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Reichert S, Schepkin V, Kleimaier D, Zöllner FG, Schad LR. Sodium triple quantum MR signal extraction using a single-pulse sequence with single quantum time efficiency. Magn Reson Med 2024; 92:900-915. [PMID: 38650306 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.30107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Sodium triple quantum (TQ) signal has been shown to be a valuable biomarker for cell viability. Despite its clinical potential, application of Sodium TQ signal is hindered by complex pulse sequences with long scan times. This study proposes a method to approximate the TQ signal using a single excitation pulse without phase cycling. METHODS The proposed method is based on a single excitation pulse and a comparison of the free induction decay (FID) with the integral of the FID combined with a shifting reconstruction window. The TQ signal is calculated from this FID only. As a proof of concept, the method was also combined with a multi-echo UTE imaging sequence on a 9.4 T preclinical MRI scanner for the possibility of fast TQ MRI. RESULTS The extracted Sodium TQ signals of single-pulse and spin echo FIDs were in close agreement with theory and TQ measurement by traditional three-pulse sequence (TQ time proportional phase increment [TQTPPI)]. For 2%, 4%, and 6% agar samples, the absolute deviations of the maximum TQ signals between SE and theoretical (time proportional phase increment TQTPPI) TQ signals were less than 1.2% (2.4%), and relative deviations were less than 4.6% (6.8%). The impact of multi-compartment systems and noise on the accuracy of the TQ signal was small for simulated data. The systematic error was <3.4% for a single quantum (SQ) SNR of 5 and at maximum <2.5% for a multi-compartment system. The method also showed the potential of fast in vivo SQ and TQ imaging. CONCLUSION Simultaneous SQ and TQ MRI using only a single-pulse sequence and SQ time efficiency has been demonstrated. This may leverage the full potential of the Sodium TQ signal in clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Reichert
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Mannheim Institute for Intelligent Systems in Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Cooperative Core Facility Animal Scanner ZI, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Victor Schepkin
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Dennis Kleimaier
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Frank G Zöllner
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Mannheim Institute for Intelligent Systems in Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Cooperative Core Facility Animal Scanner ZI, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lothar R Schad
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Mannheim Institute for Intelligent Systems in Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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2
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Christa M, Dithmar F, Weinaus T, Kohlhaas M, Arias-Loza AP, Hofmann M, Elabyad IA, Gutjahr FT, Maack C, Bauer WR. A new approach to characterize cardiac sodium storage by combining fluorescence photometry and magnetic resonance imaging in small animal research. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2426. [PMID: 38287086 PMCID: PMC10825176 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52377-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiac myocyte sodium (Na+) homoeostasis is pivotal in cardiac diseases and heart failure. Intracellular Na+ ([Na+]i) is an important regulator of excitation-contraction coupling and mitochondrial energetics. In addition, extracellular Na+ ([Na+]e) and its water-free storage trigger collagen cross-linking, myocardial stiffening and impaired cardiac function. Therefore, understanding the allocation of tissue Na+ to intra- and extracellular compartments is crucial in comprehending the pathophysiological processes in cardiac diseases. We extrapolated [Na+]e using a three-compartment model, with tissue Na+ concentration (TSC) measured by in vivo 23Na-MRI, extracellular volume (ECV) data calculated from T1 maps, and [Na+]i measured by in vitro fluorescence microscopy using Na+ binding benzofuran isophthalate (SBFI). To investigate dynamic changes in Na+ compartments, we induced pressure overload (TAC) or myocardial infarction (MI) via LAD ligation in mice. Compared to SHAM mice, TSC was similar after TAC but increased after MI. Both TAC and MI showed significantly higher [Na+]i compared to SHAM (around 130% compared to SHAM). Calculated [Na+]e increased after MI, but not after TAC. Increased TSC after TAC was primarily driven by increased [Na+]i, but the increase after MI by elevations in both [Na+]i and [Na+]e.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Christa
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University and University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Straße 6, Haus A3, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Franziska Dithmar
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University and University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Straße 6, Haus A3, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Weinaus
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University and University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Straße 6, Haus A3, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Michael Kohlhaas
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University and University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Anahi-Paula Arias-Loza
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University and University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Michelle Hofmann
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University and University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ibrahim A Elabyad
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University and University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Christoph Maack
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University and University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang R Bauer
- Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University and University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Oberdürrbacher Straße 6, Haus A3, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
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3
