scholarly journals Differentiation of Cerebellum-Type and Parkinson-Type of Multiple System Atrophy by Using Multimodal MRI Parameters

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Cui ◽  
Weimin Zheng ◽  
Shan Ren ◽  
Zhigang Chen ◽  
Zhiqun Wang

Recent studies have demonstrated the structural and functional changes in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA). However, little is known about the different parameter changes of the most vulnerable regions in different types of MSA. In this study, we collected resting-state structure, perfusion, and patients with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of cerebellum-type of MSA (MSA-c) and Parkinson-type of MSA (MSA-p). First, by simultaneously using voxel-based morphology (VBM), arterial spin labeling (ASL), and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), we analyzed the whole brain differences of structure, perfusion, and functional activation between patients with MSA-c and MSA-p. Second, we explored the relationships among structure, perfusion, function, and the clinical variables in patients with MSA. Finally, we extracted the MRI parameters of a specific region to separate the two groups and search for a sensitive imaging biomarker. As a result, compared with patients with MSA-p type, patients with MSA-c type showed decreased structure atrophy in several cerebella and vermis subregions, reduced perfusion in bilateral cerebellum_4_5 and vermis_4_5, and an decreased ALFF values in the right lingual gyrus (LG) and fusiform (FFG). Subsequent analyses revealed the close correlations among structure, perfusion, function, and clinical variables in both MSA-c and MSA-p. Finally, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) of bilateral cerebellum_4_5/vermis_4_5 could differentiate the two groups at a relatively high accuracy, yielding the sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 79.2%, and the area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.936. These findings have important implications for understanding the underlying neurobiology of different types of MSA and added the new evidence for the disrupted rCBF, structure, and function of MSA, which may provide the potential biomarker for accurately detecting different types of patients with MSA and new ideas for the treatment of different types of MSA in the future.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 122
Author(s):  
Lilly-Ann Mohlkert ◽  
Jenny Hallberg ◽  
Olof Broberg ◽  
Gunnar Sjöberg ◽  
Annika Rydberg ◽  
...  

Preterm birth has been associated with altered cardiac phenotype in adults. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that children surviving extremely preterm birth have important structural or functional changes of the right heart or pulmonary circulation. We also examined relations between birth size, gestational age, neonatal diagnoses of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with cardiac outcomes. We assessed a population-based cohort of children born in Sweden before 27 weeks of gestation with echocardiography at 6.5 years of age (n = 176). Each preterm child was matched to a healthy control child born at term. Children born preterm had significantly smaller right atria, right ventricles with smaller widths, higher relative wall thickness and higher estimated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) than controls. In preterm children, PVR and right ventricular myocardial performance index (RVmpi’) were significantly higher in those with a PDA as neonates than in those without PDA, but no such associations were found with BPD. In conclusion, children born extremely preterm exhibit higher estimated PVR, altered right heart structure and function compared with children born at term.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. G19-G41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas Zaidi ◽  
Daniel S Knight ◽  
Daniel X Augustine ◽  
Allan Harkness ◽  
David Oxborough ◽  
...  

The structure and function of the right side of the heart is influenced by a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions. Quantification of right heart parameters is important in a variety of clinical scenarios including diagnosis, prognostication, and monitoring response to therapy. Although echocardiography remains the first-line imaging investigation for right heart assessment, published guidance is relatively sparse in comparison to that for the left ventricle. This guideline document from the British Society of Echocardiography describes the principles and practical aspects of right heart assessment by echocardiography, including quantification of chamber dimensions and function, as well as assessment of valvular function. While cut-off values for normality are included, a disease-oriented approach is advocated due to the considerable heterogeneity of structural and functional changes seen across the spectrum of diseases affecting the right heart. The complex anatomy of the right ventricle requires special considerations and echocardiographic techniques, which are set out in this document. The clinical relevance of right ventricular diastolic function is introduced, with practical guidance for its assessment. Finally, the relatively novel techniques of three-dimensional right ventricular echocardiography and right ventricular speckle tracking imaging are described. Despite these techniques holding considerable promise, issues relating to reproducibility and inter-vendor variation have limited their clinical utility to date.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shijia Li ◽  
Jie Song ◽  
Pengfei Ke ◽  
Lingyin Kong ◽  
Bingye Lei ◽  
...  

