Nonaqueous magnetization following adiabatic and selective pulses in brain: T1 and cross-relaxation dynamics.

Inversion pulses are commonly employed in MRI for -weighted contrast and relaxation measurements. In the brain, it is often assumed that adiabatic pulses saturate the nonaqueous magnetization. We investigated this assumption using solid-state NMR to monitor the nonaqueous signal directly following adiabatic inversion and compared this with signals following hard and soft inversion pulses.

Predictive Value of Acute Neuroplastic Response to rTMS in Treatment Outcome in Depression: A Concurrent TMS-fMRI Trial.

Objective: The study objective was to investigate the predictive value of functional connectivity changes induced by acute repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for clinical response in treatment-resistant depression.

Methods: Cross-sectional changes in functional connectivity induced by a single concurrent rTMS-fMRI session were assessed in 38 outpatients with treatment-resistant depression (26 of them female; mean age, 41.87 years) who subsequently underwent a 4-week course of rTMS.

Frequency drift in MR spectroscopy at 3T.

Purpose: Heating of gradient coils and passive shim components is a common cause of instability in the B field, especially when gradient intensive sequences are used. The aim of the study was to set a benchmark for typical drift encountered during MR spectroscopy (MRS) to assess the need for real-time field-frequency locking on MRI scanners by comparing field drift data from a large number of sites.

Method: A standardized protocol was developed for 80 participating sites using 99 3T MR scanners from 3 major vendors.

Cross-validation study between the HRRT and the PET component of the SIGNA PET/MRI system with focus on neuroimaging.

Background: The Siemens high-resolution research tomograph (HRRT - a dedicated brain PET scanner) is to this day one of the highest resolution PET scanners; thus, it can serve as useful benchmark when evaluating performance of newer scanners. Here, we report results from a cross-validation study between the HRRT and the whole-body GE SIGNA PET/MR focusing on brain imaging. Phantom data were acquired to determine recovery coefficients (RCs), % background variability (%BG), and image voxel noise (%).

An International Standardized Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocol for Diagnosis and Follow-up of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Advocacy, Dissemination, and Implementation Strategies.

Standardized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols are important for the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) convened an international panel of MRI experts to review and update the current guidelines. The objective was to update the standardized MRI protocol and clinical guidelines for diagnosis and follow-up of MS and develop strategies for advocacy, dissemination, and implementation.

Multi-spin echo T relaxation imaging with compressed sensing (METRICS) for rapid myelin water imaging.

Purpose: Myelin water imaging (MWI) provides a valuable biomarker for myelin, but clinical application has been restricted by long acquisition times. Accelerating the standard multi-echo T acquisition with gradient echoes (GRASE) or by 2D multi-slice data collection results in image blurring, contrast changes, and other issues. Compressed sensing (CS) can vastly accelerate conventional MRI.

Myelin Water Fraction and Intra/Extracellular Water Geometric Mean T Normative Atlases for the Cervical Spinal Cord from 3T MRI.

Background And Purpose: Acquiring and interpreting quantitative myelin-specific MRI data at an individual level is challenging because of technical difficulties and natural myelin variation in the population. To overcome these challenges, we used multiecho T myelin water imaging (MWI) to create T metric healthy population atlases that depict the mean and variation of myelin water fraction (MWF), and intra- and extracellular water mobility as described by geometric mean T (IEGMT ).

Methods: Cervical cord MWI was performed at 3T on 20 healthy individuals (10M/10F, mean age: 36 years) and 3 relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) participants (1M/2F, age: 39/42/37 years).

Rapid myelin water imaging for the assessment of cervical spinal cord myelin damage.

Background: Rapid myelin water imaging (MWI) using a combined gradient and spin echo (GRASE) sequence can produce myelin specific metrics for the human brain. Spinal cord MWI could be similarly useful, but technical challenges have hindered routine application. GRASE rapid MWI was recently successfully implemented for imaging of healthy cervical spinal cord and may complement other advanced imaging methods, such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and quantitative T (qT).

The Killer Fly Hunger Games: Target Size and Speed Predict Decision to Pursuit.

Predatory animals have evolved to optimally detect their prey using exquisite sensory systems such as vision, olfaction and hearing. It may not be so surprising that vertebrates, with large central nervous systems, excel at predatory behaviors. More striking is the fact that many tiny insects, with their miniscule brains and scaled down nerve cords, are also ferocious, highly successful predators.