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Cagol A, Ocampo-Pineda M, Lu PJ, Weigel M, Barakovic M, Melie-Garcia L, Chen X, Lutti A, Calabrese P, Kuhle J, Kappos L, Sormani MP, Granziera C. Advanced Quantitative MRI Unveils Microstructural Thalamic Changes Reflecting Disease Progression in Multiple Sclerosis. NEUROLOGY(R) NEUROIMMUNOLOGY & NEUROINFLAMMATION 2024; 11:e200299. [PMID: 39270143 PMCID: PMC11409727 DOI: 10.1212/nxi.0000000000200299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES In patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), thalamic atrophy occurs during the disease course. However, there is little understanding of the mechanisms leading to volume loss and of the relationship between microstructural thalamic pathology and disease progression. This cross-sectional and longitudinal study aimed to comprehensively characterize in vivo pathologic changes within thalamic microstructure in PwMS using advanced multiparametric quantitative MRI (qMRI). METHODS Thalamic microstructural integrity was evaluated using quantitative T1, magnetization transfer saturation, multishell diffusion, and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) in 183 PwMS and 105 healthy controls (HCs). The same qMRI protocol was available for 127 PwMS and 73 HCs after a 2-year follow-up period. Inclusion criteria for PwMS encompassed either an active relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) or inactive progressive MS (PMS) disease course. Thalamic alterations were compared between PwMS and HCs and among disease phenotypes. In addition, the study investigated the relationship between thalamic damage and clinical and conventional MRI measures of disease severity. RESULTS Compared with HCs, PwMS exhibited substantial thalamic alterations, indicative of microstructural and macrostructural damage, demyelination, and disruption in iron homeostasis. These alterations extended beyond focal thalamic lesions, affecting normal-appearing thalamic tissue diffusely. Over the follow-up period, PwMS displayed an accelerated decrease in myelin volume fraction [mean difference in annualized percentage change (MD-ApC) = -1.50; p = 0.041] and increase in quantitative T1 (MD-ApC = 0.92; p < 0.0001) values, indicating heightened demyelinating and neurodegenerative processes. The observed differences between PwMS and HCs were substantially driven by the subgroup with PMS, wherein thalamic degeneration was significantly accelerated, even in comparison with patients with RRMS. Thalamic qMRI alterations showed extensive correlations with conventional MRI, clinical, and cognitive disease burden measures. Disability progression over follow-up was associated with accelerated thalamic degeneration, as reflected by enhanced diffusion (β = -0.067; p = 0.039) and QSM (β = -0.077; p = 0.027) changes. Thalamic qMRI metrics emerged as significant predictors of neurologic and cognitive disability even when accounting for other established markers including white matter lesion load and brain and thalamic atrophy. DISCUSSION These findings offer deeper insights into thalamic pathology in PwMS, emphasizing the clinical relevance of thalamic damage and its link to disease progression. Advanced qMRI biomarkers show promising potential in guiding interventions aimed at mitigating thalamic neurodegenerative processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Cagol
- From the Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., L.K., C.G.), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel; Department of Neurology (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB) (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Switzerland; Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, (A.C., M.P.S.), Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy; Division of Radiological Physics (M.W.), Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel; Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging (A.L.), Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne; Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology Unit (P.C.), Division of Cognitive and Molecular Neuroscience, University of Basel, Switzerland; and IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (M.P.S.), Genova, Italy
| | - Mario Ocampo-Pineda
- From the Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., L.K., C.G.), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel; Department of Neurology (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB) (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Switzerland; Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, (A.C., M.P.S.), Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy; Division of Radiological Physics (M.W.), Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel; Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging (A.L.), Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne; Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology Unit (P.C.), Division of Cognitive and Molecular Neuroscience, University of Basel, Switzerland; and IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (M.P.S.), Genova, Italy
| | - Po-Jui Lu
- From the Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., L.K., C.G.), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel; Department of Neurology (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB) (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Switzerland; Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, (A.C., M.P.S.), Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy; Division of Radiological Physics (M.W.), Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel; Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging (A.L.), Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne; Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology Unit (P.C.), Division of Cognitive and Molecular Neuroscience, University of Basel, Switzerland; and IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (M.P.S.), Genova, Italy
| | - Matthias Weigel
- From the Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., L.K., C.G.), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel; Department of Neurology (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB) (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Switzerland; Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, (A.C., M.P.S.), Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy; Division of Radiological Physics (M.W.), Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel; Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging (A.L.), Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne; Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology Unit (P.C.), Division of Cognitive and Molecular Neuroscience, University of Basel, Switzerland; and IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (M.P.S.), Genova, Italy
| | - Muhamed Barakovic
- From the Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., L.K., C.G.), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel; Department of Neurology (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB) (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Switzerland; Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, (A.C., M.P.S.), Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy; Division of Radiological Physics (M.W.), Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel; Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging (A.L.), Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne; Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology Unit (P.C.), Division of Cognitive and Molecular Neuroscience, University of Basel, Switzerland; and IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (M.P.S.), Genova, Italy
| | - Lester Melie-Garcia
- From the Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., L.K., C.G.), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel; Department of Neurology (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB) (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Switzerland; Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, (A.C., M.P.S.), Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy; Division of Radiological Physics (M.W.), Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel; Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging (A.L.), Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne; Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology Unit (P.C.), Division of Cognitive and Molecular Neuroscience, University of Basel, Switzerland; and IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (M.P.S.), Genova, Italy
| | - Xinjie Chen
- From the Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., L.K., C.G.), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel; Department of Neurology (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB) (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Switzerland; Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, (A.C., M.P.S.), Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy; Division of Radiological Physics (M.W.), Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel; Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging (A.L.), Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne; Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology Unit (P.C.), Division of Cognitive and Molecular Neuroscience, University of Basel, Switzerland; and IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (M.P.S.), Genova, Italy
| | - Antoine Lutti
- From the Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., L.K., C.G.), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel; Department of Neurology (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB) (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Switzerland; Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, (A.C., M.P.S.), Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy; Division of Radiological Physics (M.W.), Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel; Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging (A.L.), Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne; Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology Unit (P.C.), Division of Cognitive and Molecular Neuroscience, University of Basel, Switzerland; and IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (M.P.S.), Genova, Italy
| | - Pasquale Calabrese
- From the Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., L.K., C.G.), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel; Department of Neurology (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB) (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Switzerland; Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, (A.C., M.P.S.), Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy; Division of Radiological Physics (M.W.), Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel; Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging (A.L.), Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne; Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology Unit (P.C.), Division of Cognitive and Molecular Neuroscience, University of Basel, Switzerland; and IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (M.P.S.), Genova, Italy
| | - Jens Kuhle
- From the Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., L.K., C.G.), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel; Department of Neurology (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB) (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Switzerland; Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, (A.C., M.P.S.), Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy; Division of Radiological Physics (M.W.), Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel; Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging (A.L.), Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne; Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology Unit (P.C.), Division of Cognitive and Molecular Neuroscience, University of Basel, Switzerland; and IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (M.P.S.), Genova, Italy
| | - Ludwig Kappos
- From the Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., L.K., C.G.), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel; Department of Neurology (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB) (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Switzerland; Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, (A.C., M.P.S.), Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy; Division of Radiological Physics (M.W.), Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel; Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging (A.L.), Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne; Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology Unit (P.C.), Division of Cognitive and Molecular Neuroscience, University of Basel, Switzerland; and IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (M.P.S.), Genova, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Sormani
- From the Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., L.K., C.G.), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel; Department of Neurology (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB) (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Switzerland; Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, (A.C., M.P.S.), Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy; Division of Radiological Physics (M.W.), Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel; Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging (A.L.), Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne; Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology Unit (P.C.), Division of Cognitive and Molecular Neuroscience, University of Basel, Switzerland; and IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (M.P.S.), Genova, Italy
| | - Cristina Granziera
- From the Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., L.K., C.G.), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel; Department of Neurology (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB) (A.C., M.O.-P., P.-J.L., M.W., M.B., L.M.-G., X.C., J.K., L.K., C.G.), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Switzerland; Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, (A.C., M.P.S.), Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy; Division of Radiological Physics (M.W.), Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel; Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging (A.L.), Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne; Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology Unit (P.C.), Division of Cognitive and Molecular Neuroscience, University of Basel, Switzerland; and IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (M.P.S.), Genova, Italy
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Shi D, Liu F, Li S, Chen L, Jiang X, Gore JC, Zheng Q, Guo H, Xu J. Restriction-induced time-dependent transcytolemmal water exchange: Revisiting the Kӓrger exchange model. JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE (SAN DIEGO, CALIF. : 1997) 2024; 367:107760. [PMID: 39241283 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 08/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
The Kӓrger model and its derivatives have been widely used to incorporate transcytolemmal water exchange rate, an essential characteristic of living cells, into analyses of diffusion MRI (dMRI) signals from tissues. The Kӓrger model consists of two homogeneous exchanging components coupled by an exchange rate constant and assumes measurements are made with sufficiently long diffusion time and slow water exchange. Despite successful applications, it remains unclear whether these assumptions are generally valid for practical dMRI sequences and biological tissues. In particular, barrier-induced restrictions to diffusion produce inhomogeneous magnetization distributions in relatively large-sized compartments such as cancer cells, violating the above assumptions. The effects of this inhomogeneity are usually overlooked. We performed computer simulations to quantify how restriction effects, which in images produce edge enhancements at compartment boundaries, influence different variants of the Kӓrger-model. The results show that the edge enhancement effect will produce larger, time-dependent estimates of exchange rates in e.g., tumors with relatively large cell sizes (>10 μm), resulting in overestimations of water exchange as previously reported. Moreover, stronger diffusion gradients, longer diffusion gradient durations, and larger cell sizes, all cause more pronounced edge enhancement effects. This helps us to better understand the feasibility of the Kärger model in estimating water exchange in different tissue types and provides useful guidance on signal acquisition methods that may mitigate the edge enhancement effect. This work also indicates the need to correct the overestimated transcytolemmal water exchange rates obtained assuming the Kärger-model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diwei Shi
- Center for Nano and Micro Mechanics, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Liu
- Center for Biomedical Imaging Research, School of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Sisi Li
- Center for Biomedical Imaging Research, School of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Chen
- Center for Nano and Micro Mechanics, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Jiang
- Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - John C Gore
- Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Quanshui Zheng
- Center for Nano and Micro Mechanics, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Guo
- Center for Biomedical Imaging Research, School of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Junzhong Xu
- Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.
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Toubasi AA, Cutter G, Gheen C, Vinarsky T, Yoon K, AshShareef S, Adapa P, Gruder O, Taylor S, Eaton JE, Xu J, Bagnato F. Improving the assessment of axonal injury in early multiple sclerosis. Acad Radiol 2024:S1076-6332(24)00610-X. [PMID: 39277455 DOI: 10.1016/j.acra.2024.08.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES Several quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods are available to measure tissue injury in multiple sclerosis (MS), but their pathological specificity remains limited. The multi-compartment diffusion imaging using the spherical mean technique (SMT) overcomes several technical limitations of the diffusion-weighted image signal, thus delivering metrics with increased pathological specificity. Given these premises, here we assess whether the SMT-derived apparent axonal volume (Vax) provides a better tissue classifier than the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-derived axial diffusivity (AD) in the white matter (WM) of MS brains. METHODS Forty-three treatment-naïve people with newly diagnosed MS, clinically isolated syndrome, or radiologically isolated syndrome and 18 healthy controls (HCs) underwent a 3.0 Tesla MRI inclusive of T1-weighted (T1-w) and T2-w fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences, and multi-b shell diffusion-weighted imaging. In patients only, pre- and post-gadolinium diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid T1-w sequences were obtained for the evaluation of contrast-active lesions (CELs). Vax and AD were calculated in T2-lesions, chronic black holes (cBHs), and normal appearing (NAWM) in patients and normal WM (NWM) in HCs. Vax and AD values were compared across all the possible combinations of these regions. CELs were excluded from the analyses. RESULTS Vax differed in all comparisons (p ≤ 0.047 by paired t-test); AD differed in most comparisons (p < 0.001) except between NAWM and NWM, and between cBHs and T2-lesions. Vax had higher accuracy (p ≤ 0.029 by DeLong test) and larger effect size (p ≤ 0.038 by paired t-test) than AD in differentiating areas with even minimal tissue injury. CONCLUSIONS Vax provides a better radiological quantitative discriminator of different degrees of axonal-mediated tissue injury even between areas with expected minimal pathology. Our data support further studies to assess the readiness of Vax as a measure of outcome for clinical trials on neuroprotection in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad A Toubasi
- Neuroimaging Unit, Neuroimmunology Division, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, TN (A.A.T., C.G., T.V., K.Y., S.A., P.A., F.B.)
| | - Gary Cutter
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL (G.C.)
| | - Caroline Gheen
- Neuroimaging Unit, Neuroimmunology Division, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, TN (A.A.T., C.G., T.V., K.Y., S.A., P.A., F.B.)
| | - Taegan Vinarsky
- Neuroimaging Unit, Neuroimmunology Division, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, TN (A.A.T., C.G., T.V., K.Y., S.A., P.A., F.B.)
| | - Keejin Yoon
- Neuroimaging Unit, Neuroimmunology Division, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, TN (A.A.T., C.G., T.V., K.Y., S.A., P.A., F.B.); University of Central Florida, College of Medicine, Orlando, FL (K.Y.)
| | - Salma AshShareef
- Neuroimaging Unit, Neuroimmunology Division, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, TN (A.A.T., C.G., T.V., K.Y., S.A., P.A., F.B.); Department of Life and Physical Sciences, Fisk University, Nashville, TN (S.A.)
| | - Pragnya Adapa
- Neuroimaging Unit, Neuroimmunology Division, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, TN (A.A.T., C.G., T.V., K.Y., S.A., P.A., F.B.); College of Arts and Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (P.A.)
| | - Olivia Gruder
- Neuroimmunology Division, Department of Neurology, VUMC, Nashville, TN (O.G., S.T., J.E.E.)
| | - Stephanie Taylor
- Neuroimmunology Division, Department of Neurology, VUMC, Nashville, TN (O.G., S.T., J.E.E.)
| | - James E Eaton
- Neuroimmunology Division, Department of Neurology, VUMC, Nashville, TN (O.G., S.T., J.E.E.); Cognitive Division, Department of Neurology, VUMC, Nashville, TN (J.E.E.)
| | - Junzhong Xu
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Sciences, Departments of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, VUMC, Nashville, TN (J.X.)
| | - Francesca Bagnato
- Neuroimaging Unit, Neuroimmunology Division, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, TN (A.A.T., C.G., T.V., K.Y., S.A., P.A., F.B.); Department of Neurology, VA Medical Center, TN Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN (F.B.).
