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T Greitz

Publications and source records attributed to T Greitz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The role of anatomic information in quantifying functional neuroimaging data.

When using modern neuroimaging tools, such as CT, PET, SPECT, MRI and MEG, in brain research and brain diagnostics, there is a common need for including external anatomical information into the interpretation and analysis of data. This information may be used to aid the interpretation of structures in images from low resolution imaging tools. With high resolution tools it can help to identify resolved structures. It can also facilitate the merging of data from different modalities, or from different individuals. The anatomical information is often given as regions of interests (ROIs), which may be manually created from an anatomy rich image or automatically created from a standard template collection or from an atlas data base. Automatic methods will lead to a substantial reduction in bias and in size of the systematic errors. Functional ROIs can correspondingly be derived from functional images (usually PET or SPECT). Different aspects of these processes are discussed in the report.

Brain

Specification and selection of regions of interest (ROIs) in a computerized brain atlas.

The computerized individually adjustable brain atlas (CBA) has been further developed. The atlas was primarily designed for anatomical localization and quantitative evaluation of data in positron emission tomography (PET), but may also be employed for other neuroimaging modalities, such as transmission computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The atlas is based on anatomical information obtained from digitized cryosectioned brains. Using spatially standardized and then averaged MRI images, we demonstrate the high localization accuracy and precision of the brain atlas. This is a prerequisite for obtaining accuracy when using the atlas in the localization and the quantitative evaluation of PET data. The specification and the selection of region of interests (ROIs) by the CBA are presented and discussed.

Brain

Accuracy and precision of the computerized brain atlas programme for localization and quantification in positron emission tomography.

The computerized brain atlas programme (CBA) provides a powerful tool for the anatomical analysis of functional images obtained with positron emission tomography (PET). With a repertoire of simple transformations, the data base of the CBA is first adapted to the anatomy of the subject's brain represented as a set of magnetic resonance (MR) or computed tomography (CT) images. After this, it is possible to spatially standardize (reformat) any set of tomographic images related to the subject, PET images, as well as CT and MR images, by applying the inverse atlas transformations. From these reformatted images, statistical images, such as average images and associated error images corresponding to different groups of subjects, may be produced. In all these images, anatomical structures can be localized using the atlas data base and the functional values can be evaluated quantitatively. The purpose of this study was to determine the spatial and quantitative accuracy and precision of the calculated regional mean values. Therefore, the CBA was applied to regional CBF (rCBF) measurements with [11C]fluoromethane and PET on 26 healthy male volunteers during rest and during three different physiological stimulation tasks. First, the spatial accuracy and precision of the reformation process were determined by measuring the spread of defined anatomical structures in the reformatted MR images of the subjects. Second, the mean global CBF and the mean rCBF in the average PET images were compared with the global CBF and rCBF in the original PET images. Our results demonstrate that the reformation process accurately transformed the individual brains of the subjects into the standard brain anatomy of the CBA. The precision of the reformation process had an SD of approximately 1 mm for the lateral dislocation of midline structures and approximately 2-3 mm for the dislocation of the inner and outer brain surfaces. The quantitative rCBF values of the original PET images were accurately represented in the reformatted PET images. Moreover, this study shows that the application of the CBA improves the analysis of functional PET images: (a) The average PET images had a low background noise [0.4 ml/100 g/min +/- 0.7 (SD)] compared to the mean rCBF changes specifically induced by physiological stimulation. (b) The reformatted PET images had a voxel volume of 10.9 mm3. Owing to this high sampling resolution, it was possible to differentiate the mean rCBF changes in adjacent activated fields such as the left motor hand area from the sensory hand area and the left premotor cortex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult

Motor learning in man: a positron emission tomographic study.

We measured regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) with positron emission tomography to study changes in anatomical structures during the course of learning a complicated finger sequence of voluntary movements. Motor learning was accompanied by rCBF increases in the cerebellum, decreases in all limbic and paralimbic structures, and striatal decreases which changed to striatal increases as the motor skill was learned. Simultaneously, activations of initially contributing non-motor parts of the cerebral cortex vanished. Both cerebellar circuits and striatal circuits appear important for the storage of motor skills in the brain.

Adult

Effects of sulpiride and chlorpromazine on regional cerebral glucose metabolism in schizophrenic patients as determined by positron emission tomography.

