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Journal of Affective Disorders Nov 2023The external behavioural manifestations and internal neural mechanisms of anhedonia are sexually dimorphic. This study aimed to explore the sex differences in the...
OBJECTIVE
The external behavioural manifestations and internal neural mechanisms of anhedonia are sexually dimorphic. This study aimed to explore the sex differences in the regional brain neuroimaging features of anhedonia in the context of major depressive disorder (MDD).
METHOD
The resting-fMRI by applying amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) method was estimated in 414 patients with MDD (281 high anhedonia [HA], 133 low anhedonia [LA]) and 213 healthy controls (HC). The effects of two factors in patients with MDD were analysed using a 2 (sex: male, female) × 2 (group: HA, LA) ANOVA concerning the brain regions in which statistical differences were identified between patients with MDD and HC. We followed up with patients with HA at baseline, and 43 patients completed a second fMRI scan in remission. Paired t-test was performed to compare the ALFF values of anhedonia-related brain regions between the baseline and remission periods.
RESULTS
For the sex-by-group interaction, the bilateral insula, right hippocampus, right post cingulum cortex, and left putamen showed significant differences. Furthermore, the abnormally elevated ALFF values in anhedonia-related brain regions at baseline decreased in remission.
CONCLUSION
Our findings point to the fact that the females showed unique patterns of anhedonia-related brain activity compared to males, which may have clinical implications for interfering with the anhedonia symptoms in MDD. Using task fMRI, we can further examine the distinct characteristics between consumption anhedonia and anticipation anhedonia in MDD.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Depressive Disorder, Major; Anhedonia; Sex Characteristics; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Brain
PubMed: 37591350
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.08.083 -
Brain Sciences Sep 2023Individuals with schizophrenia (SZ) show impairment in social functioning. The reward network and the emotional salience network are considered to play important roles...
Individuals with schizophrenia (SZ) show impairment in social functioning. The reward network and the emotional salience network are considered to play important roles in social interaction. The current study investigated alterations in the resting-state (rs-) amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), fractional ALFF (fALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo) and functional connectivity (fc) in the reward network and the emotional salience network in SZ patients. MRI scans were collected from 60 subjects, including 30 SZ patients and 30 matched healthy controls. SZ symptoms were measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). We analyzed the ALFF, fALFF and ReHo in key brain regions in the reward network and emotional salience network as well as rs-fc among the bilateral amygdala, lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), medial OFC and insula between groups. The SZ patients demonstrated increased ALFF in the right caudate and right putamen, increased fALFF and ReHo in the bilateral caudate, putamen and pallidum, along with decreased fALFF in the bilateral insula. Additionally, reduced rs-fc was found between the right lateral OFC and the left amygdala, which simultaneously belong to the reward network and the emotional salience network. These findings highlight the association between impaired social functioning in SZ patients and aberrant resting-state ALFF, fALFF, ReHo and fc. Future studies are needed to conduct network-based statistical analysis and task-state fMRI, reflecting live social interaction to advance our understanding of the mechanism of social interaction deficits in SZ.
PubMed: 37891773
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13101403 -
Stroke May 2024Lacunes are associated with cognitive impairment. We sought to identify strategic lacune locations associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and subtypes of MCI...
BACKGROUND
Lacunes are associated with cognitive impairment. We sought to identify strategic lacune locations associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and subtypes of MCI among older adults, and further to examine the role of white matter hyperintensities and perivascular spaces in the association.
METHODS
This population-based cross-sectional study included 1230 dementia-free participants in the brain magnetic resonance imaging substudy (2018-2020) in MIND-China (Multimodal Interventions to Delay Dementia and Disability in Rural China). Lacunes were visually identified in frontal lobe, parieto-occipital lobe, temporal lobe, insula, basal ganglia, thalamus, cerebellum, and brainstem. MCI, amnestic MCI (aMCI), and nonamnestic MCI (naMCI) were defined following the Petersen's criteria. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models.
