P833: Long-term physical activity is associated with precognitive somatosensory brain processing and white matter volume in male twins

AbstractChildren treated for medulloblastoma (MB) exhibit long-term impairments in declarative memory, but the pathophysiology underlying this is unclear. Previous studies report declines in global white matter volume, but have failed to link this to declines in memory performance. We examined the effects of treatment on measures ofglobalbrain structure (i.e., total white and gray matter volume) andspecificmemory structures (i.e., hippocampus and uncinate fasciculus). We used volumetric MRI and diffusion tensor imaging in pediatric survivors of MB and one survivor of astrocytoma treated with cranial-spinal radiation (n= 20), and healthy controls (n= 13). Compared to controls, the survivor group exhibited reduced white matter volume, damage to the uncinate fasciculus, and a smaller right hippocampus. Critically, reduced hippocampal volume was not related to differences in brain volume, suggesting that the hippocampus may be especially vulnerable to treatment effects. A subset of the survivors (n= 10) also underwent memory testing using the Children's Memory Scale (CMS). Performance on the general index of the CMS was significantly correlated with measures of hippocampal volume and uncinate fasciculus. The examination of treatment effects on specific brain regions provides a better understanding of long-term cognitive outcome in children with brain tumors, particularly medulloblastoma. (JINS, 2014,1, 1–13)

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Cerebellar white-matter changes in cannabis users with and without schizophrenia

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s003329171100050x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 41 (11) ◽

pp. 2349-2359 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

N. Solowij ◽

M. Yücel ◽

C. Respondek ◽

S. Whittle ◽

E. Lindsay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Cannabinoid Receptors ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Psychotic Symptoms ◽

White Matter Volume ◽

Cerebellar White Matter ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Mri Scans

BackgroundThe cerebellum is rich in cannabinoid receptors and implicated in the neuropathology of schizophrenia. Long-term cannabis use is associated with functional and structural brain changes similar to those evident in schizophrenia, yet its impact on cerebellar structure has not been determined. We examined cerebellar grey and white matter in cannabis users with and without schizophrenia.MethodSeventeen patients with schizophrenia and 31 healthy controls were recruited; 48% of the healthy group and 47% of the patients were long-term heavy cannabis users (mean 19.7 and 17.9 years near daily use respectively). Cerebellar measures were extracted from structural 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans using semi-automated methods, and examined using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and correlational analyses.ResultsCerebellar white-matter volume was reduced in cannabis users with and without schizophrenia compared to healthy non-users, by 29.7% and 23.9% respectively, and by 17.7% in patients without cannabis use. Healthy cannabis users did not differ in white-matter volume from either of the schizophrenia groups. There were no group differences in cerebellar grey matter or total volumes. Total cerebellar volume decreased as a function of duration of cannabis use in the healthy users. Psychotic symptoms and illness duration correlated with cerebellar measures differentially between patients with and without cannabis use.ConclusionsLong-term heavy cannabis use in healthy individuals is associated with smaller cerebellar white-matter volume similar to that observed in schizophrenia. Reduced volumes were even more pronounced in patients with schizophrenia who use cannabis. Cannabis use may alter the course of brain maturational processes associated with schizophrenia.

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QOL-44. ASSESSMENT OF NEUROCOGNITIVE FUNCTION AND MRI PARAMETERS IN LONG-TERM SURVIVORS WITH POSTERIOR FOSSA TUMORS: A COMPARISON BETWEEN MEDULLOBLASTOMAS TREATED BY REDUCED-DOSE CRANIOSPINAL IRRADIATION AND OTHER TUMORS

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noaa222.701 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. iii439-iii439

Author(s):

Naoki Kagawa ◽

Takako Miyamura ◽

Ryuichi Hirayama ◽

Chisato Yokota ◽

Tomoyoshi Nakagawa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Posterior Fossa ◽

Neurocognitive Function ◽

Craniospinal Irradiation ◽

White Matter Volume ◽

Posterior Fossa Tumors ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Reduced Dose ◽

