Impairment and Plasticity of Language-Related White Matter in Patients With Brain Arteriovenous Malformations

Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaofeng Deng ◽  
Hu Yin ◽  
Yan Zhang ◽  
Dong Zhang ◽  
Shuo Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Disease Model ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Language Functions ◽  
Traditional Language ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Uncinate Fascicle ◽  
Myelin Deficits ◽  
Language Areas

Background and Purpose: Language dysfunction is rarely seen in patients with unruptured brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) albeit the AVM nidus involving language areas, which provides a unique disease model to study language reorganization. The objective of this study was to investigate the impairment and reorganization patterns and characteristics of language-related white matter in AVMs located at different brain areas. Methods: Thirty-three patients with AVMs involving language areas were prospectively enrolled. Patients were categorized into 3 groups according to the lesion locations: the frontal (14 patients), temporal (15 patients), and parietal groups (4 patients). Thirty age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled as comparison. All participants underwent diffusion tensor imaging scans, and automated fiber quantification method was applied to quantitatively study the difference of segmented language-related white matter connectivity between 3 AVM groups and control group. Results: Language functions were normal in all subjects according to Western Aphasia Battery test. In the frontal group, fractional anisotropy (FA) value decreased in the left arcuate fascicle and increased in left superior longitudinal fasciculus and uncinate fascicle; in the temporal group, FA values decreased in left inferior fronto-occipital fascicle and inferior longitudinal fascicle and increased in right anterior thalamic radiation and uncinate fascicle; in the parietal group, FA values decreased in left arcuate fascicle and inferior longitudinal fascicle and increased in bilateral anterior thalamic radiations and uncinate fascicles and right inferior fronto-occipital fascicle. In fascicles with decreased FA values, the increase of radial diffusivity was common, and fascicles with increased FA values usually presented along with increased axial diffusivity values. Conclusions: Remodeling of language-related white matter occurs when traditional language areas are involved by AVM nidus, and its reorganization patterns vary with locations of AVM nidus. Fascicle impairment is mainly caused by the myelin deficits, and its plasticity may be dominated by the axon remodeling procedure.

scholarly journals Positive relation between arcuate fasciculus white matter fiber structure and severity of auditory hallucinations: A DTI tractography study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liv E. Falkenberg ◽  
René Westerhausen ◽  
Erik Johnsen ◽  
Rune Kroken ◽  
Else-Marie Løberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Arcuate Fasciculus ◽  
Auditory Verbal Hallucinations ◽  
Syndrome Scale ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Dti Tractography ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Language Areas

AbstractThe arcuate fasciculus (AF) has been implicated in the pathology behind schizophrenia and auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs). White matter tracts forming the arcuate fasciculus can be quantified and visualized using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography. Although there have been a number of studies on this topic, the results have been conflicting. Studying the underlying white matter structure of the AF could shed light on functional connectivity between temporal and frontal language areas in AVHs. The participants were 66 patients with a schizophrenia diagnosis, where AVHs were defined from the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and compared with a healthy control group. DTI was performed on a 3T MR scanner, and tensor estimation was done using deterministic streamline tractography. Statistical analysis of the data showed significantly longer tracts along the AF in patients with severe and frequent AVHs, as well as an overall significant asymmetry with longer fibers on the left side. In addition, there were significant positive correlations between PANSS scores and tract length, tract volume, and number of streamlines for the posterior AF segment on the left side. It is concluded that the present structural results complement previous functional findings of fronto-temporal connectivity in AVH patients.

scholarly journals Bi-caudate ratio as a MRI marker of white matter atrophy in multiple sclerosis and ischemic leukocencephalopathy