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Gast LV, Platt T, Nagel AM, Gerhalter T. Recent technical developments and clinical research applications of sodium ( 23Na) MRI. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY 2023; 138-139:1-51. [PMID: 38065665 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnmrs.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Sodium is an essential ion that plays a central role in many physiological processes including the transmembrane electrochemical gradient and the maintenance of the body's homeostasis. Due to the crucial role of sodium in the human body, the sodium nucleus is a promising candidate for non-invasively assessing (patho-)physiological changes. Almost 10 years ago, Madelin et al. provided a comprehensive review of methods and applications of sodium (23Na) MRI (Madelin et al., 2014) [1]. More recent review articles have focused mainly on specific applications of 23Na MRI. For example, several articles covered 23Na MRI applications for diseases such as osteoarthritis (Zbyn et al., 2016, Zaric et al., 2020) [2,3], multiple sclerosis (Petracca et al., 2016, Huhn et al., 2019) [4,5] and brain tumors (Schepkin, 2016) [6], or for imaging certain organs such as the kidneys (Zollner et al., 2016) [7], the brain (Shah et al., 2016, Thulborn et al., 2018) [8,9], and the heart (Bottomley, 2016) [10]. Other articles have reviewed technical developments such as radiofrequency (RF) coils for 23Na MRI (Wiggins et al., 2016, Bangerter et al., 2016) [11,12], pulse sequences (Konstandin et al., 2014) [13], image reconstruction methods (Chen et al., 2021) [14], and interleaved/simultaneous imaging techniques (Lopez Kolkovsky et al., 2022) [15]. In addition, 23Na MRI topics have been covered in review articles with broader topics such as multinuclear MRI or ultra-high-field MRI (Niesporek et al., 2019, Hu et al., 2019, Ladd et al., 2018) [16-18]. During the past decade, various research groups have continued working on technical improvements to sodium MRI and have investigated its potential to serve as a diagnostic and prognostic tool. Clinical research applications of 23Na MRI have covered a broad spectrum of diseases, mainly focusing on the brain, cartilage, and skeletal muscle (see Fig. 1). In this article, we aim to provide a comprehensive summary of methodological and hardware developments, as well as a review of various clinical research applications of sodium (23Na) MRI in the last decade (i.e., published from the beginning of 2013 to the end of 2022).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena V Gast
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Tanja Platt
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Armin M Nagel
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany; Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Teresa Gerhalter
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
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4
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Variability by region and method in human brain sodium concentrations estimated by 23Na magnetic resonance imaging: a meta-analysis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3222. [PMID: 36828873 PMCID: PMC9957999 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30363-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Sodium imaging (23Na-MRI) is of interest in neurological conditions given potential sensitivity to the physiological and metabolic status of tissues. Benchmarks have so far been restricted to parenchyma or grey/white matter (GM/WM). We investigate (1) the availability of evidence, (2) regional pooled estimates and (3) variability attributable to region/methodology. MEDLINE literature search for tissue sodium concentration (TSC) measured in specified 'healthy' brain regions returned 127 reports, plus 278 retrieved from bibliographies. 28 studies met inclusion criteria, including 400 individuals. Reporting variability led to nested data structure, so we used multilevel meta-analysis and a random effects model to pool effect sizes. The pooled mean from 141 TSC estimates was 40.51 mM (95% CI 37.59-43.44; p < 0.001, I2Total=99.4%). Tissue as a moderator was significant (F214 = 65.34, p-val < .01). Six sub-regional pooled means with requisite statistical power were derived. We were unable to consider most methodological and demographic factors sought because of non-reporting, but each factor included beyond tissue improved model fit. Significant residual heterogeneity remained. The current estimates provide an empirical point of departure for better understanding in 23Na-MRI. Improving on current estimates supports: (1) larger, more representative data collection/sharing, including (2) regional data, and (3) agreement on full reporting standards.
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Adlung A, Licht C, Reichert S, Özdemir S, Mohamed SA, Samartzi M, Fatar M, Gass A, Prost EN, Schad LR. Quantification of tissue sodium concentration in the ischemic stroke: A comparison between external and internal references for 23Na MRI. J Neurosci Methods 2022; 382:109721. [PMID: 36202191 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anne Adlung
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany.
| | - Christian Licht
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - Simon Reichert
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - Safa Özdemir
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - Sherif A Mohamed
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany; Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Melina Samartzi
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim and Mannheim Center of Translational Neurosciences (MCTN), Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - Marc Fatar
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim and Mannheim Center of Translational Neurosciences (MCTN), Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - Achim Gass
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim and Mannheim Center of Translational Neurosciences (MCTN), Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - Eva Neumaier Prost
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - Lothar R Schad
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany
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6
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Müller HP, Nagel AM, Keidel F, Wunderlich A, Hübers A, Gast LV, Ludolph AC, Beer M, Kassubek J. Relaxation-weighted 23Na magnetic resonance imaging maps regional patterns of abnormal sodium concentrations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ther Adv Chronic Dis 2022; 13:20406223221109480. [PMID: 35837670 PMCID: PMC9274400 DOI: 10.1177/20406223221109480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is established as a
technical instrument for the characterisation of patients with amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS). The contribution of relaxation-weighted sodium
(23NaR) MRI remains to be defined. The aim of this study is
to apply 23NaR MRI to investigate brain sodium homeostasis and
map potential alterations in patients with ALS as compared with healthy
controls. Materials and Methods: Seventeen patients with ALS (mean age 61.1 ± 11.4 years, m/f = 9/8) and 10
healthy control subjects (mean age 60.3 ± 15.3 years, m/f = 6/4) were
examined by 23NaR MRI at 3 T. Regional sodium maps were obtained
by the calculation of the weighted difference from two image data sets with
different echo times (TE1 = 0.3 ms, TE2 = 25 ms).
