Optimization of field-cycled PEDRI for in vivo imaging of free radicals.

A numerical model of the behaviour of the magnetization in a field-cycled dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) experiment is presented, with the aim of optimizing pulse sequence parameters in field-cycled proton-electron double-resonance free radical imaging. The model is used to predict the observed enhancement of the NMR signal as a function of the magnetic field strength, EPR irradiation frequency and pulse sequence timing, as well as the properties of the sample including the NMR and EPR relaxation times. The model allowed optimization of parameters in the field-cycled DNP experiment, in particular the EPR irradiation frequency, to find the value which would give the largest difference between NMR signals recorded with and without EPR irradiation. Experiments to verify the model were carried out using aqueous solutions of TEMPOL, which exhibits three hyperfine lines in its EPR spectrum and triarylmethyl (TAM), which has a single, narrow line. It was found that the model predicted very well the variation in DNP enhancement with EPR irradiation power for both samples. The behaviour of the NMR signal with EPR irradiation frequency in studies using TEMPOL was also accurately modelled, with the optimum frequency lying between 60 and 80 MHz, depending on the EPR irradiation power. The optimum frequency obtained from the model also agreed with the experimental data obtained using the TAM free radical, but with this sample the theoretical curves tended to deviate from the experimental data at irradiation frequencies below 70 MHz.

Shielding of Low-Frequency Magnetic Interference in Weak-Field MRI by a Single-Layer Cylindrical Coil

Shielding of detection coil from low-frequency magnetic-field interference is one of the main problems in weak-field MRI methods that utilize cycling of main magnetic field (MRI in the Earth's magnetic field, for example). In such cases, the best solution is usually to shield the detection coil by shorting one of the resistive coils of the system, typically the magnetization coil. The optimization of this shielding method has been done by studying the total magnetic field on the axis of a shorted single-layer cylindrical coil placed in a homogeneous oscillating magnetic field parallel to the coil axis. The results are generalized for the case when series impedance is added to the shielding coil. The optimal added impedance that gives the largest shielding factor in the center of the coil is calculated. Because the theoretical treatment is confined to the coil axis, the results are in simple form ready to use in applications. The results of the calculation are verified experimentally and implemented in Earth's field MRI system.

New method for contrast manipulation in DNP-enhanced MRI.

The magnetization subtraction technique (MS), which is equivalent to the inversion recovery technique in strong magnetic fields, has been implemented in dynamic nuclear polarization-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DNPI). The general theoretical basis of the MS method, which can be applied to DNPI or to prepolarized MRI in weak magnetic fields (such as Earth's magnetic field), is introduced. Details are provided about the signal amplitude, dynamic range of the method, and conditions required to observe signal void in samples with specific T1 relaxation times. The experimental results obtained with MS DNPI are presented and discussed. In the experiments, electron spin resonance irradiation frequencies of 199 MHz and 16.2 MHz were employed. Also, T1 contrast manipulation in the polarizing and in the detection magnetic field is discussed and demonstrated for MS DNPI.

Dependence of blood clot lysis on the mode of transport of urokinase into the clot--a magnetic resonance imaging study in vitro.

Magnetic resonance imaging was employed to study the dependence of clot lysing patterns on two different modes of transport of urokinase into whole blood clots. In one group of clots (nonperfused clots, n1 = 10), access of urokinase to the fibrin network was possible by diffusion only, whereas in the other group (perfused clots, n2 = 10) bulk flow of plasma containing urokinase was instituted through occlusive clots by a pressure difference of 3.7 kPa (37 cm H2O) across 3 cm long clots with a diameter of 4 mm. It was determined separately that this pressure difference resulted in a volume flow rate of 5.05 +/- 2.4 x 10(-2) ml/min through occlusive clots. Perfused clots diminished in size significantly in comparison to nonperfused ones already after 20 min (p less than 0.005). Linear regression analysis of two-dimensional clot sizes measured by MRI showed that the rate of lysis was more than 50-times faster in the perfused group in comparison to the nonperfused group. It was concluded that penetration of the thrombolytic agent into clots by perfusion is much more effective than by diffusion. Our results might have some implications for understanding the differences in lysis of arterial and venous thrombi.