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Purpose To perform a systematic analysis of the intrinsic contrast parameters of the FLAIR hyperintense rim (FHR), a thin layer of high intensity covering the entire surface of the cerebral cortex detected on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence T2 weighted imaging performed on a 7T system, in an attempt to identify its anatomical correlate. Methods Fast spin echo inversion recovery (FSE-IR) and cardiac-gated fast spin echo (FSE) images were obtained with defined parameters in eight normal volunteers on a 7 T MRI system to determine T2 and proton density, T1 characteristics. K-means clustering analysis of parameter sets was performed using MATLAB version R2015b for the purpose of identifying the cluster reflecting FHR. The results were subsequently confirmed by independent component analysis (ICA) based on T1 behavior on FSE-IR using a MATLAB script of FastICA algorithm. Results The structure giving rise to FHR was found to have a unique combination of intrinsic contrast parameters of low proton density, long T2, and disproportionally short T1. The findings are in strong agreement with the functional and structural specifics of the glia limitans externa (GLE), a structure composed of snuggled endfeet of astrocytes containing abundant aquaporin-4 (AQP-4), the main water channel of the brain. Conclusion Intrinsic contrast parameters of FHR reflect structural and functional specifics of the GLE, and their values are highly dependent on the physiologic functionality of AQP-4. Microscopic imaging on a 7T system and analysis of GLE contrast parameters can be developed into a method for evaluating AQP-4 functionality.

Using 19-fluorine (19F) as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal probe and 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-FDG) as metabolic probe, one dimensional "imaging" (metabolite mapping) of pathway specific glucose metabolism in the pentose monophosphate shunt (PMS) and aldose reductase sorbitol (ARS) pathways were performed in situ in rat brain utilizing one dimensional rotating frame zeugmatography. Normal brain showed highest PMS activities in the brainstem consonant with known spatially heterogeneous concentration of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, the rate limiting enzyme for the PMS. The brain harboring sufficiently large gliosarcoma in the cerebrum showed a higher PMS/ARS area ratio indicating higher PMS activities in tumor which was localized by zeugmatography. The present study demonstrated the feasibility of studying regional glucose metabolism in the PMS and ARS utilizing 2-FDG.

One-dimensional chemical shift imaging reflecting local tissue contents of the fluorinated neuroleptics fluphenazine and trifluoperazine in rat brain was obtained noninvasively in vivo using one-dimensional 19-fluorine (19F) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) rotating frame zeugmatography. Activities of these fluorinated neuroleptics showed a differential distribution in the brain, maximal in the deep structures presumably within the basal ganglia. An additional resonance of an unidentified fluorinated metabolite was localized to the subcutaneous tissue. The present data indicate the feasibility of chemical shift imaging of fluorinated neuroleptics using a high field NMR system and the potential for future development of neurotransmitter imaging by NMR.