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There was quite a bit of news at RSNA 2019, and we’re still working our way through it. In this month’s newsletter, we’re focusing on some of the ways that MRI can lend insight to the inner workings of the brain; the conditions highlighted in this issue have stymied researchers for decades.
What’s the most interesting RSNA news you’ve seen? Let us know on Twitter and/or Facebook.
— Dave Yeager, editor |
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News From RSNA 2019
Imaging Reveals Pathways Behind Depression
MRI illuminates abnormalities in the brains of people with depression, potentially opening the door to new and improved treatments for the disorder, according to two studies presented at RSNA 2019. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common and debilitating mental disorders worldwide. Symptoms include feelings of hopelessness, diminished interest in daily activities, and fatigue. Limited understanding of the brain changes associated with MDD hinders the effectiveness of treatments.
“Unfortunately, with current treatments, there is a large chance of relapse or recurrence,” according to Kenneth T. Wengler, PhD, of Columbia University in New York City, coauthor of one of the studies. “To develop new, more effective treatments, we must improve our understanding of the disorder.”
Wengler, along with colleagues at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University in New York, recently studied connections between MDD and disruptions in the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a network of blood vessels and tissue that protects the brain from foreign substances. Using an MRI technique they developed, intrinsic diffusivity encoding of arterial labeled spins (IDEALS), they looked at BBB water permeability, or the movement of water out of the blood vessels and into the brain tissue.
Comparison of results in 14 healthy individuals and 14 MDD patients found that less water moved from inside the blood vessels to outside in the MDD patients, representing disrupted BBB integrity. This difference was particularly large in two regions of the brain: the amygdala and the hippocampus.
“We observed disruption of the blood-brain barrier in gray matter regions known to be altered in major depressive disorder,” Wengler said. “This study helps improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of depression and can open new avenues of treatment for a disorder that affects over 100 million individuals worldwide.”
Full story » |
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Where Rubber Meets the Road
AI is becoming a more prevalent part of the radiologist’s tool kit, and future adoption offers a wide variety of opportunities ranging from decision support to image acquisition. Read more »
5 Things to Watch in 2020
RSNA is always a harbinger of the year ahead in radiology. Check out our annual list of topics that we expect to hear more about. Read more »
Locked Down
In assuring that DR data are protected and secure from cyberattacks, prevention is the first and most important step. Find out how the radiology industry is using current cybersecurity technology to protect data and ensure security. Read more »
Getting Real
A new process called black-blood cinematic rendering offers a uniquely photorealistic look at the inside of the heart. The pioneering researchers behind this technique speak on its advantages and the possibilities it offers for the future of CT imaging. Read more » |
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“Object identification schemes typically take measurements and go to all this trouble to make an image for people to look at and appreciate. But that’s inefficient because the computer doesn’t need to ‘look’ at an image at all.”
— Roarke Horstmeyer, PhD, of Duke University, regarding a new image recognition technique that harnesses pure data directly, rendering no conventional images |
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3D Scanning of Increased Utility to US Navy
According to the US Naval Institute, 3D imaging has a growing role in the maintenance of US military vessels—streamlining schedules, reducing costs, and minimizing potential risks to personnel.
Electron Imaging of Chromatin Heralds New Understanding of DNA
Using mathematical modeling, Northwestern University researchers have reportedly rendered images of chromatin—a protein-based substance responsible for packing DNA into the cell nucleus—in unprecedented detail. The images, likened to a mixed forest of trees, enhance our understanding of the genome, Science Advances reports.
Ultrasound Advancements Bolster Dolphin Conservation Efforts
The National Marine Mammal Foundation reports that a new ultrasound technique allows veterinarians to evaluate the dolphin gestational cycle in the same manner doctors approach pregnancies in humans. This has game-changing implications for marine conservation, according to findings in Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound.
Quantum Material Touted as Potential ‘Infrared Privacy Shield’
University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers, examining the link between temperature and thermal radiation, indicate they have produced a material with the potential to foil an infrared camera. The ultrathin alloy, which yields an unconventional ratio of heat to brightness, is detailed in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
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