NMR relaxation of protons in tissues and other macromolecular water solutions

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) longitudinal (T₁) and transverse (T₂) relaxation parameters have been evaluated for protein solutions, cellular suspensions and tissues using both data from our laboratory and the extensive literature. It is found that this data can be generalized and explained in terms of three water phases: free water, hydration water, and crystalline water. The proposed model which we refer to as the FPD model differs from similar models in that it assumes that free and hydration water are two phases with distinct relaxation times but that T₁ = T₂ in each phase. In addition there is a single correlation time for each rather than a distribution as assumed in most other models. Longitudinal decay is predicted to be single exponent in character resulting from a fast exchange between the free and hydration compartments. Transverse decay is predicted to be multiphasic with crystalline (T₂ 10 μsec), hydration (T₂ 10 sec) and free (T₂ 100 sec) water normally visible. The observed or effective transverse relaxation times for both the hydration and free water phases are greatly affected by the crystalline phase and are much shorter than the inherent relaxation times.     

In vivo NMR T2 relaxation of experimental brain tumors in the cat: a multiparameter tissue characterization.

Experimental gliomas (F98) were inoculated in cat brain for the systematic study of their in vivo T₂ relaxation time behavior. With a CPMG multi-echo imaging sequence, a train of 16 echoes was evaluated to obtain the transverse relaxation time and the magnetization M(0) at time T = 0. The magnetization decay curves were analyzed for biexponentiality. All tissues showed monoexponential T₂, only that of the ventricular fluid and part of the vital tumor tissue were biexponential. Based on these NMR relaxation parameters the tissues were characterized, their correct assignment being assured by comparison with histological slices. T₂ of normal grey and white matter was 74 ± 6 and 72 ± 6 msec, respectively. These two tissue types were distinguished through M(0) which for white matter was only 0.88 of the intensity of grey matter in full agreement with water content, determined from tissue specimens. At the time of maximal tumor growth and edema spread a tissue differentiation was possible in NMR relaxation parameter images. Separation of the three tissue groups of normal tissue, tumor and edema was based on T₂ with T_2(normal) < T_2(tumor) < T_2(edema). Using M(0) as a second parameter the differentiation was supported, in particular between white matter and tumor or edema. Animals were studied at 1–4 wk after tumor implantation to study tumor development. The magnetization M(0) of both tumor and peritumoral edema went through a maximum between the second and third week of tumor growth. T₂ of edema was maximal at the same time with 133 ± 4 msec, while the relaxation time of tumor continued to increase during the whole growth period, reaching values of 114 ± 12 msec at the fourth week. Thus, a complete characterization of pathological tissues with NMR relaxometry must include a detailed study of the developmental changes of these tissues to assure correct experimental conditions for the goal of optimal contrast between normal and pathological regions in the NMR images.     

Selection of pulse sequences producing maximum tissue contrast in magnetic resonance imaging

The importance of spin density [N(H)] and spin-lattice (T₁) and spin-spin (T₂) relaxation in the characterization of tissue by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is clearly recognized. This work considers which optimized pulse sequences provide the best tissue discrimination between a given pair of tissues. The effects of tissue spin density and machine-imposed minimum rephasing echo times (TE_MIN) for achieving maximum signal tissue contrast are discussed. A long TE_MIN sacrifices T₁-dependent contrast in saturation recovery (SR) and inversion recovery (IR) pulse sequences so that spin-echo (SE) becomes the optimum sequence to provide tissue contrast, due to T₂ relaxation. Pulse sequences providing superior performance may be selected based on spin density and T₁ and T₂ ratios for a given pair of tissues. Selection of the preferred pulse sequence and interpulse delay times to produce maximum tissue contrast is strongly dependent on knowledge of tissue spin densities as well as T₁ and T₂ characteristics. As the spin density ratio increases, IR replaces SR as the preferred sequence and SE replaces IR and SR as the pulse sequence providing superior contrast. To select the optimal pulse sequence and interpulse delay times, an accurate knowledge of tissue spin density, T₁ and T₂ must be known for each tissue.     

