Exploring the distribution of grey and white matter brain volumes in extremely preterm children, using magnetic resonance imaging at term age and at 10 years of age

Objectives To investigate differences in brain volumes between children born extremely preterm and term born controls at term age and at 10 years of age. Study design Children born extremely preterm (EPT), up to 26 weeks and 6 days gestational age, in Stockholm between January 1 2004 to March 31 2007 were included in this population-based cohort study. A total of 45 EPT infants were included at term age and 51 EPT children were included at 10 years of age. There were 27 EPT children included at both time points. Two different control groups were recruited; 15 control infants were included at term age and 38 control children at 10 years of age. The primary outcomes were the grey and white matter volumes. Linear regression, adjusted for intracranial volume and sex, was used. Results At term age, the extremely preterm infants had significantly smaller grey matter volume compared to the control infants with an adjusted mean difference of 5.0 cm3 and a 95% confidence interval of −8.4 to −1.5 (p = 0.004). At 10 years of age the extremely preterm children had significantly smaller white matter volume compared to the control children with an adjusted mean difference of 6.0 cm3 and a 95% confidence interval of −10.9 to −1.0 (p = 0.010). Conclusion Extremely preterm birth was associated with reduced grey matter volume at term age and reduced white matter volume at 10 years of age compared to term born controls.

Download Full-text

Causal effect of atrial fibrillation on brain white or grey matter volume: A Mendelian randomization study

10.1101/2020.12.17.20248314 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sehoon Park ◽

Soojin Lee ◽

Yaerim Kim ◽

Semin Cho ◽

Kwangsoo Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

White Matter ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Mendelian Randomization ◽

Brain Volume ◽

Causal Effect ◽

Grey Matter Volume ◽

Volume Loss ◽

White Matter Volume ◽

Matter Volume

AbstractBackgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) and brain volume loss are prevalent in older individuals. Further study investigating the causal effect of AF on brain volume is warranted.MethodsThis study was a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. The genetic instrument for AF was constructed from a previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis and included 537,409 individuals of European ancestry. The outcome summary statistics for quantile-normalized white or grey matter volume measured by magnetic resonance imaging were provided by the previous GWAS of 8426 white British UK Biobank participants. The main MR method was the inverse variance weighted method, supported by sensitivity MR analysis including MR-Egger regression and the weighted median method. The causal estimates from AF to white or grey matter volume were further adjusted for effects of any stroke or ischemic stroke by multivariable MR analysis.ResultsA higher genetic predisposition for AF (one standard deviation increase) was significantly associated with lower white matter volume [beta −0.128 (−0.208, −0.048)] but not grey matter volume [beta −0.041 (−0.101, 0.018)], supported by all utilized sensitivity MR analyses. The multivariable MR analysis indicated that AF is causally linked to lower white matter volume independent of the stroke effect.ConclusionsAF is a causative factor for white matter volume loss. The effect of AF on grey matter volume was inapparent in this study. A future trial is necessary to confirm whether appropriate AF management can be helpful in preventing cerebral white matter volume loss or related brain disorders in AF patients.

Download Full-text

Late chronotype is linked to greater cortical thickness in the left fusiform and entorhinal gyri

10.21203/rs.3.rs-588446/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Michal Rafal Zareba ◽

Magdalena Fafrowicz ◽

Tadeusz Marek ◽

Ewa Beldzik ◽

Halszka Oginska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Cortical Thickness ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Affective Processing ◽

Grey Matter Volume ◽

Imaging Data ◽

White Matter Volume ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Anatomical Basis

Abstract Humans can be classified as early, intermediate and late chronotypes based on the preferred sleep and wakefulness patterns. The anatomical basis of these distinctions remains largely unexplored. Using magnetic resonance imaging data from 113 healthy young adults (71 females), we aimed to replicate cortical thickness and grey matter volume chronotype differences reported earlier in the literature using a greater sample size, as well as to explore the volumetric white matter variation linked to contrasting circadian phenotypes. Instead of comparing the chronotypes, we correlated the individual chronotype scores with their morphometric brain measures. The results revealed one cluster in the left fusiform and entorhinal gyri showing increased cortical thickness with increasing preference for eveningness, potentially providing an anatomical substrate for chronotype-sensitive affective processing. No significant results were found for grey and white matter volume. We failed to replicate cortical thickness and volumetric grey matter distinctions in the brain regions reported in the literature. Furthermore, we found no association between white matter volume and chronotype. Thus, while this study confirms that circadian preference is associated with specific structural substrates, it adds to the growing concerns that reliable and replicable neuroimaging research requires datasets much larger than those commonly used.

Download Full-text

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumetry in children with nonlesional epilepsy, does it help?

Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine ◽

10.1186/s43055-021-00409-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ehab Ali Abdelgawad ◽

Samir M. Mounir ◽

Marah M. Abdelhay ◽

Mohammed A. Ameen

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

White Matter ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Normal Group ◽

Grey Matter Volume ◽

White Matter Volume ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Matter Volume ◽

The Right

Abstract Background Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by repeated spontaneous seizures. It affects up to 1% of the population worldwide. Children with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) negative (or “nonlesional”) focal epilepsy constitute the most challenging pharmacoresistant group undergoing pre-neurosurgical evaluation. Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (VMRI) is a non-invasive brain imaging technique done to measure the volume and structure of specific regions of the brain. It is useful for many things, but primarily for discovering atrophy (wasting away of body tissue) and measuring its progression. The aim of this study is to assess role of volumetric magnetic resonance imaging in evaluation of nonlesional childhood epilepsy in which no specific findings detected in conventional MRI. Results There were 20 children with normal MRI brain volumetry (33.3%) and 40 children (66.6%) with abnormal MRI brain volumetry. Grey matter volume in the abnormal group was significantly higher (P value was 0.001*) than the normal group (mean ± S.D 934.04 ± 118.12 versus 788.57 ± 57.71 respectively). White matter volume in the abnormal group was significantly smaller (P value was < 0.0001*) than in the normal group (mean ± S.D 217.79 ± 65.22 versus 418.07 ± 103.76 respectively). Right hippocampus CA4-DG volume in the abnormal volume group was found to be significantly smaller (P value < 0.0001*) than that of the normal group volume (mean ± S.D 0.095 ± 0.04 versus 0.32 ± 0.36 respectively). Right hippocampus subiculum volume in the abnormal volume group were found to be significantly smaller (P value was < 0.0001*) than that of the normal group volume (mean ± S.D 0.42 ± 0.11 versus 0.84 ± 0.09 respectively). Thalamus volume in the abnormal group was significantly smaller (P value 0.048*) than in the normal group (mean ± S.D 10.235 ± 3.22 versus 11.82 ± 0.75 respectively). Right thalamus was significantly smaller (P value was 0.028*) than in the normal group (mean ± S.D 5.01 ± 1.62 versus 5.91 ± 0.39 respectively). The sensitivity of the right hippocampus subiculum volume and right hippocampus CA4-DG was 100%. The sensitivity of white matter volume and grey matter volume and thalamus was 85% and 75% and 55% respectively. The specificity of the right hippocampus subiculum volume and right hippocampus CA4-DG was 90% and 90% respectively. The specificity of the right hippocampus subiculum volume and right hippocampus CA4-DG and grey matter volume and white matter volume and total hippocampus and thalamus was 100%. The specificity of brain volume was 60%. The accuracy of the right hippocampus subiculum volume and right hippocampus CA4-DG was 100%. The specificity of white matter volume, grey matter volume, thalamus, total hippocampus, and brain volume was 97%, 87%, 65%, 61%, and 57% respectively. Conclusion Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging is a promising imaging technique that can provide assistance in evaluation of nonlesional pharmacoresistant childhood epilepsy.

Download Full-text

Late chronotype is linked to greater cortical thickness in the left fusiform and entorhinal gyri

10.21203/rs.3.rs-588446/v2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Michal Rafal Zareba ◽

Magdalena Fafrowicz ◽

Tadeusz Marek ◽

Ewa Beldzik ◽

Halszka Oginska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Cortical Thickness ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Affective Processing ◽

Grey Matter Volume ◽

Imaging Data ◽

White Matter Volume ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Anatomical Basis

Download Full-text

Cognitive impairment in paediatric multiple sclerosis patients is not related to cortical lesions

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458514557303 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 21 (7) ◽

pp. 956-959 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Maria A Rocca ◽

Ermelinda De Meo ◽

Maria P Amato ◽

Massimiliano Copetti ◽

Lucia Moiola ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

White Matter ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Cognitively Impaired ◽

Grey Matter Volume ◽

Cortical Lesions ◽

White Matter Volume ◽

White Matter Damage ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Multiple Sclerosis Patients

We investigated the contribution of cortical lesions to cognitive impairment in 41 paediatric MS patients. Thirteen (32%) paediatric MS patients were considered as cognitively impaired. T2-hyperintense and T1-hypointense white matter lesion volumes did not differ between cognitively impaired and cognitively preserved MS patients. Cortical lesions number, cortical lesions volume and grey matter volume did not differ between cognitively impaired and cognitively preserved patients, whereas white matter volume was significantly lower in cognitively impaired versus cognitively preserved MS patients ( p=0.01). Contrary to adult MS, cortical lesions do not seem to contribute to cognitive impairment in paediatric MS patients, which is likely driven by white matter damage.

