Differential effects of acute cocaine and placebo administration on visual cortical activation in healthy subjects measured using BOLD fMRI.

Many blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have shown a strong response due to cocaine in brain regions with high concentrations of dopamine receptors. However, cocaine also has non-specific effects, including cardiovascular changes that may cause changes in BOLD signals, raising the possibility that measured changes could be due to these non-specific effects. The following experiment was conducted to address this concern. Subjects were given either cocaine or saline infusions during a long BOLD functional magnetic resonance imaging study. A flashing uniform-field stimulus, periodically alternating between on and off, provided a strong activation of primary visual cortex. There was a significant main effect of drug between cocaine and placebo. Although we did not demonstrate a significant drug x time interaction, BOLD signal changes associated with visual stimulation appeared unchanged after cocaine administration, whereas the signal differences appeared to decrease during placebo. Explanation of the differential response between the two groups may reflect cocaine expectancy instead of a direct effect of cocaine on BOLD signal changes but will require further investigation to fully elucidate.

Time-resolved three-dimensional magnetic resonance velocity mapping of aortic flow in healthy volunteers and patients after valve-sparing aortic root replacement.

OBJECTIVE: To provide more complete characterization of ascending aortic blood flow, including vortex formation behind the valve cusps, in healthy subjects and patients after valve-sparing aortic root replacement (David reimplantation). METHODS: Time-resolved 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging velocity mapping was performed to analyze pulsatile blood flow by using encoded 3-directional vector fields in the thoracic aortas of 10 volunteers and 12 patients after David reimplantation using a cylindrical tube graft (T. David I) and two versions of neosinus recreation (T. David-V and T. David-V-S mod ). Aortic flow was evaluated by using 3-dimensional time-resolved particle traces and velocity vector fields reformatted onto 2-dimensional planes. Semiquantitative data were derived by using a blinded grading system (0-3: 0, none; 1, minimal; 2, medium; 3, prominent) to analyze the systolic vortex formation behind the cusps, as well as retrograde and helical flow in the ascending aorta. RESULTS: Systolic vortices were seen in both coronary sinuses of all volunteers (greater in the left sinus [2.5 +/- 0.5] than the right [1.8 +/- 0.8]) but in only 4 of 10 noncoronary sinuses (0.7 +/- 0.9). Comparable coronary vortices were detected in all operated patients. Vorticity was minimal in the noncoronary cusp in T. David-I repairs (0.7 +/- 0.7) but was prominent in T. David-V noncoronary graft pseudosinuses (1.5 +/- 0.6; P = .035). Retrograde flow (P = .001) and helicity (P = .028) were found in all patients but were not distinguishable from normal values in the T. David-V-S mod patients. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary cusp vorticity was preserved after David reimplantation, regardless of neosinus creation. Increased retrograde flow and helicity were more prominent in T. David-V patients. These novel magnetic resonance imaging methods can assess the clinical implications of altered aortic flow dynamics in patients undergoing various types of valve-sparing aortic root replacement.

White matter hyperintensities in subjects with cocaine and opiate dependence and healthy comparison subjects.

The prevalence, severity, and location of white matter signal hyperintensities (WMH) on brain magnetic resonance images were compared in patients with cocaine or opiate dependence and healthy subjects. Patients with cocaine (n=32) and opiate dependence (n=32), whose diagnoses were confirmed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, and age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (n=32) were scanned using a 1.5 T whole body GE magnetic resonance scanner. Axial proton-density and T2-weighted images were obtained as well as fluid-attenuated inversion recovery axial images. The severity of WMH was assessed separately for deep (and insular) and periventricular WMH, using a modified composite version of the rating scales of Fazekas and Coffey. The cocaine-dependent group had greater severity of WMH than the opiate-dependent group, which in turn had greater severity of WMH than the healthy comparison group (odds ratios=2.54 and 2.90, respectively). The cocaine-dependent group had greater lesion severity of deep and insular WMH than the opiate-dependent group and the healthy comparison group (odds ratio>3.25 for deep WMH; odds ratio>4.38 for insular WMH). For periventricular WMH, there were no significant differences between the three groups. The frontal lobes were the predominant locations of WMH in both substance-dependent groups. The greater prevalence and severity of WMH in cocaine-dependent subjects than in opiate-dependent subjects may reflect the fact that cocaine induces more ischemia via vasoconstriction than opiates. Also, there was a trend for lower WMH severity in substance-dependent women relative to the healthy comparison group, possibly due to estrogen's protective effect against cerebrovascular accidents.

