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Noninvasive Characterization of Metabolic Changes in Ischemic Stroke Using Z-spectrum-fitted Multiparametric Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to noninvasively characterize the metabolic alterations in ischemic brain tissues using Z-spectrum-fitted multiparametric chemical exchange saturation transfer-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (CEST-MRI).

Methods

Three sets of Z-spectrum data with saturation power (B1) values of 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 µT, respectively, were acquired from 17 patients with ischemic stroke. Multiple contrasts contributing to the Z-spectrum, including fitted amide proton transfer (APTfitted), +2 ppm peak (CEST@2ppm), concomitantly fitted APTfitted and CEST@2ppm (APT&CEST@2ppm), semisolid magnetization transfer contrast (MT), aliphatic nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE), and direct saturation of water (DSW), were fitted with 4 and 5 Lorentzian functions, respectively. The CEST metrics were compared between ischemic lesions and contralateral normal white matter (CNWM), and the correlation between the CEST metrics and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was assessed. The differences in the Z-spectrum metrics under varied B1 values were also investigated.

Results

Ischemic lesions showed increased APTfitted, CEST@2ppm, APT&CEST@2ppm, NOE, and DSW as well as decreased MT. APT&CEST@2ppm, MT, and DSW showed a significant correlation with ADC [APT&CEST@2ppm at the 3 B1 values: R=0.584/0.467/0.551; MT at the 3 B1 values: R=−0.717/−0.695/−0.762 (4-parameter fitting), R=−0.734/−0.711/−0.785 (5-parameter fitting); DSW of 4-/5-parameter fitting: R=0.794/0.811 (2.5 µT), R=0.800/0.790 (3.5 µT)]. However, the asymmetric analysis of amide proton transfer (APTasym) could not differentiate the lesions from CNWM and showed no correlation with ADC. Furthermore, the Z-spectrum contrasts varied with B1.

Conclusion

The Z-spectrum-fitted multiparametric CEST-MRI can comprehensively detect metabolic alterations in ischemic brain tissues.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510180, China

    Zhen-xiong Wang & Xin-hua Wei

  2. Department of Radiology, Department of Bioengineering, and The Center for MR Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, 60612, USA

    Ke-jia Cai

  3. Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China

    Wen-zhen Zhu

  4. Department of Radiology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, 510060, China

    Chang-liang Su

Authors
  1. Zhen-xiong Wang
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  4. Wen-zhen Zhu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chang-liang Su.

Ethics declarations

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Author Wen-zhen ZHU is a member of the Editorial Board for Current Medical Science. The paper was handled by other editors and has undergone rigorous peer review process. Author Wen-zhen ZHU was not involved in the journal’s review of, or decisions related to, this manuscript.

Additional information

This work was supported by grants from the Guangzhou General Guidance Project of Health Science and Technology (No. 20231A011013) and the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (No. 2021A1515110737).

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Wang, Zx., Wei, Xh., Cai, Kj. et al. Noninvasive Characterization of Metabolic Changes in Ischemic Stroke Using Z-spectrum-fitted Multiparametric Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging. CURR MED SCI 43, 970–978 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-023-2785-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-023-2785-7

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