RESULTS
Of the 1230 participants (age, ≥60 years; mean age, 69.40; SD, 4.30 years; 58.5% women), lacunes were detected in 357 people and MCI was defined in 286 individuals, including 243 with aMCI and 43 with naMCI. Lacunes in the supratentorial area, internal capsula, putamen/pallidum, and insula was significantly associated with increased odds ratio of MCI (multivariable-adjusted odds ratio ranged 1.40-3.21; <0.05) and aMCI (multivariable-adjusted odds ratio ranged 1.46-3.36; <0.05), whereas lacunes in the infratentorial area and brainstem were significantly associated with naMCI (multivariable-adjusted odds ratio ranged 2.68-3.46; <0.01). Furthermore, the associations of lacunes in insula and internal capsula with MCI and aMCI, as well as the associations of lacunes in infratentorial area and brainstem with naMCI were present independent of white matter hyperintensities volume and perivascular spaces number.
CONCLUSIONS
Lacunes in the internal capsula, putamen/pallidum, insula, and brainstem may represent the strategic lacunes that are independently associated with MCI, aMCI, or naMCI in Chinese older adults.
REGISTRATION
URL: https://www.chictr.org.cn; Unique identifier: ChiCTR1800017758.
PubMed: 38511349
DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.123.044469 -
Journal of Clinical Ultrasound : JCU Sep 2023To investigate whether the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters alterations in the in hypoxia-related neuroanatomical localizations in patients after COVID-19....
PURPOSE
To investigate whether the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters alterations in the in hypoxia-related neuroanatomical localizations in patients after COVID-19. Additionally, the relationship between DTI findings and the clinical severity of the disease is evaluated.
METHODS
The patients with COVID-19 were classified into group 1 (total patients, n = 74), group 2 (outpatient, n = 46), and group 3 (inpatient, n = 28) and control (n = 52). Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were calculated from the bulbus, pons, thalamus, caudate nucleus, globus pallidum, putamen, and hippocampus. DTI parameters were compared between groups. Oxygen saturation, D dimer and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) values associated with hypoxia were analyzed in inpatient group. Laboratory findings were correlated with ADC and FA values.
RESULTS
Increased ADC values in the thalamus, bulbus and pons were found in group 1 compared to control. Increased FA values in the thalamus, bulbus, globus pallidum and putamen were detected in group 1 compared to control. The FA and ADC values obtained from putamen were higher in group 3 compared to group 2. There was a negative correlation between basal ganglia and hippocampus FA values and plasma LDH values. The ADC values obtained from caudate nucleus were positively correlated with plasma D Dimer values.
CONCLUSION
ADC and FA changes may reveal hypoxia-related microstructural damage after COVID-19 infection. We speculated that the brainstem and basal ganglia can affected during the subacute period.
Topics: Humans; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; COVID-19; Brain
PubMed: 37293861
DOI: 10.1002/jcu.23503 -
Brain Imaging and Behavior Dec 2023First, to investigate the patterns of [F]-FDOPA positron emission tomography imaging in corticobasal syndrome using visual and semi-quantitative analysis and to compare...
PURPOSE
First, to investigate the patterns of [F]-FDOPA positron emission tomography imaging in corticobasal syndrome using visual and semi-quantitative analysis and to compare them with patterns found in Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. Then, to search for correlations with clinical features and [F]-FDG positron emission tomography imaging.
METHODS
27 corticobasal syndrome patients who underwent [F]-FDOPA positron emission tomography imaging were retrospectively studied. They were compared to 27 matched Parkinson's disease patients, 12 progressive supranuclear palsy patients and 53 normal controls. Scans were visually assigned to one of the following patterns: normal; unilateral homogeneous striatal uptake reduction; putamen uptake reduction with putamen-caudate gradient. A semi-quantitative analysis of striatal regional uptake and asymmetry was performed and correlated to clinical features and [F]-FDG positron emission tomography patterns.
RESULTS
[F]-FDOPA positron emission tomography appeared visually abnormal in only 33.5% of corticobasal syndrome patients. However, semi-quantitative analysis found putaminal asymmetry in 63%. Striatal uptake was homogeneously reduced in both putamen and caudate nucleus in corticobasal syndrome patients unlike in Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. No correlation was found between [F]-FDOPA positron emission tomography and clinical features. Half of corticobasal syndrome patients presented a corticobasal degeneration pattern on [F]-FDG positron emission tomography. CONCLUSION: [F]-FDOPA positron emission tomography can often be normal in corticobasal syndrome patients. Semi-quantitative analysis is useful to unmask a significant asymmetry in many of them. Homogeneous striatal uptake reduction contralateral to the clinical signs is highly suggestive of corticobasal syndrome. This finding can be helpful to better characterize this syndrome with respect to Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy.