Neurocognitive Functions

Abstract BACKGROUND Children with medulloblastoma cannot avoid chemoradiotherapy including craniospinal radiation, although prognosis of medulloblastoma has improved and previous studies have reported a significant risk of intellectual disturbance by these treatments. We retrospectively analysed neurocognitive functions, clinical MRI parameters of patients with posterior fossa tumors, especially medulloblastomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-two patients (12 medulloblastomas, 5 ependymomas, 5 astrocytomas) treated in our institution were enrolled in this study. Mean age was 7.8 years and 6.5 years, percentage of hydrocephalus at onset was 66.7% and 60%, respectively in medulloblastoma group and in other tumor group (ependymoma and astrocytoma). Postoperative chemoradiotherapy including reduced-dose craniospinal irradiation (18Gy) was done for medulloblastoma group and local radiation or operation only was done for other group. Version 3 or 4 of Wechsler Intelligent Scale for Children (WISC) was used by neurocognitive function analysis. Ventricular size, white matter volume and other parameters were also was estimated based on MRI. Follow-up duration was 6–17 years (mean: 10.5 years). RESULTS Evaluations of neurocognitive functions based on WISC pointed out lower performance IQ than verbal IQ in long term survivor of both group, especially working memory (P=0.05). Both hydrocephalus and cranial nerve complications was influenced lower scores of WISC, but age at onset did not influence WISC scores. Comparison between both group showed there was no significant difference about cognitive function and white matter volume.

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Cerebral MR Morphometry and Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Children before Fontan Procedure at 2 Years of Age: White Matter Volume Is Smaller after Norwood Procedure

The Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon ◽

10.1055/s-0036-1571859 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 64 (S 02) ◽

Author(s):

B. Reich ◽

W. Knirsch ◽

K. Mayer ◽

R. Tuura ◽

I. Scheer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Fontan Procedure ◽

Neurodevelopmental Outcome ◽

Norwood Procedure ◽

White Matter Volume ◽

Matter Volume

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Preliminary Evidence for a Relationship between Elevated Plasma TNFα and Smaller Subcortical White Matter Volume in HCV Infection Irrespective of HIV or AUD Comorbidity

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22094953 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (9) ◽

pp. 4953

Author(s):

Natalie M. Zahr ◽

Kilian M. Pohl ◽

Allison J. Kwong ◽

Edith V. Sullivan ◽

Adolf Pfefferbaum

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Proinflammatory Cytokines ◽

Soluble Protein ◽

Subcortical White Matter ◽

Control Group ◽

White Matter Volume ◽

Brain Volumes ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Patient Groups

Classical inflammation in response to bacterial, parasitic, or viral infections such as HIV includes local recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages and the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Proposed biomarkers of organ integrity in Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) include elevations in peripheral plasma levels of proinflammatory proteins. In testing this proposal, previous work included a group of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals as positive controls and identified elevations in the soluble proteins TNFα and IP10; these cytokines were only elevated in AUD individuals seropositive for hepatitis C infection (HCV). The current observational, cross-sectional study evaluated whether higher levels of these proinflammatory cytokines would be associated with compromised brain integrity. Soluble protein levels were quantified in 86 healthy controls, 132 individuals with AUD, 54 individuals seropositive for HIV, and 49 individuals with AUD and HIV. Among the patient groups, HCV was present in 24 of the individuals with AUD, 13 individuals with HIV, and 20 of the individuals in the comorbid AUD and HIV group. Soluble protein levels were correlated to regional brain volumes as quantified with structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition to higher levels of TNFα and IP10 in the 2 HIV groups and the HCV-seropositive AUD group, this study identified lower levels of IL1β in the 3 patient groups relative to the control group. Only TNFα, however, showed a relationship with brain integrity: in HCV or HIV infection, higher peripheral levels of TNFα correlated with smaller subcortical white matter volume. These preliminary results highlight the privileged status of TNFα on brain integrity in the context of infection.

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