Intensity correction for high resolution imaging using a transmitter/receiver surface coil

[Abstract] European Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology, ESMRMB 1996 13th Scientific Meeting, September 18 - 21, 1997, Prague, Czech RepublicPublicad

Applying undersampling to the nuclear magnetic resonance signal

Proceedings of: 18th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Amsterdam, 31 Oct. - 03 Nov. 1996.This paper presents the use of undersampling in an NMR prototype equipment. The results show that undersampling is a convenient tool to be used in the processing of these signals. It allows to easily transform bandpass Free Induction Decay (FID) signals, centered at high frequencies, into lowpass signals or bandpass signals at much lower frequencies. Main advantages of using this technique are improved signal to noise ratio and analog electronic stages suppression.Publicad

MRI visualization of small structures using improved surface coils

In this paper we present the spatial resolution enhancement and noise reduction level achieved with an optimized inductively coupled surface coil specificall designed for our experiments. The technique of designing and implementing customized coils for magnetic resonance imaging of very small structures is described. We have designed a low cost prototype of an inductively coupled circular surface coil, tuned for 1H magnetic resonance imaging at 200 MHz. The coil is mounted on a customized teflo support. The inductive coupling used in this coil improves the signal-to-noise ratio by reducing various loss mechanisms (specially the dielectric losses). Test images have been acquired to determine the evolution of induced articular lesions in a rabbit animal model, as well as brain tumors in rats. The images show high spatial resolution, excellent B1 fiel homogeneity and no ‘‘hot spots’’. Comparing these images with those acquired with conventional coils, one find better spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio, as well as larger fiel of view with less intense illumination artifact. The methodology can be used in any application that requires high quality imaging of small structures.Publicad

Optimal design for MRI surface coils

Objetivo: Demostrar la posibilidad de diseñar y construir sondas de superficie o antenas específicas para la visualización de cada tejido en particular; haciendo uso de la técnica IRM, de modo que los resultados obtenidos sean muy superiores a los que se Consiguen mediante una sonda de superficie de propósito general. Material y métodos: El estudio ha sido realizado por el Grupo de Bioingeniería y Telemedicina de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid y se ha llevado a cabo en el Instiluto Pluridisciplinar en la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, que cuenta con un equipo de resonancia BIOSPEC BMT-47/40 de Bruker: Se han diseñado sondas de superficie construidas a la medida de la región que se desea estudiar; optimizadas de modo que la homogeneidad del campo excitador de la muestra fuera lo más elevada posible, reduciendo además el artefacto de iluminación. Inicialmente se obtuvieron imágenes de un fantoma esférico de 50 mm de diámetro lleno de agua para luego adquirir imágenes de ratas y conejos de laboratorio. Resultados: Las imágenes adquiridas han permitido la comparación de los resultados obtenidos con la sonda comercial proporcionada por el fabricante del equipo y las sondas diseñadas; con estas últimas se consiguen imágenes de mayor calidad, pues además de poder visualizar tejidos más profundos en la muestra disminuye el artefacto de iluminación. Conclusiones: La construcción de sondas de superficie específicas para visualizar un determinado tejido o región anatómica permite mejorar la calidad de las imágenes. La extensión natural de este proyecto actualmente en curso consiste en traspasar estos resultados a equipos destinados a imagen para humanos.Objective: To demonstrate the possibilily of designing and comlmctillg specific slllfaee coils or antellllae for MRI viell'ing of each particular lisslle, producillg beller results Ihall those provided b), a general pll/pose su rface coi l. Material and methods: The slud)' lI'as pe/formed b), the Bioellgilleering alld Telemedicille Group of Madrid Pol)'teehllical Ulliversil)' and Ivas carried out al Ihe Pluridisciplillary IlIslitute of Ihe Ulliversidad Complutellse ill Madrid, usillg a BMT-47/40 BIOSPEC resonance ullit from Bruka SII/face coils Ivere custom-designed al/{I eOllstmctedforeach regioll to be studied, (md optimized to IllOke the specimell excitation field as homogelleous as jJossible, ill additioll lo reducing Ihe brightlless artijact. First, images lI'ere obtailled of a ro//Ild, lI'ater phalllommeasurillg 50 mm ill diamelel; afta lI'hich images of labomtOl)' rals al/{I rabbils lI'ere obtailled. Results: The images thus acqllired lI'ere campa red lI'ith the resulls obtailled Ivilh the coi! provided b), the manufactura of the eqllipment, alld ¡vere foulld to be of beller qualil)', alloll'illg the vielVing of deeper tissue fa the specimell as lI'ell as reducillg the brigllllless arl/facI. Conclusions: The cOllstructioll of sll/face coilsfor viell'illg specific tissues or anatomical regions improves image qualit)'. The lIexl Slep ill this ollgoing ¡J/vjeet lI'ill be the applicatioll of these cOllcepls to II/lits desiglIed for use ill IlIImalls.Publicad

High resolution in vivo imaging at high frequences with improved surface coils

Proceedings of: 18th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Amsterdam, 31 Oct. - 03 Nov. 1996.The enhancement of the spatial resolution with an optimised surface coil design for MR imaging of small structures at high frequencies is presented. Surface coils provide high signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) which allow to improve the spatial resolution. However, their sensitivity is limited to the region adjacent to the coil where the B1 field distribution is more homogeneous. The authors present an inductively coupled series-tuned circular coil prototype, optimised for 1H MR imaging at 200 MHz. The inductively coupled scheme provides a good SNR by reducing the different losses mechanisms. Preliminary images, acquired on a Bruker BIOSPEC-BMT 47/40 working at 4.7 T, have been realised over a rabbit knee. Images depict a high spatial resolution, an excellent B1 field homogeneity and no `hot spots'Publicad

