scholarly journals Spectral dynamic causal modelling in healthy women reveals brain connectivity changes along the menstrual cycle

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Esmeralda Hidalgo-Lopez ◽  
Peter Zeidman ◽  
TiAnni Harris ◽  
Adeel Razi ◽  
Belinda Pletzer
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Brain Connectivity ◽  
Effective Connectivity ◽  
Cycle Phase ◽  
Brain Organization ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Causal Modelling ◽  
The Right ◽  
Dynamic Causal Modelling

AbstractLongitudinal menstrual cycle studies allow to investigate the effects of ovarian hormones on brain organization. Here, we use spectral dynamic causal modelling (spDCM) in a triple network model to assess effective connectivity changes along the menstrual cycle within and between the default mode, salience and executive control networks (DMN, SN, and ECN). Sixty healthy young women were scanned three times along their menstrual cycle, during early follicular, pre-ovulatory and mid-luteal phase. Related to estradiol, right before ovulation the left insula recruits the ECN, while the right middle frontal gyrus decreases its connectivity to the precuneus and the DMN decouples into anterior/posterior parts. Related to progesterone during the mid-luteal phase, the insulae (SN) engage to each other, while decreasing their connectivity to parietal ECN, which in turn engages the posterior DMN. When including the most confident connections in a leave-one out cross-validation, we find an above-chance prediction of the left-out subjects’ cycle phase. These findings corroborate the plasticity of the female brain in response to acute hormone fluctuations and may help to further understand the neuroendocrine interactions underlying cognitive changes along the menstrual cycle.

scholarly journals Predicting ovulation from brain connectivity: Dynamic causal modelling of the menstrual cycle

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esmeralda Hidalgo-Lopez ◽  
Peter Zeidman ◽  
TiAnni Harris ◽  
Adeel Razi ◽  
Belinda Pletzer
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Empirical Bayes ◽  
Angular Gyrus ◽  
Cycle Phase ◽  
Brain Organization ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Causal Modelling ◽  
Anterior Posterior ◽  
Dynamic Causal Modelling

AbstractLongitudinal menstrual cycle research allows the assessment of sex hormones effects on brain organization in a natural framework. Here, we used spectral dynamic causal modelling (spDCM) in a triple network model consisting of the default mode, salience and executive central networks (DMN, SN, and ECN), in order to address the changes in effective connectivity across the menstrual cycle. Sixty healthy young women were scanned three times (menses, pre-ovulatory and luteal phase) and spDCM was estimated for a total of 174 scans. Group level analysis using Parametric empirical Bayes showed lateralized and anterior-posterior changes in connectivity patterns depending on the cycle phase and related to the endogenous hormonal milieu. Right before ovulation the left insula recruited the frontoparietal network, while the right middle frontal gyrus decreased its connectivity to the precuneus. In exchange, the precuneus engaged bilateral angular gyrus, decoupling the DMN into anterior/posterior parts. During the luteal phase, bilateral insula engaged to each other decreasing the connectivity to parietal ECN, which in turn engaged the posterior DMN. Remarkably, the specific cycle phase in which a woman was in could be predicted by the connections that showed the strongest changes. These findings further corroborate the plasticity of the female brain in response to acute hormone fluctuations and have important implications for understanding the neuroendocrine interactions underlying cognitive changes along the menstrual cycle.

scholarly journals Injury Incidence Across the Menstrual Cycle in International Footballers

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Martin ◽  
Kate Timmins ◽  
Charlotte Cowie ◽  
Jon Alty ◽  
Ritan Mehta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Incidence Rate ◽  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Follicular Phase ◽  
Tendon Injuries ◽  
Cycle Phase ◽  
Injury Incidence ◽  
Rate Ratios ◽  
Late Follicular Phase

