scholarly journals Long-term white matter tract reorganization following prolonged febrile seizures

Epilepsia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 772-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suresh S. Pujar ◽  
Kiran K. Seunarine ◽  
Marina M. Martinos ◽  
Brian G. R. Neville ◽  
Rod C. Scott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Febrile Seizures ◽  
White Matter Tract

Individual differences in white and grey matter structure associated with verbal habits of thought

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin C. Hayes ◽  
Katherine L Alfred ◽  
Rachel Pizzie ◽  
Joshua S. Cetron ◽  
David J. M. Kraemer
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Self Report ◽  
White Matter Tracts

Modality specific encoding habits account for a significant portion of individual differences reflected in functional activation during cognitive processing. Yet, little is known about how these habits of thought influence long-term structural changes in the brain. Traditionally, habits of thought have been assessed using self-report questionnaires such as the visualizer-verbalizer questionnaire. Here, rather than relying on subjective reports, we measured habits of thought using a novel behavioral task assessing attentional biases toward picture and word stimuli. Hypothesizing that verbal habits of thought are reflected in the structural integrity of white matter tracts and cortical regions of interest, we used diffusion tensor imaging and volumetric analyses to assess this prediction. Using a whole-brain approach, we show that word bias is associated with increased volume in several bilateral language regions, in both white and grey matter parcels. Additionally, connectivity within white matter tracts within an a priori speech production network increased as a function of word bias. These results demonstrate long-term structural and morphological differences associated with verbal habits of thought.

Cortically constrained shape recognition: Automated white matter tract segmentation validated in the pediatric brain

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kesshi M. Jordan ◽  
Michael Lauricella ◽  
Abigail E. Licata ◽  
Simone Sacco ◽  
Carlo Asteggiano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Shape Recognition ◽  
White Matter Tract ◽  
Pediatric Brain

scholarly journals Mapping of long-term cognitive and motor deficits in pediatric cerebellar brain tumor survivors into a cerebellar white matter atlas

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederik Grosse ◽  
Stefan Mark Rueckriegel ◽  
Ulrich-Wilhelm Thomale ◽  
Pablo Hernáiz Driever
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Cerebellar Nuclei ◽  
Motor Deficits ◽  
Deep Cerebellar Nuclei ◽  
Cerebellar White Matter ◽  
Lesion Symptom Mapping

Abstract Purpose Diaschisis of cerebrocerebellar loops contributes to cognitive and motor deficits in pediatric cerebellar brain tumor survivors. We used a cerebellar white matter atlas and hypothesized that lesion symptom mapping may reveal the critical lesions of cerebellar tracts. Methods We examined 31 long-term survivors of pediatric posterior fossa tumors (13 pilocytic astrocytoma, 18 medulloblastoma). Patients underwent neuronal imaging, examination for ataxia, fine motor and cognitive function, planning abilities, and executive function. Individual consolidated cerebellar lesions were drawn manually onto patients’ individual MRI and normalized into Montreal Neurologic Institute (MNI) space for further analysis with voxel-based lesion symptom mapping. Results Lesion symptom mapping linked deficits of motor function to the superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP), deep cerebellar nuclei (interposed nucleus (IN), fastigial nucleus (FN), ventromedial dentate nucleus (DN)), and inferior vermis (VIIIa, VIIIb, IX, X). Statistical maps of deficits of intelligence and executive function mapped with minor variations to the same cerebellar structures. Conclusion We identified lesions to the SCP next to deep cerebellar nuclei as critical for limiting both motor and cognitive function in pediatric cerebellar tumor survivors. Future strategies safeguarding motor and cognitive function will have to identify patients preoperatively at risk for damage to these critical structures and adapt multimodal therapeutic options accordingly.

scholarly journals Longitudinal deterioration of white-matter integrity: heterogeneity in the ageing population

