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- Donahue, Manus J, et al.
(author)
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Consensus statement on current and emerging methods for the diagnosis and evaluation of cerebrovascular disease
- 2018
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In: Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. - 1559-7016. ; 38:9, s. 1391-1417
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in most developed countries. This work summarizes state-of-the-art, and possible future, diagnostic and evaluation approaches in multiple stages of CVD, including (i) visualization of sub-clinical disease processes, (ii) acute stroke theranostics, and (iii) characterization of post-stroke recovery mechanisms. Underlying pathophysiology as it relates to large vessel steno-occlusive disease and the impact of this macrovascular disease on tissue-level viability, hemodynamics (cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, and mean transit time), and metabolism (cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption and pH) are also discussed in the context of emerging neuroimaging protocols with sensitivity to these factors. The overall purpose is to highlight advancements in stroke care and diagnostics and to provide a general overview of emerging research topics that have potential for reducing morbidity in multiple areas of CVD.
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- Wermer, Marieke J. H., et al.
(author)
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7 Tesla MRA for the differentiation between intracranial aneurysms and infundibula
- 2017
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In: Magnetic Resonance Imaging. - : Elsevier. - 0730-725X .- 1873-5894. ; 37, s. 16-20
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: The differentiation between an aneurysm and an infundibulum with time-of-flight MRA is often difficult. However, this distinction is important because it affects further patient follow-up. The purpose of this study was to assess the added value of high resolution 7 Tesla MRA for investigating small vascular lesions suspect for an aneurysm or an infundibulum.Materials and methods: We included patients in whom an intracranial vascular lesion was detected in our University Hospital and in whom the discrimination between a true aneurysms or an infundibulum could not be made on conventional 1.5 or 3 T MRI were included in the study. All patients underwent an additional 7 T time-of-flight MRA at higher spatial resolution.Results: We included 6 patients. The age range of the patients was 35–65 years and 5 of them were women. 1 out of 6 had a 1.5 T MRI, the other 5 patients had a 3 T MRI previous to the 7 T MRI. The lesion size varied between 0.9 mm and 2.0 mm. In 5 of the 6 patients the presence of an infundibulum could be proven using the high resolution of the 7 T MRA. All patients tolerated the 7 T MRI well.Conclusion: Our results suggest that high resolution and contrast of 7 T MRA provides added diagnostic value in discriminating between intracranial aneurysms and infundibula. This finding may have important consequences for patient follow-up and comfort because it might reduce unnecessary follow-up exams and decrease uncertainty about the diagnosis. Larger studies, however, are needed to confirm our findings.
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- Wezel, Joep, et al.
(author)
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A comparison of navigators, snap-shot field monitoring, and probe-based field model training for correcting B0-induced artifacts in T2*-weighted images at 7 T
- 2017
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In: Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0740-3194 .- 1522-2594. ; 78, s. 1373-1382
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PurposeTo compare methods for estimating B0 maps used in retrospective correction of high-resolution anatomical images at ultra-high field strength. The B0 maps were obtained using three methods: (1) 1D navigators and coil sensitivities, (2) field probe (FP) data and a low-order spherical harmonics model, and (3) FP data and a training-based model.MethodsData from nine subjects were acquired while they performed activities inducing B0 field fluctuations. Estimated B0 fields were compared with reference data, and the reductions of artifacts were compared in corrected T2* images.ResultsReduction of sum-of-squares difference relative to a reference image was evaluated, and Method 1 yielded the largest artifact reduction: 27 ± 15%, 20 ± 18% (mean ± 1 standard deviation) for deep breathing and combined deep breathing and hand motion activities. Method 3 performed almost as well (24 ± 18%, 15 ± 17%), provided that adequate training data were used, and Method 2 gave a similar result (21 ± 16%, 19 ± 17%).ConclusionThis study confirms that all of the investigated methods can be used in retrospective image correction. In terms of image quality, Method 1 had a small advantage, whereas the FP-based methods measured the B0 field slightly more accurately. The specific strengths and weaknesses of FPs and navigators should therefore be considered when determining which B0-estimation method to use.
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4. |
- Kaiser, Antonia, et al.
(author)
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A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effects of a 12-Week High- vs. Low-Intensity Exercise Intervention on Hippocampal Structure and Function in Healthy, Young Adults
- 2022
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In: Frontiers in Psychiatry. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-0640. ; 12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Physical exercise affects hippocampal structure and function, but the underlying neural mechanisms and the effects of exercise intensity remain incompletely understood. Therefore, we undertook a comprehensive, multi-modal 3T and 7T MRI randomized controlled trial (Netherlands Trial Register - NL5847) in which we randomized 52 young, non-athletic volunteers to a 12-week low- or high-intensity exercise program. Using state-of-the-art methods, we investigated changes in hippocampal volume, as well as changes in vasculature, neuro-metabolites, and peripheral growth factors as potential underpinnings. Cardiorespiratory fitness improved over time (p < 0.001), but no interaction with exercise intensity was found (p = 0.48). Accordingly, we did not observe significant interactions between exercise condition and time on MRI measures (all p > 0.06). However, we found a significant decrease in right hippocampal volume (p < 0.01), an increase in left hippocampal glutathione (p < 0.01), and a decrease of left hippocampal cerebral blood volume (p = 0.01) over time, regardless of exercise condition. Additional exploratory analyses showed that changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (p = 0.01), insulin-like growth-factor (p = 0.03), and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex N-acetyl-aspartate levels (p = 0.01) were positively associated with cardiorespiratory fitness changes. Furthermore, a trend toward a positive association of fitness and gray-matter cerebral blood flow (p = 0.06) was found. Our results do not provide evidence for differential effects between high-intensity (aerobic) and low-intensity (toning) exercise on hippocampal structure and function in young adults. However, we show small but significant effects of exercise on hippocampal volume, neurometabolism and vasculature across exercise conditions. Moreover, our exploratory results suggest that exercise might not specifically only benefit hippocampal structure and function, but rather has a more widespread effect. These findings suggest that, in agreement with previous MRI studies demonstrating moderate to strong effects in elderly and diseased populations, but none to only mild effects in young healthy cohorts, the benefits of exercise on the studied brain measures may be age-dependent and restorative rather than stimulatory. Our study highlights the importance of a multi-modal, whole-brain approach to assess macroscopic and microscopic changes underlying exercise-induced brain changes, to better understand the role of exercise as a potential non-pharmacological intervention.
