A vision of 14 T MR for fundamental and clinical science

Objective

We outline our vision for a 14 Tesla MR system. This comprises a novel whole-body magnet design utilizing high temperature superconductor; a console and associated electronic equipment; an optimized radiofrequency coil setup for proton measurement in the brain, which also has a local shim capability; and a high-performance gradient set.

Research fields

The 14 Tesla system can be considered a ‘mesocope’: a device capable of measuring on biologically relevant scales. In neuroscience the increased spatial resolution will anatomically resolve all layers of the cortex, cerebellum, subcortical structures, and inner nuclei. Spectroscopic imaging will simultaneously measure excitatory and inhibitory activity, characterizing the excitation/inhibition balance of neural circuits. In medical research (including brain disorders) we will visualize fine-grained patterns of structural abnormalities and relate these changes to functional and molecular changes. The significantly increased spectral resolution will make it possible to detect (dynamic changes in) individual metabolites associated with pathological pathways including molecular interactions and dynamic disease processes.

Conclusions

The 14 Tesla system will offer new perspectives in neuroscience and fundamental research. We anticipate that this initiative will usher in a new era of ultra-high-field MR.

     

Lipid metabolism in horses with hyperadrenocorticism

Lipid metabolism was studied in 21 horses with hyperadrenocorticism. To be included in the study, horses had to have histologic evidence of a pars intermedia adenoma found at necropsy (n = 9), a baseline ACTH concentration greater than 400 pg/ml (n = 6), or a plasma cortisol concentration 2 hours after i.v. administration of 25 IU of ACTH greater than 413 nmol/L (n = 16). Mean +/- SD baseline plasma cortisol concentration was 338 +/- 261 nmol/L (n = 20), mean +/- SD plasma insulin concentration was 97 +/- 54 microU/ml (n = 15), mean +/- SD plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate concentration was 1.8 +/- 1.2 mg/dl (n = 21), and mean +/- SD plasma nonesterified fatty acids concentration was 6.2 +/- 6.4 mg/dl (n = 21). None of the horses had hyperlipemia. Compared with clinically normal horses, horses with hyperadrenocorticism had increased lipolysis and increased ketogenesis. It was concluded that cortisol cannot be the sole factor contributing to insulin resistance in horses with hyperadrenocorticism.