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Shamir I, Assaf Y. Tutorial: a guide to diffusion MRI and structural connectomics. Nat Protoc 2024:10.1038/s41596-024-01052-5. [PMID: 39232202 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-024-01052-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) is a versatile imaging technique that has gained popularity thanks to its sensitive ability to measure displacement of water molecules within a living tissue on a micrometer scale. Although dMRI has been around since the early 1990s, its applications are constantly evolving, primarily regarding the inference of structural connectomics from nerve fiber trajectories. However, these applications require expertise in image processing and statistics, and it can be difficult for a newcomer to choose an appropriate pipeline to fit their research needs, not least because dMRI is such a flexible methodology that dozens of acquisition and analysis pipelines have been developed over the years. This introductory guide is designed for graduate students and researchers in the neuroscience community who are interested in integrating this new methodology regardless of their background in neuroimaging and computational tools. The guide provides a brief overview of the basic dMRI methodologies but focuses on its applications in neuroplasticity and connectomics. The guide starts with dMRI experimental designs and a complete step-by-step pipeline for structural connectomics. The following section covers the basics of dMRI, including parameters and clinical applications (apparent diffusion coefficient, mean diffusivity, fractional anisotropy and microscopic fractional anisotropy), as well as different approaches and models. The final section focuses on structural connectomics, covering subjects from fiber tracking (techniques, evaluation and limitations) to structural networks (constructing, analyzing and visualizing a network).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ittai Shamir
- Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yaniv Assaf
- Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Dobrynina LA, Kremneva EI, Shamtieva KV, Geints AA, Filatov AS, Gadzhieva ZS, Gnedovskaya EV, Krotenkova MV, Maximov II. Cognitive Impairment in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Is Associated with Corpus Callosum Microstructure Changes Based on Diffusion MRI. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:1838. [PMID: 39202326 PMCID: PMC11353603 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14161838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2024] [Revised: 08/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) is one of the main causes of vascular and mixed cognitive impairment (CI), and it is associated, in particular, with brain ageing. An understanding of structural tissue changes in an intact cerebral white matter in cSVD might allow one to develop the sensitive biomarkers for early diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY to evaluate microstructural changes in the corpus callosum (CC) using diffusion MRI (D-MRI) approaches in cSVD patients with different severity of CI and reveal the most sensitive correlations of diffusion metrics with CI. METHODS the study included 166 cSVD patients (51.8% women; 60.4 ± 7.6 years) and 44 healthy volunteers (65.9% women; 59.6 ± 6.8 years). All subjects underwent D-MRI (3T) with signal (diffusion tensor and kurtosis) and biophysical (neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging, NODDI, white matter tract integrity, WMTI, multicompartment spherical mean technique, MC-SMT) modeling in three CC segments as well as a neuropsychological assessment. RESULTS in cSVD patients, microstructural changes were found in all CC segments already at the subjective CI stage, which was found to worsen into mild CI and dementia. More pronounced changes were observed in the forceps minor. Among the signal models FA, MD, MK, RD, and RK, as well as among the biophysical models, MC-SMT (EMD, ETR) and WMTI (AWF) metrics exhibited the largest area under the curve (>0.85), characterizing the loss of microstructural integrity, the severity of potential demyelination, and the proportion of intra-axonal water, respectively. Conclusion: the study reveals the relevance of advanced D-MRI approaches for the assessment of brain tissue changes in cSVD. The identified diffusion biomarkers could be used for the clarification and observation of CI progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larisa A. Dobrynina
- Research Center of Neurology, 125367 Moscow, Russia; (L.A.D.); (A.A.G.); (A.S.F.); (E.V.G.); (M.V.K.)
| | - Elena I. Kremneva
- Research Center of Neurology, 125367 Moscow, Russia; (L.A.D.); (A.A.G.); (A.S.F.); (E.V.G.); (M.V.K.)
| | - Kamila V. Shamtieva
- Research Center of Neurology, 125367 Moscow, Russia; (L.A.D.); (A.A.G.); (A.S.F.); (E.V.G.); (M.V.K.)
| | - Anastasia A. Geints
- Research Center of Neurology, 125367 Moscow, Russia; (L.A.D.); (A.A.G.); (A.S.F.); (E.V.G.); (M.V.K.)
| | - Alexey S. Filatov
- Research Center of Neurology, 125367 Moscow, Russia; (L.A.D.); (A.A.G.); (A.S.F.); (E.V.G.); (M.V.K.)
| | - Zukhra Sh. Gadzhieva
- Research Center of Neurology, 125367 Moscow, Russia; (L.A.D.); (A.A.G.); (A.S.F.); (E.V.G.); (M.V.K.)
| | - Elena V. Gnedovskaya
- Research Center of Neurology, 125367 Moscow, Russia; (L.A.D.); (A.A.G.); (A.S.F.); (E.V.G.); (M.V.K.)
| | - Marina V. Krotenkova
- Research Center of Neurology, 125367 Moscow, Russia; (L.A.D.); (A.A.G.); (A.S.F.); (E.V.G.); (M.V.K.)
| | - Ivan I. Maximov
- Department of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), 5063 Bergen, Norway;
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Drabek-Maunder ER, Mankad K, Aquilina K, Dean JA, Nisbet A, Clark CA. Using diffusion MRI to understand white matter damage and the link between brain microstructure and cognitive deficits in paediatric medulloblastoma patients. Eur J Radiol 2024; 177:111562. [PMID: 38901074 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2024.111562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Survivors of medulloblastoma face a range of challenges after treatment, involving behavioural, cognitive, language and motor skills. Post-treatment outcomes are associated with structural changes within the brain resulting from both the tumour and the treatment. Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to investigate the microstructure of the brain. In this review, we aim to summarise the literature on diffusion MRI in patients treated for medulloblastoma and discuss future directions on how diffusion imaging can be used to improve patient quality. METHOD This review summarises the current literature on medulloblastoma in children, focusing on the impact of both the tumour and its treatment on brain microstructure. We review studies where diffusion MRI has been correlated with either treatment characteristics or cognitive outcomes. We discuss the role diffusion MRI has taken in understanding the relationship between microstructural damage and cognitive and behavioural deficits. RESULTS We identified 35 studies that analysed diffusion MRI changes in patients treated for medulloblastoma. The majority of these studies found significant group differences in measures of brain microstructure between patients and controls, and some of these studies showed associations between microstructure and neurocognitive outcomes, which could be influenced by patient characteristics (e.g. age), treatment, radiation dose and treatment type. CONCLUSIONS In future, studies would benefit from being able to separate microstructural white matter damage caused by the tumour, tumour-related complications and treatment. Additionally, advanced diffusion modelling methods can be explored to understand and describe microstructural changes to white matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Drabek-Maunder
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guildford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; UCL Dept of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Malet Place, Gower St, London WC1E 6BT, UK; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Great Ormond St, London WC1N 3JH, UK.
| | - Kshitij Mankad
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guildford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Great Ormond St, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - Kristian Aquilina
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guildford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Great Ormond St, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - Jamie A Dean
- UCL Dept of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Malet Place, Gower St, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Andrew Nisbet
- UCL Dept of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Malet Place, Gower St, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Chris A Clark
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guildford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Great Ormond St, London WC1N 3JH, UK
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Crestol A, de Lange AMG, Schindler L, Subramaniapillai S, Nerland S, Oppenheimer H, Westlye LT, Andreassen OA, Agartz I, Tamnes CK, Barth C. Linking menopause-related factors, history of depression, APOE ε4, and proxies of biological aging in the UK biobank cohort. Horm Behav 2024; 164:105596. [PMID: 38944998 PMCID: PMC11372440 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
In a subset of females, postmenopausal status has been linked to accelerated aging and neurological decline. A complex interplay between reproductive-related factors, mental disorders, and genetics may influence brain function and accelerate the rate of aging in the postmenopausal phase. Using multiple regressions corrected for age, in this preregistered study we investigated the associations between menopause-related factors (i.e., menopausal status, menopause type, age at menopause, and reproductive span) and proxies of cellular aging (leukocyte telomere length, LTL) and brain aging (white and gray matter brain age gap, BAG) in 13,780 females from the UK Biobank (age range 39-82). We then determined how these proxies of aging were associated with each other, and evaluated the effects of menopause-related factors, history of depression (= lifetime broad depression), and APOE ε4 genotype on BAG and LTL, examining both additive and interactive relationships. We found that postmenopausal status and older age at natural menopause were linked to longer LTL and lower BAG. Surgical menopause and longer natural reproductive span were also associated with longer LTL. BAG and LTL were not significantly associated with each other. The greatest variance in each proxy of biological aging was most consistently explained by models with the addition of both lifetime broad depression and APOE ε4 genotype. Overall, this study demonstrates a complex interplay between menopause-related factors, lifetime broad depression, APOE ε4 genotype, and proxies of biological aging. However, results are potentially influenced by a disproportionate number of healthier participants among postmenopausal females. Future longitudinal studies incorporating heterogeneous samples are an essential step towards advancing female health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arielle Crestol
- Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Center for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Ann-Marie G de Lange
- Centre for Research in Neurosciences, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Louise Schindler
- Centre for Research in Neurosciences, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sivaniya Subramaniapillai
- Centre for Research in Neurosciences, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stener Nerland
- Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hannah Oppenheimer
- Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars T Westlye
- Center for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo & Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- Center for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo & Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingrid Agartz
- Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo & Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm Health Care Services, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Christian K Tamnes
- Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Claudia Barth
- Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
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Cagol A, Tsagkas C, Granziera C. Advanced Brain Imaging in Central Nervous System Demyelinating Diseases. Neuroimaging Clin N Am 2024; 34:335-357. [PMID: 38942520 DOI: 10.1016/j.nic.2024.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
In recent decades, advances in neuroimaging have profoundly transformed our comprehension of central nervous system demyelinating diseases. Remarkable technological progress has enabled the integration of cutting-edge acquisition and postprocessing techniques, proving instrumental in characterizing subtle focal changes, diffuse microstructural alterations, and macroscopic pathologic processes. This review delves into state-of-the-art modalities applied to multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease. Furthermore, it explores how this dynamic landscape holds significant promise for the development of effective and personalized clinical management strategies, encompassing support for differential diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring treatment response, and patient stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Cagol
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Hegenheimermattweg 167b, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 2, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, Via A. Pastore, 1 16132 Genova, Italy. https://twitter.com/CagolAlessandr0
| | - Charidimos Tsagkas
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Hegenheimermattweg 167b, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; Translational Neuroradiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health (NIH), 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Cristina Granziera
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Hegenheimermattweg 167b, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 2, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.
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Aranda S, Jiménez E, Canales-Rodríguez EJ, Verdolini N, Alonso S, Sepúlveda E, Julià A, Marsal S, Bobes J, Sáiz PA, García-Portilla P, Menchón JM, Crespo JM, González-Pinto A, Pérez V, Arango C, Sierra P, Sanjuán J, Pomarol-Clotet E, Vieta E, Vilella E. Processing speed mediates the relationship between DDR1 and psychosocial functioning in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder presenting psychotic symptoms. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:2050-2058. [PMID: 38374360 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02480-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
The DDR1 locus is associated with the diagnosis of schizophrenia and with processing speed in patients with schizophrenia and first-episode psychosis. Here, we investigated whether DDR1 variants are associated with bipolar disorder (BD) features. First, we performed a case‒control association study comparing DDR1 variants between patients with BD and healthy controls. Second, we performed linear regression analyses to assess the associations of DDR1 variants with neurocognitive domains and psychosocial functioning. Third, we conducted a mediation analysis to explore whether neurocognitive impairment mediated the association between DDR1 variants and psychosocial functioning in patients with BD. Finally, we studied the association between DDR1 variants and white matter microstructure. We did not find any statistically significant associations in the case‒control association study; however, we found that the combined genotypes rs1264323AA-rs2267641AC/CC were associated with worse neurocognitive performance in patients with BD with psychotic symptoms. In addition, the combined genotypes rs1264323AA-rs2267641AC/CC were associated with worse psychosocial functioning through processing speed. We did not find correlations between white matter microstructure abnormalities and the neurocognitive domains associated with the combined genotypes rs1264323AA-rs2267641AC/CC. Overall, the results suggest that DDR1 may be a marker of worse neurocognitive performance and psychosocial functioning in patients with BD, specifically those with psychotic symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selena Aranda
- Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili-CERCA, Reus, Spain
- Hospital Universitari Institut Pere Mata, Reus, Spain
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Esther Jiménez
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Erick J Canales-Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Signal Processing Laboratory (LTS5), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Norma Verdolini
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Alonso
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esteban Sepúlveda
- Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili-CERCA, Reus, Spain
- Hospital Universitari Institut Pere Mata, Reus, Spain
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Julià
- Rheumatology Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Marsal
- Rheumatology Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julio Bobes
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- nstituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Servicio de Salud del Principado de Asturias (SESPA) Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Pilar A Sáiz
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- nstituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Servicio de Salud del Principado de Asturias (SESPA) Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Paz García-Portilla
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- nstituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Servicio de Salud del Principado de Asturias (SESPA) Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Jose M Menchón
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute-IDIBELL, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José M Crespo
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute-IDIBELL, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana González-Pinto
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
- Araba University Hospital, Bioaraba Research Institute, UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Víctor Pérez
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Hospital de Mar. Mental Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Neurosciences Research Unit, Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Celso Arango
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Madrid, Spain
- Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Sierra
- La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Julio Sanjuán
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Edith Pomarol-Clotet
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduard Vieta
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisabet Vilella
- Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili-CERCA, Reus, Spain.
- Hospital Universitari Institut Pere Mata, Reus, Spain.
