In vivo MR tractography of thigh muscles using diffusion imaging: initial results

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a neuroimaging MR technique, which allows in vivo and non-destructive visualization of myeloarchitectonics in the neural tissue and provides quantitative estimates of WM integrity by measuring molecular diffusion. It is based on the phenomenon of diffusion anisotropy in the nerve tissue, in that water molecules diffuse faster along the neural fibre direction and slower in the fibre-transverse direction. On the basis of their topographic location, trajectory, and areas that interconnect the various fibre systems of the mammalian brain are divided into commissural, projectional and association fibre systems. DTI has opened an entirely new window on the white matter anatomy with both clinical and scientific applications. Its utility is found in both the localization and the quantitative assessment of specific neuronal pathways. The potential of this technique to address connectivity in the human brain is not without a few methodological limitations. A wide spectrum of diffusion imaging paradigms and computational tractography algorithms has been explored in recent years, which established DTI as promising new avenue, for the non-invasive in vivo mapping of structural connectivity at the macroscale level. Further improvements in the spatial resolution of DTI may allow this technique to be applied in the near future for mapping connectivity also at the mesoscale level. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njr.v1i1.6330 Nepalese Journal of Radiology Vol.1(1): 78-91

Download Full-text

MITK Diffusion Imaging

Methods of Information in Medicine ◽

10.3414/me11-02-0031 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 51 (05) ◽

pp. 441-448 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

P. F. Neher ◽

I. Reicht ◽

T. van Bruggen ◽

C. Goch ◽

M. Reisert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Data Processing ◽

Open Source ◽

High Performance ◽

Diffusion Imaging ◽

Software Tool ◽

Brain Anatomy ◽

Sustainable Evaluation ◽

Imaging Research ◽

Interactive Data

SummaryBackground: Diffusion-MRI provides a unique window on brain anatomy and insights into aspects of tissue structure in living humans that could not be studied previously. There is a major effort in this rapidly evolving field of research to develop the algorithmic tools necessary to cope with the complexity of the datasets.Objectives: This work illustrates our strategy that encompasses the development of a modularized and open software tool for data processing, visualization and interactive exploration in diffusion imaging research and aims at reinforcing sustainable evaluation and progress in the field.Methods: In this paper, the usability and capabilities of a new application and toolkit component of the Medical Imaging and Interaction Toolkit (MITK, www.mitk.org), MITKDI, are demonstrated using in-vivo datasets.Results: MITK-DI provides a comprehensive software framework for high-performance data processing, analysis and interactive data exploration, which is designed in a modular, extensible fashion (using CTK) and in adherence to widely accepted coding standards (e.g. ITK, VTK). MITK-DI is available both as an open source software development toolkit and as a ready-to-use in stallable application.Conclusions: The open source release of the modular MITK-DI tools will increase verifiability and comparability within the research community and will also be an important step towards bringing many of the current techniques towards clinical application.

Download Full-text

Initial results of in vivo high-resolution morphological and biochemical cartilage imaging of patients after matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte transplantation (MACT) of the ankle

Skeletal Radiology ◽

10.1007/s00256-009-0682-1 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 38 (8) ◽

pp. 751-760 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

Sebastian Quirbach ◽

Siegfried Trattnig ◽

Stefan Marlovits ◽

Valentin Zimmermann ◽

Stephan Domayer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation ◽

Chondrocyte Transplantation ◽

Cartilage Imaging ◽

Initial Results ◽

Autologous Chondrocyte

Download Full-text

IN VIVO ANDROGEN BINDING IN RAT SKELETAL AND PERINEAL MUSCLES

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0910362 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 91 (2) ◽

