Achieva 3.0t whole body scanner

All MR data were acquired on a Philips Achieva 3.0T whole-body scanner (Best, The Netherlands). Inflatable pillows (Multipad, Pearltec AG, Zurich, Switzerland) were used to increase participant comfort in the scanner and to reduce motion induced artifacts. High-resolution anatomical images (voxel size, 1 × 1 × 1 mm) were acquired using a standard T1-weighted three-dimensional (3D) magnetization prepared rapid gradient echo sequence (MP-RAGE). Each session consisted of a resting state arterial spin labeling perfusion-weighted scan and several task-related blood-oxygen-level-dependent scans [13 (link),16 (link),17 (link)].

fMRI data (repetition time/echo time = 2000/30 ms, slice thickness = 4 mm, number of slices = 36, matrix size = 64 × 64, field of view = 240 × 240 mm, flip angle = 90°) were acquired during the task using a PHILIPS Achieva 3.0T whole-body scanner(Amsterdam, Netherlands) at Second Xiangya Hospital. The fMRI data were preprocessed using statistical parametric mapping (SPM12, http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/spm). First, the images were realigned to the first image obtained in each session using six-parameter rigid body transformation. Second, all images were spatially normalized to a Montreal Neurological Institute template with affine registration, followed by nonlinear transformation, using a voxel size of 2 × 2 × 2 mm. Finally, the data were smoothed with an 8-mm full width at half maximum Gaussian kernel [36 (link)].

Brain GSH levels were determined using a Philips Achieva 3.0-T whole-body scanner (Best, The Netherlands) equipped with a 32-channel SENSE phased-array head coil. From each subject, a detailed brain image was first acquired, using a magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo^{47 (link)} high-resolution T1-weighted sequence (repetition time=6.6 ms, echo time=3.0 ms, flip angle=8°, matrix=256×240, slices =170, and slice thickness=1 mm). Images were evaluated in real-time to select a cubic volume of interest, 4×4×5 cm, centered over the left dorsal putamen at the level of the lentiform nucleus. As CNS GSH concentrations are thought to be reduced in PD, a relatively large voxel size was selected in order to maximize signal to noise. The dorsal putamen was selected as the center of the volume of interest due to its relatively homogenous mix of neurons and astrocytes, and suitable distance from bone and other regions that could compromise signal quality. The voxel was positioned to avoid the skull and, to the extent possible, the left lateral ventricle (Figure 4).

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were acquired on a Philips Achieva 3.0T whole-body scanner (Best, The Netherlands). A 32-channel receive head coil and MultiTransmit parallel radio frequency transmission was used. Images were acquired using a whole-brain gradient-echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence (repetition time = 2,500 ms; echo time = 27 ms; slice thickness = 3 mm; 45 axial slices; no slice gap; field of view = 240 × 240 mm²; in-plane resolution = 3 × 3 mm; sensitivity-encoding reduction factor = 2.0). 240 volumes were acquired per resting state scan resulting in a scan duration of 10 mins. Additionally, two high-resolution anatomical images were acquired using T1-weighted and T2-weighted sequences. T1-weigthed images were collected via a 3D magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo sequence (MP-RAGE) with the following parameters: voxel size = 0.7×0.7×0.7 mm³, time between two inversion pulses = 3123 ms, inversion time = 1055 ms, inter-echo delay = 12 ms, flip angle = 8°, matrix = 320×335, field of view = 224×235 mm², 236 sagittal slices. Furthermore T2-weighted images were collected using via a turbo spin-echo sequence with the following parameters: voxel size = 0.7×0.7×0.7 mm³, repetition time = 2500 ms, echo time = 415 ms, flip angle = 90°, matrix = 320×335, field of view = 224×235 mm², 236 sagittal slices.