Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM - CSIC)’s Post

The paper “The Safety of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agents” is beginning to garner attention. https://lnkd.in/gi8SrP_D  The publication has been downloaded 103 times by scientists (8%), practitioners (8%), and the public (83%). There have been 1311 views. The paper is already in the top 25% of all research outputs scored by Altmetric. We aim to dispel common misconceptions about gadolinium among radiologists and less-informed reviewers. Gadolinium unbound from magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent ligands will not equilibrate into a soluble state. Soluble extracellular gadolinium is negligible. Chelation therapies will disrupt more physiologic cations than gadolinium.

Taking a break from our regularly scheduled neuroscience content to talk about other electrically active cells 🚀🧠 Where we'll be talking about a NEW, Nature-published, cutting-edge method to extract beating, Living Myocardial Slices (LMS) from HUMAN atrial tissue! (see the comments section) Why This Matters? 🤔 There's a push in science to move toward models that align more closely to humans than, let's say, mice or low-complexity cultures 🐭 In this case, compared to conventional myocardial cultures, LMS retain the 3D microarchitecture and multicellularity of the human heart, offering unparalleled in-vitro representativeness. This innovative model bridges the gap between in-vitro and in-vivo studies and provides a realistic platform for arrhythmia research and drug testing 💡 Meaning, treatments can be tested in a physiologically-relevant format for humans 🌐💪 So how'd they do it? 🔬 Precision Slicing: A novel method using a precision-cutting vibratome to produce 300 µm thin atrial LMS from human biopsies, maintaining intact cellular composition and architecture ⚡ Biomimetic Cultivation: LMS are cultured under near-physiological preload and continuous electrical stimulation, resulting in viable, beating tissue slices for 1-2 weeks 💊 Arrhythmia Modeling: By applying different pacing rates, including a tachyarrhythmia model, they were able to study atrial arrhythmias like never before 🔍 Refractory Period Determination: With methods described in the paper, the authors characterized atrial LMS refractory periods, revealing insights into the variability in patients with and without atrial fibrillation (AF) 🔗 Check out the full study below #CardiacResearch #AtrialMyocardium #LMS #BiomedicalInnovation #ArrhythmiaResearch #HeartHealth #MedicalBreakthroughs #ScienceAdvancement #HealthcareInnovation

In our recent study, we explored what settings of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) have the most beneficial effects on speech in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD is primarily treated with levodopa; however, this pharmacological approach often has a very limited effect on hypokinetic dysarthria (HD), potentially depending on its subtype. This is why researchers are exploring new treatment approaches that could have beneficial effects on the speech of PD patients and, consequently, on their quality of life. We have previously demonstrated one such approach: the use of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) targeting the right superior temporal gyrus (https://lnkd.in/ehDD9C2). However, this method, while yielding positive effects on PD speech, faces significant obstacles due to its cost and the challenge of administering it at home. Consequently, we have progressed to investigate the potential of tDCS. In our latest publication, we reveal that anodal tDCS can enhance articulation and temporal features of PD speech (https://lnkd.in/e8aQzkK3). These preliminary findings are a building block for a follow-up study, where we explore whether tDCS, self-administered at home and combined with behavioral therapy, could lead to a positive and longitudinal effect in alleviating the manifestations of HD. Kudos to Lubos Brabenec, who coordinates this research, and to our team members for their invaluable contributions in bridging the knowledge gaps within this field. Brain Diseases Analysis Laboratory CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology St. Anne's University Hospital Brno Masaryk University Brno Brno University of Technology The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication #ParkinsonsDisease #Dysarthria #Speech #Treatment #tDCS

#Review Optical Imaging of Beta-Amyloid Plaques in Alzheimer’s Disease by Ziyi Luo, Hao Xu, Liwei Liu, Tymish Y. Ohulchanskyy and Junle Qu https://lnkd.in/esPMNKSv MDPI Shenzhen University #opticalimaging #Alzheimersdisease #fluorescencemicroscopy #nonlinearopticalimaging  #openaccess #Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial, irreversible, and incurable neurodegenerative disease. The main pathological feature of AD is the deposition of misfolded β-amyloid protein (Aβ) plaques in the brain. The abnormal accumulation of Aβ plaques leads to the loss of some neuron functions, further causing the neuron entanglement and the corresponding functional damage, which has a great impact on memory and cognitive functions. Hence, studying the accumulation mechanism of Aβ in the brain and its effect on other tissues is of great significance for the early diagnosis of AD. The current clinical studies of Aβ accumulation mainly rely on medical imaging techniques, which have some deficiencies in sensitivity and specificity. Optical imaging has recently become a research hotspot in the medical field and clinical applications, manifesting noninvasiveness, high sensitivity, absence of ionizing radiation, high contrast, and spatial resolution. Moreover, it is now emerging as a promising tool for the diagnosis and study of Aβ buildup. This review focuses on the application of the optical imaging technique for the determination of Aβ plaques in AD research. In addition, recent advances and key operational applications are discussed.

