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Kuang C, Zha Y. Neurodegeneration within the rostral spinal cord is associated with brain gray matter volume atrophy in the early stage of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Spinal Cord 2024; 62:214-220. [PMID: 38454066 DOI: 10.1038/s41393-024-00971-0] [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: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Case-control study. OBJECTIVES Investigating the association between neurodegeneration within rostral spinal cord and brain gray matter volume (GMV) and assessing the relationship between remote neurodegenerative changes and clinical outcomes at the early phase of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (CSM). SETTING University/hospital. METHODS Using Spinal Cord Toolbox, spinal cord morphometrics (cross-sectional area [CSA], gray matter area [GMA], white matter area [WMA]) of 40 patients with CSM and 28 healthy controls (HCs) were computed and compared using two-sample t test. Brain GMV of the two groups was analyzed using voxel-based morphometry approach. Pearson's correlation between spinal cord morphometrics and altered brain GMV and Spearman's relationship between remote neurodegenerations and clinical outcomes were conducted in CSM group. RESULTS Compared to HCs, CSA and WMA at C2/3 and GMV in right postcentral gyrus (PoCG.R) and left supplementary motor area (SMA.L) were significantly decreased in patients with CSM. CSA and WMA at C2/3 were associated with GMV in SMA.L and MCG.R in patients with CSM. CSA at C2/3 and GMV in PoCG.R were related to modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score in patients with CSM. CONCLUSIONS The associations between CSA and WMA at C2/3 and GMV in SMA.L and MCG.R suggest a concordant change pattern and adaptive mechanisms for neuronal plasticity underlying remote neurodegeneration in early CSM. The atrophy of CSA at C2/3 and GMV loss in PoCG.R can serve as potential neuroimaging biomarkers of early structural changes within spinal cord and brain preceding marked clinical disabilities in patients with CSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuili Kuang
- Department of Radiological, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yunfei Zha
- Department of Radiological, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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Wu K, Li H, Xie Y, Zhang S, Wang X. Fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation alterations in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a resting-state fMRI study. Neuroradiology 2024; 66:847-854. [PMID: 38530417 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-024-03337-8] [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] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE We sought to use the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) method to investigate the changes in spontaneous brain activity in CSM patients and their relationships with clinical features. METHODS We recruited 20 patients with CSM, and 20 healthy controls (HCs) matched for age, sex, and education status. The fALFF method was used to evaluate the altered spontaneous brain activities. The Pearson correlation analysis of fALFF and the clinical features were carried out. RESULTS Compared with HC, CSM group showed increased fALFF values in the left middle frontal gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, and right angular gyrus. Decreased fALFF values were found in the right lingual gyrus, cuneus (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis shows that the fALFF values of all CSM were positively correlated with JOA score in the right angular gyrus (r = 0.518, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION CSM patients have abnormal fALFF distribution in multiple brain regions and might be an appealing alternative approach for further exploration of the pathological and neuropsychological states in CSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaifu Wu
- Department of Radiology, the Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 26, Shengli Street, Wuhan, 430014, China
| | - Han Li
- Department of Radiology, the Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 26, Shengli Street, Wuhan, 430014, China
| | - Yuanliang Xie
- Department of Radiology, the Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 26, Shengli Street, Wuhan, 430014, China
| | - Shutong Zhang
- Department of Radiology, the Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 26, Shengli Street, Wuhan, 430014, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Radiology, the Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 26, Shengli Street, Wuhan, 430014, China.
