常规磁共振成像结合磁共振波谱在临床脑胶质瘤诊断及鉴别诊断中的应用价值

目的:分析磁共振氢质子磁共振波谱(Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy,1H-MRS)的特征与脑胶质瘤病理分级的相关性,探讨氢质子磁共振波谱及常规磁共振成像(Magnetic Resonance Imaging,MRI)联合应用在提高脑胶质瘤的临床诊断中的应用价值.方法:脑胶质瘤(经临床手术证实及病理诊断确诊)患者34例,参照国际卫生组织诊断标准,分为低级别胶质瘤组及高级别胶质瘤组.其中,低级别组16例,高级别组18例,在行常规MRI检查的同时,配合1H-MRS检查,测NAA(N-乙酰天门冬氨酸)、Cho(胆碱)、Cr(肌酸)值,在不同级别胶质瘤、同级别胶质瘤不同位置的代谢物进行综合分析.结果:在获得常规MRI图像并进行诊断后,进行氢质子磁共振波谱检测分析:在低级别胶质瘤及高级别胶质瘤患者中,Cr(肌酸)的总量变化不大,有轻度的下降;而NAA(N-乙酰天门冬氨酸)下降程度较为明显;Cho(胆碱)则明显升高.低级别胶质瘤及高级别胶质瘤患侧的肿瘤组织同对侧的正常脑组织的各种代谢物及其比值(Cho、NAA、NAA/Cho、NAA/Cr值)具有显著性差异(P＜0.05);低级别胶质瘤及高级别胶质瘤的肿瘤组织的代谢物比值NAA/Cr、NAA/Cho值差异具有显著性(P＜0.05).低级别胶质瘤及高级别胶质瘤的Cho/Cr、NAA/Cho、NAA/Cr值与脑胶质瘤的病理分级具有相关性;在各个比值中,NAA/Cr与NAA/Cho值能够较好地反映脑胶质瘤的病理分级,二者的值呈现负相关;Cho/Cr值呈正相关.结论:常规MRI联合1H-MRS在脑胶质瘤的诊断中,能够有效提高准确性,在临床评估脑胶质瘤的分级、确定范围和鉴别诊断都具有重要的指导作用.     

磁共振波谱分析在颅脑胶质瘤分级中的应用研究

目的 分析脑胶质瘤的氢质子磁共振波谱（proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy,1H-MRS）表现及其临床意义;探讨脑胶质瘤的1H-MRS特点与其病理级别相关性.方法 搜集经临床手术、病理证实的脑胶质瘤病例49例,按照WHO诊断标准分成两组：低级别脑胶质瘤组、高级别脑胶质瘤组.所有患者在术前行1H-MRs检查,均在MR非增强成像的基础上获得.使用Philips Achieva 1.5T超导磁共振扫描仪,单体素或多体素扫描,点分辨法,检测不同区域代谢物变化.结果 脑胶质瘤的1H-MRS表现：肌酸（Cr）轻度下降,N-乙酰天门冬氨酸（NAA）显著下降,胆碱（Cho）显著增高.低、高级别脑胶质瘤的肿瘤组织与对侧止常脑组织的NAA、Cho、NAA/Cr、NAA/Cho值存在显著性差异（P〈0.05）;低级别和高级别脑胶质瘤的肿瘤组织的NAA/Cr、NAA/Cho值存在显著性差异（P〈0.05）.脑胶质瘤的NAA/Cho、Cho/Cr、NAA/Cr值与病理级别相关,其中NAA/Cho和NAA/Cr值反映肿瘤级别较稳定;NAA/Cr、NAA/Cho值呈负相关关系,Cho/Cr值呈正相关关系.结论 ：1H-MRS结合MKI能提高脑胶质瘤术前诊断的准确性.1H-MRS能对胶质瘤进行分级,反映胶质瘤代谢特性以及肿瘤生长潜能.     