Download Full-text

Grey matter volume in a large cohort of MS patients: relation to MRI parameters and disability

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458511404916 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 17 (9) ◽

pp. 1098-1106 ◽

Cited By ~ 111

Author(s):

Stefan D Roosendaal ◽

Kerstin Bendfeldt ◽

Hugo Vrenken ◽

Chris H Polman ◽

Stefan Borgwardt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

White Matter ◽

Physical Disability ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Grey Matter Volume ◽

Lesion Volume ◽

White Matter Volume ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Secondary Progressive ◽

Relapsing Remitting

Background: Although grey matter damage in multiple sclerosis is currently recognized, determinants of grey matter volume and its relationship with disability are not yet clear. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to measure grey and white matter volumes across different disease phenotypes; identify MRI parameters associated with grey matter volume; and study grey and white matter volume as explanatory variables for clinical impairment. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in which MRI data of 95 clinically isolated syndrome, 657 relapsing–remitting, 125 secondary-progressive and 50 primary-progressive multiple sclerosis patients from three centres were acquired. Grey and white matter volumes were determined, together with T2 and T1 lesion volumes. Physical disability was assessed with the Expanded Disability Status Scale, cognitive impairment with the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task. Data were analysed using multiple regression. Results: Grey matter volume was lower in relapsing–remitting patients (mean [SD]: 0.80 [0.05] L) than in clinically isolated syndrome patients (0.82 [0.05] L), and even greater relative atrophy was found in secondary-progressive patients (0.77 [0.05] L). In contrast, white matter volume in secondary-progressive patients was comparable to that in relapsing–remitting patients. Grey matter volume was the strongest independent predictor of physical disability and cognitive impairment, and was associated with both T2 and T1 lesion volume. Conclusions: Our findings show that grey matter volume is lower in secondary-progressive than in relapsing–remitting disease. Grey matter volume explained physical and cognitive impairment better than white matter volume, and is itself associated with T2 and T1 lesion volume.

Download Full-text

Cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light levels mark grey matter volume in clinically isolated syndrome suggestive of multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458517711774 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (8) ◽

pp. 1039-1045 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Carla Tortorella ◽

Vita Direnzo ◽

Maddalena Ruggieri ◽

Stefano Zoccolella ◽

Mariangela Mastrapasqua ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽

White Matter ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Brain Volume ◽

Clinically Isolated Syndrome ◽

Grey Matter Volume ◽

Neurofilament Light ◽

Brain Volumes ◽

Matter Volume

Background: Brain atrophy is a known marker of irreversible tissue damage in multiple sclerosis (MS). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) osteopontin (OPN) and neurofilament light chain (NF-L) have been proposed as candidate surrogate markers of inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes in MS. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between CSF NF-L and OPN levels and brain grey and white matter volumes in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) suggestive of MS. Methods: A total of 41 CIS patients and 30 neurological controls (NCs) were included. CSF NF-L and OPN were measured by commercial ELISA. Measures of brain volume (normalized brain volume (NBV), normalized grey matter volume (NGV), peripheral grey matter volume (PGV), normalized white matter volume (WMV), and ventricular volume) were obtained by SIENAX. Corpus callosum index (CCI) was calculated. Brain volumes were categorized into ‘high’ and ‘low’ according to the median value. Results: CSF NF-L and OPN levels were higher in CIS patients in comparison with NCs. CIS patients with ‘low’ TGV, PGV, and TBV showed higher CSF NF-L levels than CIS patients with ‘high’ brain volumes. TGV and PGV correlated inversely with NF-L levels, whereas CCI was inversely related to OPN levels. CSF NF-L was the only independent predictor of TGV and PGV. Conclusion: CSF NF-L tracks mainly grey matter damage in patients with CIS suggestive of MS.

Download Full-text

White Matter is Increased in the Brains of Adults With Neurofibromatosis 1

10.21203/rs.3.rs-898452/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Su Wang ◽

Jan M. Friedman ◽

Per Suppa ◽

Ralph Buchert ◽

Victor-Felix Mautner

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Brain Volume ◽

Neurofibromatosis 1 ◽

Brain Morphology ◽

White Matter Volume ◽

Total Brain Volume ◽

Brain Volumes ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Total Brain

Abstract Background: Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is a rare autosomal dominant disease characterized by increased Schwann cell proliferation in peripheral nerves. Several small studies of brain morphology in children with NF1 have found increased total brain volume, total white matter volume and/or corpus callosum area. Several studies (mostly in children with NF1) also attempted to correlate changes in brain morphology and volume with cognitive or behavioural abnormalities, though findings were inconsistent. We aimed to characterize alterations in brain volumes by three-dimensional (3D) MRI in adults with NF1 in major intracranial sub-regions. We also aimed to assess the effect of age on these volumes and correlated brain white matter and grey matter volumes with neuropsychometric findings in adults with NF1.Methods: We obtained brain volume measurements using 3D magnetic resonance imaging for 351 adults with NF1 and, as a comparison group, 43 adults with neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) or Schwannomatosis. We assessed a subset of 19 adults with NF1 for clinical severity of NF1 features and neurological problems and conducted psychometric testing for attention deficiencies and intelligence quotient. We compared brain volumes between NF1 patients and controls and correlated volumetric measurements to clinical and psychometric features in the NF1 patients. Results:Total brain volume and total and regional white matter volumes were all significantly increased in adults with NF1. Grey matter volume decreased faster with age in adults with NF1 than in controls. Greater total brain volume and white matter volume were correlated with lower attention deficits and higher intelligence quotients in adults with NF1.Conclusion:Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that dysregulation of brain myelin production is a cardinal manifestation of NF1 and that these white matter changes may be functionally important in affected adults.

