Vessel-specific quantification of cerebral venous oxygenation with velocity-encoding preparation and rapid acquisition.

PURPOSE: Non-invasive measurement of cerebral venous oxygenation (Yv) is of critical importance in brain diseases. The present work proposed a fast method to quantify regional Yv map for both large and small veins. METHODS: A new sequence was developed, referred to as TRU-VERA (T2 relaxation under velocity encoding and rapid acquisition, which isolates blood spins from static tissue with velocity-encoding preparation, modulates the T2 weighting of venous signal with T2-preparation and utilizes a bSSFP readout to achieve fast acquisition with high resolution. The sequence was first optimized to achieve best sensitivity for both large and small veins, and then validated with TRUST (T2 relaxation under spin tagging), TRUPC (T2 relaxation under phase contrast), and accelerated TRUPC MRI. Regional difference of Yv was evaluated, and test-retest reproducibility was examined. RESULTS: Optimal Venc was determined to be 3 cm/s, while recovery time and balanced SSFP flip angle within reasonable range had minimal effect on SNR efficiency. Venous T2 measured with TRU-VERA was highly correlated with T2 from TRUST (R2 = 0.90), and a conversion equation was established for further calibration to Yv. TRU-VERA sequences showed consistent Yv estimation with TRUPC (R2 = 0.64) and accelerated TRUPC (R2 = 0.79). Coefficient of variation was 0.84% for large veins and 2.49% for small veins, suggesting an excellent test-retest reproducibility. CONCLUSION: The proposed TRU-VERA sequence is a promising method for vessel-specific oxygenation assessment.

ISMRM Open Science Initiative for Perfusion Imaging (OSIPI): ASL pipeline inventory.

PURPOSE: To create an inventory of image processing pipelines of arterial spin labeling (ASL) and list their main features, and to evaluate the capability, flexibility, and ease of use of publicly available pipelines to guide novice ASL users in selecting their optimal pipeline. METHODS: Developers self-assessed their pipelines using a questionnaire developed by the Task Force 1.1 of the ISMRM Open Science Initiative for Perfusion Imaging. Additionally, each publicly available pipeline was evaluated by two independent testers with basic ASL experience using a scoring system created for this purpose. RESULTS: The developers of 21 pipelines filled the questionnaire. Most pipelines are free for noncommercial use (n = 18) and work with the standard NIfTI (Neuroimaging Informatics Technology Initiative) data format (n = 15). All pipelines can process standard 3D single postlabeling delay pseudo-continuous ASL images and primarily differ in their support of advanced sequences and features. The publicly available pipelines (n = 9) were included in the independent testing, all of them being free for noncommercial use. The pipelines, in general, provided a trade-off between ease of use and flexibility for configuring advanced processing options. CONCLUSION: Although most ASL pipelines can process the common ASL data types, only some (namely, ASLPrep, ASLtbx, BASIL/Quantiphyse, ExploreASL, and MRICloud) are well-documented, publicly available, support multiple ASL types, have a user-friendly interface, and can provide a useful starting point for ASL processing. The choice of an optimal pipeline should be driven by specific data to be processed and user experience, and can be guided by the information provided in this ASL inventory.

Glymphatic Imaging in Pediatrics.

The glymphatic system, which facilitates cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow through the brain parenchyma, is important for brain development and waste clearance. Advances in imaging techniques, particularly magnetic resonance imaging, have make it possible to evaluate glymphatic structures and functions in vivo. Recently, several studies have focused on the development and alterations of the glymphatic system in pediatric disorders. This review discusses the development of the glymphatic system, advances of imaging techniques and their applications in pediatric disorders. First, the results of the reviewed studies indicate that the development of the glymphatic system is a long-lasting process that continues into adulthood. Second, there is a need for improved glymphatic imaging techniques that are non-invasive and fast to improve suitability for pediatric applications, as some of existing methods use contrast injection and are susceptible to motion artifacts from long scanning times. Several novel techniques are potentially feasible for pediatric patients and may be used in the future. Third, the glymphatic dysfunction is associated with a large number of pediatric disorders, although only a few have recently been investigated. In conclusion, research on the pediatric glymphatic system remains an emerging field. The preliminary applications of glymphatic imaging techniques have provided unique insight into the pathological mechanism of pediatric diseases, but mainly limited in visualization of enlarged perivascular spaces and morphological measurements on CSF volumes. More in-depth studies on glymphatic functions are required to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying brain development and pediatric diseases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.

