An fMRI study of human visual cortex in response to spatiotemporal properties of visual stimuli

Background: The brain response to temporal frequencies (TF) has been already reported, but with no study reported for different TF with respect to various spatial frequencies (SF). Materials and Methods: fMRI was performed by 1.5T GE-system in 14 volunteers during checkerboard, with TFs of 4, 6, 8 and 10Hz in low and high SFs of 0.5 and 8cpd. Results: Average percentage BOLD signal change demonstrated the amplitude of the fMRI response to different TFs was maximal in 6Hz for high SF of 8cpd, while, it was maximal at TF of 8Hz for low SF of 0.5cpd. Conclusion: The results are useful for vision therapy (such as the treatment Amblyopia) and visual task selecting in fMRI studies

Thorax organ dose estimation in computed tomography based on patient CT data using Monte Carlo simulation

Background: This study presents pati ent specific and organ dose esti mati on in computed tomography (CT) imaging of thorax directly from pati ent CT image using Monte Carlo simulati on. Pati ent's CT image is considered as the pati ent specific phantom and the best representati ve of pati ent physical index in order to calculate specific organ dose. Materials and Methods: EGSnrc/BEAMnrc Monte Carlo (MC) System was used for CT scanner simulati on and DOSXYZnrc was used in order to produce pati ent specific phantom and irradiati on of photons to phantom in step and shoot mode (axial mode). In order to calculate pati ent thorax organ dose, pati ent CT image of thorax as voxelized phantom was divided to a 64x64x20 matrix and 6.25 x 6.25 x 6.25 mm3 voxel size and this phantom was imported to DOSXYZnrc code. MC results in unit of Gy/parti cle were converted to absorbed dose in unit of mGy by a conversion factor (CF). We calculated pati ent thorax organ dose in MC simulati on from all irradiated slices, in 120 kV and 80 kV photon energies. Results: Effecti ve dose was obtained from organ dose and organ weighti ng factor. Esophagus and spinal cord received the lowest, and bone received the highest dose. In our study, effecti ve dose in CT of thorax was 7.4 mSV and 1.8 mSv in 120 and 80 kV, respecti vely. Conclusion: The results of this study might be used to provide the actual pati ent organ dose in CT imaging and calculati on of real effecti ve dose based on organ dose

Spatial frequency modulates visual cortical response to temporal frequency variation of visual stimuli: An fMRI study

The brain response to temporal frequency (TF) variation has already been reported, but with no study for different TF with respect to various spatial frequencies (SF). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed with a 1.5 Tesla General Electric system in 14 volunteers during square-wave reversal checkerboard visual stimulation with different temporal frequencies of 4, 6, 8 and 10 Hz in two states of low SF of 0.4 and high SF of 8 cpd (cycles/degree). The activation map was created using the data obtained from the block-designed fMRI study. Voxels whose Z value was above a threshold of 3.0, at a significance level P = 0.05, were considered activated. The results demonstrated that the percentage BOLD signal change in response to different TFs was the maximum value at 6 Hz for a high SF of 8 cpd, whereas it was the maximum at TF of 8 Hz for a low SF of 0.4 cpd. The results of this study agree with the results of animal invasive neurophysiological studies showing spatial and temporal frequency selectivity of neurons in visual cortical areas. These results can be useful for vision therapy (such as the treatment of amblyopia) and selecting a visual task in fMRI studies. © 2007 IOP Publishing Ltd

Spatial frequency modulates the human visual cortical response to temporal frequency variation: An fMRI study

The brain response to temporal frequencies (TF) has been already reported, but with no study for different TFs with respect to various spatial frequencies (SF). Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) was performed by 1.5 Tesla General Electric-system in 14 volunteers (9 males and 5 females, range 19-26 years) during square-wave reversal checkerboard visual stimulation with different temporal frequencies of 4, 6, 8 and 10 Hz in two states of low SF of 0.5 and high SF of 8 cpd (cycles/degree). The activation map was created using the data obtained from the block designed fMRI study. Pixels whose correlation coefficient value was above a threshold of 0.33, in significant level P <0.01 were considered activated. The average percentage BOLD (blood oxygenation level dependent) signal change for all activated pixels within the occipital lobe, multiplied by the total number of activated pixels within the occipital lobe, was used as the criterion for the strength of the fMRI signal at each state of TF& SF. The results demonstrated that the strength of the fMRI signal in response to different TFs was maximum in 6Hz for high SF of 8cpd, while it was maximum at TF of 8Hz for low SF of 0.5cpd. The results of this study agree with the results of animal invasive neurophysiological studies showing spatial and temporal frequency selectivity of neurons in visual cortical areas. These results can be useful for vision therapy (such as the treatment of Amblyopia) and selecting visual task in fMRI studies. © International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering 2007

