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At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

Nuclear magnetic resonance brain imaging in chronic schizophrenia.

Patients with chronic schizophrenia were examined by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Subgroups of the syndrome with high positive or high negative symptom scores and ventricular dilatation were compared with each other and with normal controls in respect of regional spin lattice relaxation time (T1) changes. Significant differences were not observed between the schizophrenic subgroups and controls but there were significant differences between the subgroups themselves. The presence of tardive dyskinesia was associated with increased T1 of the basal ganglia. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to findings using other techniques.

Adult↗

Functional brain imaging and neuropsychological testing in Lyme disease.

Differentiating neuropsychiatric Lyme disease from a primary psychiatric disorder can be a daunting task. This article describes how functional brain imaging and neuropsychological testing can be particularly valuable in helping to make diagnostic distinctions. In addition to a review of the relevance of functional imaging to neuropsychiatry in general, recent findings are presented regarding the use of single photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) imaging in Lyme disease.

Brain↗

Behind the scenes of functional brain imaging: a historical and physiological perspective.

At the forefront of cognitive neuroscience research in normal humans are the new techniques of functional brain imaging: positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The signal used by positron emission tomography is based on the fact that changes in the cellular activity of the brain of normal, awake humans and laboratory animals are accompanied almost invariably by changes in local blood flow. This robust, empirical relationship has fascinated scientists for well over a hundred years. Because the changes in blood flow are accompanied by lesser changes in oxygen consumption, local changes in brain oxygen content occur at the sites of activation and provide the basis for the signal used by magnetic resonance imaging. The biological basis for these signals is now an area of intense research stimulated by the interest in these tools for cognitive neuroscience research.

Animals↗

[Mechanisms of aphasia recovery and brain imaging].

Aphasia recovery may depend on right hemisphere or non-lesioned left hemisphere structures, pre-morbid brain language organization, and de novo learning of language. Here we review the brain imaging evidence supporting these different hypotheses. CT-scan studies have investigated the prognosis value of size and site of left hemisphere lesions. The size of the lesion is a global but not an individual predictor of the initial severity and subsequent recovery of aphasia. Studies on the site of the lesion have given different results for verbal expression and comprehension. There is no consensus on a single critical site for recovery of verbal expression in non-fluent aphasia, which may depend on sub-cortical more than cortical extend of the lesion. Conversely the extend of the lesion in the superior temporal gyrus emerges as a critical negative factor for comprehension recovery. Rest measurements of brain metabolism have consistently shown that aphasia severity depends much more on the degree of dysfunction of language-related areas in the left hemisphere than on the site of the lesion it-self. This suggests that aphasia recovery may depend on metabolic dysfunction recovery in peri-lesional structures. More recently, activation studies have shown consistent right hemisphere activation during language tasks in aphasic subjects, but their role in recovery remains debated. It is likely limited, and may depend on atypical pre-morbid language lateralization. Left hemisphere activations are also found in aphasic patients. They are often relocalized in peri-lesional areas, and emerge in most studies as the main factor of aphasia recovery.

Aphasia↗

Brain imaging and its implications for studying centrally targeted treatments in irritable bowel syndrome: a primer for gastroenterologists.

Research into brain-gut interactions, and the use of brain imaging, as potential investigative tools for functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, is a promising new area. Studies are beginning to identify the structure and function of regions of the brain and their relationships to pain perception, stress, and other psychosocial variables. These imaging modalities may also have diagnostic potential, and perhaps even therapeutic applications, particularly with regard to understanding the benefit of centrally targeted modalities such as antidepressants and psychological treatments.

Brain↗

Diagnostic accuracy of neonatal brain imaging: a postmortem correlation of computed tomography and ultrasound scans.

The aim of this study was to validate brain imaging techniques in the preterm infant. A homogeneous group of very immature (less than 32 week) neonates dying in the neonatal period were sequentially scanned with linear-array real-time ultrasound scans, and after death with compound B static sector ultrasound and high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans. All three imaging techniques were correlated with the autopsy results. All germinal matrix bleeds greater than 5mm in size and intraventricular hemorrhages associated with ventricular dilation or distortion were accurately diagnosed. In the immature infant it was difficult to distinguish the normal highly vascular germinal matrix and choroid plexus from hemorrhage into the brain or ventricles, respectively. Further studies that address the questions of accurate timing and incidence of bleeds must consider the spatial resolution of the individual scanner, the maturity of the brain, the site and size of the lesion, and the evolution of the lesion. For the diagnosis of major hemorrhagic lesions in the preterm infant, either ultrasound or CT scans may be used with confidence.