Improving Microstructural Estimation in Time-Dependent Diffusion MRI With a Bayesian Method.

BACKGROUND: Accurately fitting diffusion-time-dependent diffusion MRI (td-dMRI) models poses challenges due to complex and nonlinear formulas, signal noise, and limited clinical data acquisition. PURPOSE: Introduce a Bayesian methodology to refine microstructural fitting within the IMPULSED (Imaging Microstructural Parameters Using Limited Spectrally Edited Diffusion) model and optimize the prior distribution within the Bayesian framework. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: Involving 69 pediatric patients (median age 6 years, interquartile range [IQR] 3-9 years, 61% male) with 41 low-grade and 28 high-grade gliomas, of which 76.8% were identified within the brainstem or cerebellum. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3 T, oscillating gradient spin-echo (OGSE) and pulsed gradient spin-echo (PGSE). ASSESSMENT: The Bayesian method's performance in fitting cell diameter ( d $$ d $$ ), intracellular volume fraction ( f in $$ {f}_{in} $$ ), and extracellular diffusion coefficient ( D ex $$ {D}_{ex} $$ ) was compared against the NLLS method, considering simulated and experimental data. The tumor region-of-interest (ROI) were manually delineated on the b0 images. The diagnostic performance in distinguishing high- and low-grade gliomas was assessed, and fitting accuracy was validated against H&E-stained pathology. STATISTICAL TESTS: T-test, receiver operating curve (ROC), area under the curve (AUC) and DeLong's test were conducted. Significance considered at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Bayesian methodology manifested increased accuracy with robust estimates in simulation (RMSE decreased by 29.6%, 40.9%, 13.6%, and STD decreased by 29.2%, 43.5%, and 24.0%, respectively for d $$ d $$ , f in $$ {f}_{in} $$ , and D ex $$ {D}_{ex} $$ compared to NLLS), indicating fewer outliers and reduced error. Diagnostic performance for tumor grade was similar in both methods, however, Bayesian method generated smoother microstructural maps (outliers ratio decreased by 45.3% ± 19.4%) and a marginal enhancement in correlation with H&E staining result (r = 0.721 for f in $$ {f}_{in} $$ compared to r = 0.698 using NLLS, P = 0.5764). DATA CONCLUSION: The proposed Bayesian method substantially enhances the accuracy and robustness of IMPULSED model estimation, suggesting its potential clinical utility in characterizing cellular microstructure. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1.

Quercetin in Osteoporosis Treatment: A Comprehensive Review of Its Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to provide a theoretical basis and insights for quercetin's clinical application in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis (OP), analyzing its roles in bone formation promotion, bone resorption inhibition, anti-inflammation, antioxidant effects, and potential mechanisms. RECENT FINDINGS: OP, a prevalent bone disorder, is marked by reduced bone mineral density and impaired bone architecture, elevating the risk of fractures in patients. The primary approach to OP management is pharmacotherapy, with quercetin, a phytochemical compound, emerging as a focus of recent interest. This natural flavonoid exerts regulatory effects on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts and promotes bone health and metabolic equilibrium via anti-inflammatory and antioxidative pathways. Although quercetin has demonstrated significant potential in regulating bone metabolism, there is a need for further high-quality clinical studies focused on medicinal quercetin.

Cerebrovascular reactivity MRI as a biomarker for cerebral small vessel disease-related cognitive decline: Multi-site validation in the MarkVCID Consortium.