3.0T 1H-MRS对脑胶质瘤及脑转移瘤的鉴别诊断

目的：利用3.0T氢质子磁共振波谱对胶质瘤和转移瘤的肿瘤组织区、瘤周水肿区进行细胞代谢物水平的检测,试图找出胶质瘤和脑转移瘤的鉴别诊断的依据,以及胶质瘤高、低级别组间的差别。方法：对经病理证实的20例高级别胶质瘤组、16例低级别胶质瘤组和19例脑转移瘤组患者,先行MRI平扫及增强扫描,波谱均在增强扫描的基础上获得,使用MR点分辨波谱序列,检测肿瘤组织区、瘤周水肿组织区NAA/Cr、Cho/Cr、NAA/Cho、NAA、Cho、Cr、Lip/Lac等值,进行比较。结果：（1）高级别胶质瘤与转移瘤在肿瘤组织区NAA/Cr代谢物浓度的比值有统计学意义。（2）高、低级别胶质瘤肿瘤组织内Cho/Cr比值有统计学意义。（3）转移瘤与高、低级别胶质瘤在瘤周水肿区NAA/Cr,以及低级别胶质瘤与转移瘤Cho/Cr代谢物浓度的比值有统计学意义;高级别胶质瘤与转移瘤瘤周区NAA代谢物浓度有明显差异。（4）胶质瘤高、低级别组间在肿瘤周围区NAA峰、Cho峰及NAA/Cho Cho/Cr代谢物浓度比值有统计学意义。（5）高级别胶质瘤和转移瘤分别与低级别胶质瘤在肿瘤组织区及瘤周水肿区Lip/Lac有显著性差异（P〈0.01）。结论：利用氢质子波谱可对胶质瘤和转移瘤进行鉴别诊断;Cho/Cr及NAA/Cho比值可对胶质瘤进行分级;Lip/Lac峰的出现与肿瘤的恶性度呈正相关,但不特异。     

兔实验性肝性脑病1H磁共振波谱初步研究

目的:研究兔实验性肝性脑病1H磁共振波谱(magnetic resonance spectroscopy,MRS)变化。方法:将24只兔子随机分三组:对照组,肝硬化组,肝性脑病组,各8只。肝性脑病组采用四氯化碳(CCl4)联合内毒素方法制作肝性脑病兔子模型,肝硬化组采用CCl4制作肝硬化模型。分别在第4、6、8、10、12周取肝脏病理活检,第12周测量血氨值,并进行兔子脑组织的MRS扫描。计算N-乙酰天门冬氨酸(N-acetyl asparte,NAA)、肌酸(creatine,Cr)、胆碱(choline,Cho)、肌醇(myo-inositol,mI)和谷氨酰胺复合物(glutamine and glutamate,Glx)的峰下面积,计算NAA/Cr、Cho/Cr、mI/Cr、Glx/Cr。结果:与对照组及肝硬化组相比,肝性脑病组兔血氨上升,脑部MRS显示Glx/Cr升高,Cho/Cr降低,差异显著(P0.05)。与对照组相比,肝硬化组血氨以及MRS改变无统计学意义。结论:兔实验性肝性脑病1H磁共振波谱存在变化。     

