• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.271-279
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• 2019

Background: We utilized diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to evaluate the cerebral white matter changes that are associated with phantom limb pain in patients with unilateral arm amputation. It was anticipated that this would complement previous research in which we had shown that changes in cerebral blood volume were associated with the cerebral pain network. Methods: Ten patients with phantom limb pain due to unilateral arm amputation and sixteen healthy age-matched controls were enrolled. The intensity of phantom limb pain was measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and depressive mood was assessed by the Hamilton depression rating scale. Diffusion tensor-derived parameters, including fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD), were computed from the DTI. Results: Compared with controls, the cases had alterations in the cerebral white matter as a consequence of phantom limb pain, manifesting a higher AD of white matter in both hemispheres symmetrically after adjusting for individual depressive moods. In addition, there were associations between the RD of white matter and VAS scores primarily in the hemispheres related to the missing hand and in the corpus callosum. Conclusions: The phantom limb pain after unilateral arm amputation induced plasticity in the white matter. We conclude that loss of white matter integrity, particularly in the hemisphere connected with the missing hand, is significantly correlated with phantom limb pain.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.475-480
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to reconstruct diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) using stem of garlic and asparagus for in vitro phantom of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and to compare and evaluate the fractional anisotropy (FA) value and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value to determine whether it can be used as materials for in vitro phantoms. Among various plant fibers such as stem of garlic, palmae, cotton, asparagus, etc., stem of garlic and asparagus, which are considered to be the most suitable for making phantoms, and whose shape is considered to be the most suitable for making phantoms, were selected and tests were conducted. Holes were made in a plastic bucket at an angle of 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, and 120°, then tubes were inserted. In the tube, asparagus and stem of garlic were inserted as far in as possible, and the inserted tube was inserted into the center of the heat bathed gelatin to harden. We were able to reproduce DTT images in asparagus and stem of garlic. Fiber tissues of asparagus and stem of garlic did not show complete connectivity, but the reconstructed images of DTT showed good connectivity. The FA values of asparagus in the tubes were 0.198 at 0° (straight), 0.207 at 30°, 0.187 at 60°, 0.231 at 90°, and 0.204 at 120°. In addition, the FA values of stem of garlic in the tubes were 0.235 at 0°, 0.236 at 30°, 0.216 at 60°, 0.218 at 90°, and 0.257 at 120°. The ADC values of asparagus in the tubes were 1.545 at 0°, 1.677 at 30°, 1.629 at 60°, 1.535 at 90°, and 1.725 at 120°. In addition, the ADC values of stem of garlic in the tubes were 1.252 at 0°, 1.396 at 30°, 1.698 at 60°, 1.756 at 90°, and 1.466 at 120°. For the best expressed DTT reconstruction image, it showed the longest connectivity in the straight line as we hypothesized. In addition, when comparing the FA values and ADC values of fiber tissues of stem of garlic and asparagus, FA value was generally higher in stem of garlic and ADC value was slightly higher in asparagus.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2007

An echo planar imaging (EPI)-based spin-echo sequence Is often used to obtain diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data on most of the clinical MRI systems, However, this sequence is confounded with the susceptibility artifacts, especially on the temporal lobe in the human brain. Therefore, the objective of this study was to design a pulse sequence that relatively immunizes the susceptibility artifacts, but can map diffusion tensor components in a single-shot mode. A multi-slice multi-echo pulsed-gradient spin-echo (MePGSE) sequence with eight echoes wasdeveloped with selective refocusing pulses for all slices to map the full tensor. The first seven echoes in the train were diffusion-weighted allowing for the observation of diffusion in several different directions in a single experiment and the last echo was for crusher of the residual magnetization. All components of diffusion tensor were measured by a single shot experiment. The sequence was applied in diffusive phantoms. The preliminary experimental verification of the sequence was illustrated by measuring the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for tap water and by measuring diffusion tensor components for watermelon. The ADC values in the series of the water phantom were reliable. The MePGSE sequence, therefore, may be useful in human brain studies.