回波间隔对核磁共振表观孔隙度的影响及矫正方法

本文对具有特定横向弛豫时间（T₂）的硫酸铜溶液进行了多回波间隔（T_E）的核磁共振（NMR）实验,并利用数值模拟对32组具有不同弛豫分量的模型进行了变T_E模拟实验,定量研究了T_E对致密油气、页岩气等低孔低渗储层NMR孔隙度的影响规律.实验结果表明,随着T_E的增大,各T₂弛豫组分NMR孔隙度先维持在100%左右,然后迅速衰减,当T_E增加到一定数值时,趋近于0;不同T₂弛豫组分NMR孔隙度开始迅速衰减及最后变为0的T_E值存在显著差异.根据不同T₂弛豫组分NMR孔隙度与T_E的关系,将整个NMR测量分为无损测量区、快速衰减区、无效参数区和仪器盲区4个区域.对特定弛豫组分而言,在快速衰减区弛豫组分损失量与T_E呈对数关系,本文还给出了该区域NMR孔隙度的校正公式及方法.     

The application of proton nuclear magnetic resonance imaging for the in vivo characterisation of chemically induced renal lesions in rats over a prolonged time study

Renal cortical and medullary spin-lattice (T₁) relaxation times were measured at various time points over a period of 56 days following the administration of a single i.p. injection of 100 mg/kg 2-bromoethanamine hydrobromide (BEA), 200 mg/kg hexachloro-1,3-butadiene (HCBD) or 100 mg/kg puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) to male Wistar rats. Administration of a single injection of HCBD caused a dramatic, immediate rise in the cortical T₁ values above control values, and these levels remained elevated until, by Day 28 postinjection the levels were back to control values. Administration of BEA also caused an elevation in cortical T₁ values, but in this case these values remained above control values for the rest of the study. The administration of PAN did not produce any significant increases in cortical T₁ values until 14 days postinjection. The elevated T₁ values remained above control values for the rest of the study. These increases observed in cortical T₁ values appeared to be mirrored by decreases in medullary T₁ values. Increases in cortical T₁ values were accompanied by visual changes in the NMR images and enlargement of the kidneys. The histological findings were consistent with the NMR data, confirming that morphologically the tissues did show a full recovery by Day 28 in the HCBD-treated animals. This was not the case following injection of both BEA and PAN, where necrosis was not reversible and there was no recovery of the tissues.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry of the normal heart: Relationship between collagen content and relaxation times of the four chambers

The use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation time measurements for characterization of abnormal cardiac tissue depends upon knowledge of variations of relaxation times of normal myocardium and determinants of these variations. We calculated in vitro NMR T₁ and T₂ relaxation times of canine myocardium from the four cardiac chambers, and determined hydroxyproline concentration (as a measure of collagen) and percent water content of the samples. We found both water content and T₁ relaxation time of the right ventricle to be significantly greater than the left atrium (p < 0.05). T₂ relaxation time of the left ventricle was found to be shorter than each of the other three chambers (p < 0.05). There were significant correlations between the spin-lattice relaxation time and both percent water content (r = 0.58) and hydroxyproline concentration (r = 0.45). A significant correlation was also found between T₂ relaxation time and hydroxyproline concentration (r = 0.49). When T₁ and T₂ were adjusted for water and hydroxyproline content, there was no longer any evidence for significant interchamber differences for either T₁ or T₂. These data suggest that differences in NMR relaxation times exist among the four chambers of the normal canine heart. Furthermore, a major determinant of myocardial spin-lattice relaxation time is tissue water content while both collagen content and percent water content significantly contribute to variability in cardiac chamber T₂ relaxation times.     

