Investigation of Grey Matter Pathology Using Ultra High Field (7T) MRI Scanner
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 入组人数
- 100
- 主要终点
- The number of Gray Matter lesions detected using different sequences.
研究概览
简要总结
Magnetization transfer imaging is a magnetic resonance technique that has been used over the last few years, and known for its ability to detect abnormalities that can be difficult to detect by conventional MRI techniques.
The investigators would like to test if using an 7 Tesla MRI research scanner can help us diagnose Multiple Sclerosis more efficiently compared to the current clinical practice, i.e. if Multiple Sclerosis lesions in Gray Matter can be more readily identified and associated with disease stage on Magnetic Transfer MRI images as opposed to conventional procedures. Image analysis will allow the investigators to perform lesion segmentation and sequence comparison between different MRI techniques. The investigators will apply computation techniques to measure the local cortical thickness. Repeated scans at 6 monthly intervals over two years will give an insight into the changes in cortical thickness over time. Based on obtained data the investigators will look for the relationship between lesion loads in White Matter and Gray Matter, cortical thickness and disease stage.
详细描述
Purpose for this study:
This research group has previously investigated the usefulness of a powerful new MRI scanner and have found that the 7 Tesla MRI is able to provide detailed structural images of the cortex of the brain which can uncover pathology such as cortical demyelinating lesions in MS patients. Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects the grey matter as well as the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. However as white matter lesions are more easily visible both pathologically and on MRI, therefore most MS research has focused on white matter demyelination. The investigators would like to assess whether MS lesions in Gray Matter as well as White Matter can be more readily identified on Magnetic Transfer Ratio (MTR) images as opposed to standard protocols such as DIR, T2* and T1-weighted MPRAGE by comparing the results of the manual detection.
The investigators will correlate lesion loads against cortical thickness and both lesion loads and cortical thickness against disease state both globally and on a regional basis. The investigators will then compare averaged, normalized profiles from different cortical ribbon regions between patients and controls to determine whether a particular layer of the cortical strip is more affected. The investigators will also correlate Gray Matter changes with distant and neighboring White Matter lesions. In addition, the investigators will also build an average lesion map across all subjects, which can be compared against the results published in literature. The investigators will use the manual lesion maps to characterize the regions of the cortex that deviate from normally appearing Gray Matter.
How this project will be carried out:
The investigators will study patients with MS and other neurological disease, and patients who are followed already at the neurology. All patients would have had already a brain scan.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Observational
- 观察模型
- Case Control
- 时间视角
- Prospective
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 25 Years 至 —（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- 未提供
排除标准
- 未提供
结局指标
主要结局
The number of Gray Matter lesions detected using different sequences.
时间窗: 2 years
次要结局
- Comparison of MRI sequencies(2 years)
- To determine the relationship between cortical thickness as measured on T1 weighted images and GM and WM lesion load.(2 years)
- Regional variation in the brain(2 years)
- To detect cortical variations in MT inside and outside GM lesions, in a longitudinal pilot study, reflecting possible cortical remyelination.(2 years)