Topics: Humans; Parkinson Disease; Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Corticobasal Degeneration; Retrospective Studies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Positron-Emission Tomography
PubMed: 37474673
DOI: 10.1007/s11682-023-00789-z -
Alzheimer's & Dementia : the Journal of... Feb 2024The associations of the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet with brain structural changes are unclear.
INTRODUCTION
The associations of the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet with brain structural changes are unclear.
METHODS
Among 26,466 UK Biobank participants, a 15-point MIND score was calculated from 24-hour diet recalls from 2009 to 2012. We assessed its associations with 17 magnetic-resonance-derived brain volumetric markers and their longitudinal changes and explored whether genetic factors modify the associations.
RESULTS
Higher MIND adherence was associated with larger volumes of thalamus, putamen, pallidum, hippocampus, and accumbens (beta per 3-unit increment ranging from 0.024 to 0.033) and lower white matter hyperintensities (P-trends < 0.05), regardless of genetic predispositions of Alzheimer's disease. MIND score was not associated with their longitudinal changes (P > 0.05) over a median of 2.2 years among participants with repeated imaging assessments (N = 2963), but was associated with slower atrophy in putamen (beta: 0.026, P-trend = 0.044) and pallidum (beta: 0.030, P-trend = 0.033) among APOE ε4 non-carriers (N = 654).
DISCUSSION
The MIND diet showed beneficial associations with certain brain imaging markers, and its associations with long-term brain structural changes warrants future investigation.
HIGHLIGHTS
Adherence to the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet was significantly associated with higher volumes and larger gray matter volumes in certain brain regions in UK adults, and the associations were not modified by genetic factors. No significant associations were observed between MIND diet and longitudinal changes in the investigated brain structural markers over a median of 2.2 years. Higher MIND score was significantly associated with slower atrophy in the putamen and pallidum among APOE ε4 non-carriers.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Apolipoprotein E4; Diet, Mediterranean; Alzheimer Disease; Gray Matter; Atrophy
PubMed: 37932860
DOI: 10.1002/alz.13521 -
Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and... Sep 2023Neurological damage remains the leading cause of death in cardiac arrest victims with early neuroprognostication being the cornerstone of the decision-making process to...
Both decreased and increased grey-to-white matter attenuation ratio in the putamen and caudate on early head computed tomography differentiate patients with favorable and unfavorable outcomes after prolonged cardiac arrest-secondary analysis of the Prague OHCA study.
BACKGROUND
Neurological damage remains the leading cause of death in cardiac arrest victims with early neuroprognostication being the cornerstone of the decision-making process to continue or discontinue advanced treatments. In this study, we aimed to find markers of favorable and unfavorable outcome on early brain computed tomography (CT) in patients after prolonged out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) treated both by conventional and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR).
METHODS
In a secondary analysis of the Prague OHCA study, patients who underwent brain CT within 36 hours after cardiac arrest were identified. Qualitative findings (brain edema, hemorrhage) and quantitative measurements [attenuation of grey matter structures and grey-to-white matter attenuation ratio (GWR)] between patients with cerebral performance category (CPC) of 1-2 (favorable outcome) and 3-5 (unfavorable outcome) within 180 days after the event were compared.
RESULTS
In 45 eligible patients, intracranial edema (n=16, 50%) was present in patients with CPC 3-5 only (n=32, 71%). Attenuation of brain structures and GWR did not differ between patients with favorable and unfavorable outcomes. However, the GWR in the caudate and putamen of most CPC 1-2 patients was within a narrow range of values (1.18 to 1.30 and 1.20 to 1.33) that separated patients with CPC 1-2 from CPC 3-5 with a sensitivity of 78% and 66% a specificity of 85% and 100%, and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.86 (P=0.0001) and 0.77 (P=0.0053), respectively. Patients treated by ECPR had lower attenuation in the centrum semiovale (28.3±2.7) compared to those who were not (31.0±2.8, P=0.003). The most common causes of death in CPC 3-5 patients were brain death in 13 (41%) patients, multiorgan failure in 12 (38%), and cardiac rearrest in 4 (13%).
CONCLUSIONS
Both decreased and increased grey-to-white matter differentiation in the putamen and caudate on early non-contrast brain CT after prolonged OHCA indicate poor neurological outcome within 180 days after cardiac arrest.
