大鼠急性缺血心肌31P磁共振波谱的基础研究

利用³¹P磁共振波谱（MRS）检测了急性缺血心肌组织提取物中高能磷酸化合物的变化. 方法：成年SD大鼠在心肌梗塞后0、5、 20、45 min后进行取材,梗塞区、边缘区及正常区的心肌组织经高氯酸萃取后进行高分辨MRS检测. 结果：梗塞区,缺血5 min PCr/Pi比值下降到对照组的12 ％;20 min ATP/Pi 比值下降至0.05,Pi/EPP比值上升至0.8;45 min 梗塞区PDE/ATP上升至1.93,与45 min心肌的不可逆损伤超微结构相吻合. 边缘区各代谢产物出现改变的程度要小于梗塞区,大于正常区. 正常区也有能量代谢的改变. 结论：心肌组织的³¹P MRS能够反映心肌缺血后心肌不同部位的动态能量代谢改变. PDE/ATP是判断心肌不可拟性损伤的可靠指标.     

Relayed magnetization transfer from nuclear Overhauser effect and chemical exchange observed by in vivo ³¹P MRS in rat brain

The ³¹P magnetization transfer effects among nuclear magnetic resonances (NMRs) of phosphocreatine (PCr), γ-adenosine-5'-triphosphate (γ-ATP) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) have been attributed to the chemical exchange reactions among PCr, ATP and Pi catalyzed by creatine kinase (CK) and ATPase enzymes and, therefore, are commonly applied in situ to measure chemical exchange fluxes involving two chemically coupled CK and ATPase reactions (i.e., PCr↔ATP↔Pi) by selectively saturating γ-ATP resonance. Besides the expected reductions in the Pi and PCr NMR signals upon saturating γ-ATP resonance, one particularly interesting phenomenon showing decreases in α-ATP and β-ATP signals was also observed. The underlying mechanism was investigated and identified via saturating NMR of β-ATP in the present study. The unique relayed magnetization transfer effects through spin diffusion were observed in the rat brain using in vivo ³¹P magnetic resonance spectroscopy.     

急性低氧大鼠脑31P核磁共振波谱研究

³¹P磁共振波谱是目前唯一可以用作在体无损伤的检测细胞水平能量代谢变化的非侵入性技术,可测得脑内多种能量代谢产物.目的：急性低氧大鼠脑组织的³¹P MRS检测.方法：(1)20只成年SD大鼠分为4组：低氧0min(对照),5min,10min,15min后,迅速液氮冷冻;(2)将脑组织研碎后,加入高氯酸(PCA),冷冻干燥;(3)将提取物用0.5mL D\-2O溶解后进行MRS检测.结果：(1)急性低氧早期即引起³¹P MRS中PCr和ATP峰降低,ADP和Pi峰增高,PCr/Pi和ATP/Pi降低,而ADP/ATP增高.可交换磷池(EPP)中PCr的正常值为42.4%,低氧5min后降到28.9%, ATP从33.8%降到19.2%,Pi从17.7%升到42.0%.(2)急性低氧时³¹P MRS中脑内磷酯分解代谢产物GPC、GPE含量增加,说明低氧早期脑内即有膜磷酯的分解增加.结论：³¹P磁共振波谱可用于脑低氧性疾病的诊断,我们波谱中最敏感的指标是PCr/Pi和ATP/Pi,尤其早期降低更为显著.     

Three-dimensional magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging of histologically confirmed brain tumors

The goal of this study was to determine whether presurgical metabolite levels measured by 3D MR Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI) can accurately detect viable cancer within human brain tumor masses. A total of 31 patients (33 exams, 39 pathology correlations) with brain tumors were studied prior to surgical biopsy and/or resection. The 3D MRSI was obtained with a spatial resolution of 0.2 to 1 cc throughout the majority of the mass and adjacent brain tissue using PRESS-CSI localization. Levels of choline, creatine and NAA were estimated from the locations of the resected tissue and normalized to normal appearing brain tissue. The data were correlated with subsequent histologic analysis of the biopsy tissue samples. Although there were large variations in the metabolite ratios, all regions of confirmed cancer demonstrated significant choline levels and a mean choline/NAA ratio of 5.84 + 2.58 with the lowest value being 1.3. This lowest value is greater than 4 standard deviations above the mean (0.52 +/- 0.13) found in 8 normal volunteers. The choline signal intensities in confirmed cancers were significantly elevated compared to normal appearing brain tissue with a mean ratio of 1.71 +/- 0.69. Spectra with no significant metabolite levels were observed in the non-enhancing necrotic core of the tumor masses. The results of this study indicate that 3D MRSI of brain tumors can detect abnormal metabolite levels in regions of viable cancer and grades and can differentiate cancer from necrosis and/or normal brain tissue.     