Voxel-based analysis of the relaxation-weighted maps, together with
23Na concentration maps for comparison, was performed. Results: ROI-based analyses of relaxation-weighted brain sodium concentration maps
demonstrated increased sodium concentrations in the upper corticospinal
tracts and in the frontal lobes in patients with ALS; no differences between
ALS patients and controls were found in reference ROIs, where no involvement
in ALS-associated neurodegeneration could be anticipated. Conclusion: 23NaR MRI mapped regional alterations within disease-relevant
areas in ALS which correspond to the stages of the central nervous system
(CNS) pathology, providing evidence that the technique is a potential
biological marker of the cerebral neurodegenerative process in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Armin M Nagel
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Franziska Keidel
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Arthur Wunderlich
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Lena V Gast
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Meinrad Beer
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jan Kassubek
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, Ulm 89081, Germany
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7
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Wu C, Blunck Y, Johnston LA. The "Spin-3/2 Bloch Equation": System matrix formalism of excitation, relaxation, and off-resonance effects in biological tissue. Magn Reson Med 2022; 88:1370-1379. [PMID: 35608214 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This work proposes "Spin-3/2 Bloch Equation" (SBE), a consolidated formalism for spin-3/2 dynamics in biological environments. The formalism encapsulates excitation, relaxation, and off-resonance with accessible matrix representation for a straightforward implementation with high computational efficiency. THEORY The SBE is derived using spherical tensor operators to encapsulate the spin-3/2 dynamics in biological systems in a single system matrix, a formalism akin to the well-known Bloch Equations (BE). METHODS Using the proposed SBE, simulations of three classical 23 Na pulse sequences were performed to demonstrate the versatility and applicability of the model, returning the evolution of the 23 Na spin system during these experiments: soft rectangular and adiabatic inversion recovery (IR) and triple-quantum filtering. IR simulations were compared with two existing spin-3/2 simulators and the adaptive BE as a first-order approximation. RESULTS The proposed SBE is straightforward to implement and facilitates accurate and fast simulations of the underlying higher order coherence in sodium experiments of biological tissues. SBE simulations and comparison spin-3/2 simulators outperform the BE simulations as expected, with the SBE offering superior computational efficiency achieved by the single system matrix formalism. CONCLUSION The proposed SBE enables comprehensive and accurate simulations for spin-3/2 systems in biological tissue. With a one-line call to an ordinary differential equation solver, it offers a computationally efficient and accessible method for use in 23 Na pulse sequence design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengchuan Wu
- Melbourne Brain Centre Imaging Unit, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Yasmin Blunck
- Melbourne Brain Centre Imaging Unit, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leigh A Johnston
- Melbourne Brain Centre Imaging Unit, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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8
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Handa P, Samkaria A, Sharma S, Arora Y, Mandal PK. Comprehensive Account of Sodium Imaging and Spectroscopy for Brain Research. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:859-875. [PMID: 35324144 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sodium (23Na) is a vital component of neuronal cells and plays a key role in various signal transmission processes. Hence, information on sodium distribution in the brain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides useful information on neuronal health. 23Na MRI and MR spectroscopy (MRS) improve the diagnosis, prognosis, and clinical monitoring of neurological diseases but confront some inherent limitations that lead to low signal-to-noise ratio, longer scan time, and diminished partial volume effects. Recent advancements in multinuclear MR technology have helped in further exploration in this domain. We aim to provide a comprehensive description of 23Na MRI and MRS for brain research including the following aspects: (a) theoretical background for understanding 23Na MRI and MRS fundamentals; (b) technological advancements of 23Na MRI with respect to pulse sequences, RF coils, and sodium compartmentalization; (c) applications of 23Na MRI in the early diagnosis and prognosis of various neurological disorders; (d) structural-chronological evolution of sodium spectroscopy in terms of its numerous applications in human studies; (e) the data-processing tools utilized in the quantitation of sodium in the respective anatomical regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Palak Handa
- Neuroimaging and Neurospectroscopy (NINS) Laboratory, National Brain Research Centre, Gurgaon 122051, India
| | - Avantika Samkaria
- Neuroimaging and Neurospectroscopy (NINS) Laboratory, National Brain Research Centre, Gurgaon 122051, India
| | - Shallu Sharma
- Neuroimaging and Neurospectroscopy (NINS) Laboratory, National Brain Research Centre, Gurgaon 122051, India
| | - Yashika Arora
- Neuroimaging and Neurospectroscopy (NINS) Laboratory, National Brain Research Centre, Gurgaon 122051, India
| | - Pravat K. Mandal
- Neuroimaging and Neurospectroscopy (NINS) Laboratory, National Brain Research Centre, Gurgaon 122051, India
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne School of Medicine Campus, Melbourne 3010, Australia