Brain↗

Brain imaging.

Imaging with radionuclides should be used in a complementary fashion with other neuroradiologic techniques. It is useful in the early detection and evaluation of intracranial neoplasm, cerebrovascular accident and abscess, and in postsurgical follow-up. Cisternography yields useful information about the functional status of cerebrospinal fluid pathways. Computerized axial tomography is a new technique of great promise that produces a cross-sectional image of the brain.

Adult↗

Detection of late epilepsy by the texture analysis of MR brain images in the lithium-pilocarpine rat model.

The aim of the study was to detect by texture analysis non easily visible anomalies of magnetic resonance (MR) images of piriform and entorhinal cortices relevant to the lithium-pilocarpine (Li-Pilo) model of temporal lobe epilepsy in rats. Status epilepticus was induced by Li-Pilo in twenty male rats 21 day-old. T(2)-weighted MR images of their brain, were obtained before injection of Li-Pilo and one day after status epilepticus. An hyperintense signal was found in the piriform and entorhinal cortices of six rats, which developed chronic epilepsy after a latent period of one to three months. Among the 14 other rats which displayed images similar to those obtained before injection, four remained healthy but 10 rats developed late epileptic symptoms, raising the problem of hidden cortical damage which may be too subtle to be detected by classic MRI examination. A numeric treatment of digital images was then undertaken by texture analysis, to derive image information from a purely computational point of view. The combined texture and discriminant analyses based on pixels pattern anomalies, selected 3 texture parameters derived from co-occurrence matrix which characterized structural abnormalities relevant to the hyperintense signal, not only in the modified images of 6 rats but also in images of 10 rats with apparently non modified images. These three texture's parameters allowed to classify the twenty rats of our experiment as follows: sixteen epileptic rats were effectively classified with cortical lesions, two non epileptic were correctly classified with healthy cortex, but two healthy rats were not correctly classified. This misclassification is discussed on the basis of the time dependence of the onset of seizure in the Li-Pilo model. These promising results suggest to apply this method to MRI examinations for an improvement of the early diagnostic of human epilepsy.

Animals↗

Rhesus monkey brain imaging through intact skull with thermoacoustic tomography.

Two-dimensional microwave-induced thermoacoustic tomography (TAT) is applied to imaging the Rhesus monkey brain through the intact skull. To reduce the wavefront distortion caused by the skull, only the low-frequency components of the thermoacoustic signals (< 1 MHz) are used to reconstruct the TAT images. The methods of signal processing and image reconstruction are validated by imaging a lamb kidney. The resolution of the system is found to be 4 mm when we image a 1-month-old monkey head containing inserted needles. We also image the coronal and axial sections of a 7-month-old monkey head. Brain features that are 3 cm deep in the head are imaged clearly. Our results demonstrate that TAT has potential for use in portable, cost-effective imagers for pediatric brains.

Acoustics↗

Image quality of spiral CT versus conventional CT in routine brain imaging.

OBJECTIVE: Aim of the study was to compare image quality of spiral (helical) versus conventional (sequential) routine brain scans obtained on a spiral CT scanner of the latest generation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study 60 patients scheduled for cranial CT were examined in spiral (27 cases) or conventional technique (33 cases) after randomization. Two blinded observers rated artifacts, gray--white-matter contrast and overall image quality. RESULTS: No significant differences in artifacts were detected. Concerning gray--white-matter contrast and overall image quality, none or small differences in favour of conventional scans were found depending on the observer. CONCLUSION: On a modern scanner image quality of spiral brain scans in adults is nowadays comparable to or only slightly less than that of conventional scans. On such a machine, spiral mode can be recommended if, for example, rapid scanning or high-quality secondary reconstructions are needed.

Artifacts↗

A joint physics-based statistical deformable model for multimodal brain image analysis.