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM)-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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Korbmacher M, van der Meer D, Beck D, Askeland-Gjerde DE, Eikefjord E, Lundervold A, Andreassen OA, Westlye LT, Maximov II. Distinct Longitudinal Brain White Matter Microstructure Changes and Associated Polygenic Risk of Common Psychiatric Disorders and Alzheimer's Disease in the UK Biobank. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100323. [PMID: 39132576 PMCID: PMC11313202 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background During the course of adulthood and aging, white matter (WM) structure and organization are characterized by slow degradation processes such as demyelination and shrinkage. An acceleration of such aging processes has been linked to the development of a range of diseases. Thus, an accurate description of healthy brain maturation, particularly in terms of WM features, is fundamental to the understanding of aging. Methods We used longitudinal diffusion magnetic resonance imaging to provide an overview of WM changes at different spatial and temporal scales in the UK Biobank (UKB) (n = 2678; agescan 1 = 62.38 ± 7.23 years; agescan 2 = 64.81 ± 7.1 years). To examine the genetic overlap between WM structure and common clinical conditions, we tested the associations between WM structure and polygenic risk scores for the most common neurodegenerative disorder, Alzheimer's disease, and common psychiatric disorders (unipolar and bipolar depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism, schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) in longitudinal (n = 2329) and cross-sectional (n = 31,056) UKB validation data. Results Our findings indicate spatially distributed WM changes across the brain, as well as distributed associations of polygenic risk scores with WM. Importantly, brain longitudinal changes reflected genetic risk for disorder development better than the utilized cross-sectional measures, with regional differences giving more specific insights into gene-brain change associations than global averages. Conclusions We extend recent findings by providing a detailed overview of WM microstructure degeneration on different spatial levels, helping to understand fundamental brain aging processes. Further longitudinal research is warranted to examine aging-related gene-brain associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Korbmacher
- Department of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualization Centre, Bergen, Norway
| | - Dennis van der Meer
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Dani Beck
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Daniel E. Askeland-Gjerde
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eli Eikefjord
- Department of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
- Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualization Centre, Bergen, Norway
| | - Arvid Lundervold
- Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualization Centre, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ole A. Andreassen
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars T. Westlye
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ivan I. Maximov
- Department of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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11
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Takemura H, Kruper JA, Miyata T, Rokem A. Tractometry of Human Visual White Matter Pathways in Health and Disease. Magn Reson Med Sci 2024; 23:316-340. [PMID: 38866532 PMCID: PMC11234945 DOI: 10.2463/mrms.rev.2024-0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Diffusion-weighted MRI (dMRI) provides a unique non-invasive view of human brain tissue properties. The present review article focuses on tractometry analysis methods that use dMRI to assess the properties of brain tissue within the long-range connections comprising brain networks. We focus specifically on the major white matter tracts that convey visual information. These connections are particularly important because vision provides rich information from the environment that supports a large range of daily life activities. Many of the diseases of the visual system are associated with advanced aging, and tractometry of the visual system is particularly important in the modern aging society. We provide an overview of the tractometry analysis pipeline, which includes a primer on dMRI data acquisition, voxelwise model fitting, tractography, recognition of white matter tracts, and calculation of tract tissue property profiles. We then review dMRI-based methods for analyzing visual white matter tracts: the optic nerve, optic tract, optic radiation, forceps major, and vertical occipital fasciculus. For each tract, we review background anatomical knowledge together with recent findings in tractometry studies on these tracts and their properties in relation to visual function and disease. Overall, we find that measurements of the brain's visual white matter are sensitive to a range of disorders and correlate with perceptual abilities. We highlight new and promising analysis methods, as well as some of the current barriers to progress toward integration of these methods into clinical practice. These barriers, such as variability in measurements between protocols and instruments, are targets for future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiromasa Takemura
- Division of Sensory and Cognitive Brain Mapping, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet), Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - John A Kruper
- Department of Psychology and eScience Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Toshikazu Miyata
- Division of Sensory and Cognitive Brain Mapping, Department of System Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet), Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ariel Rokem
- Department of Psychology and eScience Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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12
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Vivó F, Solana E, Calvi A, Lopez‐Soley E, Reid LB, Pascual‐Diaz S, Garrido C, Planas‐Tardido L, Cabrera‐Maqueda JM, Alba‐Arbalat S, Sepulveda M, Blanco Y, Kanber B, Prados F, Saiz A, Llufriu S, Martinez‐Heras E. Microscopic fractional anisotropy outperforms multiple sclerosis lesion assessment and clinical outcome associations over standard fractional anisotropy tensor. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26706. [PMID: 38867646 PMCID: PMC11170024 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
We aimed to compare the ability of diffusion tensor imaging and multi-compartment spherical mean technique to detect focal tissue damage and in distinguishing between different connectivity patterns associated with varying clinical outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS). Seventy-six people diagnosed with MS were scanned using a SIEMENS Prisma Fit 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), employing both conventional (T1w and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) and advanced diffusion MRI sequences from which fractional anisotropy (FA) and microscopic FA (μFA) maps were generated. Using automated fiber quantification (AFQ), we assessed diffusion profiles across multiple white matter (WM) pathways to measure the sensitivity of anisotropy diffusion metrics in detecting localized tissue damage. In parallel, we analyzed structural brain connectivity in a specific patient cohort to fully grasp its relationships with cognitive and physical clinical outcomes. This evaluation comprehensively considered different patient categories, including cognitively preserved (CP), mild cognitive deficits (MCD), and cognitively impaired (CI) for cognitive assessment, as well as groups distinguished by physical impact: those with mild disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] <=3) and those with moderate-severe disability (EDSS >3). In our initial objective, we employed Ridge regression to forecast the presence of focal MS lesions, comparing the performance of μFA and FA. μFA exhibited a stronger association with tissue damage and a higher predictive precision for focal MS lesions across the tracts, achieving an R-squared value of .57, significantly outperforming the R-squared value of .24 for FA (p-value <.001). In structural connectivity, μFA exhibited more pronounced differences than FA in response to alteration in both cognitive and physical clinical scores in terms of effect size and number of connections. Regarding cognitive groups, FA differences between CP and MCD groups were limited to 0.5% of connections, mainly around the thalamus, while μFA revealed changes in 2.5% of connections. In the CP and CI group comparison, which have noticeable cognitive differences, the disparity was 5.6% for FA values and 32.5% for μFA. Similarly, μFA outperformed FA in detecting WM changes between the MCD and CI groups, with 5% versus 0.3% of connections, respectively. When analyzing structural connectivity between physical disability groups, μFA still demonstrated superior performance over FA, disclosing a 2.1% difference in connectivity between regions closely associated with physical disability in MS. In contrast, FA spotted a few regions, comprising only 0.6% of total connections. In summary, μFA emerged as a more effective tool than FA in predicting MS lesions and identifying structural changes across patients with different degrees of cognitive and global disability, offering deeper insights into the complexities of MS-related impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Vivó
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases (ImaginEM), Hospital Clinic BarcelonaFundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona‐Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer and Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - E. Solana
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases (ImaginEM), Hospital Clinic BarcelonaFundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona‐Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer and Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - A. Calvi
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases (ImaginEM), Hospital Clinic BarcelonaFundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona‐Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer and Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - E. Lopez‐Soley
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases (ImaginEM), Hospital Clinic BarcelonaFundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona‐Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer and Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - L. B. Reid
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - S. Pascual‐Diaz
- Institute of Neurosciences, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health SciencesUniversity of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - C. Garrido
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Core FacilityInstitut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)BarcelonaSpain
| | - L. Planas‐Tardido
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases (ImaginEM), Hospital Clinic BarcelonaFundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona‐Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer and Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - J. M. Cabrera‐Maqueda
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases (ImaginEM), Hospital Clinic BarcelonaFundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona‐Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer and Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - S. Alba‐Arbalat
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases (ImaginEM), Hospital Clinic BarcelonaFundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona‐Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer and Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - M. Sepulveda
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases (ImaginEM), Hospital Clinic BarcelonaFundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona‐Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer and Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Y. Blanco
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases (ImaginEM), Hospital Clinic BarcelonaFundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona‐Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer and Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - B. Kanber
- Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain ScienceUniversity College of LondonLondonUK
- Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC), Department of Medical Physics and BioengineeringUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - F. Prados
- Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain ScienceUniversity College of LondonLondonUK
- Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC), Department of Medical Physics and BioengineeringUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- E‐Health CenterUniversitat Oberta de CatalunyaBarcelonaSpain
| | - A. Saiz
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases (ImaginEM), Hospital Clinic BarcelonaFundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona‐Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer and Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - S. Llufriu
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases (ImaginEM), Hospital Clinic BarcelonaFundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona‐Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer and Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - E. Martinez‐Heras
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases (ImaginEM), Hospital Clinic BarcelonaFundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona‐Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer and Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
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13
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Canales-Rodríguez EJ, Pizzolato M, Zhou FL, Barakovic M, Thiran JP, Jones DK, Parker GJM, Dyrby TB. Pore size estimation in axon-mimicking microfibers with diffusion-relaxation MRI. Magn Reson Med 2024; 91:2579-2596. [PMID: 38192108 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aims to evaluate two distinct approaches for fiber radius estimation using diffusion-relaxation MRI data acquired in biomimetic microfiber phantoms that mimic hollow axons. The methods considered are the spherical mean power-law approach and a T2-based pore size estimation technique. THEORY AND METHODS A general diffusion-relaxation theoretical model for the spherical mean signal from water molecules within a distribution of cylinders with varying radii was introduced, encompassing the evaluated models as particular cases. Additionally, a new numerical approach was presented for estimating effective radii (i.e., MRI-visible mean radii) from the ground truth radii distributions, not reliant on previous theoretical approximations and adaptable to various acquisition sequences. The ground truth radii were obtained from scanning electron microscope images. RESULTS Both methods show a linear relationship between effective radii estimated from MRI data and ground-truth radii distributions, although some discrepancies were observed. The spherical mean power-law method overestimated fiber radii. Conversely, the T2-based method exhibited higher sensitivity to smaller fiber radii, but faced limitations in accurately estimating the radius in one particular phantom, possibly because of material-specific relaxation changes. CONCLUSION The study demonstrates the feasibility of both techniques to predict pore sizes of hollow microfibers. The T2-based technique, unlike the spherical mean power-law method, does not demand ultra-high diffusion gradients, but requires calibration with known radius distributions. This research contributes to the ongoing development and evaluation of neuroimaging techniques for fiber radius estimation, highlights the advantages and limitations of both methods, and provides datasets for reproducible research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick J Canales-Rodríguez
- Signal Processing Laboratory 5 (LTS5), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR), Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marco Pizzolato
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR), Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Feng-Lei Zhou
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London (UCL), London, UK
- MicroPhantoms Limited, Cambridge, UK
| | - Muhamed Barakovic
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Philippe Thiran
- Signal Processing Laboratory 5 (LTS5), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Radiology Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Centre d'Imagerie Biomédicale (CIBM), EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Derek K Jones
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Geoffrey J M Parker
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London (UCL), London, UK
- Department of Neuroinflammation, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London (UCL), London, UK
- Bioxydyn Limited, Manchester, UK
| | - Tim B Dyrby
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR), Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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14
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Hong S, Choi Y, Lee MB, Rhee HY, Park S, Ryu CW, Cho AR, Kwon OI, Jahng GH. Increased extra-neurite conductivity of brain in patients with Alzheimer's disease: A pilot study. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2024; 340:111807. [PMID: 38520873 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2024.111807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to investigate how the extra-neurite conductivity (EC) and intra-neurite conductivity (IC) were reflected in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients compared with old cognitively normal (CN) people and patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and to evaluate the association between those conductivity values and cognitive decline. To do this, high-frequency conductivity (HFC) at the Larmor frequency was obtained using MRI-based electrical property tomography (MREPT) and was decomposed into EC and IC using information of multi-shell multi-gradient direction diffusion tensor images. This prospective single-center study included 20 patients with mild or moderate AD, 25 patients with amnestic MCI, and 21 old CN participants. After decomposing EC and IC from HFC for all participants, we performed voxel-based and regions-of-interest analyses to compare conductivity between the three participant groups and to evaluate the association with either age or the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. We found increased EC in AD compared to CN and MCI. EC was significantly negatively associated with MMSE scores in the insula, and middle temporal gyrus. EC might be used as an imaging biomarker for helping to monitor cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seowon Hong
- Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, 892 Dongnam-ro, Gangdong-Gu, Seoul 05278, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunjeong Choi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Undergraduate School, College of Electronics and Information, Kyung Hee University, 1732 Deogyeong-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Mun Bae Lee
- Department of Mathematics, College of Basic Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Hak Young Rhee
- Department of Neurology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, 892 Dongnam-ro, Gangdong-Gu, Seoul 05278, Republic of Korea; Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, 26 Kyung Hee Dae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Soonchan Park
- Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, 892 Dongnam-ro, Gangdong-Gu, Seoul 05278, Republic of Korea; Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, 26 Kyung Hee Dae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Woo Ryu
- Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, 892 Dongnam-ro, Gangdong-Gu, Seoul 05278, Republic of Korea; Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, 26 Kyung Hee Dae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Ah Rang Cho
- Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, 26 Kyung Hee Dae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, 892 Dongnam-ro, Gangdong-Gu, Seoul 05278, Republic of Korea
| | - Oh In Kwon
- Department of Mathematics, College of Basic Science, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
| | - Geon-Ho Jahng
- Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, 892 Dongnam-ro, Gangdong-Gu, Seoul 05278, Republic of Korea; Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, 26 Kyung Hee Dae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
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15
