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Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology... Jun 2024This study aimed to detect supratentorial cortical and subcortical morphological changes in pediatric patients with infratentorial tumors.
PURPOSE
This study aimed to detect supratentorial cortical and subcortical morphological changes in pediatric patients with infratentorial tumors.
METHODS
The study included 24 patients aged 4-18 years who were diagnosed with primary infratentorial tumors and 41 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Synthetic magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo images of brain magnetic resonance imaging were generated using deep learning algorithms applied to T2-axial images. The cortical thickness, surface area, volume, and local gyrification index (LGI), as well as subcortical gray matter volumes, were automatically calculated. Surface-based morphometry parameters for the patient and control groups were compared using the general linear model, and volumes between subcortical structures were compared using the t-test and Mann-Whitney U test.
RESULTS
In the patient group, cortical thinning was observed in the left supramarginal, and cortical thickening was observed in the left caudal middle frontal (CMF), left fusiform, left lateral orbitofrontal, left lingual gyrus, right CMF, right posterior cingulate, and right superior frontal ( < 0.050). The patient group showed a volume reduction in the pars triangularis, paracentral, precentral, and supramarginal gyri of the left hemisphere ( < 0.05). A decreased surface area was observed in the bilateral superior frontal and cingulate gyri ( < 0.05). The patient group exhibited a decreased LGI in the right precentral and superior temporal gyri, left supramarginal, and posterior cingulate gyri and showed an increased volume in the bilateral caudate nucleus and hippocampus, while a volume reduction was observed in the bilateral putamen, pallidum, and amygdala ( < 0.05). The ventricular volume and tumor volume showed a positive correlation with the cortical thickness in the bilateral CMF while demonstrating a negative correlation with areas exhibiting a decreased LGI ( < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Posterior fossa tumors lead to widespread morphological changes in cortical structures, with the most prominent pattern being hypogyria.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
This study illuminates the neurological impacts of infratentorial tumors in children, providing a foundation for future therapeutic strategies aimed at mitigating these adverse cortical and subcortical changes and improving patient outcomes.
PubMed: 38836466
DOI: 10.4274/dir.2024.242652 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Structural brain network topology can be altered in case of a brain tumor, due to both the tumor itself and its treatment. In this study, we explored the role of...
Structural brain network topology can be altered in case of a brain tumor, due to both the tumor itself and its treatment. In this study, we explored the role of structural whole-brain and nodal network metrics and their association with cognitive functioning. Fifty WHO grade 2-3 adult glioma survivors (> 1-year post-therapy) and 50 matched healthy controls underwent a cognitive assessment, covering six cognitive domains. Raw cognitive assessment scores were transformed into w-scores, corrected for age and education. Furthermore, based on multi-shell diffusion-weighted MRI, whole-brain tractography was performed to create weighted graphs and to estimate whole-brain and nodal graph metrics. Hubs were defined based on nodal strength, betweenness centrality, clustering coefficient and shortest path length in healthy controls. Significant differences in these metrics between patients and controls were tested for the hub nodes (i.e. n = 12) and non-hub nodes (i.e. n = 30) in two mixed-design ANOVAs. Group differences in whole-brain graph measures were explored using Mann-Whitney U tests. Graph metrics that significantly differed were ultimately correlated with the cognitive domain-specific w-scores. Bonferroni correction was applied to correct for multiple testing. In survivors, the bilateral putamen were significantly less frequently observed as a hub (p < 0.001). These nodes' assortativity values were positively correlated with attention (r(90) > 0.573, p < 0.001), and proxy IQ (r(90) > 0.794, p < 0.001). Attention and proxy IQ were significantly more often correlated with assortativity of hubs compared to non-hubs (p < 0.001). Finally, the whole-brain graph measures of clustering coefficient (r = 0.685), global (r = 0.570) and local efficiency (r = 0.500) only correlated with proxy IQ (p < 0.001). This study demonstrated potential reorganization of hubs in glioma survivors. Assortativity of these hubs was specifically associated with cognitive functioning, which could be important to consider in future modeling of cognitive outcomes and risk classification in glioma survivors.