A probabilistic deformable model for the representation of multiple brain structures is described. The statistically learned deformable model represents the relative location of different anatomical surfaces in brain magnetic resonance images (MRIs) and accommodates their significant variability across different individuals. The surfaces of each anatomical structure are parameterized by the amplitudes of the vibration modes of a deformable spherical mesh. For a given MRI in the training set, a vector containing the largest vibration modes describing the different deformable surfaces is created. This random vector is statistically constrained by retaining the most significant variation modes of its Karhunen-Loève expansion on the training population. By these means, the conjunction of surfaces are deformed according to the anatomical variability observed in the training set. Two applications of the joint probabilistic deformable model are presented: isolation of the brain from MRI using the probabilistic constraints embedded in the model and deformable model-based registration of three-dimensional multimodal (magnetic resonance/single photon emission computed tomography) brain images without removing nonbrain structures. The multi-object deformable model may be considered as a first step toward the development of a general purpose probabilistic anatomical atlas of the brain.

Anatomy, Cross-Sectional↗

18F-labeled RGD peptide: initial evaluation for imaging brain tumor angiogenesis.

Brain tumors are highly angiogenesis dependent. The cell adhesion receptor integrin alpha(v)beta(3) is overexpressed in glioma and activated endothelial cells and plays an important role in brain tumor growth, spread and angiogenesis. Suitably labeled alpha(v)beta(3)-integrin antagonists may therefore be useful for imaging brain tumor associated angiogenesis. Cyclic RGD peptide c(RGDyK) was labeled with (18)F via N-succinimidyl-4-[(18)F]fluorobenzoate through the side-chain epsilon-amino group of the lysine residue. The radiotracer was evaluated in vivo for its tumor targeting efficacy and pharmacokinetics in subcutaneously implanted U87MG and orthotopically implanted U251T glioblastoma nude mouse models by means of microPET, quantitative autoradiography and direct tissue sampling. The N-4-[(18)F]fluorobenzoyl-RGD ([(18)F]FB-RGD) was produced in less than 2 h with 20-25% decay-corrected yields and specific activity of 230 GBq/micromol at end of synthesis. The tracer showed very rapid blood clearance and both hepatobiliary and renal excretion. Tumor-to-muscle uptake ratio at 30 min was approximately 5 in the subcutaneous U87MG tumor model. MicroPET imaging with the orthotopic U251T brain tumor model revealed very high tumor-to-brain ratio, with virtually no uptake in the normal brain. Successful blocking of tumor uptake of [(18)F]FB-RGD in the presence of excess amount of c(RGDyK) revealed receptor specific activity accumulation. Hence, N-4-[(18)F]fluorobenzoyl labeled cyclic RGD peptide [(18)F]FB-RGD is a potential tracer for imaging alpha(v)beta(3)-integrin positive tumors in brain and other anatomic locations.

Animals↗

3D simulation of PET brain images using segmented MRI data and positron tomograph characteristics.

A 3D simulation procedure has been developed to generate simulated PET brain images from MRI data. MRI slices were segmented into gray matter, white matter, CSF structures, and assigned with radionuclide distributions. Projections through these regions were generated according to physical characteristics of a positron tomograph, including 3D sampling and resolution, attenuation, scatter, randoms, and counting statistics. The projection data were then reconstructed by filtered backprojection. The procedure was validated with a cold spot phantom. Simulated PET images for cerebral blood flow or metabolism are presented, along with a brief discussion of some applications and limitations.

Brain↗

Physical performance of a positron tomograph for brain imaging with retractable septa.

Performance characteristics of a new design of positron tomograph with automatically retractable septa for brain imaging have been studied. The device, consisting of block BGO detectors (8 x 8 elements per block), has a ring diameter of 76 cm and an axial FOV of 106.5 mm. The in-plane resolution is on average 5.8 mm and 5.0 mm (FWHM) for stationary and wobble sampling, respectively, over the central 18 cm of the transaxial FOV. Its unique feature is the capability of data acquisition both in the 'conventional' 2D mode (with septa) or 3D mode (septa retracted) where coincidences between any of the 16 detector rings are acquired. When scattered events are subtracted, the efficiency for a 20 cm diameter uniform cylinder increases overall by a factor of 4.8 between 2D (septa extended) and 3D modes. For a 20 cm phantom the trues/singles ratio is higher for 3D than for 2D but for a given unscattered trues rate, the randoms rate in 3D is higher. At 380 keV the scatter fraction within a 20 cm cylinder is 10% (septa extended) and 36% (retracted). In spite of the increase in scatter when septa are retracted, the increased efficiency in the 3D mode of acquisition yields distinct advantages, particularly in the many studies where tracer concentration is low and consequently where dead time and random rates are less important.