渤海J油田储层核磁共振测井孔隙度影响因素分析及校正

渤海J油田沙河街组储层核磁共振（NMR）测井孔隙度和岩心NMR孔隙度均低于岩心氦孔隙度,这种现象影响了NMR测井的应用效果．通过开展岩心NMR实验,对该研究区仪器采集参数、井眼环境以及储层流体性质等因素进行分析,发现造成储层NMR测井孔隙度偏低的主要原因是高矿化度泥浆滤液侵入．基于饱和不同矿化度盐水对T₂谱的影响规律,确定了需要对T₂谱进行形态校正的矿化度下限值,并建立了对应不同矿化度的T₂谱形态校正模型及NMR孔隙度校正方法．应用结果表明,校正后的NMR测井孔隙度与岩心氦孔隙度的平均相对误差从13.56%下降至2.81%,有效提高了NMR测井孔隙度的精度．     

Tissue characterization by image processing subtraction: windowing of specific T1 values.

A method for windowing specific T₁ values is presented. A 1.0 T imager with two routine pulse sequences was employed: A T₁-weighted spin echo (SE) sequence and a short tau inversion recovery STIR sequence (fat-suppressed IR). A T₁ window for fat was obtained by subtracting the STIR image from the SE image. Negative values were coded black. The method was tested on a normal human thigh, on a human liver with confirmed fatty infiltration, and on the livers of four live burbots. The fat-containing tissues of the two human volunteers were well depicted. The differences in fat concentration among the burbot livers were also clearly shown. The fat intensity seen in the images correlated well with the chemically measured fat concentration. This subtraction method for windowing T₁ values proved feasible for fat. The method could be used for tissues with other short T₁ values as well.     

川西气田白云岩储层二维核磁共振测井气水识别方法

川西气田雷口坡组四段白云岩储层具有良好的天然气勘探开发前景,但是储层分布具有较强的非均质性,利用常规测井和一维核磁共振测井方法判断储层流体性质存在多解性．通过分析川西雷四段白云岩储层地质特征与测井响应特征,开展岩心二维核磁共振实验,明确了实验室分析与测井过程中环境、参数等影响因素,建立了岩心分析结果的校正方法,明确了钻井液、束缚流体、可动水与天然气信号在二维核磁共振测井中谱分布区间,建立了基于T₂-T₁、T₁/T₂（R）的白云岩储层二维核磁共振测井气水识别图版．利用图版对川西雷四段储层流体性质开展评价,二维核磁共振测井解释结论得到了实钻测试结果的验证,该气水识别方法填补了常规测井、一维核磁共振测井在评价储层气水关系中的缺陷,可有效解决白云岩储层流体性质判别难题．     

Validity of NMR pore-size analysis of cultural heritage ancient building materials containing magnetic impurities

NMR relaxation time distributions, obtained with laboratory and portable devices, are utilized to characterize the pore-size distributions of building materials coming from the Roman remains of the Greek-Roman Theatre of Taormina. To validate the interpretation of relaxation data in terms of pore-size distribution, comparison of results from standard and in situ NMR experiments with results of the mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) has been made. Although the pore-size distributions can be obtained by NMR in terms of either longitudinal (T₁) or transverse (T₂) relaxation times distributions, the shorter duration of the T₂ measurement makes it, in principle, preferable, although the determination of T₂ distributions is not necessarily an easy alternative to finding T₁ distributions. Among other things, the T₁ distribution is almost independent of the inhomogeneity of the magnetic field, while the T₂ distribution is strongly influenced by it. This paper was aimed at answering two questions: what are the validity limits to interpret NMR data in terms of pore-size distributions and whether the portable device can successfully be applied as a non-destructive and non-invasive tool for in situ NMR analysis of building materials, particularly those of Cultural Heritage interest.     