Simultaneous acquisition of phosphocreatine and inorganic phosphate images for Pi:PCr ratio mapping using a RARE sequence with chemically selective interleaving

The ratio of inorganic phosphate to phosphocreatine (Pi:PCr) is a validated marker of mitochondrial function in human muscle. The magnetic resonance imaging rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE) pulse sequence can acquire phosphorus-31 (³¹P) images with higher spatial and temporal resolution than traditional spectroscopic methods, which can then be used to create Pi:PCr ratio maps of muscle regions. While the ³¹P RARE method produces images that reflect the content of the ³¹P metabolites, it has been limited to producing an image of only one chemical shift in a scan. This increases the scan time required to acquire images of multiple chemical shifts as well as the likelihood of generating inaccurate Pi:PCr maps due to gross motion. This work is a preliminary study to demonstrate the feasibility of acquiring Pi and PCr images in a single scan by interleaving Pi and PCr chemical shift acquisitions using a chemically selective radiofrequency excitation pulse. The chemical selectivity of the excitation pulse evaluated and the Pi:PCr maps generated using the interleaved Pi and PCr acquisition method with the subject at rest and during exercise are compared to those generated using separate Pi and PCr acquisition scans. A paired t test indicated that the resulting Pi:PCr ratios for the exercised forearm muscle regions were not significantly different between the separate Pi and PCr acquisition method (3.18±1.53) (mean±standard deviation) and the interleaved acquisition method (3.41±1.66). This work demonstrates the feasibility of creating Pi:PCr ratio maps in human muscle with Pi and PCr images acquired simultaneously by interleaving between the Pi and PCr resonances in a single scan.     

Bio-energetic impairment in human calf muscle in thyroid disorders: a P MRS study

Mitochondrial metabolism particularly oxidative phosphorylation is greatly influenced by thyroid hormones. Earlier studies have described neuromuscular symptoms as well as impaired muscle metabolism in hypothyroid and hyperthyroid patients. In this study, we intend to look in to the muscle bioenergetics including phosphocreatine recovery kinetics based oxidative metabolism in thyroid dysfunction using in vivo ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). ³¹P MRS was carried out at resting state on 32 hypothyroid, 10 hyperthyroid patients and 25 control subjects. Nine out of 32 hypothyroid patients and 17 out of 25 control subjects under went exercise protocol for oxidative metabolism study and performed plantar flexion exercise while lying supine in 1.5 T magnetic resonance scanner using custom built exercise device. MRS measurements of inorganic phosphate (Pi), phosphocreatine (PCr), phosphodiesters (PDE) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) of the calf muscle were acquired during rest, exercise and recovery phase. PCr recovery rate constant (k_PCr) and oxidative capacity were calculated by monoexponential fit of PCr versus time (t) at the beginning of recovery. During resting condition in hypothyroid patients, PCr/Pi ratio was reduced whereas PDE/ATP and Pi/ATP were increased. However, in case of hyperthyroidism, an increased PCr/Pi ratio and reduced PDE/ATP and Pi/ATP were observed. The results confirmed differential energy status of the muscle due to increased or decreased levels of thyroid hormone. Our results also demonstrate reduced oxidative metabolism in hypothyroid patients based on PCr recovery kinetics. PCr recovery kinetics study after exercise revealed decreased PCr recovery rate constant (k_PCr) in hypothyroid patients compared to controls that resulted in decrease in oxidative capacity of muscle by 50% in hypothyroids. These findings are consistent with a defect of high energy phosphate mitochondrial metabolism in thyroid dysfunction.     

Effect of creatine monohydrate in improving cellular energetics and muscle strength in ambulatory Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients: a randomized,placebo-controlled P MRS study

