High-field localized 1H NMR spectroscopy in the anesthetized and in the awake monkey

Localized cerebral in vivo ¹H NMR spectroscopy (MRS) was performed in the anesthetized as well as the awake monkey using a novel vertical 7 T/60 cm MR system. The increased sensitivity and spectral dispersion gained at high field enabled the quantification of up to 16 metabolites in 0.1- to 1-ml volumes. Quantification was accomplished by using simulations of 18 metabolite spectra and a macromolecule (MM) background spectrum consisting of 12 components. Major cerebral metabolites (concentrations >3 mM) such as glutamate (Glu), N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr)/phosphocreatine (PCr) and myo-inositol (Ins) were identified with an error below 3%; most other metabolites were quantified with errors in the order of 10%. Metabolite ratios were 1.39:1 for total NAA, 1.38:1 for glutamate (Glu)/glutamine (Gln) and 0.09:1 for cholines (Cho) relative to total Cr. Taurine (Tau) was detectable at concentrations lower than 1 mM, while lactate (Lac) remained below the detection limit. The spectral dispersion was sufficient to separate metabolites of similar spectral patterns, such as Gln and Glu, N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) and NAA, and PCr–Cr. MRS in the awake monkey required the development and refinement of acquisition and correction strategies to minimize magnetic susceptibility artifacts induced by respiration and movement of the mouth or body. Periods with major motion artifacts were rejected, while a frequency/phase correction was performed on the remaining single spectra before averaging. In resting periods, both spectral amplitude and line width, that is, the voxel shim, were unaffected permitting reliable measurements. The corrected spectra obtained from the awake monkey afforded the reliable detection of 6–10 cerebral metabolites of 1-ml volumes.     

Three-dimensional H spectroscopic imaging of cerebral metabolites in the rat using surface coils

Three dimensional metabolite maps of protonated metabolites were obtained using ¹H magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging at 7 T. Surface coils were used to increase sensitivity and spatial resolution significantly over a volume coil two-dimensional acquisition. Adiabatic pulses were employed to provide homogeneous B₁ excitation and frequency selective refocusing over the volume of the rat brain. These techniques were employed to obtain three-dimensional spectroscopic imaging spectra from nominal voxel volumes of 9–30 μl from rat brain. The improved spatial resolution and sensitivity are also demonstrated with studies of focal ischemia in the rat.     

Pionic K X-rays in liquid He

Energies and lorentzian widths of pionic K X-ray transitions have been measured in liquid ³He with improved accuracy. The strong interaction on the π³He 1s level is found to be attractive and to produce an increase in the K transition energies of 34 ± 4 eV; the measured lorentzian width is 36 ±7 eV. Measured values are also presented for K X-ray energies in liquid π⁴He and μ⁴He, the lorentzian width of the 1s level in π⁴He, and relative intensities of K X-ray transitions in π³He, π⁴He and μ⁴He. The measurements are compared with those of others and with recent theoretical calculations.     

H MR spectroscopy monitoring of changes in choline peak area and line shape after Gd-contrast administration

Fifteen percent loss in the peak area of choline containing compounds (Cho) was recently observed in ¹H MR spectra of contrast-enhancing tumor at 5–10 min after Gd-contrast administration [Magn. Reson. Med. 37:222–225, 1997]. In this study, chemical shift imaging (CSI, 1500/135 ms PRESS) was used to assess the spectral changes in 47 Gd-enhancing glial brain tumors and metastatic brain tumors measured at 0–5, 5–10, and/or 10–15 min after administration of Gd-contrast. Percent Cho peak area losses measured at these times, 3 ± 3, 12 ± 2, and 14 ± 3 SEM, respectively, coincided with trends of line narrowing and up-field shift of the Cho peak. Significant changes in creatine and N-acetyl acetate signals were not observed. It is concluded that the Gd-induced loss of tumor Cho signal measured after 5 min, typically required for post contrast-MRI and the positioning of the CSI volume on tumor, shows little further change with time, if any.     