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Khan AF, Muhammad F, Mohammadi E, O'Neal C, Haynes G, Hameed S, Walker B, Rohan ML, Yabluchanskiy A, Smith ZA. Beyond the aging spine - a systematic review of functional changes in the human brain in cervical spondylotic myelopathy. GeroScience 2024; 46:1421-1450. [PMID: 37801201 PMCID: PMC10828266 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00954-8] [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: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (CSM) is a degenerative condition that leads to loss of cervical spinal cord integrity, typically affecting the aged population. Emerging fMRI-based evidence suggests that the brain is also affected by CSM. This systematic review aimed to understand the usefulness of brain fMRI in CSM. A comprehensive literature search was conducted until March 2023 according to PRISMA guidelines. The inclusion criteria included original research articles in English, primarily studying the human brain's functional changes in CSM using fMRI with at least 5 participants. The extracted data from each study included demographics, disease severity, MRI machine characteristics, affected brain areas, functional changes, and clinical utilities. A total of 30 studies met the inclusion criteria. Among the fMRI methods, resting-state fMRI was the most widely used experimental paradigm, followed by motor tasks. The brain areas associated with motor control were most affected in CSM, followed by the superior frontal gyrus and occipital cortex. Functional changes in the brain were correlated to clinical metrics showing clinical utility. However, the evidence that a specific fMRI metric correlating with a clinical metric was "very low" to "insufficient" due to a low number of studies and negative results. In conclusion, fMRI can potentially facilitate the diagnosis of CSM by quantitatively interrogating the functional changes of the brain, particularly areas of the brain associated with motor control. However, this field is in its early stages, and more studies are needed to establish the usefulness of brain fMRI in CSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Fahim Khan
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1000 N Lincoln Blvd, Suite 4000, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
| | - Fauziyya Muhammad
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1000 N Lincoln Blvd, Suite 4000, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Esmaeil Mohammadi
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1000 N Lincoln Blvd, Suite 4000, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Christen O'Neal
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1000 N Lincoln Blvd, Suite 4000, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Grace Haynes
- Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Sanaa Hameed
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1000 N Lincoln Blvd, Suite 4000, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Brynden Walker
- College of Arts and Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | | | - Andriy Yabluchanskiy
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1000 N Lincoln Blvd, Suite 4000, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
- Oklahoma Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Zachary Adam Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1000 N Lincoln Blvd, Suite 4000, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
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Wang Y, Zhao R, Zhu D, Fu X, Sun F, Cai Y, Ma J, Guo X, Zhang J, Xue Y. Voxel- and tensor-based morphometry with machine learning techniques identifying characteristic brain impairment in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1267349. [PMID: 38419699 PMCID: PMC10899699 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1267349] [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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim The diagnosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) relies on several methods, including x-rays, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Although MRI is the most useful diagnostic tool, strategies to improve the precise and independent diagnosis of CSM using novel MRI imaging techniques are urgently needed. This study aimed to explore potential brain biomarkers to improve the precise diagnosis of CSM through the combination of voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and tensor-based morphometry (TBM) with machine learning techniques. Methods In this retrospective study, 57 patients with CSM and 57 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. The structural changes in the gray matter volume and white matter volume were determined by VBM. Gray and white matter deformations were measured by TBM. The support vector machine (SVM) was used for the classification of CSM patients from HCs based on the structural features of VBM and TBM. Results CSM patients exhibited characteristic structural abnormalities in the sensorimotor, visual, cognitive, and subcortical regions, as well as in the anterior corona radiata and the corpus callosum [P < 0.05, false discovery rate (FDR) corrected]. A multivariate pattern classification analysis revealed that VBM and TBM could successfully identify CSM patients and HCs [classification accuracy: 81.58%, area under the curve (AUC): 0.85; P < 0.005, Bonferroni corrected] through characteristic gray matter and white matter impairments. Conclusion CSM may cause widespread and remote impairments in brain structures. This study provided a valuable reference for developing novel diagnostic strategies to identify CSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Dan Zhu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital Airport Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiuwei Fu
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Fengyu Sun
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuezeng Cai
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Juanwei Ma
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xing Guo
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuan Xue
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
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Ge Y, Zhao R, Guo X, Liang M, Xue Y. Systematic investigation of cerebellar functional alterations and their association with surgical outcomes in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy: a resting-state fMRI study. LA RADIOLOGIA MEDICA 2024; 129:280-290. [PMID: 38302829 DOI: 10.1007/s11547-024-01776-0] [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: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to systematically investigate the changes in cerebellar neural activity and cerebellar-cortical functional connectivity (FC) in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). METHODS In this study, we collected clinical data and resting-state fMRI data from 54 DCM patients and 50 healthy controls (HCs). We analyzed voxel-wise regional fMRI metrics, including amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF), fractional ALFF, regional homogeneity, functional connectivity density, and voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity. In analysis 1, we examined the differences in regional fMRI metrics within the cerebellum between the DCM patient group and the healthy control group, as well as their correlation with preoperative neurological status and prognosis. In analysis 2, we investigated cerebellar-cortical functional connectivity differences between the two groups and their correlation with preoperative neurological status and prognosis. Lastly, in analysis 3, we explored the internetwork connectivity between the 'cerebellar-SMN' (sensorimotor network) system, examined the between-group differences, and investigated its correlation with preoperative neurological status and prognosis. RESULTS (1) Relative to HCs, DCM patients exhibited functional alterations in wide-spread cerebellar regions; (2) DCM patients exhibited altered cerebellar-cortical FC which was associated with the preoperative neurological status and prognosis; (3) DCM patients exhibited altered internetwork connectivity between 'cerebellar-SMN' system which was associated with duration of symptom. CONCLUSION Wide-spread cerebellar functional alterations occur in DCM pathogenesis and the deficits in cerebellar-SMN functional connectivity may be beneficial in future studies for predicting surgical outcomes in patients with DCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqi Ge
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Xing Guo
- Department of Orthopedics, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Cangzhou, 061001, China
| | - Meng Liang
- School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300203, China
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for China, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Yuan Xue
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China.
