基于持久同调的复杂脑网络动态演化分析

有研究表明阿尔茨海默病（Alzheimer's disease,AD）的认知状态与动态功能连接时间特性的改变有关,持久同调指标分析方法可为AD动态脑网络的研究提供更深的见解,但是目前研究主要集中在空间演化方面,尚未有针对时变方面的脑网络演化研究．本文基于静息态功能磁共振成像（resting state-functional magnetic resonanceimaging,rs-fMRI）,对AD患者和正常被试（normal controls,NC）的静态脑网络和基于滑动窗口构建的动态脑网络进行功能连接性分析．对基于持久同调和基于图论的分析结果进行了比较,并采用k均值聚类进行了时间属性的分析．结果表明相对图论指标,持久同调的指标在AD患者和NC被试间具有更显著的差异性;而且相对于静态脑网络,基于持久同调的动态脑网络演化分析可为脑功能网络标志物的检测提供新思路．     

磁共振结构成像在自闭症研究中的应用

自闭症,又称作孤独症,是一种常发生在儿童中的广泛性发育障碍,表现为交流障碍、语言障碍以及重复刻板的行为和狭窄的兴趣爱好. 磁共振成像作为一种无损伤的和多参数的影像方法,其各种检测手段均被应用于自闭症实验研究,其中结构磁共振成像(sMRI)和功能磁共振成像(fMRI)研究居多. 研究表明自闭症患者脑部结构发生了显著性改变. 该文综述了当前世界上利用磁共振结构成像研究自闭症的主要成果,包括结构磁共振成像研究脑体积变化,扩散张量成像研究自闭症的脑白质损伤. 该文也说明磁共振成像是一种十分有用的研究工具,有望在将来更多被用于探索自闭症的未知领域.     

基于NI PXIe-7966R的磁共振成像接收机设计

提出了一种基于NI PXIe-7966R（National Instruments Corporation,美国）的磁共振成像（MRI）接收机设计方案,进行磁共振信号直接采样、数字下变频（DDC）和数据上传,以及磁共振图像恢复．使用NI LabVIEW FPGA（National Instruments Corporation,美国）开发平台,对NI PXIe-7966R板载现场可编程门阵列（FPGA）内构建的所有功能模块进行了设计仿真和硬件描述语言生成,使其能灵活实现DDC功能．设计的接收机的采样速度为50 Mbps、模数转换位数为16位、带宽设置范围为100 Hz~1 MHz,并具有较好的滤波效果．实验结果表明,该设计方案是一种高性能的磁共振接收机方案．     

磁共振技术在食品质量与安全研究中的应用

食品质量与安全的检测分析关乎人们生命健康,高效可靠的检测手段是该领域研究的必需条件.磁共振技术,包括核磁共振（NMR）和磁共振成像（MRI）,是20世纪的新兴的食品检测技术．由于该技术对样品几乎无破坏性,且具有可实时快速测量、可同时检测多成分、可获得样品内部图像等优点,因此在食品检测领域的应用越来越多．为了促进该技术在食品科学领域更为深入的应用,该文对磁共振技术在国内外食品质量和安全研究领域的应用现状进行了总结．     

1.5 T下高介电材料几何结构对发射场影响的仿真研究

近年来研究发现,在高场及超高场磁共振成像(MRI)中,高介电材料在提高磁共振射频线圈性能,以及增强图像信噪比方面具有极大的应用潜力．当前高介电材料研究主要集中于其对磁共振图像信噪比的改善,但对于高介电材料几何结构,以及其对发射场分布均匀度影响的研究不多．本研究利用电磁仿真的方法定量分析了1.5T下,高介电材料几何结构对水模感兴趣区内发射效率均值和发射场B₁⁺均匀度的影响．结果表明,高介电材料的几何结构对B₁⁺均匀度会产生较大影响;比较了不同几何结构的高介电衬垫之后发现,加入四等分圆筒状高介电衬垫后,感兴趣区内发射效率提升最高,同时B₁⁺均匀度也保持良好．该结果对高介电材料应用于MRI具有重要的参考价值．     