Quadrupole interactions in pionic and muonic tantalum and rhenium

The hyperfine splitting of pionic and muonic X-rays in natural Re has been studied using the known ratio (accurate to 1.6 parts in 10⁵) of the quadrupole moments of the two naturally occurring ¹⁸⁵Re and ¹⁸⁷Re isotopes. From the hyperfine splitting of the ⁵g → 4f and 4f → 3d pionic X-rays the effective quadrupole hyperfine constants were determined to be ¹⁸⁷A₂^eff(4f) = 1.163 ± 0.010 keV and ¹⁸⁷A₂^eff(3d) = 5.39 ± 0.63 keV, giving strong interaction quadrupole shifts ₂(4f) = 46 ± 10 eV and ₂(3d) = 1.3 ± 0.6 keV. The strong interaction monopole shifts ₀ and widths Γ₀ of the 5g, 4f and 3d levels have also been measured. For the two higher orbits, standard optical-potential calculations fit the measured shifts and widths quite well. The observed deeper-lying 3d state, however, has shifts and widths that differ by a factor of 2 or more from the predictions. From the measured quadrupole hyperfine constants of the 4f level we calculate the spectroscopic quadrupole moments to be ¹⁸⁷Q^μ(gm) = 2.09 ± 0.04 b, ¹⁸⁷Q^π = 2.07 ± 0.02 b, ¹⁸⁵Q^μ = 2.21 ± 0.04 b, and ¹⁸⁵Q^π = 2.1 addition, muonic X-rays from ¹⁸¹Ta were observed; using the same methods for determining the quadrupole moment as above, a value of ¹⁸¹Q^μ = 3.28 ± 0.06 b was obtained, in good agreement with earlier published data.     

Alzheimer''s disease histologically proven studied by MRI and MRS: Two cases

Two patients affected by severe Alzheimer's disease (AD) were investigated by MRI and image-guided ³¹P MRS. In one case, ¹H MRS was additionally performed. In both cases the diagnosis of AD was confirmed, post mortem, by the pathologist. The spectral parameters of the ³¹P MR spectra were estimated by fitting the ³¹P MR signals in the time domain. Our ³¹P MRS results suggest that it is possible to detect the membrane catabolism, as indexed with the level of PDE resonances visible in in vivo ³¹P MRS, at least in severe AD cases. The ¹H spectrum from AD brain showed a marked decrease of NAA signal respect to choline.     

Escape of charged particles at stopping annihilation of antiprotons in the heavy nuclei of nuclear photoemulsion

“Rare” annihilation channels for antiprotons stopping on heavy (Ag, Br) nuclei of photoemulsion, have been sought; 4872 stops of antiprotons on photoemulsion nuclei are analysed. Events of formation and decay of the hyperfragment _Λ⁴H, escape of ⁸He and ⁸Li nuclei, one-prong stars with the mean range 79.5±5.1 μm of secondary slow “b” particles are found among the annihilation stars at capture on nuclei (Ag, Br). The lower limits for the production probability of _Λ⁴H and ⁸He, ⁸Li nuclei per antiproton stopping in the nuclei (Ag, Br) are

W_Λ⁴H2×10⁻⁴ and W_⁸He,⁸Li=(1.3±0.6)×10⁻³.

The branching ratio for the production of one-prong stars with the secondary “b” particles is at least (1.3±0.6)×10⁻³. Possible mechanisms for a production of these events in annihilation processes are considered.     

In vivo 1H NMR spectroscopy of individual human brain metabolites at moderate field strengths

This article reviews spectral editing techniques for in vivo ¹H NMR spectroscopy of human brain tissue at moderate field strengths of 1.5–3 Tesla. Various aspects of ¹H NMR spectroscopy are discussed with regard to in vivo applications. The parameter set [δ, J, n] (δ being the relative chemical shift, J the scalar coupling constant and n the number of coupled spins) is used to characterize the spin systems under investigation and to classify the editing techniques that are used in in vivo ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Measurement of the directional emittance of polycrystalline beryllium oxide

The spectral emittance of polycrystalline beryllium oxide has been measured at four different angles from 0° to 75°, at a temperature of 150°C. From the spectral measurements the average band emittance in the 8–13 μm window has been calculated. The results show that the band emittance decreases from 0.44 at the angle of 0°, down to 0.23 at an angle 75° off the normal. The low band emittance is caused by a strong reststrahlen band in the wavelength region 9.2–14 μm. This reststrahlen band has been modelled by a Lorentz one-oscillator model. Experiment and calculations show that this band of low emittance increases its width towards shorter wavelengths at inclined angles and covers almost the entire upper atmospheric window 8–13 μm at the angle of 75°.     

