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Walter Schneider¹, Yijen Wu¹, Alan Watson¹, Kasia Kedziora¹, Sudhir Pathak¹, Yongxin Zhao², Vijay Gorantla³, Jens Anders⁴, Rolf Polman⁵, and Klaus Scheffler^5
1University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States, ²Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States, ³Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States, ⁴University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany, ⁵Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany

Keywords: Quantitative Imaging, Brain Connectivity, Connectome, Histology, Phantom

Accurate brain connectome mapping requires tracking fasciculus bundles of axons within tracts.  In porcine optic nerve harvested tissue and TAXON diffusion phantom on a 14T magnet with a new linear coil array, we identify fasciculi with 16 µm resolution and follow TAXON fibers over centimeters from eye to LGN. MAGNIFY and bright field optical histology provide 0.1 & 0.25-micron resolution with accurate counts of the 1.2 million axons within fasciculi aligned with MRI and fasciculus wall structure. We use MRI and deep learning to predict the axon paths at each point and axon counts in each fasciculus. 

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Antonio Ricciardi¹, Marios C. Yiannakas¹, Ratthaporn Boonsuth¹, Rodas Ghilom Bogatsion¹, Claudia A. M. Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott^1,2,3, and Rebecca S. Samson^1
1NMR Research Unit, Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom, ²Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy, ³Brain Connectivity Research Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy

Keywords: Nerves, Quantitative Imaging

The optic nerve (ON) is implicated in a variety of neurological disorders but is challenging to study through magnetic resonance imaging due to its small size and jittering. In this study, we developed an acquisition protocol and analysis pipeline that enables to produce quantitative proton density (PD), macromolecular tissue volume (MTV), T2* and T1 maps of the ON from a 20-minute scan. Results show good scan-rescan reproducibility of ON values, and agreement with regional brain values. Significant differences in PD, MTV and T1 were observed between left-right ON measures, and left-right fronto-temporal white matter, which warrant further investigation.

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Alison R Roth¹ and Richard D Dortch^2
1Barrow Neuroimaging Innovation Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States, ²Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States

Keywords: Nerves, Magnetization transfer, Guillain-Barre Syndrome

New biomarkers are needed in Guillain-Barre Syndrome to predict patient recovery and severe complications and aid in drug development. We propose using magnetization transfer (MT) MRI to measure myelin content to act as such a biomarker. We have shown the ability of the MT imaging to visualize the cauda equina, but further work is needed to confirm these differences and biomarker suitability.

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Xie Taofeng^1,2, Cao Chentao³, Cui Zhuoxu³, Li Fanshi³, Wei Zidong³, Zhu Yanjie³, Li Ye³, Liang Dong^3,4, Jin Qiyu¹, Chen Guoqing¹, and Wang Haifeng^3
1Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China, ²Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China, ³Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology,Chinese Academy of Sciences, shenzhen, China, ⁴Guangdong Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy (SZ), shenzhen, China

Keywords: Nerves, Multimodal, Ultrahigh Field, Artificial Intelligence, Multimodal

MRI and PET are important modalities and can provide complementary information for the diagnosis of brain diseases because MRI can provide structural information of brain and PET can obtain functional information of brain. However, PET is usually missing. Especially, simultaneous PET and MRI imaging is not achievable at ultrahigh field in the current. Thus, synthetic PET using MRI at ultrahigh field is essential. In this paper, we synthetic PET using MRI as a guide by joint probability distribution of diffusion model (JPDDM). Meanwhile, We utilized our model in ultrahigh fields.

Yishuang Wang¹, Yun sen HE², Meining Chen³, Yuting Wang¹, and Longlin Yin^1
1Radiology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China, ²Department of Neurosurgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China, ³MR Scientific Marketing, Siemens Healthcare, Shanghai, China

Keywords: Nerves, Nerves

The pathogenic mechanism of different clinical and radiologic manifestations of Chiari malformation I (CMI) is still unclear. Using MR morphology, neurobiology, and hydrodynamics techniques allow for a comprehensive assessment of CMI. FA values and CSF flow may well explain the correlation between white matter fiber tract, CMI pain, and compensations at other body parts. MRI technology helps us to better understand the pathogenic mechanism of CMI and can provide more valuable information in the diagnosis and treatment of CMI.

yueyao chen¹, zhongxian pan¹, fanqi meng¹, xuewen yu², qian xu¹, leyu huang¹, qiumei liang¹, yanglei wu³, hanqing lyu¹, and xiaofeng lin^4
1Department of radiology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China, ²Department of pathology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China, ³MR Collaboration, SIEMENS Healthineers Ltd., Beijing, China, ⁴Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China

Keywords: Nerves, Nervous system, Electroacupuncture, Mesenchymal stem cells

We aimed to verify the efficacy of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) combined with electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury (PNI) using pathology and MRI. In a rat model of sciatic nerve crush damage, we found that BMSCs and EA combined therapy improved axon and myelin regeneration synergistically and significantly decreased post-injury nerve edema, improved axon guiding factor, and expedited motor function recovery. This suggests that a combination of BMSCs and EA can provide both topological and biomolecular guidance to promote axonal extension, myelin regeneration, and functional recovery after PNI.