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Polak P, Schulte RF, Noseworthy MD. An approach to evaluation of the point-spread function for 23 Na magnetic resonance imaging. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2022; 35:e4627. [PMID: 34652040 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Despite the technical challenges that require lengthy acquisitions to overcome poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), sodium (23 Na) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an intriguing area of research due to its essential role in human metabolism. Low SNR images can impact the measurement of the point-spread function (PSF) by adding uncertainty into the resulting quantities. Here, we present methods to calculate the PSF by using the modulation transfer function (MTF), and a 3D-printed line-pair phantom in the context of 23 Na MRI. A simulation study investigated the effect of noise on the resulting MTF curves, which were derived by direct modulation (DM) and a method utilizing Fourier harmonics (FHs). Experimental data utilized a line-pair phantom with nine spatial frequencies, filled with different concentrations (15, 30, and 60 mM) of sodium in 3% agar. MTF curves were calculated using both methods from data acquired from density-adapted 3D radial projections (DA-3DRP) and Fermat looped orthogonally encoded trajectories (FLORET). Simulations indicated that the DM method increased variability in the MTF curves at all tested noise levels over the FH method. For the experimental data, the FH method resulted in PSFs with a narrower full width half maximum with reduced variability, although the improvement in variability was not as pronounced as predicted by simulations. The DA-3DRP data indicated an improvement in the PSF over FLORET. It was concluded that a 3D-printed line-pair phantom represents a convenient method to measure the PSF experimentally. The MTFs from the noisy images in 23 Na MRI have reduced variability from a FH method over DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Polak
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Imaging Research Centre, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Michael D Noseworthy
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Imaging Research Centre, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Radiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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10
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Kratzer FJ, Flassbeck S, Schmitter S, Wilferth T, Magill AW, Knowles BR, Platt T, Bachert P, Ladd ME, Nagel AM. 3D sodium ( 23 Na) magnetic resonance fingerprinting for time-efficient relaxometric mapping. Magn Reson Med 2021; 86:2412-2425. [PMID: 34061397 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To develop a framework for 3D sodium (23 Na) MR fingerprinting (MRF), based on irreducible spherical tensor operators with tailored flip angle (FA) pattern and time-efficient data acquisition for simultaneous quantification of T1 , T 2 l ∗ , T 2 s ∗ , and T 2 ∗ in addition to ΔB0 . METHODS 23 Na-MRF was implemented in a 3D sequence and irreducible spherical tensor operators were exploited in the simulations. Furthermore, the Cramér Rao lower bound was used to optimize the flip angle pattern. A combination of single and double echo readouts was implemented to increase the readout efficiency. A study was conducted to compare results in a multicompartment phantom acquired with MRF and reference methods. Finally, the relaxation times in the human brain were measured in four healthy volunteers. RESULTS Phantom experiments revealed a mean difference of 1.0% between relaxation times acquired with MRF and results determined with the reference methods. Simultaneous quantification of the longitudinal and transverse relaxation times in the human brain was possible within 32 min using 3D 23 Na-MRF with a nominal resolution of (5 mm)3 . In vivo measurements in four volunteers yielded average relaxation times of: T1,brain = (35.0 ± 3.2) ms, T 2 l , brain ∗ = (29.3 ± 3.8) ms and T 2 s , brain ∗ = (5.5 ± 1.3) ms in brain tissue, whereas T1,CSF = (61.9 ± 2.8) ms and T 2 , CSF ∗ = (46.3 ± 4.5) ms was found in cerebrospinal fluid. CONCLUSION The feasibility of in vivo 3D relaxometric sodium mapping within roughly ½ h is demonstrated using MRF in the human brain, moving sodium relaxometric mapping toward clinically relevant measurement times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian J Kratzer
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Flassbeck
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sebastian Schmitter
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Wilferth
- Institute of Radiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Arthur W Magill
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Benjamin R Knowles
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tanja Platt
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Bachert
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mark E Ladd
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Armin M Nagel
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Radiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
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11
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Khan MH, Walsh JJ, Mihailović JM, Mishra SK, Coman D, Hyder F. Imaging the transmembrane and transendothelial sodium gradients in gliomas. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6710. [PMID: 33758290 PMCID: PMC7987982 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85925-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Under normal conditions, high sodium (Na+) in extracellular (Na+e) and blood (Na+b) compartments and low Na+ in intracellular milieu (Na+i) produce strong transmembrane (ΔNa+mem) and weak transendothelial (ΔNa+end) gradients respectively, and these manifest the cell membrane potential (Vm) as well as blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity. We developed a sodium (23Na) magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) method using an intravenously-administered paramagnetic polyanionic agent to measure ΔNa+mem and ΔNa+end. In vitro 23Na-MRSI established that the 23Na signal is intensely shifted by the agent compared to other biological factors (e.g., pH and temperature). In vivo 23Na-MRSI showed Na+i remained unshifted and Na+b was more shifted than Na+e, and these together revealed weakened ΔNa+mem and enhanced ΔNa+end in rat gliomas (vs. normal tissue). Compared to normal tissue, RG2 and U87 tumors maintained weakened ΔNa+mem (i.e., depolarized Vm) implying an aggressive state for proliferation, whereas RG2 tumors displayed elevated ∆Na+end suggesting altered BBB integrity. We anticipate that 23Na-MRSI will allow biomedical explorations of perturbed Na+ homeostasis in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad H Khan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, N143 TAC (MRRC), 300 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
| | - John J Walsh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, N143 TAC (MRRC), 300 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Jelena M Mihailović
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Sandeep K Mishra