Hydrogen distribution in oxynitride/oxide structures

Silicon oxynitride films with five different O/N ratios were deposited with low pressure chemical vapor deposition on a silicon substrate covered with an oxide. The films were subjected to subsequent post-deposition anneals in N₂ and H₂ at 1000°C, and a H plasma at 300°C to obtain information about the hydrogen chemistry. The overall film compositions were determined with elastic recoil detection. The resonant reaction ¹⁵N(¹H, γ)¹²C was used to obtain hydrogen depth profiles. The hydrogen depth profiles are characterized by a value for the bulk concentration and width of the interfacial region. We found that the stability of the hydrogen in the bulk has a maximum for O/N ≈ 0.32. From the measured interfacial widths we deduced that for low values of O/N the stability of hydrogen in the interfacial region is relatively large. For intermediate values of O/N the stability of the hydrogen in the bulk and the interfacial region do not differ significantly, while for high O/N a relatively low stability of the interfacial hydrogen is observed. The O/N dependence of the stability of the interfacial hydrogen is consistent with the bulk stability if we assume that the interfacial oxynitride is oxygen enriched as compared to the bulk oxygen concentration.     

脑科学研究中的质子磁共振波谱方法

核磁共振（NMR）波谱作为一种操作简单、高效且重复性良好的技术手段,在脑科学领域的应用日益广泛,尤其是离体核磁共振氢谱（¹H NMR）和活体核磁共振氢谱（¹H MRS）.¹H NMR和¹H MRS在实验设计、样品预处理、数据处理等方面各有优劣、各擅胜场.本综述主要从适用范围、样品预处理、数据处理分析等方面,对二者在方法学层面的研究现状进行总结和讨论,以期为脑科学领域的研究者进行大脑代谢相关研究时提供一定的参考和帮助.     

H double-quantum filtered MR imaging of joints tissues: bound water specific imaging of tendons, ligaments and cartilage

The ¹H double-quantum filtered (DQF) NMR and DQF MRI is applied to the joint tissues of rabbits for selective visualization of tendons, menisci and articular cartilage. The ¹H DQF NMR selectively filters double-quantum coherence arising from the ¹H dipolar interaction of the “bound” water in these tissues. The double-quantum creation time dependency of the DQF signal intensity is determined by the molecular environment of the “bound” water. Therefore, each tissue has a unique creation time at which the DQF signal reaches its maximum intensity, τ_max (Achilles tendon: 0.46 ± 0.02 ms, patella: 0.55 ± 0.8 ms, anterior cruciate ligament: 0.60 ± 0.05 ms, meniscus: 0.78 ± 0.02 ms, skin: 0.81 ± 0.07 ms). We have presented the creation-time-contrasted DQF images of the meniscus, patella, foot, and knee joint. Compared with conventional T₂*-weighted gradient-echo (GRE) MR images, tendons, ligaments, menisci, and articular cartilage were more clearly seen in the DQF MR images. All these tissues were distinctly discriminated from each other by their creation times. DQF MR images of foot and knee joints can selectively demonstrated tendons, ligaments, and cartilage, which make it easier to understand the complicated anatomic structure of joints. Because the DQF NMR signal intensity and τ_max are sensitive to the order structure of the “bound” water, it might be possible to introduce the creation-time dependent-contrast of ¹H DQF MR images as a new tool for analyzing the changes in the ordered structure of the tissue.     

In vivo 31P MRS of human brain at high/ultrahigh fields: a quantitative comparison of NMR detection sensitivity and spectral resolution between 4 T and 7 T

The primary goal of this study was to establish a rigorous approach for determining and comparing the NMR detection sensitivity of in vivo ³¹P MRS at different field strengths (B₀). This was done by calculating the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) achieved within a unit sampling time at a given field strength. In vivo ³¹P spectra of human occipital lobe were acquired at 4 and 7 T under similar experimental conditions. They were used to measure the improvement of the human brain ³¹P MRS when the field strength increases from 4 to 7 T. The relaxation times and line widths of the phosphocreatine (PCr) resonance peak and the RF coil quality factors (Q) were also measured at these two field strengths. Their relative contributions to SNR at a given field strength were analyzed and discussed. The results show that in vivo ³¹P sensitivity was significantly improved at 7 T as compared with 4 T. Moreover, the line-width of the PCr resonance peak showed less than a linear increase with increased B₀, which leads to a significant improvement in ³¹P spectral resolution. These findings indicate the advantage of high-field strength to improve in vivo ³¹P MRS quality in both sensitivity and spectral resolution. This advantage should improve the reliability and applicability of in vivo ³¹P MRS in studying high-energy phosphate metabolism, phospholipid metabolism and cerebral biogenetics in the human at both normal and diseased states noninvasively. Finally, the approach used in this study for calculating in vivo ³¹P MRS sensitivity provides a general tool in estimating the relative NMR detection sensitivity for any nuclear spin at a given field strength.     

Cross sections for the photoproduction of Al and Al from phosphorus

Bremsstrahlung activation curves were measured for the reactions ³¹P(γ, 2p)²⁹Al and ³¹P(γ, 2pn)²⁸Al in 0.5 MeV steps from 23.0 to 62.0 MeV. The cross sections obtained from these curves show peaks at 32.6 ± 0.7 MeV, 41.2 ± 0.8 MeV and 51.0 ± 1.5 MeV for both reactions. The cross section integrated to 62 MeV for the (γ, 2p) reaction is 5.6 ± 0.6 MeV · mb and for the (γ, 2pn) reaction is 7.6 ± 0.8 MeV · mb.     

1H MRS评价长期胰岛素治疗1型糖尿病大鼠海马代谢物的变化

本研究应用质子磁共振波谱（¹H MRS）技术对链脲佐菌素（STZ）诱导的1型糖尿病（T1DM）大鼠及长期胰岛素治疗的T1DM大鼠单侧海马的代谢物进行了分析. 结果发现,与对照组大鼠及胰岛素治疗组大鼠相比,T1DM模型组大鼠空腹血糖显著升高,体重显著降低（p < 0.05）.T1DM模型组肌醇（Ins）、牛磺酸（Tau）与谷氨酸（Glu）浓度较对照组显著升高（p = 0.000、p = 0.003、p = 0.014）.胰岛素治疗组Ins与Tau浓度较T1DM模型组显著降低（p = 0.000、p = 0.010）,与对照组无差别;而Glu、谷氨酸和谷氨酰胺（Glx）浓度较对照组显著升高（p = 0.007、p = 0.042）.本文结果表明T1DM大鼠海马区代谢物Ins浓度与Tau浓度对胰岛素治疗敏感.     

Application of spectroscopic imaging in epilepsy

Functional and anatomical neuroimaging has had a dramatic effect on the evaluation of patients for seizure surgery. The demonstration by PET that the epileptogenic focus has interictal metabolic abnormalities has allowed a greater number of patients to come to seizure surgery, with fewer of these patients requiring intracranial electrode evaluations. Metabolic changes have also been demonstrated utilizing single voxel and whole brain ¹H and ³¹P MRS imaging techniques with the interictal focus characterized by increased Pi, pH, and decreased PME and NAA. These findings can be used to accurately lateralize temporal lobe as well as frontal lobe epilepsy. Furthermore, there is evidence that these findings can be used to localize the seizure focus with the changes specific for the epileptogenic region; although, more diffuse changes both ipsilaterally and contralaterally have been seen. In patients with anterior hippocampal seizure foci the pH is significantly alkaline only in the ipsilateral hippocampus, whereas the increased Pi and decreased PME can be seen throughout the ipsilateral temporal lobe. When compared to controls the contralateral hemisphere is acidotic. Decreased NAA concentrations as well as NAA/Cr ratios have been demonstrated in the epileptogenic region in temporal and frontal lobe epilepsy. The decreased NAA has been correlated with the severity of cell loss, and may be a more sensitive measure than qualitative or quantitative measures of the hippocampal atrophy; however, the NAA decrease is more widespread than just the epileptogenic focus but may be maximal at the site of seizure initiation. In preliminary work, NAA maps of deviation from normality have suggested the maximal change to coincide with the epileptogenic region. These results suggest that in focal epilepsy there is abnormal metabolic activity throughout the brain detectable by MRS, with patterns of metabolic asymmetry that are useful for seizure localization.     

