fMRI Retinotopic Mapping in Patients with Brain Tumors and Space-Occupying Brain Lesions in the Area of the Occipital Lobe

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a valuable tool in the clinical routine of neurosurgery when planning surgical interventions and assessing the risk of postoperative functional deficits. Here, we examined how the presence of a brain tumor or lesion in the area of the occipital lobe affects the results of fMRI retinotopic mapping. fMRI data were evaluated on a retrospectively selected sample of 12 patients with occipital brain tumors, 7 patients with brain lesions and 19 control subjects. Analyses of the cortical activation, percent signal change, cluster size of the activated voxels and functional connectivity were carried out using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM12) and the CONN and Marsbar toolboxes. We found similar but reduced patterns of cortical activation and functional connectivity between the two patient groups compared to a healthy control group. Here, we found that retinotopic organization was well-preserved in the patients and was comparable to that of the age-matched controls. The results also showed that, compared to the tumor patients, the lesion patients showed higher percent signal changes but lower values in the cluster sizes of the activated voxels in the calcarine fissure region. Our results suggest that the lesion patients exhibited results that were more similar to those of the control subjects in terms of the BOLD signal, whereas the extent of the activation was comparable to that of the tumor patients.

Download Full-text

CNTM-03. Functional connectivity networks in patients with brain tumors and vascular lesions in the occipital cortex

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noab196.901 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽

pp. vi224-vi225

Author(s):

Katharina Rosengarth ◽

Katharina Hense ◽

Tina Plank ◽

Mark Greenlee ◽

Christina Wendl ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Brain Tumors ◽

Visual Processing ◽

Network Connectivity ◽

Occipital Cortex ◽

Brain Lesions ◽

Vascular Lesions ◽

Surrounding Tissue ◽

Tumor Patients ◽

Default Mode

Abstract OBJECTIVE Space-occupying brain lesions as brain tumors in the occipital lobe have only been sparsely investigated so far, as this localization is extremely rare with only 1% of cases. It is still unclear how this affects the overall organization of the visual system. We investigated functional connectivity of functional networks associated with higher visual processing between patients with occipital space-occupying lesion in the occipital cortex and healthy controls. METHODS 12 patients with brain tumors, 7 patients with vascular lesions in the occipital cortex and 19 healthy subjects matched for age and sex were included. During functional MRI patients and subjects performed a visual excentricity mapping task. Data analysis was done using CONN toolbox based on Matlab. See-to-ROI connectivities of 23 Regions of Interest (ROIs) implemented in the CONN toolbox which were assigned to the Default Mode, Visual, Salience, Dorsal Attention, and Frontoparietal network were assessed. For each subject, connectivity was calculated using Fischer transformed pairwise correlations. These correlations were first considered separately for each group in one-sample analyses and then compared between the groups. RESULTS Main results show, that compared to control subjects and vascular patients, tumor patients showed weaker intra-network connectivity of components of all networks except the default-network. Tumor patients showed even stronger between-network connectivity in the default-mode network compared to the other groups. Weaker connectivity was observed within the salience network in both patient groups compared to controls. CONCLUSION The results indicate that in the course of the disease, compensatory countermeasures take place in the brain against a brain tumor or a space-occupying brain lesion with the aim of maintaining the performance level and cognitive processes for as long as possible. However, more research is needed in this area to understand the mechanisms and effects of brain tumors and space-consuming brain lesions on surrounding tissue.

Download Full-text

Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of an Evidence-Based iPad-App for Cognitive Rehabilitation in Patients with Primary Brain Tumors

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1093/neuros/nyy254 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 85 (2) ◽

pp. 273-279 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sophie Dorothee van der Linden ◽

Margriet Maria Sitskoorn ◽

Geert-Jan Maria Rutten ◽

Karin Gehring

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Brain Tumor ◽

Brain Tumors ◽

Cognitive Rehabilitation ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Rehabilitation Program ◽

Control Group ◽

Tumor Patients ◽

Primary Brain Tumors ◽

Randomized Controlled

Abstract BACKGROUND Many patients with primary brain tumors suffer from cognitive deficits, which negatively impact their quality of life. However, cognitive rehabilitation programs for these patients are scarce. We developed an iPad-based cognitive rehabilitation program for brain tumor patients, which was based on our effective face-to-face cognitive rehabilitation program. After successful completion of a feasibility study, a randomized controlled trial has been started. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the immediate and long-term effects of the iPad-based program on cognitive performance and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients with primary brain tumors in an early stage of the disease. METHODS Prior to surgery, patients with presumed low-grade glioma and meningioma are included. Before surgery and 3 mo after surgery, neuropsychological assessments are conducted. After the second neuropsychological assessment, patients are assigned to the intervention group or waiting-list control group. The intervention consists of psychoeducation, compensation training, and retraining. Patients are advised to spend 3 h per week on the program for 10 wk. Immediately after completion of the program and a half-year thereafter, postintervention assessments take place. Patients in the control group are offered the opportunity to follow the program after all study assessments. EXPECTED OUTCOMES We expect that early cognitive rehabilitation has beneficial effects on cognitive performance and PROMs in brain tumor patients. DISCUSSION The iPad-based program allows brain tumor patients to follow a cognitive rehabilitation program from their homes. Forthcoming results may contribute to further improvement of supportive care for brain tumor patients.