Randomized, placebo-controlled single blinded study was carried out to evaluate the effect of oral creatine supplementation on cellular energetics, manual muscle test (MMT) score and functional status in steroid-naive, ambulatory boys suffering with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD; n=33). Eighteen patients received creatine monohydrate (Cr; 5 g/day for 8 weeks), while 15 received placebo (500 mg of vitamin C). Phosphorus metabolite ratios were determined from the right calf muscle of patients using phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (³¹P MRS) both prior to (baseline) and after supplementation of Cr or placebo. In addition, metabolite ratios were determined in normal calf muscle of age and sex matched controls (n=8). Significant differences in several metabolite ratios were observed between controls and DMD patients indicating a lower energy state in these patients. Analysis using analysis of covariance adjusted for age and stature showed that the mean phosphocreatine (PCr)/inorganic phosphate (Pi) ratio in patients treated with Cr (4.7; 95% CI; 3.9–5.6) was significantly higher (P=.03) compared to the placebo group (3.3; 95% CI; 2.5–4.2). The mean percentage increase in PCr/Pi ratio was also more in patients <7 years of age compared to older patients after Cr supplementation indicating variation in therapeutic effect with the age. In the placebo group, significant reduction in PCr/Pi (P=.0009), PCr/t-ATP (P=.05) and an increase in phosphodiester (PDE)/PCr ratios was observed after supplementation. Further, in the placebo group, patients <7 years showed reduction of PCr/t-ATP and Pi/t-ATP compared to older patients (>7 years), after supplementation. These results imply that the significant difference observed in PCr/Pi ratio between the Cr and the placebo groups after supplementation may be attributed to a decrease of PCr in the placebo group and an increase in PCr in the Cr group. Changes in MMT score between the two groups was significant (P=.04); however, no change in functional scale (P=.19) was observed. Parents reported subjective improvement on Cr supplementation versus worsening in placebo (P=.02). Our results indicated that Cr was well tolerated and oral Cr significantly improved the muscle PCr/Pi ratio and preserved the muscle strength in short term. However, this study provides no evidence that creatine will prove beneficial after long-term treatment, or have any positive effect on patient lifespan.     

Cardiac phosphorus-31 two-dimensional chemical shift imaging in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis

Hemochromatosis is a hereditary iron overload syndrome characterized by increased iron storage, followed by liver cirrhosis and is often associated with restrictive cardiomyopathy. The purpose of this study was to detect alterations of cardiac high-energy phosphate metabolism in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis (HHC) prior to the development of structural heart diseases. Therefore cardiac phosphorus-31 two-dimensional chemical shift imaging ((31)P 2D CSI) was employed. Twenty-four male patients (mean age 47.2 +/- 12 years) homozygous for the C282Y mutation in the hemochromatosis associated HFE gene and twenty-four male healthy volunteers (mean age 47 +/- 11 years) as age-matched controls were included in this study. Using a 1.5-Tesla whole-body magnetic resonance scanner, electrocardiograph-triggered transversal 31P 2D CSI was performed. Left ventricle mean phosphocreatine (PCr) to beta-adenosine triphosphate (beta-ATP) ratios of patients with HHC (1.60 +/- 0.41) were significantly decreased in comparison to healthy volunteers (1.93 +/- 0.36; p = 0.004). Furthermore, we detected moderate, negative correlations between left ventricular PCr to beta-ATP ratios and transferrin saturation, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein as well as triglyceride. This study shows that 31P 2D CSI permits the detection of alterations of cardiac high-energy phosphate metabolism in patients with HHC, but without any evidence for heart disease. The decreased PCr to beta-ATP ratios in HHC might be caused by mitochondrial impairment due to cardiac iron overload.     

Considerations for brain pH assessment by 31P NMR

Recently in vivo NMR spectroscopy has been used to measure brain pH non-invasively. Both the inorganic orthophosphate (Pi) chemical shift (delta) and the difference between the chemical shifts of phosphocreatine (PCr) and Pi(delta delta PCr-Pi) have been proposed as indicators of brain pH. However, the precise delta of Pi may be difficult to determine under normoxic conditions as is the delta of PCr under hypoxic/ischemic conditions. Ideally one needs a NMR delta parameter that: (1) linearly changes between pH 6.0-8.0, (2) is either relatively unaffected or predictably affected by cations (e.g., Mg2+) other than H+, and that (3) comes from readily observable 31P NMR resonances whose delta's can be accurately assessed under all physiological conditions. Therefore, we undertook a systematic 31P NMR study of the pH and Mg2+ titration curves for 16 phosphorus-containing metabolites observed in brain by 31P NMR. On the basis of the titration curves, the delta delta's for PCr-Pi, phosphoethanolamine (PE)-Pi, and PCr-PE fulfill criteria (1) and (2), but not criterion (3). However, the delta delta of ATP gamma-alpha fulfills all three criteria and potentially provides information on the intracellular Mg2+ concentration.     

