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Wang Y, Zhu D, Zhao L, Wang X, Zhang Z, Hu B, Wu D, Zheng W. Profiling cortical morphometric similarity in perinatal brains: Insights from development, sex difference, and inter-individual variation. Neuroimage 2024; 295:120660. [PMID: 38815676 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The topological organization of the macroscopic cortical networks important for the development of complex brain functions. However, how the cortical morphometric organization develops during the third trimester and whether it demonstrates sexual and individual differences at this particular stage remain unclear. Here, we constructed the morphometric similarity network (MSN) based on morphological and microstructural features derived from multimodal MRI of two independent cohorts (cross-sectional and longitudinal) scanned at 30-44 postmenstrual weeks (PMW). Sex difference and inter-individual variations of the MSN were also examined on these cohorts. The cross-sectional analysis revealed that both network integration and segregation changed in a nonlinear biphasic trajectory, which was supported by the results obtained from longitudinal analysis. The community structure showed remarkable consistency between bilateral hemispheres and maintained stability across PMWs. Connectivity within the primary cortex strengthened faster than that within high-order communities. Compared to females, male neonates showed a significant reduction in the participation coefficient within prefrontal and parietal cortices, while their overall network organization and community architecture remained comparable. Furthermore, by using the morphometric similarity as features, we achieved over 65 % accuracy in identifying an individual at term-equivalent age from images acquired after birth, and vice versa. These findings provide comprehensive insights into the development of morphometric similarity throughout the perinatal cortex, enhancing our understanding of the establishment of neuroanatomical organization during early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Wearable Computing, School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Dalin Zhu
- Department of Medical Imaging Center, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Leilei Zhao
- Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Wearable Computing, School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaomin Wang
- Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Wearable Computing, School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Institute of Brain Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China; School of Physics, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bin Hu
- Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Wearable Computing, School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Dan Wu
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Weihao Zheng
- Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Wearable Computing, School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
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Lamanna J, Meldolesi J. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Brain Areas Involved, Neurobiological Mechanisms, Diagnoses and Therapies. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2423. [PMID: 38397100 PMCID: PMC10889781 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042423] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), affecting over 2% of the pre-school children population, includes an important fraction of the conditions accounting for the heterogeneity of autism. The disease was discovered 75 years ago, and the present review, based on critical evaluations of the recognized ASD studies from the beginning of 1990, has been further developed by the comparative analyses of the research and clinical reports, which have grown progressively in recent years up to late 2023. The tools necessary for the identification of the ASD disease and its related clinical pathologies are genetic and epigenetic mutations affected by the specific interaction with transcription factors and chromatin remodeling processes occurring within specific complexes of brain neurons. Most often, the ensuing effects induce the inhibition/excitation of synaptic structures sustained primarily, at dendritic fibers, by alterations of flat and spine response sites. These effects are relevant because synapses, established by specific interactions of neurons with glial cells, operate as early and key targets of ASD. The pathology of children is often suspected by parents and communities and then confirmed by ensuing experiences. The final diagnoses of children and mature patients are then completed by the combination of neuropsychological (cognitive) tests and electro-/magneto-encephalography studies developed in specialized centers. ASD comorbidities, induced by processes such as anxieties, depressions, hyperactivities, and sleep defects, interact with and reinforce other brain diseases, especially schizophrenia. Advanced therapies, prescribed to children and adult patients for the control of ASD symptoms and disease, are based on the combination of well-known brain drugs with classical tools of neurologic and psychiatric practice. Overall, this review reports and discusses the advanced knowledge about the biological and medical properties of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Lamanna
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), 20132 Milan, Italy;
- Faculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Jacopo Meldolesi
- IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Milano-Bicocca University, 20854 Vedano al Lambro, Italy
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Shang J, Shen E, Yu Y, Jin A, Wang X, Xiang D. Relationship between abnormal intrinsic functional connectivity of subcortices and autism symptoms in high-functioning adults with autism spectrum disorder. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2024; 337:111762. [PMID: 38043369 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2023.111762] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study explores subcortices and their intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) adults and investigates their relationship with clinical severity. METHODS Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were acquired from 74 ASD patients, and 63 gender and age-matched typically developing (TD) adults. Independent component analysis (ICA) was conducted to evaluate subcortical patterns of basal ganglia (BG) and thalamus. These two brain areas were treated as regions of interest to further calculate whole-brain FC. In addition, we employed multivariate machine learning to identify subcortices-based FC brain patterns and clinical scores to classify ASD adults from those TD subjects. RESULTS In ASD individuals, autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS) was negatively correlated with the BG network. Similarly, social responsiveness scale (SRS) was negatively correlated with the thalamus network. The BG-based iFC analysis revealed adults with ASD versus TD had lower FC, and its FC with the right medial temporal lobe (MTL), was positively correlated with SRS and ADOS separately. ASD could be predicted with a balanced accuracy of around 60.0 % using brain patterns and 84.7 % using clinical variables. CONCLUSION Our results revealed the abnormal subcortical iFC may be related to autism symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Shang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Erwei Shen
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Aiying Jin
- Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xuemei Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Dehui Xiang
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.
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