The uptake of Mn-DPDP by hepatocytes is not mediated by the facilitated transport of pyridoxine

Manganese-dipyridoxal diphosphate (Mn-DPDP) is a liver-selective contrast agent selectively taken up by the hepatocytes. Because of the analogy of structure with pyridoxine (vitamin B₆), it was previously suggested that this compound can be selectively taken up by the facilitated transport of vitamers B₆. To understand the uptake mechanism, an in vivo binding study was performed based on a competition between ⁵⁴Mn-DPDP and pyridoxine on the one hand, and Mn-DPDP and [³H]pyridoxine on the other. We found that the [³H]pyridoxine levels in the liver were not significantly different 5 min after intravenous administration of several doses of Mn-DPDP (5 nmol/kg to 50 μmol/kg): 5.0 ± 0.3% of the injected dose/g tissue. The content of ⁵⁴Mn (administered as ⁵⁴Mn-DPDP) in the liver was not affected by a saturation dose of pyridoxine (1 mmol/kg) and was found to be constant (±10% of the injected dose/g tissue) for 60 min. These experiments showed that the uptake of Mn-DPDP is not mediated by the transporter of pyridoxine.     

Fission of Th and U in the interaction with negative muons

Muon-induced fission of ²³²Th and ²³⁸U was studied, measuring the time correlation between stopping muons, fission events and electrons.

The measured muon lifetimes are τ_μ(²³²Th) = 77.3±0.3 ns and τ_μ(²³⁸U) = 77.1±0.2 ns. After prompt fission the muon was found to be attached predominantly to the heavy fragment with a lifetime for ²³²Th of 132±7 ns and for ²³⁸U of 134±4 ns. The probability for muon conversion was found to be a few percent per fission event.

Indications were found that the muonic shape isomer is populated in ²³⁸U when the nucleus is excited in a radiationless muonic transition.     

Dosimetry of 40 and 70 MeV/n O beams

Using CR-39 plastic track detectors the range values of ¹⁶O ions at two different energies (initially in the beam line, 39.97 MeV/n and 69.98 MeV/n) were measured after escaping the beam pipe and found to be (3050 ± 40) μm and (8210 ± 90) μm, respectively. The longitudinal and projected angular spread of oxygen ions of an initial energy of 69.98 MeV/n in the region of the Bragg peak was derived from the measured geometrical parameters of tracks. Based on a calibration curve (etch rate ratio vs total linear energy transfer in CR-39) and the measured track length distribution at the range end of oxygen ions, the complete depth dose profile of a 67.7 MeV/n ¹⁶O beam in CR-39 (plateau, extended Bragg peak and residual ionization caused by projectile like fragments) was obtained.     

Reversible H2 passivation of Si ≡ Si3 interface defects in (1 1 1)Si/SiO2

K-band electron spin resonance (ESR) at 4.3 K has revealed the dipole-dipole (DD) interaction effects between [1 1 1]P_b centers (^*Si ≡ Si₃ defects with unpaired sp³ hybrid [1 1 1]) at the 2 dimensional (1 1 1)Si/SiO₂ interface. This has been enabled by the perfectly reversible H₂ passivation of P_b, which affects the defect's spin state. Sequential hydrogenation at 253–353°C and degassing treatments in high vacuum at 743–835°C allowed to vary the P_b density in the range 5 × 10¹⁰ < [P_b] (1.14 ± 0.06) × 10¹³ cm^-2. With increasing [P_b] fine structure doublets are clearly resolved. It is found that (1 1 1)Si/SiO₂ interfaces, dry thermally grown at ≈920°C, naturally comprise a ^*Si ≡ Si₃ defect density — passivated or not — of 1.14 × 10¹³ cm^-2.