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Yang Zhang¹, Wei Su², Xiaoyu Du³, Rui Li⁴, Hang Zhao⁴, Zhaoping Wang¹, Lei Feng¹, liangjie lin⁵, and Kaihua Zhang^2
1Department of Neurosurgery, Jining No. 1 People’s Hospital, Jining, China, ²School of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Ji’nan, China, ³Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, ⁴Department of Radiology, Jining No. 1 People’s Hospital, Jining, China, ⁵Clinical and Technical Support, Philips Healthcare, Beijing, China

Keywords: Nerves, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Trigeminal neuralgia, trigeminal nerve fiber

Investigating microstructural changes in patients with classical trigeminal neuralgia (CTN) has contributed to understanding the pathological neural mechanism of CTN. This study aimed to reveal abnormalities of the trigeminal fiber bundles by combing MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with voxel-based morphometry (VBM). 32 patients with CTN and 32 matched healthy controls were recruited with the main fiber bundle diffusion indices calculated and the whole-brain gray matter volume measured for each subject. Results showed that CTN exhibited microstructural changes in the trigeminal nerve fibers, and the changes might be associated with the pathogenesis of trigeminal neuralgia.

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Yongsheng Chen¹, Jacob Baraz¹, Stephanie Yan Xuan¹, Ryan Castoro¹, Yang Xuan², Alison Roth³, Richard D. Dortch³, and Jun Li^1,4
1Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States, ²Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States, ³Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States, ⁴Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States

Keywords: Nerves, Nerves

This study developed a multiparametric qMRI method to quantify fat fraction of leg muscles, myelin and axonal pathologies of peripheral nerves using MTR, MTsat, T₁, PD, T₂*, FA, MD, AD, RD, and nerve fascicular volume. The results will be applied in ongoing longitudinal studies to develop monitoring biomarkers in patients with polyneuropathies.

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Jennifer Anne Cummings¹, Madeline Hess¹, Kenneth Gao¹, Upasana Bharadwaj¹, Misung Han¹, Cynthia Chin¹, Salvatore Torrisi¹, Jennifer Townsend¹, An Vu¹, Valentina Pedoia¹, and Sharmila Majumdar^1
1Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States

Keywords: Nerves, Nervous system

Chronic lower back pain remains difficult to characterize with imaging. With this study, we investigate the relationship between imaging-based brain and spine biomarkers in pain perception. We present relationships between resting state functional connectivity networks, automatic spinal canal stenosis grading, and patient-reported pain measures. Patients reporting severe pain show weaker connectivity in the Left Ventral Attention Network and stronger connectivity within the Salience network when compared to those reporting no pain or mild/moderate pain. The severe back pain group also shows a higher spinal canal stenosis grading. 

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Kuan Lv¹, Aocai Yang¹, Bing Liu¹, Jixin Luan¹, and Guolin Ma^1
1China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China

Keywords: Nerves, Brain

We used the eASL technique to explore the mCBF, ATT and CBV alterations after MVD in patients with HFS. And found that the ATT values in the left superior frontal gyrus region 6 and the right precuneus region 1 were significantly increased in the L-HFS group after surgery compared with the preoperative ones. Furthermore, preoperative ATT values in the right precuneus 1 region were negatively correlated with mCBF values in the L-HFS group. It is suggested that these brain regions may play different roles in the underlying pathological mechanisms of HFS.

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Shanshan Wang¹, Xiao Man¹, Guangbin Wang¹, Weibo Chen², and Avneesh Chhabra^3
1Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China, ²Philips Healthcare, Shanghai, China, ³UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States

Keywords: Nerves, Nerves

We assessed proximal-distal longitudinal signal and size alterations of brachial plexus nerve roots in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients using 3D nerve-sheath signal increased with inked rest-tissue rapid acquisition of relaxation enhancement imaging (3D SHINKEI) . The conclusion confirmed proximal-distal longitudinal diameters and SNR values decreased significantly for brachial plexus nerve roots in ALS patients with larger differences in slopes compared to the HC. Thus, the size and signal alterations of brachial plexus nerve roots using 3D SHINKEI can be used to supplement clinical diagnosis for ALS patients.

Zeyang zeyang Li¹, Ying Yu¹, Guang-Bin Cui¹, and Lin-Feng Yan^1
1Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 569 Xinsi Road, Xi’an 710038, Shaanxi, China, Xi’an, China

Keywords: Nerves, fMRI (resting state)

Disrupted neurovascular (NV) coupling is considered as a potential mechanism of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) induced mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The study quantitatively explored whether NV decoupling were associated with cognitive impairment in patients with T2DM by means of neuroimaging meta-analysis and an independent validation. In T2DM, NV uncoupling existed in many brain regions, and the degree of uncoupling was related to cognition. It contributed to a better understanding of the mechanism in T2DM cognitive impairment and would be a promising neuroimaging biomarker. This study combined meta-analysis and independent validation model can be extended to other similar studies.

