Magnetic Resonance Tools for Fetal Developmental and Metabolic Assessment

用于胎儿发育和代谢评估的磁共振工具

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-04155
• 负责人: Sussman, Dafna
• 金额: $ 1.75万
• 依托单位: Ryerson University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=666251
• 关键词: Magnetic; Resonance; Tools; Fetal; Developmental

The same physics principles of magnetic resonance, which allow acquiring high-resolution, high-contrast, 3-dimensional images of soft tissue, could also be harnessed to acquire functional information about the tissue, such as its metabolite concentrations and transport. ******One such approach is MR Spectroscopy (MRS). When applied to samples of amniotic fluid (AF), MRS has been shown to reveal information about markers of fetal organ development, primarily the lungs and kidneys. However, acquiring an AF sample still requires an invasive procedure to extract AF (via amniocentesis), which inadvertently increases the risk of an infection and preterm delivery. In the proposed research we will develop an MRS protocol that allows for non-invasive in-vivo interrogations of amniotic fluid (AF), thereby creating a safer alternative technique for assessing fetal lung and kidney maturity, allowing for early identification of developmental delays in the fetus. ******Another approach that utilizes spectral assessment is Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) MRI, which relies on natural transfer of magnetization from low-concentration metabolites to the abundant water molecules. Continuous magnetic saturation and transfer between a chosen metabolite and water allows for amplification of the metabolite such that it is more easily detected through spectroscopy and can be used to trace its transport and metabolism. Applying this technique to glucose, a method termed glucoCEST, has been shown to provide information about brain metabolic rate in adults. In the proposed research we will develop glucoCEST as a non-invasive tool for evaluating fetal organ metabolic rate. ******Together, glucoCEST and AF-MRS will supplement classical fetal MR imaging, providing safe and innovative means of assessing fetal organ maturity and metabolic function. We will validate their use on animal models of healthy human gestation and using a clinical-grade MRI scanner, thereby providing the first proof of principle of their potential translation to clinical utility. These techniques will revolutionize the medical imaging field through the addition of novel techniques for probing physiology in a variety of species during prenatal development. These techniques will also contribute to the medical field by facilitating early detection of developmental and functional deficits prenatally.

磁共振的相同物理原理允许获取软组织的高分辨率，高对比度，三维图像，也可以用来获取有关组织的功能信息，例如其代谢物浓度和运输。** 一种这样的方法是MR波谱（MRS）。当应用于羊水（AF）样本时，MRS已显示出有关胎儿器官发育标志物的信息，主要是肺和肾。然而，获取AF样本仍然需要侵入性程序来提取AF（通过穿刺术），这无意中增加了感染和早产的风险。在拟议的研究中，我们将开发一种MRS协议，允许羊水（AF）的非侵入性体内询问，从而创建一种更安全的替代技术，用于评估胎儿肺和肾成熟度，允许早期识别胎儿发育迟缓。** 另一种利用光谱评估的方法是化学交换饱和转移（CEST）MRI，它依赖于磁化从低浓度代谢物到丰富水分子的自然转移。所选代谢物和水之间的连续磁饱和和转移允许代谢物的扩增，使得其更容易通过光谱学检测，并且可用于追踪其运输和代谢。将这种技术应用于葡萄糖，称为glucoCEST的方法，已被证明可以提供有关成人大脑代谢率的信息。在拟议的研究中，我们将开发glucoCEST作为评估胎儿器官代谢率的非侵入性工具。****** glucoCEST和AF-MRS将共同补充经典的胎儿MR成像，为评估胎儿器官成熟度和代谢功能提供安全和创新的方法。我们将在健康人类妊娠的动物模型上使用临床级MRI扫描仪验证其用途，从而提供其潜在临床实用性的第一个原则证明。这些技术将革命性的医学成像领域，通过增加新的技术探测生理在各种物种在产前发展。这些技术也将有助于医学领域，促进产前发育和功能缺陷的早期检测。