9.4T下TX模型小鼠脑组织的扩散张量成像研究

本文首次应用9.4 T高场磁共振扩散张量成像（diffusion tensor imaging，DTI）技术，研究了Wilson疾病模型TX（toxic milk）小鼠的脑组织微观结构改变和结构连接情况.基于感兴趣区域（region of interest，ROI）的分析发现，与对照组相比，TX模型组的各向异性比值（fractional anisotropy，FA）在海马、尾状核和苍白球显著下降；平均扩散率（mean diffusivity，MD）则呈现上升趋势，但无统计学意义.纤维束追踪法结果表明TX模型组小鼠的脑结构连接并未受到严重破坏，证明了铜累积对脑组织的损伤具有区域性.     

组织凝固性坏死对基于纵向弛豫时间的磁共振测温的影响

高强度聚焦超声（High Intensity Focused Ultrasound,HIFU）治疗肿瘤时,为了保证治疗的安全性和有效性,需要对组织温度分布进行实时监测.磁共振成像（Magnetic Resonance Imaging,MRI）具有对温度敏感的成像参数,可以无创检测组织温度.本文结合组织相变对测温的影响,探讨了磁共振测温（Magnetic Resonance Thermometry,MRT）技术能否用于实时监控HIFU治疗.利用两态快速交换模型,提出在组织凝固性坏死的相变前后,MRI的纵向弛豫时间（T₁）参数与组织温度之间具有不同关系.并通过实验验证了上述假设.相对于传统的磁共振测温方法模型,本文考虑了HIFU治疗过程中组织相变对检测温度的影响,对利用磁共振测温引导HIFU治疗具有重要的参考价值.     

刀锋伪影校正技术在精神疾病患者海马MRI检查中的应用

为探讨磁共振刀锋伪影校正（BLADE）技术提升精神疾病患者海马磁共振图像质量的效果，本文分别使用结合了BLADE技术的BLADE T₂WI TSE、BLADE T₂WI FLAIR及传统T₂WI TSE、T₂WI FLAIR四种序列，对47例精神疾病患者和美国放射学院（ACR）标准模体在3.0 T磁共振成像（MRI）设备上分别进行常规海马斜冠状位扫描和ACR标准检测.患者的磁共振图像由2名放射科医师采用5分法对运动伪影、搏动伪影、颗粒度、海马磁共振图像质量进行评价，并应用Wilcoxon符号秩检验进行数据分析.模体图像通过识别图像的钻孔阵列和轮辐的数目，半定量评价各序列的高对比空间分辨力（HCSR）和低对比物体探测能力（LCD）.结果表明相比传统序列，结合BLADE技术的序列能够明显改善海马磁共振图像的运动伪影、搏动伪影（p<0.001），提高图像质量（p<0.05）；但在图像颗粒度方面，传统序列表现更优（p<0.001）.ACR模体半定量分析显示，结合BLADE技术序列与传统序列相比，在LCD检测方面结果更优、在HCSR检测方面结果相同或略逊.本文推荐将BLADE技术应用于不合作的精神疾病患者海马的MRI检查.     

糖尿病脑病的磁共振研究

糖尿病是由胰岛素分泌不足（T1DM）或胰岛素抵抗（T2DM）而引发的慢性代谢疾病,严重影响人们的生活质量. 中枢神经系统是糖尿病并发症的易感部位. 临床研究和流行病学调查结果显示,糖尿病会引发脑白质损伤、脑萎缩和认知功能障碍,并会增加脑卒中的风险. 磁共振成像和活体磁共振波谱可提供大脑解剖结构、功能及代谢等多方面的信息. 近年来,随着人们对糖尿病脑病关注度的不断增加和认识的不断加深,磁共振成像和活体波谱开始并越来越多地被应用于该疾病的研究. 该文综述磁共振成像与活体波谱技术在糖尿病脑病研究中的应用及最新进展.     