PubMed: 37711820
DOI: 10.21037/qims-23-430 -
Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2023There are reports stating that deteriorations in metal homeostasis in neurodegenerative diseases promote abnormal protein accumulation. In this study, the serum metal...
BACKGROUND/AIM
There are reports stating that deteriorations in metal homeostasis in neurodegenerative diseases promote abnormal protein accumulation. In this study, the serum metal levels in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) and its relationship with the cortical regions of the brain were investigated.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The patients were divided into 3 groups consisting of the AD group, PD group, and healthy control group (n = 15 for each). The volumes of specific brain regions were measured over the participants' 3dimensional magnetic resonance images, and they were compared across the groups. Copper, zinc, iron, and ferritin levels in the serums were determined, and their correlations with the brain region volumes were examined.
RESULTS
The volumes of left hippocampus and right substantia nigra were lower in the AD and PD groups, while the volume of the left nucleus caudatus (CdN) and bilateral insula were lower in the AD group compared to the control group. Serum zinc levels were lower in the AD and PD groups, while the iron level was lower in the PD group in comparison to the control group. In addition, the serum ferritin level was higher in the AD group than in the control group. Serum zinc and copper levels in the AD group were positively correlated with the volumes of the right entorhinal cortex, thalamus, CdN, and insula. Serum zinc and copper levels in the PD group showed a negative correlation with the left nucleus accumbens (NAc), right putamen, and right insula volumes. While the serum ferritin level in the PD group displayed a positive correlation with the bilateral CdN, putamen, and NAc, as well as the right hippocampus and insula volumes, no area was detected that showed a correlation with the serum ferritin level in the AD group.
CONCLUSION
A relationship was determined between the serum metal levels in the AD and PD groups and certain brain cortical regions that showed volumetric changes, which can be important for the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Aged; Alzheimer Disease; Zinc; Iron; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Parkinson Disease; Middle Aged; Ferritins; Brain; Copper; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Case-Control Studies; Metals
PubMed: 38812995
DOI: 10.55730/1300-0144.5714 -
Minerva Medica Dec 2023
Topics: Humans; Putamen; Punctures
PubMed: 37293891
DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4806.23.08662-7 -
Sleep Aug 2023The pathomechanism of restless legs syndrome (RLS) is related to brain iron deficiency and iron therapy is effective for RLS; however, the effect of iron therapy on...
STUDY OBJECTIVES
The pathomechanism of restless legs syndrome (RLS) is related to brain iron deficiency and iron therapy is effective for RLS; however, the effect of iron therapy on human brain iron state has never been studied with magnetic resonance imaging. This study aimed to investigate the change of brain iron concentrations in patients with RLS after intravenous iron therapy using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).
METHODS
We enrolled 31 RLS patients and 20 healthy controls. All participants underwent initial baseline (t0) assessment using brain magnetic resonance imaging, serum iron status, and sleep questionnaires including international RLS Study Group rating scale (IRLS). RLS patients underwent follow-up tests at 6 and 24 weeks (t1 and t2) after receiving 1000 mg ferric carboxymaltose. Iron content of region-of-interest on QSM images was measured for 13 neural substrates using the fixed-shaped method.
RESULTS
RLS symptoms evaluated using IRLS were significantly improved after iron treatment (t0: 29.7 ± 6.5, t1: 19.5 ± 8.5, t2: 21.3 ± 10.1; p < .001). There was no significant difference in susceptibility values between the controls and RLS patients at t0. In the caudate nucleus, putamen, and pulvinar thalamus of RLS patients, the QSM values differed significantly for three timepoints (p = .035, .048, and .032, respectively). The post-hoc analysis revealed that the QSM values increased at t1 in the caudate nucleus (66.8 ± 18.0 vs 76.4 ± 16.6, p = .037) and decreased from t1 to t2 in the putamen (69.4 ± 16.3 vs 62.5 ± 13.6, p = .025). Changes in the QSM values for the pulvinar and caudate nuclei at t1 were positively and negatively correlated with symptomatic improvement, respectively (r = 0.361 and -0.466, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
Intravenous iron treatment results in changes in brain iron content which correlate to reductions in RLS severity. This suggests a connection between symptom improvement and the associated specific brain regions constituting the sensorimotor network.
Topics: Humans; Iron; Restless Legs Syndrome; Treatment Outcome; Brain; Iron Deficiencies; Brain Mapping
PubMed: 37257418
DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsad154