How restful is it with all that noise? Comparison of Interleaved silent steady state (ISSS) and conventional imaging in resting-state fMRI.

Resting-state fMRI studies have become very important in cognitive neuroscience because they are able to identify BOLD fluctuations in brain circuits involved in motor, cognitive, or perceptual processes without the use of an explicit task. Such approaches have been fruitful when applied to various disordered populations, or to children or the elderly. However, insufficient attention has been paid to the consequences of the loud acoustic scanner noise associated with conventional fMRI acquisition, which could be an important confounding factor affecting auditory and/or cognitive networks in resting-state fMRI. Several approaches have been developed to mitigate the effects of acoustic noise on fMRI signals, including sparse sampling protocols and interleaved silent steady state (ISSS) acquisition methods, the latter being used only for task-based fMRI. Here, we developed an ISSS protocol for resting-state fMRI (rs-ISSS) consisting of rapid acquisition of a set of echo planar imaging volumes following each silent period, during which the steady state longitudinal magnetization was maintained with a train of relatively silent slice-selective excitation pulses. We evaluated the test-retest reliability of intensity and spatial extent of connectivity networks of fMRI BOLD signal across three different days for rs-ISSS and compared it with a standard resting-state fMRI (rs-STD). We also compared the strength and distribution of connectivity networks between rs-ISSS and rs-STD. We found that both rs-ISSS and rs-STD showed high reproducibility of fMRI signal across days. In addition, rs-ISSS showed a more robust pattern of functional connectivity within the somatosensory and motor networks, as well as an auditory network compared with rs-STD. An increased connectivity between the default mode network and the language network and with the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) network was also found for rs-ISSS compared with rs-STD. Finally, region of interest analysis showed higher interhemispheric connectivity in Heschl's gyri in rs-ISSS compared with rs-STD, with lower variability across days. The present findings suggest that rs-ISSS may be advantageous for detecting network connectivity in a less noisy environment, and that resting-state studies carried out with standard scanning protocols should consider the potential effects of loud noise on the measured networks.

Dual-temporal resolution dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI protocol for blood-brain barrier permeability measurement in enhancing multiple sclerosis lesions.

PURPOSE: To design a more accurate and reproducible technique for the measurement of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in gadolinium-enhancing multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four MS patients were scanned using a new dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol based on an uninterrupted two-part acquisition consisting of an initial part at high temporal and low spatial resolutions and a second part at low temporal and high spatial resolutions. The method preserves both the high spatial resolution needed for the often small size of lesions and the high temporal resolution required during the first minute after injection to sufficiently sample the first-pass bolus. Simulations compared the performance of this new protocol with the conventional one at low temporal and high spatial resolutions throughout. RESULTS: The BBB permeability estimates changed by up to 33% between the two protocols. The new protocol led to simulated error on K(trans) of 7%-10%, versus 7%-30% with the conventional protocol, and was more robust with respect to offsets between acquisition and injection start times, differences in shape of the first-pass peak, and permeability values. CONCLUSION: The dual-temporal resolution protocol produces improved BBB permeability estimates and provides a more complete view of active inflammatory MS lesion pathology.

Diffusion tensor imaging, permanent pyramidal tract damage, and outcome in subcortical stroke.

BACKGROUND: Studies in chronic stroke patients suggest that diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters of the pyramidal tract (PT) relate to residual motor function. We performed a prospective controlled study to evaluate if the DTI parameters tract volume (TV) and fractional anisotropy (FA) in patients with acute subcortical infarcts are correlated with permanent PT damage and clinical outcome after 6 months. METHODS: We acquired DTI in 18 stroke patients with subcortical ischemic infarcts either affecting the PT (PT group, n = 12) or not (non-PT group, n = 6) and in 7 age- and risk factor-matched controls at median times of 12 and 180 days. The PT was isolated using tractography and tract volume ratios (R(TV)) and FA ratios (R(FA)) were calculated (affected tract/unaffected tract). Ratios were compared within and between groups at initial and follow-up time points, as well as in tract portions above and below the infarcts, and were correlated to Rivermead Motor Function Test (RMFT) scores. RESULTS: Mean R(FA) and R(TV) of the PT group were smaller than those of both non-PT and control groups initially and at follow-up (p < 0.01). Tract portions above the infarct had lower R(TV) than below (p < 0.05). There was no significant change in R(FA) and R(TV) over time for the whole tract or tract portions. R(FA) and R(TV) both were highly correlated with initial and follow-up RMFT scores. CONCLUSIONS: DTI parameters of PT integrity acquired within the first weeks after acute subcortical stroke measure permanent ischemic PT damage and are highly correlated with residual motor function in the acute and chronic stage.

Human brain myelination from birth to 4.5 years.

The myelination of white matter from birth through the first years of life has been studied qualitatively and it is well know the myelination occurs in a orderly and predictable manner, proceeding in a caudocranial direction, from deep to superficial and from posterior to anterior. Even if the myelination is a continuous process, it is useful to characterize myelination evolution in normal brain development in order to better study demyelinating diseases. The quantification of myelination has only been studied for neonates. The original contribution of this study is to develop a method to characterize and visualize the myelination pattern using MRI data from a group of normal subjects from birth to just over 4 years of age. The method includes brain extraction and tissue classification in addition to the analysis of T2 relaxation times to attempt to separate myelinated and unmyelinated white matter. The results agree previously published qualitative observations.