- School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China.
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China.
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Akimoto H, Suzuki H, Kan S, Funaba M, Nishida N, Fujimoto K, Ikeda H, Yonezawa T, Ikushima K, Shimizu Y, Matsubara T, Harada K, Nakagawa S, Sakai T. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging indices are related to electrophysiological dysfunction in degenerative cervical myelopathy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2344. [PMID: 38282042 PMCID: PMC10822854 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53051-x] [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: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The age-related degenerative pathologies of the cervical spinal column that comprise degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) cause myelopathy due spinal cord compression. Functional neurological assessment of DCM can potentially reveal the severity and pathological mechanism of DCM. However, functional assessment by conventional MRI remains difficult. This study used resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) to investigate the relationship between functional connectivity (FC) strength and neurophysiological indices and examined the feasibility of functional assessment by FC for DCM. Preoperatively, 34 patients with DCM underwent rs-fMRI scans. Preoperative central motor conduction time (CMCT) reflecting motor functional disability and intraoperative somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) reflecting sensory functional disability were recorded as electrophysiological indices of severity of the cervical spinal cord impairment. We performed seed-to-voxel FC analysis and correlation analyses between FC strength and the two electrophysiological indices. We found that FC strength between the primary motor cortex and the precuneus correlated significantly positively with CMCT, and that between the lateral part of the sensorimotor cortex and the lateral occipital cortex also showed a significantly positive correlation with SEP amplitudes. These results suggest that we can evaluate neurological and electrophysiological severity in patients with DCM by analyzing FC strengths between certain brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hironobu Akimoto
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Hidenori Suzuki
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan.
| | - Shigeyuki Kan
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Hiroshima, 734-8553, Japan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masahiro Funaba
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Norihiro Nishida
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Fujimoto
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Ikeda
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Teppei Yonezawa
- Department of Radiological Technology, Yamaguchi University Hospital, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Kojiro Ikushima
- Department of Radiological Technology, Yamaguchi University Hospital, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Yoichiro Shimizu
- Department of Radiological Technology, Yamaguchi University Hospital, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Toshio Matsubara
- Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Kenichiro Harada
- Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Shin Nakagawa
- Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Takashi Sakai
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
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Rafati Fard A, Mowforth OD, Yuan M, Myrtle S, Lee KS, Banerjee A, Khan M, Kotter MR, Newcombe VFJ, Stamatakis EA, Davies BM. Brain MRI changes in degenerative cervical myelopathy: a systematic review. EBioMedicine 2024; 99:104915. [PMID: 38113760 PMCID: PMC10772405 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104915] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most common cause of adult spinal cord dysfunction globally. Associated neurological symptoms and signs have historically been explained by pathobiology within the cervical spine. However, recent advances in imaging have shed light on numerous brain changes in patients with DCM, and it is hypothesised that these changes contribute to DCM pathogenesis. The aetiology, significance, and distribution of these supraspinal changes is currently unknown. The objective was therefore to synthesise all current evidence on brain changes in DCM. METHODS A systematic review was performed. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies with magnetic resonance imaging on a cohort of patients with DCM were eligible. PRISMA guidelines were followed. MEDLINE and Embase were searched to 28th August 2023. Duplicate title/abstract screening, data extraction and risk of bias assessments were conducted. A qualitative synthesis of the literature is presented as per the Synthesis Without Meta-Analysis (SWiM) reporting guideline. The review was registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022298538). FINDINGS Of the 2014 studies that were screened, 47 studies were identified that used MRI to investigate brain changes in DCM. In total, 1500 patients with DCM were included in the synthesis, with a mean age of 53 years. Brain alterations on MRI were associated with DCM both before and after surgery, particularly within the sensorimotor network, visual network, default mode network, thalamus and cerebellum. Associations were commonly reported between brain MRI alterations and clinical measures, particularly the Japanese orthopaedic association (JOA) score. Risk of bias of included studies was low to moderate. INTERPRETATION The rapidly expanding literature provides mounting evidence for brain changes in DCM. We have identified key structures and pathways that are altered, although there remains uncertainty regarding the directionality and clinical significance of these changes. Future studies with greater sample sizes, more detailed phenotyping and longer follow-up are now needed. FUNDING ODM is supported by an Academic Clinical Fellowship at the University of Cambridge. BMD is supported by an NIHR Clinical Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Cambridge (NIHR300696). VFJN is supported by an NIHR Rosetrees Trust Advanced Fellowship (NIHR302544). This project was supported by an award from the Rosetrees Foundation with the Storygate Trust (A2844).