鼠S180肉瘤的体内31P MRS研究

利用表面线圈³¹P NMR研究了小鼠S180肉瘤生长过程中能量代谢和磷脂类变化的特点.结果发现:随着肿瘤体积的增大,(1)Pi和PME升高;(2)PCr降低,在肿瘤体积较大时常检测不到;(3)β-NTP(通常用来表示ATP的量)变化较小;(4)PDE波动性较大;(5)PCr/Pi和β-NTP/Pi比值均下降,且PCr/Pi比β-NTP/Pi下降得快;(6)PME/β-NTP比值升高;(7)肿瘤pH下降,且与PCr/Pi、β-NTP/Pi或(PCr+β-NTP)/Pi比值有相关性.讨论了与这些参数变化相关联的生物学意义.     

Identification of human myocardial infarction in vitro based on the frequency dependence of ultrasonic backscatter.

It has been reported previously that acute and mature myocardial infarction in dogs can be differentiated in vitro and in vivo by ultrasonic tissue characterization based on measurement of the frequency dependence of ultrasonic backscatter. To characterize human infarction with an index of the frequency dependence of backscatter that could be obtained in patients, cylindrical biopsy specimens from 7 normal regions and 12 regions of infarction of 6 fixed, explanted human hearts in 2-deg steps around their entire circumference with a 5-MHz broadband transducer were insonified. One to six consecutive transmural levels were studied for each specimen. The dependence of apparent (uncompensated for attenuation or beam width) backscatter, /B(f)/2, on frequency (f) was computed from spectral analyses of radio-frequency data as /B(f)/2 = afn, where from theoretical considerations the magnitude of n decreases as scatterer size increases. Apparent integrated backscatter was computed as the average of /B(f)/2 from 3 to 7 MHz. The average value for n for normal tissue (0.9 +/- 0.1) exceeded that for tissue from regions of infarction (0.6 +/- 0.1; p less than 0.05). Infarct manifested a significant decrease of n from epicardial to endocardial levels (epi----mid----endo: 0.9----0.7----0.2; p less than 0.05) whereas normal tissue manifested similar values for n at each transmural level (0.8----1.1----0.9; p = NS). Average integrated backscatter across all transmural levels for infarct was significantly greater than for normal tissue (-48.3 +/- 0.5 vs -53.4 +/- 0.4 dB, infarct versus normal; p less than 0.05). The presence of fibrosis was associated with smaller values of n and greater integrated backscatter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Impact of aging on cardiac high-energy phosphate metabolism determined by phosphorus-31 2-dimensional chemical shift imaging (31P 2D CSI)

Previous echocardiographic and experimental animal studies have shown that cardiac function, structure, and metabolism change with age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of age on left ventricular high-energy phosphate metabolism. Using a 1.5 Tesla whole-body MR scanner 31P 2D CSI (8 x 8 phase encoding steps, 320 mm field of view) was performed in 76 healthy male volunteers (41.7 +/- 13 years) without any history of coronary heart disease. Fourier interpolation, corrections for T1 saturation effects, the nucleus Overhauser effect, and the blood contamination were applied to the spectroscopic data. The volunteers were divided into two groups, younger (n = 37) and older (n = 39) than 41.7 years. In all volunteers, laboratory specimen were sampled, and transthoracal echocardiography was carried out. Significant differences in left ventricular phosphocreatine (PCr) to beta-adenosine-triphosphate (beta-ATP) ratios (2.16 vs. 1.83, p < 0.001), fasting serum glucose levels (83.3 vs. 98.7 mg/dl, p < 0.001), E/A (1.51 vs. 1.14 p < 0.001), and ejection fraction (EF, 65.3 vs. 59.9%, p = 0.005) were detected between the two groups of volunteers, younger and older than 41.7 years. Moreover, age correlated moderately to well with left ventricular PCr to beta-ATP ratios (r = -0.44), fasting serum glucose levels (r = 0.4), E/A (r = -0.7), left ventricular myocardial mass (r = -0.41), and EF (r = -0.55). In conclusion, our study shows that left ventricular PCr to beta-ATP ratios decrease moderately with age, as suggested by previous experimental animal studies. Additionally, age correlates negatively with E/A, left ventricular myocardial mass, and EF, as reported by previous echocardiography studies. The present study is the first to show the impact of age on left ventricular PCr to beta-ATP values in humans.     

Phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance metabolite imaging in the human body.