Download Full-text

Modelling the cascade of biomarker changes in GRN-related frontotemporal dementia

Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry ◽

10.1136/jnnp-2020-323541 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. jnnp-2020-323541

Author(s):

Jessica L Panman ◽

Vikram Venkatraghavan ◽

Emma L van der Ende ◽

Rebecca M E Steketee ◽

Lize C Jiskoot ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Frontotemporal Dementia ◽

Disease Severity ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Clinical Stage ◽

Data Driven ◽

Grey Matter Volume ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Mutation Carriers ◽

Individual Disease

ObjectiveProgranulin-related frontotemporal dementia (FTD-GRN) is a fast progressive disease. Modelling the cascade of multimodal biomarker changes aids in understanding the aetiology of this disease and enables monitoring of individual mutation carriers. In this cross-sectional study, we estimated the temporal cascade of biomarker changes for FTD-GRN, in a data-driven way.MethodsWe included 56 presymptomatic and 35 symptomatic GRN mutation carriers, and 35 healthy non-carriers. Selected biomarkers were neurofilament light chain (NfL), grey matter volume, white matter microstructure and cognitive domains. We used discriminative event-based modelling to infer the cascade of biomarker changes in FTD-GRN and estimated individual disease severity through cross-validation. We derived the biomarker cascades in non-fluent variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA) and behavioural variant FTD (bvFTD) to understand the differences between these phenotypes.ResultsLanguage functioning and NfL were the earliest abnormal biomarkers in FTD-GRN. White matter tracts were affected before grey matter volume, and the left hemisphere degenerated before the right. Based on individual disease severities, presymptomatic carriers could be delineated from symptomatic carriers with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 96.1%. The estimated disease severity strongly correlated with functional severity in nfvPPA, but not in bvFTD. In addition, the biomarker cascade in bvFTD showed more uncertainty than nfvPPA.ConclusionDegeneration of axons and language deficits are indicated to be the earliest biomarkers in FTD-GRN, with bvFTD being more heterogeneous in disease progression than nfvPPA. Our data-driven model could help identify presymptomatic GRN mutation carriers at risk of conversion to the clinical stage.

Download Full-text

Preliminary Evidence for a Relationship between Elevated Plasma TNFα and Smaller Subcortical White Matter Volume in HCV Infection Irrespective of HIV or AUD Comorbidity

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22094953 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (9) ◽

pp. 4953

Author(s):

Natalie M. Zahr ◽

Kilian M. Pohl ◽

Allison J. Kwong ◽

Edith V. Sullivan ◽

Adolf Pfefferbaum

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Proinflammatory Cytokines ◽

Soluble Protein ◽

Subcortical White Matter ◽

Control Group ◽

White Matter Volume ◽

Brain Volumes ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Patient Groups

Classical inflammation in response to bacterial, parasitic, or viral infections such as HIV includes local recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages and the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Proposed biomarkers of organ integrity in Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) include elevations in peripheral plasma levels of proinflammatory proteins. In testing this proposal, previous work included a group of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals as positive controls and identified elevations in the soluble proteins TNFα and IP10; these cytokines were only elevated in AUD individuals seropositive for hepatitis C infection (HCV). The current observational, cross-sectional study evaluated whether higher levels of these proinflammatory cytokines would be associated with compromised brain integrity. Soluble protein levels were quantified in 86 healthy controls, 132 individuals with AUD, 54 individuals seropositive for HIV, and 49 individuals with AUD and HIV. Among the patient groups, HCV was present in 24 of the individuals with AUD, 13 individuals with HIV, and 20 of the individuals in the comorbid AUD and HIV group. Soluble protein levels were correlated to regional brain volumes as quantified with structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition to higher levels of TNFα and IP10 in the 2 HIV groups and the HCV-seropositive AUD group, this study identified lower levels of IL1β in the 3 patient groups relative to the control group. Only TNFα, however, showed a relationship with brain integrity: in HCV or HIV infection, higher peripheral levels of TNFα correlated with smaller subcortical white matter volume. These preliminary results highlight the privileged status of TNFα on brain integrity in the context of infection.

Download Full-text