Download Full-text

Concentrations of Ag, Al, Au, Bi, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Se in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with cerebral neoplasms.

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1093/clinchem/30.8.1358 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 30 (8) ◽

pp. 1358-1360 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

A El-Yazigi ◽

I Al-Saleh ◽

O Al-Mefty

Keyword(s):

Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽

Brain Tumors ◽

Benign Tumor ◽

Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry ◽

Control Group ◽

Tumor Control ◽

Tumor Patients ◽

Absorption Spectrophotometry ◽

The Mean ◽

Cerebral Neoplasms

Abstract We measured the concentrations of nine trace elements in cerebrospinal fluid of 11 patients with malignant brain tumors, 11 with benign brain tumors, and 10 control patients, using flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean and standard deviation for these concentrations (microgram/L) in the control group were 5.1 +/- 2.9 (silver), 326.6 +/- 171.2 (aluminum), 38.5 +/- 32.2 (gold), 36.6 +/- 23.7 (bismuth), 1.5 +/- 1.3 (cadmium), 39.8 +/- 24.7 (copper), 15.7 +/- 11.5 (lead), 20.9 +/- 3.8 (antimony), and 19.1 +/- 13.3 (selenium). Concentrations of silver and lead were markedly increased in patients with malignant cerebral neoplasms. The malignant-tumor/control patient concentration ratios were 2.31 for silver and 2.11 for lead. We observed no significant differences between the results for the benign tumor patients and the control group.

Download Full-text

Concentrations of zinc, iron, molybdenum, arsenic, and lithium in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with brain tumors.

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1093/clinchem/32.12.2187 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 32 (12) ◽

pp. 2187-2190 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

A el-Yazigi ◽

I Al-Saleh ◽

O Al-Mefty

Keyword(s):

Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽

Brain Tumors ◽

Malignant Tumors ◽

Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry ◽

Control Group ◽

Neoplastic Disease ◽

Tumor Patients ◽

Absorption Spectrophotometry ◽

And Control ◽

Csf Concentration

Abstract We used flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry to measure concentrations of Fe, Mo, Li, As, and Zn in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with malignant brain tumors benign brain tumors, non-brain malignant tumors and control (non-neoplastic disease) patients. Mean (and SD) concentrations (microgram/L) of these elements in the control group were 62.7 (28.7) for Fe, 6.8 (4.8) for Mo, 0.7 (2.0) for Li, 1.3 (0.7) for As, 7 (5.9) for Zn. We could detect Li in less than 53% of controls. Zn concentrations in CSF of patients with astrocytoma (malignant brain tumor), benign brain tumors, or non-brain tumors were significantly (p less than 0.05) less than in control patients; the ratios for mean concentrations of Zn in tumor patients/control patients for the above groups were 0.3, 0.20, and 0.17, respectively. Concentrations of As in CSF of patients with non-brain malignant tumors were significantly (p less than 0.05) higher than in the controls; the ratio for mean CSF concentration of As in patients with non-brain tumors/control patients was 2.9. Differences in the concentrations of Fe, Li, or Mo among the various groups were nonsignificant.

Download Full-text

The effects of treatment for posterior fossa brain tumors on selective attention

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617709090249 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 205-216 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

DONALD J. MABBOTT ◽

JANICE J. SNYDER ◽

LOUISE PENKMAN ◽

ADRIENNE WITOL

Keyword(s):

Brain Tumors ◽

Selective Attention ◽

Posterior Fossa ◽

Pediatric Brain Tumor ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Tumor Location ◽

Control Group ◽

Tumor Patients ◽

Cranial Radiation ◽

Pediatric Brain

AbstractWe sought to identify whether deficits in selective attention are present in pediatric brain tumor patients. Selective attention was assessed with covert-orienting, filtering, and visual-search tasks in 54 patients with either (1) posterior fossa (PF) tumors treated with cranial radiation and surgery (n = 22); (2) PF tumors treated with surgery alone (n = 17); or (3) non-CNS tumors (n = 15), who served as a patient control group. To account for normal development, patient performance was also compared with that of healthy age-matched controls (n = 10). We found that in PF tumor patients selective attention was impaired, regardless of whether they were treated with cranial radiation and surgery or surgery alone. However, patients treated with cranial radiation were most impaired. These patients may have greater damage to posterior brain regions know to mediate selective attention as the result of tumor location, effects of surgery, and higher doses of radiation to the posterior regions of the brain. These findings help to elucidate the potential impact of pediatric brain tumors and their treatment on discrete attentional skills. (JINS, 2009, 15, 205–216.)

