Dynamical DTI: A method for time-resolved in vivo diffusion tensor imaging

描述(申请人提供)：扩散张量成像(DTI)是一种公认的磁共振成像(MRI)方案，具有许多临床应用，特别是在大脑中。DTI定量生物标记物对神经退行性疾病损害(如多发性硬化症、阿尔茨海默病)、局灶性缺血(中风)和肿瘤组织浸润性病变敏感。该扫描还通过纤维束成像为脑白质组织的连接提供了一种非侵入性的手段。这些工具在身体其他具有微观各向异性的区域也有很大的价值，特别是骨骼肌和心肌。体外、动物模型和体内静态成像已经显示了DTI在缺血、炎症、脑梗塞或肌肉损伤中的诊断价值。然而，传统的DTI不适合于时间动态过程，这排除了广泛的重要生理功能。本建议致力于实现一种新的DTI方案，该方案克服了这一限制，并使完全扩散张量及其所有派生指数能够被动态监测。如果成功，这项努力有望开启一种全新的放射学诊断方法，用于肌肉营养不良或糖尿病等衰弱的肌肉骨骼疾病。 公共卫生相关性：该项目与公共卫生的相关性在于其将一种强大的临床放射学技术(扩散张量成像)转化为动态时间分辨成像制度的潜力。如果成功，它有望通过跟踪肌肉运动过程中的微结构状态，影响肌肉骨骼疾病(如肌肉营养不良、慢性劳力性间隔室综合征或糖尿病)的诊断。同样，在未来，这项技术可能适用于心脏的复杂运动，并允许在健康状态下和在梗死情况下动态监测微观组织状态。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an established magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol with many clinical applications, especially in the brain. DTI quantitative biomarkers are sensitive to neurodegenerative disease lesions (e.g. multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's), focal ischemia (stroke), and tissue infiltrations from tumors. The scan also provides a noninvasive means for white matter tissue connectivity via fiber tractography. These tools also have great value in other areas of the body with microscopic anisotropy, particularly skeletal and cardiac muscle. Ex vivo, animal model, and static in vivo imaging has shown the diagnostic value of DTI in cases of ischemia, inflammation, infarct, or muscle injury. However, conventional DTI does not lend itself to temporally dynamic processes, which excludes from view a wide range of important physiological functions. The present proposal is devoted to implementing a new DTI scheme that overcomes this limitation and enables the full diffusion tensor and all of its derived indices to be dynamically monitored. If successful, this effort promises to open an entirely new radiological diagnostic for debilitating musculoskeletal disorders such as muscular dystrophy or diabetes. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The relevance of this project to public health lies in its potential to translate a powerful technique of clinical radiology (diffusion tensor imaging) to the regime of dynamic time-resolved imaging. If successful, it promises to impact diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders (such as muscular dystrophy, chronic exertional compartment syndrome, or diabetes), by tracking microarchitectural status during muscle exertion. Similarly, in the future, the technique may be applicable to the complex motion of the heart and allow the microscopic tissue state to be dynamically monitored in both the healthy state and in the case of infarct.