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Rafati Fard
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Oliver D Mowforth
- Division of Academic Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Melissa Yuan
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Samuel Myrtle
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Keng Siang Lee
- Department of Neurosurgery, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - Arka Banerjee
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maaz Khan
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark R Kotter
- Division of Academic Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Virginia F J Newcombe
- PACE Section, Department of Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emmanuel A Stamatakis
- PACE Section, Department of Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Benjamin M Davies
- Division of Academic Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Guo X, Li J, Su Q, Song J, Cheng C, Chu X, Zhao R. Transcriptional correlates of frequency-dependent brain functional activity associated with symptom severity in degenerative cervical myelopathy. Neuroimage 2023; 284:120451. [PMID: 37949259 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120451] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroimaging techniques provide insights into the brain abnormalities secondary to degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) and their association with neurological deficits. However, the neural correlates underlying the discrepancy between symptom severity and the degree of spinal cord compression, as well as the transcriptional correlates of these cortical abnormalities, remain unknown in DCM patients. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, which collected resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) images and the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, enrolled 104 participants (54 patients and 50 healthy controls). The frequency-dependent amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) was obtained for all participants. We investigated the ALFF differences between mild-symptom DCM patients and severe-symptom DCM patients while carefully matching the degree of compression between these two groups via both univariate comparison and searchlight classification for three frequency bands (e.g., Slow-4, Slow-5, and Full-band). Additionally, we identified genes associated with symptom severity in DCM patients by linking the spatial patterns of gene expression of Allen Human Brain Atlas and brain functional differences between mild symptom and severe symptom groups. RESULTS (1) We found that the frequency-specific brain activities within the sensorimotor network (SMN), visual network (VN), and default mode network (DMN) were associated with the varying degrees of functional impairment in DCM patients; (2) the frequency-specific brain activity within the SMN correlated with the functional recovery in patients with DCM; (3) a spatial correlation between the brain-wide expression of genes involved in neuronal migration and the brain functional activities associated with symptom severity was identified in DCM patients. CONCLUSION In conclusion, our study bridges gaps between genes, cell classes, biological processes, and brain functional correlates of DCM. While our findings are correlational in nature, they suggest that the neural activities of sensorimotor cortices in DCM are associated with the severity of symptoms and might be associated with neuronal migration within the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Guo
- Department of Orthopedic, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei 061017, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Orthopedic, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei 061017, China; Department of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin 300211, China
| | - Qian Su
- Department of Orthopedic, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei 061017, China; Department of Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for China, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Jiajun Song
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Cai Cheng
- Department of Orthopedic, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei 061017, China.
| | - Xu Chu
- Department of Shoulder and Elbow of Sports Medicine, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710054, China.
| | - Rui Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
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Steinberg SN, King TZ. Within-Individual BOLD Signal Variability and its Implications for Task-Based Cognition: A Systematic Review. Neuropsychol Rev 2023:10.1007/s11065-023-09619-x. [PMID: 37889371 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-023-09619-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Within-individual blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal variability, intrinsic moment-to-moment signal fluctuations within a single individual in specific voxels across a given time course, is a relatively new metric recognized in the neuroimaging literature. Within-individual BOLD signal variability has been postulated to provide information beyond that provided by mean-based analysis. Synthesis of the literature using within-individual BOLD signal variability methodology to examine various cognitive domains is needed to understand how intrinsic signal fluctuations contribute to optimal performance. This systematic review summarizes and integrates this literature to assess task-based cognitive performance in healthy groups and few clinical groups. Included papers were published through October 17, 2022. Searches were conducted on PubMed and APA PsycInfo. Studies eligible for inclusion used within-individual BOLD signal variability methodology to examine BOLD signal fluctuations during task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and/or examined relationships between task-based BOLD signal variability and out-of-scanner behavioral measure performance, were in English, and were empirical research studies. Data from each of the included 19 studies were extracted and study quality was systematically assessed. Results suggest that variability patterns for different cognitive domains across the lifespan (ages 7-85) may depend on task demands, measures, variability quantification method used, and age. As neuroimaging methods explore individual-level contributions to cognition, within-individual BOLD signal variability may be a meaningful metric that can inform understanding of neurocognitive performance. Further research in understudied domains/populations, and with consistent quantification methods/cognitive measures, will help conceptualize how intrinsic BOLD variability impacts cognitive abilities in healthy and clinical groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie N Steinberg
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Urban Life Building, 11th Floor, 140 Decatur St, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Tricia Z King
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Urban Life Building, 11th Floor, 140 Decatur St, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA.