Optimization of visual tasks for detecting visual cortex activity in fMRI studies

The aim of this study was to optimize visual stimuli in various forms of visual tasks for acquiring significant and robust signals. The effects of physical parameters of visual stimuli for detecting visual cortical activity were evaluated by functional magnetic resonance imaging. These parameters were temporal frequency (TF), spatial frequency (SF), the different patterns of activation including: square wave and sine wave grating, and two different states of rest including black and white screen. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) was performed by 1.5 Tesla General Electric system in 14 volunteers (9 males and 5 females, range 19-26 years). The activation map was created using the data obtained from the block designed fMRI study. Pixels whose Z value was above a threshold of 2.3, in significant level P=0.05 were considered activated. The average percentage BOLD (blood oxygenation level dependent) signal change for all activated pixels within the occipital lobe, multiplied by the total number of activated pixels within the occipital lobe, was used as a measure for the strength of the fMRI signal at each state of TF& SF. The results demonstrated that the strength of the fMRI signal was maximum in the TF of 8 Hz with low spatial frequency of 0.50 cycle per degree (cpd) and using the black screen in the rest state. However there isn't significant difference between square-wave and sine-wave grating in producing visual activation in cortex. Physical parameters of visual tasks are effective in detecting visual cortical activity, and it is necessary to consider them for taking significant and robust signal. © International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering 2007

Optimization of brain MRA withcontrast injection in 1.5 T field

Background and purpose: Selection of suitable parameters for brain MRA requires accurate measures, because the image quality depends on the location of arteries, veins and also the velocity differences of blood, taking into account the low blood flow in small veins and arteries, use of paramagnetic contrast media is recommended. Hence, in present study, we investigated the imaging optimization of brain vessels using contrast media in 1.5 T field.Materials and Methods: For image optimization blood T1 was estimated after the injection of 0.1mmol/kg of Gd-DTPA and the relative blood signals were measured at T1=300, 600, 900 and 1200ms using TR=20ms and TE=7ms parameters. Ernest angle and relative signal increased as the T1 decreased. MRA was obtained in three groups, each including five volunteer patients using parameters TR=20ms, TE=7ms and flip angle 10, 20 & 30 degrees in two series without and during contrast injection.Signals of carotid, M.C.A and thorcolar herofili and SD in air were measured and it was shown that in 20 degrees flip angle, C/N was maximum.At the last stage, three series of MRA, without, during c.i and 15 minutes after c.i where obtained in 20 volunteer patients using parameters TR=20ms, TE=7ms and flip angle 20 degrees and calculated C/N .Results: After statistical analysis the highest C/N was observed during c.i MRA. Paired t-student test was performed to compare the differences between the C/N ratios. For clinical purposes one vein and two arterles were graded in 5 definite levels.Conclusion: Results indicated an important effect of paramagnetic contrast media on better observing of small arteries and vein. The best quality was taken during c.i, but in some arteries contrast media did not improve the quality of MRA

Assessment of Reproducibility of Geometric Distortion in MRI using Phantom Measurements

Introduction:  Image  distortion  is  one  of  the  major  problems  of  magnetic  resonance  imaging  (MRI) for use in 3DMRI, velocity MRI, FMRI and radiotherapy treatment planning (RTTP). It is  widely known that the most obvious effect of the inhomogenity of the magnetic fields and the  nonlinearity  of  the  gradient  is  the  Geometric  Distortion  of  MR  tomograms.  In  this  study,  the  accuracy of MR images was considered by the phantom study and the reproducibility of images  was evaluated by repeating the phantom measurements.  Materials and Methods: MRI scans of the phantom with grid pattern inside it were performed  using head coil in two 1.5 Tesla MRI systems (Picker VISTA TM HPQ, USA & GE Signa Echo  Speed, USA). For the Geometric Distortion reproducibility evaluation the T1W, T2W and PDW  SE  protocols  were  repeated  three  times.  The  Geometric  Distortion  was  measured  by  an  edge  detection program in MATLAB.   Results: The geometric distortion in the peripheral area of the images tends to be generally larger  than it in the central area in all images. The average displacement in Picker MRI was 3 pixels in  the y and 1 pixel in the x direction and in GE MRI it was 1 pixel in both x and y direction for 24  cm FOV (pixel = 0.9 mm).  Discussion and Conclusions: Since the positional variation was within 1 to 3 pixels for the head  coil, it will be possible to use this MR system in 3DMRI, velocity MRI, FMRI and RTTP. To  decrease the geometric distortion the use of suitable coil and protocol are expected