颐脑解郁方对脑出血后抑郁大鼠核磁共振波谱的干预作用

采用尾壳核胶原酶注射诱发脑出血模型,结合不可预知慢性应激建立出血性脑卒中后抑郁模型,通过行为学评估筛选符合结局动物,研究活体正常大鼠(Rattus norvegicus)和PSD模型大鼠脑部MRI T1,T2加权成像和局域质子谱(1H MRS)的变化,观察脑组织形态学和神经元代谢物N-乙酰天门冬氨酸(NAA)、肌酸(Cr)、胆碱(Cho)和谷氨酸(Glu)及肌醇(m I)等指标变化及颐脑解郁方的干预作用.建立脑出血后抑郁大鼠模型,筛选行为评估合格动物,麻醉状态下固定头部于7.0T核磁共振成像仪上扫描,分别扫描横断面位及矢状位图像;之后选择感兴趣区,采用PRESS序列采集1H谱,确定肌酸、胆碱化合物、谷氨酸、肌醇(m I)等信号.经行为学评估测试,造模后及6周后的模型组蔗糖水消耗量均减少,与正常组、中药组、西药组比较有统计学意义(P0.05);敞箱实验模型大鼠水平得分及垂直得分均小于正常组、中药组、西药组,组间比较有显著性差异(P0.05);水迷宫测定中,模型大鼠错入盲端次数增加,与正常组、中药组和西药组比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05).脑出血后抑郁大鼠磁共振平扫脑正中裂增宽,中脑导水管面积扩大,提示大鼠存在脑萎缩.波谱提示模型组海马区NAA/Cr,Cho/Cr比值降低(P0.05),中药组有显著升高(P0.05).通过采用磁共振波谱技术观察颐脑解郁方对脑出血后抑郁大鼠的干预作用,发现其对于神经元的功能修复和保护的作用尤为突出.同时,也发现磁共振波谱技术确实可无损伤地获得脑内物质代谢的信息,可以反映药物的干预作用.     

1H-MRS评估慢性肝病脑部代谢异常与肝硬化的相关性

目的:利用~1H-MRS研究慢性肝病脑部代谢改变,并探讨~1H-MRS评估慢性肝病脑部代谢异常与肝硬化Child-Pugh分级的相关性。方法:选取经临床确诊为慢性肝炎肝硬化患者42例(child A 19例,child B14例,child C 9例)及健康志愿者15例(对照组),行磁共振平扫及磁共振单体素~1H-MRS检查,计算相关代谢物N-乙酰天门冬氨酸(NAA)、谷氨酰胺复合物(Glx)、胆碱(Cho)、肌醇(mI)和肌酸(Cr)的峰下面积及前四项指标与Cr的比值(NAA/Cr、Glx/Cr、Cho/Cr、mI/Cr),并进行统计学分析,同时对相关代谢物的变化与肝硬化Child-Pugh分级及肝硬化Child-Pugh分级与肝性脑病的关系进行相关性分析。结果:~1HMRS分析显示与正常对照组相比,慢性肝炎肝硬化组Glx/Cr值升高,Cho/Cr与mI/Cr值降低,且差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);不同程度肝硬化病例组对比显示,Glx/Cr值均随着肝硬化程度加重而增大,且Glx/Cr值的差异在child A、child B、child C组中均有统计学意义(P0.05);肝性脑病(HE)组与非肝性脑病组脑代谢物峰下面积比值Glx/Cr、Cho/Cr、mI/Cr比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);Child-Pugh分级与Glx/Cr呈正相关,与Cho/Cr、mI/Cr呈负相关;随着肝硬化程度加重,肝性脑病出现概率越高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:~1H-MRS作为一种无创性的评价手段,能够反映慢性肝硬化及肝性脑病患者存在脑代谢物浓度异常改变,可作为早期诊断肝硬化、肝性脑病及评价肝硬化、肝性脑病严重程度的一项指标,在一定程度上评估肝性脑病与肝硬化分级具有相关性。     

中度以上抑郁症患者额叶扣带回~1H-MRS分析

目的:探讨1.5T磁共振1H-MRS波谱成像技术在中度以上抑郁症患者诊断中的临床价值。方法:选取经1H-MRS扫描的124例中度以上抑郁症患者和100名健康志愿者(对照组),采用MRS分析软件分别测量患者组和对照组额叶扣带回灰质的胆碱(Cho)峰下面积和Cho/Cr(肌酸)比值。结果:中度以上抑郁症患者组Cho峰下面积(9702±1000)明显高于对照组(7040±500)(P0.01),Cho/Cr比值分别为2.11±0.26和1.57±0.32,差异均有统计学意义(P0.01)。结论:1H-MRS分析能够揭示额叶扣带回细胞膜磷脂代谢的异常,对中度以上抑郁症患者具有客观诊断价值。     