Objectives: This study aimed to assess how menstrual cycle phase and extended menstrual cycle length influence the incidence of injuries in international footballers.Methods: Over a 4-year period, injuries from England international footballers at training camps or matches were recorded, alongside self-reported information on menstrual cycle characteristics at the point of injury. Injuries in eumenorrheic players were categorized into early follicular, late follicular, or luteal phase. Frequencies were also compared between injuries recorded during the typical cycle and those that occurred after the cycle would be expected to have finished. Injury incidence rates (per 1,000 person days) and injury incidence rate ratios were calculated for each phase for all injuries and injuries stratified by type.Results: One hundred fifty-six injuries from 113 players were eligible for analysis. Injury incidence rates per 1,000 person-days were 31.9 in the follicular, 46.8 in the late follicular, and 35.4 in the luteal phase, resulting in injury incidence rate ratios of 1.47 (Late follicular:Follicular), 1.11 (Luteal:Follicular), and 0.76 (Luteal:Late follicular). Injury incident rate ratios showed that muscle and tendon injury rates were 88% greater in the late follicular phase compared to the follicular phase, with muscle rupture/tear/strain/cramps and tendon injuries/ruptures occurring over twice as often during the late follicular phase compared to other phases 20% of injuries were reported as occurring when athletes were “overdue” menses.Conclusion: Muscle and tendon injuries occurred almost twice as often in the late follicular phase compared to the early follicular or luteal phase. Injury risk may be elevated in typically eumenorrheic women in the days after their next menstruation was expected to start.

scholarly journals Menstrual Cycle and Surgical Treatment of Breast Cancer: Findings From the NCCTG N9431 Study

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (22) ◽  
pp. 3620-3626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive S. Grant ◽  
James N. Ingle ◽  
Vera J. Suman ◽  
Daniel A. Dumesic ◽  
D. Lawrence Wickerham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Follicular Phase ◽  
Cycle Phase ◽  
Adjuvant Radiation ◽  
Menstrual Phase ◽  
Menstrual Cycle Phase ◽  
Hormone Levels ◽  
Menstrual History

Purpose For nearly two decades, multiple retrospective reports, small prospective studies, and meta-analyses have arrived at conflicting results regarding the value of timing surgical intervention for breast cancer on the basis of menstrual cycle phase. We present the results of a multi–cooperative group, prospective, observational trial of menstrual cycle phase and outcome after breast cancer surgery, led by the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) in collaboration with the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) and the International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG). Patients and Methods Premenopausal women age 18 to 55 years, who were interviewed for menstrual history and who were surgically treated for stages I to II breast cancer, had serum drawn within 1 day of surgery for estradiol, progesterone, and luteinizing hormone levels. Menstrual history and hormone levels were used to determine menstrual phase: luteal, follicular, and other. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were determined by Kaplan-Meier method and were compared by using the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard modeling. Results Of 1,118 women initially enrolled, 834 women comprised the study cohort: 230 (28%) in luteal phase; 363 (44%) in follicular phase; and 241 grouped as other. During a median follow-up of 6.6 years, and in analysis that accounted for nodal disease, estrogen receptor status, adjuvant radiation therapy or chemotherapy, neither DFS nor OS differed with respect to menstrual phase. The 5-year DFS rates were 82.7%, 82.1%, and 79.2% for follicular, luteal, or other phases, respectively. Corresponding OS survival rates were 91.9%, 92.2%, and 91.8%, respectively. Conclusion When menstrual cycle phases were strictly defined, neither DFS nor OS differed between women who underwent surgery during the follicular phase versus the luteal phase. Nearly 30% of the patients did not meet criteria for either follicular- or luteal-phase categories.