Topics: Humans; Glioma; Female; Male; Adult; Middle Aged; Cognition; Brain Neoplasms; Cancer Survivors; Brain; Nerve Net; Case-Control Studies; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 38834633
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63716-2 -
Neurology Jun 2024Noninvasive and accurate biomarkers of neurologic Wilson disease (NWD), a rare inherited disorder, could reduce diagnostic error or delay. Excessive subcortical metal...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Noninvasive and accurate biomarkers of neurologic Wilson disease (NWD), a rare inherited disorder, could reduce diagnostic error or delay. Excessive subcortical metal deposition seen on susceptibility imaging has suggested a characteristic pattern in NWD. With submillimeter spatial resolution and increased contrast, 7T susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) may enable better visualization of metal deposition in NWD. In this study, we sought to identify a distinctive metal deposition pattern in NWD using 7T SWI and investigate its diagnostic value and underlying pathophysiologic mechanism.
METHODS
Patients with WD, healthy participants with monoallelic variant(s) on a single chromosome, and health controls (HCs) were recruited. NWD and non-NWD (nNWD) were defined according to the presence or absence of neurologic symptoms during investigation. Patients with other diseases with comparable clinical or imaging manifestations, including early-onset Parkinson disease (EOPD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA), were additionally recruited and assessed for exploratory comparative analysis. All participants underwent 7T T1, T2, and high-resolution SWI scanning. Quantitative susceptibility mapping and principal component analysis were performed to illustrate metal distribution.
RESULTS
We identified a linear signal intensity change consisting of a hyperintense strip at the lateral border of the globus pallidus in patients with NWD. We termed this feature "hyperintense globus pallidus rim sign." This feature was detected in 38 of 41 patients with NWD and was negative in all 31 nNWD patients, 15 patients with EOPD, 30 patients with MSA, 15 patients with PSP, and 12 patients with NBIA; 22 monoallelic variant carriers; and 41 HC. Its sensitivity to differentiate between NWD and HC was 92.7%, and specificity was 100%. Severity of the hyperintense globus pallidus rim sign measured by a semiquantitative scale was positively correlated with neurologic severity (ρ = 0.682, 95% CI 0.467-0.821, < 0.001). Patients with NWD showed increased susceptibility in the lenticular nucleus with high regional weights in the lateral globus pallidus and medial putamen.
DISCUSSION
The hyperintense globus pallidus rim sign showed high sensitivity and excellent specificity for diagnosis and differential diagnosis of NWD. It is related to a special metal deposition pattern in the lenticular nucleus in NWD and can be considered as a novel neuroimaging biomarker of NWD.
CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE
The study provides Class II evidence that the hyperintense globus pallidus rim sign on 7T SWI MRI can accurately diagnose neurologic WD.
Topics: Humans; Hepatolenticular Degeneration; Female; Male; Adult; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Brain; Copper-Transporting ATPases; Copper; Adolescent; Globus Pallidus
PubMed: 38830145
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000209478 -
PYCR1 expresses in cancer-associated fibroblasts and accelerates the progression of C6 glioblastoma.Histology and Histopathology May 2024Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play important roles in tumor microenvironments. Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 (PYCR1) is a potential cancer therapy target....
BACKGROUND
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play important roles in tumor microenvironments. Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 (PYCR1) is a potential cancer therapy target. This study aimed to explore the expression of PYCR1 in glioma-associated CAFs and analyze the effects of PYCR1 expression in CAFs on the proliferation of C6 glioma.
METHODS
A rat glioma model was induced by injecting C6 cells in the right caudate putamen via a microliter syringe. After 14 days, tumor tissues were collected, and the levels of COL1A1 and PYCR1 were measured by immunohistochemistry. The colocalization of fibroblast activation protein α (FAP) and PYCR1 in tissues was measured by double-immunofluorescence. The CAFs were labeled by FAP and isolated from the tumor tissues using a fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) machine. The isolated CAFs were further separated into CAFs with different PYCR1 expressions using the FACS machine. CAFs with different PYCR1 expressions were respectively cocultured with C6 cells or MUVECs for 48h using a Transwell permeable support. The invasion and proliferation of C6 cells were measured using a Transwell assay and colony formation assay, and the angiogenesis of MUVECs was measured using a Tube formation assay. The expression of COL1A1 and PYCR1 proteins in C6 cells and VEGF-A and EGF proteins in MUVECs was measured by western blotting. PYCR1 silencing in C6 cells was induced by PYCR1 siRNA transfection, the effects of which on the proliferation of C6 cells were measured using a wound healing assay, a Transwell assay, and western blotting.
RESULTS
The PYCR1 and COL1A1 upregulation co-occurred in the rat glioma, and PYCR1 was expressed in CAFs. The CAF coculture enhanced the invasion and proliferation of C6 cells and the angiogenesis of MUVECs. Meanwhile, the levels of COL1A1 protein in C6 cells, and the levels of VEGF-A and EGF proteins in MUVECs were increased after CAF coculture. Moreover, the effects of CAF coculture were increased with PYCR1 expression in the CAF. Silencing PYCR1 suppressed the migration and invasion of C6 cells, and decreased the levels of COL1A1 and VEGF-A proteins in C6 cells.
CONCLUSIONS
PYCR1 is expressed in glioma-associated CAFs, and promotes the proliferation of C6 cells and angiogenesis of MUVECs, suggesting that targeting PYCR1 may be a therapeutic strategy for glioma.
PubMed: 38826151
DOI: 10.14670/HH-18-762 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Jul 2024This systematic review investigates the impact of meditation on neural responses to pain, as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Up to March 2024,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
This systematic review investigates the impact of meditation on neural responses to pain, as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Up to March 2024, we conducted searches across four databases for human studies implementing fMRI to assess the efficacy of meditation for pain relief. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Our systematic review indicates that activation of the insula, anterior cingulate cortex, and orbitofrontal cortex is positively associated with meditation for pain relief, while activity in regions like the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex is negatively correlated with pain relief. Meta-analyses consistently reveal the involvement of various brain regions, including the insula, putamen, amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, superior temporal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, and caudate nucleus, in meditation-induced alleviation of pain. These findings suggest ccthat meditation acts on specific brain regions related to pain, mood, and cognition, providing insight into the potential mechanisms underlying the pain-alleviating effects of meditation on both pain sensations and emotional experiences.
Topics: Humans; Meditation; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Pain Management; Pain; Brain
PubMed: 38821153
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105735 -
Journal of Psychiatric Research May 2024Impaired cognition has been demonstrated in pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD). The subcortical limbic structures play a key role in PBD. However, alternations of...
BACKGROUND
Impaired cognition has been demonstrated in pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD). The subcortical limbic structures play a key role in PBD. However, alternations of anatomical and functional characteristics of subcortical limbic structures and their relationship with neurocognition of PBD remain unclear.
METHODS
Thirty-six PBD type I (PBD-I) (15.36 ± 0.32 years old), twenty PBD type II (PBD-II) (14.80 ± 0.32 years old) and nineteen age-gender matched healthy controls (HCs) (14.16 ± 0.36 years old) were enlisted. Primarily, the volumes of the subcortical limbic structures were obtained and differences in the volumes were evaluated. Then, these structures served as seeds of regions of interest to calculate the voxel-wised functional connectivity (FC). After that, correlation analysis was completed between volumes and FC of brain regions showing significant differences and neuropsychological tests.
RESULTS
Compared to HCs, both PBD-I and PBD-II patients showed a decrease in the Stroop color word test (SCWT) and digit span backward test scores. Compared with HCs, PBD-II patients exhibited a significantly increased volume of right septal nuclei, and PBD-I patients presented increased FC of right nucleus accumbens and bilateral pallidum, of right basal forebrain with right putamen and left pallidum. Both the significantly altered volumes and FC were negatively correlated with SCWT scores.
