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Diffusion MRI with free gradient waveforms on a high-performance gradient system : Probing restriction and exchange in the human brain

Chakwizira, Arthur LU ; Zhu, Ante ; Foo, Thomas ; Westin, Carl Fredrik ; Szczepankiewicz, Filip LU orcid and Nilsson, Markus LU (2023) In NeuroImage 283.
Abstract

The dependence of the diffusion MRI signal on the diffusion time carries signatures of restricted diffusion and exchange. Here we seek to highlight these signatures in the human brain by performing experiments using free gradient waveforms designed to be selectively sensitive to the two effects. We examine six healthy volunteers using both strong and ultra-strong gradients (80, 200 and 300 mT/m). In an experiment featuring a large set of 150 gradient waveforms with different sensitivities to restricted diffusion and exchange, our results reveal unique and different time-dependence signatures in grey and white matter. Grey matter was characterised by both restricted diffusion and exchange and white matter predominantly by restricted... (More)

The dependence of the diffusion MRI signal on the diffusion time carries signatures of restricted diffusion and exchange. Here we seek to highlight these signatures in the human brain by performing experiments using free gradient waveforms designed to be selectively sensitive to the two effects. We examine six healthy volunteers using both strong and ultra-strong gradients (80, 200 and 300 mT/m). In an experiment featuring a large set of 150 gradient waveforms with different sensitivities to restricted diffusion and exchange, our results reveal unique and different time-dependence signatures in grey and white matter. Grey matter was characterised by both restricted diffusion and exchange and white matter predominantly by restricted diffusion. Exchange in grey matter was at least twice as fast as in white matter, across all subjects and all gradient strengths. The cerebellar cortex featured relatively short exchange times (115 ms). Furthermore, we show that gradient waveforms with tailored designs can be used to map exchange in the human brain. We also assessed the feasibility of clinical applications of the method used in this work and found that the exchange-related contrast obtained with a 25-minute protocol at 300 mT/m was preserved in a 4-minute protocol at 300 mT/m and a 10-minute protocol at 80 mT/m. Our work underlines the utility of free waveforms for detecting time dependence signatures due to restricted diffusion and exchange in vivo, which may potentially serve as a tool for studying diseased tissue.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Cell size, Diffusion MRI, Exchange, Free gradient waveform, Permeability, Restricted diffusion, Time dependence, Ultra-strong gradients
in
NeuroImage
volume
283
article number
120409
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:37839729
  • scopus:85174694417
ISSN
1053-8119
DOI
10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120409
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e743dd9d-da89-4a66-94db-89e2f84585ca
date added to LUP
2023-12-07 12:45:53
date last changed
2024-04-20 07:03:47
@article{e743dd9d-da89-4a66-94db-89e2f84585ca,
  abstract     = {{<p>The dependence of the diffusion MRI signal on the diffusion time carries signatures of restricted diffusion and exchange. Here we seek to highlight these signatures in the human brain by performing experiments using free gradient waveforms designed to be selectively sensitive to the two effects. We examine six healthy volunteers using both strong and ultra-strong gradients (80, 200 and 300 mT/m). In an experiment featuring a large set of 150 gradient waveforms with different sensitivities to restricted diffusion and exchange, our results reveal unique and different time-dependence signatures in grey and white matter. Grey matter was characterised by both restricted diffusion and exchange and white matter predominantly by restricted diffusion. Exchange in grey matter was at least twice as fast as in white matter, across all subjects and all gradient strengths. The cerebellar cortex featured relatively short exchange times (115 ms). Furthermore, we show that gradient waveforms with tailored designs can be used to map exchange in the human brain. We also assessed the feasibility of clinical applications of the method used in this work and found that the exchange-related contrast obtained with a 25-minute protocol at 300 mT/m was preserved in a 4-minute protocol at 300 mT/m and a 10-minute protocol at 80 mT/m. Our work underlines the utility of free waveforms for detecting time dependence signatures due to restricted diffusion and exchange in vivo, which may potentially serve as a tool for studying diseased tissue.</p>}},
  author       = {{Chakwizira, Arthur and Zhu, Ante and Foo, Thomas and Westin, Carl Fredrik and Szczepankiewicz, Filip and Nilsson, Markus}},
  issn         = {{1053-8119}},
  keywords     = {{Cell size; Diffusion MRI; Exchange; Free gradient waveform; Permeability; Restricted diffusion; Time dependence; Ultra-strong gradients}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{NeuroImage}},
  title        = {{Diffusion MRI with free gradient waveforms on a high-performance gradient system : Probing restriction and exchange in the human brain}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120409}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120409}},
  volume       = {{283}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}