INTRODUCTION: Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) represent a major factor in cognitive decline in older adults. The present study examined the relationship between cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cognitive function in a multi-site study, using a predefined hypothesis. METHODS: We conducted the study in a total of three analysis sites and 263 subjects. Each site performed an identical CVR MRI procedure using 5% carbon dioxide inhalation. A global cognitive measure of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and an executive function measure of item response theory (IRT) score were used as outcomes. RESULTS: CVR and MoCA were positively associated, and this relationship was reproduced at all analysis sites. CVR was found to be positively associated with executive function. DISCUSSION: The predefined hypothesis on the association between CVR and a global cognitive score was validated in three independent analysis sites, providing support for CVR as a biomarker in VCID. HIGHLIGHTS: This study measured a novel functional index of small arteries referred to as cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR). CVR was positively associated with global cognition in older adults. This finding was observed in three independent cohorts at three sites. Our statistical analysis plan was predefined before beginning data collection.

Non-contrast assessment of blood-brain barrier permeability to water in mice: An arterial spin labeling study at cerebral veins.

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a critical role in protecting the brain from toxins and pathogens. However, in vivo tools to assess BBB permeability are scarce and often require the use of exogenous contrast agents. In this study, we aimed to develop a non-contrast arterial-spin-labeling (ASL) based MRI technique to estimate BBB permeability to water in mice. By determining the relative fraction of labeled water spins that were exchanged into the brain tissue as opposed to those that remained in the cerebral veins, we estimated indices of global BBB permeability to water including water extraction fraction (E) and permeability surface-area product (PS). First, using multiple post-labeling delay ASL experiments, we estimated the bolus arrival time (BAT) of the labeled spins to reach the great vein of Galen (VG) to be 691.2 ± 14.5 ms (N = 5). Next, we investigated the dependence of the VG ASL signal on labeling duration and identified an optimal imaging protocol with a labeling duration of 1200 ms and a PLD of 100 ms. Quantitative E and PS values in wild-type mice were found to be 59.9 ± 3.2% and 260.9 ± 18.9 ml/100 g/min, respectively. In contrast, mice with Huntington's disease (HD) revealed a significantly higher E (69.7 ± 2.4%, P = 0.026) and PS (318.1 ± 17.1 ml/100 g/min, P = 0.040), suggesting BBB breakdown in this mouse model. Reproducibility studies revealed a coefficient-of-variation (CoV) of 4.9 ± 1.7% and 6.1 ± 1.2% for E and PS, respectively. The proposed method may open new avenues for preclinical research on pathophysiological mechanisms of brain diseases and therapeutic trials in animal models.

MRI assessment of cerebral oxygen extraction fraction in the medial temporal lobe.

The medial temporal lobe (MTL) is a key area implicated in many brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. As a functional biomarker, the oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) of MTL may be more sensitive than structural atrophy of MTL, especially at the early stages of diseases. However, there is a lack of non-invasive techniques to measure MTL-OEF in humans. The goal of this work is to develop an MRI technique to assess MTL-OEF in a clinically practical time without using contrast agents. The proposed method measures venous oxygenation (Yv) in the basal veins of Rosenthal (BVs), which are the major draining veins of the MTL. MTL-OEF can then be estimated as the arterio-venous difference in oxygenation. We developed an MRI sequence, dubbed arterial-suppressed accelerated T2-relaxation-under-phase-contrast (AS-aTRUPC), to quantify the blood T2 of the BVs, which was then converted to Yv through a well-established calibration model. MTL-OEF was calculated as (Ya-Yv)/Ya × 100%, where Ya was the arterial oxygenation. The feasibility of AS-aTRUPC to quantify MTL-OEF was evaluated in 16 healthy adults. The sensitivity of AS-aTRUPC in detecting OEF changes was assessed by a caffeine ingestion (200 mg) challenge. For comparison, T2-relaxation-under-spin-tagging (TRUST) MRI, which is a widely used global OEF technique, was also acquired. The dependence of MTL-OEF on age was examined by including another seven healthy elderly subjects. The results showed that in healthy adults, MTL-OEF of the left and right hemispheres were correlated (P=0.005). MTL-OEF was measured to be 23.9±3.6% (mean±standard deviation) and was significantly lower (P<0.0001) than the OEF of 33.3±2.9% measured in superior sagittal sinus (SSS). After caffeine ingestion, there was an absolute percentage increase of 9.1±4.0% in MTL-OEF. Additionally, OEF in SSS measured with AS-aTRUPC showed a strong correlation with TRUST OEF (intra-class correlation coefficient=0.94 with 95% confidence interval [0.91, 0.96]), with no significant bias (P=0.12). MTL-OEF was found to increase with age (MTL-OEF=20.997+0.100 × age; P=0.02). In conclusion, AS-aTRUPC MRI provides non-invasive assessments of MTL-OEF and may facilitate future clinical applications of MTL-OEF as a disease biomarker.

