SODIUM IMAGING OF SPINE INTERVERTEBRAL DISCS

这个子项目是利用资源的许多研究子项目之一。 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。对子项目的主要支持 子项目的首席调查员可能是由其他来源提供的， 包括美国国立卫生研究院的其他来源。为子项目列出的总成本可能 表示该子项目使用的中心基础设施的估计数量， 不是由NCRR赠款提供给次级项目或次级项目工作人员的直接资金。 退行性间盘疾病(DDD)是一种常见的、有时甚至是痛苦的疾病，影响着数百万人。 目前诊断DDD的标准方法包括T2加权MR图像和Pfirmann 分级制度。T2加权磁共振图像很好地显示了椎间盘的形态变化，如 椎间盘变平、突出和骨赘形成。然而，视盘的形态发生了变化 通常发生在DDD的后期阶段。DDD的最初症状本质上是分子的，这是 涉及椎间盘髓核中蛋白多糖(PG)的分解。为了 在婴儿期检测DDD，并为开展预防保健工作开辟可能性 策略，我们建议使用钠核磁共振来测量PG含量的变化，从而实现早期 滴滴涕的检测。在以前的研究中，钠核磁共振已被证明能够准确地测量 关节软骨中PG含量。在这项研究的体外部分，我们打算使用牛 以腰椎间盘为模型探讨钠核磁共振与PG的关系 集中精神。牛盘将使用定制的钠射频线圈进行成像。之后，PG 将在相同的椎间盘上进行化验，以确定钠核磁共振和 PG浓度。同时，将对健康和DDD患者进行体内钠成像 人类受试者。将方差分析应用于数据，以确定是否存在显著差异 健康受试者与DDD受试者的钠核磁共振之间存在差异。

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.