SIGNIFICANCE
The study revealed the role of subcortical limbic structural and functional abnormalities on cognitive impairments in PBD patients. These may have far-reaching significance for the etiology of PBD and provide neuroimaging clues for the differential diagnosis of PBD subtypes.
CONCLUSIONS
Distinctive features of neural structure and function in PBD subtypes may contribute to better comprehending the potential mechanisms of PBD.
PubMed: 38820996
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.05.041 -
International Journal of Medical... 2024Citicoline can be used to reduce acute ischemic stroke injury via venous infusion, however, its protective effects in the brain extracellular space remain largely...
Citicoline can be used to reduce acute ischemic stroke injury via venous infusion, however, its protective effects in the brain extracellular space remain largely unknown. Herein, we investigated the brain protective effects of citicoline administered via the brain extracellular space and sought precise effective dosage range that can protect against ischemic injury after experimental ischemic stroke in rats. : Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, intraperitoneal (IP), caudate-putamen (CPu)-25, CPu-40, CPu-50, CPu-60 and CPu-75 groups based on the infusion site and concentration of citicoline. Two hours after the administration of citicoline, the rats were subjected to a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion to mimic acute ischemic stroke. Then, the brain infarct volume in rats after stroke was measured and their neurological deficiency was evaluated to explain the protective effects and effective dosage range of citicoline. Compared to the control and IP groups, brain infarct volume of rats in CPu-40, CPu-50, and CPu-60 groups is significant smaller. Furthermore, the brain infarct volume of rats in CPu-50 is the least. Here, we showed that citicoline can decrease the brain infarct volume, thus protecting the brain from acute ischemic stroke injury. We also found that the appropriate effective citicoline dose delivered via the brain extracellular space is 50 mM. Our study provides novel insights into the precise treatment of acute ischemic stroke by citicoline via the brain extracellular space, further guiding the treatment of brain disease.
Topics: Animals; Cytidine Diphosphate Choline; Rats; Ischemic Stroke; Disease Models, Animal; Extracellular Space; Male; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Brain; Neuroprotective Agents; Humans; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery; Brain Ischemia
PubMed: 38818467
DOI: 10.7150/ijms.93482 -
Indian Journal of Nuclear Medicine :... 2024Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. SPECT imaging using technetium-99m [Tc] labeled trodat is...
BACKGROUND
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. SPECT imaging using technetium-99m [Tc] labeled trodat is the choice of imaging to differentiate PD from its other forms like drug-induced PD.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The main objective of our study was to prepare in-house sterile formulation of [Tc]Tc-trodat and use in clinics.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The labeling of trodat was standardized using glucoheptonate sodium salt (GHA), stannous chloride dihydrate (in 0.05 N HCl), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Na-EDTA). The preparation was mixed and autoclaved at 15 psi for 15 min. The standardised formulation was stored at 4°C, -20°C and -80°C and labeling with Tc was tested for up to 6 days. The radiochemical purity, chemical impurities, and endotoxin levels were tested. The frozen formulation was tested in swiss mice (n = 3) for biodistribution studies at 4 h. Around 18 ± 2 mCi was injected intravenously in each patient (n = 5) and the image was acquired at 4 h post-injection.
RESULTS
The radiochemical purity of the preparation was 98.3 ± 1.4% with a retention time of 16.8 ± 1.5 min as compared to 4.0 ± 0.5 min for free Tc. Animal distribution showed highest uptake in liver and dual excretion via hepatobiliary and renal system. [Tc]Tc-trodat imaging was able to differentiate both caudate and putamen.
CONCLUSIONS
In-house frozen preparation was advantageous, as it has decreased the chance of manual error as compared to daily make up formulations and economical as compared to commercially available kits.