Experimental evidence that cuckoos choose host nests following an egg matching strategy.

The arms race between brood parasites and their hosts provides a classic model to study coevolution. Hosts often reject the parasitic egg, and brood parasites should therefore select host nests in which the colour of the eggs best matches that of their own. Although this hypothesis has received some support, direct experimental evidence is still lacking. Here, we report on a study of Daurian redstarts, which show a distinct egg-colour dimorphism, with females laying either blue or pink eggs. Redstarts are often parasitized by common cuckoos, which lay light blue eggs. First, we showed that cuckoo eggs were more similar in spectral reflectance to the blue than to the pink redstart egg morph. Second, we report that the natural parasitism rate was higher in blue than in pink host clutches. Third, we performed a field experiment in which we presented a dummy clutch of each colour morph adjacent to active redstart nests. In this set-up, cuckoos almost always chose to parasitize a blue clutch. Our results demonstrate that cuckoos actively choose redstart nests in which the egg colour matches the colour of their own eggs. Our study thus provides direct experimental evidence in support of the egg matching hypothesis.

Toward vendor-independent measurement of cerebral venous oxygenation: Comparison of TRUST MRI across three major MRI manufacturers and association with end-tidal CO2.

Cerebral venous oxygenation (Yv ) is a valuable biomarker for a variety of brain diseases. T2 relaxation under spin tagging (TRUST) MRI is a widely used method for Yv quantification. In this work, there were two main objectives. The first was to evaluate the reproducibility of TRUST Yv measurements across MRI scanners from different vendors. The second was to examine the correlation between Yv and end-tidal CO2 (EtCO2 ) in a multisite, multivendor setting and determine the usefulness of this correlation to account for variations in Yv caused by normal variations and physiological fluctuations. Standardized TRUST pulse sequences were implemented on three scanners from major MRI vendors (GE, Siemens, Philips). These scanners were located at two research institutions. Ten healthy subjects were scanned. On each scanner, the subject underwent two scan sessions, each of which included three TRUST scans, to evaluate the intrasession and intersession reproducibility of Yv . Each scanner was also equipped with a capnograph device to record the EtCO2 of the subject during the MRI scan. We found no significant bias in Yv measurements across the three scanners (P = 0.18). The measured Yv values on the three scanners were also strongly correlated with each other (intraclass correlation coefficients > 0.85, P < 0.001). The intrasession and intersession coefficients of variation of Yv were less than 4% and showed no significant difference among the scanners. In addition, our results revealed that (1) within the same subject, Yv increased with EtCO2 at a rate of 1.24 ± 0.17%/mmHg (P < 0.0001), and (2) across different subjects, individuals with a higher EtCO2 had a higher Yv , at a rate of 0.94 ± 0.36%/mmHg (P = 0.01). These results suggest that (1) the standardized TRUST sequences had similar accuracies and reproducibilities for the quantification of Yv across the scanners, and (2) recording of EtCO2 may be a useful complement to Yv measurement to account for CO2 -related physiological fluctuations in Yv in multisite, multivendor studies.

Longitudinal changes in brain oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) in older adults: Relationship to markers of vascular and Alzheimer's pathology.

INTRODUCTION: Oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) reflects the balance between oxygen delivery and consumption. We longitudinally measured OEF in older adults to examine the relationship with markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular pathology. METHODS: One hundred thirty-seven participants were studied at two time-points at an interval of 2.16 years. OEF was measured using T2 -relaxation-under-spin-tagging (TRUST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The association between OEF and vascular risks, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) measures of amyloid beta (Aß), total tau (t-tau), and phosphorylated tau 181 (p-tau181) was examined. RESULTS: OEF increased from baseline to follow-up. The increase in OEF was more prominent in individuals with high vascular risks compared to those with low vascular risks, and was associated with progression of vascular risks and the growth in WMH volume. OEF change was not related to CSF markers of AD pathology or their progression. DISCUSSION: Longitudinal OEF change in older adults is primarily related to vascular pathology.

Blood-brain barrier permeability in response to caffeine challenge.

PURPOSE: Caffeine is known to alter brain perfusion by acting as an adenosine antagonist, but its effect on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability is not fully elucidated. This study aimed to dynamically monitor BBB permeability to water after a single dose of caffeine tablet using a non-contrast MRI technique. METHODS: Ten young healthy volunteers who were not regular coffee drinkers were studied. The experiment began with a pre-caffeine measurement, followed by four measurements at the post-caffeine stage. Water-extraction-with-phase-contrast-arterial-spin-tagging (WEPCAST) MRI was used to assess the time dependence of BBB permeability to water following the ingestion of 200 mg caffeine. Other cerebral physiological parameters including cerebral blood flow (CBF), venous oxygenation (Yv ), and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2 ) were also examined. The relationships between cerebral physiological parameters and time were studied with mixed-effect models. RESULTS: It was found that, after caffeine ingestion, CBF and Yv showed a time-dependent decrease (p < 0.001), while CMRO2 did not change significantly. The fraction of arterial water crossing the BBB (E) showed a significant increase (p < 0.001). In contrast, the permeability-surface-area product (PS), i.e., BBB permeability to water, remained constant (p = 0.94). Additionally, it was observed that changes in physiological parameters were non-linear with regard to time and occurred at as early as 9 min after caffeine tablet ingestion. CONCLUSION: These results suggest an unchanged BBB permeability despite alterations in perfusion during a vasoconstrictive caffeine challenge.

Blood-Brain Barrier Breakdown in Relationship to Alzheimer and Vascular Disease.

OBJECTIVE: Blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown has been suggested to be an early biomarker in human cognitive impairment. However, the relationship between BBB breakdown and brain pathology, most commonly Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular disease, is still poorly understood. The present study measured human BBB function in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients on 2 molecular scales, specifically BBB's permeability to water and albumin molecules. METHODS: Fifty-five elderly participants were enrolled, including 33 MCI patients and 22 controls. BBB permeability to water was measured with a new magnetic resonance imaging technique, water extraction with phase contrast arterial spin tagging. BBB permeability to albumin was determined using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/serum albumin ratio. Cognitive performance was assessed by domain-specific composite scores. AD pathology (including CSF Aß and ptau) and vascular risk factors were examined. RESULTS: Compared to cognitively normal subjects, BBB in MCI patients manifested an increased permeability to small molecules such as water but was no more permeable to large molecules such as albumin. BBB permeability to water was found to be related to AD markers of CSF Aß and ptau. On the other hand, BBB permeability to albumin was found to be related to vascular risk factors, especially hypercholesterolemia, but was not related to AD pathology. BBB permeability to small molecules, but not to large molecules, was found to be predictive of cognitive function. INTERPRETATION: These findings provide early evidence that BBB breakdown is related to both AD and vascular risks, but their effects can be differentiated by spatial scales. BBB permeability to small molecules has a greater impact on cognitive performance. ANN NEUROL 2021;90:227-238.

Longitudinal Changes in Global Cerebral Blood Flow in Cognitively Normal Older Adults: A Phase-Contrast MRI Study.

BACKGROUND: Characterization of blood supply changes in older individuals is important in understanding brain aging and diseases. However, prior studies largely focused on cross-sectional design, thus change in cerebral blood flow (CBF) could not be assessed on an individual level. PURPOSE: To evaluate longitudinal short-term changes in global CBF in cognitively normal older adults. STUDY TYPE: Prospective, longitudinal, and cohort. POPULATION: One-hundred twenty-seven cognitive-normal participants (mean age 69 ± 7 years, 47 males) underwent serial MRI with an average follow-up time of 2.1 years. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3 T phase-contrast (PC), three-dimensional magnetization-prepared-rapid-acquisition-of-gradient-echo (MPRAGE) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI. ASSESSMENT: Total CBF was measured with PC MRI allowing assessment of quantitative flow in four major feeding arteries by a trained radiologist with >3 years' experience (O.K.). Brain volume was obtained from MPRAGE MRI and measured by T1-MultiAtlas MRICloud tool. The ratio between total CBF and brain volume yielded global CBF in mL/100 g/min. White matter hyperintensity (WMH) was measured automatically using a Bayesian probability approach on FLAIR. STATISTICAL TESTS: Linear mixed effect model was used to simultaneously assess cross-sectional age-differences and longitudinal age-changes in CBF. Spearman rank correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between CBF change and WMH progression. A P-value of <0.05 (two-tailed) was considered significant. RESULTS: Global CBF decreased with age at a longitudinal rate of -0.56 mL/100 g/min/year (95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.09, -0.03), compared to a cross-sectional rate of -0.26 mL/100 g/min/year (95% CI: -0.41, -0.11). Changes in CBF were significantly associated with progression of WMH (Spearman rank correlation r = -0.25), as those participants who had a more rapid CBF reduction had greater increases in WMH volumes and the relationship remained significant when adjusting for baseline vascular risk scores. Additionally, age-related changes in whole-brain volume were found to be -0.151%/year (95% CI: -0.186, -0.116). DATA CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that brain aging in older adults is accompanied by a rapid longitudinal reduction in CBF, the rate of which is associated with white matter damage. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 2.

Imaging Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability Through MRI in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: A Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption may lead to endothelium dysfunction and inflammation in sickle cell disease (SCD). However, abnormalities of BBB in SCD, especially in pediatric patients for whom contrast agent administration less than optimal, have not been fully characterized. PURPOSE: To examine BBB permeability to water in a group of pediatric SCD participants using a non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging technique. We hypothesized that SCD participants will have increased BBB permeability. STUDY TYPE: Prospective cross-sectional. POPULATION: Twenty-six pediatric participants (10 ± 1 years, 15F/11M) were enrolled, including 21 SCD participants and 5 sickle cell trait (SCT) participants, who were siblings of SCD patients. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3 T. Water extraction with phase-contrast arterial spin tagging with echo-planer imaging, phase-contrast and T1 -weighted magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition of gradient echo. ASSESSMENT: Water extraction fraction (E), BBB permeability-surface area product (PS), cerebral blood flow, hematological measures (hemoglobin, hematocrit, hemoglobin S), neuropsychological scores (including domains of intellectual ability, attention and executive function, academic achievement and adaptive function, and a composite score). Regions of interest were drawn by Z.L. (6 years of experience). STATISTICAL TESTS: Wilcoxon rank sum test and chi-square test for group comparison of demographics. Multiple linear regression analysis of PS with diagnostic category (SCD or SCT), hematological measures, and neuropsychological scores. A two-tailed P value of 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Compared with SCT participants, SCD participants had a significantly higher BBB permeability to water (SCD: 207.0 ± 33.3 mL/100 g/minute, SCT: 171.2 ± 27.2 mL/100 g/minute). SCD participants with typically more severe phenotypes also had a significantly leakier BBB than those with typically milder phenotypes (severe: 217.3 ± 31.7 mL/100 g/minute, mild: 193.3 ± 31.8 mL/100 g/minute). Furthermore, more severe BBB disruption was associated with worse hematological symptoms, including lower hemoglobin concentrations (ß = -8.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-14.69, -3.00]), lower hematocrits (ß = -2.96, 95% CI [-4.84, -1.08]), and higher hemoglobin S fraction (ß = 0.77, 95% CI [0.014, 1.53]). DATA CONCLUSION: These findings support a potential role for BBB dysfunction in SCD pathogenesis of ischemic injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Characterisation of gas exchange in COPD with dissolved-phase hyperpolarised xenon-129 MRI.

To investigate whether hyperpolarised xenon-129 MRI (HXeMRI) enables regional and physiological resolution of diffusing capacity limitations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), we evaluated 34 COPD subjects and 11 healthy volunteers. We report significant correlations between airflow abnormality quantified by HXeMRI and per cent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s; HXeMRI gas transfer capacity to red blood cells and carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (%DLCO); and HXeMRI gas transfer capacity to interstitium and per cent emphysema quantified by multidetector chest CT. We further demonstrate the capability of HXeMRI to distinguish varying pathology underlying COPD in subjects with low %DLCO and minimal emphysema.