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dena Serag ◽  
Eman Ragab
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Surrogate Marker ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Subjective Assessment ◽  
Linear Measurement ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Imaging Science ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Background Brain atrophy measurement is now a cornerstone in basic neuro-imaging science. While assessment of white matter atrophy by visual inspection is subjective, volumetric approaches are time-consuming and not often feasible. Bi-caudate ratio represents a linear surrogate parameter of brain volume that can be derived from standard imaging sequences. This study highlights the value of the bi-caudate ratio (BCR) as a MRI marker of white matter atrophy in patients with multiple sclerosis and ischemic leukoencephalopathy and set a cut-off value to differentiate between patients with white matter atrophy and normal subjects. Results A total of 115 patients (54 males and 61 females) diagnosed with white matter leukoencephalopathy (MS in 51 patients and ischemic leukoencephalopathy in 64 patients) were included. Another group of 60 subjects with a normal white matter signal was recruited as a control group. BCR for the patient group ranged from 0.13 to 0.27 (mean (± SD) = 0.16 ± 0.02), while for the control group, it ranged from 0.05 mm to 0.13 (mean (± SD) = 0.09 ± 0.01). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P value < 0.001). A cut-off value of 0.13 was used to differentiate between the BCR in both patients and control groups with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 99.2%, 100%, and 99%, respectively. The difference in BCR for patients diagnosed with MS and ischemic leukoencephalopathy was also statistically significant (P value < 0.001). Conclusion The bi-caudate ratio represents a linear measurement of subcortical atrophy that can be useful as a surrogate marker of global supra-tentorial white matter atrophy instead of the usually performed visual and therefore subjective assessment. It is an easily obtained measure that can be performed without complex time-consuming volumetric studies. Our findings also revealed that the BCR is higher in patients with ischemic leukoencephalopathy than in patients with MS.

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

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
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.

scholarly journals White Matter Changes on Diffusion Tensor Imaging in the FINGER Randomized Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-86
Author(s):  
Ruth Stephen ◽  
Alina Solomon ◽  
Tiia Ngandu ◽  
Esko Levälahti ◽  
Juha O. Rinne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Pathological Changes ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
White Matter Microstructure ◽  
Multidomain Intervention

Background: Early pathological changes in white matter microstructure can be studied using the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). It is not only important to study these subtle pathological changes leading to cognitive decline, but also to ascertain how an intervention would impact the white matter microstructure and cognition in persons at-risk of dementia. Objectives: To study the impact of a multidomain lifestyle intervention on white matter and cognitive changes during the 2-year Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER), a randomized controlled trial in at-risk older individuals (age 60–77 years) from the general population. Methods: This exploratory study consisted of a subsample of 60 FINGER participants. Participants were randomized to either a multidomain intervention (diet, exercise, cognitive training, and vascular risk management, n = 34) or control group (general health advice, n = 26). All underwent baseline and 2-year brain DTI. Changes in fractional anisotropy (FA), diffusivity along domain (F1) and non-domain (F2) diffusion orientations, mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AxD), radial diffusivity (RD), and their correlations with cognitive changes during the 2-year multidomain intervention were analyzed. Results: FA decreased, and cognition improved more in the intervention group compared to the control group (p < 0.05), with no significant intergroup differences for changes in F1, F2, MD, AxD, or RD. The cognitive changes were significantly positively related to FA change, and negatively related to RD change in the control group, but not in the intervention group. Conclusion: The 2-year multidomain FINGER intervention may modulate white matter microstructural alterations.

scholarly journals Motor cortex gliomas induces microstructural changes of large fiber tracts revealed by TBSS

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangdong Wang ◽  
Chunyao Zhou ◽  
Lei Wang ◽  
Yinyan Wang ◽  
Tao Jiang
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Mean Diffusivity ◽  
Cerebral White Matter ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Fiber Tracts ◽  
3.0 T ◽  
White Matter Fiber Tracts

Abstract Gliomas grow and invade along white matter fiber tracts. This study assessed the effects of motor cortex gliomas on the cerebral white matter fiber bundle skeleton. The motor cortex glioma group included 21 patients, and the control group comprised 14 healthy volunteers. Both groups underwent magnetic resonance imaging-based 3.0 T diffusion tensor imaging. We used tract-based spatial statistics to analyze the characteristics of white matter fiber bundles. The left and right motor cortex glioma groups were analyzed separately from the control group. Results were statistically corrected by the family-wise error rate. Compared with the controls, patients with left motor cortex gliomas exhibited significantly reduced fractional anisotropy and an increased radial diffusivity in the corpus callosum. The alterations in mean diffusivity (MD) and the axial diffusivity (AD) were widely distributed throughout the brain. Furthermore, atlas-based analysis showed elevated MD and AD in the contralateral superior fronto-occipital fasciculus. Motor cortex gliomas significantly affect white matter fiber microstructure proximal to the tumor. The range of affected white matter fibers may extend beyond the tumor-affected area. These changes are primarily related to early stage tumor invasion.