Positron emission tomography (PET) was used to determine regional brain glucose metabolism in schizophrenic patients (n = 17) before and during neuroleptic treatment. The patients had not been treated with neuroleptics for at least 3 weeks before the first study. All suffered from acute psychotic symptoms and were hospitalized to obtain neuroleptic treatment. After determination of regional brain metabolism without neuroleptic treatment, 11 patients were treated with sulpiride (800 mg/day) and 6 patients were treated with chlorpromazine (400 mg/day) over 5-6 weeks before the second PET investigation. The control group consisted of seven healthy male volunteers, also investigated twice 5 weeks apart. The PET investigation was made with the subject in a resting state. The tracer was uniformly labelled 11C-glucose. The metabolism was determined bilaterally in 15 brain regions cortical, as well as central regions. Metabolic rates differed among the groups. The sulpiride group had lower metabolic rates than the controls and the schizophrenic patients later treated with chlorpromazine. The sulpiride group, in which absolute metabolic rates were determined, were clinically more autistic and chronic than the chlorpromazine group. It was proposed that these facts could explain the lower metabolic rates in the sulpiride group. A significant change in metabolism in relation to drug treatment was only found in one brain region. The selective D2-receptor antagonist sulpiride increased the metabolic rate in the right lentiform nucleus in comparison with the patients treated with chlorpromazine and the controls. Likewise, relative metabolic rates were increased only in the right lentiform nucleus. Negative correlations between intensity of clinical symptoms and metabolism indicated that emotional tone and drive were related to brain metabolism. No correlations were found between drug concentrations and metabolism or clinical symptoms.

Adult

A computerized adjustable brain atlas.

A computerized brain atlas, adjustable to the patients anatomy, has been developed. It is primarily intended for use in positron emission tomography, but may also be employed in other fields utilizing neuro imaging, such as stereotactic surgery, transmission computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The atlas is based on anatomical information obtained from a digitized cryosectioned brain. It can be adjusted to fit a wide range of images from individual brains with normal anatomy. The corresponding transformation is chosen so that the modified atlas agrees with a set of CT or NMR images of the patient. The computerized atlas can be used to improve the quantification and evaluation of PET data by: Aiding and improving the selection of regions of interests. Facilitating comparisons of functional image data from different individuals or groups of individuals. Facilitating the comparison of different examinations of the same patient, thus reducing the need of reproducible fixation systems. Providing external a priori anatomical information to be used in the image reconstruction. Improving the attenuation and scatter corrections. Aiding in selecting a suitable patient orientation during the PET study. By applying the inverse atlas transformation to PET data set it is possible to relate the PET information to the anatomy of the reference atlas. Thus reformatted PET data from different patients can be averaged, and averages from different categories of patients can be compared. This procedure will facilitate the identification of statistically significant differences in the PET information from different groups of patients.

Brain

PET determination of regional cerebral glucose metabolism in alcohol-dependent men and healthy controls using 11C-glucose.

Regional brain glucose metabolism was determined in 9 male alcohol-dependent inpatients and 12 male healthy controls. All the patients were socially impaired by the alcohol abuse. All the subjects had abstained from alcohol and drugs for more than four weeks before entering the study. Brain glucose metabolism was determined by positron emission tomography (PET) with 11C-glucose as the tracer. Regions of interest were drawn on displayed computed tomographic (CT) images of the brain. Regions were transferred to corresponding PET slices, allowing the determination of regional glucose metabolism. In the healthy volunteers there was a reduction in glucose metabolism with age. In 11 of the 19 brain regions examined, the alcoholics had a 20% to 30% lower glucose metabolism than the controls. This was true for both cortical and subcortical structures. The distribution of relative regional metabolic rates indicated that parietal cortical areas were most affected. Atrophic changes as shown by CT were not correlated to the reduced metabolism in the alcohol-dependent patients.

Adult

An adaptor to the Leksell stereotaxic instrument for digital coordinate determination in radiography.

Special perspex adaptors with radiopaque reference structures have been constructed to fit to the Leksell stereotaxic instrument. These structures are visualized on X-ray film in a radiographic examination like angiography or encephalography. The films obtained in two projections at arbitrary angles and focus-film-distances are placed on a digitizing table for the determination of the stereotaxic coordinates of selected targets. The reference structures and the targets are marked with a cursor whereupon a desk top computer performs the calculation of the stereotaxic coordinates. The system allows a rapid, simple and accurate coordinate determination in stereotaxic radiography using the Leksell stereotaxic instrument.