当归注射液对脑缺血/再灌注神经元代谢物的影响

目的：研究当归注射液对脑缺血／再灌注时神经元代谢物及血流速度的作用,阐明当归对脑缺血损伤神经修复过程的影响。方法：雄性SD大鼠69只,体重150～170g,随机分成假手术组(n=4)、缺血损伤组(n=30)和当归治疗组(n=35)。制作右大脑中动脉血供阻断(MCA0)模型。缺血2h后,当归治疗组立即腹腔注射当归注射液(5g／kgbw)。在再灌注后3～4h和5～6h,以磁共振成像(MRI)技术研究大脑T2加权成像(T2WI)和局域质子谱(^1H MRS)的变化,观察当归对成像和神经元代谢物N-乙酰天门冬氨酸(NAA)、肌酸／磷酸肌酸(Cr／PCr)和胆碱(Cho)的影响。激光多普勒血流仪观察当归注射液对血流速度的影响,测定脑表面血管密度。结果：与缺血损伤组比较,当归治疗组的高信号强度区信号减弱、体积小,NAA值大,Cr/NAA和Cho/NAA比值小,再灌注时的血流速度显著加快,单位面积内的血管长度增加。结论：当归注射液加快缺血脑组织的血液循环,改善神经元的代谢。     

重度OSAS患者前额叶皮质及岛叶1H-MR波谱研究

目的:利用氢质子MRS(1H-MRS)探讨重度阻塞性呼吸睡眠暂停综合症(Severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome,S-OSAS)患者前额叶皮质及岛叶脑代谢产物特征。方法:选择18例S-OSAS患者(S-OSAS组)和15名健康志愿者(HC组)行左侧前额叶皮质及岛叶1H-MRS检查,测量两组左侧前额叶皮质区及岛叶N-乙酰天冬氨酸/肌酸(NAA/Cr)、胆碱/肌酸(Cho/Cr)值。对患S-OSAS累计时间与前额叶皮质及岛叶NAA/Cr作直线相关分析。结果:与正常对照组相比,S-OSAS患者左侧前额叶皮质、岛叶NAA/Cr比值降低,分别为1.43±0.47、1.34±0.06,对照组分别为1.51±0.65、1.45±0.07;S-OSAS组患者左侧前额叶皮质、岛叶Cho/Cr分别为0.90±0.08、1.19±0.13,对照组分别为0.87±0.07、1.09±0.02,两组差异有统计学意义。前额叶皮质及岛叶代谢物NAA/Cr与患S-OSAS累计时间成负相关性(r值分别为-0.965、-0.955,P<0.01)。结论:1H-MRS显示S-OSAS患者前额叶皮质及岛叶病理生理变化,从该区代谢物的改变反应出S-OSAS患者执行及情感功能的异常,其NAA/Cr改变程度与患S-OSAS累计时间相关。     

磁共振灌注加权成像与弥散加权成像在脑胶质瘤分级诊断中的应用

目的:探讨磁共振灌注加权成像(perfusion weighted imaging,PWI)与弥散加权成像(diffusion weighted imaging,DWI)在脑胶质瘤分级诊断中的应用价值。方法:选取2012年1月-2017年6月在我院就诊并经病理证实为脑胶质瘤患者100例,其中高、低级别胶质瘤患者各44、56例。对所有患者行PWI、DWI检查,比较肿瘤不同区域表观扩散系数(apparent diffusion coefficient,ADC)、局部脑血流量(regional cerebral blood flow,rCBF),不同级别肿瘤实质区、瘤周水肿区rADC、rrCBF,根据ROC曲线分析rADC、rrCBF对不同级别胶质瘤的诊断阈值、敏感性、特异性。结果:与对侧相应正常脑实质比较,瘤周水肿区及肿瘤实质区ADC、rCBF均显著升高(P0.05);与瘤周水肿区比较,肿瘤实质区ADC、rCBF均显著升高(P0.05)。高级别肿瘤实质区rADC显著低于低级别肿瘤实质区(P0.05),rrCBF显著高于肿瘤实质区(P0.05)。高级别瘤周水肿区与低级别瘤周水肿区rADC间无显著差异(P0.05),高级别瘤周水肿区rrCBF显著高于低级别瘤周水肿区(P0.05)。在对高、低级别脑胶质瘤的分级中,rADC、rrCBF的曲线下面积(under the receiver operating characteristic curve,AUC)分别为0.957、0.978,均0.9。rADC诊断不同分级胶质瘤的敏感度是90.12%,特异度是95.26%,诊断阈值是13.12;rrCBF诊断不同分级胶质瘤的敏感度是92.31%,特异度是98.57%,诊断阈值是2.62。rADC与rrCBF诊断不同分级胶质瘤敏感度、特异度间无显著差异(P0.05)。结论:PWI、DWI能够为脑胶质瘤的分级诊断提供参考依据。     