Time-resolved 3-dimensional velocity mapping in the thoracic aorta: visualization of 3-directional blood flow patterns in healthy volunteers and patients.

OBJECTIVE: An analysis of thoracic aortic blood flow in normal subjects and patients with aortic pathologic findings is presented. Various visualization tools were used to analyze blood flow patterns within a single 3-component velocity volumetric acquisition of the entire thoracic aorta METHODS: Time-resolved, 3-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (3D CINE PC MRI) was employed to obtain complete spatial and temporal coverage of the entire thoracic aorta combined with spatially registered 3-directional pulsatile blood flow velocities. Three-dimensional visualization tools, including time-resolved velocity vector fields reformatted to arbitrary 2-dimensional cut planes, 3D streamlines, and time-resolved 3D particle traces, were applied in a study with 10 normal volunteers. Results from 4 patient examinations with similar scan prescriptions to those of the volunteer scans are presented to illustrate flow features associated with common pathologic findings in the thoracic aorta. RESULTS: Previously reported blood flow patterns in the thoracic aorta, including right-handed helical outflow, late systolic retrograde flow, and accelerated passage through the aortic valve plane, were visualized in all volunteers. The effects of thoracic aortic disease on spatial and temporal blood flow patterns are illustrated in clinical cases, including ascending aortic aneurysms, aortic regurgitation, and aortic dissection. CONCLUSION: Time-resolved 3D velocity mapping was successfully applied in a study of 10 healthy volunteers and 4 patients with documented aortic pathologic findings and has proven to be a reliable tool for analysis and visualization of normal characteristic as well as pathologic flow features within the entire thoracic aorta.

Transplantation of adipose tissue-derived stromal cells increases mass and functional capacity of damaged skeletal muscle.

The regenerating skeletal muscle environment is capable of inducing uncommitted progenitors to terminally differentiate. The aim of this work was to determine whether adipose tissue-derived stromal cells were able to participate in muscle regeneration and to characterize the effect on muscle mass and functional capacities after transplantation of these cells. Adipose tissue stromal cells labeled with Adv cyto LacZ from 3-day-old primary cultures (SVF1) were autotransplanted into damaged tibialis anterior muscles. Fifteen days later, beta-galactosidase staining of regenerated fibers was detected, showing participation of these cells in muscle regeneration. Two months after SVF1 cell transfer, muscles were heavier, showed a significantly larger fiber section area, and developed a significantly higher maximal force compared with damaged control muscles. These results are similar to those previously obtained after satellite cell transplantation. However, SVF1 transfer also generated a small amount of adipose tissue localized along the needle course. To minimize these adipose contaminants, we transferred cells from 7-day-old secondary cultures of the SVF1, containing only a small proportion of already engaged preadipocytes (SVF2). Under these conditions, no adipose tissue was observed in regenerated muscle but there was also no effect on muscle performances compared with damaged control muscles. This result provides further evidence for the existence of progenitor cells in the stromal fraction of freshly isolated adipose tissue cells, which, under our conditions, keep some of their pluripotent properties in primary cultures.

Transplantation of Adipose Tissue-Derived Stromal Cells Increases Mass and Functional Capacity of Damaged Skeletal Muscle.

The regenerating skeletal muscle environment is capable of inducing uncommitted progenitors to terminally differentiate. The aim of this work was to determine whether adipose tissue-derived stromal cells were able to participate in muscle regeneration and to characterize the effect on muscle mass and functional capacities after transplantation of these cells. Adipose tissue stromal cells labeled with Adv cyto LacZ from 3-day-old primary cultures (SVF1) were autotransplanted into damaged tibialis anterior muscles. Fifteen days later, ß-galactosidase staining of regenerated fibers was detected, showing participation of these cells in muscle regeneration. Two months after SVF1 cell transfer, muscles were heavier, showed a significantly larger fiber section area, and developed a significantly higher maximal force compared with damaged control muscles. These results are similar to those previously obtained after satellite cell transplantation. However, SVF1 transfer also generated a small amount of adipose tissue localized along the needle course. To minimize these adipose contaminants, we transferred cells from 7-day-old secondary cultures of the SVF1, containing only a small proportion of already engaged preadipocytes (SVF2). Under these conditions, no adipose tissue was observed in regenerated muscle but there was also no effect on muscle performances compared with damaged control muscles. This result provides further evidence for the existence of progenitor cells in the stromal fraction of freshly isolated adipose tissue cells, which, under our conditions, keep some of their pluripotent properties in primary cultures.