Development and Validation of a Skinfold Model for Estimation of Body Density for a Safe Weight Reduction in Young Iranian Wrestlers

Background: Adverse effects of excessive body mass reduction among wrestlers dictate minimum weight determination through body composition. Although skinfold equations are essential to estimate body composition in the field setting, they are mostly derived from Western societies and may lack generalizability to other populations. Purpose: Previously published skinfold equations lacked external validity in predicting body density of Iranian wrestlers. We aimed to derive a new anthropometric model specific to young Iranian male wrestlers. Study design: Cross-sectional cohort study. Level of evidence: Level 3. Methods: One hundred twenty-six Iranian male wrestlers with at least 1 year of experience and a mean age of 19 ± 4.0 years underwent underwater weight analysis for body density estimation and anthropometric measurements. The previously published equations were validated, followed by new regression modeling, using multivariable fractional polynomials, with body density as the criterion predicted by common anthropometric variables. The final model was validated throughout the modeling procedure using 1000 bootstrap replications. Results: The mean body fat percentage (%BF) was 12.6% (95% CI, 11.9%-13.4%), lower than that of previous studies. Six previously published e

Glutathione conjugated polyethylenimine on the surface of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles as a theranostic agent for targeted and controlled curcumin delivery

Theranostics with the ability to simultaneous monitoring of treatment progress and controlled delivery of therapeutic agents has become as an emerging therapeutic paradigm in cancer therapy. In this study, we have developed a novel surface functionalized iron oxide nanoparticle using polyethyleneimine and glutathione for targeted curcumin (CUR) delivery and acceptable pH sensitive character. The developed magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were physicochemically characterized by FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM and TEM. The MNPs was obtained in spherical shape with diameter of 50 nm. CUR was efficiently loaded into the MNPs and then in vitro release analyses were evaluated and showed that the prepared MNPs could release higher amount of CUR in acidic medium compared to neutral medium due to the pH sensitive property of the coated polymer. MTT assay confirmed the superior toxicity of CUR loaded MNPs compared to the control nanoparticles. Higher cellular uptake of the MNPs than negative control cells was demonstrated in SK-N-MC cell line. In vitro assessment of MRI properties showed that synthesized MNPs could be used as MRI imaging agent. Furthermore, according to hemolysis assay, the developed formulation exhibited suitable hemocompatibility. In vivo blood circulation analysis of the MNPs also exhibited enhanced serum bioavailability up to 2.5 fold for CUR loaded MNPs compared with free CUR. © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Glutathione conjugated polyethylenimine on the surface of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles as a theranostic agent for targeted and controlled curcumin delivery

Theranostics with the ability to simultaneous monitoring of treatment progress and controlled delivery of therapeutic agents has become as an emerging therapeutic paradigm in cancer therapy. In this study, we have developed a novel surface functionalized iron oxide nanoparticle using polyethyleneimine and glutathione for targeted curcumin (CUR) delivery and acceptable pH sensitive character. The developed magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were physicochemically characterized by FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM and TEM. The MNPs was obtained in spherical shape with diameter of 50 nm. CUR was efficiently loaded into the MNPs and then in vitro release analyses were evaluated and showed that the prepared MNPs could release higher amount of CUR in acidic medium compared to neutral medium due to the pH sensitive property of the coated polymer. MTT assay confirmed the superior toxicity of CUR loaded MNPs compared to the control nanoparticles. Higher cellular uptake of the MNPs than negative control cells was demonstrated in SK-N-MC cell line. In vitro assessment of MRI properties showed that synthesized MNPs could be used as MRI imaging agent. Furthermore, according to hemolysis assay, the developed formulation exhibited suitable hemocompatibility. In vivo blood circulation analysis of the MNPs also exhibited enhanced serum bioavailability up to 2.5 fold for CUR loaded MNPs compared with free CUR. © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group