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5. |
- Knutsson, Linda, et al.
(author)
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Dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI with a prebolus contrast agent administration design for improved absolute quantification of perfusion.
- 2014
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In: Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. - : Wiley. - 1522-2594 .- 0740-3194. ; 72:4, s. 996-1006
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Arterial partial-volume effects (PVEs) often hamper reproducible absolute quantification of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) obtained by dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI (DSC-MRI). The aim of this study was to examine whether arterial PVEs in DSC-MRI data can be minimized by rescaling the arterial input function (AIF) using a sagittal-sinus venous output function obtained following a prebolus administration of a low dose of contrast agent.
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8. |
- Falcon, Carles, et al.
(author)
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Time-encoded ASL reveals lower cerebral blood flow in the early AD continuum
- 2024
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In: ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA. - 1552-5260 .- 1552-5279.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- INTRODUCTION Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is reduced in cognitively impaired (CI) Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. We checked the sensitivity of time-encoded arterial spin labeling (te-ASL) in measuring CBF alterations in individuals with positive AD biomarkers and associations with relevant biomarkers in cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals. METHODS We compared te-ASL with single-postlabel delay (PLD) ASL in measuring CBF in 59 adults across the AD continuum, classified as CU amyloid beta (A beta) negative (-), CU A beta positive (+), and CI A beta+. We sought associations of CBF with biomarkers of AD, cerebrovascular disease, synaptic dysfunction, neurodegeneration, and cognition in CU participants. RESULTS te-ASL was more sensitive at detecting CBF reduction in the CU A beta+ and CI A beta+ groups. In CU participants, lower CBF was associated with altered biomarkers of A beta, tau, synaptic dysfunction, and neurodegeneration. DISCUSSION CBF reduction occurs early in the AD continuum. te-ASL is more sensitive than single-PLD ASL at detecting CBF changes in AD.
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9. |
- Fällmar, David, et al.
(author)
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Visual Assessment of Brain Perfusion MRI Scans in Dementia : a Pilot Study
- 2016
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In: Journal of Neuroimaging. - : Wiley. - 1051-2284 .- 1552-6569. ; 26:3, s. 324-330
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE: Functional imaging is becoming increasingly important for the detection of neurodegenerative disorders. Perfusion MRI with arterial spin labeling (ASL) has been reported to provide promising diagnostic possibilities but is not yet widely used in routine clinical work. The aim of this study was to compare, in a clinical setting, the visual assessment of subtracted ASL CBF maps with and without additional smoothing, to FDG-PET data.METHODS: Ten patients with a clinical diagnosis of dementia and 11 age-matched cognitively healthy controls were examined with pseudo-continuous ASL (pCASL) and 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). Three diagnostic physicians visually assessed the pCASL maps after subtraction only, and after postprocessing using Gaussian smoothing and GLM-based beta estimate functions. The assessment scores were compared to FDG PET values. Furthermore, the ability to discriminate patients from healthy elderly controls was assessed.RESULTS: Smoothing improved the correlation between visually assessed regional ASL perfusion scores and the FDG PET SUV-r values from the corresponding regions. However, subtracted pCASL maps discriminated patients from healthy controls better than smoothed maps. Smoothing increased the number of false-positive patient identifications. Application of beta estimate functions had only a marginal effect.CONCLUSION: Spatial smoothing of ASL images increased false positive results in the discrimination of hypoperfusion conditions from healthy elderly. It also decreased interreader agreement. However, regional characterization and subjective perception of image quality was improved.
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10. |
- Knutsson, Linda, et al.
(author)
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Effects of blood ΔR(2)* non-linearity on absolute perfusion quantification using DSC-MRI: Comparison with Xe-133 SPECT.
- 2013
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In: Magnetic Resonance Imaging. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-5894 .- 0730-725X. ; 31:5, s. 651-655
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE: To evaluate whether a non-linear blood ΔR(2)*-versus-concentration relationship improves quantitative cerebral blood flow (CBF) estimates obtained by dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI in a comparison with Xe-133 SPECT CBF in healthy volunteers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Linear as well as non-linear relationships between ΔR(2)* and contrast agent concentration in blood were applied to the arterial input function (AIF) and the venous output function (VOF) from DSC-MRI. To reduce partial volume effects in the AIF, the arterial time integral was rescaled using a corrected VOF scheme. RESULTS: Under the assumption of proportionality between the two modalities, the relationship CBF(MRI)=0.58CBF(SPECT) (r=0.64) was observed using the linear relationship and CBF(MRI)=0.51CBF(SPECT) (r=0.71) using the non-linear relationship. DISCUSSION: A smaller ratio of the VOF time integral to the AIF time integral and a somewhat better correlation between global DSC-MRI and Xe-133 SPECT CBF estimates were observed using the non-linear relationship. The results did not, however, confirm the superiority of one model over the other, potentially because realistic AIF signal data may well originate from a combination of blood and surrounding tissue.
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