In vitro study of astrocytic tumour metabolism by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies of glial brain tumours reported that higher grade of astrocytoma is associated with increased level of choline-containing compounds (Cho) and decreased levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and creatine and phosphocreatine (Cr). In this work, we studied the metabolism of glioma tumours by in vitro proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). 1H-MR spectra were recorded in vitro from perchloric acid extracts of astrocytoma (WHO II) and glioblastoma multiforme (WHO IV) samples. We observed differences between astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme in the levels of Cho, alanine, lactate, NAA, and glutamate/glutamine. In astrocytoma samples, we found higher MR signal of NAA and lower signal of Cho and alanine. MR spectra of glioblastoma samples reported significantly higher levels of lactate and glutamate/glutamine. In contrast, levels of Cr were the same in both tumour types. We also determined NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr ratios in the tumour samples. The NAA/Cr ratio was higher in astrocytomas than in glioblastomas multiforme. Conversely, the Cho/Cr ratio was higher in glioblastoma multiforme. The results indicate that MRS is a promising method for distinguishing pathologies in human brain and for pre-surgical grading of brain tumours.     

Metabolic dysfunction and relationship in human frontoparietal cortex in severe traumatic brain injury: Single-voxel <Superscript>1</Superscript>H magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

¹H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed that apparently normal (from the data of magnetic resonance imaging) human brain frontoparietal cortex in the subacute stage of traumatic brain injury is characterized by decreased level of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and increase in levels of myoinositol, choline-containing compounds (Cho), and creatine/phosphocreatine (Cr). Correlations between Cr, Cho, and NAA were established. We propose a scheme of neuronal metabolic processes that joins these substances.     

弥散加权成像联合磁共振波谱分析在脑梗死中的应用研究

目的探讨脑梗死弥散加权成像（DWI）和磁共振波谱分析（MRS）的特点和影响因素,及二者对评估脑梗死的临床价值。方法采用Philips Achieva 1.5T双梯度超导磁共振扫描仪,对72例临床疑是脑梗死患者行常规T1WI、T2WI、FLAIR、DWI、MRS检查,在工作站上测定梗死核心区、内缘区、外缘区、周围区和镜像区的ADC值和代谢物Lac、NAA、Cr、Cho、NAA/Cr、Lac/Cr、Lac/NAA值。结果 DWI显示的梗死灶范围较常规MRI像更加准确、清晰;超急性期、急性期、亚急性期和慢性期梗死核心区的Lac/Cr值和Lac/NAA值高于对侧镜像区,ADC值和NAA/Cr值低于对侧镜像区,存在统计学差异（P〈0.05）;DWI的影响因素有b值、扩散系数、T2穿透效应和各向异性等,MRS的影响因素有磁场均匀性、压水压脂性能、体素、TE与TR、组织代谢物浓度和波谱采集链等。结论 DWI结合MRS能更加全面地评估缺血半暗带,更精确地对脑梗死进行分期和定位。     