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Fuchs C, Dessain Q, Delinte N, Dausort M, Macq B. Sparse Blind Spherical Deconvolution of diffusion weighted MRI. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1385975. [PMID: 38846718 PMCID: PMC11155299 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1385975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging provides invaluable insights into in-vivo neurological pathways. However, accurate and robust characterization of white matter fibers microstructure remains challenging. Widely used spherical deconvolution algorithms retrieve the fiber Orientation Distribution Function (ODF) by using an estimation of a response function, i.e., the signal arising from individual fascicles within a voxel. In this paper, an algorithm of blind spherical deconvolution is proposed, which only assumes the axial symmetry of the response function instead of its exact knowledge. This algorithm provides a method for estimating the peaks of the ODF in a voxel without any explicit response function, as well as a method for estimating signals associated with the peaks of the ODF, regardless of how those peaks were obtained. The two stages of the algorithm are tested on Monte Carlo simulations, as well as compared to state-of-the-art methods on real in-vivo data for the orientation retrieval task. Although the proposed algorithm was shown to attain lower angular errors than the state-of-the-art constrained spherical deconvolution algorithm on synthetic data, it was outperformed by state-of-the-art spherical deconvolution algorithms on in-vivo data. In conjunction with state-of-the art methods for axon bundles direction estimation, the proposed method showed its potential for the derivation of per-voxel per-direction metrics on synthetic as well as in-vivo data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Fuchs
- Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Electronics and Applied Mathematics (ICTEAM), UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Quentin Dessain
- Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Electronics and Applied Mathematics (ICTEAM), UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Institute of NeuroScience, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Delinte
- Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Electronics and Applied Mathematics (ICTEAM), UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Institute of NeuroScience, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Manon Dausort
- Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Electronics and Applied Mathematics (ICTEAM), UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Benoît Macq
- Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Electronics and Applied Mathematics (ICTEAM), UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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16
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Brendstrup-Brix K, Ulv Larsen SM, Lee HH, Knudsen GM. Perivascular space diffusivity and brain microstructural measures are associated with circadian time and sleep quality. J Sleep Res 2024:e14226. [PMID: 38676409 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.14226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
The glymphatic system is centred around brain cerebrospinal fluid flow and is enhanced during sleep, and the synaptic homeostasis hypothesis proposes that sleep acts on brain microstructure by selective synaptic downscaling. While so far primarily studied in animals, we here examine in humans if brain diffusivity and microstructure is related to time of day, sleep quality and cognitive performance. We use diffusion weighted images from 916 young healthy individuals, aged between 22 and 37 years, collected as part of the Human Connectome Project to assess diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space index, white matter fractional anisotropy, intra-neurite volume fraction and extra-neurite mean diffusivity. Next, we examine if these measures are associated with circadian time of acquisition, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (high scores correspond to low sleep quality) and age-adjusted cognitive function total composite score. Consistent with expectations, we find that diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space index and orbitofrontal grey matter extra-neurite mean diffusivity are negatively and white matter fractional anisotropy positively correlated with circadian time. Further, we find that grey matter intra-neurite volume fraction correlates positively with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and that this correlation is driven by sleep duration. Finally, we find positive correlations between grey matter intra-neurite volume fraction and cognitive function total composite score, as well as negative interaction effects between cognitive function total composite score and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index on grey matter intra-neurite volume fraction. Our findings propose that perivascular flow is under circadian control and that sleep downregulates the intra-neurite volume in healthy adults with positive impact on cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristoffer Brendstrup-Brix
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sara Marie Ulv Larsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hong-Hsi Lee
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gitte Moos Knudsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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17
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Beck D, de Lange AG, Gurholt TP, Voldsbekk I, Maximov II, Subramaniapillai S, Schindler L, Hindley G, Leonardsen EH, Rahman Z, van der Meer D, Korbmacher M, Linge J, Leinhard OD, Kalleberg KT, Engvig A, Sønderby I, Andreassen OA, Westlye LT. Dissecting unique and common variance across body and brain health indicators using age prediction. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26685. [PMID: 38647042 PMCID: PMC11034003 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Ageing is a heterogeneous multisystem process involving different rates of decline in physiological integrity across biological systems. The current study dissects the unique and common variance across body and brain health indicators and parses inter-individual heterogeneity in the multisystem ageing process. Using machine-learning regression models on the UK Biobank data set (N = 32,593, age range 44.6-82.3, mean age 64.1 years), we first estimated tissue-specific brain age for white and gray matter based on diffusion and T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, respectively. Next, bodily health traits, including cardiometabolic, anthropometric, and body composition measures of adipose and muscle tissue from bioimpedance and body MRI, were combined to predict 'body age'. The results showed that the body age model demonstrated comparable age prediction accuracy to models trained solely on brain MRI data. The correlation between body age and brain age predictions was 0.62 for the T1 and 0.64 for the diffusion-based model, indicating a degree of unique variance in brain and bodily ageing processes. Bayesian multilevel modelling carried out to quantify the associations between health traits and predicted age discrepancies showed that higher systolic blood pressure and higher muscle-fat infiltration were related to older-appearing body age compared to brain age. Conversely, higher hand-grip strength and muscle volume were related to a younger-appearing body age. Our findings corroborate the common notion of a close connection between somatic and brain health. However, they also suggest that health traits may differentially influence age predictions beyond what is captured by the brain imaging data, potentially contributing to heterogeneous ageing rates across biological systems and individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dani Beck
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Mental Health and Substance AbuseDiakonhjemmet HospitalOsloNorway
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Ann‐Marie G. de Lange
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- LREN, Centre for Research in Neurosciences, Department of Clinical NeurosciencesCHUV and University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Tiril P. Gurholt
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Irene Voldsbekk
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Ivan I. Maximov
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Health and FunctioningWestern Norway University of Applied SciencesBergenNorway
| | - Sivaniya Subramaniapillai
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- LREN, Centre for Research in Neurosciences, Department of Clinical NeurosciencesCHUV and University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Louise Schindler
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- LREN, Centre for Research in Neurosciences, Department of Clinical NeurosciencesCHUV and University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Guy Hindley
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Esten H. Leonardsen
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Zillur Rahman
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Dennis van der Meer
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of OsloOsloNorway
- School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life SciencesMaastricht UniversityMaastrichtThe Netherlands
| | - Max Korbmacher
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Health and FunctioningWestern Norway University of Applied SciencesBergenNorway
| | - Jennifer Linge
- AMRA Medical ABLinköpingSweden
- Division of Diagnostics and Specialist Medicine, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring SciencesLinköping UniversityLinköpingSweden
| | - Olof D. Leinhard
- AMRA Medical ABLinköpingSweden
- Division of Diagnostics and Specialist Medicine, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring SciencesLinköping UniversityLinköpingSweden
| | | | - Andreas Engvig
- Department of Endocrinology, Obesity and Preventive Medicine, Section of Preventive CardiologyOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Ida Sønderby
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Medical GeneticsOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental DisordersUniversity of Oslo
| | - Ole A. Andreassen
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of OsloOsloNorway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental DisordersUniversity of Oslo
| | - Lars T. Westlye
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental DisordersUniversity of Oslo
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18
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Lee HH, Tian Q, Sheft M, Coronado-Leija R, Ramos-Llorden G, Abdollahzadeh A, Fieremans E, Novikov DS, Huang SY. The effects of axonal beading and undulation on axonal diameter estimation from diffusion MRI: Insights from simulations in human axons segmented from three-dimensional electron microscopy. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2024; 37:e5087. [PMID: 38168082 PMCID: PMC10942763 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.5087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The increasing availability of high-performance gradient systems in human MRI scanners has generated great interest in diffusion microstructural imaging applications such as axonal diameter mapping. Practically, sensitivity to axon diameter in diffusion MRI is attained at strong diffusion weightings b , where the deviation from the expected 1 / b scaling in white matter yields a finite transverse diffusivity, which is then translated into an axon diameter estimate. While axons are usually modeled as perfectly straight, impermeable cylinders, local variations in diameter (caliber variation or beading) and direction (undulation) are known to influence axonal diameter estimates and have been observed in microscopy data of human axons. In this study, we performed Monte Carlo simulations of diffusion in axons reconstructed from three-dimensional electron microscopy of a human temporal lobe specimen using simulated sequence parameters matched to the maximal gradient strength of the next-generation Connectome 2.0 human MRI scanner ( ≲ 500 mT/m). We show that axon diameter estimation is accurate for nonbeaded, nonundulating fibers; however, in fibers with caliber variations and undulations, the axon diameter is heavily underestimated due to caliber variations, and this effect overshadows the known overestimation of the axon diameter due to undulations. This unexpected underestimation may originate from variations in the coarse-grained axial diffusivity due to caliber variations. Given that increased axonal beading and undulations have been observed in pathological tissues, such as traumatic brain injury and ischemia, the interpretation of axon diameter alterations in pathology may be significantly confounded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Hsi Lee
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Qiyuan Tian
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Maxina Sheft
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard–MIT Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ricardo Coronado-Leija
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Gabriel Ramos-Llorden
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ali Abdollahzadeh
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Els Fieremans
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Dmitry S. Novikov
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Susie Y. Huang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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19
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Lyu W, Wu Y, Huynh KM, Ahmad S, Yap PT. A multimodal submillimeter MRI atlas of the human cerebellum. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5622. [PMID: 38453991 PMCID: PMC10920891 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55412-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The human cerebellum is engaged in a broad array of tasks related to motor coordination, cognition, language, attention, memory, and emotional regulation. A detailed cerebellar atlas can facilitate the investigation of the structural and functional organization of the cerebellum. However, existing cerebellar atlases are typically limited to a single imaging modality with insufficient characterization of tissue properties. Here, we introduce a multifaceted cerebellar atlas based on high-resolution multimodal MRI, facilitating the understanding of the neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration of the cerebellum based on cortical morphology, tissue microstructure, and intra-cerebellar and cerebello-cerebral connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjiao Lyu
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ye Wu
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Khoi Minh Huynh
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sahar Ahmad
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Pew-Thian Yap
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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20
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Coelho S, Liao Y, Szczepankiewicz F, Veraart J, Chung S, Lui YW, Novikov DS, Fieremans E. Assessment of Precision and Accuracy of Brain White Matter Microstructure using Combined Diffusion MRI and Relaxometry. ARXIV 2024:arXiv:2402.17175v1. [PMID: 38463511 PMCID: PMC10925389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Joint modeling of diffusion and relaxation has seen growing interest due to its potential to provide complementary information about tissue microstructure. For brain white matter, we designed an optimal diffusion-relaxometry MRI protocol that samples multiple b-values, B-tensor shapes, and echo times (TE). This variable-TE protocol (27 min) has as subsets a fixed-TE protocol (15 min) and a 2-shell dMRI protocol (7 min), both characterizing diffusion only. We assessed the sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility of these protocols with synthetic experiments and in six healthy volunteers. Compared with the fixed-TE protocol, the variable-TE protocol enables estimation of free water fractions while also capturing compartmental T 2 relaxation times. Jointly measuring diffusion and relaxation offers increased sensitivity and specificity to microstructure parameters in brain white matter with voxelwise coefficients of variation below 10%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Coelho
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ying Liao
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Jelle Veraart
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sohae Chung
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yvonne W Lui
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dmitry S Novikov
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Els Fieremans
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR), Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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21
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Tazza F, Schiavi S, Leveraro E, Cellerino M, Boffa G, Ballerini S, Dighero M, Uccelli A, Sbragia E, Aluan K, Inglese M, Lapucci C. Clinical and radiological correlates of apathy in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler 2024; 30:247-256. [PMID: 38095151 DOI: 10.1177/13524585231217918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although apathy has been associated with fronto-striatal dysfunction in several neurological disorders, its clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) correlates have been poorly investigated in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). OBJECTIVES To evaluate clinical variables and investigate microstructural integrity of fronto-striatal grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) structures using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). METHODS A total of 123 PwMS (age: 40.25 ± 11.5; female: 60.9%; relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: 75.6%) were prospectively enrolled and underwent neurological and neuropsychological evaluation, including Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES-S), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) and brain 3T-MRI volumes of whole brain, frontal/prefrontal cortex (PFC) and subcortical regions were calculated. DTI-derived metrics were evaluated in the same GM regions and in connecting WM tracts. RESULTS Apathetic PwMS (32.5%) showed lower education levels, higher HADS, MFIS scores and WM lesions volume than nonapathetic PwMS. Significant differences in DTI metrics were found in middle frontal, anterior cingulate and superior frontal PFC subregions and in caudate nuclei. Significant alterations were found in the right cingulum and left striatal-frontorbital tracts. CONCLUSIONS Apathy in PwMS is associated with higher levels of physical disability, depression, anxiety and fatigue together with lower educational backgrounds. Microstructural damage within frontal cortex, caudate and fronto-striatal WM bundles is a significant pathological substrate of apathy in multiple sclerosis (MS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tazza
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Simona Schiavi
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elisa Leveraro
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria Cellerino
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giacomo Boffa
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Stefania Ballerini
- Department of Neuroradiology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Mara Dighero
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Antonio Uccelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elvira Sbragia
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Kenda Aluan
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Matilde Inglese
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Caterina Lapucci
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
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22
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Korbmacher M, van der Meer D, Beck D, de Lange AMG, Eikefjord E, Lundervold A, Andreassen OA, Westlye LT, Maximov II. Brain asymmetries from mid- to late life and hemispheric brain age. Nat Commun 2024; 15:956. [PMID: 38302499 PMCID: PMC10834516 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45282-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The human brain demonstrates structural and functional asymmetries which have implications for ageing and mental and neurological disease development. We used a set of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) metrics derived from structural and diffusion MRI data in N=48,040 UK Biobank participants to evaluate age-related differences in brain asymmetry. Most regional grey and white matter metrics presented asymmetry, which were higher later in life. Informed by these results, we conducted hemispheric brain age (HBA) predictions from left/right multimodal MRI metrics. HBA was concordant to conventional brain age predictions, using metrics from both hemispheres, but offers a supplemental general marker of brain asymmetry when setting left/right HBA into relationship with each other. In contrast to WM brain asymmetries, left/right discrepancies in HBA are lower at higher ages. Our findings outline various sex-specific differences, particularly important for brain age estimates, and the value of further investigating the role of brain asymmetries in brain ageing and disease development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Korbmacher
- Department of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway.
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
- Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualization Centre (MMIV), Bergen, Norway.
| | - Dennis van der Meer
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Dani Beck
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ann-Marie G de Lange
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Eli Eikefjord
- Department of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
- Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualization Centre (MMIV), Bergen, Norway
| | - Arvid Lundervold
- Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualization Centre (MMIV), Bergen, Norway
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars T Westlye
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ivan I Maximov
- Department of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway.
