Increased adiposity is related to reduced neurite complexity in the hippocampus, fornix, and uncinate fasciculus of cognitively unimpaired adults

Fiber tractography based on diffuse tensor imaging (DTI) can reveal three-dimensional white matter connectivity of the human brain. Tractography is a non-invasive method of visualizing cerebral white matter structures in vivo, including neural pathways surrounding the ischemic area. DTI may be useful for elucidating alterations in brain connectivity resulting from neuroplasticity after stroke. We present a case of a male patient who developed significant mixed aphasia following ischemic stroke. The patient had been treated by mechanical thrombectomy followed by an early rehabilitation, in conjunction with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). DTI was used to examine the arcuate fasciculus and uncinate fasciculus upon admission and again at three months post-stroke. Results showed an improvement in the patient’s symptoms of aphasia, which was associated with changes in the volume and numbers of tracts in the uncinate fasciculus and the arcuate fasciculus.

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Relationship between post-traumatic amnesia and white matter integrity in traumatic brain injury using tract-based spatial statistics

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-86439-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Min Jye Cho ◽

Sung Ho Jang

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

White Matter ◽

Patient Group ◽

Injury Severity ◽

White Matter Integrity ◽

Superior Cerebellar Peduncle ◽

Uncinate Fasciculus ◽

Traumatic Amnesia ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

Cerebellar Peduncle

AbstractThis study used tract-based spatial statistics to examine the relationship between post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) and white matter integrity in patients with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Forty-seven patients with TBI in the chronic stage and 47 age- and sex-matched normal control subjects were recruited to the study. Correlation coefficients were calculated to observe the relationships among the PTA duration, white matter fractional anisotropy (FA) values, and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) results in the patient group. Both before and after Benjamini–Hochberg (BH) corrections, FA values of 46 of the 48 regions of interests of the patient group were lower than those of the control group. The FA values of column and body of fornix, left crus of fornix, left uncinate fasciculus, right hippocampus part of cingulum, left medial lemniscus, right superior cerebellar peduncle, left superior cerebellar peduncle, and left posterior thalamic radiation (after BH correction: the uncinate fasciculus and right hippocampus part of cingulum) in the patient group were negatively correlated with PTA duration. PTA duration was related to the injury severity of eight neural structures, each of which is involved in the cognitive functioning of patients with TBI. Therefore, PTA duration can indicate injury severity of the above neural structures in TBI patients.

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P1-186: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNCINATE FASCICULUS AND PERSONALITY TRAITS IN INDIVIDUALS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Alzheimer s & Dementia ◽

10.1016/j.jalz.2014.05.424 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

pp. P367-P367

Author(s):

Namita Multani ◽

Cassandra Jessica Anor ◽

David Tang-Wai ◽

Ron Keren ◽

Maria Carmela Tartaglia

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Uncinate Fasciculus

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Multiple sclerosis and depressive manifestations: can diffusion tensor MR imaging help in the detection of microstructural white matter changes?

Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine ◽

10.1186/s43055-019-0033-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Talaat A. Hassan ◽

Shaima Fattouh Elkholy ◽

Bahaa Eldin Mahmoud ◽

Mona ElSherbiny

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

White Matter ◽

Limbic System ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Control Group ◽

Uncinate Fasciculus ◽

White Matter Tracts ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Right

Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis is one of the commonest causes of neurological disability in middle-aged and young adults. Depression in MS patients can compromise cognitive functions, lead to suicide attempts, impair relationships and reduce compliance with disease-modifying treatments. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the microstructural changes in the white matter tracts of the limbic system in MS patients with and those without depressive manifestations using a diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) technique. Methods This study included 40 patients who were divided into three groups. Group 1 comprised of 20 patients with relapsing-remitting MS with depressive symptoms and group 2 comprised 10 MS patients without symptoms of depression. The third group is a control group that included 10 age-matched healthy individuals. All patients underwent conventional MRI examinations and DTI to compare the fractional anisotropy (FA) values in the white matter tracts of the limbic system. Results We compared the DTI findings in MS patients with and those without depressive symptoms. It was found that patients with depression and MS exhibited a significant reduction in the FA values of the cingulum (P < 0.0111 on the right and P < 0.0142 on the left), uncinate fasciculus (P < 0.0001 on the right and P < 0.0076 on the left) and the fornix (P < 0.0001 on both sides). No significant difference was found between the FA values of the anterior thalamic radiations in both groups. Conclusion Patients with depression and MS showed more pronounced microstructural damage in the major white matter connections of the limbic pathway, namely, the uncinate fasciculus, cingulum and fornix. These changes can be detected by DTI as decreased FA values in depressed MS patients compared to those in non-depressed patients.