重度OSAS患者前额叶皮质及岛叶1H—MR波谱研究

目的：利用氢质子MRS（IH-MRS）探讨重度阻塞性呼吸睡眠暂停综合症（Severeobstructivesleepapneasyndrome,S-OSAS）患者前额叶皮质及岛叶脑代谢产物特征。方法：选择18例S-OSAS患者（S-OSAS组）和15名健康志愿者（HC组）行左侧前额叶皮质及岛叶1H-MRS检查,测量两组左侧前额叶皮质区及岛叶N-乙酰天冬氨酸／肌酸（NAA／Cr）、胆碱／肌酸（Cho／Cr）值。对患S-OSAS累计时间与前额叶皮质及岛叶NAA／Cr作直线相关分析。结果：与正常对照组相比,S-OSAS患者左侧前额叶皮质、岛叶NAA／Cr比值降低,分别为1．43±0．47、1．34±0．06,对照组分别为1．51±0．65、1．45±0．07;S-OSAS组患者左侧前额叶皮质、岛叶Cho／Cr分别为0．90±0．08、1．195：0．13,对照组分别为0．87±0．07、1．09±0．02,两组差异有统计学意义。前额叶皮质及岛叶代谢物NAA／Cr与患S-OSAS累计时间成负相关性（r值分别为-0．965、-0．955,P〈0．01）。结论：1H-MRS显示S-OSAS患者前额叶皮质及岛叶病理生理变化,从该区代谢物的改变反应出S-OSAS患者执行及情感功能的异常,其NAA/Cr改变程度与患S-OSAS累计时间相关。     

Convex-Envelope Based Automated Quantitative Approach to Multi-Voxel 1H-MRS Applied to Brain Tumor Analysis

Background

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) can measure in vivo brain tissue metabolism that exhibits unique biochemical characteristics in brain tumors. For clinical application, an efficient and versatile quantification method of MRS would be an important tool for medical research, particularly for exploring the scientific problem of tumor monitoring. The objective of our study is to propose an automated MRS quantitative approach and assess the feasibility of this approach for glioma grading, prognosis and boundary detection.

Methods

An automated quantitative approach based on a convex envelope (AQoCE) is proposed in this paper, including preprocessing, convex-envelope based baseline fitting, bias correction, sectional baseline removal, and peak detection, in a total of 5 steps. Some metabolic ratios acquired by this quantification are selected for statistical analysis. An independent sample t-test and the Kruskal-Wallis test are used for distinguishing low-grade gliomas (LGG) and high-grade gliomas (HGG) and for detecting the tumor, peritumoral and contralateral areas, respectively. Seventy-eight cases of pre-operative brain gliomas with pathological reports are included in this study.

Results

Cho/NAA, Cho/Cr and Lip-Lac/Cr (LL/Cr) calculated by AQoCE in the tumor area differ significantly between LGG and HGG, with p≤0.005. Using logistic regression combining Cho/NAA, Cho/Cr and LL/Cr to generate a ROC curve, AQoCE achieves a sensitivity of 92.9%, a specificity of 72.2%, and an area under ROC curve (AUC) of 0.860. Moreover, both Cho/NAA and Cho/Cr in the AQoCE approach show a significant difference (p≤0.019) between tumoral, peritumoral, and contralateral areas. The comparison between the results of AQoCE and Siemens MRS processing software are also discussed in this paper.

Conclusions

The AQoCE approach is an automated method of residual water removal and metabolite quantification. It can be applied to multi-voxel ¹H-MRS for evaluating brain glioma grading and demonstrating characteristics of brain glioma metabolism. It can also detect infiltration in the peritumoral area. Under the limited clinical data used, AQoCE is significantly more versatile and efficient compared to the reference approach of Siemens.     