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
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23
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Montejo L, Sole B, Fortea L, Jimenez E, Martinez-Aran A, Martinez-Heras E, Sanchez-Moreno J, Ortuño M, Pariente J, Solanes A, Torrent C, Vilajosana E, De Prisco M, Vieta E, Radua J. Study protocol - elucidating the neural correlates of functional remediation for older adults with bipolar disorder. Front Psychiatry 2024; 14:1302255. [PMID: 38298927 PMCID: PMC10827946 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1302255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Beyond mood abnormalities, bipolar disorder (BD) includes cognitive impairments that worsen psychosocial functioning and quality of life. These deficits are especially severe in older adults with BD (OABD), a condition expected to represent most individuals with BD in the upcoming years. Restoring the psychosocial functioning of this population will thus soon represent a public health priority. To help tackle the problem, the Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit at the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona has recently adapted its Functional Remediation (FR) program to that population, calling it FROA-BD. However, while scarce previous studies localize the neural mechanisms of cognitive remediation interventions in the dorsal prefrontal cortex, the specific mechanisms are seldom unknown. In the present project, we will investigate the neural correlates of FR-OABD to understand its mechanisms better and inform for potential optimization. The aim is to investigate the brain features and changes associated with FROA-BD efficacy. Methods Thirty-two individuals with OABD in full or partial remission will undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) session before receiving FR-OABD. After completing the FR-OABD intervention, they will undergo another MRI session. The MRI sessions will include structural, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), functional MRI (fMRI) with working memory (n-back) and verbal learning tasks, and frontal spectroscopy. We will correlate the pre-post change in dorsolateral and dorsomedial prefrontal cortices activation during the n-back task with the change in psychosocial functioning [measured with the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST)]. We will also conduct exploratory whole-brain correlation analyses between baseline or pre-post changes in MRI data and other clinical and cognitive outcomes to provide more insights into the mechanisms and explore potential brain markers that may predict a better treatment response. We will also conduct separate analyses by sex. Discussion The results of this study may provide insights into how FROA-BD and other cognitive remediations modulate brain function and thus could optimize these interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Montejo
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Brisa Sole
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lydia Fortea
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esther Jimenez
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Anabel Martinez-Aran
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Departament de Psicologia Clínica i Psicobiologia, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eloy Martinez-Heras
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit and Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases (ImaginEM), Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Fundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona-IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose Sanchez-Moreno
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Ortuño
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose Pariente
- Magnetic Resonance Image Core Facility, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aleix Solanes
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carla Torrent
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Enric Vilajosana
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Michele De Prisco
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduard Vieta
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Radua
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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24
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Lapidaire W, Clayden JD, Fewtrell MS, Clark CA. Increased white matter fibre dispersion and lower IQ scores in adults born preterm. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26545. [PMID: 38070181 PMCID: PMC10789207 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth has been associated with altered microstructural properties of the white matter and lower cognitive ability in childhood and adulthood. Due to methodological limitations of the diffusion tensor model, it is not clear whether alterations in myelination or variation in fibre orientation are driving these differences. Novel models applied to multi-shell diffusion imaging have been used to disentangle these effects, but to date this has not been used to study the preterm brain in adulthood. This study investigated whether novel advanced diffusion MRI metrics such as microscopic anisotropy and orientation dispersion are altered in adults born preterm, and whether this was associated with cognitive performance. Seventy-two preterm born participants (<37 weeks gestational age) were recruited from a 1982-1984 cohort (33 males, mean age 33.5 ± 1.0 years). Seventy-two term born (>37 weeks gestational age) controls (34 males, mean age 30.9 ± 4.0 years) were recruited from the general population. Tensor FA was calculated with FSL, while microscopic FA and orientation dispersion entropy (ODE) were estimated using the Spherical Mean Technique (SMT). Estimated Full Scale IQ (FSIQ), Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) and Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI) were obtained from the WASI-II (abbreviated) IQ test. Voxel-wise comparisons using FSL's tract-based spatial statistics were performed to test between-group differences in diffusion MRI metrics as well as within-group associations of diffusion MRI metrics and IQ outcomes. The preterm group had significantly lower FSIQ, VCI and PRI scores. Preterm subjects demonstrated widespread decreases in ODE reflecting increased fibre dispersion, but no differences in microscopic FA. Tensor FA was increased in a small area in the anterior corona radiata. Lower FA values in the preterm population were associated with lower FSIQ and PRI scores. An increase in fibre dispersion in white matter and lower IQ scores after preterm birth exist in adulthood. Advanced diffusion MRI metrics such as the orientation dispersion entropy can be used to monitor white matter alterations across the lifespan in preterm born individuals. Although not significantly different between preterm and term groups, tensor FA values in the preterm group were associated with cognitive outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winok Lapidaire
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Oxford Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of MedicineUniversity of Oxford, John Radcliffe HospitalOxfordUK
| | - Jonathan D. Clayden
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Mary S. Fewtrell
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Christopher A. Clark
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
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25
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Lampinen B, Szczepankiewicz F, Lätt J, Knutsson L, Mårtensson J, Björkman-Burtscher IM, van Westen D, Sundgren PC, Ståhlberg F, Nilsson M. Probing brain tissue microstructure with MRI: principles, challenges, and the role of multidimensional diffusion-relaxation encoding. Neuroimage 2023; 282:120338. [PMID: 37598814 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffusion MRI uses the random displacement of water molecules to sensitize the signal to brain microstructure and to properties such as the density and shape of cells. Microstructure modeling techniques aim to estimate these properties from acquired data by separating the signal between virtual tissue 'compartments' such as the intra-neurite and the extra-cellular space. A key challenge is that the diffusion MRI signal is relatively featureless compared with the complexity of brain tissue. Another challenge is that the tissue microstructure is wildly different within the gray and white matter of the brain. In this review, we use results from multidimensional diffusion encoding techniques to discuss these challenges and their tentative solutions. Multidimensional encoding increases the information content of the data by varying not only the b-value and the encoding direction but also additional experimental parameters such as the shape of the b-tensor and the echo time. Three main insights have emerged from such encoding. First, multidimensional data contradict common model assumptions on diffusion and T2 relaxation, and illustrates how the use of these assumptions cause erroneous interpretations in both healthy brain and pathology. Second, many model assumptions can be dispensed with if data are acquired with multidimensional encoding. The necessary data can be easily acquired in vivo using protocols optimized to minimize Cramér-Rao lower bounds. Third, microscopic diffusion anisotropy reflects the presence of axons but not dendrites. This insight stands in contrast to current 'neurite models' of brain tissue, which assume that axons in white matter and dendrites in gray matter feature highly similar diffusion. Nevertheless, as an axon-based contrast, microscopic anisotropy can differentiate gray and white matter when myelin alterations confound conventional MRI contrasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Lampinen
- Clinical Sciences Lund, Diagnostic Radiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | | | - Jimmy Lätt
- Department of Medical Imaging and Physiology, Skåne University Hospital Lund, Lund, Sweden
| | - Linda Knutsson
- Clinical Sciences Lund, Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Johan Mårtensson
- Clinical Sciences Lund, Logopedics, Phoniatrics and Audiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Isabella M Björkman-Burtscher
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Danielle van Westen
- Clinical Sciences Lund, Diagnostic Radiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Medical Imaging and Physiology, Skåne University Hospital Lund, Lund, Sweden
| | - Pia C Sundgren
- Clinical Sciences Lund, Diagnostic Radiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Medical Imaging and Physiology, Skåne University Hospital Lund, Lund, Sweden; Lund University BioImaging Centre (LBIC), Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Freddy Ståhlberg
- Clinical Sciences Lund, Diagnostic Radiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Clinical Sciences Lund, Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Markus Nilsson
- Clinical Sciences Lund, Diagnostic Radiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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26
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Wu Y, Liu X, Zhang X, Huynh KM, Ahmad S, Yap PT. Relaxation-Diffusion Spectrum Imaging for Probing Tissue Microarchitecture. MEDICAL IMAGE COMPUTING AND COMPUTER-ASSISTED INTERVENTION : MICCAI ... INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MEDICAL IMAGE COMPUTING AND COMPUTER-ASSISTED INTERVENTION 2023; 14227:152-162. [PMID: 39184022 PMCID: PMC11340880 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-43993-3_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Brain tissue microarchitecture is characterized by heterogeneous degrees of diffusivity and rates of transverse relaxation. Unlike standard diffusion MRI with a single echo time (TE), which provides information primarily on diffusivity, relaxation-diffusion MRI involves multiple TEs and multiple diffusion-weighting strengths for probing tissue-specific coupling between relaxation and diffusivity. Here, we introduce a relaxation-diffusion model that characterizes tissue apparent relaxation coefficients for a spectrum of diffusion length scales and at the same time factors out the effects of intra-voxel orientation heterogeneity. We examined the model with an in vivo dataset, acquired using a clinical scanner, involving different health conditions. Experimental results indicate that our model caters to heterogeneous tissue microstructure and can distinguish fiber bundles with similar diffusivities but different relaxation rates. Code with sample data is available at https://github.com/dryewu/RDSI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Wu
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoming Liu
- Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xinyuan Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Khoi Minh Huynh
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sahar Ahmad
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Pew-Thian Yap
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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27
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Huynh KM, Wu Y, Ahmad S, Yap PT. Microstructure Fingerprinting for Heterogeneously Oriented Tissue Microenvironments. MEDICAL IMAGE COMPUTING AND COMPUTER-ASSISTED INTERVENTION : MICCAI ... INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MEDICAL IMAGE COMPUTING AND COMPUTER-ASSISTED INTERVENTION 2023; 14227:131-141. [PMID: 39129859 PMCID: PMC11315459 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-43993-3_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Most diffusion biophysical models capture basic properties of tissue microstructure, such as diffusivity and anisotropy. More realistic models that relate the diffusion-weighted signal to cell size and membrane permeability often require simplifying assumptions such as short gradient pulse and Gaussian phase distribution, leading to tissue features that are not necessarily quantitative. Here, we propose a method to quantify tissue microstructure without jeopardizing accuracy owing to unrealistic assumptions. Our method utilizes realistic signals simulated from the geometries of cellular microenvironments as fingerprints, which are then employed in a spherical mean estimation framework to disentangle the effects of orientation dispersion from microscopic tissue properties. We demonstrate the efficacy of microstructure fingerprinting in estimating intra-cellular, extra-cellular, and intra-soma volume fractions as well as axon radius, soma radius, and membrane permeability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khoi Minh Huynh
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center (BRIC), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Ye Wu
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center (BRIC), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Sahar Ahmad
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center (BRIC), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Pew-Thian Yap
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center (BRIC), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
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28
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Seyedmirzaei H, Nabizadeh F, Aarabi MH, Pini L. Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review. J Magn Reson Imaging 2023; 58:1011-1029. [PMID: 37042392 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffusion-weighted imaging has been applied to investigate alterations in multiple sclerosis (MS). In the last years, advanced diffusion models were used to identify subtle changes and early lesions in MS. Among these models, neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) is an emerging approach, quantifying specific neurite morphology in both grey (GM) and white matter (WM) tissue and increasing the specificity of diffusion imaging. In this systematic review, we summarized the NODDI findings in MS. A search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Embase, which yielded a total number of 24 eligible studies. Compared to healthy tissue, these studies identified consistent alterations in NODDI metrics involving WM (neurite density index), and GM lesions (neurite density index), or normal-appearing WM tissue (isotropic volume fraction and neurite density index). Despite some limitations, we pointed out the potential of NODDI in MS to unravel microstructural alterations. These results might pave the way to a deeper understanding of the pathophysiological mechanism of MS. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 2. TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lorenzo Pini
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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29
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Pieciak T, París G, Beck D, Maximov II, Tristán-Vega A, de Luis-García R, Westlye LT, Aja-Fernández S. Spherical means-based free-water volume fraction from diffusion MRI increases non-linearly with age in the white matter of the healthy human brain. Neuroimage 2023; 279:120324. [PMID: 37574122 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The term free-water volume fraction (FWVF) refers to the signal fraction that could be found as the cerebrospinal fluid of the brain, which has been demonstrated as a sensitive measure that correlates with cognitive performance and various neuropathological processes. It can be quantified by properly fitting the isotropic component of the magnetic resonance (MR) signal in diffusion-sensitized sequences. Using N=287 healthy subjects (178F/109M) aged 25-94, this study examines in detail the evolution of the FWVF obtained with the spherical means technique from multi-shell acquisitions in the human brain white matter across the adult lifespan, which has been previously reported to exhibit a positive trend when estimated from single-shell data using the bi-tensor signal representation. We found evidence of a noticeably non-linear gain after the sixth decade of life, with a region-specific variate and varying change rate of the spherical means-based multi-shell FWVF parameter with age, at the same time, a heteroskedastic pattern across the adult lifespan is suggested. On the other hand, the FW corrected diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) leads to a region-dependent flattened age-related evolution of the mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA), along with a considerable reduction in their variability, as compared to the studies conducted over the standard (single-component) DTI. This way, our study provides a new perspective on the trajectory-based assessment of the brain and explains the conceivable reason for the variations observed in FA and MD parameters across the lifespan with previous studies under the standard diffusion tensor imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Pieciak
- Laboratorio de Procesado de Imagen (LPI), ETSI Telecomunicación, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.