The effect of timing of breast cancer surgery during the menstrual cycle phase on the axillary lymph node, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and c-erb B2

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berrin Papila Kundaktepe Specialist ◽  
Sinem Durmus ◽  
Cigdem Papila ◽  
Mehmet Velidedeoglu ◽  
Remise Gelisgen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Estrogen Receptor ◽  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Progesterone Receptor ◽  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Breast Cancer Surgery ◽  
Cycle Phase ◽  
Axillary Lymph ◽  
Menstrual Cycle Phase ◽  
Erbb2 Gene

Abstract Background: Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) positivity and c-erbB2 gene expression levels are important in determining breast cancer (BC) development and aggression. Although the importance of hormonal factors in tumor cell proliferation, migration and differentiation is increasing, it needs more evidence. The effect of BC surgery timing during the menstrual cycle on prognosis remains controversial. In order to clarify this hypothesis, we aimed to determine the importance of adjusting the timing of surgery according to the menstrual cycle by examining the relationship between ER, PR, c-erbB2 gene and the menstrual cycle phase in patients with premenopausal BC.Method: Our study was designed retrospectively. 50 patients with premenopausal BC who were operated were included in the study.Results: Our results showed that the patients in the luteal phase had higher ER positivity, PR positivity and c-erbB2 negativity, and the number of metastatic axillary lymph nodes was lower than the patients in follicular phase. Conclusion: BC surgery during the luteal phase in pre-menopausal women is associated with a better clinical outcome. Although larger-scale studies are needed, our results suggest that better results can be achieved by performing surgery in luteal phase in BC patients during premenopausal period.

scholarly journals The neurophysiological architecture of semantic dementia: spectral dynamic causal modelling of a neurodegenerative proteinopathy

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elia Benhamou ◽  
Charles R. Marshall ◽  
Lucy L. Russell ◽  
Chris J. D. Hardy ◽  
Rebecca L. Bond ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Network Architecture ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Effective Connectivity ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Semantic Dementia ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
World Knowledge ◽  
Causal Modelling ◽  
Dynamic Causal Modelling ◽  
Semantic Impairment

Abstract The selective destruction of large-scale brain networks by pathogenic protein spread is a ubiquitous theme in neurodegenerative disease. Characterising the circuit architecture of these diseases could illuminate both their pathophysiology and the computational architecture of the cognitive processes they target. However, this is challenging using standard neuroimaging techniques. Here we addressed this issue using a novel technique—spectral dynamic causal modelling—that estimates the effective connectivity between brain regions from resting-state fMRI data. We studied patients with semantic dementia—the paradigmatic disorder of the brain system mediating world knowledge—relative to healthy older individuals. We assessed how the effective connectivity of the semantic appraisal network targeted by this disease was modulated by pathogenic protein deposition and by two key phenotypic factors, semantic impairment and behavioural disinhibition. The presence of pathogenic protein in SD weakened the normal inhibitory self-coupling of network hubs in both antero-mesial temporal lobes, with development of an abnormal excitatory fronto-temporal projection in the left cerebral hemisphere. Semantic impairment and social disinhibition were linked to a similar but more extensive profile of abnormally attenuated inhibitory self-coupling within temporal lobe regions and excitatory projections between temporal and inferior frontal regions. Our findings demonstrate that population-level dynamic causal modelling can disclose a core pathophysiological feature of proteinopathic network architecture—attenuation of inhibitory connectivity—and the key elements of distributed neuronal processing that underwrite semantic memory.

scholarly journals Hyperdirect insula-basal-ganglia pathway and adult-like maturity of global brain responses predict inhibitory control in children

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weidong Cai ◽  
Katherine Duberg ◽  
Aarthi Padmanabhan ◽  
Rachel Rehert ◽  
Travis Bradley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Effective Connectivity ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Brain Organization ◽  
Activation Patterns ◽  
Maturation Index ◽  
The Right ◽  
Global Brain

Abstract Inhibitory control is fundamental to children’s self-regulation and cognitive development. Here we investigate cortical-basal ganglia pathways underlying inhibitory control in children and their adult-like maturity. We first conduct a comprehensive meta-analysis of extant neurodevelopmental studies of inhibitory control and highlight important gaps in the literature. Second, we examine cortical-basal ganglia activation during inhibitory control in children ages 9–12 and demonstrate the formation of an adult-like inhibitory control network by late childhood. Third, we develop a neural maturation index (NMI), which assesses the similarity of brain activation patterns between children and adults, and demonstrate that higher NMI in children predicts better inhibitory control. Fourth, we show that activity in the subthalamic nucleus and its effective connectivity with the right anterior insula predicts children’s inhibitory control. Fifth, we replicate our findings across multiple cohorts. Our findings provide insights into cortical-basal ganglia circuits and global brain organization underlying the development of inhibitory control.