AbstractThe effect of the gut microbiome on the central nervous system and its possible role in mental disorders have received increasing attention. However, knowledge about the relationship between the gut microbiome and brain structure and function is still very limited. Here, we used 16S rRNA sequencing with structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and resting-state functional (rs-fMRI) to investigate differences in fecal microbiota between 38 patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and 38 demographically matched normal controls (NCs) and explored whether such differences were associated with brain structure and function. At the genus level, we found that the relative abundance of Ruminococcus and Roseburia was significantly lower, whereas the abundance of Veillonella was significantly higher in SZ patients than in NCs. Additionally, the analysis of MRI data revealed that several brain regions showed significantly lower gray matter volume (GMV) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) but significantly higher amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation in SZ patients than in NCs. Moreover, the alpha diversity of the gut microbiota showed a strong linear relationship with the values of both GMV and ReHo. In SZ patients, the ReHo indexes in the right STC (r = − 0.35, p = 0.031, FDR corrected p = 0.039), the left cuneus (r = − 0.33, p = 0.044, FDR corrected p = 0.053) and the right MTC (r = − 0.34, p = 0.03, FDR corrected p = 0.052) were negatively correlated with the abundance of the genus Roseburia. Our results suggest that the potential role of the gut microbiome in SZ is related to alterations in brain structure and function. This study provides insights into the underlying neuropathology of SZ.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (21) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Ana Minashvili ◽  
Ann Rekhviashvili

The structural and functional changes of left and right ventricles as well as the existence of ventricular interaction in patients with arterial hypertenison (AH) were discussed in many research papers. Therefore, published data regarding right ventricular changes under influence of AH are scarce, non-univocal, and sometimes contradictory. Furthermore, there is a significant lack of clinical trials addressing the influence of circadian BP profile on RV structure and function. The importance of right ventricular function in maintaining global cardiac performance was proven. However, the importance of the right ventricular structure and function for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is still under debate. Despite the abundance of the study data and high vulnerability of the right ventricle under influence of AH, the world's leading contemporary guidelines of the AH management, right ventricular remodeling, its morphology, function, evaluation, predictive and prognostic value are neither discussed nor mentioned. Hence, we strongly believe that further investigations are needed to determine the exact clinical utility and prognostic value of right ventricular functional and morphological changes in patients with arterial hypertension. Moreover, standardization and improvement of diagnostic methodologies of the RV changes via echocardiography, computed tomography, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging are important, which might have a crucial meaning for professionals involved in AH management. The review article aims to discuss anatomic and physiologic aspects of the right ventricle and their discrepancies according to age, sex, and race, the prognostic meaning of RV remodeling, and review current publications regarding the influence of high blood pressure and its circadian profile on the prevalence of functional and structural changes of RV. Hence, we performed a literature search of the PUBMED database using the medical subject headings "arterial hypertension", "essential hypertension", "systemic hypertension", "circadian BP profile", "remodeling", "right ventricle", "morphology", "anatomy" and "function". A manual search for additional studies was performed using references cited in the original articles.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shijia Li ◽  
Jie Song ◽  
Pengfei Ke ◽  
Lingyin Kong ◽  
Bingye Lei ◽  
...  

Abstract The effects of the gut microbiome on the central nervous system and its possible role in mental disorders have received increasing attention. However, our knowledge about the relationship between the gut microbiome and brain structure and function is still very limited. Here, we leveraged 16S rRNA sequencing with structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and resting-state functional (rs-fMRI) to investigate differences in fecal microbiota between 38 patients with schizophrenia (SZs) and 38 demographically matched normal controls (NCs) and explored whether such differences were associated with brain structure and function. At the genus level, we found that the relative abundance of Ruminococcus and Roseburia was significantly lower, whereas the abundance of Veillonella was increased in SZs compared to NCs. Additionally, the MRI results revealed that several brain regions showed lower gray matter volume (GMV) and regional homogeneity (ReHo), but increased amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) in SZs than in NCs. Statistical analyses were performed to explore the associations between microbial shifts and brain structure and function. Alpha diversity of gut microbiota showed a strong linear relationship with GMV and ReHo. Moreover, we found that lower ReHo indexes in the right STC (r = -0.35, p = 0.031, FDR corrected p = 0.039), the left cuneus (r = -0.33, p = 0.044, FDR corrected p = 0.053) and the right MTC (r = -0.34, p = 0.03, FDR corrected p = 0.052) were negatively correlated with a lower abundance of the genus Roseburia. This study suggests that the potential role of the gut microbiome in schizophrenia (SZ) is related to the alteration of brain structure and function, suggesting a new direction for studying the pathology of SZ.