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Poulakis ◽  
Robert I Reid ◽  
Scott A Przybelski ◽  
David S Knopman ◽  
Jonathan Graff-Radford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Internal Capsule ◽  
Population Based ◽  
White Matter Integrity ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
White Matter Tract ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
Cognitive Assessments ◽  
Longitudinal Imaging ◽  
Systemic Health

Abstract Deterioration in white-matter health plays a role in cognitive ageing. Our goal was to discern heterogeneity of white-matter tract vulnerability in ageing using longitudinal imaging data (two to five imaging and cognitive assessments per participant) from a population-based sample of 553 elderly participants (age ≥60 years). We found that different clusters (healthy white matter, fast white-matter decliners and intermediate white-matter group) were heterogeneous in the spatial distribution of white-matter integrity, systemic health and cognitive trajectories. White-matter health of specific tracts (genu of corpus callosum, posterior corona radiata and anterior internal capsule) informed about cluster assignments. Not surprisingly, brain amyloidosis was not significantly different between clusters. Clusters had differential white-matter tract vulnerability to ageing (commissural fibres > association/brainstem fibres). Identification of vulnerable white-matter tracts is a valuable approach to assessing risk for cognitive decline.

scholarly journals QOL-09. WHOLE-BRAIN WHITE MATTER NETWORK CONNECTIVITY IS DISRUPTED BY PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR TREATMENT

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii432-iii432
Author(s):  
Adeoye Oyefiade ◽  
Kiran Beera ◽  
Iska Moxon-Emre ◽  
Jovanka Skocic ◽  
Ute Bartels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Pediatric Brain Tumor ◽  
Pediatric Brain Tumors ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Images ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Brain White Matter ◽  
The Right ◽  
Pediatric Brain ◽  
Betweeness Centrality

Abstract INTRODUCTION Treatments for pediatric brain tumors (PBT) are neurotoxic and lead to long-term deficits that are driven by the perturbation of underlying white matter (WM). It is unclear if and how treatment may impair WM connectivity across the entire brain. METHODS Magnetic resonance images from 41 PBT survivors (mean age: 13.19 years, 53% M) and 41 typically developing (TD) children (mean age: 13.32 years, 51% M) were analyzed. Image reconstruction, segmentation, and node parcellation were completed in FreeSurfer. DTI maps and probabilistic streamline generation were completed in MRtrix3. Connectivity matrices were based on the number of streamlines connecting two nodes and the mean DTI (FA) index across streamlines. We used graph theoretical analyses to define structural differences between groups, and random forest (RF) analyses to identify hubs that reliably classify PBT and TD children. RESULTS For survivors treated with radiation, betweeness centrality was greater in the left insular (p < 0.000) but smaller in the right pallidum (p < 0.05). For survivors treated without radiation (surgery-only), betweeness centrality was smaller in the right interparietal sulcus (p < 0.05). RF analyses showed that differences in WM connectivity from the right pallidum to other parts of the brain reliably classified PBT survivors from TD children (classification accuracy = 77%). CONCLUSIONS The left insular, right pallidum, and right inter-parietal sulcus are structurally perturbed hubs in PBT survivors. WM connectivity from the right pallidum is vulnerable to the long-term effects of treatment for PBT.

scholarly journals Increased serum QUIN/KYNA is a reliable biomarker of post-stroke cognitive decline

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrien Cogo ◽  
Gabrielle Mangin ◽  
Benjamin Maïer ◽  
Jacques Callebert ◽  
Mikael Mazighi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Cerebral Artery ◽  
Quinolinic Acid ◽  
Neuronal Death ◽  
Artery Occlusion ◽  
Serum Biomarkers ◽  
Diabetic Mice ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Cerebral Artery Occlusion