Brain activation during emotion regulation in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. 1795-1802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Petersen ◽  
Dara G. Ghahremani ◽  
Andrea J. Rapkin ◽  
Steven M. Berman ◽  
Letty Liang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder ◽  
Follicular Phase ◽  
Precentral Gyrus ◽  
Affective Symptoms ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽  
The Right

AbstractBackgroundDifficulties in regulating emotions are linked to the core symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). We therefore investigated the neural substrates of emotion-regulation problems in women with PMDD.MethodsOn the basis of self-evaluations over 2 months on the Daily Record of Severity of Problems, eligible participants were assigned to two groups: PMDD and control (18 per group). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a well-validated task were used to assess brain function during emotion regulation. Participants were tested twice, once during the follicular (asymptomatic) and once in the late luteal (symptomatic) phase of the menstrual cycle.ResultsWomen with PMDD gave higher ratings of negative affect in the luteal phase than in the follicular phase, and compared with healthy control participants during the luteal phase. A region-of-interest fMRI analysis indicated that during the late luteal phase, women with PMDD had hypoactivation in right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) during all conditions of the emotion-regulation task, not only in the contrast that isolated emotion regulation. An exploratory whole-brain, voxel-wise analysis showed that women with PMDD had less activation in the precentral gyrus during the luteal phase than the follicular phase, and less activation in the postcentral gyrus compared with control participants.ConclusionsDuring the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, women with PMDD experience difficulty regulating emotions. Hypoactivation in the right dlPFC may contribute to this problem, but may be related more generally to other affective symptoms of PMDD. Hypofunction in the right pre- and postcentral gyri warrants additional study.

scholarly journals ADMA concentration changes across the menstrual cycle and during oral contraceptive use: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

2010 ◽  
Vol 162 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pirjo Valtonen ◽  
Kari Punnonen ◽  
Heli Saarelainen ◽  
Nonna Heiskanen ◽  
Olli T Raitakari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Contraceptive ◽  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Brachial Artery ◽  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Follicular Phase ◽  
Cycle Phase ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Brachial Artery Diameter ◽  
Concentration Changes ◽  
Adma Concentration

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels during different menstrual cycle phases in young adult women with or without oral contraceptive (OC) use.Design and methodsThe subjects (n=1079) originated from a large population-based, prospective cohort study conducted in Finland. Plasma ADMA, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), l-arginine, C-reactive protein, creatinine, and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) were measured. The use of OCs and menstrual cycle phase were determined from a questionnaire.ResultsIn non-OC users, ADMA (P=0.017), l-arginine (P=0.002), and ADMA/SDMA ratio (P<0.001) were significantly lower in the luteal phase than in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Non-OC users also had significantly higher ADMA and SDMA concentrations (P<0.001) and lower l-arginine concentrations (P<0.001) compared to OC users of estrogen-containing pills. Progestin-only contraceptive pills (POPs) did not lower the ADMA level, but maintained it at the same level as in non-OC users. In OC users, there were no significant differences found in ADMA, FMD, or FMD% across menstrual cycle, whereas brachial artery diameter was significantly more decreased in the luteal phase (P=0.013) than in the follicular phase.ConclusionWe observed that the circulating ADMA concentration varies across the menstrual cycle in young women not using OCs, and women on OCs displayed significantly lower circulating ADMA concentrations than non-OC users, though this was not the case with POP contraception.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document