Introduction to fMRI: experimental design and data analysis

This provides an introduction to functional MRI, experimental design and data analysis procedures using statistical parametric mapping approach

Advanced imaging and spectroscopy techniques for body magnetic resonance

The aim of this thesis was to develop advanced body MR techniques that can contribute to the knowledge of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Such techniques are important since the incidence of the metabolic syndrome is reaching pandemic proportions. We looked In the first part of this thesis, consisting of chapters 2, 3 and 4, new techniques for body MR were developed. Firstly high dielectric passive shimming was developed and applied on liver imaging to increase image quality. Furthermore, the required power was reduced by applying the passive shimming method. Secondly MR spectroscopy was optimized to reliably measure lipid levels in the heart and kidney. By looking at the various parameters and optimizing them individually very high measurement reproducibility was reached. Even though MR spectroscopy is a great tool for studying MetS the complexity of the technique hampers broad application therefore, extra emphasis was placed on the ease of use of the developed protocol. In the second part of the thesis the previously mentioned methods were applied in a more clinical setting. Nierstichting; HartstichtingLUMC / Geneeskund

Preclinical MRI of the Kidney

This Open Access volume provides readers with an open access protocol collection and wide-ranging recommendations for preclinical renal MRI used in translational research. The chapters in this book are interdisciplinary in nature and bridge the gaps between physics, physiology, and medicine. They are designed to enhance training in renal MRI sciences and improve the reproducibility of renal imaging research. Chapters provide guidance for exploring, using and developing small animal renal MRI in your laboratory as a unique tool for advanced in vivo phenotyping, diagnostic imaging, and research into potential new therapies. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and thorough, Preclinical MRI of the Kidney: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource and will be of importance to anyone interested in the preclinical aspect of renal and cardiorenal diseases in the fields of physiology, nephrology, radiology, and cardiology. This publication is based upon work from COST Action PARENCHIMA, supported by European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST). COST (www.cost.eu) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. COST Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation. PARENCHIMA (renalmri.org) is a community-driven Action in the COST program of the European Union, which unites more than 200 experts in renal MRI from 30 countries with the aim to improve the reproducibility and standardization of renal MRI biomarkers

Preclinical MRI of the kidney : methods and protocols

This Open Access volume provides readers with an open access protocol collection and wide-ranging recommendations for preclinical renal MRI used in translational research. The chapters in this book are interdisciplinary in nature and bridge the gaps between physics, physiology, and medicine. They are designed to enhance training in renal MRI sciences and improve the reproducibility of renal imaging research. Chapters provide guidance for exploring, using and developing small animal renal MRI in your laboratory as a unique tool for advanced in vivo phenotyping, diagnostic imaging, and research into potential new therapies. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and thorough, Preclinical MRI of the Kidney: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource and will be of importance to anyone interested in the preclinical aspect of renal and cardiorenal diseases in the fields of physiology, nephrology, radiology, and cardiology. This publication is based upon work from COST Action PARENCHIMA, supported by European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST). COST (www.cost.eu) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. COST Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation. PARENCHIMA (renalmri.org) is a community-driven Action in the COST program of the European Union, which unites more than 200 experts in renal MRI from 30 countries with the aim to improve the reproducibility and standardization of renal MRI biomarkers

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques For Contrast - Enhanced Cellular And Molecular Imaging

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Cultivate Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Methods to Measure Markers of Health and Translate to Large Scale Cohort Studies

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an indispensable tool in healthcare and research, with a growing demand for its services. The appeal of MRI stems from its non-ionizing radiation nature, ability to generate high-resolution images of internal organs and structures without invasive procedures, and capacity to provide quantitative assessments of tissue properties such as ectopic fat, body composition, and organ volume. All without long term side effects. Nine published papers are submitted which show the cultivation of quantitative measures of ectopic fat within the liver and pancreas using MRI, and the process of validating whole-body composition and organ volume measurements. All these techniques have been translated into large-scale studies to improve health measurements in large population cohorts. Translating this work into large-scale studies, including the use of artificial intelligence, is included. Additionally, an evaluation accompanies these published studies, appraising the evolution of these quantitative MRI techniques from the conception to their application in large cohort studies. Finally, this appraisal provides a summary of future work on crowdsourcing of ground truth training data to facilitate its use in wider applications of artificial intelligence.In conclusion, this body of work presents a portfolio of evidence to fulfil the requirements of a PhD by published works at the University of Salford