Myocardial proton spin-lattice relaxation times in vitro: Effect of elapsed time after excision

An assumption made in using excised tissue for in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies is that variables of interest, such as spin-lattice (T₁) relaxation times, remain stable for periods of time after excision sufficient to perform NMR spectroscopy. In this study, we evaluated the changes in T₁ of rat myocardium, measured at two NMR field strengths, at serial time intervals up to 72 hours postmortem. Left ventricular myocardium from six male Sprague-Dawley rats was excised and stored at room temperature in sealed NMR sample tubes. Spin-lattice relaxation times were determined with a modified inversion-recovery pulse sequence immediately postmortem and at intervals up to 72 hours post-excision; NMR studies were performed using 90 MHz and 360 MHz spectrometers. A gradual decrease in T₁ was noted with increasing time post-excision; T₁ was not significantly shorter than baseline until 72 hours postmortem at either field strength. The rate of change of T₁ was similar at the two field strengths. At any given time post-excision, T₁ was significantly higher (p < 0.001) at 360 MHz than at 90 MHz. We conclude that, with proper tissue handling and storage techniques, rat myocardial T₁ is stable postmortem sufficiently long to permit meaningful NMR studies of excised tissue.     

基于T2截止值的幂函数构建毛管压力曲线

岩心核磁共振（NMR）T₂谱和毛管压力曲线都在一定程度上反映了岩石孔隙结构，理论分析表明可利用T₂谱构建毛管压力曲线，由此快速获取储层孔隙结构的信息．本文对18块岩样T₂分布和毛管压力曲线进行了分析，提出将T₂截止值作为幂函数的分段点，采用分段幂函数方法构建岩样的NMR毛管压力曲线，并与采用不分段幂函数方法获得的毛管压力曲线进行了对比．研究结果表明，与不分段幂函数方法相比，分段幂函数方法得到的结果和压汞实验测定的毛管压力曲线吻合度更高，平均拟合度（R²）达到0.943 1，并且论证了T₂截止值作为分段点进行分段幂函数法构建NMR毛管压力曲线的合理性和可靠性．T₂截止值的引入提高了幂函数法构建NMR毛管压力曲线的精度，是利用NMR T₂谱构建岩样毛管压力曲线的有价值探索．     

Study of activation parameters and NMR spin-lattice relaxation time in some substituted amines

The present communication reports the experimental values of NMR spin-lattice relaxation time (T₁) and dielectric relaxation time (τ) of piperidine, pyrrole, pyridine, diethylamine, triethylamine and pyrrolidine. The values of activation energy (ΔE_A) obtained using dielectric relaxation time, have been correlated with calculated values of ΔE_A obtained using Arrhenius equation of NMR relaxation time (T₁) for pyridine, diethylamine and pyrrole. Authors have also established a correlation between the experimental values of NMR spin-relaxation time (T₁) with its calculated values obtained using different equations of dielectric relaxation time (τ).     

C CPMAS studies of plant cell wall materials and model systems using proton relaxation-induced spectral editing techniques

The solid state ¹³C CPMAS NMR spectra of plant cell walls are often complex owing to superposition of resonances from different polysaccharides and the heterogeneity of the cell wall assembly. In this paper, we describe the application of a set of proton relaxation-induced spectral editing (PRISE) experiments which combine ¹H relaxation properties (T₁, T_1ρ, T₂) with ¹³C high resolution spectroscopy (CPMAS) to relate the dynamics of the plant cell walls and model systems to their domain structural details. With PRISE it has been found that in plant cell wall materials, cellulose is always associated with the long components of spin–lattice relaxation in both the laboratory and rotating frames whereas non-cellulose polysaccharides (pectin and hemicellulose) are associated with the short ones. For the proton T₂ relaxation, cellulose is only associated with the short component (below 20 μs), pectin contributes to both the short component and the long one.     

基于多弛豫信号补偿的快速磁共振T1ρ散布成像

定量磁共振成像（MRI）可量化组织特性,是科学研究和临床研究的重要工具.旋转坐标系下的自旋-晶格弛豫时间（T_1ρ）能反映水与大分子之间的低频交互作用,在3 T及以上的高场环境下,T_1ρ受水和不稳定质子之间化学交换的影响较大,通过测量弛豫率随自旋锁定场强度的变化而得到其分布情况（T_1ρ散布）,可用于分析和量化质子的交换过程,因此T_1ρ散布是一种重要的定量MRI技术.然而,获得不同自旋锁定场强下T_1ρ加权图像的时间过长,限制了其应用范围.针对这一问题,本研究提出一种基于多弛豫信号补偿策略的快速T_1ρ散布成像方法.该方法将不同锁定频率下的T_1ρ加权图像补偿到同一信号强度水平,并结合低秩与稀疏建立重建模型.实验结果表明,该方法在加速倍数高达7倍时仍获得了较好的重建结果.     