一种新的磁共振图像处理流水线的设计与实现

磁共振图像的重建、后处理及可视化是磁共振成像（MRI）系统的重要组成部分.本文开发了一个新的用于磁共振图像重建、后处理及可视化的开源框架YAP（Yet Another Pipeline），利用此框架可以方便地构建图像处理流水线.与现有的一些其他开源框架相比，本文开发的框架具有如下特点：（1）采用基于接口的设计，可使用基于接口的插件对流水线的功能进行扩展；（2）允许用户使用编写脚本的方式构建图像处理流水线，编辑与修改流水线都很方便；（3）支持带有分支结构的流水线，便于流水线的构建与调试.目前，该框架已经在商用系统中获得了应用.     

应用限制球形卷积解析弓状束的结构特性与语言理解表现的相关性

通过限制球形卷积(constrained spherical deconvolution,CSD)和神经纤维追踪技术(tractography),以了解大脑左右半球的弓状束(arcuate fasciculus,AF)神经结构完整性与语言理解能力的相关性.该文使用磁共振成像(MRI)仪对14例大脑左半球罹患肿瘤的右利手患者进行了术前术后扫描(每次扫描均伴随一次波士顿失语症测试),并用分析软件DSI Studio计算术前术后左右半球弓状束的四项扩散指标,并进行了比较.结果发现左脑弓状束有两项指标在术前术后有非常显著的差异(p0.01),而右脑四项指标均无显著改变(p0.05).另外,该文还将扩散指标与患者相对应的语言测试所反映的语言理解能力进行了相关性分析,发现无论术前术后,左半球弓状束与语言理解能力相关系数r介于0.6~0.8之间,而右半球则仅介于0.3~0.4之间.上述结果表明,语言理解能力与左侧弓状束密切相关(p0.01),而与右侧弓状束相关性不大,此结果与以往研究者对大脑侧化的认知相符.     

尼古丁易感的脑结构特征的磁共振成像研究

本文旨在利用磁共振成像手段探究尼古丁易感个体的脑结构特征，即脑结构特性对尼古丁依赖程度的预测.选用成年雄性SD大鼠进行纵向研究，利用基于微型渗透压泵的间歇性给药方式对大鼠进行腹腔注射尼古丁14天，随后强制戒断14天.于第0、15、29天进行躯体戒断行为测试以量化其尼古丁依赖严重程度.对第1天的脑结构图像与戒断行为评分进行回归分析，结果发现尼古丁依赖严重程度与双侧前边缘皮层、左侧颗粒状岛叶皮层灰质体积和双侧丘脑白质体积呈负相关，与右侧海马CA1脑区和左侧丘脑灰质体积呈正相关.以上脑区的结构特征，能够作为尼古丁易感的生物标志物，在个体接触尼古丁之前预测其尼古丁依赖风险，对易感人群进行有针对性的早期干预.     

Sexual dimorphism in the human brain: evidence from neuroimaging

In recent years, more and more emphasis has been placed on the investigation of sex differences in the human brain. Noninvasive neuroimaging techniques represent an essential tool in the effort to better understand the effects of sex on both brain structure and function. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the findings that were collected in human neuroimaging studies in vivo thus far: we explore sexual dimorphism in the human brain at the level of (1) brain structure, in both gray and white matter, observed by voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), respectively; (2) baseline neural activity, studied using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET); (3) neurochemistry, visualized by means of neuroreceptor ligand PET; and (4) task-related neural activation, investigated using fMRI. Functional MRI findings from the literature are complemented by our own meta-analysis of fMRI studies on sex-specific differences in human emotional processing. Specifically, we used activation likelihood estimation (ALE) to provide a quantitative approach to mapping the consistency of neural networks involved in emotional processing across studies. The presented evidence for sex-specific differences in neural structure and function highlights the importance of modeling sex as a contributing factor in the analysis of brain-related data.     