Cerebral Angiography

Regional brain glucose metabolism in drug free schizophrenic patients and clinical correlates.

Regional brain glucose metabolism was investigated in healthy volunteers (n = 10) and in drug free schizophrenic patients (n = 20). The metabolism was determined by positron emission tomography (PET) with 11C-glucose as the tracer. Diagnosis of schizophrenia was made according to RDC and DSM III. Eight patients had their first psychotic episode, four patients had a subchronic course and eight patients had a chronic course with an exacerbation of their illness. Computed tomography (CT) of the brain were made in all the subjects. Regions of interest (n = 35) were drawn on displayed CT images and the marked regions were transferred to the corresponding slice of the PET examination. The PET investigation was made in a dimly lit, quiet room with the eyes of the subject covered. The time course of the 11C-glucose uptake was measured by a four ring PET scanner (PC-384-7B). Metabolic rates of glucose varied greatly among the schizophrenic patients investigated. The variance was significantly greater than that of the controls in most regions. Decreases in mean levels of metabolic rates were related to patients with subchronic or chronic courses. Changes in metabolism were not related to previous duration of neuroleptic treatment of the patients. Left-right asymmetries were found in the temporal lobe (area 22) and the basal frontal cortex (area 11), the metabolic rates of the patients being lower on the left side compared to the controls. Asymmetry of the metabolic rate of the amygdala in hebephrenic patients was the opposite of that found in paranoid patients and controls. Negative correlations between regional metabolic rates and autistic or negative symptoms were found. Thus, the lower the metabolic rate was, the more autistic the patient. Metabolic rates were not correlated to atrophic changes of the brain. No basis for a specific alteration in frontal cortical metabolism of schizophrenics was obtained. Changes in regional metabolic rates in schizophrenia are suggested to reflect disturbances in more general mechanisms which are of importance in neuronal function.

Adult

Altered relationships between metabolic rates of glucose in brain regions of schizophrenic patients.

Regional brain glucose metabolism was studied with positron emission tomography (PET) in healthy volunteers (n = 9) and schizophrenic patients (n = 15). The patients were in an acute phase of the disease and drug free. Cerebral metabolic rate with 11C-glucose as the tracer (CMRgl) was determined in both cortical and subcortical structures. In the healthy volunteers significant correlations were found between metabolic rates of some regions, but no relationships were found between CMRgl of limbic cortical areas and that of neocortical or subcortical structures. In the patients, high and significant positive correlations were found between metabolic rates in the neocortical areas, the limbic cortical areas and the subcortical areas. The results indicate differences in the neuronal interplay between regions of healthy and schizophrenic subjects. It is proposed that neuronal systems guiding the specificity and diversity in neuronal functions between different brain regions, are abnormal in schizophrenic patients. Such a disturbance may be the basis for the diversity of psychiatric symptoms in schizophrenics.

Adult

A method of stereotaxic localization adopted for conventional and digital radiography.

A method for the determination of stereotaxic coordinates in radiography, e.g. angiography, pneumoencephalography or digital vascular radiography, is described. A special localization frame containing radiopaque structures and scales defines a diagnostic coordinate system. This frame is fixed to the X-ray-table prior to the radiographic procedure and two projections are obtained at arbitrary angles to each other. The focus-film distances do not how to be fixed. The target coordinates are then determined either by a simple graphical procedure or with the use of a digitizing x-y-table, by a computer. With the computer method the films are placed on the digitizing table and the target and a few reference points are marked using a cursor. From the relative positions the computer calculates the coordinates. With the special head fixation system, coordinates of structures visualized in radiographic examinations can be transferred to various therapeutic or diagnostic stereotaxic devices.

Angiography

Regional cerebral glucose metabolism in anxiety disorders studied with positron emission tomography before and after psychosurgical intervention. A preliminary report.

Regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (rCMRGl) was studied with positron emission tomography in patients suffering from severe anxiety disorders undergoing capsulotomy, an anti-anxiety psychosurgical intervention in which fronto-limbic connections are interrupted. Preliminary observations on five patients show a statistically significant reduction in rCMRGl postoperatively in the orbitomedial frontal cortex, a region knonw to be of relevance for the capsulotomy effects. Clinically, 4 of 5 patients improved after surgery. The study may provide new information on the pathophysiology of anxiety.

Adult

Applications of a computerized adjustable brain atlas in positron emission tomography.