| | - Guillem París
- Laboratorio de Procesado de Imagen (LPI), ETSI Telecomunicación, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Dani Beck
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway. https://twitter.com/_DaniBeck
| | - Ivan I Maximov
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
| | - Antonio Tristán-Vega
- Laboratorio de Procesado de Imagen (LPI), ETSI Telecomunicación, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Rodrigo de Luis-García
- Laboratorio de Procesado de Imagen (LPI), ETSI Telecomunicación, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Lars T Westlye
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. https://twitter.com/larswestlye
| | - Santiago Aja-Fernández
- Laboratorio de Procesado de Imagen (LPI), ETSI Telecomunicación, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain. https://twitter.com/SantiagoAjaFer1
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30
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Schiavi S, Palombo M, Zacà D, Tazza F, Lapucci C, Castellan L, Costagli M, Inglese M. Mapping tissue microstructure across the human brain on a clinical scanner with soma and neurite density image metrics. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:4792-4811. [PMID: 37461286 PMCID: PMC10400787 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Soma and neurite density image (SANDI) is an advanced diffusion magnetic resonance imaging biophysical signal model devised to probe in vivo microstructural information in the gray matter (GM). This model requires acquisitions that include b values that are at least six times higher than those used in clinical practice. Such high b values are required to disentangle the signal contribution of water diffusing in soma from that diffusing in neurites and extracellular space, while keeping the diffusion time as short as possible to minimize potential bias due to water exchange. These requirements have limited the use of SANDI only to preclinical or cutting-edge human scanners. Here, we investigate the potential impact of neglecting water exchange in the SANDI model and present a 10-min acquisition protocol that enables to characterize both GM and white matter (WM) on 3 T scanners. We implemented analytical simulations to (i) evaluate the stability of the fitting of SANDI parameters when diminishing the number of shells; (ii) estimate the bias due to potential exchange between neurites and extracellular space in such reduced acquisition scheme, comparing it with the bias due to experimental noise. Then, we demonstrated the feasibility and assessed the repeatability and reproducibility of our approach by computing microstructural metrics of SANDI with AMICO toolbox and other state-of-the-art models on five healthy subjects. Finally, we applied our protocol to five multiple sclerosis patients. Results suggest that SANDI is a practical method to characterize WM and GM tissues in vivo on performant clinical scanners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Schiavi
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI)University of GenoaGenoaItaly
| | - Marco Palombo
- CUBRIC, School of PsychologyCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- School of Computer Science and InformaticsCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | | | - Francesco Tazza
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI)University of GenoaGenoaItaly
| | - Caterina Lapucci
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI)University of GenoaGenoaItaly
- HNSR, IRRCS Ospedale Policlinico San MartinoGenoaItaly
| | - Lucio Castellan
- Department of NeuroradiologyIRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San MartinoGenoaItaly
| | - Mauro Costagli
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI)University of GenoaGenoaItaly
- Laboratory of Medical Physics and Magnetic ResonanceIRCCS Stella MarisPisaItaly
| | - Matilde Inglese
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI)University of GenoaGenoaItaly
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San MartinoGenoaItaly
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31
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Barakovic M, Pizzolato M, Tax CMW, Rudrapatna U, Magon S, Dyrby TB, Granziera C, Thiran JP, Jones DK, Canales-Rodríguez EJ. Estimating axon radius using diffusion-relaxation MRI: calibrating a surface-based relaxation model with histology. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1209521. [PMID: 37638307 PMCID: PMC10457121 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1209521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Axon radius is a potential biomarker for brain diseases and a crucial tissue microstructure parameter that determines the speed of action potentials. Diffusion MRI (dMRI) allows non-invasive estimation of axon radius, but accurately estimating the radius of axons in the human brain is challenging. Most axons in the brain have a radius below one micrometer, which falls below the sensitivity limit of dMRI signals even when using the most advanced human MRI scanners. Therefore, new MRI methods that are sensitive to small axon radii are needed. In this proof-of-concept investigation, we examine whether a surface-based axonal relaxation process could mediate a relationship between intra-axonal T2 and T1 times and inner axon radius, as measured using postmortem histology. A unique in vivo human diffusion-T1-T2 relaxation dataset was acquired on a 3T MRI scanner with ultra-strong diffusion gradients, using a strong diffusion-weighting (i.e., b = 6,000 s/mm2) and multiple inversion and echo times. A second reduced diffusion-T2 dataset was collected at various echo times to evaluate the model further. The intra-axonal relaxation times were estimated by fitting a diffusion-relaxation model to the orientation-averaged spherical mean signals. Our analysis revealed that the proposed surface-based relaxation model effectively explains the relationship between the estimated relaxation times and the histological axon radius measured in various corpus callosum regions. Using these histological values, we developed a novel calibration approach to predict axon radius in other areas of the corpus callosum. Notably, the predicted radii and those determined from histological measurements were in close agreement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhamed Barakovic
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
- Signal Processing Laboratory 5 (LTS5), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marco Pizzolato
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Chantal M. W. Tax
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
- Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Umesh Rudrapatna
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano Magon
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tim B. Dyrby
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR), Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cristina Granziera
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Philippe Thiran
- Signal Processing Laboratory 5 (LTS5), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Radiology Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Centre d’Imagerie Biomédicale (CIBM), EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Derek K. Jones
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Erick J. Canales-Rodríguez
- Signal Processing Laboratory 5 (LTS5), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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32
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Takagi M, Ball G, Babl FE, Anderson N, Chen J, Clarke C, Davis GA, Hearps SJC, Pascouau R, Cheng N, Rausa VC, Seal M, Shapiro JS, Anderson V. Examining post-concussion white matter change in a pediatric sample. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 39:103486. [PMID: 37634376 PMCID: PMC10474493 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Diffusion-Weight Imaging (DWI) is increasingly used to explore a range of outcomes in pediatric concussion, particularly the neurobiological underpinnings of symptom recovery. However, the DWI findings within the broader pediatric concussion literature are mixed, which can largely be explained by methodological heterogeneity. To address some of these limitations, the aim of the present study was to utilize internationally- recognized criteria for concussion and a consistent imaging timepoint to conduct a comprehensive, multi-parametric survey of white matter microstructure after concussion. Forty-three children presenting with concussion to the emergency department of a tertiary level pediatric hospital underwent neuroimaging and were classified as either normally recovering (n = 27), or delayed recovering (n = 14) based on their post-concussion symptoms at 2 weeks post-injury.We combined multiple DWI metrics across four modeling approaches using Linked Independent Component Analysis (LICA) to extract several independent patterns of covariation in tissue microstructure present in the study cohort. Our analysis did not identify significant differences between the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups and no component significantly predicted delayed recovery. If white matter microstructure changes are implicated in delayed recovery from concussion, these findings, alongside previous work, suggest that current diffusion techniques are insufficient to detect those changes at this time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Takagi
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Monash School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gareth Ball
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Franz E Babl
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Emergency Department, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Nicholas Anderson
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jian Chen
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cathriona Clarke
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gavin A Davis
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Neurosurgery, Austin and Cabrini Hospitals, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Renee Pascouau
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nicholas Cheng
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Monash School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Vanessa C Rausa
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marc Seal
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jesse S Shapiro
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Vicki Anderson
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Psychology Service, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Monash School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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33
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Maximov II, Westlye LT. Comparison of different neurite density metrics with brain asymmetry evaluation. Z Med Phys 2023:S0939-3889(23)00085-5. [PMID: 37562999 DOI: 10.1016/j.zemedi.2023.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
The standard diffusion MRI model with intra- and extra-axonal water pools offers a set of microstructural parameters describing brain white matter architecture. However, non-linearities in the standard model and diffusion data contamination by noise and imaging artefacts make estimation of diffusion metrics challenging. In order to develop reliable diffusion approaches and to avoid computational model degeneracy, additional theoretical assumptions allowing stable numerical implementations are required. Advanced diffusion approaches allow for estimation of intra-axonal water fraction (AWF), describing a key structural characteristic of brain tissue. AWF can be interpreted as an indirect measure or proxy of neurite density and has a potential as useful clinical biomarker. Established diffusion approaches such as white matter tract integrity, neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI), and spherical mean technique provide estimates of AWF within their respective theoretical frameworks. In the present study, we estimated AWF metrics using different diffusion approaches and compared measures of brain asymmetry between the different metrics in a sub-sample of 182 subjects from the UK Biobank. Multivariate decomposition by mean of linked independent component analysis revealed that the various AWF proxies derived from the different diffusion approaches reflect partly non-overlapping variance of independent components, with distinct anatomical distributions and sensitivity to age. Further, voxel-wise analysis revealed age-related differences in AWF-based brain asymmetry, indicating less apparent left-right hemisphere difference with higher age. Finally, we demonstrated that NODDI metrics suffer from a quite strong dependence on used numerical algorithms and post-processing pipeline. The analysis based on AWF metrics strongly depends on the used diffusion approach and leads to poorly reproducible results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan I Maximov
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Department of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Lars T Westlye
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Department of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; KG Jensen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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34
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Alsameen MH, Gong Z, Qian W, Kiely M, Triebswetter C, Bergeron CM, Cortina LE, Faulkner ME, Laporte JP, Bouhrara M. C-NODDI: a constrained NODDI model for axonal density and orientation determinations in cerebral white matter. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1205426. [PMID: 37602266 PMCID: PMC10435293 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1205426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) provides measures of neurite density and dispersion through computation of the neurite density index (NDI) and the orientation dispersion index (ODI). However, NODDI overestimates the cerebrospinal fluid water fraction in white matter (WM) and provides physiologically unrealistic high NDI values. Furthermore, derived NDI values are echo-time (TE)-dependent. In this work, we propose a modification of NODDI, named constrained NODDI (C-NODDI), for NDI and ODI mapping in WM. Methods Using NODDI and C-NODDI, we investigated age-related alterations in WM in a cohort of 58 cognitively unimpaired adults. Further, NDI values derived using NODDI or C-NODDI were correlated with the neurofilament light chain (NfL) concentration levels, a plasma biomarker of axonal degeneration. Finally, we investigated the TE dependence of NODDI or C-NODDI derived NDI and ODI. Results ODI derived values using both approaches were virtually identical, exhibiting constant trends with age. Further, our results indicated a quadratic relationship between NDI and age suggesting that axonal maturation continues until middle age followed by a decrease. This quadratic association was notably significant in several WM regions using C-NODDI, while limited to a few regions using NODDI. Further, C-NODDI-NDI values exhibited a stronger correlation with NfL concentration levels as compared to NODDI-NDI, with lower NDI values corresponding to higher levels of NfL. Finally, we confirmed the previous finding that NDI estimation using NODDI was dependent on TE, while NDI derived values using C-NODDI exhibited lower sensitivity to TE in WM. Conclusion C-NODDI provides a complementary method to NODDI for determination of NDI in white matter.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mustapha Bouhrara
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Korbmacher M, de Lange AM, van der Meer D, Beck D, Eikefjord E, Lundervold A, Andreassen OA, Westlye LT, Maximov II. Brain-wide associations between white matter and age highlight the role of fornix microstructure in brain ageing. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:4101-4119. [PMID: 37195079 PMCID: PMC10258541 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Unveiling the details of white matter (WM) maturation throughout ageing is a fundamental question for understanding the ageing brain. In an extensive comparison of brain age predictions and age-associations of WM features from different diffusion approaches, we analyzed UK Biobank diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) data across midlife and older age (N = 35,749, 44.6-82.8 years of age). Conventional and advanced dMRI approaches were consistent in predicting brain age. WM-age associations indicate a steady microstructure degeneration with increasing age from midlife to older ages. Brain age was estimated best when combining diffusion approaches, showing different aspects of WM contributing to brain age. Fornix was found as the central region for brain age predictions across diffusion approaches in complement to forceps minor as another important region. These regions exhibited a general pattern of positive associations with age for intra axonal water fractions, axial, radial diffusivities, and negative relationships with age for mean diffusivities, fractional anisotropy, kurtosis. We encourage the application of multiple dMRI approaches for detailed insights into WM, and the further investigation of fornix and forceps as potential biomarkers of brain age and ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Korbmacher
- Department of Health and FunctioningWestern Norway University of Applied SciencesBergenNorway
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and AddictionUniversity of Oslo and Oslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualisation Center (MMIV)BergenNorway
| | - Ann Marie de Lange
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and AddictionUniversity of Oslo and Oslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- LREN, Centre for Research in Neurosciences–Department of Clinical NeurosciencesCHUV and University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Dennis van der Meer
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and AddictionUniversity of Oslo and Oslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life SciencesMaastricht UniversityMaastrichtNetherlands
| | - Dani Beck
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and AddictionUniversity of Oslo and Oslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet HospitalOsloNorway
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Eli Eikefjord
- Department of Health and FunctioningWestern Norway University of Applied SciencesBergenNorway
- Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualisation Center (MMIV)BergenNorway
| | - Arvid Lundervold
- Department of Health and FunctioningWestern Norway University of Applied SciencesBergenNorway
- Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualisation Center (MMIV)BergenNorway
- Department of RadiologyHaukeland University HospitalBergenNorway
- Department of BiomedicineUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
| | - Ole A. Andreassen
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and AddictionUniversity of Oslo and Oslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental DisordersUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Lars T. Westlye
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and AddictionUniversity of Oslo and Oslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental DisordersUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Ivan I. Maximov
- Department of Health and FunctioningWestern Norway University of Applied SciencesBergenNorway
- NORMENT Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and AddictionUniversity of Oslo and Oslo University HospitalOsloNorway
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Korbmacher M, Gurholt TP, de Lange AMG, van der Meer D, Beck D, Eikefjord E, Lundervold A, Andreassen OA, Westlye LT, Maximov II. Bio-psycho-social factors' associations with brain age: a large-scale UK Biobank diffusion study of 35,749 participants. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1117732. [PMID: 37359862 PMCID: PMC10288151 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1117732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain age refers to age predicted by brain features. Brain age has previously been associated with various health and disease outcomes and suggested as a potential biomarker of general health. Few previous studies have systematically assessed brain age variability derived from single and multi-shell diffusion magnetic resonance imaging data. Here, we present multivariate models of brain age derived from various diffusion approaches and how they relate to bio-psycho-social variables within the domains of sociodemographic, cognitive, life-satisfaction, as well as health and lifestyle factors in midlife to old age (N = 35,749, 44.6-82.8 years of age). Bio-psycho-social factors could uniquely explain a small proportion of the brain age variance, in a similar pattern across diffusion approaches: cognitive scores, life satisfaction, health and lifestyle factors adding to the variance explained, but not socio-demographics. Consistent brain age associations across models were found for waist-to-hip ratio, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, matrix puzzles solving, and job and health satisfaction and perception. Furthermore, we found large variability in sex and ethnicity group differences in brain age. Our results show that brain age cannot be sufficiently explained by bio-psycho-social variables alone. However, the observed associations suggest to adjust for sex, ethnicity, cognitive factors, as well as health and lifestyle factors, and to observe bio-psycho-social factor interactions' influence on brain age in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Korbmacher
- Department of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorder Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualization Center (MMIV), Bergen, Norway
| | - Tiril P. Gurholt
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorder Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ann-Marie G. de Lange
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorder Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- LREN, Centre for Research in Neurosciences, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dennis van der Meer
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorder Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Dani Beck
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorder Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eli Eikefjord
- Department of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
- Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualization Center (MMIV), Bergen, Norway
| | - Arvid Lundervold
- Department of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
- Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualization Center (MMIV), Bergen, Norway
- Department of Radiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ole A. Andreassen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorder Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars T. Westlye