新型Gd基T2造影剂的制备和应用

设计并合成了结构为TPP-Lys（Acp-DOTA-Gd）-COOH（简称Gd-DOTA-TPP）的小分子磁共振探针,通过电转染的方式用探针标记人源脐带间充质干细胞（hMSCs）.11.7 T磁共振成像（MRI）扫描结果表明,Gd-DOTA-TPP标记的hMSCs在细胞内Gd含量为9×10⁹ Gd/cell时,T₂加权信号强度即可低至背景信号强度,呈现较强暗信号.将Gd-DOTA-TPP标记的hMSCs移植入小鼠脑室,可明显提高移植干细胞在MRI设备上的检测灵敏度,检测限可低至10³个细胞.     

1.5 T磁共振化学交换饱和转移成像的影响因素分析

本文探讨1.5 T磁共振化学交换饱和转移（Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer,CEST）成像的影响因素.通过试管模型和临床病例,采用GE Signa HDe 1.5 T磁共振成像（Magnetic Resonance Imaging,MRI）扫描仪分别进行不同矩阵、激励次数、翻转角、磁化传递翻转角的CEST成像对比分析,以及不同激励次数、磁化传递翻转角的Z谱分析,并从成像组织、成像设备、成像技术等方面对原始图信号、酰胺质子转移（Amide Proton Transfer,APT）信号及Z谱进行分析研究.实验结果表明1.5 T MRI扫描仪的CEST图像信噪比相对较低,且磁场稳定性及均匀度影响了CEST成像的效果.在其他参数不变的情况下,降低采集矩阵和增加激励次数与翻转角可以增加原始图像信噪比.磁化传递翻转角为105°时,CEST成像效果最好.激励次数为2、磁化传递翻转角为105°时,所得数据符合组织Z谱情况.模型Z谱在磁化传递频率为-294~-194 Hz范围可显示30%谷氨酸（Glu）、碘剂（I₃₂₀）、纯水（H₂O）、肌酸（Cr）的信号差异,与H₂O差异最大处在-244~-214 Hz.原始图像信号30% I₃₂₀明显高于Glu、H₂O、Cr,Cr略低于Glu,APT图Cr略低于Glu.25例脑肿瘤的APT图呈高信号、12例脑梗塞的APT图呈低信号,CEST原始图像均可区分病变区域.有12例因采集时间、患者配合情况、环境及室温等影响导致CEST成像的失败.由此得出1.5 T场强下,CEST技术受到成像组织、设备、技术等因素的影响,需要进行多方面优化.在保证磁场稳定性及均匀度的情况下,优化参数的CEST成像和Z谱成像可以区分代谢物及其浓度.     

MRI gradient fields increase brain mannitol space

Following nephrectomy and intravenous injection of tritiated mannitol, adult male rats were exposed to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures at 1.5 T, 0.5 T, and 0.3 T. Compared to rats similarly handled but not exposed to MRI procedures, brain mannitol concentration, expressed as a percentage of mean body concentration, was significantly increased at 0.3 T and 0.5 T but not at 1.5 T. At 0.3 T, exposure to gradient-field fluctuations used for imaging increased brain mannitol concentration, but exposures to static main field and pulsed radiofrequency energies did not. Increased brain mannitol associated with gradient-field flux may reflect increased blood-brain barrier permeability or blood volume in brain. MRI effects on brain mannitol space are of uncertain clinical significance, but are consistent with prior evidence of an MRI-induced increase of brain capillary endothelial cell transport observed with horseradish peroxidase. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to explore the processes underlying changes in mannitol distribution related to MRI.     

Complementary aspects of diffusion imaging and fMRI; I: structure and function

Studying the intersection of brain structure and function is an important aspect of modern neuroscience. The development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) over the last 25 years has provided new and powerful tools for the study of brain structure and function. Two tools in particular, diffusion imaging and functional MRI (fMRI), are playing increasingly important roles in elucidating the complementary aspects of brain structure and function. In this work, we review basic technical features of diffusion imaging and fMRI for studying the integrity of white matter structural components and for determining the location and extent of cortical activation in gray matter, respectively. We then review a growing body of literature in which the complementary aspects of diffusion imaging and fMRI, applied as separate examinations but analyzed in tandem, have been exploited to enhance our knowledge of brain structure and function.     