scholarly journals Cognitive deficits and white matter abnormalities in never-treated first-episode schizophrenia

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mi Yang ◽  
Shan Gao ◽  
Xiangyang Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Internal Capsule ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Pathophysiological Mechanism ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
First Episode Schizophrenia

Abstract Cognitive impairment is viewed as a core symptom of schizophrenia (SCZ), but its pathophysiological mechanism remains unclear. White matter (WM) disruption is considered to be a central abnormality that may contribute to cognitive impairment in SCZ patients. However, few studies have addressed the association between cognition and WM integrity in never-treated first-episode (NTFE) patients with SCZ. In this study, we used the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) to evaluate cognitive function in NTFE patients (n = 39) and healthy controls (n = 30), and associated it with whole-brain fractional anisotropy (FA) values obtained via voxel-based diffusion tensor imaging. We found that FA was lower in five brain areas of SCZ patients, including the cingulate gyrus, internal capsule, corpus callosum, cerebellum, and brainstem. Compared with the healthy control group, the MCCB’s total score and 8 out of 10 subscores were significantly lower in NTFE patients (all p < 0.001). Moreover, in patients but not healthy controls, the performance in the Trail Making Test was negatively correlated with the FA value in the left cingulate. Our findings provide evidence that WM disconnection is involved in some cognitive impairment in the early course of SCZ.

scholarly journals Evaluation of white matter in patients with multiple sclerosis through diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging

2007 ◽  
Vol 65 (3a) ◽  
pp. 561-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel E. Maia de Andrade ◽  
Emerson L. Gasparetto ◽  
Luiz Celso Hygino Cruz Jr. ◽  
Fabiana Brito Ferreira ◽  
Roberto Cortês Domingues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Mr Imaging ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Statistical Treatment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Normal Appearing White Matter ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Normal White Matter

OBJECTIVE: To study the white matter of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with diffusion tensor magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (DTI). METHOD: Forty patients with clinical-laboratorial diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS and 40 age- and sex-matched controls, who underwent conventional and functional (DTI) MR imaging, were included in the study. The DTI sequences resulted in maps of fractional anisotropy (FA) and regions of interest were placed on the plaques, peri-plaque regions, normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) around the plaques, contralateral normal white matter (CNWM) and normal white matter of the controls (WMC). The FA values were compared and the statistical treatment was performed with the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The mean FA in plaques was 0.268, in peri-plaque regions 0.365, in NAWM 0.509, in CNWM 0.552 and in WMC 0.573. Statistical significant differences in FA values were observed in plaques, peri-plaque regions and in NAWM around the plaques when compared to the white matter in the control group. There was no significant difference between the FA values of the CNWM of patients with MS and normal white matter of controls. CONCLUSION: Patients with MS show difference in the FA values of the plaques, peri-plaques and NAWM around the plaques when compared to the normal white matter of controls. As a result, DTI may be considered more efficient than conventional MR imaging for the study of patients with MS.

scholarly journals Examining Microstructural White Matter in Active Duty Soldiers with a History of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Traumatic Stress

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael N. Dretsch ◽  
Rael T. Lange ◽  
Jeffery S. Katz ◽  
Adam Goodman ◽  
Thomas A. Daniel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Active Duty ◽  
Control Group ◽  
History Of