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Daniel Coman
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Fahmeed Hyder
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, N143 TAC (MRRC), 300 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA. .,Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
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12
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Multinuclear MRI to disentangle intracellular sodium concentration and extracellular volume fraction in breast cancer. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5156. [PMID: 33664340 PMCID: PMC7933187 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84616-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this work was to develop a novel method to disentangle the intra- and extracellular components of the total sodium concentration (TSC) in breast cancer from a combination of proton ([Formula: see text]H) and sodium ([Formula: see text]) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements. To do so, TSC is expressed as function of the intracellular sodium concentration ([Formula: see text]), extracellular volume fraction (ECV) and the water fraction (WF) based on a three-compartment model of the tissue. TSC is measured from [Formula: see text] MRI, ECV is calculated from baseline and post-contrast [Formula: see text]H [Formula: see text] maps, while WF is measured with a [Formula: see text]H chemical shift technique. [Formula: see text] is then extrapolated from the model. Proof-of-concept was demonstrated in three healthy subjects and two patients with triple negative breast cancer. In both patients, TSC was two to threefold higher in the tumor than in normal tissue. This alteration mainly resulted from increased [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text] 30 mM), which was [Formula: see text] 130% greater than in healthy conditions (10-15 mM) while the ECV was within the expected range of physiological values (0.2-0.25). Multinuclear MRI shows promise for disentangling [Formula: see text] and ECV by taking advantage of complementary [Formula: see text]H and [Formula: see text] measurements.
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13
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A Mohamed S, Adlung A, Ruder AM, Hoesl MAU, Schad L, Groden C, Giordano FA, Neumaier-Probst E. MRI Detection of Changes in Tissue Sodium Concentration in Brain Metastases after Stereotactic Radiosurgery: A Feasibility Study. J Neuroimaging 2020; 31:297-305. [PMID: 33351997 DOI: 10.1111/jon.12823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To date, treatment response to stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in brain metastases (BM) can only be determined by MRI evaluation of contrast-enhancing lesions in a long-time follow-up. Sodium MRI has been a subject of immense interest in imaging research as the measure of tissue sodium concentration (TSC) can give valuable quantitative information on cell viability. We aimed to analyze the longitudinal changes of TSC in BM measured with 23 Na MRI before and after SRS for assessment of early local tumor effects. METHODS Seven patients with a total of 12 previously untreated BM underwent SRS with 22 Gy. In addition to a standard MRI protocol including dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced perfusion, a 23 Na MRI was performed at three time points: (I) 2 days before, (II) 5 days, and (III) 40 days after SRS. Nine BMs were evaluated. The absolute TSC in the BM, the respective peritumoral edemas, and the normal-appearing corresponding contralateral brain area were assessed and the relative TSC were correlated to the changes in BM longest axial diameters. RESULTS TSC was elevated in nine BM at baseline before SRS with a mean of 73.4 ± 12.3 mM. A further increase in TSC was observed 5 days after SRS in all the nine BM with a mean of 86.9 ± 13 mM. Eight of nine BM showed a mean 60.6 ± 13.3% decrease in the longest axial diameter 40 days after SRS; at this time point, the TSC also had decreased to a mean 65.1 ± 7.9 mM. In contrast, one of the nine BM had a 13.4% increase in the largest axial diameter at time point III. The TSC of this BM showed a further TSC increase of 80.1 mM 40 days after SRS. CONCLUSION Changes in TSC using 23 Na MRI shows the possible capability to detect radiobiological changes in BM after SRS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherif A Mohamed
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Anne Adlung
- Department of Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Arne M Ruder
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michaela A U Hoesl
- Department of Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lothar Schad
- Department of Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Christoph Groden
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Frank A Giordano
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Eva Neumaier-Probst
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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14
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Zaric O, Juras V, Szomolanyi P, Schreiner M, Raudner M, Giraudo C, Trattnig S. Frontiers of Sodium MRI Revisited: From Cartilage to Brain Imaging. J Magn Reson Imaging 2020; 54:58-75. [PMID: 32851736 PMCID: PMC8246730 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.27326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sodium magnetic resonance imaging (23 Na-MRI) is a highly promising imaging modality that offers the possibility to noninvasively quantify sodium content in the tissue, one of the most relevant parameters for biochemical investigations. Despite its great potential, due to the intrinsically low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of sodium imaging generated by low in vivo sodium concentrations, low gyromagnetic ratio, and substantially shorter relaxation times than for proton (1 H) imaging, 23 Na-MRI is extremely challenging. In this article, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the literature that has been published in the last 10-15 years and which has demonstrated different technical designs for a range of 23 Na-MRI methods applicable for disease diagnoses and treatment efficacy evaluations. Currently, a wider use of 3.0T and 7.0T systems provide imaging with the expected increase in SNR and, consequently, an increased image resolution and a reduced scanning time. A great interest in translational research has enlarged the field of sodium MRI applications to almost all parts of the body: articular cartilage tendons, spine, heart, breast, muscle, kidney, and brain, etc., and several pathological conditions, such as tumors, neurological and degenerative diseases, and others. The quantitative parameter, tissue sodium concentration, which reflects changes in intracellular sodium concentration, extracellular sodium concentration, and intra-/extracellular volume fractions is becoming acknowledged as a reliable biomarker. Although the great potential of this technique is evident, there must be steady technical development for 23 Na-MRI to become a standard imaging tool. The future role of sodium imaging is not to be considered as an alternative to 1 H MRI, but to provide early, diagnostically valuable information about altered metabolism or tissue function associated with disease genesis and progression. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olgica Zaric