Multimodality imaging of brown adipose tissue

There are two types of adipose tissue in the human body. White adipose tissue (WAT) stores energy, while brown adipose tissue (BAT) consumes it. BAT can be activated by exposure to cold to generate heat. Human adults seem to have recruitable ‘beige’ or ‘brite’ fat, which is derived from WAT. The cells can take on the appearance and function of BAT upon prolonged stimulation by cold, but the process can also be reversed. Thus adult human BAT contains a mixture of brown and white adipocytes at different stages, the triglyceride content being a continuous spectrum. Human BAT is highly insulin-sensitive. Decreases in BAT mass and activity may have a role in the development of obesity and diabetes in adulthood. The prevalence of these conditions is growing worldwide, leading to a global health issue and socioeconomic problem. This poses a great need for rapid and affordable means of studying fat tissue. The in vivo localization and activation state of BAT has been assessed by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET/CT), which involves the intravenous injection of radioactive tracer, as well as exposure to radiation by computed tomography. Due to the differences in the tissue structure, water and iron content, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can reliably measure BAT volume and water content regardless of the activation state. As a method it is noninvasive, safe and more readily available than 18FDG-PET. The aim was to develop and test MRI methods for detecting, quantifying and examining BAT. The methods include in-phase and out-of-phase (in/opp) imaging, signal-fat-fraction (SFF) analysis based on the Dixon method, T2* relaxation time mapping and single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS). Our results suggest that MRI methods can identify BAT and quantify fat deposit triglyceride content independent of cold-induced BAT activation and without radiation burden. It was also shown that the triglyceride content in supraclavicular fat deposits measured by 1H-MRS may be an independent marker of whole-body insulin sensitivity.Ruskean rasvakudoksen kuvantaminen eri kuvantamismenetelmillä Ihmiskehossa on kahdenlaista rasvakudosta. Valkoinen rasva (WAT) varastoi energiaa, ruskea rasva (BAT) kuluttaa sitä. Kylmäaltistus voi aktivoida ruskean rasvan tuottamaan lämpöä. Aikuisilla on hankinnaista "beige" tai "brite" rasvaa, joka on muuntunutta valkoista rasvaa. Pitkittyneessä kylmäaltistuksessa WAT-solut voivat ulkonäöltään ja toiminnaltaan muuntua BAT-solujen kaltaisiksi, mutta tapahtumasarja voi kulkea myös toiseen suuntaan. Aikuisella ihmisellä BAT on siis sekoitus eri asteisesti kypsyneitä ruskeita ja valkoisia rasvasoluja, joiden triglyseridipitoisuus muuttuu liukuvasti. Ihmisellä BAT on vahvasti insuliiniherkkää. BAT:n määrän ja aktiivisuuden vähentymisellä voi olla merkitystä lihavuudessa ja aikuisiän diabeteksessa. Näiden esiintyminen on globaalisti kasvussa, mikä johtaa maailmanlaajuisiin terveysongelmiin ja sosioekonomisiin ongelmiin. On siis tarvetta nopeille ja edullisille tavoille tutkia rasvakudosta. BAT:n sijaintia ja aktivoitumista on tutkittu 18F-fluorodeoksiglukoosipositroniemissio-tomografialla (18FDG-PET/CT), jossa aiheutuu sädealtistus suonensisäisestä radioaktiivisesta merkkiaineesta ja tietokonetomografiakuvauksesta. Kudoksen rakenne-eroista sekä vesi- ja rautapitoisuudesta johtuen magneettiresonanssikuvantaminen (MRI) mittaa luotettavasti BAT:n tilavuutta ja vesipitoisuutta. Menetelmänä se on kajoamaton, turvallinen ja helpommin saatavissa kuin PET. Tavoitteena oli kehittää ja testata MRI-menetelmiä ruskean rasvan toteamiseen, mittaamiseen ja arviointiin. Menetelminä olivat in-phase/out-of-phase (in/opp) -kuvantaminen, dixon-menetelmään perustuva signaalirasvasuhdekuvantaminen (SFF), T2*-relaksaatioaikakartoitus sekä yksittäisen vokselin protonimagneettispektroskopia (1H MRS). Tuloksiemme mukaan MRI-menetelmät pystyvät arvioimaan rasvan triglyseridipitoisuutta kylmäaktivaatiosta riippumatta ja ilman säderasitusta. Osoitimme myös, että solisluun alapuolisen BAT-kertymän triglyseridipitoisuus voi olla kehon insuliiniherkkyyden itsenäinen merkkitekijä