pp. 362-372 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

France T. Dionne ◽

Jean Y. Dubé ◽

Renée L. Lesage ◽

Roland R. Tremblay

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscles ◽

Sucrose Gradient ◽

Reductase Activity ◽

High Rate ◽

Ventral Prostate ◽

Target Tissue ◽

Thigh Muscles ◽

Reference Target ◽

Androgen Binding

ABSTRACT In vivo binding of [3H] testosterone2), [3H]5α-dihydrotestosterone and [3H]3α-androstanediol to cytosolic and nuclear fractions of LA/BC and thigh muscles has been studied in functionally hepatectomized castrated rats following a 1 h infusion of the labelled steroid. The identification of metabolites formed from each steroid has also been determined in tissue cytosols. In each experiment, ventral prostate was used as reference target tissue. After [3H] testosterone and [3H]5α-dihydrotestosterone perfusions, cytosolic binding could be demonstrated in a 8–10S peak on sucrose gradient with LA/BC and ventral prostate or in the macromolecular fraction after filtration through Sephadex G-25 with thigh muscles. In both types of muscles, [3H]5α-dihydrotestosterone binding represented only one tenth of [3H] testosterone binding. This behaviour seems to be related to the high rate of 5α-dihydrotestosterone metabolism observed in these tissues; testosterone, on the contrary, was not metabolized. After [3H]3α-androstanediol perfusion, cytosolic [3H] androgen binding in LA/BC and in thigh muscles was almost non-existent. In muscles [3H]3α-androstanediol remained essentially unconverted. In ventral prostate, with every hormone studied level of cytosolic binding was comparable. It was observed that in this tissue [3H] testosterone and [3H]3α-androstanediol were metabolized into [3H]5α-dihydrotestosterone. Androgen binding to 0.4 m KCl extracted nuclear proteins has been demonstrated in ventral prostate as a 3.5–4.5S binding peak on sucrose gradient and this with each steroid perfused. In LA/BC, only [3H] testosterone gave a well defined binding peak. In thigh muscles, levels of nuclear binding were too low to be determined. In summary, these results suggest that rat perineal and skeletal muscles possess cytosolic androgen binding proteins similar to those found in ventral prostate. However, it appears that steroid metabolism is quite different in ventral prostate and muscles with respect to presence of 5α-reductase activity and extent of conversion of 5α-dihydrotestosterone into androstanediols. These differences may explain why, in vivo, muscles bind testosterone instead of 5α-dihydrotestosterone as in ventral prostate.

Download Full-text

In Vivo Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Tractography of Human Thigh Muscles in Healthy Subjects

American Journal of Roentgenology ◽

10.2214/ajr.09.3368 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 195 (5) ◽

pp. W352-W356 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Erwan Kermarrec ◽

Jean-François Budzik ◽

Chadi Khalil ◽

Vianney Le Thuc ◽

Caroline Hancart-Destee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Thigh Muscles

Download Full-text

Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis: In Vivo Morphologic Characterization with Gadolinium-enhanced Double-oblique MR Imaging—Initial Results

Radiology ◽

10.1148/radiol.2232010659 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 223 (2) ◽

pp. 566-573 ◽

Cited By ~ 245

Author(s):

Bruce A. Wasserman ◽

William I. Smith ◽

Hugh H. Trout ◽

Richard O. Cannon ◽

Robert S. Balaban ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carotid Artery ◽

Mr Imaging ◽

Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis ◽

Initial Results

Download Full-text

Proton Spectroscopy of the Pediatric Brain

Rivista di Neuroradiologia ◽

10.1177/19714009920050s102 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 5 (1_suppl) ◽

pp. 5-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

R.A. Zimmerman ◽

Z. Wang

Keyword(s):

Biochemical Markers ◽

Pediatric Patients ◽

Imaging Findings ◽

Proton Spectroscopy ◽

New Era ◽

Tissue Abnormalities ◽

Future Evaluation ◽

Pediatric Brain ◽

Initial Results

Initial results from proton spectroscopy performed on the brains of 80 pediatric patients indicate both a research and clinical investigative role for MRS in the future evaluation of pediatric patients. Proton spectroscopy in the evaluation of pediatric brain disease is only in its infancy. However, even though the number of cases that have been studied is not great, its value as a window into in vivo biochemistry is already obvious. The ability to correlate biochemical markers to imaging findings opens up a new era in magnetic resonance research. Proton spectroscopy remains a research tool, but one that has proven to be of value by adding in vivo biochemical information regarding tissue abnormalities seen and not seen on MRI.

Download Full-text