Displacement of Gray Matter and Incidence of Seizures in Patients with Cerebral Cavernous Malformations

Seizures are the most common presentation in patients with cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs). Based on the hypothesis that the volume or proportion of gray matter (GM) displaced by CCMs is associated with the risk of seizure, we developed an algorithm by which to quantify the volume and proportion of displaced GM and the risk of seizure. Image analysis was conducted on 111 patients with solitary CCMs (divided into seizure and nonseizure groups) from our gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) database from February 2005 and March 2020. The CCM algorithm proved effective in quantifying the GM and CCM using T1WI MRI images. In the seizure group, 11 of the 12 patients exhibited seizures at the initial presentation, and all CCMs in the seizure group were supratentorial. The location of the limbic lobe within the CCM was significantly associated with the risk of seizure (OR = 19.6, p = 0.02). The risk of seizure increased when the proportion of GM displaced by the CCM exceeded 31%. It was also strongly correlated with the volume of displaced GM. The volume and proportion of displaced GM were both positively correlated with the risk of seizure presentation/development and thus could be used to guide seizure prophylaxis in CCM patients.

Limbic System

Unlike the lobes of the cortex, which are regionally defined, the limbic “lobe” includes highly interconnected circuits that span cortical, subcortical, and brainstem components. The major functions of the limbic system include mediating emotional and behavioral responses, memory, and learning. From a functional standpoint, the limbic system can be conceptualized as including an anterior circuit, centered in the amygdala and primarily involved in emotion and behavioral drive, and a posterior circuit, centered in the hippocampus and crucial for encoding and retrieving declarative (explicit) memory.

Cerebaral Hyperperfusion in General Paralysis Patients

Objective This study aimed to identify the cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with general paralysis (GP). Methods Three-dimensional pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (3D-pCASL) imaging was performed to measure the CBF in twenty patients with GP and twenty healthy subjects(NC). CBF was normalized to reduce variations among subjects. CBF was compared between the groups. Results Compared with the healthy subjects, the patients with GP exhibited increased CBF in the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, insular lobe, limbic lobe, and parietal lobe(all P<0.05). There was no difference in CBF of the occipital lobe between the GP group and the NC group(all P>0.05). Conclusions Our results suggest that the patients with GP may exhibit regional increased CBF, which may be one of the pathogenesis of general paralysis.

Abnormal Functional and Structural networks in Rectal Cancer with Depressive risk: A Graph Theory Analysis

Background: Surgery and chemotherapy can cause depressive risk in patients with rectal cancer (RC). However, few comprehensive studies are conducted on RC patients associated alterations induced by emotional disorders in the topological organization of structural and functional networks. Methods: Resting-state functional MRI and Diffusion tensor imaging data were collected from 36 RC patients with surgery and chemotherapy and 32 healthy controls (HC). Functional network (FN) was constructed from extracting average time courses for 246 regions of interest (ROI) and structural network (SN) was established by deterministic tractography. Graph theoretical analysis was used to calculate small-worldness property, clustering coefficients, shortest path length and network efficiency. Additionally, we assess network resilient on FN and SN. Results: Abnormal small-worldness property of FN and SN were found in RC patients. The FN and SN exhibited increased local efficiency and global efficiency respectively in RC patients.The increased nodal efficiency in RC patients were mainly found in the frontal lobe, parietal lobe and limbic lobe for FN and SN, while the decreased nodal efficiency were distributed in subcortical nuclei, parietal lobe and limbic lobe only for SN. In network resilient analysis, the RC patients showed less resilient to targeted or random node deletion in both networks compared with HC. Moreover, FN is more robust than SN for all participants. Conclusions: This study revealed that topological organizations of the FN and SN may be disrupted in RC patients. Brain network reorganization is a compensation mechanism to alleviate the depressive risk in RC patients after surgery and chemotherapy.

Abnormal Functional and Structural networks in Rectal Cancer with Depressive symptoms: A Graph Theory Analysis

Background: Surgery and chemotherapy can cause emotional disorders in patients with rectal cancer (RC). However, few comprehensive studies are conducted on RC patients associated alterations in the topological organization of structural and functional networks. Methods: Resting-state functional MRI and Diffusion tensor imaging data were collected from 36 RC patients with surgery and chemotherapy and 32 healthy controls (HC). Functional network (FN) was constructed from extracting average time courses for 246 regions of interest (ROI) and structural network (SN) was established by deterministic tractography. Graph theoretical analysis was used to calculate small-worldness property, clustering coefficients, shortest path length and network efficiency. Additionally, we assess network resilient on FN and SN. Results: Abnormal small-worldness property of FN and SN were found in RC patients. The FN and SN exhibited increased local efficiency and global efficiency respectively in RC patients.The increased nodal efficiency in RC patients were mainly found in the frontal lobe, parietal lobe and limbic lobe for FN and SN, while the decreased nodal efficiency were distributed in subcortical nuclei, parietal lobe and limbic lobe only for SN. In network resilient analysis, the RC patients showed less resilient to targeted or random node deletion in both networks compared with HC. Moreover, FN is more robust than SN for all participants. Conclusions: This study revealed that topological organizations of the FN and SN may be disrupted in RC patients. Brain network reorganization is a compensation mechanism for brain impairment after surgery and chemotherapy.

Post-Stimulation Effect of Electroacupuncture at Yintang (EX-HN3) and GV20 on cerebral functional regions in healthy volunteers: A resting functional MRI study

Objective The aim of the present work was to observe the activation/deactivation of cerebral functional regions after electroacupuncture (EA) at Yintang (EX-HN3) and GV20 by functional MRI (fMRI). Design A total of 12 healthy volunteers were stimulated by EA at Yintang and GV20 for 30 min. Resting-state fMRI scans were performed before EA, and at 5 and 15 min after needle removal. Statistical parametric mapping was used to preprocess initial data, and regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) were analysed. Results ReHo at 5 min post stimulation showed increases in the left temporal lobe and cerebellum and decreases in the left parietal lobe, occipital lobe and right precuneus. At 15 min post stimulation, ReHo showed increases in the left fusiform gyrus; lingual gyrus; middle temporal gyrus; postcentral gyrus; limbic lobe; cingulate gyrus; paracentral lobule; cerebellum, posterior lobe, declive; right cuneus and cerebellum, anterior lobe, culmen. It also showed decreases in the left frontal lobe, parietal lobe, right temporal lobe, frontal lobe, parietal lobe and right cingulate gyrus. ALFF at 5 min post stimulation showed increases in the right temporal lobe, but decreases in the right limbic lobe and posterior cingulate gyrus. At 15 min post stimulation ALFF showed increases in the left frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, right temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe and cerebellum, but decreases in the left frontal lobe, anterior cingulate gyrus, right frontal lobe and posterior cingulate gyrus. Conclusions After EA stimulation at Yintang and GV20, which are associated with psychiatric disorder treatments, changes were localised in the frontal lobe, cingulate gyrus and cerebellum. Changes were higher in number and intensity at 15 min than at 5 min after needle removal, demonstrating lasting and strong after-effects of EA on cerebral functional regions.