Brain mapping in cognitive disorders: a multidisciplinary approach to learning the tools and applications of functional neuroimaging

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>With rapid advances in functional imaging methods, human studies that feature functional neuroimaging techniques are increasing exponentially and have opened a vast arena of new possibilities for understanding brain function and improving the care of patients with cognitive disorders in the clinical setting. There is a growing need for medical centers to offer clinically relevant functional neuroimaging courses that emphasize the multifaceted and multidisciplinary nature of this field. In this paper, we describe the implementation of a functional neuroimaging course focusing on cognitive disorders that might serve as a model for other medical centers. We identify key components of an active learning course design that impact student learning gains in methods and issues pertaining to functional neuroimaging that deserve consideration when optimizing the medical neuroimaging curriculum.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Learning gains associated with the course were assessed using polychoric correlation analysis of responses to the SALG (Student Assessment of Learning Gains) instrument.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Student gains in the functional neuroimaging of cognition as assessed by the SALG instrument were strongly associated with several aspects of the course design.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our implementation of a multidisciplinary and active learning functional neuroimaging course produced positive learning outcomes. Inquiry-based learning activities and an online learning environment contributed positively to reported gains. This functional neuroimaging course design may serve as a useful model for other medical centers.</p

Multishot versus Single-Shot Pulse Sequences in Very High Field fMRI: A Comparison Using Retinotopic Mapping

High-resolution functional MRI is a leading application for very high field (7 Tesla) human MR imaging. Though higher field strengths promise improvements in signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) and BOLD contrast relative to fMRI at 3 Tesla, these benefits may be partially offset by accompanying increases in geometric distortion and other off-resonance effects. Such effects may be especially pronounced with the single-shot EPI pulse sequences typically used for fMRI at standard field strengths. As an alternative, one might consider multishot pulse sequences, which may lead to somewhat lower temporal SNR than standard EPI, but which are also often substantially less susceptible to off-resonance effects. Here we consider retinotopic mapping of human visual cortex as a practical test case by which to compare examples of these sequence types for high-resolution fMRI at 7 Tesla. We performed polar angle retinotopic mapping at each of 3 isotropic resolutions (2.0, 1.7, and 1.1 mm) using both accelerated single-shot 2D EPI and accelerated multishot 3D gradient-echo pulse sequences. We found that single-shot EPI indeed led to greater temporal SNR and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) than the multishot sequences. However, additional distortion correction in postprocessing was required in order to fully realize these advantages, particularly at higher resolutions. The retinotopic maps produced by both sequence types were qualitatively comparable, and showed equivalent test/retest reliability. Thus, when surface-based analyses are planned, or in other circumstances where geometric distortion is of particular concern, multishot pulse sequences could provide a viable alternative to single-shot EPI

Hitting Hotspots: Spatial Targeting of Malaria for Control and Elimination

Teun Bousema and colleagues argue that targeting malaria “hotspots” is a highly efficient way to reduce malaria transmission at all levels of transmission intensity

Timing of the onset of changes in renal energetics in relation to blood pressure and glomerular filtration in haemorrhagic hypotension in the rat.

The timing and circumstances of changes in renal energetics during the gradual induction of haemorrhagic hypotension were studied in anaesthetised rats by phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance. Animals were bled at a constant rate of 0.1 ml/min via the femoral artery. Whenever changes in renal energetics were seen, a similar pattern was observed. A decrease in adenosine triphosphate occurred rapidly and was always associated with accumulation of inorganic phosphate and tissue acidosis. Profound oliguria, reflecting a markedly decreased rate of glomerular filtration preceded the changes in metabolite levels. Such a fall in glomerular filtration rate and consequently in the energy requirement for tubular reabsorption could be viewed as a mechanism by which energy demands of the kidney are reduced before a critical limitation of energy supply is reached. During uncomplicated haemorrhage in Wistar rats, mean arterial pressures as low as 25-40 mm Hg were reached before changes in renal energetics developed. In contrast, spontaneously hypertensive rates subjected to uncomplicated haemorrhage, and Wistar rats subjected to haemorrhage during concurrent stimulation of the ipsilateral sciatic nerve, developed changes in renal energetics at higher and more variable blood pressures and in response to the withdrawal of lesser but more variable quantities of blood. The sudden onset and severe degree of energy depletion at varying blood pressures during bleeding and its more ready occurrence in animals in which sympathetic nervous activity could be expected to be increased, suggests that sudden renal vasoconstriction is responsible for the unpredictable occurrence of tubular ischaemia in haemorrhagic hypotension