A computerized brain atlas, adjustable to the patient's anatomy, has been developed. It is primarily intended for use in positron emission tomography (PET), but may also be employed in other fields utilizing neuro-imaging, such as stereotactic surgery. The atlas is based on anatomic information obtained from digitized cryosectioned cadaver brains. It can be adjusted to fit a wide range of individual brains with reasonable accuracy. The corresponding transformation is chosen so that the modified atlas agrees with a set of CT or MR images of the patient. The computerized atlas can be used to facilitate and improve the quantification and evaluation of PET data by: enabling the merging and comparison of results from different individuals or groups of individuals; serving as a vehicle in the comparison of different examinations of the same patient, thus reducing the need of reproducible fixation systems; supplying external information to be used in the image reconstruction, such as proper three-dimensional regions of interest; improving the attenuation and scatter corrections; helping to select suitable patient orientation during the PET study. By applying the inverse atlas transformation to the PET data volume it is possible to relate the PET information to the anatomy of the reference atlas. Reformatted PET data from different patients can thus be averaged, and averages from different categories of patients can be compared. The method will facilitate the identification of statistically significant differences in the PET information from different groups of patients.

Brain

Method for quantification of low flow velocities by magnetic resonance phase imaging.

The aim of this study was to compare the influence of flow in the velocity range 0 to 25 mm/s on modulus, phase, real and imaginary images obtained with a standard magnetic resonance scanner (Siemens Magnetom, 0.5 T), and to develop a simple method for determination of flow velocities in vivo from this information. Using a flow phantom, the flow dependent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal has been studied as a function of flow perpendicular to the image slice with non-doped water (simulating moving cerebrospinal fluid) as well as with water doped with Mn2+ (simulating moving blood) for each of the four mentioned image types. The results show a marked flow dependence on all types of images studied. The variation of the signal with flow in the modulus images is relaxation-time dependent in the studied velocity range and it is non-monotone for non-doped water. In the phase images, however, the variations are monotone and not dependent on relaxation times. In modulus images the curve shape is relatively independent on flow direction, while phase images are clearly dependent on flow direction in the studied velocity range. The signal versus velocity curves for the real and imaginary images show resemblance to those for the modulus and the phase images, respectively. It is concluded that the phase information can be used to generate a signal versus velocity calibration curve, which can be used to quantify low flow velocities in vivo.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

11C-2-deoxy-D-glucose: synthesis and preliminary comparison with 11C-D-glucose as a tracer for cerebral energy metabolism in PET studies.

11C-2-Deoxy-D-glucose has been prepared by the reaction of 11C-hydrogen cyanide with a stable precursor, 1-deoxy-2,3:4,5-di-O-isopropylidine-1-iodo-D-arabitol, thereby avoiding the synthesis of starting material immediately prior to labeling. Fast, efficient, and reproducible solvent change from dimethyl sulfoxide to ether by flash chromatography enabled the use of diisobutylaluminium hydride in the reduction of the intermediate nitrile. Hydrolysis of the imine-aluminum complex with sulfuric acid, removal of the isopropylidine protecting groups with formic acid, and HPLC purification with an Aminex HPX-87P column yielded 11C-2-deoxy-D-glucose in an aqueous solution, sterile, pyrogen-free, and ready for use in human studies. The radiochemical yield was approximately 20% after a synthesis time of 50 min. The 11C-2-deoxy-D-glucose thus obtained is presently being compared with photosynthetically prepared 11C-D-glucose in PET studies of cerebral metabolism. A preliminary report of the regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose obtained with the two tracers in a healthy subject with visual stimulation is presented.

Brain

Preparation of 11C-labelled Raclopride, a new potent dopamine receptor antagonist: preliminary PET studies of cerebral dopamine receptors in the monkey.

A new dopamine receptor antagonist, Raclopride (S-(-)-3,5-dichloro-N-[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)]methyl-2-hydroxy- 6-methoxybenzamide, FLA 870) (1), has been labelled using [11C]ethyl iodide for alkylation of the nitrogen of the pyrrolidine ring in the corresponding secondary amine (5). The synthesis of 5 and an efficient method for the preparation of [11C]ethyl iodide are described. The 11C-labelled FLA 870 (1) was purified by HPLC and then used in positron emission tomography to visualize the dopamine receptor-rich areas of the monkey brain. The images obtained show selective accumulation of FLA 870 in striatum and a 10-fold separation between the binding to caudate vs cerebellum.

Animals