• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2016

Purpose: To develop a technique for quantifying the $^{13}C$-metabolites by performing frequency-selective hyperpolarized $^{13}C$ magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in vitro which combines simple spectrally-selective excitation with spectrally interleaved acquisition. Methods: Numerical simulations were performed with varying noise level and $K_p$ values to compare the quantification accuracies of the proposed and the conventional methods. For in vitro experiments, a spectrally-selective excitation scheme was enabled by narrow-band radiofrequency (RF) excitation pulse implemented into a free-induction decay chemical shift imaging (FIDCSI) sequence. Experiments with LDH / NADH enzyme mixture were performed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed acquisition method. Also, a modified two-site exchange model was formulated for metabolism kinetics quantification with the proposed method. Results: From the simulation results, significant increase of the lactate peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) was observed. Also, the quantified $K_p$ value from the dynamic curves were more accurate in the case of the proposed acquisition method compared to the conventional non-selective excitation scheme. In vitro experiment results were in good agreement with the simulation results, also displaying increased PSNR for lactate. Fitting results using the modified two-site exchange model also showed expected results in agreement with the simulations. Conclusion: A method for accurate quantification of hyperpolarized pyruvate and the downstream product focused on in vitro experiment was described. By using a narrow-band RF excitation pulse with alternating acquisition, different resonances were selectively excited with a different flip angle for increased PSNR while the hyperpolarized magnetization of the substrate can be minimally perturbed with a low flip angle. Baseline signals from neighboring resonances can be effectively suppressed to accurately quantify the metabolism kinetics.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.125-134
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• 2022

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the change in signal sensitivity over different acquisition start times and optimize the scanning window to provide the maximal signal sensitivity of [1-¹³C]pyruvate and its metabolic products, lactate and alanine, using spatially localized hyperpolarized 3D ¹³C magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI). Materials and Methods: We acquired 3D ¹³C MRSI data from the brain (n = 3), kidney (n = 3), and liver (n = 3) of rats using a 3T clinical scanner and a custom RF coil after the injection of hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]pyruvate. For each organ, we obtained three consecutive 3D ¹³C MRSI datasets with different acquisition start times per animal from a total of three animals. The mean signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of pyruvate, lactate, and alanine were calculated and compared between different acquisition start times. Based on the SNRs of lactate and alanine, we identified the optimal acquisition start timing for each organ. Results: For the brain, the acquisition start time of 18 s provided the highest mean SNR of lactate. At 18 s, however, the lactate signal predominantly originated from not the brain, but the blood vessels; therefore, the acquisition start time of 22 s was recommended for 3D ¹³C MRSI of the rat brain. For the kidney, all three metabolites demonstrated the highest mean SNR at the acquisition start time of 32 s. Similarly, the acquisition start time of 22 s provided the highest SNRs for all three metabolites in the liver. Conclusion: In this study, the acquisition start timing was optimized in an attempt to maximize metabolic signals in hyperpolarized 3D ¹³C MRSI examination with [1-¹³C] pyruvate as a substrate. We investigated the changes in metabolic signal sensitivity in the brain, kidney, and liver of rats to establish the optimal acquisition start time for each organ. We expect the results from this study to be of help in future studies.

• Journal of the Korean Physical Society
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• v.73 no.10
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• pp.1458-1465
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• 2018

We present a constructed setup for polarizing $^{129}Xe$ noble gas. Hyperpolarized $^{129}Xe$ has been obtained via spin exchange with an optically pumped rubidium vapor. Optical pumping is based on polarizing the valence electron of rubidium by the resonant absorption of a circularly polarized laser light. The magnetic field of 30 G was used for obtaining $^{129}Xe$ polarization. The apparatus for detecting polarization is a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. The highest $^{129}Xe$ polarization of 54% has been obtained using 60 W circularly polarized laser light with wavelength of 794.7 nm. The measured longitudinal relaxation time of the hyperpolarized $^{129}Xe$ was 72.3 minutes.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

Purpose: To investigate the exchange and redistribution of hyperpolarized $^{13}C$ metabolites between different pools by temporally analyzing the relative fraction of dual $T_2{^*}$ components of hyperpolarized $^{13}C$ metabolites. Materials and Methods: A dual exponential decay analysis of $T_2{^*}$ is performed for [1-$^{13}C$] pyruvate and [1-$^{13}C$] lactate using nonspatially resolved dynamic $^{13}C$ MR spectroscopy from mice brains with tumors (n = 3) and without (n = 4) tumors. The values of shorter and longer $T_2{^*}$ components are explored when fitted from averaged spectrum and temporal variations of their fractions. Results: The $T_2{^*}$ values were not significantly different between the tumor and control groups, but the fraction of longer $T_2{^*}$ [1-$^{13}C$] lactate components was more than 10% in the tumor group over that of the controls (P < 0.1). The fraction of shorter $T_2{^*}$ components of [1-$^{13}C$] pyruvate showed an increasing tendency while that of the [1-$^{13}C$] lactate was decreasing over time. The slopes of the changing fraction were steeper for the tumor group than the controls, especially for lactate (P < 0.01). In both pyruvate and lactate, the fraction of the shorter $T_2{^*}$ component was always greater than the longer $T_2{^*}$ component over time. Conclusion: The exchange and redistribution of pyruvate and lactate between different pools was investigated by dual component analysis of the free induction decay signal from hyperpolarized $^{13}C$ experiments. Tumor and control groups showed differences in their fractions rather than the values of longer and shorter $T_2{^*}$ components. Fraction changing dynamics may provide an aspect for extravasation and membrane transport of pyruvate and lactate, and will be useful to determine the appropriate time window for acquisition of hyperpolarized $^{13}C$ images.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.212-217
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• 2015