Download Full-text

Genetic variants and cognitive functions in patients with brain tumors

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noz094 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (10) ◽

pp. 1297-1309 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Denise D Correa ◽

Jaya Satagopan ◽

Axel Martin ◽

Erica Braun ◽

Maria Kryza-Lacombe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Cell Cycle ◽

Dna Repair ◽

Brain Tumor ◽

Brain Tumors ◽

Cell Cycle Regulation ◽

Cognitive Outcome ◽

Cholesterol Transport ◽

Tumor Patients ◽

Cycle Regulation

AbstractBackgroundPatients with brain tumors treated with radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT) often experience cognitive dysfunction. We reported that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the APOE, COMT, and BDNF genes may influence cognition in brain tumor patients. In this study, we assessed whether genes associated with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD), inflammation, cholesterol transport, dopamine and myelin regulation, and DNA repair may influence cognitive outcome in this population.MethodsOne hundred and fifty brain tumor patients treated with RT ± CT or CT alone completed a neurocognitive assessment and provided a blood sample for genotyping. We genotyped genes/SNPs in these pathways: (i) LOAD risk/inflammation/cholesterol transport, (ii) dopamine regulation, (iii) myelin regulation, (iv) DNA repair, (v) blood–brain barrier disruption, (vi) cell cycle regulation, and (vii) response to oxidative stress. White matter (WM) abnormalities were rated on brain MRIs.ResultsMultivariable linear regression analysis with Bayesian shrinkage estimation of SNP effects, adjusting for relevant demographic, disease, and treatment variables, indicated strong associations (posterior association summary [PAS] ≥ 0.95) among tests of attention, executive functions, and memory and 33 SNPs in genes involved in: LOAD/inflammation/cholesterol transport (eg, PDE7A, IL-6), dopamine regulation (eg, DRD1, COMT), myelin repair (eg, TCF4), DNA repair (eg, RAD51), cell cycle regulation (eg, SESN1), and response to oxidative stress (eg, GSTP1). The SNPs were not significantly associated with WM abnormalities.ConclusionThis novel study suggests that polymorphisms in genes involved in aging and inflammation, dopamine, myelin and cell cycle regulation, and DNA repair and response to oxidative stress may be associated with cognitive outcome in patients with brain tumors.

Download Full-text

Psychological Traits and Behavioural Influences in Patients with Dystonia—An Observational Cohort Study in a Romanian Neurology Department

Life ◽

10.3390/life11070612 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 612

Author(s):

Eugenia Irene Davidescu ◽

Irina Odajiu ◽

Delia Tulbă ◽

Iulia Mitrea ◽

Camelia Cucu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Informed Consent ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Patient Group ◽

Observational Cohort Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Control Subjects ◽

Observational Cohort ◽

Idiopathic Dystonia

(1) Background: Emerging evidence indicates that non-motor symptoms significantly influence the quality of life in dystonic patients. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate their psychological characteristics and personality traits. (2) Methods: Subjects with idiopathic dystonia and a matched control group were enrolled in this prospective observational cohort study. Inclusion criteria for patient group included idiopathic dystonia diagnosis, evolution exceeding 1 year, and signed informed consent. Inclusion criteria for the control group included lack of neurological comorbidities and signed informed consent. All subjects completed the DECAS Personality Inventory along with an additional form of demographic factors. Data (including descriptive statistics and univariate and multivariate analysis) were analyzed with SPSS. (3) Results: In total, 95 participants were included, of which 57 were in the patient group. Females prevailed (80%), and the mean age was 54.64 ± 12.8 years. The most frequent clinical features of dystonia were focal distribution (71.9%) and progressive disease course (94.73%). The patients underwent regular treatment with botulinum toxin (85.95%). In addition, patients with dystonia obtained significantly higher openness scores than controls, even after adjusting for possible confounders (p = 0.006). Personality traits were also different between the two groups, with patients more often being fantasists (p = 0.007), experimenters (p = 0.022), sophists (p = 0.040), seldom acceptors (p = 0.022), and pragmatics (p = 0.022) than control subjects. (4) Conclusion: Dystonic patients tend to have different personality profiles compared to control subjects, which should be taken into consideration by the treating neurologist.

