Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mareike Grotheer, Mona Rosenke, Hua Wu, Holly Kular, Francesca R. Querdasi, Vaidehi S. Natu, Jason D. Yeatman, Kalanit Grill-Spector
Summary: In this study, the development of white matter in infants from 0 to 6 months was investigated using diffusion MRI and quantitative MRI measurements. The researchers found that the longitudinal relaxation rate (R1) of white matter increased over time, with faster development in less mature areas of white matter in newborns.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Chris W. J. van der Weijden, Emma Biondetti, Ingomar W. Gutmann, Hildebrand Dijkstra, Rory McKerchar, Daniele de Paula Faria, Erik F. J. de Vries, Jan F. Meilof, Rudi A. J. O. Dierckx, Valentin H. Prevost, Alexander Rauscher
Summary: Myelin is a protective sheath made of phospholipid bilayer and water that wraps around axons. Non-invasive quantitative myelin imaging methods are needed for evaluating myelin damage, assessing the efficacy of remyelination therapies, and monitoring brain maturation in children. Different MRI and PET techniques have been developed for myelin imaging based on various biophysical principles. This review provides an overview of these techniques, including image acquisition, data analysis, and validation status, and concludes that quantitative susceptibility mapping, inhomogeneous magnetization transfer for MRI, and C-11-MeDAS for PET are the most promising techniques.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Paul D. Griffiths, Deborah Jarvis, Cara Mooney, Michael J. Campbell
Summary: The study aimed to test the null hypothesis that there are no significant differences in intracranial volumes between male and female fetuses. It also investigated the symmetry of the cerebral hemispheres in low-risk fetuses. The results showed that the total intracranial volume and brain parenchyma volume increased at a significantly greater rate in male fetuses compared to female fetuses after 24 gestational weeks. There were no differences in the left and right hemispherical volumes between genders, and they remained symmetrical.
BIOLOGY OF SEX DIFFERENCES
(2023)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Sara Neves Silva, Jordina Aviles Verdera, Raphael Tomi-Tricot, Radhouene Neji, Alena Uus, Irina Grigorescu, Thomas Wilkinson, Valery Ozenne, Alexander Lewin, Lisa Story, Enrico De Vita, Mary Rutherford, Kuberan Pushparajah, Jo Hajnal, Jana Hutter
Summary: The purpose of this study is to improve the motion robustness of functional fetal MRI scans by developing an intrinsic real-time motion correction method. A 3D UNet was trained to track the fetal brain position in real time, and the tracking was integrated into a clinical scanner pipeline to update the field of view position in the imaging sequence. The method was evaluated in controlled-motion phantom experiments and fetal MR studies, showing successful real-time tracking and prospective correction.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yuan-Chiao Lu, Kushal Kapse, Nicole Andersen, Jessica Quistorff, Catherine Lopez, Andrea Fry, Jenhao Cheng, Nickie Andescavage, Yao Wu, Kristina Espinosa, Gilbert Vezina, Adre du Plessis, Catherine Limperopoulos
Summary: The study revealed an association between parental socioeconomic status and altered fetal neurodevelopment, indicating that parental education level and occupation status are correlated with fetal brain tissue volume. These findings imply that prenatal programming may impact children's development and future outcomes, hence suggesting a need for targeted prenatal interventions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sian Wilson, Maximilian Pietsch, Lucilio Cordero-Grande, Anthony N. Price, Jana Hutter, Jiaxin Xiao, Laura McCabe, Mary A. Rutherford, Emer J. Hughes, Serena J. Counsell, Jacques-Donald Tournier, Tomoki Arichi, Joseph V. Hajnal, A. David Edwards, Daan Christiaens, Jonathan O'Muircheartaigh
Summary: A study characterizing the in utero maturation of white matter microstructure in human fetal brains using high-resolution MRI data identified unique maturational trends in different white matter bundles and regions, suggesting potential insights into connectivity abnormalities associated with preterm birth.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Hediye Pinar Gunbey, Arzu Ceylan Has, Kerim Aslan, Dilek Saglam, Ugur Avci, Asli Tanrivermis Sayit, Lutfi Incesu
Summary: This study investigated the effects of hypothyroidism on white matter integrity using TBSS, finding significant reductions in FA and AD, and an increase in RD in several WM tracts. The results suggest a demyelination process underlying the clinical aspects of hypothyroidism.
Article
Neurosciences
Jianan Wang, Emily S. Nichols, Megan E. Mueller, Barbra de Vrijer, Roy Eagleson, Charles A. McKenzie, Sandrine de Ribaupierre, Emma G. Duerden
Summary: This study compares the results of five segmentation methods applied to fetal brain MRI data with manual tracings, and finds that deformable registration methods provide the most accurate results compared to manual segmentation.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Jinwoo Hong, Hyuk Jin Yun, Gilsoon Park, Seonggyu Kim, Yangming Ou, Lana Vasung, Caitlin K. Rollins, Cynthia M. Ortinau, Emiko Takeoka, Shizuko Akiyama, Tomo Tarui, Judy A. Estroff, Patricia Ellen Grant, Jong-Min Lee, Kiho Im
Summary: The study successfully predicted fetal brain age accurately using a 2D single-channel CNN with multiplanar slices, significantly reducing prediction error and improving prediction accuracy.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Datta Singh Goolaub, Jiawei Xu, Eric M. Schrauben, Davide Marini, John C. Kingdom, John G. Sled, Mike Seed, Christopher K. Macgowan
Summary: The paper presents a method for volumetric imaging of fetal flow using MRI. The method overcomes the challenges of small vascular structures and unpredictable motion through the use of orthogonal multislice stacks and motion correction. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the method in both adult and late gestation fetus, providing insights into complex flow pathways in human fetal circulation.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL IMAGING
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Ruike Chen, Cong Sun, Tingting Liu, Yuhao Liao, Junyan Wang, Yi Sun, Yi Zhang, Guangbin Wang, Dan Wu
Summary: This study used fetal brain dMRI atlas to investigate the spatiotemporal pattern of white matter development, and found complex non-monotonic trends in microstructural parameters of eight white matter tracts, providing reference for diagnosing abnormal fetal white matter development.
Article
Neuroimaging
Tomo Tarui, Neel Madan, George Graham, Rie Kitano, Shizuko Akiyama, Emiko Takeoka, Sophie Reid, Hyuk Jin Yun, Alexa Craig, Osamu Samura, Ellen Grant, Kiho Im
Summary: Isolated cerebral ventriculomegaly (IVM) is a common prenatally diagnosed brain anomaly. However, knowledge of fetal brain development in IVM is limited, and there is no prenatal predictor for neurodevelopmental disability in IVM. This study used comprehensive quantitative analysis of fetal MRI to characterize brain development in fetuses with IVM and identify individual neuroanatomical variances.
NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL
(2023)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Borjan Gagoski, Junshen Xu, Paul Wighton, M. Dylan Tisdall, Robert Frost, Wei-Ching Lo, Polina Golland, Andre van Der Kouwe, Elfar Adalsteinsson, P. Ellen Grant
Summary: The study introduced a closed-loop pipeline to automatically detect and reacquire motion-degraded fetal brain HASTE images, utilizing a convolutional neural network for image quality assessment. After testing on 10 pregnant mothers, the system achieved an accuracy of 85.2% in real-time image evaluation.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Susana Correa, Emily S. Nichols, Megan E. Mueller, Barbra de Vrijer, Roy Eagleson, Charles A. McKenzie, Sandrine de Ribaupierre, Emma G. Duerden
Summary: The default mode network plays a crucial role in higher-order cognitive processes and is composed of a complex network of functional and structural connections. The association between the default mode network and structural development during fetal life is not well understood. In this study, the researchers used imaging techniques to examine the relationship between functional connectivity in the default mode network and the development of subcortical volumes in pregnant women. The results suggest that increased functional connectivity in the default mode network is associated with changes in specific subcortical volumes.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cristina Chirizzi, Carlo Morasso, Alessandro Aldo Caldarone, Matteo Tommasini, Fabio Corsi, Linda Chaabane, Renzo Vanna, Francesca Baldelli Bombelli, Pierangelo Metrangolo
Summary: Molecular imaging techniques play a vital role in studying biological processes and detecting disease biomarkers. Multimodal diagnostic probes are essential for imaging across various scales, while fluorinated (F-19) probes show promise for in vivo cell tracking. PERFECTA, a bioorthogonal F-19 probe, combines excellent features for macroscopic F-19-MRI and microscopic Raman imaging at tissue and cellular levels.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Ruxandra-Iulia Milos, Sebastian Roehrich, Florian Prayer, Andreas Strassl, Lucian Beer, Benedikt H. Heidinger, Michael Weber, Martin L. Watzenboeck, Daria Kifjak, Dietmar Tamandl, Helmut Prosch
Summary: This study compared the image quality of ultra-high-resolution (UHR) photon-counting detector (PCD) CT image sets of the lungs reconstructed using different kernels and slice thicknesses. The results showed that only the reconstruction using BI64(0.4-mm) yielded improved bronchial division identification and bronchial wall and pulmonary fissure sharpness without a loss in pulmonary vessel sharpness or conspicuity of nodules or other pathologies. Therefore, the findings of this study may guide protocol optimization for UHR PCD CT of the lungs.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ROENTGENOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Orthopedics
Arastoo Nia, Natasa Jeremic, Domenik Popp, Lukas Schmoelz, Janina Patsch, Kevin Doering, Michael Weber, Alexander Synek, Dieter H. Pahr, Silke Aldrian
Summary: Recently, a study evaluated the feasibility of radiography-based bone mineral density (BMD) measurement using a graded aluminum phantom. Strong correlations were found between aluminum phantom radiography-based mean gray value (mGV) and DXA-derived BMD for the ultradistal radius, and a moderate correlation was found for the femoral neck. Aluminum phantom radiography could be a cost-efficient and low-radiation dose method for screening and diagnosing osteoporosis, especially in areas with limited DXA availability. Further investigation and assessment of specificity and sensitivity is needed.
JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Acoustics
S. F. Nemec, U. Schwarz-Nemec, D. Prayer, M. Weber, D. Bettelheim, G. Kasprian
Summary: This study aimed to investigate human femur development in fetal growth restriction (FGR) by analyzing femur morphometrics and distal epimetaphyseal features on prenatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The results showed significant differences in femur morphometrics between FGR cases and controls, with bone shortening observed in FGR. However, FGR cases and normal controls shared similarly graded distal epimetaphyseal features.
ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Acoustics
D. Prayer, G. Malinger, L. De Catte, B. De Keersmaecker, L. F. Goncalves, G. Kasprian, S. Laifer-Narin, W. Lee, A. -E. Millischer, L. Platt, F. Prayer, D. Pugash, L. J. Salomon, M. Sanz Cortes, F. Stuhr, I. E. Timor-Tritsch, B. Tutschek, D. Twickler, N. Raine-Fenning
ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Acoustics
M. Stuempflen, A. Taymourtash, P. Kienast, V. U. Schmidbauer, E. Schwartz, C. Mitter, J. Binder, D. Prayer, G. Kasprian
Summary: This study used super-resolution processed MRI to evaluate the volume and growth dynamics of the ganglionic eminence (GE) in fetuses. The results showed that the volume of the GE reached its maximum at 21 weeks and then decreased linearly. The reduction in GE volume relative to cortical volume and total fetal brain volume (TBV) was more pronounced in the late second trimester, with a decline in this reduction observed in the third trimester. Three-dimensional reconstructions visualized the continuous changes in shape and size of the GE throughout the second and third trimesters.
ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Wolfgang Marik, Pedro Lima Cardoso, Elisabeth Springer, Wolfgang Bogner, Matthias Preusser, Georg Widhalm, Gilbert Hangel, Johannes A. Hainfellner, Ivo Rausch, Michael Weber, Victor Schmidbauer, Tatjana Traub-Weidinger, Siegfried Trattnig
Summary: Qualitative assessments are currently the main method for neuro-oncologic MRI, while PET provides important metabolic information. However, PET provides quantitative data while qualitative MRI is limited by subjective judgments and low inter-scanner reliability. MR fingerprinting is a promising approach that can generate both qualitative and quantitative imaging data based on a single sequence acquisition. This study compared PET and MR fingerprinting in predicting tumor-related characteristics and found that both modalities have high predictability but with different underlying mechanisms. The combined use of PET and MR fingerprinting shows potential to enhance tissue-specific properties and increase the value of hybrid imaging in neuro-oncology.
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Martin L. Watzenboeck, Benedikt H. Heidinger, Julian Rainer, Victor Schmidbauer, Barbara Ulm, Erika Rubesova, Daniela Prayer, Gregor Kasprian, Florian Prayer
Summary: This study investigates the reproducibility of radiomics features extracted from two-dimensional regions of interest (2D ROIs) versus whole lung (3D) ROIs in repeated in-vivo fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisitions. The results show that radiomics features extracted from 3D whole lung segmentation masks have higher reproducibility across repeat acquisitions compared to 2D ROIs.
INSIGHTS INTO IMAGING
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Patric Kienast, Daniela Prayer, Julia Binder, Florian Prayer, Sabine Dekan, Eva Langthaler, Sabine Eichinger, Christian Mitter, Gregor Kasprian
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-EUROPE
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Patric Kienast, Daniela Prayer, Julia Binder, Florian Prayer, Sabine Dekan, Eva Langthaler, Benjamin Sigl, Sabine Eichinger, Nicole Perkmann-Nagele, Ingrid Stuemp, Marlene Stuemp, Nawa Schirwani, Petra Pateisky, Christian Mitter, Gregor Kasprian
Summary: This study investigated the effects of SARS-CoV-2 variants on the placenta and fetus through prenatal MRI. It found that SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to placental damage caused by vascular events, and previous studies have mainly focused on histopathology and prenatal studies. The Pre-Omicron variants cause more severe damage to the placenta compared to the Omicron sub-lineages.
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-EUROPE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Sophie Mandl, Patric Kienast, Kathrin Kollndorfer, Gregor Kasprian, Michael Weber, Rainer Seidl, Lisa Bartha-Doering
Summary: This study found that the size of the corpus callosum (CC) is related to theory of mind (ToM) abilities in healthy children. Specifically, larger mid-anterior and central subsections of the CC are significantly correlated with better ToM abilities. Additionally, age and sex have an impact on the relationship between the CC and ToM.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Katharina Thom, Janina Maria Patsch, Florentina Haufler, Christiane Pees, Sulaima Albinni, Michael Weber, Christoph Male, Adalbert Raimann
Summary: Childhood and adolescence are critical periods for bone mineral acquisition. Children on anticoagulation (AC) may have an increased risk for reduced bone mineral density (BMD). Risk factors for impaired bone accumulation include chronic diseases, immobility, and medication. Vitamin K (VK) deficiency, reflected by low levels of undercarboxylated osteocalcin, has been identified as a predictor of osteoporosis and fractures. Data on bone health in children on AC are limited.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Olga Ciobanu-Caraus, Thomas Czech, Andreas Peyrl, Christine Haberler, Gregor Kasprian, Julia Furtner, Marcel Kool, Martin Sill, Josa M. Frischer, Anna Cho, Irene Slavc, Karl Roessler, Johannes Gojo, Christian Dorfer
Summary: This study investigated the correlation between intraoperative observation of the site of origin and molecular subtypes of medulloblastoma (MB). The results showed that intraoperative observation had limited predictive value for determining the molecular subtype. Therefore, maximal safe resection should remain the aim of surgery.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Kathrin Kollndorfer, Astrid Novak, Karl-Heinz Nenning, Florian Ph S. Fischmeister, Rainer Seidl, Georg Langs, Gregor Kasprian, Daniela Prayer, Lisa Bartha-Doering
Summary: Planning ability, an important cognitive skill, plays a significant role in everyday life and academic-economic success. This study found a positive correlation between the cortical thickness of the right caudal middle frontal gyrus and planning performance through structural MRI examination.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
N. Krajnc, V. Schmidbauer, J. Leinkauf, G. Bsteh, G. Kasprian, F. Leutmezer, B. Kornek, P. Rommer, T. Berger, H. Lassmann, S. Hametner, A. Dal-Bianco
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
N. Krajnc, A. Dal-Bianco, F. Leutmezer, G. Kasprian, B. Pemp, B. Kornek, T. Berger, P. Rommer, S. Hametner, H. Lassmann, G. Bsteh
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Jose Sanchez-Bornot, Roberto C. Sotero, J. A. Scott Kelso, Ozguer Simsek, Damien Coyle
Summary: This study proposes a multi-penalized state-space model for analyzing unobserved dynamics, using a data-driven regularization method. Novel algorithms are developed to solve the model, and a cross-validation method is introduced to evaluate regularization parameters. The effectiveness of this method is validated through simulations and real data analysis, enabling a more accurate exploration of cognitive brain functions.