Abstract Background Strokes are becoming less severe due to increased numbers of intensive care units and improved treatments. As patients survive longer, post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) has become a major health public issue. Diabetes has been identified as an independent predictive factor for PSCI. Here, we characterized a clinically relevant mouse model of PSCI, induced by permanent cerebral artery occlusion in diabetic mice, and investigated whether a reliable biomarker of PSCI may emerge from the kynurenine pathway which has been linked to inflammatory processes. Methods Cortical infarct was induced by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in male diabetic mice (streptozotocin IP). Six weeks later, cognitive assessment was performed using the Barnes maze, hippocampi long-term potentiation using microelectrodes array recordings, and neuronal death, white matter rarefaction and microglia/macrophages density assessed in both hemispheres using imunohistochemistry. Brain and serum metabolites of the kynurenin pathway were measured using HPLC and mass fragmentography. At last, these same metabolites were measured in the patient’s serum, at the acute phase of stroke, to determine if they could predict PSCI 3 months later. Results We found long-term spatial memory was impaired in diabetic mice 6 weeks after stroke induction. Synaptic plasticity was completely suppressed in both hippocampi along with increased neuronal death, white matter rarefaction in both striatum, and increased microglial/macrophage density in the ipsilateral hemisphere. Brain and serum quinolinic acid concentrations and quinolinic acid over kynurenic acid ratios were significantly increased compared to control, diabetic and non-diabetic ischemic mice, where PSCI was absent. These putative serum biomarkers were strongly correlated with degradation of long-term memory, neuronal death, microglia/macrophage infiltration and white matter rarefaction. Moreover, we identified these same serum biomarkers as potential predictors of PSCI in a pilot study of stroke patients. Conclusions we have established and characterized a new model of PSCI, functionally and structurally, and we have shown that the QUIN/KYNA ratio could be used as a surrogate biomarker of PSCI, which may now be tested in large prospective studies of stroke patients.

scholarly journals Listening to Mom in the NICU: effects of increased maternal speech exposure on language outcomes and white matter development in infants born very preterm

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edith Brignoni-Pérez ◽  
Maya Chan Morales ◽  
Virginia A. Marchman ◽  
Melissa Scala ◽  
Heidi M. Feldman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Structural Connectivity ◽  
Receptive Language ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Language Outcomes ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Very Preterm ◽  
White Matter Development ◽  
Maternal Speech

Abstract Background Infants born very preterm (< 32 weeks gestational age (GA)) are at risk for developmental language delays. Poor language outcomes in children born preterm have been linked to neurobiological factors, including impaired development of the brain’s structural connectivity (white matter), and environmental factors, including decreased exposure to maternal speech in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Interventions that enhance preterm infants’ exposure to maternal speech show promise as potential strategies for improving short-term health outcomes. Intervention studies have yet to establish whether increased exposure to maternal speech in the NICU offers benefits beyond the newborn period for brain and language outcomes. Methods This randomized controlled trial assesses the long-term effects of increased maternal speech exposure on structural connectivity at 12 months of age (age adjusted for prematurity (AA)) and language outcomes between 12 and 18 months of age AA. Study participants (N = 42) will include infants born very preterm (24–31 weeks 6/7 days GA). Newborns are randomly assigned to the treatment (n = 21) or standard medical care (n = 21) group. Treatment consists of increased maternal speech exposure, accomplished by playing audio recordings of each baby’s own mother reading a children’s book via an iPod placed in their crib/incubator. Infants in the control group have the identical iPod setup but are not played recordings. The primary outcome will be measures of expressive and receptive language skills, obtained from a parent questionnaire collected at 12–18 months AA. The secondary outcome will be measures of white matter development, including the mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy derived from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging scans performed at around 36 weeks postmenstrual age during the infants’ routine brain imaging session before hospital discharge and 12 months AA. Discussion The proposed study is expected to establish the potential impact of increased maternal speech exposure on long-term language outcomes and white matter development in infants born very preterm. If successful, the findings of this study may help to guide NICU clinical practice for promoting language and brain development. This clinical trial has the potential to advance theoretical understanding of how early language exposure directly changes brain structure for later language learning. Trial registration NIH Clinical Trials (ClinicalTrials.gov) NCT04193579. Retrospectively registered on 10 December 2019.

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