Background:There is a high comorbidity of posttraumatic stress (PTS) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), with largely overlapping symptomatology, in military service members.Objective:To examine white matter integrity associated with PTS and mTBI as assessed using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).Method:Seventy-four active-duty U.S. soldiers with PTS (n = 16) and PTS with co-morbid history of mTBI (PTS/mTBI; n = 28) were compared to a military control group (n = 30). Participants received a battery of neurocognitive and clinical symptom measures. The number of abnormal DTI values was determined (>2 SDs from the mean of the control group) for fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), and then compared between groups. In addition, mean DTI values from white matter tracts falling into three categories were compared between groups: (i) projection tracts: superior, middle, and inferior cerebellar peduncles, pontine crossing tract, and corticospinal tract; (ii) association tracts: superior longitudinal fasciculus; and (iii) commissure tracts: cingulum bundle (cingulum-cingulate gyrus and cingulum-hippocampus), and corpus callosum.Results:The comorbid PTS/mTBI group had significantly greater traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and post-concussive symptoms, and they performed worse on neurocognitive testing than those with PTS alone and controls. The groups differed greatly on several clinical variables, but contrary to what we hypothesized, they did not differ greatly on primary and exploratory analytic approaches of hetero-spatial whole brain DTI analyses.Conclusion:The findings suggest that psychological health conditions rather than pathoanatomical changes may be contributing to symptom presentation in this population.

scholarly journals Insights into smouldering MS brain pathology with multimodal diffusion tensor and PET imaging

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svetlana Bezukladova ◽  
Jouni Tuisku ◽  
Markus Matilainen ◽  
Anna Vuorimaa ◽  
Marjo Nylund ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Pet Imaging ◽  
Microglial Activation ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Volume Ratio ◽  
Translocator Protein ◽  
Control Group ◽  
In Vivo Evaluation ◽  
Conventional Mri

Objective: To evaluate in vivo the co-occurrence of microglial activation and microstructural white matter damage in multiple sclerosis (MS) brain, and to examine their association with clinical disability. Methods: 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO) brain PET imaging was performed for evaluation of microglial activation by using the radioligand [11C](R)-PK11195. TSPO-binding was evaluated as the distribution volume ratio (DVR) from dynamic PET images. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and conventional MRI were performed at the same time. Mean fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean (MD), axial (AD) and radial (RD) diffusivities were calculated within the whole normal appearing white matter (NAWM) and segmented NAWM regions appearing normal in conventional MRI. 55 MS patients and 15 healthy controls were examined. Results: Microstructural damage was observed in the NAWM of MS brain. DTI parameters of MS patients were significantly altered in the NAWM, when compared to an age- and sex-matched healthy control group: mean FA was decreased, and MD, AD and RD were increased. These structural abnormalities correlated with increased TSPO binding in the whole NAWM and in the temporal NAWM (p<0.05 for all correlations; p<0.01 for RD in the temporal NAWM). Both compromised WM integrity and increased microglial activation in the NAWM correlated significantly with higher clinical disability measured with expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Conclusions: Widespread structural disruption in the NAWM is linked to neuroinflammation, and both phenomena associate with clinical disability. Multimodal PET and DTI imaging allows in vivo evaluation of widespread MS pathology not visible using conventional MRI.

scholarly journals Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and its Relationship with Disability

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ş. Temel ◽  
H.D. Kekliğkoğlu ◽  
G. Vural ◽  
O. Deniz ◽  
K. Ercan
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Water Diffusion ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Significant Difference

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI) can yield important information on the in vivo pathological processes affecting water diffusion. The aim of this study was to quantitatively define water diffusion in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) distant from the plaque, in the plaque, and around the plaque, and to investigate the correlation of these changes with clinical disability. Conventional MRI and DTI scans were conducted in 30 patients with MS and 15 healthy individuals. Fractional anisotropy maps and visible diffusion coefficients were created and integrated with T2-weighted images. Regions of interest (ROIs) were placed on the plaques on the same side, white matter around the plaques and NAWM on the opposite side. Only the white matter of healthy individuals in the control group, and FA and ADC values were obtained for comparison. The highest FA and lowest ADC were detected in the control group at the periventricular region, cerebellar peduncle and at all ROIs irrespective of location. There was a significant difference in comparison to the control group at all ROIs in patients with MS (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). No significant correlation between diffusion parameters and expanded disability state scale (EDSS) scores was found in patients with MS. DTI may provide more accurate information on the damage due to the illness, compared to T2A sequences, but this damage may not be correlated with the clinical disability measured by EDSS score.

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