse brain and hippocampus.

The use of diffusion tensor information as an additional contrast in MR microimaging was investigated in ex vivo mouse brain and isolated hippocampus. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) provided unique contrast to identify many internal structures of the gray matter such as hippocampus, thalamus, and cortex. In hippocampus, stratum granulosum and stratum pyramidale could be identified using the isotropic water diffusion constant. Stratum moleculare and stratum radiatum were identified from their characteristic fiber architecture revealed by color-coded DTI. Identification of these structures allowed reconstruction of their 3-D volume. Thus, high-resolution DTI has excellent potential as a tool for 3-D characterization of murine brains.

Animals↗

A framework for callosal fiber distribution analysis.

This paper presents a framework for analyzing the spatial distribution of neural fibers in the brain, with emphasis on interhemispheric fiber bundles crossing through the corpus callosum. The proposed approach combines methodologies for fiber tracking and spatial normalization and is applied on diffusion tensor images and standard magnetic resonance images.

Adult↗

Diffusion tensor brain imaging and tractography.

Diffusion-tensor MR imaging is a promising tool to evaluate white-matter integrity by quantitative and graphic maps including neural fiber tractogram. Current challenges afoot are to obtain higher quality diffusion-weighted MR images (high SNR, isotropic voxel, and high spatial resolution), to create a robust mathematical framework to process the data, to construct a user-friendly computer-based algorithm, to reveal determinants of diffusion process, and to establish analytical methodology.

Adrenoleukodystrophy↗

Holoprosencephaly in children: diffusion tensor MR imaging of white matter tracts of the brainstem--initial experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the dimensions of specific white matter tracts in the brainstems (region of brain thought to be least affected) of children with holoprosencephaly by using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and to correlate these abnormalities with forebrain malformation severity and neurologic deficit severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients with holoprosencephaly underwent diffusion tensor MR imaging, with which white matter color maps were generated. Type of holoprosencephaly was correlated with presence or absence of specific brainstem white matter tracts. Furthermore, patient rank based on cortico-ponto-spinal tract (CPST) and middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) dimensions was correlated with holoprosencephaly type and neurodevelopmental score by using Spearman rank correlation analysis. RESULTS: Two patients had alobar holoprosencephaly, five had the semilobar type, one had the lobar type, and one had the middle-hemisphere-variant type. Four patients were excluded from analysis. In the two patients with alobar holoprosencephaly, the CPSTs were absent bilaterally. In all of the remaining patients except one, who had semilobar holoprosencephaly in which the CPSTs could not be identified at the level of the medulla oblongata, all tracts were present bilaterally. Holoprosencephaly type and neurodevelopmental score correlated strongly with CPST and MCP dimensions (P <.01) over and above the effect of age. CONCLUSION: In vivo identification of brainstem white matter tract abnormalities in patients with holoprosencephaly can be achieved by performing diffusion tensor MR imaging.

Brain Mapping↗

Proton MR spectroscopic and diffusion tensor brain MR imaging in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy: initial experience.

PURPOSE: To compare conventional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, proton MR spectroscopic imaging, and diffusion tensor (DT) MR imaging findings in patients with X chromosome-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multisection proton MR spectroscopy and DT imaging were performed in 11 patients with X-ALD and in 11 healthy control subjects. Quantitative measures of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline, and creatine values and of isotropic apparent diffusion coefficient (IADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were obtained from coregistered regions of interest. DT imaging and metabolic parameters were compared by using regression analysis. In addition, differences in DT imaging and metabolite measurements between normal- and abnormal-appearing white matter on conventional MR images were evaluated by using a nonparametric (Mann-Whitney) test. RESULTS: A strong logarithmic relationship between NAA value and FA (r = 0.64, P <.001) and an inverse logarithmic relationship were found between NAA value and IADC (r = -0.69, P <.001). Creatine and choline values correlated poorly with IADC and FA. In the normal-appearing white matter of asymptomatic patients, the NAA value was 17% lower than that in the healthy control subjects (P =.016), whereas no significant difference in DT imaging measures was seen in these regions. CONCLUSION: In patients with X-ALD, MR spectroscopic imaging can depict abnormalities in white matter that have a normal appearance on both conventional MR and DT images; this finding suggests that it may be the most sensitive technique for detecting early abnormalities of demyelination or axonal loss in patients with X-ALD.

Adolescent↗

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase impairs early and long-term experimental stroke recovery.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1; Enzyme Commission 2.4.30) is a nuclear DNA repair enzyme that mediates early neuronal ischemic injury. Using novel 3-dimensional, fast spin-echo-based diffusion-weighted imaging, we compared acute (21 hours) and long-term (3 days) ischemic volume after middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in PARP-1-null mutants (PARP-/-) versus genetically matched wild-type mice (WT mice). PARP-/- mice were also treated with viral transfection of wild-type PARP-1 to determine whether protection from MCA occlusion is lost with restoration of the gene product. METHODS: Halothane-anesthetized mice were treated with reversible MCA occlusion via intraluminal suture technique. Ischemic volumes were delineated by diffusion-weighted imaging with high spatial and temporal resolution during MCA occlusion and reperfusion. Recombinant Sindbis virus carrying beta-galactosidase (lacZ) or PARP-1 was injected into ipsilateral striatum, then animals underwent MCA occlusion 3 days later. Infarction volume was measured at 22 hours of reperfusion (2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride histology). RESULTS: Reduction in regional water apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) during occlusion or secondary ADC decline during reperfusion was not different between groups. Ischemic volume was smaller early in occlusion in PARP-/- versus WT mice and remained less at 21 hours of reperfusion. Ischemic volume then increased from 1 to 2 days in all mice, then stabilized without further change. Ischemic damage was smaller in PARP-/- than in WT mice at 3 days. Transfection of PARP-1 into PARP-/- mice increased stroke damage relative to lacZ-injected PARP-/- and increased damage to that of the WT mice. Intraischemic laser-Doppler flowmetry and physiological variables were not different among groups. CONCLUSIONS: PARP-1 deficiency provides both early and prolonged protection from experimental focal stroke. The mechanism is not linked to preservation of ADC and mitigation of secondary energy depletion during early reperfusion.

Animals↗

Fiber tracking: principles and strategies - a technical review.

The state of the art of reconstruction of the axonal tracts in the central nervous system (CNS) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is reviewed. This relatively new technique has generated much enthusiasm and high expectations because it presently is the only approach available to non-invasively study the three-dimensional architecture of white matter tracts. While there is no doubt that DTI fiber tracking is providing exciting new opportunities to study CNS anatomy, it is very important to understand its limitations. In this review we therefore assess the basic principles and the assumptions that need to be made for each step of the study, including both data acquisition and the elaborate fiber reconstruction algorithms. Special attention is paid to situations where complications may arise, and possible solutions are reviewed. Validation issues and potential future directions and improvements are also discussed.

Animals↗