SODIUM IMAGING OF SPINE INTERVERTEBRAL DISCS

这个子项目是许多利用资源的研究子项目之一 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目的主要支持 而子项目的主要调查员可能是由其他来源提供的， 包括其它NIH来源。 列出的子项目总成本可能 代表子项目使用的中心基础设施的估计数量， NCRR赠款不直接向子项目或子项目工作人员提供资金。 退行性椎间盘疾病（DDD）是一种常见的，有时是痛苦的疾病，影响数百万人。 DDD的当前标准诊断方法包括T2加权MR图像和Pfirrmann 评分系统T2加权像能很好地显示椎间盘的形态学改变， 椎间盘变平、突出和骨赘形成。然而，椎间盘的形态学变化 通常发生在DDD的后期阶段。DDD的最初标志是分子本质， 涉及椎间盘髓核中蛋白聚糖（PG）的分解。为了 在婴儿期发现DDD，并为预防保健的发展开辟可能性 策略，我们建议使用钠MRI来测量PG含量的变化，从而实现早期 检测DDD。在以前的研究中，钠MRI已被证明能够准确测量 关节软骨PG含量。在本研究的离体部分，我们打算使用牛 以椎间盘为模型，研究MRI钠与PG的关系 浓度.将使用定制的钠RF线圈对牛椎间盘进行成像。之后，PG 将在相同的圆盘上进行测定，以确定钠MRI与 PG浓度。同时，将对健康和DDD进行体内钠成像 人类实验对象将对数据进行ANOVA，以确定是否存在显著差异 健康人和DDD受试者钠MRI之间存在差异。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. Primary support for the subproject and the subproject's principal investigator may have been provided by other sources, including other NIH sources. The Total Cost listed for the subproject likely represents the estimated amount of Center infrastructure utilized by the subproject, not direct funding provided by the NCRR grant to the subproject or subproject staff. DDegenerative disc disease (DDD) is a common and sometimes painful condition affecting millions. The current standard diagnostic method for DDD involves T2-weighted MR images and the Pfirrmann grading system. T2-weighted MR images are good for showing disc morphological change such as disc flattening, herniation, and osteophytes formation. However, morphology changes in the discs typically occur in the later stages of DDD. The initial sign of DDD is molecular in nature, which involves the breakdown of proteoglycans (PG) in the nucleus pulposus of the disc. In order to detect DDD in its infancy, and to open up the possibility for the development of preventive care strategies, we propose to use sodium MRI to measure changes in PG content, and thus achieve early detection of DDD. In previous studies, sodium MRI has been shown to be able to accurately measure PG content in articular cartilage. In the ex vivo part of this study, we intend to use bovine intervertebral disc as a model to investigate the relationship between sodium MRI and PG concentration. The bovine discs will be imaged using custom-made sodium RF coils. Afterward, PG assay will be performed on the same discs to determine the relationship between sodium MRI and PG concentration. Meanwhile, sodium imaging will be performed in vivo on both healthy and DDD human subjects. ANOVA will be applied to the data in order to determine if a significant difference exist between the sodium MRI of healthy and DDD subjects.