Comparison of Inter Subject Variability and Reproducibility of Whole Brain Proton Spectroscopy

The aim of these studies was to provide reference data on intersubject variability and reproducibility of metabolite ratios for Choline/Creatine (Cho/Cr), N-acetyl aspartate/Choline (NAA/Cho) and N-acetyl aspartate/Creatine (NAA/Cr), and individual signal-intensity normalised metabolite concentrations of NAA, Cho and Cr. Healthy volunteers underwent imaging on two occasions using the same 3T Siemens Verio magnetic resonance scanner. At each session two identical Metabolic Imaging and Data Acquisition Software (MIDAS) sequences were obtained along with standard structural imaging. Metabolite maps were created and regions of interest applied in normalised space. The baseline data from all 32 volunteers were used to calculate the intersubject variability, while within session and between session reproducibility were calculated from all the available data. The reproducibility of measurements were used to calculate the overall and within session 95% prediction interval for zero change. The within and between session reproducibility data were lower than the values for intersubject variability, and were variable across the different brain regions. The within and between session reproducibility measurements were similar for Cho/Cr, NAA/Choline, Cho and Cr (11.8%, 11.4%, 14.3 and 10.6% vs. 11.9%, 11.4%, 13.5% and 10.5% respectively), but for NAA/Creatine and NAA between session reproducibility was lower (9.3% and 9.1% vs. 10.1% and 9.9%; p <0.05). This study provides additional reference data that can be utilised in interventional studies to quantify change within a single imaging session, or to assess the significance of change in longitudinal studies of brain injury and disease.     

Brain Changes in Long-Term Zen Meditators Using Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Diffusion Tensor Imaging: A Controlled Study

Introduction

This work aimed to determine whether ¹H magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) are correlated with years of meditation and psychological variables in long-term Zen meditators compared to healthy non-meditator controls.

Materials and Methods

Design. Controlled, cross-sectional study. Sample. Meditators were recruited from a Zen Buddhist monastery. The control group was recruited from hospital staff. Meditators were administered questionnaires on anxiety, depression, cognitive impairment and mindfulness. ¹H-MRS (1.5 T) of the brain was carried out by exploring four areas: both thalami, both hippocampi, the posterior superior parietal lobule (PSPL) and posterior cingulate gyrus. Predefined areas of the brain were measured for diffusivity (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) by MR-DTI.

Results

Myo-inositol (mI) was increased in the posterior cingulate gyrus and Glutamate (Glu), N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) and N-acetyl-aspartate/Creatine (NAA/Cr) was reduced in the left thalamus in meditators. We found a significant positive correlation between mI in the posterior cingulate and years of meditation (r = 0.518; p = .019). We also found significant negative correlations between Glu (r = −0.452; p = .045), NAA (r = −0.617; p = .003) and NAA/Cr (r = −0.448; P = .047) in the left thalamus and years of meditation. Meditators showed a lower Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) in the left posterior parietal white matter than did controls, and the ADC was negatively correlated with years of meditation (r = −0.4850, p = .0066).

Conclusions

The results are consistent with the view that mI, Glu and NAA are the most important altered metabolites. This study provides evidence of subtle abnormalities in neuronal function in regions of the white matter in meditators.     

Changes in brain metabolites measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy in antidepressant responders with comorbid major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder

In a present pilot study, performed on 11 subjects, we studied proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) changes in early to intermediate (3-6 weeks) responders to antidepressant treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). All subjects had diagnosis of major recurrent depression comorbid to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Magnetic spectroscopy was done in the region of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on a 3T MRI-unit. Participants were selected out of the larger sample due to an early response to antidepressant treatment within 3-6 weeks, measured with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). We measured levels of neuronal marker N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), choline (CHO) and creatine (Cr). There was no difference in NAA/Cr ratios between the first and the second spectroscopic scans (p= 0.751). However, CHO/Cr ratios showed increasing trend with mean value at the first scan of 1.09 (SD =0.22) while mean value at second scan was 1.25 (SD=0.24), displaying statistically significant difference (p=0.015). In conclusion, significant increase in choline to creatine ratio from the first to the second spectroscopic scan during the antidepressant treatment, compared to almost identical values of NAA to creatine ratio, suggests increased turnover of cell membranes as a mechanism of the early response to the antidepressant drug therapy.