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Callous-unemotional traits drive reduced white-matter integrity in youths with conduct problems

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291715000987 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 45 (14) ◽

pp. 3033-3046 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

A. L. Breeden ◽

E. M. Cardinale ◽

L. M. Lozier ◽

J. W. VanMeter ◽

A. A. Marsh

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Conduct Problems ◽

Externalizing Behavior ◽

Externalizing Behaviors ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Stria Terminalis ◽

Uncinate Fasciculus ◽

Cu Traits ◽

Callous Unemotional

Background.Callous-unemotional (CU) traits represent a significant risk factor for severe and persistent conduct problems in children and adolescents. Extensive neuroimaging research links CU traits to structural and functional abnormalities in the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. In addition, adults with psychopathy (a disorder for which CU traits are a developmental precursor) exhibit reduced integrity in uncinate fasciculus, a white-matter (WM) tract that connects prefrontal and temporal regions. However, research in adolescents has not yet yielded similarly consistent findings.Method.We simultaneously modeled CU traits and externalizing behaviors as continuous traits, while controlling for age and IQ, in order to identify the unique relationship of each variable with WM microstructural integrity, assessed using diffusion tensor imaging. We used tract-based spatial statistics to evaluate fractional anisotropy, an index of WM integrity, in uncinate fasciculus and stria terminalis in 47 youths aged 10–17 years, of whom 26 exhibited conduct problems and varying levels of CU traits.Results.Whereas both CU traits and externalizing behaviors were negatively correlated with WM integrity in bilateral uncinate fasciculus and stria terminalis/fornix, simultaneously modeling both variables revealed that these effects were driven by CU traits; the severity of externalizing behavior was not related to WM integrity after controlling for CU traits.Conclusions.These results indicate that WM abnormalities similar to those observed in adult populations with psychopathy may emerge in late childhood or early adolescence, and may be critical to understanding the social and affective deficits observed in this population.

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Reduced left uncinate fasciculus fractional anisotropy in deficit schizophrenia but not in non-deficit schizophrenia

Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences ◽

10.1111/j.1440-1819.2011.02293.x ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 66 (1) ◽

pp. 34-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Omer Kitis ◽

Ozgun Ozalay ◽

E. Burcak Zengin ◽

Damla Haznedaroglu ◽

M. Cagdas Eker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fractional Anisotropy ◽

Uncinate Fasciculus ◽

Deficit Schizophrenia

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Diffusion tensor tractography of the temporal stem on the inferior limiting sulcus

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/jns/2008/108/4/0775 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 108 (4) ◽

pp. 775-781 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Feng Wang ◽

Tao Sun ◽

Xing-Gang Li ◽

Na-Jia Liu

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Anterior Commissure ◽

Region Of Interest ◽

Diffusion Tensor Tractography ◽

Optic Radiation ◽

Uncinate Fasciculus ◽

White Matter Tracts ◽

Temporal Horn ◽

Temporal Stem

Object The aim of this study was to use diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) to define the 3D relationships of the uncinate fasciculus, anterior commissure, inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus, inferior thalamic peduncle, and optic radiation and to determine the positioning landmarks of these white matter tracts. Methods The anatomy was studied in 10 adult human brain specimens. Brain DTT was performed in 10 healthy volunteers. Diffusion tensor tractography images of the white matter tracts in the temporal stem were obtained using the simple single region of interest (ROI) and multi-ROIs based on the anatomical knowledge. Results The posteroinferior insular point is the anterior extremity of intersection of the Heschl gyrus and the inferior limiting sulcus. On the inferior limiting sulcus, this point is the posterior limit of the optic radiation, and the temporal stem begins at the limen insulae and ends at the posteroinferior insular point. The distance from the limen insulae to the tip of the temporal horn is just one third the length of the temporal stem. The uncinate fasciculus comprises the core of the anterior temporal stem, behind which the anterior commissure and the inferior thalamic peduncle are located, and they occupy the anterior third of the temporal stem. The inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus passes through the entire temporal stem. The most anterior extent of the Meyer loop is located between the anterior tip of the temporal horn and the limen insulae. Most of the optic radiation crosses the postmedian two thirds of the temporal stem. Conclusions On the inferior limiting sulcus, the posteroinferior insular point is a reliable landmark of the posterior limit of the optic radiations. The limen insulae, anterior tip of the temporal horn, and posteroinferior insular point may be used to localize the white matter fibers of the temporal stem in analyzing magnetic resonance imaging or during surgery.

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Relationship between white matter integrity and serum cortisol levels in drug-naive patients with major depressive disorder: Diffusion tensor imaging study using tract-based spatial statistics

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.114.155689 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 208 (6) ◽

pp. 585-590 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Xiaodan Liu ◽

Keita Watanabe ◽

Shingo Kakeda ◽

Reiji Yoshimura ◽

Osamu Abe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Major Depressive Disorder ◽

White Matter ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Serum Cortisol ◽

White Matter Integrity ◽

Uncinate Fasciculus ◽

Major Depressive ◽

Drug Naïve ◽

Cortisol Levels ◽

Anterior Thalamic Radiation

BackgroundHigher daytime cortisol levels because of a hyperactive hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis have been reported in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The elevated glucocorticoids inhibit the proliferation of the oligodendrocytes that are responsible for myelinating the axons of white matter fibre tracts.AimsTo evaluate the relationship between white matter integrity and serum cortisol levels during a first depressive episode in drug-naive patients with MDD (MDD group) using a tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) method.MethodThe MDD group (n = 29) and a healthy control group (n = 47) underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scans and an analysis was conducted using TBSS. Morning blood samples were obtained from both groups for cortisol measurement.ResultsCompared with the controls, the MDD group had significantly reduced fractional anisotropy values (P<0.05, family-wise error (FWE)-corrected) in the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, uncinate fasciculus and anterior thalamic radiation. The fractional anisotropy values of the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, uncinate fasciculus and anterior thalamic radiation had significantly negative correlations with the serum cortisol levels in the MDD group (P<0.05, FWE-corrected).ConclusionsOur findings indicate that the elevated cortisol levels in the MDD group may injure the white matter integrity in the frontal–subcortical and frontal–limbic circuits.

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