In a groundbreaking study, scientists Madeleine Gilbert, Nayab Fatima, Joshua Jenkins, René Frank, et al. have determined the structure of molecules within a human brain for the very first time. Using cryo-electron tomography, guided by fluorescence microscopy, to explore deep inside an #AlzheimersDisease donor brain, they created 3D maps of proteins like β-amyloid and tau. These 3-dimensional maps allowed them to observe proteins within the brain and provided new insights into how β-amyloid and tau disrupt cellular communication, leading to #Alzheimers symptoms. The findings may pave the way for novel treatments for neurological diseases. Learn More in Nature https://lnkd.in/eF3kVxtX CryoET of β-amyloid and tau within postmortem Alzheimer’s disease brain - Madeleine A. G. Gilbert, Nayab Fatima, Joshua Jenkins, René A. W. Frank, et al. University of Leeds ZEISS Microscopy GmbH Amsterdam UMC University of Cambridge

Thrilled to share our latest research on micro-vessel stenosis and blood cell dynamics, published in the International Journal of Engineering Science (IF: 5.7, Q1). #bloodflow #microcirculation #stenosis In this study, we investigated the complex interplay between blood vessel narrowing and red blood cell behavior. Our key findings include: 1. Red blood cells exhibit significant deformation and migration in stenosed vessels. 2. Platelet margination is enhanced in the presence of stenosis, especially at higher hematocrit levels. 3. The thickness of the cell-free layer is strongly influenced by stenosis severity and hematocrit. These findings shed light on the mechanisms underlying microvascular diseases and offer potential avenues for future treatments. https://lnkd.in/gj4PPV4y #research #science #biomedicalengineering #vascularhealth

I’m glad to share this study that contributes to explain the biomechanical roots of diastolic heart failure. Failure of hearts with preserved pumping capability, an elusive pathology of increasing social relevance. https://lnkd.in/dqPkEH28 Results sprung from deeply cross-disciplinary synergistic research in physics and physiology of cardiac function.

This is a good direction of #cardiacMRI and it has been fun to optimize, and to use this T1rho and other multiparametric conventional and rotating frame endogenous #CMR methods in determination of different #cardiovasculardiseases. Still there is a lot of things to discover in #MRI #reseaech #whyCMR

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance T1-rho Mapping at 1.5T by Aurelien Bustin, PhD, et al. (IHU LIRYC - Heart rhythm disease Institute Bordeaux, France)   CMR imaging has evolved as a pivotal modality for the assessment of myocardial pathologies, particularly in the context of myocardial necrosis and focal replacement fibrosis.   The combination of LGE with multi-parametric mapping has enriched our understanding of cardiac pathologies. However, the inherent drawbacks of this combined approach, including prolonged scan times and reliance on gadolinium-based contrast agents, present substantial challenges to healthcare costs and CMR availability.   Considering these challenges, the quest for a non-contrast #CMR technique capable of accurately and quantitatively detecting myocardial injuries of ischemic and non-ischemic etiologies has gained attention. Myocardial T1-rho mapping has emerged as an additional solution to T1 and T2 mapping for characterizing the myocardium without requiring the injection of contrast agent.   The fundamental principle underlying T1-rho mapping involves the occurrence of T1-rho relaxation, achieved through spin-locking transverse magnetization with a continuous low power RF pulse. Preliminary in vivo applications of T1-rho mapping have shown promising results, with studies reporting elevated T1-rho values in specific cardiac conditions such as myocardial infarction, hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies, and end-stage renal disease. This article provides a succinct reminder of the theoretical foundations behind T1-rho mapping. The authors share the details of how images are collected at 1.5T, and continue with exploring preliminary clinical applications where myocardial T1-roh mapping has proven useful under real-life conditions. Learn more and download the .exar1 protocols for 1.5T MAGNETOM Aera and MAGNETOM Avanto (software version syngo MR E11C) at https://lnkd.in/efcqedmB   #magnetomworld #whyCMR #MRI   Jana Huiyue Zhang Matthias Stuber (CHUV | Lausanne university hospital) Solenn Toupin (Siemens Healthineers)  Victor de Villedon Manuel Villegas-Martinez, Hubert Cochet (IHU LIRYC - Heart rhythm disease Institute ) LIRYC), Kévin Bony  

Biomedical engineer Retta El Sayed has pioneered a way to use advanced imaging to see and quantify the effects of a specific vascular anomaly on blood flow, which in turn could help doctors identify patients at risk of having what previously was thought to be strokes of unknown cause (known in medicine as cryptogenic strokes). Carotid webs are a rare anomaly in the vasculature of the carotid artery. Because these fibromuscular structures project into the internal carotid artery, they are suspected of impairing blood flow and could be linked to up to one-third of cryptogenic strokes. The anomaly predominantly affects younger women of African American descent, a group underserved by current cardiovascular health care providers. The team found 4D flow MRI did, indeed, measure blood flow disturbances from carotid webs that put patients at higher risk of stroke than even patients with atherosclerotic plaque, which is a major contributor of stroke. The findings also validated the 4D flow MRI scanning parameters and technique, results with profound implications for addressing a deadly disparity in cardiovascular health care. #radiology #MRI #flowNRI