Brain↗

HIPDM single photon emission computed tomography brain imaging in partial onset secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

HIPDM-Single photon emission computed tomography brain imaging was performed during interictal and ictal stages in three patients with complex partial seizures and secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures. In all three patients, interictal studies demonstrated decreased regional cerebral perfusion (rCP) and ictal studies showed increased rCP in the epileptogenic region. The demonstration of focal hyperperfusion by SPECT performed during secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures suggests that rCP in the epileptic focus remains higher than in other cerebral regions during immediate postictal stages, even in secondarily generalized seizures.

Adolescent↗

Application of sensitivity-encoded echo-planar imaging for blood oxygen level-dependent functional brain imaging.

The benefits of sensitivity-encoded (SENSE) echo-planar imaging (EPI) for functional MRI (fMRI) based on blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) contrast were quantitatively investigated at 1.5 T. For experiments with 3.4 x 3.4 x 4.0 mm(3) resolution, SENSE allowed the single-shot EPI image acquisition duration to be shortened from 24.1 to 12.4 ms, resulting in a reduced sensitivity to geometric distortions and T(*)(2) blurring. Finger-tapping fMRI experiments, performed on eight normal volunteers, showed an overall 18% loss in t-score in the activated area, which was substantially smaller than expected based on the image signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and g-factor, but similar to the loss predicted by a model that takes physiologic noise into account.

Brain↗

Time course of pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic effects of physostigmine assessed by functional brain imaging in humans.

In imaging studies of brain functions using pharmacological probes, identification of the time point at which central effects of intravenously infused drugs become stable is crucial to separate the effects of experimental variables from the concomitant changes in drug effects over time. We evaluated the time courses of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, including butyrylcholinesterase inhibition and central neural responses, of physostigmine in healthy young subjects. Ten positron emission tomography (PET) scans that alternated between a rest condition (eyes open, ears unplugged) and a working memory for faces (WM) task were acquired in healthy subjects. Subjects in the drug group received a saline infusion for the first two scans, providing a baseline measure, then received an infusion of physostigmine for all subsequent scans. Subjects in the control group received a placebo infusion of saline for all scans. Physostigmine plasma levels and percent butyrylcholinesterase inhibition increased over time (p < 0. 0001), and both became stable by 40 min. Physostigmine decreased reaction time (RT) (p = 0.0005), and this effect was detected after 20 min of infusion and stable thereafter. Physostigmine also decreased regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in right prefrontal cortex during task (p = 0.0002), and this effect was detected after 40 min of infusion and stable thereafter. No change in RT or rCBF was observed in the control group. These results indicate that a 40-min infusion of physostigmine was necessary to obtain stable central effects. More generally, we have demonstrated that experimental effects can vary with time, especially during the initial phases of a drug infusion, indicating that it is critical that these changes are controlled.

Adult↗

Brain imaging in the search for biological markers in affective disorder.

Positron emission tomography with 18fluorodeoxyglucose provides the possibility of obtaining detailed noninvasive images of the brain's metabolic rate in patients with affective disorder. The close correspondence between brain work and metabolic rate allows the researcher to assess brain functional activity and its changes with drug treatment or even sleep. Initial studies have revealed that the metabolic rate in frontal cortex relative to parietal and occipital cortex is lower in patients with bipolar affective disorder than in normal controls. A small sample of unipolar patients showed a relatively higher frontal cortex metabolic rate than normal controls. Bipolar patients also showed metabolic rates in the basal ganglia relative to whole slice metabolism to be low in comparison to normal controls. Antidepressant drugs appeared to have their greatest effects in the frontal lobes.

Antidepressive Agents↗