Diseño a medida de sondas de superficie para IRM

[Abstract] Congreso Nacional de Radiología 23, organizado por la Sociedad Española de Radiología Médica, Palma de Mallorca, 18 - 22 mayo 199

Synergistic action of actinoporin isoforms from the same sea anemone species assembled into functionally active heteropores

Among the toxic polypeptides secreted in the venom of sea anemones, actinoporins are pore forming toxins whose toxic activity relies on the formation of oligomeric pores within biological membranes. Intriguingly, actinoporins appear as multigene families which give rise to many protein isoforms in the same individual displaying high sequence identities but large functional differences. However, the evolutionary advantage of producing such similar isotoxins is not fully understood. Here, using sticholysins I and II (StnI and StnII) from the sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus, it is shown that actinoporin isoforms can potentiate each other’s activity. Through hemolysis and calcein releasing assays, it is revealed that mixtures of StnI and StnII are more lytic than equivalent preparations of the corresponding isolated isoforms. It is then proposed that this synergy is due to the assembly of heteropores since (i) StnI and StnII can be chemically cross-linked at the membrane and (ii) the affinity of sticholysin mixtures for the membrane is increased with respect to any of them acting in isolation, as revealed by isothermal titration calorimetry experiments. These results help to understand the multigene nature of actinoporins and may be extended to other families of toxins that require oligomerization to exert toxicity

Synergistic Action of Actinoporin Isoforms from the Same Sea Anemone Species Assembled into Functionally Active Heteropores

Among the toxic polypeptides secreted in the venom of sea anemones, actinoporins are the pore-forming toxins whose toxic activity relies on the formation of oligomeric pores within biological membranes. Intriguingly, actinoporins appear as multigene families that give rise to many protein isoforms in the same individual displaying high sequence identities but large functional differences. However, the evolutionary advantage of producing such similar isotoxins is not fully understood. Here,using sticholysins I and II (StnI and StnII) from the sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus, it is shown that actinoporin isoforms can potentiate each other’s activity. Through hemolysis and calcein releasing assays, it is revealed that mixtures of StnI and StnII are more lytic than equivalent preparations of the corresponding isolated isoforms. It is then proposed that this synergy is due to the assembly of heteropores because (i) StnI and StnII can be chemically cross-linked at the membrane and (ii) the affinity of sticholysin mixtures for the membrane is increased with respect to any of them acting in isolation, as revealed by isothermal titration calorimetry experiments. These results help us understand the multigene nature of actinoporins and may be extended to other families of toxins that require oligomerization to exert toxicity

Sticholysin, Sphingomyelin, and Cholesterol: A Closer Look at a Tripartite Interaction

Actinoporins are a group of soluble toxic proteins that bind to membranes containing sphingomyelin (SM) and oligomerize to form pores. Sticholysin II (StnII) is a member of the actinoporin family, produced by Stichodactyla helianthus. Cholesterol (Chol) is known to enhance the activity of StnII. However, the molecular mechanisms behind this activation have remained obscure, although the activation is not Chol specific but rather sterol specific. To further explore how bilayer lipids affect or are affected by StnII, we have used a multiprobe approach (fluorescent analogs of both Chol and SM) in combination with a series of StnII tryptophan (Trp)-mutants, to study StnII/bilayer interactions. First we compared StnII bilayer permeabilization in the presence of Chol or oleoyl-ceramide (OCer). The comparison was done since both Chol and OCer have a 1-hydroxyl which help to orient the molecule in the bilayer (although OCer have additional polar functional groups). Both Chol and OCer also have increased affinity for SM, which StnII may recognize. However, our results show that only Chol was able to activate StnII-induced bilayer permeabilization – OCer failed to active. To further examine possible Chol/StnII interactions, we measured Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between Trp in StnII and cholestatrienol (CTL), a fluorescent analog of Chol. We could show higher FRET efficiency between CTL and Trp:s in position 100 and 114 of StnII, when compared to three other Trp positions further away from the bilayer binding region of StnII. Taken together, our results suggest that StnII was able to attract Chol to its vicinity, maybe by showing affinity for Chol. SM interactions are known to be important for StnII binding to bilayers, and Chol is known to facilitate subsequent permeabilization of the bilayers by StnII. Our results help to better understand the role of these important membrane lipids for the bilayer properties of StnII

Neuroprotective Effects of Betulinic Acid Hydroxamate in Intraventricular Hemorrhage-Induced Brain Damage in Immature Rats

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is an important cause of long-term disability in extremely preterm infants, with no current treatment. We aimed to study in an IVH model in immature rats the neuroprotective effect of betulinic acid hydroxamate (BAH), a B55α/PP2A activator that inhibits the activity of the hypoxia-inducing factor prolyl-hydroxylase type 2. IVH was induced in 1-day-old (P1) Wistar rats by the left periventricular injection of Clostridial collagenase. Then, pups received i.p. vehicle or BAH 3 mg/kg single dose. At P6, P14 and P45, brain damage (area of damage, neurobehavioral deficits, Lactate/N-acetylaspartate ratio), white matter injury (WMI: corpus callosum atrophy and myelin basic protein signal reduction) and inflammation (TLR4, NF-κB and TNFα expression), excitotoxicity (Glutamate/N-acetylspartate) and oxidative stress (protein nitrosylation) were evaluated. BAH treatment did not reduce the volume of brain damage, but it did reduce perilesional tissue damage, preventing an IVH-induced increase in Lac/NAA. BAH restored neurobehavioral performance at P45 preventing WMI. BAH prevented an IVH-induced increase in inflammation, excitotoxicity and oxidative stress. In conclusion, in immature rats, BAH reduced IVH-induced brain damage and prevented its long-term functional consequences, preserving normal myelination in a manner related to the modulation of inflammation, excitotoxicity and oxidative stress