This work examines the feasibility of three-dimensional phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (31P MRSI) of metabolites in the human body using nonselective excitation with a single large circular surface coil for transmitting and receiving. The potential and limitations of this approach to clinical imaging are demonstrated on four selected examples: normal liver and heart, hematoma in the calf, and lymphoma in the groin. The obtained metabolite images showed anatomical detail and allowed differentiation of body organs and pathologic tissue from adjacent tissue. Three-dimensionally localized 31P spectra were reconstructed from nominal volumes of 4 to 15 cm3. These spectra showed characteristic resonances and metabolite intensity ratios for the tissue of origin demonstrating good three-dimensional localization. We conclude that surface coil 31P MRSI of body organs to map metabolite distributions is practically feasible with this approach, but due to experimental limitations, clinical utility requires technical improvements.     

离体心脏的31P NMR谱

³¹P NMR谱自70年代后期开始被用于离体心脏中含磷化合物代谢的动态研究.^3lP NMR谱不仅可以鉴定心肌组织中浓度较高的含磷化合物,即ATP、磷酸肌酸和无机磷酸盐,而且可提供有关这些化合物化学环境(包括pH和Mg²⁺)和细胞内分布的信息.利用这一非损伤性的定量分析方法,可连续观测心肌的代谢并可同时测定离体心脏的机械功能.利用饱和转移技术还能对完整心脏中肌酸激酶和腺苷酸激酶反应的速率加一测定.本文综述介绍了近年来进行离体灌流心脏^3lP NMR谱测定的实验方法以及这一技术所提供的各种信息.     

Partial cerebral ischemia assessed by "in vivo" 31P NMR spectroscopy in rats.

31P NMR spectroscopy was used to assess the cerebral ischemia status in rats by measuring the relative levels of phosphate metabolites. Partial cerebral ischemia was induced in 49 rats by reversible occlusion of the carotid arteries. Rats were intubated and mechanically ventilated on a hypoxic gas mixture. Physiological parameters such as temperature and arterial pressure were strictly controlled during the experiments. 31P spectra were acquired at 7 T during basal observation, for 15-20 min after the induction of ischemia, and for 1 hr after reperfusion. Depletion and increase in PCr and Pi levels, respectively, were already observable in the collected spectra within few minutes after the onset of ischemia. No appreciable changes were found in the ATP levels.     

High-energy phosphate metabolism during incremental calf exercise in humans measured by 31 phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P MRS)

Several previous 31 phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P MRS) studies performing incremental or progressive muscle exercises have observed that a decrease in pH is accompanied with an acceleration in phosphocreatine (PCr) hydrolysis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between PCr breakdown and pH during isotonic, exhaustive, incremental plantar flexion exercises. We included eight healthy, male volunteers into this study. Using a 1.5 Tesla MR scanner and a self-built exercise bench, we performed serial free induction decay (FID) (31)P MRS measurements with a time resolution of 1 min at rest, isotonic calf muscle exercise, and recovery. The exercise protocol consisted of 5-min intervals with 4.5, 6, 7.5, and 9 W workload followed by 9-min recovery. Changes in PCr and inorganic phosphate (Pi) were determined as percent changes in comparison to the baseline. In addition, pH values were calculated. This study obtained significant decreases in PCr corresponding to the gradual increases in workload. In each workload level that was succeeded by all volunteers, PCr hydrolysis passed into a steady state. After an early biphasic response, we detected a significant decrease in pH from the first to the second minute of the 6-W workload level followed by a further continuous decrease in pH up to the second minute of the recovery phase. The decrease in pH was not accompanied by acceleration in PCr hydrolysis. In conclusion, this study shows that PCr hydrolysis during incremental plantar flexion exercises passes into a steady state at different workload levels. The observed decrease in pH does not result in acceleration of PCr hydrolysis.     

On neglecting chemical exchange effects when correcting in vivo (31)P MRS data for partial saturation