- Institute for Clinical Molecular MRI in the Musculoskeletal System, Karl Landsteiner Society, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vladimir Juras
- High-Field MR Center, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Imaging Methods, Institute of Measurement Science, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Pavol Szomolanyi
- High-Field MR Center, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Schreiner
- Deartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marcus Raudner
- High-Field MR Center, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Chiara Giraudo
- Radiology Institute, Department of Medicine, DIMED Padova University Via Giustiniani 2, Padova, Italy
| | - Siegfried Trattnig
- Institute for Clinical Molecular MRI in the Musculoskeletal System, Karl Landsteiner Society, Vienna, Austria.,High-Field MR Center, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Christian Doppler Laboratory for Clinical Molecular MRI, Christian Doppler Forschungsgesellschaft, Vienna, Austria
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15
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Sodium relaxometry using
23
Na MR fingerprinting: A proof of concept. Magn Reson Med 2020; 84:2577-2591. [DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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16
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Yu Z, Madelin G, Sodickson DK, Cloos MA. Simultaneous proton magnetic resonance fingerprinting and sodium MRI. Magn Reson Med 2020; 83:2232-2242. [PMID: 31746048 PMCID: PMC7047525 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The goal of this work is to demonstrate a method for the simultaneous acquisition of proton multiparametric maps (T1 , T2 , and proton density) and sodium density images in 1 single scan. We hope that the development of such capabilities will help to ease the implementation of sodium MRI in clinical trials and provide more opportunities for researchers to investigate metabolism through sodium MRI. METHODS We developed a sequence based on magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF), which contains interleaved proton (1 H) and sodium (23 Na) excitations followed by a simultaneous center-out radial readout for both nuclei. The receive chain of a 7T scanner was modified to enable simultaneous acquisition of 1 H and 23 Na signal. The obtained signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was evaluated, and the accuracy of both proton T1 , T2 , and B 1 + and sodium density maps were verified in phantoms. Finally, the method was demonstrated in 2 healthy subjects. RESULTS The SNR obtained using the simultaneous measurement was almost identical to single-nucleus measurements (<1% change). Similarly, the proton T1 and T2 maps remained stable (normalized root mean square error in T1 ≈ 2.2%, in T2 ≈ 1.4%, and B 1 + ≈ 5.4%), which indicates that the proposed sequence and hardware have no significant effects on the signal from either nucleus. In vivo measurements corroborated these results and demonstrated the feasibility of our method for in vivo application. CONCLUSIONS With the proposed approach, we were able to simultaneously acquire sodium density images in addition to proton T1 , T2 , and B 1 + maps as well as proton density images.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zidan Yu
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR), Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- The Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Guillaume Madelin
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR), Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- The Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniel K. Sodickson
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR), Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- The Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Martijn A. Cloos
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR), Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- The Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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17
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Abstract
In this article, an overview of the current developments and research applications for non-proton magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at ultrahigh magnetic fields (UHFs) is given. Due to technical and methodical advances, efficient MRI of physiologically relevant nuclei, such as Na, Cl, Cl, K, O, or P has become feasible and is of interest to obtain spatially and temporally resolved information that can be used for biomedical and diagnostic applications. Sodium (Na) MRI is the most widespread multinuclear imaging method with applications ranging over all regions of the human body. Na MRI yields the second largest in vivo NMR signal after the clinically used proton signal (H). However, other nuclei such as O and P (energy metabolism) or Cl and K (cell viability) are used in an increasing number of MRI studies at UHF. One major advancement has been the increased availability of whole-body MR scanners with UHFs (B0 ≥7T) expanding the range of detectable nuclei. Nevertheless, efforts in terms of pulse sequence and post-processing developments as well as hardware designs must be made to obtain valuable information in clinically feasible measurement times. This review summarizes the available methods in the field of non-proton UHF MRI, especially for Na MRI, as well as introduces potential applications in clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian C Niesporek
- Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Armin M Nagel
- Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
- Institute of Medical Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tanja Platt
- Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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18
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Ianniello C, Madelin G, Moy L, Brown R. A dual-tuned multichannel bilateral RF coil for 1 H/ 23 Na breast MRI at 7 T. Magn Reson Med 2019; 82:1566-1575. [PMID: 31148249 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Sodium MRI has shown promise for monitoring neoadjuvant chemotherapy response in breast cancer. The purpose of this work was to build a dual-tuned bilateral proton/sodium breast coil for 7T MRI that provides sufficient SNR to enable sodium breast imaging in less than 10 minutes. METHODS The proton/sodium coil consists of 2 shielded unilateral units: 1 for each breast. Each unit consists of 3 nested layers: (1) a 3-loop solenoid for sodium excitation, (2) a 3-loop solenoid for proton excitation and signal reception, and (3) a 4-channel receive array for sodium signal reception. Benchmark measurements were performed in phantoms with and without the sodium receive array insert. In vivo images were acquired on a healthy volunteer. RESULTS The sodium receive array boosted 1.5 to 3 times the SNR compared with the solenoid. Proton SNR loss due to residual interaction with the sodium array was less than 10%. The coil enabled sodium imaging in vivo with 2.8-mm isotropic nominal resolution (~5-mm real resolution) in 9:36 minutes. CONCLUSION The coil design that we propose addresses challenges associated with sodium's low SNR from a hardware perspective and offers the opportunity to investigate noninvasively breast tumor metabolism as a function of sodium concentration in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Ianniello
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R) and Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.,The Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Science, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Guillaume Madelin
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R) and Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.,The Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Science, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Linda Moy
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R) and Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.,The Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Science, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Ryan Brown
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R) and Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.,The Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Science, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
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19
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Hu R, Kleimaier D, Malzacher M, Hoesl MA, Paschke NK, Schad LR. X‐nuclei imaging: Current state, technical challenges, and future directions. J Magn Reson Imaging 2019; 51:355-376. [DOI: 10.1002/jmri.26780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ruomin Hu
- Computer Assisted Clinical MedicineHeidelberg University Mannheim Germany
| | - Dennis Kleimaier
- Computer Assisted Clinical MedicineHeidelberg University Mannheim Germany
| | - Matthias Malzacher
- Computer Assisted Clinical MedicineHeidelberg University Mannheim Germany
| | | | - Nadia K. Paschke
- Computer Assisted Clinical MedicineHeidelberg University Mannheim Germany
| | - Lothar R. Schad
- Computer Assisted Clinical MedicineHeidelberg University Mannheim Germany
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20
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Burstein D, Springer CS. Sodium MRI revisited. Magn Reson Med 2019; 82:521-524. [PMID: 30927278 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Burstein
- Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Charles S Springer
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
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21
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Huhn K, Engelhorn T, Linker RA, Nagel AM. Potential of Sodium MRI as a Biomarker for Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation in Multiple Sclerosis. Front Neurol 2019; 10:84. [PMID: 30804885 PMCID: PMC6378293 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In multiple sclerosis (MS), experimental and ex vivo studies indicate that pathologic intra- and extracellular sodium accumulation may play a pivotal role in inflammatory as well as neurodegenerative processes. Yet, in vivo assessment of sodium in the microenvironment is hard to achieve. Here, sodium magnetic resonance imaging (23NaMRI) with its non-invasive properties offers a unique opportunity to further elucidate the effects of sodium disequilibrium in MS pathology in vivo in addition to regular proton based MRI. However, unfavorable physical properties and low in vivo concentrations of sodium ions resulting in low signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) as well as low spatial resolution resulting in partial volume effects limited the application of 23NaMRI. With the recent advent of high-field MRI scanners and more sophisticated sodium MRI acquisition techniques enabling better resolution and higher SNR, 23NaMRI revived. These studies revealed pathologic total sodium concentrations in MS brains now even allowing for the (partial) differentiation of intra- and extracellular sodium accumulation. Within this review we (1) demonstrate the physical basis and imaging techniques of 23NaMRI and (2) analyze the present and future clinical application of 23NaMRI focusing on the field of MS thus highlighting its potential as biomarker for neuroinflammation and -degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin Huhn
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tobias Engelhorn
- Department of Neuroradiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ralf A Linker
- Department of Neurology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Armin M Nagel
- Department of Radiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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22