Author(s):  
C.E. McClelen

The root cap of corn (Zea mays) is comprised of several different types of cells, each having a unique structure and function. For example, columella cells in the center of the cap are responsible for perceiving gravity. These cells subsequently differentiate into peripheral cells, which are located at the edge of the cap and function in the production and/or secretion of mucopolysaccharides (mucilage). Differences in enzymatic activity and location in cells of the root cap provide key evidence for the nature and site of the functional changes that accompany differentiation.The cytochemical localizations of glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Ptase) and catalase were undertaken to define the modifications of enzyme localization associated with cellular differentiation in root caps of Zea mays. G-6-Ptase and catalase were localized using procedures described by Hall. Cytochemistry as performed in this study was consistently specific for the designated enzyme and gave precise ultrastructural localization. Enzymatic precipitate was absent in all controls. Sections were not counterstained to allow for positive identification of staining due to enzymatic activity.


2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (4) ◽  
pp. H1359-H1365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Kiriazis ◽  
Xiao-Jun Du ◽  
Xinheng Feng ◽  
Elodie Hotchkin ◽  
Tanneale Marshall ◽  
...  

Cardiac-specific overexpression of nerve growth factor (NGF), a neurotrophin, leads to sympathetic hyperinnervation of heart. As a consequence, adverse functional changes that occur after chronically enhanced sympathoadrenergic stimulation of heart might develop in this model. However, NGF also facilitates synaptic transmission and norepinephrine uptake, effects that would be expected to restrain such deleterious outcomes. To test this, we examined 5- to 6-mo-old transgenic (TG) mice that overexpress NGF in heart and their wild-type (WT) littermates using echocardiography, invasive catheterization, histology, and catecholamine assays. In TG mice, hypertrophy of the right ventricle was evident (+67%), but the left ventricle was only mildly affected (+17%). Left ventricular (LV) fractional shortening and fractional area change values as indicated by echocardiography were similar between the two groups. Catheterization experiments revealed that LV ±dP/d t values were comparable between TG and WT mice and responded similarly upon isoproterenol stimulation, which indicates lack of β-adrenergic receptor dysfunction. Although norepinephrine levels in TG LV tissue were approximately twofold those of WT tissue, TG plasma levels of the neuronal norepinephrine metabolite dihydroxyphenyglycol were fivefold those of WT plasma. A greater neuronal uptake activity was also observed in TG LV tissue. In conclusion, overexpression of NGF in heart leads to sympathetic hyperinnervation that is not associated with detrimental effects on LV performance and is likely due to concomitantly enhanced norepinephrine neuronal uptake.


1970 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-40
Author(s):  
Gary Thompson ◽  
Marie Denman

Bone-conduction tests were administered to subjects who feigned a hearing loss in the right ear. The tests were conducted under two conditions: With and without occlusion of the non-test ear. It was anticipated that the occlusion effect, a well-known audiological principle, would operate to draw low frequency bone-conducted signals to the occluded side in a predictable manner. Results supported this expectation and are discussed in terms of their clinical implications.