PubMed: 38817725
DOI: 10.4103/ijnm.ijnm_104_23 -
Journal of Affective Disorders May 2024Anhedonia is a transdiagnostic symptom often resistant to treatment. The identification of biomarkers sensitive to anhedonia treatment will aid in the evaluation of...
BACKGROUND
Anhedonia is a transdiagnostic symptom often resistant to treatment. The identification of biomarkers sensitive to anhedonia treatment will aid in the evaluation of novel anhedonia interventions.
METHODS
This is an exploratory analysis of changes in subcortical brain volumes accompanying psychotherapy in a transdiagnostic anhedonic sample using ultra-high field (7-Tesla) MRI. Outpatients with clinically impairing anhedonia (n = 116) received Behavioral Activation Treatment for Anhedonia, a novel psychotherapy, or Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers NCT02874534 and NCT04036136). Subcortical brain volumes were estimated via the MultisegPipeline, and regions of interest were the amygdala, caudate nucleus, hippocampus, pallidum, putamen, and thalamus. Bivariate mixed effects models estimated pre-treatment relations between anhedonia severity and subcortical brain volumes, change over time in subcortical brain volumes, and associations between changes in subcortical brain volumes and changes in anhedonia symptoms.
RESULTS
As reported previously (Cernasov et al., 2023), both forms of psychotherapy resulted in equivalent and significant reductions in anhedonia symptoms. Pre-treatment anhedonia severity and subcortical brain volumes were not related. No changes in subcortical brain volumes were observed over the course of treatment. Additionally, no relations were observed between changes in subcortical brain volumes and changes in anhedonia severity over the course of treatment.
LIMITATIONS
This trial included a modest sample size and did not have a waitlist-control condition or a non-anhedonic comparison group.
CONCLUSIONS
In this exploratory analysis, psychotherapy for anhedonia was not accompanied by changes in subcortical brain volumes, suggesting that subcortical brain volumes may not be a candidate biomarker sensitive to response to psychotherapy.
PubMed: 38815760
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.140 -
Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2023The cause and treatment of electrical status epilepticus during sleep (ESES), one of the epileptic encephalopathies of childhood, is unclear. The aim of this study was...
BACKGROUND/AIM
The cause and treatment of electrical status epilepticus during sleep (ESES), one of the epileptic encephalopathies of childhood, is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible microstructural abnormalities in the brain using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques in ESES patients with and without genetic mutations.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This research comprised 12 ESES patients without structural thalamic lesions (6 with genetic abnormalities and 6 without) and 12 healthy children. Whole-exome sequencing was used for the genetic mutation analysis. Brain MRI data were evaluated using tractus-based spatial statistics, voxel-based morphometry, a local gyrification index, subcortical shape analysis, FreeSurfer volume, and cortical thickness. The data of the groups were compared.
RESULTS
The mean age in the control group was 9.05 ± 1.85 years, whereas that in the ESES group was 9.45 ± 2.72 years. Compared to the control group, the ESES patients showed higher mean thalamus diffusivity (p < 0.05). ESES patients with genetic mutations had lower axial diffusivity in the superior longitudinal fasciculus and gray matter volume in the entorhinal region, accumbens area, caudate, putamen, cerebral white matter, and outer cerebellar areas. The superior and middle temporal cortical thickness increased in the ESES patients.
CONCLUSION
This study is important in terms of presenting the microstructural evaluation of the brain in ESES patients with advanced MRI analysis methods as well as comparing patients with and without genetic mutations. These findings may be associated with corticostriatal transmission, ictogenesis, epileptogenesis, neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognitive impairment, and cerebellar involvement in ESES. Expanded case-group studies may help to understand the physiology of the corticothalamic circuitry in its etiopathogenesis and develop secondary therapeutic targets for ESES.
Topics: Humans; Status Epilepticus; Male; Child; Female; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Brain; Sleep; Adolescent; Case-Control Studies; Thalamus
PubMed: 38813507
DOI: 10.55730/1300-0144.5754