Chris Boesch

Bio: Chris Boesch is an academic researcher from University of Bern. The author has contributed to research in topics: Intramyocellular lipids & Insulin resistance. The author has an hindex of 65, co-authored 203 publications receiving 12153 citations. Previous affiliations of Chris Boesch include University of Minnesota & Boston Children's Hospital.

Virtopsy, a new imaging horizon in forensic pathology: virtual autopsy by postmortem multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)--a feasibility study

Abstract: Using postmortem multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 40 forensic cases were examined and findings were verified by subsequent autopsy Results were classified as follows: (I) cause of death, (II) relevant traumatological and pathological findings, (III) vital reactions, (IV) reconstruction of injuries, (V) visualization In these 40 forensic cases, 47 partly combined causes of death were diagnosed at autopsy, 26 (55%) causes of death were found independently using only radiological image data Radiology was superior to autopsy in revealing certain cases of cranial, skeletal, or tissue trauma Some forensic vital reactions were diagnosed equally well or better using MSCT/MRI Radiological imaging techniques are particularly beneficial for reconstruction and visualization of forensic cases, including the opportunity to use the data for expert witness reports, teaching, quality control, and telemedical consultation These preliminary results, based on the concept of "virtopsy," are promising enough to introduce and evaluate these radiological techniques in forensic medicine

Pathways That Make Voices: White Matter Changes in Auditory Hallucinations

Abstract: Background The origin of auditory hallucinations, which are one of the core symptoms of schizophrenia, is still a matter of debate. It has been hypothesized that alterations in connectivity between frontal and parietotemporal speech-related areas might contribute to the pathogenesis of auditory hallucinations. These networks are assumed to become dysfunctional during the generation and monitoring of inner speech. Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging is a relatively new in vivo method to investigate the directionality of cortical white matter tracts. Objective To investigate, using diffusion tensor imaging, whether previously described abnormal activation patterns observed during auditory hallucinations relate to changes in structural interconnections between the frontal and parietotemporal speech-related areas. Methods A 1.5 T magnetic resonance scanner was used to acquire twelve 5-mm slices covering the Sylvian fissure. Fractional anisotropy was assessed in 13 patients prone to auditory hallucinations, in 13 patients without auditory hallucinations, and in 13 healthy control subjects. Structural magnetic resonance imaging was conducted in the same session. Based on an analysis of variance, areas with significantly different fractional anisotropy values between groups were selected for a confirmatory region of interest analysis. Additionally, descriptive voxel-based t tests between the groups were computed. Results In patients with hallucinations, we found significantly higher white matter directionality in the lateral parts of the temporoparietal section of the arcuate fasciculus and in parts of the anterior corpus callosum compared with control subjects and patients without hallucinations. Comparing patients with hallucinations with patients without hallucinations, we found significant differences most pronounced in the left hemispheric fiber tracts, including the cingulate bundle. Conclusion Our findings suggest that during inner speech, the alterations of white matter fiber tracts in patients with frequent hallucinations lead to abnormal coactivation in regions related to the acoustical processing of external stimuli. This abnormal activation may account for the patients' inability to distinguish self-generated thoughts from external stimulation.

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.

In vivo determination of intra-myocellular lipids in human muscle by means of localized 1H-MR-spectroscopy.

Abstract: Intra-myocellular lipids (IMCL) are stored in droplets in the cytoplasm of muscle cells and are an energy storage form readily accessed during long-term exercise. 1H-MR spectroscopy methods are presented for noninvasive determination of IMCL in human muscle. This is based on (a) the separation of two resonances in the lipid-CH2-region, with the one assigned to IMCL being independent of muscle orientation relative to the magnetic field and (b) the fact that IMCL resonances scale along with signal amplitudes of metabolites in the muscle cell (e.g., creatine) when voxel size is increased, while lipid signals of bulk fat show a disproportionate growth. Inter-individual and intra-individual reproducibility studies indicate that the error of the method is about 6% and that IMCL levels differ significantly between identical muscles in different subjects, as well as intra-individually when measured at 1 week intervals. IMCL determinations in a single subject before and after strenuous exercise indicate that lipid stores recover with a t1/2 of about 1 day.