Author(s):  
A.M. Satarkulova

The assessment and dynamic control over students’ status is a very important task. It allows timely detection of prenosological status prior to pathology and health maintenance in students. The objective of the paper is to assess the adaptive abilities of the body, to analyze changes in heart rate variability indicators in students with various types of autonomic regulation, to identify prenosological status and precursory pathological symptoms. Materials and Methods. The study enrolled 302 students from India, aged 21.54±1.43. Programming complex «Psychophysiologist» was used to register the main HRV parameters within 5 minutes. Health status was evaluated according to the index of functional changes and the scale of functional states. Results. N.I. Shlyk (2009) distinguished two groups of students with different types of autonomic regulation: type 1 (53 %) with moderate and type 2 (5 %) with marked characteristics of central regulation profile, type 3 (35 %) with moderate and type 4 (7 %) with marked characteristics of autonomous regulation profile. Main parameters of HRV and adaptation potential were defined for each student.All the parameters characterized functional and health status. Conclusions. It was shown that 82 % of trial subjects (type 1), 53 % (type 2), 94 % (type 3) and 95 % (type 4) demonstrated satisfactory adaptation and their physiological processes were at an optimal level. 18 % of students (type 1) demonstrated reduced adaptive abilities of the body. Moreover, they were under moderate stress. 47 % of subjects (type 2) were also under a significant stress, which was proven by excessively high SI, low SDNN and TP, and an increased index of functional changes. 5 % of students (type 4) revealed dysfunctional characteristics in the heart rhythm, peculiar to pathology. Keywords: foreign students, heart rate variability, types of autonomic regulation, adaptation potential, functional status. Оценка состояния студентов и динамический контроль за ним является важной задачей, поскольку позволяет своевременно выявлять у студентов донозологические состояния, предшествующие патологии, и способствовать сохранению здоровья. Цель. Оценка адаптивных возможностей организма, анализ изменений показателей вариабельности сердечного ритма у студентов с различными типами вегетативной регуляции, выявление донозологических состояний и ранних признаков патологии. Материалы и методы. В исследовании участвовало 302 студента в возрасте 21,54+1,43 года из Индии. Регистрировались основные параметры ВСР в течение 5 мин с использованием программно-аппаратного комплекса «Психофизиолог». Состояние и уровень здоровья оценивались по индексу функциональных изменений и шкале функциональных состояний. Результаты. По способу, предложенному Н.И. Шлык, выделены группы студентов с различными типами вегетативной регуляции: I (53 %) и II типы (5 %) – с умеренным и выраженным преобладанием центрального контура регуляции соответственно, III (35 %) и IV типы (7 %) – с умеренным и выраженным преобладанием автономного контура регуляции соответственно. У каждого из студентов определены основные параметры ВСР и адаптационного потенциала, характеризующие функциональное состояние и уровень здоровья. Выводы. Показано, что для 82 % обследуемых с I типом, 53 % со II типом, 94 % c III типом и 95 % с IV типом регуляции характерно состояние удовлетворительной адаптации, физиологические процессы сохраняются на оптимальном уровне. В группе студентов I типа у 18 % студентов адаптивные возможности организма снижены, выявлено состояние умеренного напряжения. У 47 % обследуемых II типа также зафиксировано состояние резко выраженного напряжения, индикатором которого является чрезмерно высокое значение SI, низкие величины SDNN и ТP, повышенное значение индекса функциональных изменений. В группе студентов с IV типом у 5 % учащихсяв регуляции ритма сердца выявлены дисфункциональные признаки, характерные для патологии. Ключевые слова: иностранные студенты, вариабельность сердечного ритма, типы вегетативной регуляции, адаптационный потенциал, функциональное состояние.


Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1083
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Filimoniuk ◽  
Agnieszka Blachnio-Zabielska ◽  
Monika Imierska ◽  
Dariusz Marek Lebensztejn ◽  
Urszula Daniluk

An altered ceramide composition in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been reported recently. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of sphingolipids in the serum of treatment-naive children with newly diagnosed IBD and to determine the diagnostic value of the tested lipids in pediatric IBD. The concentrations of sphingolipids in serum samples were evaluated using a quantitative method, an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in children with Crohn’s disease (CD) (n=34), ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 39), and controls (Ctr) (n = 24). Among the study groups, the most significant differences in concentrations were noted for C16:0-LacCer, especially in children with CD compared to Ctr or even to UC. Additionally, the relevant increase in C20:0-Cer and C18:1-Cer concentrations were detected in both IBD groups compared to Ctr. The enhanced C24:0-Cer level was observed only in UC, while C18:0-Cer only in the CD group. The highest area under the curve (AUC), specificity, and sensitivity were determined for C16:0-LacCer in CD diagnosis. Our results suggest that the serum LacC16-Cer may be a potential biomarker that distinguishes children with IBD from healthy controls and differentiates IBD subtypes. In addition, C20:0-Cer and C18:0-Cer levels also seem to be closely connected with IBD.


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