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Zhao G, Zhan Y, Zha J, Cao Y, Zhou F, He L. Abnormal intrinsic brain functional network dynamics in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Cogn Neurodyn 2023; 17:1201-1211. [PMID: 37786665 PMCID: PMC10542087 DOI: 10.1007/s11571-022-09807-0] [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: 10/17/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The specific topological changes in dynamic functional networks and their role in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) brain function reorganization remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic functional connection (dFC) of patients with CSM, focusing on the temporal characteristics of the functional connection state patterns and the variability of network topological organization. Eighty-eight patients with CSM and 77 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited for resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. We applied the sliding time window analysis method and K-means clustering analysis to capture the dFC variability patterns of the two groups. The graph-theoretical approach was used to investigate the variance in the topological organization of whole-brain functional networks. All participants showed four types of dynamic functional connection states. The mean dwell time in state 2 was significantly different between the two groups. Particularly, the mean dwell time in state 2 was significantly longer in the CSM group than in the healthy control group. Among the four states, switching of relative brain networks mainly included the executive control network (ECN), salience network (SN), default mode network (DMN), language network (LN), visual network (VN), auditory network (AN), precuneus network (PN), and sensorimotor network (SMN). Additionally, the topological properties of the dynamic network were variable in patients with CSM. Dynamic functional connection states may offer new insights into intrinsic functional activities in CSM brain networks. The variance of topological organization may suggest instability of the brain networks in patients with CSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoshu Zhao
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006 People’s Republic of China
- Neuroimaging Lab, Jiangxi Province Medical Imaging Research Institute, Nanchang, 330006 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaru Zhan
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006 People’s Republic of China
- Neuroimaging Lab, Jiangxi Province Medical Imaging Research Institute, Nanchang, 330006 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing Zha
- The 908th Hospital of Chinese People’s Liberation Army Joint Logistic Support Force, Fuzhou, 330006 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuan Cao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 People’s Republic of China
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 People’s Republic of China
- Neuroimaging Lab, Jiangxi Province Medical Imaging Research Institute, Nanchang, 330006 People’s Republic of China
| | - Fuqing Zhou
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006 People’s Republic of China
- Neuroimaging Lab, Jiangxi Province Medical Imaging Research Institute, Nanchang, 330006 People’s Republic of China
| | - Laichang He
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006 People’s Republic of China
- Neuroimaging Lab, Jiangxi Province Medical Imaging Research Institute, Nanchang, 330006 People’s Republic of China
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11
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Wu X, Wang Y, Chang J, Zhu K, Zhang S, Li Y, Zuo J, Chen S, Jin W, Yan T, Yang K, Xu P, Song P, Wu Y, Qian Y, Shen C, Yu Y, Dong F. Remodeling of the brain correlates with gait instability in cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1087945. [PMID: 36816111 PMCID: PMC9932596 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1087945] [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: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a common form of non-traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and usually leads to remodeling of the brain and spinal cord. In CSM with gait instability, the remodeling of the brain and cervical spinal cord is unclear. We attempted to explore the remodeling of these patients' brains and spinal cords, as well as the relationship between the remodeling of the brain and spinal cord and gait instability. Methods According to the CSM patients' gait, we divided patients into two groups: normal gait patients (nPT) and abnormal gait patients (aPT). Voxel-wise z-score transformation amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (zALFF) and resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) were performed for estimating brain changes. Cross-sectional area (CSA) and fractional anisotropy (FA) of the spinal cord were computed by Spinal cord toolbox. Correlations of these measures and the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) score were analyzed. Results We found that the zALFF of caudate nucleus in aPT was higher than that in healthy controls (HC) and lower than that in nPT. The zALFF of the right postcentral gyrus and paracentral lobule in HC was higher than those of aPT and nPT. Compared with the nPT, the aPT showed increased functional connectivity between the caudate nucleus and left angular gyrus, bilateral precuneus and bilateral posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), which constitute a vital section of the default mode network (DMN). No significantly different FA values or CSA of spinal tracts at the C2 level were observed between the HC, nPT and aPT groups. In CSM, the right