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorder Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ivan I. Maximov
- Department of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorder Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Katoch N, Kim Y, Choi BK, Ha SW, Kim TH, Yoon EJ, Song SG, Kim JW, Kim HJ. Estimation of brain tissue response by electrical stimulation in a subject-specific model implemented by conductivity tensor imaging. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1197452. [PMID: 37287801 PMCID: PMC10242016 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1197452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrical stimulation such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is widely used to treat neuropsychiatric diseases and neurological disorders. Computational modeling is an important approach to understand the mechanisms underlying tDCS and optimize treatment planning. When applying computational modeling to treatment planning, uncertainties exist due to insufficient conductivity information inside the brain. In this feasibility study, we performed in vivo MR-based conductivity tensor imaging (CTI) experiments on the entire brain to precisely estimate the tissue response to the electrical stimulation. A recent CTI method was applied to obtain low-frequency conductivity tensor images. Subject-specific three-dimensional finite element models (FEMs) of the head were implemented by segmenting anatomical MR images and integrating a conductivity tensor distribution. The electric field and current density of brain tissues following electrical stimulation were calculated using a conductivity tensor-based model and compared to results using an isotropic conductivity model from literature values. The current density by the conductivity tensor was different from the isotropic conductivity model, with an average relative difference |rD| of 52 to 73%, respectively, across two normal volunteers. When applied to two tDCS electrode montages of C3-FP2 and F4-F3, the current density showed a focused distribution with high signal intensity which is consistent with the current flowing from the anode to the cathode electrodes through the white matter. The gray matter tended to carry larger amounts of current densities regardless of directional information. We suggest this CTI-based subject-specific model can provide detailed information on tissue responses for personalized tDCS treatment planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitish Katoch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngsung Kim
- Office of Strategic R&D Planning (MOTIE), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bup Kyung Choi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Woo Ha
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chosun University Hospital and Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Hoon Kim
- Medical Convergence Research Center, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Ju Yoon
- Department of Radiology, Chosun University Hospital and Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Gook Song
- Department of Radiology, Chosun University Hospital and Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Woong Kim
- Department of Radiology, Chosun University Hospital and Chosun University College of Medicine, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung Joong Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Kauppinen RA, Thothard J, Leskinen HPP, Pisharady PK, Manninen E, Kettunen M, Lenglet C, Gröhn OHJ, Garwood M, Nissi MJ. Axon fiber orientation as the source of T 1 relaxation anisotropy in white matter: A study on corpus callosum in vivo and ex vivo. Magn Reson Med 2023; 90:708-721. [PMID: 37145027 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Recent studies indicate that T1 in white matter (WM) is influenced by fiber orientation in B0 . The purpose of the study was to investigate the interrelationships between axon fiber orientation in corpus callosum (CC) and T1 relaxation time in humans in vivo as well as in rat brain ex vivo. METHODS Volunteers were scanned for relaxometric and diffusion MRI at 3 T and 7 T. Angular T1 plots from WM were computed using fractional anisotropy and fiber-to-field-angle maps. T1 and fiber-to-field angle were measured in five sections of CC to estimate the effects of inherently varying fiber orientations on T1 within the same tracts in vivo. Ex vivo rat-brain preparation encompassing posterior CC was rotated in B0 and T1 , and diffusion MRI images acquired at 9.4 T. T1 angular plots were determined at several rotation angles in B0 . RESULTS Angular T1 plots from global WM provided reference for estimated fiber orientation-linked T1 changes within CC. In anterior midbody of CC in vivo, where small axons are dominantly present, a shift in axon orientation is accompanied by a change in T1 , matching that estimated from WM T1 data. In CC, where large and giant axons are numerous, the measured T1 change is about 2-fold greater than the estimated one. Ex vivo rotation of the same midsagittal CC region of interest produced angular T1 plots at 9.4 T, matching those observed at 7 T in vivo. CONCLUSION These data causally link axon fiber orientation in B0 to the T1 relaxation anisotropy in WM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Risto A Kauppinen
- Department of Electric and Electronic Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jeromy Thothard
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Henri P P Leskinen
- Department of Technical Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pramod K Pisharady
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Eppu Manninen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Mikko Kettunen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Christophe Lenglet
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Olli H J Gröhn
- A.I. Virtanen Institute, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Michael Garwood
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Mikko J Nissi
- Department of Technical Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Faiyaz A, Doyley MM, Schifitto G, Uddin MN. Artificial intelligence for diffusion MRI-based tissue microstructure estimation in the human brain: an overview. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1168833. [PMID: 37153663 PMCID: PMC10160660 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1168833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) has made significant advances in the field of diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) and other neuroimaging modalities. These techniques have been applied to various areas such as image reconstruction, denoising, detecting and removing artifacts, segmentation, tissue microstructure modeling, brain connectivity analysis, and diagnosis support. State-of-the-art AI algorithms have the potential to leverage optimization techniques in dMRI to advance sensitivity and inference through biophysical models. While the use of AI in brain microstructures has the potential to revolutionize the way we study the brain and understand brain disorders, we need to be aware of the pitfalls and emerging best practices that can further advance this field. Additionally, since dMRI scans rely on sampling of the q-space geometry, it leaves room for creativity in data engineering in such a way that it maximizes the prior inference. Utilization of the inherent geometry has been shown to improve general inference quality and might be more reliable in identifying pathological differences. We acknowledge and classify AI-based approaches for dMRI using these unifying characteristics. This article also highlighted and reviewed general practices and pitfalls involving tissue microstructure estimation through data-driven techniques and provided directions for building on them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abrar Faiyaz
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Marvin M. Doyley
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Imaging Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Giovanni Schifitto
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Imaging Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Md Nasir Uddin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
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Lee HH, Tian Q, Sheft M, Coronado-Leija R, Ramos-Llorden G, Abdollahzadeh A, Fieremans E, Novikov DS, Huang SY. The influence of axonal beading and undulation on axonal diameter mapping. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.19.537494. [PMID: 37131702 PMCID: PMC10153226 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.19.537494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
We consider the effect of non-cylindrical axonal shape on axonal diameter mapping with diffusion MRI. Practical sensitivity to axon diameter is attained at strong diffusion weightings b , where the deviation from the 1 / b scaling yields the finite transverse diffusivity, which is then translated into axon diameter. While axons are usually modeled as perfectly straight, impermeable cylinders, the local variations in diameter (caliber variation or beading) and direction (undulation) have been observed in microscopy data of human axons. Here we quantify the influence of cellular-level features such as caliber variation and undulation on axon diameter estimation. For that, we simulate the diffusion MRI signal in realistic axons segmented from 3-dimensional electron microscopy of a human brain sample. We then create artificial fibers with the same features and tune the amplitude of their caliber variations and undulations. Numerical simulations of diffusion in fibers with such tunable features show that caliber variations and undulations result in under- and over-estimation of axon diameters, correspondingly; this bias can be as large as 100%. Given that increased axonal beading and undulations have been observed in pathological tissues, such as traumatic brain injury and ischemia, the interpretation of axon diameter alterations in pathology may be significantly confounded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Hsi Lee
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129,USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Qiyuan Tian
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129,USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Maxina Sheft
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129,USA
- Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ricardo Coronado-Leija
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Gabriel Ramos-Llorden
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129,USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ali Abdollahzadeh
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Els Fieremans
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Dmitry S. Novikov
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Susie Y. Huang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129,USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Ma Y, Bruce IP, Yeh CH, Petrella JR, Song AW, Truong TK. Column-based cortical depth analysis of the diffusion anisotropy and radiality in submillimeter whole-brain diffusion tensor imaging of the human cortical gray matter in vivo. Neuroimage 2023; 270:119993. [PMID: 36863550 PMCID: PMC10037338 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
High-resolution diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can noninvasively probe the microstructure of cortical gray matter in vivo. In this study, 0.9-mm isotropic whole-brain DTI data were acquired in healthy subjects with an efficient multi-band multi-shot echo-planar imaging sequence. A column-based analysis that samples the fractional anisotropy (FA) and radiality index (RI) along radially oriented cortical columns was then performed to quantitatively analyze the FA and RI dependence on the cortical depth, cortical region, cortical curvature, and cortical thickness across the whole brain, which has not been simultaneously and systematically investigated in previous studies. The results showed characteristic FA and RI vs. cortical depth profiles, with an FA local maximum and minimum (or two inflection points) and a single RI maximum at intermediate cortical depths in most cortical regions, except for the postcentral gyrus where no FA peaks and a lower RI were observed. These results were consistent between repeated scans from the same subjects and across different subjects. They were also dependent on the cortical curvature and cortical thickness in that the characteristic FA and RI peaks were more pronounced i) at the banks than at the crown of gyri or at the fundus of sulci and ii) as the cortical thickness increases. This methodology can help characterize variations in microstructure along the cortical depth and across the whole brain in vivo, potentially providing quantitative biomarkers for neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixin Ma
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Room 414, Durham, NC 27710, United States; Medical Physics Graduate Program, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Iain P Bruce
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Room 414, Durham, NC 27710, United States; Department of Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Chun-Hung Yeh
- Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Institute for Radiological Research, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Jeffrey R Petrella
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Room 414, Durham, NC 27710, United States; Medical Physics Graduate Program, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Department of Radiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Allen W Song
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Room 414, Durham, NC 27710, United States; Medical Physics Graduate Program, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Department of Radiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States.
| | - Trong-Kha Truong
- Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Room 414, Durham, NC 27710, United States; Medical Physics Graduate Program, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Department of Radiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States.
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Colomar L, San José Cáceres A, Álvarez-Linera J, González-Peñas J, Huertas Patón A, Martín de Blas D, Polo Arrondo AP, Solís A, Jones E, Parellada M. Role of cortical excitatory/inhibitory imbalance in autism spectrum disorders from a symptom severity trajectories framework: a study protocol. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:213. [PMID: 36991382 PMCID: PMC10054232 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04695-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is considerable evidence reporting an excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) cortical imbalance in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, previous findings on the direction of this imbalance and its relationship to ASD symptomatology are heterogeneous. Some factors contributing to these mixed results might be the methodological differences between studies assessing the E/I ratio and the intrinsic variability within the autistic spectrum. Studying the evolution of ASD symptoms and the factors that modulate it might help to explain and reduce this variability. Here we present a study protocol to explore the longitudinal role of E/I imbalance in ASD symptoms, combining different approaches to measure the E/I ratio and using the trajectories of symptom severity as a framework. METHODS This observational two time-point prospective study assesses the E/I ratio and the evolution of the behavioural symptoms in a sample of at least 98 participants with ASD. Participants are enrolled at 12 to 72 months of age and followed from 18 to 48 months after. A comprehensive battery of tests is applied to evaluate ASD clinical symptoms. The E/I ratio is approached from electrophysiology, magnetic resonance, and genetics. We will calculate the individual change for the main ASD symptoms and, based on that, we will define the trajectories of symptom severity. Then, we will investigate the correlation between measures of excitation/inhibition balance and autistic symptomatology cross-sectionally, as well as the ability of these measurements to predict changes in symptoms over time. DISCUSSION This study presents a robust multisystemic approach to the E/I imbalance theory in autism and its relation to divergent symptom trajectories. That setting will allow us to relate and compare the neurobiological information coming from different sources and its impact on behavioural symptoms while accounting for the high variability in ASD. The findings derived from this study could contribute to the ASD biomarkers research and might provide valuable evidence for the development of more personalized treatments in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Colomar
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain.
- School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Antonia San José Cáceres
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Javier González-Peñas
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Abigail Huertas Patón
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Martín de Blas
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioingeniería, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Andrea Solís
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Emily Jones
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, University of London, Birkbeck, London, UK
| | - Mara Parellada
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain
- School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
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Ricciardi A, Grussu F, Kanber B, Prados F, Yiannakas MC, Solanky BS, Riemer F, Golay X, Brownlee W, Ciccarelli O, Alexander DC, Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott CAM. Patterns of inflammation, microstructural alterations, and sodium accumulation define multiple sclerosis subtypes after 15 years from onset. Front Neuroinform 2023; 17:1060511. [PMID: 37035717 PMCID: PMC10076673 DOI: 10.3389/fninf.2023.1060511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Conventional MRI is routinely used for the characterization of pathological changes in multiple sclerosis (MS), but due to its lack of specificity is unable to provide accurate prognoses, explain disease heterogeneity and reconcile the gap between observed clinical symptoms and radiological evidence. Quantitative MRI provides measures of physiological abnormalities, otherwise invisible to conventional MRI, that correlate with MS severity. Analyzing quantitative MRI measures through machine learning techniques has been shown to improve the understanding of the underlying disease by better delineating its alteration patterns. Methods In this retrospective study, a cohort of healthy controls (HC) and MS patients with different subtypes, followed up 15 years from clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), was analyzed to produce a multi-modal set of quantitative MRI features encompassing relaxometry, microstructure, sodium ion concentration, and tissue volumetry. Random forest classifiers were used to train a model able to discriminate between HC, CIS, relapsing remitting (RR) and secondary progressive (SP) MS patients based on these features and, for each classification task, to identify the relative contribution of each MRI-derived tissue property to the classification task itself. Results and discussion Average classification accuracy scores of 99 and 95% were obtained when discriminating HC and CIS vs. SP, respectively; 82 and 83% for HC and CIS vs. RR; 76% for RR vs. SP, and 79% for HC vs. CIS. Different patterns of alterations were observed for each classification task, offering key insights in the understanding of MS phenotypes pathophysiology: atrophy and relaxometry emerged particularly in the classification of HC and CIS vs. MS, relaxometry within lesions in RR vs. SP, sodium ion concentration in HC vs. CIS, and microstructural alterations were involved across all tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Ricciardi
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Grussu
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Radiomics Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Baris Kanber
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ferran Prados
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- eHealth Center, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marios C. Yiannakas
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bhavana S. Solanky
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Riemer
- Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualization Centre, Department of Radiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Xavier Golay
- Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Wallace Brownlee
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Olga Ciccarelli
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR UCLH Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel C. Alexander
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia A. M. Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Brain Connectivity Research Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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44
