scholarly journals BRAIN MR SPECTROSCOPIC FINDINGS IN THREE CONSECUTIVE COVID-19 PATIENTS: PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS

Author(s):  
Otto Rapalino ◽  
Akila Weerasekera ◽  
Sarah J. Moum ◽  
Katharina Eikermann-Haerter ◽  
Brian L. Edlow ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBrain magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) was performed in three consecutive COVID-19 patients, as part of a pilot investigation of the pathophysiological processes underlying the brain involvement by the SARS-CoV-2 infection. These included one with necrotizing leukoencephalopathy, one after recent PEA cardiac arrest without leukoencephalopathy, and one without frank encephalopathy or recent severe hypoxic episode. The MRSI findings were compared to those of two patients with white matter pathology not SARS-CoV2 infection related, and a control patient without clinical encephalopathy. The N-acetylaspartate reduction, choline elevation, and glutamate/glutamine elevation found in the COVID necrotizing leukoencephalopathy patient and, to a lesser degree, the COVID post-cardiac arrest patient, follow a similar pattern as seen with the delayed post-hypoxic leukoencephalopathy patient. Lactate elevation was most pronounced in the patient with COVID necrotizing leukoencephalopathy.

Author(s):  
Direnç Özlem Aksoy ◽  
Alpay Alkan

Background: Neurometabolic diseases are a group of diseases secondary to disorders in different metabolic pathways, which lead to white and/or gray matter of the brain involvement. </P><P> Discussion: Neurometabolic disorders are divided in two groups as dysmyelinating and demyelinating diseases. Because of wide spectrum of these disorders, there are many different classifications of neurometabolic diseases. We used the classification according to brain involvement areas. In radiological evaluation, MRI provides useful information for these disseases. Conclusion: Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) provides additional metabolic information for diagnosis and follow ups in childhood with neurometabolic diseases.


Author(s):  
Piotr Podwalski ◽  
Krzysztof Szczygieł ◽  
Ernest Tyburski ◽  
Leszek Sagan ◽  
Błażej Misiak ◽  
...  

Abstract Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an imaging technique that uses magnetic resonance. It measures the diffusion of water molecules in tissues, which can occur either without restriction (i.e., in an isotropic manner) or limited by some obstacles, such as cell membranes (i.e., in an anisotropic manner). Diffusion is most often measured in terms of, inter alia, fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD), and axial diffusivity (AD). DTI allows us to reconstruct, visualize, and evaluate certain qualities of white matter. To date, many studies have sought to associate various changes in the distribution of diffusion within the brain with mental diseases and disorders. A better understanding of white matter integrity disorders can help us recognize the causes of diseases, as well as help create objective methods of psychiatric diagnosis, identify biomarkers of mental illness, and improve pharmacotherapy. The aim of this work is to present the characteristics of DTI as well as current research on its use in schizophrenia, affective disorders, and other mental disorders.


2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 313-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inés González-Suárez ◽  
Javier Arpa ◽  
Juan José Ríos-Blanco

Objective: Endothelial dysfunction is associated with arterial stiffness, a factor that is increasingly recognised as an important determinant of cardiovascular risk. High-flow organs such as the brain and kidneys are particularly sensitive to excessive pressure and flow pulsatility. High, local blood flow is associated with low microvascular impedance, which facilitates the penetration of excessive pulsatile energy into the microvascular bed leading to tissue damage. Systemic endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness have been demonstrated in peripheral vessels in associated vasculitis (AAV). Although, the brain involvement is not infrequent in AAV, it has not been evaluated previously. Our aim is to evaluate the involvement of the brain microvasculature in AAV. Methods: Twenty-three patients with inactive AAV were studied. Brain blood flow was assessed by transcranial Doppler (TCD) and single-photon positron emission tomography (SPECT), structural brain involvement by brain MRI and cognitive scores by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. Results: Lower mean flow velocity (MFV) was associated to altered SPECT perfusion, higher white matter changes (WMC), lower MoCA scores and younger age (p < 0.05). Middle cerebral artery pulsatility index (MCA-PI) was related to hypertension, diabetes, lower scores on MoCA, increased vasculitis damage index (VDI) and perfusion impairment in SPECT (p < 0.05). These data were reproduced for all intracranial arteries. Up to 88.9% of patients had WMC on MRI. A higher lesion load was associated with age, decreased MoCA and fewer MFV with higher PI. The multivariable linear regression analysis showed that the greater the lesion loads, greater the bifrontal atrophy, MCA-PI and lower MoCA scores. Up to 60.9% of patients presented a decreased MoCA score (p = 0.012). It appeared to be related to VDI (p = 0.04), WMC (p = 0.004) and altered SPECT (p = 0.05). Conclusions: The alterations in brain perfusion SPECT, the presence of white matter lesions on MRI, as well as increased PI and RI with lower MFV of the cerebral vessels in TCD suggest the presence of microangiopathy in asymptomatic AAV that could lead to cognitive impairment.