From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development

Abstract: How we raise young children is one of today's most highly personalized and sharply politicized issues, in part because each of us can claim some level of "expertise." The debate has intensified as discoveries about our development-in the womb and in the first months and years-have reached the popular media. How can we use our burgeoning knowledge to assure the well-being of all young children, for their own sake as well as for the sake of our nation? Drawing from new findings, this book presents important conclusions about nature-versus-nurture, the impact of being born into a working family, the effect of politics on programs for children, the costs and benefits of intervention, and other issues. The committee issues a series of challenges to decision makers regarding the quality of child care, issues of racial and ethnic diversity, the integration of children's cognitive and emotional development, and more. Authoritative yet accessible, From Neurons to Neighborhoods presents the evidence about "brain wiring" and how kids learn to speak, think, and regulate their behavior. It examines the effect of the climate-family, child care, community-within which the child grows.

Gadolinium(III) Chelates as MRI Contrast Agents: Structure, Dynamics, and Applications

Abstract: A. Water Exchange 2326 B. Proton Exchange 2327 C. Electronic Relaxation 2327 D. Relaxivity 2331 E. Outerand Second-Sphere Relaxivity 2334 F. Methods of Improving Relaxivity 2336 V. Macromolecular Conjugates 2336 A. Introduction 2336 B. General Conjugation Methods 2336 C. Synthetic Linear Polymers 2336 D. Synthetic Dendrimer-Based Agents 2338 E. Naturally Occurring Polymers (Proteins, Polysaccharides, and Nucleic Acids) 2339

Intrinsically unstructured proteins and their functions.

Abstract: Many gene sequences in eukaryotic genomes encode entire proteins or large segments of proteins that lack a well-structured three-dimensional fold. Disordered regions can be highly conserved between species in both composition and sequence and, contrary to the traditional view that protein function equates with a stable three-dimensional structure, disordered regions are often functional, in ways that we are only beginning to discover. Many disordered segments fold on binding to their biological targets (coupled folding and binding), whereas others constitute flexible linkers that have a role in the assembly of macromolecular arrays.

Magnetic resonance classification of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration.

Abstract: Study design A reliability study was conducted Objectives To develop a classification system for lumbar disc degeneration based on routine magnetic resonance imaging, to investigate the applicability of a simple algorithm, and to assess the reliability of this classification system Summary of background data A standardized nomenclature in the assessment of disc abnormalities is a prerequisite for a comparison of data from different investigations The reliability of the assessment has a crucial influence on the validity of the data Grading systems of disc degeneration based on state of the art magnetic resonance imaging and corresponding reproducibility studies currently are sparse Methods A grading system for lumbar disc degeneration was developed on the basis of the literature An algorithm to assess the grading was developed and optimized by reviewing lumbar magnetic resonance examinations The reliability of the algorithm in depicting intervertebral disc alterations was tested on the magnetic resonance images of 300 lumbar intervertebral discs in 60 patients (33 men and 27 women) with a mean age of 40 years (range, 10-83 years) All scans were analyzed independently by three observers Intra- and interobserver reliabilities were assessed by calculating kappa statistics Results There were 14 Grade I, 82 Grade II, 72 Grade III, 68 Grade IV, and 64 Grade V discs The kappa coefficients for intra- and interobserver agreement were substantial to excellent: intraobserver (kappa range, 084-090) and interobserver (kappa range, 069-081) Complete agreement was obtained, on the average, in 838% of all the discs A difference of one grade occurred in 159% and a difference of two or more grades in 13% of all the cases Conclusion Disc degeneration can be graded reliably on routine T2-weighted magnetic resonance images using the grading system and algorithm presented in this investigation