Purpose: For a single time-point hyperpolarized $^{13}C$ magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI) of animal models, scan-time window after injecting substrates is critical in terms of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of downstream metabolites. Pre-scans of time-resolved magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can be performed to determine the scan-time window. In this study, based on two-site exchange model, protocol-specific simulation approaches were developed for $^{13}C$ MRSI and the optimal scan-time window was determined to maximize the SNR of downstream metabolites. Materials and Methods: The arterial input function and conversion rate constant from injected substrates (pyruvate) to downstream metabolite (lactate) were precalibrated, based on pre-scans of time-resolved MRS. MRSI was simulated using two-site exchange model with considerations of scan parameters of MRSI. Optimal scan-time window for mapping lactate was chosen from simulated lactate intensity maps. The performance was validated by multiple in vivo experiments of BALB/C nude mice with MDA-MB-231 breast tumor cells. As a comparison, MRSI were performed with other scan-time windows simply chosen from the lactate signal intensities of pre-scan time-resolved MRS. Results: The optimal scan timing for our animal models was determined by simulation, and was found to be 15 s after injection of the pyruvate. Compared to the simple approach, we observed that the lactate peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) was increased by 230%. Conclusion: Optimal scan timing to measure downstream metabolites using hyperpolarized $^{13}C$ MRSI can be determined by the proposed protocol-specific simulation approaches.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.163-174
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• 1993

Vertebrate retinal neurons, like brain tracts farm complex synaptic relations in the enter and inner plexiform layers which ape equivalent to the central nervous system nuclei. The effects of $\gamma-aminobutyric$ acid(GABA) and glycine on retinal neurons were explored to discern the mechanisms of action of neurotransmitters. Experiments were performed in the superfused retina-eyecup preparation of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, using intracellular electrophysiological techniques. The roles of GABA and glycine as inhibitory neurotransmitters are well established in the vertebrate retina. But, we found that the depolarizing action of GABA and glycine on third-order neurons in the catfish retina. GABA and glycine appeared to act on retinal ueurons based on the observations that (1) effects on photoreceptors were not observed, (2) horizontal cells were either hyperpolarized $({\sim}33%)$ or depolarized $({\sim}67%)$, (3) bipolar cells were all hyperpolarized (4) amacrine and ganglion cells were either hyperpolarized $({\sim}37%)$ or depolarized $({\sim}63%)$, (5) GABA and glycine may be working to suppress presynaptic inhibition. The results suggest that depolarization of third-order neurons by GABA and glycine is due to at least two mechanisms; a direct postsynaptic effect and an indirect effect. Therefore, in the catfish retina, a mechanism of presynaptic inhibition or disinhibition including the direct postsynaptic effect may exist in the third-order neurons.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.459-472
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• 2024

Hyperpolarized (HP) carbon-13 (¹³C) MRI represents an innovative approach for noninvasive, real-time assessment of dynamic metabolic flux, with potential integration into routine clinical MRI. The use of [1-¹³C]pyruvate as a probe and its conversion to [1-¹³C]lactate constitute an extensively explored metabolic pathway. This review comprehensively outlines the establishment of HP ¹³C-MRI, covering multidisciplinary team collaboration, hardware prerequisites, probe preparation, hyperpolarization techniques, imaging acquisition, and data analysis. This article discusses the clinical applications of HP ¹³C-MRI across various anatomical domains, including the brain, heart, skeletal muscle, breast, liver, kidney, pancreas, and prostate. Each section highlights the specific applications and findings pertinent to these regions, emphasizing the potential versatility of HP ¹³C-MRI in diverse clinical contexts. This review serves as a comprehensive update, bridging technical aspects with clinical applications and offering insights into the ongoing advancements in HP ¹³C-MRI.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.6-11
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• 2019

Parahydrogen induced hyperpolarization (PHIP) technique is extensively studied to increase the sensitivity of the conventional NMR spectroscopy and recently try to apply this advanced technique into the revolutionary future of the MRI. The other hyperpolarization technique, which is widely utilized, is DNP (Dynamic Nuclear Polarization)-based hyperpolarization one. Despite its great advances in these fields, it contains several drawbacks to overcome: fast relaxation time, expensive equipment is needed, long build-up time is required (several hours), and batch scale material is hyperpolarized. To overcome all those limitations, one can effectively harness the hyperpolarized spin state of parahydrogen. One important step for utilizing the spin state of parahydrogen is doing well-developed experiments of ALTADENA and PASADENA. Based on those concepts, we successfully obtain the hydrogenation signals of ALTADENA and PASADENA from styrene by using benchtop NMR spectrometer. Also those signals were conceptually analyzed and confirmed with different mechanisms. To our best knowledge, those experiments using 1.4T (benchtop NMR) is the first reported one. Considering these experiments, we hope that parahydrogen-based hyperpolarization transfer studies in NMR/MRI will be broadened in Korea in the future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society Conference
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• 2002.08a
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• pp.47-48
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• 2002

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.511-514
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• 2012

A continuous flow hyperpolarized (HP) $^{129}Xe$ NMR spectroscopy was employed for the first time to investigate $TiO_2$ nanotubes (Ti-NTs) synthesized from commercial nanoparticles with different reaction times. A single peak attributing to channels for Ti-NTs was observed for variable temperature HP $^{129}Xe$ NMR spectra. It was also noted that there is alteration in value for heat of adsorption, ${\Delta}H$ from $12.6{\pm}1.3$ to $16.4{\pm}0.4kJ/mol$ and variation in chemical shift of the xenon adsorbed in channels, ${\delta}_s$ from $120{\pm}2\sim135{\pm}9ppm$ which were closely correlated to channel length and it was shown that P25-24 Ti-NTs with longest channel is most favorite Ti-NTs for Xe adsorption.