Cerebrovascular Reactivity Mapping Using Resting-State BOLD Functional MRI in Healthy Adults and Patients with Moyamoya Disease.

Background Cerebrovascular reserve, the potential capacity of brain tissue to receive more blood flow when needed, is a desirable marker in evaluating ischemic risk. However, current measurement methods require acetazolamide injection or hypercapnia challenge, prompting a clinical need for resting-state (RS) blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional MRI data to measure cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR). Purpose To optimize and evaluate an RS CVR MRI technique and demonstrate its relationship to neurosurgical treatment. Materials and Methods In this HIPAA-compliant study, RS BOLD functional MRI data collected in 170 healthy controls between December 2008 and September 2010 were retrospectively evaluated to identify the optimal frequency range of temporal filtering on the basis of spatial correlation with the reference standard CVR map obtained with CO2 inhalation. Next, the optimized RS method was applied in a new, prospective cohort of 50 participants with Moyamoya disease who underwent imaging between June 2014 and August 2019. Finally, CVR values were compared between brain hemispheres with and brain hemispheres without revascularization surgery by using Mann-Whitney U test. Results A total of 170 healthy controls (mean age ± standard deviation, 51 years ± 20; 105 women) and 100 brain hemispheres of 50 participants with Moyamoya disease (mean age, 41 years ± 12; 43 women) were evaluated. RS CVR maps based on a temporal filtering frequency of [0, 0.1164 Hz] yielded the highest spatial correlation (r = 0.74) with the CO2 inhalation CVR results. In patients with Moyamoya disease, 77 middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) had stenosis. RS CVR in the MCA territory was lower in the group that did not undergo surgery (n = 30) than in the group that underwent surgery (n = 47) (mean, 0.407 relative units [ru] ± 0.208 vs 0.532 ru ± 0.182, respectively; P = .006), which is corroborated with the CO2 inhalation CVR data (mean, 0.242 ru ± 0.273 vs 0.437 ru ± 0.200; P = .003). Conclusion Cerebrovascular reactivity mapping performed by using resting-state blood oxygen level-dependent functional MRI provided a task-free method to measure cerebrovascular reserve and depicted treatment effect of revascularization surgery in patients with Moyamoya disease comparable to that with the reference standard of CO2 inhalation MRI. © RSNA, 2021 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Wolf and Ware in this issue.

Noncontrast assessment of blood-brain barrier permeability to water: Shorter acquisition, test-retest reproducibility, and comparison with contrast-based method.

PURPOSE: Assessment of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability without the need for contrast agent is desirable, and the ability to measure the permeability to small molecules such as water may further increase the sensitivity in detecting diseases. This study proposed a time-efficient, noncontrast method to measure BBB permeability to water, evaluated its test-retest reproducibility, and compared it with a contrast agent-based method. METHODS: A single-delay water extraction with phase-contrast arterial spin tagging (WEPCAST) method was devised in which spatial profile of the signal along the superior sagittal sinus was used to estimate bolus arrival time, and the WEPCAST signal at the corresponding location was used to compute water extraction fraction, which was combined with global cerebral blood flow to estimate BBB permeability surface area product to water. The reliability of WEPCAST sequence was examined in terms of intrasession, intersession, and inter-vendor (Philips [Ingenia, Best, the Netherlands] and Siemens [Prisma, Erlangen, Germany]) reproducibility. Finally, we compared this new technique to a contrast agent-based method. RESULTS: Single-delay WEPCAST reduced the scan duration from approximately 20 min to 5 min. Extract fraction values estimated from single-delay WEPCAST showed good consistency with the multi-delay method (R = 0.82, P = .004). Group-averaged permeability surface area product values were found to be 137.5 ± 9.3 mL/100 g/min. Intrasession, intersession, and inter-vendor coefficient of variation of the permeability surface area product values were 6.6 ± 4.5%, 6.9 ± 3.7%, and 8.9 ± 3.0%, respectively. Finally, permeability surface area product obtained from WEPCAST MRI showed a significant correlation with that from the contrast-based method (R = .73, P = .02). CONCLUSION: Single-delay WEPCAST MRI can measure BBB permeability to water within 5 min with an intrasession, intersession, and inter-vendor test-retest reproducibility of 6% to 9%. This method may provide a useful marker of BBB breakdown in clinical studies.