2016 ◽  
pp. 155-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. JOZEFOVICOVA ◽  
V. HERYNEK ◽  
F. JIRU ◽  
M. DEZORTOVA ◽  
J. JUHASOVA ◽  
...  

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited autosomal neurodegenerative disorder affecting predominantly the brain, characterized by motor dysfunctions, behavioral and cognitive disturbances. The aim of this study was to determine changes in the brain of transgenic minipigs before HD onset using 1H magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy. Measurements were performed on a 3 T MR scanner using a single voxel spectroscopy sequence for spectra acquisition in the white matter and chemical shift imaging sequence for measurement in the striatum, hippocampus and thalamus. A decrease of (phospho)creatine (tCr) concentration was found only in the thalamus (p=0.002) of transgenic minipigs, nevertheless we found significant changes in metabolite ratios. Increase of the ratio choline compounds (tCho)/tCr was found in all examined areas: striatum (p=0.010), thalamus (p=0.011) as well as hippocampus (p=0.027). The ratio N-acetylaspartate+N-acetylaspartylglutamate (tNAA)/tCr (p=0.043) and glutamate+glutamine (Glx)/tCr (p=0.039) was elevated in the thalamus, the ratio myo-inositol (Ins)/tCr (p=0.048) was significantly increased in the hippocampus. No significant differences were observed in the metabolite concentrations in the white matter, however we found significant increase of ratios tNAA/tCr (p=0.018) and tCho/tCr (p=0.003) ratios in transgenic boars. We suppose that the majority of the observed changes are predominantly related to changes in energy metabolism caused by decrease of tCr.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lizhi Cao ◽  
Juan Wang ◽  
Yaxuan Gao ◽  
Yumei Liang ◽  
Jinhua Yan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Heat stroke (HS) is a critical illness that can cause multiple organ dysfunction including damage to the central nervous system (CNS), which can be life-threatening in severe cases. The brain image lesions of HS patient with CNS damage has been rarely reported before and usually variable in different cases, causing confusing to doctors when encounter these patients in the clinic. Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare cause of stroke that mostly affects young people and children. The pathogenesis of brain damage caused by HS is complex, CVT may be involved in the pathogenesis of HS with CNS damage. In this manuscript, we report a case of HS with CVT with symmetrical lesions in the bilateral putamen,posterior limb of internal capsule,external capsule, insula lobe, and subcortical white matter inside the brain. Case presentation We introduced a 48-year-old man who suffered from HS in the hot summer. At the time of admission, he showed high body temperature, coma and shock. Later, he had laboratory evidence of rhabdomyolysis syndrome, acute kidney and liver damage, electrolyte imbalance, acid-base balance disorders, and high D-dimer levels. After several days of anti-shock treatment, his level of consciousness has improved but his vision has declined. The cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed symmetrical lesions of the bilateral posterior limb of internal capsule,putamen,external capsule and insula, and subcortical white matter, and cerebral magnetic resonance venography (MRV) showed the formation of deep cerebral venous thrombosis (DCVT). Therefore, the anti-coagulation treatment was given to patient. After timely clinical intervention, the symptom of the patient was gradually improved. Conclusions The case shows that HS can cause CVT. Therefore, we believe that when we need to identify the cerebral MRI findings of HS, early MRV can greatly help the diagnosis of the disease, and can effectively improve the prognosis.


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