paracentral lobule's zALFF was negatively correlated with the FA value of fasciculus gracilis (FCG), and the right caudate zALFF was positively correlated with the FA value of the fasciculus cuneatus (FCC). The results showed that the functional connectivity between the right caudate nucleus and DMN was negatively correlated with the CSA of the lateral corticospinal tract (CST). Discussion The activation of the caudate nucleus and the strengthening functional connectivity between the caudate nucleus and DMN were associated with gait instability in CSM patients. Correlations between spinal cord and brain function might be related to the clinical symptoms in CSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianyong Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jianchao Chang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Kun Zhu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Siya Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Junxun Zuo
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Senlin Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Dongcheng Branch of The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University (Feidong People’s Hospital), Hefei, China
| | - Weiming Jin
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Tingfei Yan
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Kun Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Peng Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Peiwen Song
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wu
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,Yuanyuan Wu,
| | - Yinfeng Qian
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Cailiang Shen
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yongqiang Yu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Fulong Dong
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,*Correspondence: Fulong Dong,
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12
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Su Q, Li J, Chu X, Zhao R. Preoperative pain hypersensitivity is associated with axial pain after posterior cervical spinal surgeries in degenerative cervical myelopathy patients: a preliminary resting-state fMRI study. Insights Imaging 2023; 14:16. [PMID: 36690763 PMCID: PMC9871135 DOI: 10.1186/s13244-022-01332-2] [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: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test whether preoperative pain sensitivity is associated with the postoperative axial pain (PAP) in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) and to explore its underlying brain mechanism. METHODS Clinical data and resting-state fMRI data of 62 DCM patients along with 60 age/gender matched healthy participants were collected and analysed. Voxel-wise amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) was computed and compared between DCM patients and healthy controls. Correlation analyses were performed to reveal the association between the clinical metrics and brain alterations. Clinical data and ALFF were also compared between DCM patients with PAP and without PAP. RESULTS (1) Relative to healthy participants, DCM patients exhibited significantly lower preoperative pain threshold which is associated with the PAP intensity; (2) Relative to patients without PAP, PAP patients exhibited increased ALFF in mid-cingulate cortex (MCC) and lower preoperative pain threshold; (3) Further, multivariate pattern analysis revealed that MCC ALFF provide additional value for PAP vs. non-PAP classification. CONCLUSION In conclusion, our findings suggest that preoperative pain hypersensitivity may be associated with postoperative axial pain in degenerative cervical myelopathy patients. This finding may inspire new therapeutic ideas for patients with preoperative axial pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Su
- grid.411918.40000 0004 1798 6427Department of Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for China, Tianjin, 300060 China
| | - Jie Li
- grid.265021.20000 0000 9792 1228Graduate School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300203 China ,grid.33763.320000 0004 1761 2484Department of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300211 China
| | - Xu Chu
- grid.43169.390000 0001 0599 1243Department of Orthopedics, Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- grid.412645.00000 0004 1757 9434Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052 China
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13
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Zhao R, Chu X, Ge Y, Guo X, Xue Y. Brain connectivity markers in degenerative cervical myelopathy patients with depression for predicting the prognosis following decompression surgery. Front Neurol 2022; 13:1003578. [PMID: 36353137 PMCID: PMC9637895 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1003578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if brain functional connectivity (FC) is associated with the prognosis in depressed degenerative cervical myelopathy patients (DCM) and to investigate the possible brain functional mechanism. METHODS Resting-state fMRI scans and peripheral blood cell counts from 33 depressed DCM patients, 33 age and gender-matched DCM patients without depression were analyzed. All patients were evaluated using Japanese Orthopedic Association score before and 6 weeks after decompression surgery. JOA recovery rate was calculated to assess the functional recovery for DCM patients. For each participant, seed-based functional connectivity maps based on sub-regions centered on the striatum were computed and compared between groups. Pearson correlations were performed to explore the relationships between clinical measures and brain alterations in depressed DCM patients. To