Diffusion tensor imaging analysis in scrub typhus meningoencephalitis to determine the alteration of microstructural subcortical white-matter integrity

Background and purpose Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain in scrub typhus meningoencephalitis is non-specific, and in the majority of the cases, conventional MRI fails to detect any abnormality. However, autopsy reports depict central nervous system involvement in almost all patients. There is therefore a need for research on the quantitative assessment of brain parenchyma that can detect microstructural abnormalities. The study aimed to assess the microstructural integrity changes of scrub typhus meningoencephalitis by using different diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of scrub typhus meningoencephalitis. Seven patients and seven age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Different DTI parameters such as apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), fractional anisotropy (FA), relative anisotropy (RA), trace, volume ratio (VR) and geodesic anisotropy (GA) were obtained from six different regions of subcortical white matter at the level of the centrum semiovale. Intergroup significant difference was determined by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to determine the accuracy of the DTI matrices. Results There was a significant decrease in FA, RA and GA as well as an increase in ADC and VR in the subcortical white matter in patients with scrub typhus meningoencephalitis compared to controls ( p < 0.001). The maximum sensitivity of the DTI parameters was 85.7%, and the maximum specificity was 81%. Conclusion There was an alteration of subcortical white-matter integrity in scrub typhus meningoencephalitis that represents the axonal degeneration, myelin breakdown and neuronal degeneration. DTI may be a useful tool to detect white-matter abnormalities in scrub typhus meningoencephalitis in clinical practice, particularly in patients with negative conventional MRI.

Download Full-text

Diffusion tensor imaging of brain white matter in Huntington gene mutation individuals

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria ◽

10.1590/0004-282x20170085 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 75 (8) ◽

pp. 503-508 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Roberta Arb Saba ◽

James H. Yared ◽

Thomas M. Doring ◽

Med Phys ◽

Vanderci Borges ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽

White Matter ◽

Gene Mutation ◽

Fractional Anisotropy ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

White Matter Integrity ◽

Brain White Matter ◽

Potential Biomarker ◽

Significant Difference

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the role of the involvement of white matter tracts in huntingtin gene mutation patients as a potential biomarker of the progression of the disease. Methods We evaluated 34 participants (11 symptomatic huntingtin gene mutation, 12 presymptomatic huntingtin gene mutation, and 11 controls). We performed brain magnetic resonance imaging to assess white matter integrity using diffusion tensor imaging, with measurement of fractional anisotropy. Results We observed a significant decrease of fractional anisotropy in the cortical spinal tracts, corona radiate, corpus callosum, external capsule, thalamic radiations, superior and inferior longitudinal fasciculus, and inferior frontal-occipital fasciculus in the Huntington disease group compared to the control and presymptomatic groups. Reduction of fractional anisotropy is indicative of a degenerative process and axonal loss. There was no statistically significant difference between the presymptomatic and control groups. Conclusion White matter integrity is affected in huntingtin gene mutation symptomatic individuals, but other studies with larger samples are required to assess its usefulness in the progression of the neurodegenerative process.

Download Full-text

High Resolution Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Cortical-Subcortical White Matter Tracts in TBI

10.21236/ada549548 ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

Deborah M. Little

Keyword(s):

Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽

White Matter ◽

High Resolution ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Subcortical White Matter ◽

White Matter Tracts

Download Full-text

Age-related changes in white matter integrity: A diffusion tensor imaging study

NeuroImage ◽

10.1016/s1053-8119(09)71239-x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 47 ◽

pp. S128

Author(s):

H Lemaitre ◽

S Marenco ◽

M Emery ◽

T Alam ◽

M Geramita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽

White Matter ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Imaging Study ◽

White Matter Integrity ◽

Age Related ◽

Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study ◽

Age Related Changes

Download Full-text

Age-related differences in multiple measures of white matter integrity: A diffusion tensor imaging study of healthy aging

Human Brain Mapping ◽

10.1002/hbm.20872 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. NA-NA ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

Ilana J. Bennett ◽

David J. Madden ◽

Chandan J. Vaidya ◽

Darlene V. Howard ◽

James H. Howard

Keyword(s):

Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽

White Matter ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Imaging Study ◽

White Matter Integrity ◽

Multiple Measures ◽

Age Related ◽

Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study

Download Full-text

Olfactory Function and Diffusion Tensor Imaging as Markers of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Early Stages of Parkinson's Disease

Clinical EEG and Neuroscience ◽

10.1177/15500594211058263 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 155005942110582

Author(s):

Sophie A. Stewart ◽

Laura Pimer ◽

John D. Fisk ◽

Benjamin Rusak ◽

Ron A. Leslie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

White Matter ◽

Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Early Stage ◽

White Matter Integrity

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is typified by motor signs and symptoms but can also lead to significant cognitive impairment and dementia Parkinson's Disease Dementia (PDD). While dementia is considered a nonmotor feature of PD that typically occurs later, individuals with PD may experience mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) earlier in the disease course. Olfactory deficit (OD) is considered another nonmotor symptom of PD and often presents even before the motor signs and diagnosis of PD. We examined potential links among cognitive impairment, olfactory functioning, and white matter integrity of olfactory brain regions in persons with early-stage PD. Cognitive tests were used to established groups with PD-MCI and with normal cognition (PD-NC). Olfactory functioning was examined using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) while the white matter integrity of the anterior olfactory structures (AOS) was examined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analysis. Those with PD-MCI demonstrated poorer olfactory functioning and abnormalities based on all DTI parameters in the AOS, relative to PD-NC individuals. OD and microstructural changes in the AOS of individuals with PD may serve as additional biological markers of PD-MCI.

Download Full-text