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Lapucci C, Tazza F, Rebella S, Boffa G, Sbragia E, Bruschi N, Mancuso E, Mavilio N, Signori A, Roccatagliata L, Cellerino M, Schiavi S, Inglese M. Central vein sign and diffusion MRI differentiate microstructural features within white matter lesions of multiple sclerosis patients with comorbidities. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1084661. [PMID: 36970546 PMCID: PMC10030505 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1084661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The Central Vein Sign (CVS) has been suggested as a potential biomarker to improve diagnostic specificity in multiple sclerosis (MS). Nevertheless, the impact of comorbidities on CVS performance has been poorly investigated so far. Despite the similar features shared by MS, migraine and Small Vessel Disease (SVD) at T2-weighted conventional MRI sequences, ex-vivo studies demonstrated their heterogeneous histopathological substrates. If in MS, inflammation, primitive demyelination and axonal loss coexist, in SVD demyelination is secondary to ischemic microangiopathy, while the contemporary presence of inflammatory and ischemic processes has been suggested in migraine. The aims of this study were to investigate the impact of comorbidities (risk factors for SVD and migraine) on the global and subregional assessment of the CVS in a large cohort of MS patients and to apply the Spherical Mean Technique (SMT) diffusion model to evaluate whether perivenular and non-perivenular lesions show distinctive microstructural features. Methods 120 MS patients stratified into 4 Age Groups performed 3T brain MRI. WM lesions were classified in "perivenular" and "non-perivenular" by visual inspection of FLAIR* images; mean values of SMT metrics, indirect estimators of inflammation, demyelination and fiber disruption (EXTRAMD: extraneurite mean diffusivity, EXTRATRANS: extraneurite transverse diffusivity and INTRA: intraneurite signal fraction, respectively) were extracted. Results Of the 5303 lesions selected for the CVS assessment, 68.7% were perivenular. Significant differences were found between perivenular and non-perivenular lesion volume in the whole brain (p < 0.001) and between perivenular and non-perivenular lesion volume and number in all the four subregions (p < 0.001 for all). The percentage of perivenular lesions decreased from youngest to oldest patients (79.7%-57.7%), with the deep/subcortical WM of oldest patients as the only subregion where the number of non-perivenular was higher than the number of perivenular lesions. Older age and migraine were independent predictors of a higher percentage of non-perivenular lesions (p < 0.001 and p = 0.013 respectively). Whole brain perivenular lesions showed higher inflammation, demyelination and fiber disruption than non perivenular lesions (p = 0.001, p = 0.001 and p = 0.02 for EXTRAMD, EXTRATRANS and INTRA respectively). Similar findings were found in the deep/subcortical WM (p = 0.001 for all). Compared to non-perivenular lesions, (i) perivenular lesions located in periventricular areas showed a more severe fiber disruption (p = 0.001), (ii) perivenular lesions located in juxtacortical and infratentorial regions exhibited a higher degree of inflammation (p = 0.01 and p = 0.05 respectively) and (iii) perivenular lesions located in infratentorial areas showed a higher degree of demyelination (p = 0.04). Discussion Age and migraine have a relevant impact in reducing the percentage of perivenular lesions, particularly in the deep/subcortical WM. SMT may differentiate perivenular lesions, characterized by higher inflammation, demyelination and fiber disruption, from non perivenular lesions, where these pathological processes seemed to be less pronounced. The development of new non-perivenular lesions, especially in the deep/subcortical WM of older patients, should be considered a "red flag" for a different -other than MS- pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Lapucci
- HNSR, IRRCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesco Tazza
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Giacomo Boffa
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elvira Sbragia
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Nicolò Bruschi
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Mancuso
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Nicola Mavilio
- Department of Neuroradiology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessio Signori
- Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Luca Roccatagliata
- Department of Neuroradiology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria Cellerino
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Simona Schiavi
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Matilde Inglese
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino IRCCS, Genoa, Italy
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Wichtmann BD, Fan Q, Eskandarian L, Witzel T, Attenberger UI, Pieper CC, Schad L, Rosen BR, Wald LL, Huang SY, Nummenmaa A. Linear multi-scale modeling of diffusion MRI data: A framework for characterization of oriented structures across length scales. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:1496-1514. [PMID: 36477997 PMCID: PMC9921225 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) has evolved to provide increasingly sophisticated investigations of the human brain's structural connectome in vivo. Restriction spectrum imaging (RSI) is a method that reconstructs the orientation distribution of diffusion within tissues over a range of length scales. In its original formulation, RSI represented the signal as consisting of a spectrum of Gaussian diffusion response functions. Recent technological advances have enabled the use of ultra-high b-values on human MRI scanners, providing higher sensitivity to intracellular water diffusion in the living human brain. To capture the complex diffusion time dependence of the signal within restricted water compartments, we expand upon the RSI approach to represent restricted water compartments with non-Gaussian response functions, in an extended analysis framework called linear multi-scale modeling (LMM). The LMM approach is designed to resolve length scale and orientation-specific information with greater specificity to tissue microstructure in the restricted and hindered compartments, while retaining the advantages of the RSI approach in its implementation as a linear inverse problem. Using multi-shell, multi-diffusion time DW-MRI data acquired with a state-of-the-art 3 T MRI scanner equipped with 300 mT/m gradients, we demonstrate the ability of the LMM approach to distinguish different anatomical structures in the human brain and the potential to advance mapping of the human connectome through joint estimation of the fiber orientation distributions and compartment size characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara D. Wichtmann
- A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General HospitalCharlestownMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional RadiologyUniversity Hospital BonnBonnGermany
| | - Qiuyun Fan
- A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General HospitalCharlestownMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Precision Instruments and Optoelectronics EngineeringTianjin UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Laleh Eskandarian
- A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General HospitalCharlestownMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Ulrike I. Attenberger
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional RadiologyUniversity Hospital BonnBonnGermany
| | - Claus C. Pieper
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional RadiologyUniversity Hospital BonnBonnGermany
| | - Lothar Schad
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Mannheim Institute for Intelligent Systems in Medicine, Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
| | - Bruce R. Rosen
- A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General HospitalCharlestownMassachusettsUSA
| | - Lawrence L. Wald
- A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General HospitalCharlestownMassachusettsUSA
- Harvard‐MIT Division of Health Sciences and TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Susie Y. Huang
- A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General HospitalCharlestownMassachusettsUSA
- Harvard‐MIT Division of Health Sciences and TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Aapo Nummenmaa
- A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General HospitalCharlestownMassachusettsUSA
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46
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High frequency conductivity decomposition by solving physically constraint underdetermined inverse problem in human brain. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3273. [PMID: 36841894 PMCID: PMC9968322 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30344-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The developed magnetic resonance electrical properties tomography (MREPT) can visualize the internal conductivity distribution at Larmor frequency by measuring the B1 transceive phase data from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The recovered high-frequency conductivity (HFC) value is highly complex and heterogeneous in a macroscopic imaging voxel. Using high and low b-value diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) data, the multi-compartment spherical mean technique (MC-SMT) characterizes the water molecule movement within and between intra- and extra-neurite compartments by analyzing the microstructures and underlying architectural organization of brain tissues. The proposed method decomposes the recovered HFC into the conductivity values in the intra- and extra-neurite compartments via the recovered intra-neurite volume fraction (IVF) and the diffusion patterns using DWI data. As a form of decomposition of intra- and extra-neurite compartments, the problem to determine the intra- and extra-neurite conductivity values from the HFC is still an underdetermined inverse problem. To solve the underdetermined problem, we use the compartmentalized IVF as a criterion to decompose the electrical properties because the ion-concentration and mobility have different characteristics in the intra- and extra-neurite compartments. The proposed method determines a representative apparent intra- and extra-neurite conductivity values by changing the underdetermined equation for a voxel into an over-determined minimization problem over a local window consisting of surrounding voxels. To suppress the noise amplification and estimate a feasible conductivity, we define a diffusion pattern distance to weight the over-determined system in the local window. To quantify the proposed method, we conducted a simulation experiment. The simulation experiments show the relationships between the noise reduction and the spatial resolution depending on the designed local window sizes and diffusion pattern distance. Human brain experiments (five young healthy volunteers and a patient with brain tumor) were conducted to evaluate and validate the reliability of the proposed method. To quantitatively compare the results with previously developed methods, we analyzed the errors for reconstructed extra-neurite conductivity using existing methods and indirectly verified the feasibility of the proposed method.
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47
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Pizzolato M, Canales-Rodríguez EJ, Andersson M, Dyrby TB. Axial and radial axonal diffusivities and radii from single encoding strongly diffusion-weighted MRI. Med Image Anal 2023; 86:102767. [PMID: 36867913 DOI: 10.1016/j.media.2023.102767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
We enable the estimation of the per-axon axial diffusivity from single encoding, strongly diffusion-weighted, pulsed gradient spin echo data. Additionally, we improve the estimation of the per-axon radial diffusivity compared to estimates based on spherical averaging. The use of strong diffusion weightings in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows to approximate the signal in white matter as the sum of the contributions from only axons. At the same time, spherical averaging leads to a major simplification of the modeling by removing the need to explicitly account for the unknown distribution of axonal orientations. However, the spherically averaged signal acquired at strong diffusion weightings is not sensitive to the axial diffusivity, which cannot therefore be estimated although needed for modeling axons - especially in the context of multi-compartmental modeling. We introduce a new general method for the estimation of both the axial and radial axonal diffusivities at strong diffusion weightings based on kernel zonal modeling. The method could lead to estimates that are free from partial volume bias with gray matter or other isotropic compartments. The method is tested on publicly available data from the MGH Adult Diffusion Human Connectome project. We report reference values of axonal diffusivities based on 34 subjects, and derive estimates of axonal radii from only two shells. The estimation problem is also addressed from the angle of the required data preprocessing, the presence of biases related to modeling assumptions, current limitations, and future possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Pizzolato
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark; Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | | | - Mariam Andersson
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tim B Dyrby
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark; Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
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48
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Gomolka RS, Hablitz LM, Mestre H, Giannetto M, Du T, Hauglund NL, Xie L, Peng W, Martinez PM, Nedergaard M, Mori Y. Loss of aquaporin-4 results in glymphatic system dysfunction via brain-wide interstitial fluid stagnation. eLife 2023; 12:e82232. [PMID: 36757363 PMCID: PMC9995113 DOI: 10.7554/elife.82232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The glymphatic system is a fluid transport network of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) entering the brain along arterial perivascular spaces, exchanging with interstitial fluid (ISF), ultimately establishing directional clearance of interstitial solutes. CSF transport is facilitated by the expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channels on the perivascular endfeet of astrocytes. Mice with genetic deletion of AQP4 (AQP4 KO) exhibit abnormalities in the brain structure and molecular water transport. Yet, no studies have systematically examined how these abnormalities in structure and water transport correlate with glymphatic function. Here, we used high-resolution 3D magnetic resonance (MR) non-contrast cisternography, diffusion-weighted MR imaging (MR-DWI) along with intravoxel-incoherent motion (IVIM) DWI, while evaluating glymphatic function using a standard dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging to better understand how water transport and glymphatic function is disrupted after genetic deletion of AQP4. AQP4 KO mice had larger interstitial spaces and total brain volumes resulting in higher water content and reduced CSF space volumes, despite similar CSF production rates and vascular density compared to wildtype mice. The larger interstitial fluid volume likely resulted in increased slow but not fast MR diffusion measures and coincided with reduced glymphatic influx. This markedly altered brain fluid transport in AQP4 KO mice may result from a reduction in glymphatic clearance, leading to enlargement and stagnation of fluid in the interstitial space. Overall, diffusion MR is a useful tool to evaluate glymphatic function and may serve as valuable translational biomarker to study glymphatics in human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lauren M Hablitz
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterUnited States
| | - Humberto Mestre
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterUnited States
- Department of Neurology, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Michael Giannetto
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterUnited States
| | - Ting Du
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterUnited States
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
| | | | - Lulu Xie
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterUnited States
| | - Weiguo Peng
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterUnited States
| | | | - Maiken Nedergaard
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterUnited States
| | - Yuki Mori
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
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49
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Wenger AL, Barakovic M, Bosticardo S, Schaedelin S, Daducci A, Schiavi S, Weigel M, Rahmanzadeh R, Lu PJ, Cagol A, Kappos L, Kuhle J, Calabrese P, Granziera C. An investigation of the association between focal damage and global network properties in cognitively impaired and cognitively preserved patients with multiple sclerosis. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1007580. [PMID: 36824214 PMCID: PMC9941549 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1007580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The presence of focal cortical and white matter damage in patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) might lead to specific alterations in brain networks that are associated with cognitive impairment. We applied microstructure-weighted connectomes to investigate (i) the relationship between global network metrics and information processing speed in pwMS, and (ii) whether the disruption provoked by focal lesions on global network metrics is associated to patients' information processing speed. Materials and methods Sixty-eight pwMS and 92 healthy controls (HC) underwent neuropsychological examination and 3T brain MRI including multishell diffusion (dMRI), 3D FLAIR, and MP2RAGE. Whole-brain deterministic tractography and connectometry were performed on dMRI. Connectomes were obtained using the Spherical Mean Technique and were weighted for the intracellular fraction. We identified white matter lesions and cortical lesions on 3D FLAIR and MP2RAGE images, respectively. PwMS were subdivided into cognitively preserved (CPMS) and cognitively impaired (CIMS) using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) z-score at cut-off value of -1.5 standard deviations. Statistical analyses were performed using robust linear models with age, gender, and years of education as covariates, followed by correction for multiple testing. Results Out of 68 pwMS, 18 were CIMS and 50 were CPMS. We found significant changes in all global network metrics in pwMS vs HC (p < 0.05), except for modularity. All global network metrics were positively correlated with SDMT, except for modularity which showed an inverse correlation. Cortical, leukocortical, and periventricular lesion volumes significantly influenced the relationship between (i) network density and information processing speed and (ii) modularity and information processing speed in pwMS. Interestingly, this was not the case, when an exploratory analysis was performed in the subgroup of CIMS patients. Discussion Our study showed that cortical (especially leukocortical) and periventricular lesions affect the relationship between global network metrics and information processing speed in pwMS. Our data also suggest that in CIMS patients increased focal cortical and periventricular damage does not linearly affect the relationship between network properties and SDMT, suggesting that other mechanisms (e.g. disruption of local networks, loss of compensatory processes) might be responsible for the development of processing speed deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. L. Wenger
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland,Interdisciplinary Platform, Psychiatry, and Psychology, Division of Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuropsychology, and Behavioral Neurology Unit, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland,Neurologic Clinic and Policlinic, MS Center and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Muhamed Barakovic
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland,Neurologic Clinic and Policlinic, MS Center and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sara Bosticardo
- Department of Computer Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Sabine Schaedelin
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland,Clinical Trial Unit, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Simona Schiavi
- Department of Computer Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Matthias Weigel
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland,Neurologic Clinic and Policlinic, MS Center and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland,Division of Radiological Physics, Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Reza Rahmanzadeh
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland,Neurologic Clinic and Policlinic, MS Center and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Po-Jui Lu
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland,Neurologic Clinic and Policlinic, MS Center and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Cagol
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland,Neurologic Clinic and Policlinic, MS Center and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ludwig Kappos
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland,Neurologic Clinic and Policlinic, MS Center and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jens Kuhle
- Neurologic Clinic and Policlinic, MS Center and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pasquale Calabrese
- Interdisciplinary Platform, Psychiatry, and Psychology, Division of Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuropsychology, and Behavioral Neurology Unit, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cristina Granziera
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland,Neurologic Clinic and Policlinic, MS Center and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland,*Correspondence: Cristina Granziera, ;
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Chan KS, Chamberland M, Marques JP. On the performance of multi-compartment relaxometry for myelin water imaging (MCR-MWI) - test-retest repeatability and inter-protocol reproducibility. Neuroimage 2023; 266:119824. [PMID: 36539169 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we optimized the variable flip angle (VFA) acquisition scheme using numerical simulations to shorten the acquisition time of multicompartment relaxometry for myelin water imaging (MCR-MWI) to a clinically practical range in the absence of advanced image reconstruction methods. As the primary objective of this study, the test-retest repeatability of myelin water fraction (MWF) measurements of MCR-MWI is evaluated on three gradient echo (GRE) sequence settings using the optimized VFA schemes with different echo times and repetition times, emulating various scanner setups. The cross-protocol reproducibility of MCR-MWI and MCR with diffusion-informed myelin water imaging (MCR-DIMWI) is also examined. As a secondary objective, we explore the bundle-specific profiles of various microstructural parameters from MCR-(DI)MWI and their cross-correlations to determine if these parameters possess supplementary microstructure information beyond myelin concentration. Numerical simulations indicate that MCR-MWI can be performed with a minimum of three flip angles covering a wide range of T1 weightings without adding significant bias. This is supported by the results of an in vivo experiment, allowing whole-brain 1.5 mm isotropic MWF maps to be acquired in 9 min, reducing the total scan time to 40% of the original implementation without significant quality degradation. Good test-retest repeatability is observed for MCR-MWI for all three GRE protocols. While good correlations can also be found in MWF across protocols, systematic differences are observed. Bundle-specific MWF analysis reveals that certain white matter bundles are similar in all participants. We also found that microstructure relaxation parameters have low linear correlations with MWF. MCR-MWI is a reproducible measure of myelin. However, attention should be paid to the protocol related MWF differences when comparing different studies, as the MWF bias up to 0.5% can be observed across the protocols examined in this work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwok-Shing Chan
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Maxime Chamberland
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - José P Marques
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Kapittelweg 29, 6525 EN, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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