Signal acquisition in most MRS experiments requires a correction for partial saturation that is commonly based on a single exponential model for T(1) that ignores effects of chemical exchange. We evaluated the errors in (31)P MRS measurements introduced by this approximation in two-, three-, and four-site chemical exchange models under a range of flip-angles and pulse sequence repetition times (T(R)) that provide near-optimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In two-site exchange, such as the creatine-kinase reaction involving phosphocreatine (PCr) and gamma-ATP in human skeletal and cardiac muscle, errors in saturation factors were determined for the progressive saturation method and the dual-angle method of measuring T(1). The analysis shows that these errors are negligible for the progressive saturation method if the observed T(1) is derived from a three-parameter fit of the data. When T(1) is measured with the dual-angle method, errors in saturation factors are less than 5% for all conceivable values of the chemical exchange rate and flip-angles that deliver useful SNR per unit time over the range T(1)/5 < or = T(R) < or = 2T(1). Errors are also less than 5% for three- and four-site exchange when T(R) > or = T(1)(*)/2, the so-called "intrinsic" T(1)'s of the metabolites. The effect of changing metabolite concentrations and chemical exchange rates on observed T(1)'s and saturation corrections was also examined with a three-site chemical exchange model involving ATP, PCr, and inorganic phosphate in skeletal muscle undergoing up to 95% PCr depletion. Although the observed T(1)'s were dependent on metabolite concentrations, errors in saturation corrections for T(R) = 2 s could be kept within 5% for all exchanging metabolites using a simple interpolation of two dual-angle T(1) measurements performed at the start and end of the experiment. Thus, the single-exponential model appears to be reasonably accurate for correcting (31)P MRS data for partial saturation in the presence of chemical exchange. Even in systems where metabolite concentrations change, accurate saturation corrections are possible without much loss in SNR.     

Observations of energy metabolism in neuroectodermal tumors using in vivo 31P-NMR

The energy metabolism of living tumors in rats and hamsters were investigated by obtaining in vivo 31P-NMR spectra, and the effects of chemotherapy on tumors were evaluated by observing the changes of these spectra. Tumor cells of rat glioma, human glioblastoma and human neuroblastoma were inoculated subcutaneously in the lumbar region of the animals. After the tumor grew to over 1.5 cm in diameter, in vivo 31P-NMR spectrum data was obtained selectively from the tumor with a TMR-32 spectrometer (Oxford Research Systems, U.K.). Several peaks (ATP, inorganic phosphate (Pi), phosphodiesters and phosphomonoesters (PME) were observed in the tumors. The heights of these peaks varied widely corresponding to the tumor growth. However, the spectrum pattern of each tumor in an active stage was found to be essentially the same regardless of histological type or tumor origin. The phosphocreatine (PCr) peak was small, ATP and PME peaks were large and tissue pH calculated from the chemical shift of Pi was low in each tumor group. After intravenous injection of a large dose of a chemotherapeutic agent, ATP peaks decreased and the Pi peak increased gradually, resulting in a dominant Pi peak pattern after several hours in all groups. With lower drug doses, spectrum changes were temporarily seen in the tumors. These findings indicated that drugs with a high dose have a selective and a direct action on the energy metabolism of tumor tissues. In vivo 31P-NMR spectra measurement is very valuable not only to investigate the energy metabolism in tumor tissue but also to evaluate the effects of chemotherapy on the tumor.     

Truncation artifact reduction in spectroscopic imaging using a dual-density spiral k-space trajectory

Truncation artifacts arise in magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) of the human brain due to limited coverage of k-space necessitated by low SNR of metabolite signal and limited scanning time. In proton MRSI of the head, intense extra-cranial lipid signals “bleed” into brain regions, thereby contaminating signals of metabolites therein. This work presents a data acquisition strategy for reducing truncation artifact based on extended k-space coverage achieved with a dual-SNR strategy. Using the fact that the SNR in k-space increases monotonically with sampling density, dual-SNR is achieved in an efficient manner with a dual-density spiral k-space trajectory that permits a smooth transition from high density to low density. The technique is demonstrated to be effective in reducing “bleeding” of extra-cranial lipid signals while preserving the SNR of metabolites in the brain.     

In vivo relaxation of N-acetyl-aspartate, creatine plus phosphocreatine, and choline containing compounds during the course of brain infarction: a proton MRS study.

Localized water suppressed proton spectroscopy has opened up a new field of pathophysiological studies of severe brain ischemia. The signals obtained with the pulse sequences used so far are both T₁ and T₂ weighted. In order to evaluate the extent to which changes in metabolite signals during the course of infarction can be explained by changes in T₁ and T₂ relaxation times, eight patients with acute stroke were studied. STEAM sequences with varying echo delay times and repetition times were used to measure T₁ and T₂ of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), creatine plus phosphocreatine (Cr+PCr) and choline containing compounds (CHO) in a 27-ml voxel located in the affected area of the brain. Ten healthy volunteers served as controls. We found no difference in T₁ or T₂ of the metabolites between the patients and the normal controls. The T₂ of CHO was longer than that of NAA and Cr+PCr. Our results indicate that spectra obtained in brain infarcts and normal tissue with the same acquisition parameters are directly comparable with respect to relative signal intensities as well as signals scaled with internal and external standards.