Carolyn E. Mountford

Bio: Carolyn E. Mountford is an academic researcher from Translational Research Institute. The author has contributed to research in topics: In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy & Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The author has an hindex of 44, co-authored 168 publications receiving 5406 citations. Previous affiliations of Carolyn E. Mountford include National Research Council & University of Sydney.

Clinical Proton MR Spectroscopy in Central Nervous System Disorders

Abstract: MR spectroscopy is used worldwide as an adjunct to MR imaging in several common neurologic diseases, including brain neoplasms, inherited metabolic disorders, demyelinating disorders, and infective focal lesions.

Methodological consensus on clinical proton MRS of the brain: Review and recommendations

Abstract: Proton MRS (1 H MRS) provides noninvasive, quantitative metabolite profiles of tissue and has been shown to aid the clinical management of several brain diseases. Although most modern clinical MR scanners support MRS capabilities, routine use is largely restricted to specialized centers with good access to MR research support. Widespread adoption has been slow for several reasons, and technical challenges toward obtaining reliable good-quality results have been identified as a contributing factor. Considerable progress has been made by the research community to address many of these challenges, and in this paper a consensus is presented on deficiencies in widely available MRS methodology and validated improvements that are currently in routine use at several clinical research institutions. In particular, the localization error for the PRESS localization sequence was found to be unacceptably high at 3 T, and use of the semi-adiabatic localization by adiabatic selective refocusing sequence is a recommended solution. Incorporation of simulated metabolite basis sets into analysis routines is recommended for reliably capturing the full spectral detail available from short TE acquisitions. In addition, the importance of achieving a highly homogenous static magnetic field (B0 ) in the acquisition region is emphasized, and the limitations of current methods and hardware are discussed. Most recommendations require only software improvements, greatly enhancing the capabilities of clinical MRS on existing hardware. Implementation of these recommendations should strengthen current clinical applications and advance progress toward developing and validating new MRS biomarkers for clinical use.

Diffusion-weighted imaging of mucinous carcinoma of the breast: evaluation of apparent diffusion coefficient and signal intensity in correlation with histologic findings.

Abstract: Objective. The purposes of this study were to compare the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of mucinous carcinoma of the breast with that of other breast tumors and to analyze correlations between signal intensity on diffusion-weighted images and the histologic features of mucinous carcinoma. Subjects and Methods. Two hundred seventy-six patients with 277 lesions, including 15 mucinous carcinomas (13 pure type, two mixed type), 204 other malignant tumors, and 58 benign lesions, were examined with 1.5-T MRI at b values of 0 and 1,500 s/mm2. The correlations between cellularity and ADC, homogeneity of signal intensity on diffusion-weighted images, and histopathologic findings were analyzed. The difference was statistically significant (p 0.05). The correlation between mean cellularity and the ADC of mucinous carcinoma was significant (ρs = -0.754; p = 0.001). The homogeneity of signal intensity on diffusion-weighted images correlated with the homogeneity of histologic structures of mucinous carcinoma (p < 0.001; κ = 0.826). Conclusion. Mucinous carcinoma can be clearly differentiated from other breast tumors on the basis of ADC. The low signal intensity of mucinous carcinoma on diffusion-weighted images appears to reflect the presence of mucin and low cellularity. High signal intensity on diffusion-weighted images may reflect the presence of fibrovascular bundles, increased cell density, or a combination of these features.

Raman spectroscopy of biological tissues

Abstract: This article reviews some of the recent advances in Raman spectroscopy, in areas related to natural tissues and cell biology. It summarizes some of the most widely used peak frequencies and their assignments. The aim of this study is to prepare a database of molecular fingerprints, which will help researchers in defining the chemical structure of the biological tissues introducing most of the important peaks present in the natural tissues. In spite of applying different methods, there seems to be a considerable similarity in defining the peaks of identical areas of the spectra. As a result, it is believed that preparing a unique collection of the frequencies encountered in Raman spectroscopic studies can lead to significant improvements both in the quantity and quality of spectral data and their outcomes. This article is the first review of its kind to provide a precise database on the most important Raman characteristic peak frequencies for researchers aiming to analyze natural tissues by Raman ...

Spatial localization in NMR spectroscopy in vivo.

Abstract: Spatial localization techniques are necessary for in vivo NMR spectroscopy involving heterogeneous organisms. Localization by surface coil NMR detection alone is generally inadequate for deep-lying organs due to contaminating signals from intervening surface tissues. However, localization to preselected planar volumes can be accomplished using a single selective excitation pulse in the presence of a pulsed magnetic field gradient, yielding depth-resolved surface coil spectra (DRESS). Within selected planes, DRESS are spatially restricted by the surface coil sensitivity profiles to disk-shaped volumes whose radii increase with depth, notwithstanding variations in the NMR signal density distribution. Nevertheless, DRESS is a simple and versatile localization procedure that is readily adaptable to spectral relaxation time measurements by adding inversion or spin-echo refocusing pulses or to in vivo solvent-suppressed spectroscopy of proton (1H) metabolites using a combination of chemical-selective RF pulses. Also, the spatial information gathering efficiency of the technique can be improved to provide simultaneous acquisition of spectra from multiple volumes by interleaving excitation of adjacent planes within the normal relaxation recovery period. The spatial selectivity can be improved by adding additional selective excitation spin-echo refocusing pulses to achieve full, three-dimensional point resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) in a single excitation sequence. Alternatively, for samples with short spin-spin relaxation times, DRESS can be combined with other localization schemes, such as image-selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS), to provide complete gradient controlled three-dimensional localization with a reduced number of sequence cycles.

A Molecular Imaging Primer: Modalities, Imaging Agents, and Applications

Abstract: Molecular imaging is revolutionizing the way we study the inner workings of the human body, diagnose diseases, approach drug design, and assess therapies. The field as a whole is making possible the visualization of complex biochemical processes involved in normal physiology and disease states, in real time, in living cells, tissues, and intact subjects. In this review, we focus specifically on molecular imaging of intact living subjects. We provide a basic primer for those who are new to molecular imaging, and a resource for those involved in the field. We begin by describing classical molecular imaging techniques together with their key strengths and limitations, after which we introduce some of the latest emerging imaging modalities. We provide an overview of the main classes of molecular imaging agents (i.e., small molecules, peptides, aptamers, engineered proteins, and nanoparticles) and cite examples of how molecular imaging is being applied in oncology, neuroscience, cardiology, gene therapy, cell tracking, and theranostics (therapy combined with diagnostics). A step-by-step guide to answering biological and/or clinical questions using the tools of molecular imaging is also provided. We conclude by discussing the grand challenges of the field, its future directions, and enormous potential for further impacting how we approach research and medicine.

In vivo visualization of myelin water in brain by magnetic resonance

Abstract: We exploit the intrinsic difference in magnetic resonance spin-spin relaxation time, T2, between water associated with myelin sheaths and water in other central nervous system tissue in order to measure myelin water content within any region of an image or to generate indirectly a myelin map of the brain. In normal volunteers, myelin water maps give the expected myelin distribution. In multiple sclerosis patients, lesions exhibit different myelin water contents providing insight into the demyelination process unavailable from conventional magnetic resonance images. In vivo myelin measurement has important applications in the clinical management of multiple sclerosis and other white matter diseases.