further investigate the relationships between brain alterations and clinical measures in depressed DCM patients, mediation analyses were performed. Flow cytometry was also performed on the three of the 33 depressed DCM patients, and the results were analyzed. RESULTS In comparison to patients without depression, DCM patients exhibited lower FC between the dorsal caudate (dC) and the inferior frontal operculum, which is located in the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). In depressed DCM patients, the altered dC-dlPFC FC was associated with inflammation as determined by the neutrophils/lymphocyte's ratio and prognosis. Furthermore, the mediation analysis demonstrated that the dC-dlPFC FC mediated the effect of inflammation on prognosis. The outcomes of our three cases followed a similar pattern to these findings. CONCLUSION In conclusion, our findings imply that inflammation slowed the functional recovery in depressed DCM patients through the striatal-frontal FC pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xu Chu
- Department of Orthopedics, Xi'an Jiaotong University Affiliated Honghui Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuqi Ge
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xing Guo
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuan Xue
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
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14
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Zhou Y, Shi J. Brain Structural and Functional Dissociated Patterns in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Case-Controlled Retrospective Resting-State fMRI Study. Front Neurol 2022; 13:895348. [PMID: 35785340 PMCID: PMC9240811 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.895348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Previous studies have shown the whole-brain global functional connectivity density (gFCD) and gray matter volume (GMV) alterations in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). However, no study aimed to investigate the associations between the spatial patterns of GMV and gFCD alterations in patients with DCM. Methods Structural data and resting-state functional MRI data of 35 DCM patients and 35 matched healthy controls were collected to assess their gFCD and GMV and investigate gFCD and GMV alterations in patients with DCM and their spatial pattern associations. Results In our current study, significant gFCD and GMV differences were observed in some regions of the visual system, sensorimotor cortices, and cerebellum between patients with DCM and healthy controls. In our findings, decreased gFCD was found in areas primarily located at the sensorimotor cortices, while increased gFCD was observed primarily within areas located at the visual system and cerebellum. Decreased GMV was seen in the left thalamus, bilateral supplementary motor area (SMA), and left inferior occipital cortices in patients with DCM, while increased GMV was observed in the cerebellum. Conclusion Our findings suggest that structural and functional alterations independently contributed to the neuropathology of DCM. However, longitudinal studies are still needed to further illustrate the associations between structural deficits and functional alterations underlying the onset of brain abnormalities as DCM develops.
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15
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Fan N, Zhao B, Liu L, Yang W, Chen X, Lu Z. Dynamic and Static Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuation Is a Potential Biomarker for Predicting Prognosis of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy Patients: A Preliminary Resting-State fMRI Study. Front Neurol 2022; 13:829714. [PMID: 35444605 PMCID: PMC9013796 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.829714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The aim of this study was to explore the clinical value of the static amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (sALFF) and dynamic amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (dALFF) in the identification of brain functional alterations in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) patients. Methods Voxel-wise sALFF and dALFF of 47 DCM patients and 44 healthy controls were calculated using resting-state fMRI data, and an intergroup comparison was performed. The mean of sALFF or dALFF data were extracted within the resultant clusters and the correlation analysis of these data with the clinical measures was performed. Furthermore, whole-brain-wise and region-wise multivariate pattern analyses (MVPAs) were performed to classify DCM patients and healthy controls. sALFF and dALFF were used to predict the prognosis of DCM patients. Results The findings showed that (1) DCM patients exhibited higher sALFF within the left thalamus and putamen compared with that of the healthy controls. DCM patients also exhibited lower dALFF within bilateral postcentral gyrus compared with the healthy controls; (2) No significant correlations were observed between brain alterations and clinical measures through univariate correlation analysis; (3) sALFF (91%) and dALFF (95%) exhibited high accuracy in classifying the DCM patients and healthy controls; (4) Region-wise MVPA further revealed brain regions in which functional patterns were associated with prognosis in DCM patients. These regions were mainly located at the frontal lobe and temporal lobe. Conclusion In summary, sALFF and dALFF can be used to accurately reveal brain functional alterations in DCM patients. Furthermore, the multivariate approach is a more sensitive method in exploring neuropathology and establishing a prognostic biomarker for DCM compared with the conventional univariate method.