Microtesla MRI of the human brain combined with MEG

One of the challenges in functional brain imaging is integration of complementary imaging modalities, such as magnetoencephalography (MEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). MEG, which uses highly sensitive superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) to directly measure magnetic fields of neuronal currents, cannot be combined with conventional high-field MRI in a single instrument. Indirect matching of MEG and MRI data leads to significant co-registration errors. A recently proposed imaging method--SQUID-based microtesla MRI--can be naturally combined with MEG in the same system to directly provide structural maps for MEG-localized sources. It enables easy and accurate integration of MEG and MRI/fMRI, because microtesla MR images can be precisely matched to structural images provided by high-field MRI and other techniques. Here we report the first images of the human brain by microtesla MRI, together with auditory MEG (functional) data, recorded using the same seven-channel SQUID system during the same imaging session. The images were acquired at 46 microT measurement field with pre-polarization at 30 mT. We also estimated transverse relaxation times for different tissues at microtesla fields. Our results demonstrate feasibility and potential of human brain imaging by microtesla MRI. They also show that two new types of imaging equipment--low-cost systems for anatomical MRI of the human brain at microtesla fields, and more advanced instruments for combined functional (MEG) and structural (microtesla MRI) brain imaging--are practical.     

Aberrant default mode network in subjects with amnestic mild cognitive impairment using resting-state functional MRI

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is a syndrome associated with faster memory decline than normal aging and frequently represents the prodromal phase of Alzheimer's disease. When a person is not actively engaged in a goal-directed task, spontaneous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals can reveal functionally connected brain networks, including the so-called default mode network (DMN). To date, only a few studies have investigated DMN functions in aMCI populations. In this study, group-independent component analysis was conducted for resting-state fMRI data, with slices acquired perpendicular to the long axis of the hippocampus, from eight subjects with aMCI and eight normal control subjects. Subjects with aMCI showed an increased DMN activity in middle cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex and left inferior parietal cortex compared to the normal control group. Decreased DMN activity for the aMCI group compared to the normal control group was noted in lateral prefrontal cortex, left medial temporal lobe (MTL), left medial temporal gyrus, posterior cingulate cortex/retrosplenial cortex/precuneus and right angular gyrus. Although MTL volume difference between the two groups was not statistically significant, a decreased activity in left MTL was observed for the aMCI group. Positive correlations between the DMN activity and memory scores were noted for left lateral prefrontal cortex, left medial temporal gyrus and right angular gyrus. These findings support the premise that alterations of the DMN occur in aMCI and may indicate deficiencies in functional, intrinsic brain architecture that correlate with memory function, even before significant MTL atrophy is detectable by structural MRI.     

Ictal imaging using functional magnetic resonance

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can now provide maps of human brain function with high spatial and temporal resolution. This noninvasive technique can also map the coritical activation that occurs during focal seizures, as demonstrated here by the results obtained using a conventional 1.5 T clinical MRI system for the investigation of a 4-year-old boy suffering from frequent partial motor seizures of his right side. FLASH images (TE = 60 ms) were acquired every 10 s over a period of 25 min, and activation images derived by subtracting baseline images from images obtained during clinical seizures. Functional MRI revealed sequential activation associated with specific gyri within the left hemisphere with each of five consecutive clinical seizures, and also during a period that was not associated with a detectable clinical seizure. The activated regions included gyri that were structurally abnormal. These results demonstrate (a) that functional MRI can potentially provide new insights into the dynamic events that occur in the epileptic brain and their relationship to brain structure; and (b) that there is the possibility of obtaining similar information in the absence of clinical seizures, suggesting the potential for studies in patients with interictal electrical disturbances.