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Coste A, Boumezbeur F, Vignaud A, Madelin G, Reetz K, Le Bihan D, Rabrait-Lerman C, Romanzetti S. Tissue sodium concentration and sodium T 1 mapping of the human brain at 3 T using a Variable Flip Angle method. Magn Reson Imaging 2019; 58:116-124. [PMID: 30695720 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2019.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The state-of-the-art method to quantify sodium concentrations in vivo consists in a fully relaxed 3D spin-density (SD) weighted acquisition. Nevertheless, most sodium MRI clinical studies use short-TR SD acquisitions to reduce acquisition durations. We present a clinically viable implementation of the Variable Flip Angle (VFA) method for robust and clinically viable quantification of total sodium concentration (TSC) and longitudinal relaxation rates in vivo in human brain at 3 T. METHODS Two non-Cartesian steady-state spoiled ultrashort echo time (UTE) scans, performed at optimized flip angles, repetition time and pulse length determined under specific absorption rate constraints, are used to simultaneously compute T1 and total sodium concentration (TSC) maps using the VFA method. Images are reconstructed using the non-uniform Fast Fourier Transform algorithm and TSC maps are corrected for possible inhomogeneity of coil transmission and reception profiles. Fractioned acquisitions are used to correct for potential patient motion. TSC quantifications obtained using the VFA method are validated at first in comparison with a fully-relaxed SD acquisition in a calibration phantom. The robustness of similar VFA acquisitions are compared to the short-TR SD approach in vivo on seven healthy volunteers. RESULTS The VFA method resulted in consistent TSC and T1 estimates across our cohort of healthy subjects, with mean TSC of 38.1 ± 5.0 mmol/L and T1 of 39.2 ± 4.4 ms. These results are in agreement with previously reported values in literature TSC estimations and with the predictions of a 2-compartment model. However, the short-TR SD acquisition systematically underestimated the sodium concentration with a mean TSC of 31 ± 4.5 mmol/L. CONCLUSION The VFA method can be applied successfully to image sodium at 3 T in about 20 min and provides robust and intrinsically T1-corrected TSC maps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Coste
- NeuroSpin, CEA DRF-ISVFJ, Paris-Saclay University, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Fawzi Boumezbeur
- NeuroSpin, CEA DRF-ISVFJ, Paris-Saclay University, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Alexandre Vignaud
- NeuroSpin, CEA DRF-ISVFJ, Paris-Saclay University, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Guillaume Madelin
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Kathrin Reetz
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany; JARA-BRAIN Institute of Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH and RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Denis Le Bihan
- NeuroSpin, CEA DRF-ISVFJ, Paris-Saclay University, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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23
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Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott CAM, Riemer F, Palesi F, Ricciardi A, Castellazzi G, Golay X, Prados F, Solanky B, D'Angelo EU. Challenges and Perspectives of Quantitative Functional Sodium Imaging (fNaI). Front Neurosci 2018; 12:810. [PMID: 30473659 PMCID: PMC6237845 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain function has been investigated via the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) effect using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the past decades. Advances in sodium imaging offer the unique chance to access signal changes directly linked to sodium ions (23Na) flux across the cell membrane, which generates action potentials, hence signal transmission in the brain. During this process 23Na transiently accumulates in the intracellular space. Here we show that quantitative functional sodium imaging (fNaI) at 3T is potentially sensitive to 23Na concentration changes during finger tapping, which can be quantified in gray and white matter regions key to motor function. For the first time, we measured a 23Na concentration change of 0.54 mmol/l in the ipsilateral cerebellum, 0.46 mmol/l in the contralateral primary motor cortex (M1), 0.27 mmol/l in the corpus callosum and -11 mmol/l in the ipsilateral M1, suggesting that fNaI is sensitive to distributed functional alterations. Open issues persist on the role of the glymphatic system in maintaining 23Na homeostasis, the role of excitation and inhibition as well as volume distributions during neuronal activity. Haemodynamic and physiological signal recordings coupled to realistic models of tissue function will be critical to understand the mechanisms of such changes and contribute to meeting the overarching challenge of measuring neuronal activity in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia A M Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Brain MRI 3T Mondino Research Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Frank Riemer
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Radiology, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Fulvia Palesi
- Neuroradiology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Antonio Ricciardi
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Center for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gloria Castellazzi
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Xavier Golay
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ferran Prados
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Center for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bhavana Solanky
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Egidio U D'Angelo
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Brain Connectivity Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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Worthoff WA, Shymanskaya A, Shah NJ. Relaxometry and quantification in simultaneously acquired single and triple quantum filtered sodium MRI. Magn Reson Med 2018; 81:303-315. [DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Wieland A. Worthoff
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine - 4, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH; Jülich Germany
| | - Aliaksandra Shymanskaya
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine - 4, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH; Jülich Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine - 11, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH; Jülich Germany
| | - N. Jon Shah
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine - 4, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH; Jülich Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine - 11, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH; Jülich Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology; RWTH Aachen University; Aachen Germany
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