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Meltem Karatas¹, Kader Karli Oguz^1,2,3, Gulgun Sengul⁴, Akin Uzumcugil⁵, and Gokcen Coban^2
1National Magnetic Resonance Research Center (UMRAM), Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey, ²Department of Radiology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey, ³Department of Radiology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States, ⁴Department of Anatomy, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey, ⁵Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

Keywords: Nerves, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Brachial plexus, peripheral nerve tractography

Neonatal brachial plexus injury (NBPI) is caused by traction on the neck during birth and presents with flaccid paralysis of the upper extremity. 10-20% of the cases result in neurological sequelae and require surgical intervention; the treatment decisions principally depend on the clinical assessments through the first six months of life. Early stratification of NBPI cases may lead to earlier intervention for severe injuries, better disease outcomes, and higher quality of life. Here, we investigated the use of DTI and tractography for infants with NBPI; our results suggest that this approach might be suitable as a diagnostic and prognostic tool. 

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Wei Su¹, Xiaoyu Du², Xianling Liu³, Zhenhua Sun⁴, Kaihua Zhang¹, Mengxing Wang⁵, and Xiaoxia Du^6
1School of psychology, Shandong Normal University, Ji’nan, China, ²Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, ³Department of Medicine Imaging, The People's Hospital of Jinan Central District, Jinan, China, ⁴School of information science and engineering, Linyi University, Linyi, China, ⁵College of Medical Imaging, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China, ⁶Department of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China

Keywords: Nerves, fMRI (task based), Infant emotional faces, Empathy

Exploring the neural processes of recognizing infant stimuli promotes better understandings of the mother-infant attachment mechanisms. Here combining Task-fMRI and resting-state fMRI investigated the effects of infants’ emotional faces on the brain activity of women and men. The task-fMRI showed that the brains of women and men reacted differently to infants’ faces, and these differential areas are in facial processing and empathetic networks. The rs-fMRI further showed that the connectivity of the default-mode network-related regions increased in women than men. These differences might facilitate women to more effective and quick adjustments in behaviors and emotions during the nurturing infant period. 

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Xin Hu¹, Min Zhao¹, Jing Yang¹, Longji Xu¹, Weibo Chen², Fuxin Ren¹, and Fei Gao^1
1Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China, ²Philips Healthcare, Shanghai, China

Keywords: Nerves, Aging

Cognitive impairment and the improvement of oxidative stress are common in the aged. GSH is a key player to defend oxidative stress and avoid ferroptosis. We aim to explore the variation of brain GSH levels with age including anterior cingulate cortex, posterior cingulate cortex and occipital cortex, and to test whether GSH levels in these regions are associated with cognitive function. Our findings indicate that oxidative stress and ferroptosis abnormality caused by the decreased GSH levels may contribute to cognitive decline of the aged without a regional specificity manner.

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Yuxia Wanng¹, Ye Wu², Huaiqiang Sun³, and Fei Li^1
1Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China., Chengdu, Sichuan, China, ²Department of Ophthalmology, Laboratory of Optometry and Vision Sciences, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China., Chengdu, Sichuan, China, ³Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China.Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, P.R. China., Chengdu, Sichuan, China

Keywords: Nerves, Brain, Convergence insufficiency; brain function; functional connectivity; fALFF

Convergence insufficiency (CI) is the most common binocular vision disorder in optometric clinics relevant to the dysfunction of the specific neural circuit, while the neural mechanism is unknown. Using the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations fALFF and seed-to-voxel analysis, we found increased fALFF in the left cerebellum crus 1 and increased functional connectivity between the left cerebellum crus 1 and the right cerebellum crus 1 in patients with CI than healthy controls, which showed positive correlations with the severity of symptoms. These findings provide evidence of altered brain function features underlying neurobiological mechanisms of patients with CI.

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Sabrina Houidef¹, Germain Arribarat¹, and Patrice Péran^1
1ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, University of Toulouse, Inserm, Toulouse, France

Keywords: Parkinson's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Neurodegeneration

Because of its anatomical situation, the brainstem is difficult to image. With whole brain acquisitions, we end up with artifactual images. Our team developed a brainstem-dedicated T2*-weighted MRI acquisition method. Using this, we imaged the brain of sixteen healthy volunteers. This sequence was repeated 5 times for each volunteer. Our MRI protocol also consisted of a three-dimensional T1-weighted whole-brain sequence. The aim was to reduce the number of acquisitions required to visualize the nigrosome-1 by using image processing methods. We quantified the quality of the images by using image quality assessment indices and had one criterion: the visualization of nigrosome-1.

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Rebecca Glarin¹, Luke Henderson², Donggyu Rim³, and Vaughan Macefield^3
1University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia, ²University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, ³Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Prahran, Australia

Keywords: Nerves, High-Field MRI, Brainstem

Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) is responsible for blood pressure control and skin sympathetic nerve activity (SSNA) for thermoregulation. This activity can be recorded through a process of microneurography. This nerve activity can be temporally coupled with fMRI to image the brainstem. With the use of ultra high field MRI we are able to image the subcortical and cortical regions responsible for these sympathetic nervous system processes.  Brainstem imaging using this technique for the first time at high field, has identified with high specificity the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) when using MSNA coupled fMRI.