Download Full-text

Circulating tumour DNA methylation in hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis using digital droplet PCR

Journal of International Medical Research ◽

10.1177/0300060521992962 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 49 (3) ◽

pp. 030006052199296

Author(s):

Juan Wang ◽

Liu Yang ◽

Yanjun Diao ◽

Jiayun Liu ◽

Jinjie Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Dna Methylation ◽

Likelihood Ratio ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Positive Likelihood Ratio ◽

Negative Likelihood Ratio ◽

Control Group ◽

Control Subjects ◽

Droplet Pcr ◽

Healthy Control

Objective To evaluate the performance of a DNA methylation-based digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) assay to detect aberrant DNA methylation in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and to determine its application in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The present study recruited patients with liver-related diseases and healthy control subjects. Blood samples were used for the extraction of cfDNA, which was then bisulfite converted and the extent of DNA methylation quantified using a ddPCR platform. Results A total of 97 patients with HCC, 80 healthy control subjects and 46 patients with chronic hepatitis B/C virus infection were enrolled in the study. The level of cfDNA in the HCC group was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group. For the detection of HCC, based on a cut-off value of 15.7% for the cfDNA methylation ratio, the sensitivity and specificity were 78.57% and 89.38%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy was 85.27%, the positive predictive value was 81.91% and the negative predictive value was 87.20%. The positive likelihood ratio of 15.7% in HCC diagnosis was 7.40, while the negative likelihood ratio was 0.24. Conclusions A sensitive methylation-based assay might serve as a liquid biopsy test for diagnosing HCC.

Download Full-text

Emotional and Neurobehavioural Status in Chronic Pain Patients

Pain Research and Management ◽

10.1155/2011/825636 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 41-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

He Shuchang ◽

He Mingwei ◽

Jia Hongxiao ◽

Wu Si ◽

Yang Xing ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Lower Back Pain ◽

Mood State ◽

Control Group ◽

Chronic Lower Back Pain ◽

Control Subjects ◽

Lower Back ◽

Chronic Pain Patients ◽

Pain Patients

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the emotional and neurobehavioural status of patients suffering from chronic pain.METHODS: Fifteen male patients with chronic lower back pain and 15 healthy control subjects were studied for approximately six months. Pain was measured using a visual analogue scale. The WHO Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery (NCTB) was used to assess neurobehavioural effects of environmental and occupational exposures.RESULTS: Visual analogue scale results demonstrated a modest range of reported pain (mean [± SD] 62.0±10.8) in chronic pain patients, whereas control subjects reported no measurable pain. With the NCTB, it was found that scores of negative mood state, including anger-hostility, depression-dejection, fatigue-inertia and tension-anxiety in pain patients were significantly higher than scores in the control subjects. By contrast, scores of positive mood state (vigour-activity) in chronic pain patients were lower than those in the control group. The NCTB scores of the Santa Ana Dexterity and Pursuit Aiming II tests in chronic lower back pain patients were lower than those of the control group. Scores for other NCTB sub-tests, including the Digit Span, Benton Visual Retention and Digit Symbol tests, were not significantly different compared with controls.CONCLUSIONS: Chronic lower back pain patients had more negative mood and less positive mood than controls. These patients also demonstrated neuromotor deficits in coordination and reaction time. Further studies are required to examine possible neurological mechanisms and research potential intervention strategies for patients suffering from chronic pain.

Download Full-text

Brain Structure and Functional Connectivity Correlate with Psychosocial Development in Contemplative Practitioners and Controls

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11060728 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 728

Author(s):

Omar Singleton ◽

Max Newlon ◽

Andres Fossas ◽

Beena Sharma ◽

Susanne R. Cook-Greuter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Cortical Thickness ◽

Adult Development ◽

Psychosocial Development ◽

Neural Correlates ◽

Control Group ◽

Contemplative Practice ◽

Temporoparietal Junction ◽

Posterior Cingulate

Jane Loevinger’s theory of adult development, termed ego development (1966) and more recently maturity development, provides a useful framework for understanding the development of the self throughout the lifespan. However, few studies have investigated its neural correlates. In the present study, we use structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate the neural correlates of maturity development in contemplative practitioners and controls. Since traits possessed by individuals with higher levels of maturity development are similar to those attributed to individuals at advanced stages of contemplative practice, we chose to investigate levels of maturity development in meditation practitioners as well as matched controls. We used the Maturity Assessment Profile (MAP) to measure maturity development in a mixed sample of participants composed of 14 long-term meditators, 16 long-term yoga practitioners, and 16 demographically matched controls. We investigated the relationship between contemplative practice and maturity development with behavioral, seed-based resting state functional connectivity, and cortical thickness analyses. The results of this study indicate that contemplative practitioners possess higher maturity development compared to a matched control group, and in addition, maturity development correlates with cortical thickness in the posterior cingulate. Furthermore, we identify a brain network implicated in theory of mind, narrative, and self-referential processing, comprising the posterior cingulate cortex, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, temporoparietal junction, and inferior frontal cortex, as a primary neural correlate.

Download Full-text