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16
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Zhao R, Guo X, Wang Y, Song Y, Su Q, Sun H, Liang M, Xue Y. Functional MRI evidence for primary motor cortex plasticity contributes to the disease's severity and prognosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients. Eur Radiol 2022; 32:3693-3704. [PMID: 35029735 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-021-08488-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the brain mechanism of non-correspondence between diseases severity and compression degree of the spinal cord in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) patients and to test the utility of brain imaging biomarkers for predicting prognosis of CSM. METHODS We calculated voxel-wise zALFF from 54 CSM patients and 50 healthy controls using resting-state fMRI data. In analysis 1, we identified the brain regions exhibited significant differences of zALFF between CSM patients and healthy controls. In analyses 2 through 3, we investigated the zALFF differences between light-symptom CSM patients and severe-symptom CSM patients while carefully matching the degree of compression between these two groups. In analysis 4, we tested the utility of zALFF within the primary motor cortex (M1) for predicting the prognosis of CSM. RESULTS We found that (1) compared with the healthy controls, CSM patients exhibited higher ALFF within left M1, bilateral superior frontal gyrus, and lower zALFF within right precuneus and calcarine, suggesting altered brain neural activity in CSM patients; (2) after matching the compression degree, the CSM patients with more severe clinical symptoms exhibited higher zALFF within M1, indicating cortical function contributes to disease's severity of CSM; (3) taking the M1 zALFF as features in the prognosis prediction model improves the prediction accuracy, indicating that the M1 zALFF provide additional value for predicting the prognosis of CSM patients following decompression surgery. CONCLUSION The functional state of M1 contributes to the disease's severity of CSM and can provide complementary information for predicting the prognosis of CSM following decompression surgery. KEY POINTS • Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) patients exhibited increased zALFF within the primary motor cortex (M1), bilateral superior frontal gyrus, and decreased zALFF within the right precuneus and calcarine. • After matching the compression degree, the CSM patients with more severe clinical symptoms exhibited higher zALFF within M1, indicating cortical function contributes to disease severity of CSM. • zALFF within M1 provided additional value for predicting the prognosis of CSM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Xing Guo
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - YingChao Song
- School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Medical University and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin, 300203, China
| | - Qian Su
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for China, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - HaoRan Sun
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Meng Liang
- School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Medical University and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin, 300203, China.
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for China, Tianjin, 300060, China.
| | - Yuan Xue
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China.
- School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China.
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China.
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17
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Su Q, Zhao R, Wang S, Tu H, Guo X, Yang F. Identification and Therapeutic Outcome Prediction of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Based on the Functional Connectivity From Resting-State Functional MRI Data: A Preliminary Machine Learning Study. Front Neurol 2021; 12:711880. [PMID: 34690912 PMCID: PMC8531403 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.711880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, strategies to diagnose patients and predict neurological recovery in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) using MR images of the cervical spine are urgently required. In light of this, this study aimed at exploring potential preoperative brain biomarkers that can be used to diagnose and predict neurological recovery in CSM patients using functional connectivity (FC) analysis of a resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data. Two independent datasets, including total of 53 patients with CSM and 47 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs), underwent the preoperative rs-fMRI procedure. The FC was calculated from the automated anatomical labeling (AAL) template and used as features for machine learning analysis. After that, three analyses were used, namely, the classification of CSM patients from healthy adults using the support vector machine (SVM) within and across datasets, the prediction of preoperative neurological function in CSM patients via support vector regression (SVR) within and across datasets, and the prediction of neurological recovery in CSM patients via SVR within and across datasets. The results showed that CSM patients could be successfully identified from HCs with high classification accuracies (84.2% for dataset 1, 95.2% for dataset 2, and 73.0% for cross-site validation). Furthermore, the rs-FC combined with SVR could successfully predict the neurological recovery in CSM patients. Additionally, our results from cross-site validation analyses exhibited good reproducibility and generalization across the two datasets. Therefore, our findings provide preliminary evidence toward the development of novel strategies to predict neurological recovery in CSM patients using rs-fMRI and machine learning technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Su
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for China, Tianjin, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - ShuoWen Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - HaoYang Tu
- School and Hospital of Stomatology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xing Guo
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
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18
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Wei W, Wang T, Abulizi T, Li B, Liu J. Altered Coupling Between Resting-State Cerebral Blood Flow and Functional Connectivity Strength in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Patients. Front Neurol 2021; 12:713520. [PMID: 34566857 PMCID: PMC8455933 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.713520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Changes in regional neural activity and functional connectivity in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) patients have been reported. However, resting-state cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes and coupling between CBF and functional connectivity in CSM patients are largely unknown. Methods: Twenty-seven CSM patients and 24 sex/age-matched healthy participants underwent resting-state functional MRI and arterial spin labeling imaging to compare functional connectivity strength (FCS) and CBF between the two groups. The CBF–FCS coupling of the whole gray matter and specific regions of interest was also compared between the groups. Results: Compared with healthy individuals, CBF–FCS coupling was significantly lower in CSM patients. The decrease in CBF–FCS coupling in CSM patients was observed in the superior frontal gyrus, bilateral thalamus, and right calcarine cortex, whereas the increase in CBF–FCS coupling was observed in the middle frontal gyrus. Moreover, low CBF and high FCS were observed in sensorimotor cortices and visual cortices, respectively. Conclusion: In general, neurovascular decoupling at cortical level may be a potential neuropathological mechanism of CSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wuzeng Wei
- Department of Joints, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Clinical College of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Clinical College of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Tuersong Abulizi
- Clinical College of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Bing Li
- Department of Joints, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Clinical College of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Joints, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Clinical College of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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