# name
Comparison of MRI Spectroscopy  software packages performance and  application on HCV-infected patients’  real data

# metadata.dc.description[].value
Treballs Finals de Grau d'Enginyeria Biomèdica. Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut. Universitat de Barcelona. Curs: 2022-2023. Tutor/Director: Sala Llonch, Roser, Laredo Gregorio, Carlos

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
1H MRS is conceived as a pioneer methodology for brain metabolism inspection and health status 
appraisal. Post-processing interventions are required to obtain explicit metabolite quantification 
values from which to derive diagnosis. On the grounds of addressing and covering such operation, 
multiple software packages have been recently developed and launched leading to an amorphous 
assortment of spectroscopic image processing tools, with lack of standardization and regulation.
The current study thereby intends to judge the coherence and consistency of compound estimation 
outputs in terms of result variability by intercorrelation and intracorrelation analyses between 
appointed programs, being LCModel, Osprey, TARQUIN, and spant toolbox. The examination is 
performed on a 83-subject SVS short-TE 3T SIEMENS PRESS spectroscopic acquisitions’ 
collection, including healthy controls and HCV-infected patients assisted with DAA treatment. The 
analytical core of the project assesses software performance through the creation of a Python script 
in order to automatically compute and display the results sought. The statistical tests providing
enough information to draw substantial conclusions stem from extraction of coefficient of 
determination (R2
), Pearson’s coefficient (r), and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) together 
with representation of boxplots, rainclouds, and scatter plots easing data visualization. A clinical 
implementation is also entailed on the same basis, whose purpose is to reveal actual DAA 
treatment effect on HCV-infected patients by means of metabolite concentration alteration and 
hypothetical restoration. Conclusions declare evident and alarming variability among MRS 
platforms compromising the rigor, sharpness and systematization demanded in this discipline since 
quantification results hold incoherences, although they do not seem to affect or oppose medical 
determinations jeopardizing patient’s health. However, it would be interesting to extend the analysis 
to a greater cohort of subjects to reinforce and get to more solid resolutions.

# metadata.dc.rights[].value
cc-by-nc-nd (c) Nicolau Graupera, Carla, 2023

# metadata.dc.source[].value
Treballs Finals de Grau (TFG) - Enginyeria Biomèdica

# metadata.dc.title[].value
Comparison of MRI Spectroscopy  software packages performance and  application on HCV-infected patients’  real data