非自治物质畸形波的传播操控

研究了(1+1)维的变系数Gross-Pitaevskii方程, 获得了该方程的精确畸形波解. 基于该精确畸形波解, 深入研究了非自治物质畸形波在随时间指数变化的相互作用下的传播动力学行为, 发现非自治畸形波除具有“来无影、去无踪”的不可预测特性外, 也可实现完全激发、抑制激发以及维持激发等操控. 研究表明, 畸形波操控的关键是对累积时间的最大值T_max 与峰值位置T₀ (或T_I,T_II)值大小关系的调节. 当T_max > T₀ (或T_I,T_II)时畸形波被快速地完全激发, 热原子团中的原子增加到凝聚体中. 当T_max = T₀ (或T_I,T_II) 时畸形波激发到最大振幅, 可以维持相当长的时间而不消失, 热原子团中的原子增加到凝聚体中. 当T_max < T₀ (或T_I,T_II)时畸形波没有充足的时间来激发而被抑制甚至消失, 凝聚体中的原子减少. 这些结果在理论和实际应用上具有启迪意义.     

NMR imaging of white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporis) at various magnetic fields

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been applied to visualize physiological phenomena in plants and agricultural crops. Imaging sequences that result in contrast of a combination of parameters (e.g., proton density, ) cannot be used for a correct and unique interpretation of the results. In this study multiecho imaging together with monoexponential T₂ decay fitting was applied to determine reliable proton density and T₂ distributions over a mushroom. This was done at three magnetic field strengths (9.4, 4.7, and 0.47 T) because susceptibility inhomogeneities were suspected to influence the T₂ relaxation times negatively, and because the inflences of susceptibility inhomogeneities increase with a rise in magnetic field strength. Electron microscopy was used to understand the different T₂'s for the various tissue types in mushrooms. Large influences of the tissue ultrastructure on the observed T₂ relaxation times were found and explained. Based on the results, it is concluded that imaging mushrooms at low fields (around or below 0.47T) and short echo times has strong advantages over its high-field counterpart, especially with respect to quantitative imaging of the water balance of mushrooms. These conclusions indicate general validity whenever NMR imaging contrast is influenced by susceptibility inhomogeneities.     

In vivo quantification of citrate concentration and water T2 relaxation time of the pathologic prostate gland using H MRS and MRI

We have previously reported a striking correlation between water T₂ relaxation time and citrate concentration in the normal prostate (Liney G.P.; Lowry M.; Turnbull L.W.; Manton D.J.; Knowles A.J.; Blackband S.J.; Horsman A. Proton MR T₂ maps correlate with the citrate concentration in the prostate. NMR Biomed. 9:59–64; 1996). In this study we present data from similar studies of the pathologic gland. The findings support the hypothesis that measurement of both citrate concentration and water T₂ relaxation time in vivo may aid the differentiation of prostatic carcinoma from benign disease and normal tissue.     

Cu NMR study of the superconducting thiospinel Cu1.5Rh1.5S4

The ⁶³Cu NMR Knight shift K and spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T₁ have been measured to study the thiospinel superconductor Cu_1.5Rh_1.5S₄ from a microscopic viewpoint. K is negative and has a weak dependence on temperature, and the hyperfine coupling constant H_hf^d is estimated to be −52.4 kOe/μ_B. 1/T₁ is proportional to the temperature in the normal state. In the superconducting state, 1/T₁ takes a coherence peak just below T_c, and decreases exponentially well below T_c, from whose temperature dependence the superconducting energy gap has been proved to be close to 2Δ = 3.52k_BT_c given by the BCS theory.