Stormwater retention and detention performance of green roofs with different substrates: Observational data and hydrological simulations.

Green roofs are widely considered as a promising nature-based solution for urban stormwater management. In this study, the stormwater retention and detention performance of 6 green roof modules with different types and depth of substrates at Beijing, China was investigated through 3-year continuous monitoring. The Hydrus-1D was applied to further explore the stormwater management performance of green roofs under extreme storms. The average event-based stormwater retention and detention rates of the green roofs with 10 cm substrates ranged between 81% and 87%, and 83%-87%, respectively; and the average time delays in runoff generation and peak discharge ranged between 82 and 210 min, and 63-131 min, respectively. Green roofs with 15 cm depth of substrates offered higher stormwater retention and peak runoff attenuation rates than those with 10 cm substrates. However, due to the high frequency (55 out of total 92) of light rainfall events (<10 mm) and short antecedent dry weather periods (3.8 days in average), no significant difference was found on stormwater control performance of those green roofs. The Hydrus-1D simulations revealed that green roof stormwater retention rate decreases exponentially with return periods of extreme storms but increases with substrate depth. There exists a critical depth of substrates and further increases in substrate depth beyond this critical value could not bring much improvement in stormwater retention performance of green roofs. The application of extensive green roofs with 10-15 cm substrates provides promising stormwater retention and detention performance in highly urbanized area of Beijing.

Cerebrovascular reactivity mapping using intermittent breath modulation.

Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), an index of brain vessel's dilatory capacity, is typically measured using hypercapnic gas inhalation or breath-holding as a vasoactive challenge. However, these methods require considerable subject cooperation and could be challenging in clinical studies. More recently, there have been attempts to use resting-state BOLD data to map CVR by utilizing spontaneous changes in breathing pattern. However, in subjects who have small fluctuations in their spontaneous breathing pattern, the CVR results could be noisy and unreliable. In this study, we aim to develop a new method for CVR mapping that does not require gas-inhalation yet provides substantially higher sensitivity than resting-state CVR mapping. This new method is largely based on resting-state scan, but introduces intermittent modulation of breathing pattern in the subject to enhance fluctuations in their end-tidal CO2 (EtCO2) level. Here we examined the comfort level, sensitivity, and accuracy of this method in two studies. First, in 8 healthy young subjects, we developed the intermittent breath-modulation method using two different modulation frequencies, 6 â€‹s per breath and 12 â€‹s per breath, respectively, and compared the results to three existing CVR methods, specifically hypercapnic gas inhalation, breath-holding, and resting-state. Our results showed that the comfort level of the 6-s breath-modulation method was significantly higher than breath-holding (p â€‹= â€‹0.007) and CO2-inhalation (p â€‹= â€‹0.015) methods, while not different from the resting-state, i.e. free breathing method (p â€‹= â€‹0.52). When comparing the sensitivity of CVR methods, the breath-modulation methods revealed higher Z-statistics compared to the resting-state scan (p â€‹< â€‹0.008) and was comparable to breath-holding results. Next, we tested the feasibility of breath-modulation CVR mapping (6 â€‹s per breath) in 21 cognitively normal elderly participants and compared quantitative CVR values to that obtained with the CO2-inhalation method. Whole-brain CVR was found to be 0.150 â€‹± â€‹0.055 and 0.154 â€‹± â€‹0.032 %ΔBOLD/mmHg for the breath-modulation and CO2-inhalation method, respectively, with a significant correlation between them (y â€‹= â€‹0.97x, p â€‹= â€‹0.007). CVR mapping with intermittent breath modulation may be a useful method that combines the advantages of resting-state and CO2-inhalation based approaches.