1
|
Xue Y, Xie S, Wang X, Xi X, Liu C. White matter microstructure alterations in idiopathic restless legs syndrome: a study combining crossing fiber-based and tensor-based approaches. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1240929. [PMID: 37811323 PMCID: PMC10551141 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1240929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common sensorimotor disorder characterized by an irrepressible urge to move the legs and frequently accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the legs. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying RLS remain unclear, and RLS is hypothesized to be associated with alterations in white matter tracts. Methods Diffusion MRI is a unique noninvasive method widely used to study white matter tracts in the human brain. Thus, diffusion-weighted images were acquired from 18 idiopathic RLS patients and 31 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). Whole brain tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and atlas-based analyzes combining crossing fiber-based metrics and tensor-based metrics were performed to investigate the white matter patterns in individuals with RLS. Results TBSS analysis revealed significantly higher fractional anisotropy (FA) and partial volume fraction of primary (F1) fiber populations in multiple tracts associated with the sensorimotor network in patients with RLS than in HCs. In the atlas based analysis, the bilateral anterior thalamus radiation, bilateral corticospinal tract, bilateral inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, left hippocampal cingulum, left inferior longitudinal fasciculus, and left uncinate fasciculus showed significantl increased F1, but only the left hippocampal cingulum showed significantly higher FA. Discussion The results demonstrated that F1 identified extensive alterations in white matter tracts compared with FA and confirmed the hypothesis that crossing fiber-based metrics are more sensitive than tensor-based metrics in detecting white matter abnormalities in RLS. The present findings provide evidence that the increased F1 metric observed in sensorimotor tracts may be a critical neural substrate of RLS, enhancing our understanding of the underlying pathological changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yibo Xue
- School of Automation, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sangma Xie
- School of Automation, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xunheng Wang
- School of Automation, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xugang Xi
- School of Automation, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chunyan Liu
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abanoz Y, Gülen Abanoz Y, Gündüz A, Karadeniz D, Erdemir Kızıltan M. Long latency trigemino-cervical reflex in restless legs syndrome. Int J Neurosci 2022:1-7. [PMID: 36533413 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2022.2158826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The trigemino-cervical complex (TCC) seems under dopaminergic inhibitory control and the abnormalities of trigemino-cervical reflex (TCR) have been reported in disorders associated with the dopaminergic system and various pain disorders. If the inhibitory response in TCC is likely dopaminergic, we hypothesized that TCR, which has never been evaluated in restless legs syndrome (RLS) patients before, would be also abnormal. METHODS TCR was recorded from bilateral sternocleidomastoid and splenius capitis muscles in consecutive 15 drug-naive RLS patients and 16 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. The right and left infraorbital branches of the trigeminal nerve were stimulated by percutaneous electrical stimulation separately. The presence rates, onset latencies, amplitudes, and durations of responses were measured and compared between patients with RLS and controls. RESULTS The presence rates, onset latencies and amplitudes of TCR responses were similar between RLS patients and controls, however, the durations of responses were bilaterally longer in RLS patients compared to healthy volunteers. CONCLUSIONS Hyperexcitability of TCR suggests defective sensory processing in the brainstem probably due to impairment of descending inhibitory dopaminergic system in RLS. The sensitization of TCC in RLS patients may also be a possible factor that might explain the association of RLS and pain disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasin Abanoz
- Department of Electroneurophysiology, Advanced Vocational School, Doğuş University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Yeşim Gülen Abanoz
- Department of Electroneurophysiology, Advanced Vocational School, Doğuş University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ayşegül Gündüz
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Derya Karadeniz
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Meral Erdemir Kızıltan
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Park KM, Kim KT, Lee DA, Cho YW. Structural brain connectivity in patients with restless legs syndrome: a diffusion tensor imaging study. Sleep 2022; 45:6575835. [PMID: 35485481 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsac099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES To evaluate alterations of global and local structural brain connectivity in patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS). METHODS Patients with primary RLS and healthy controls were recruited at a sleep center where they underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the brain. We calculated the network measures of global and local structural brain connectivity based on the DTI in both groups using DSI studio program and a graph theory. RESULTS A total of 69 patients with primary RLS and 51 healthy controls were included in the study. We found a significant difference in the global structural connectivity between the groups. The transitivity in the patients with RLS was lower than that in healthy controls (0.031 vs. 0.033, p = 0.035). Additionally, there were significant differences in the local structural connectivity between the groups. The characteristic path length (r = 0.283, p = 0.018), radius of graph (r = 0.260, p = 0.030), and diameter of graph (r = 0.280, p = 0.019) were all positively correlated with RLS severity, whereas the mean clustering coefficient (r = -0.327, p = 0.006), global efficiency (r = -0.272, p = 0.023), small-worldness index (r = -0.325, p = 0.006), and transitivity (r = -0.351, p = 0.003) were negatively correlated with RLS severity. CONCLUSION We identified changes in the global structural connectivity of patients with RLS using graph theory based on DTI, which showed decreased segregation in the brain network compared to healthy controls. These changes are well correlated with RLS severity. We also found changes in local structural connectivity, especially in regions involved in sensorimotor function, which suggests that these areas play a pivotal role in RLS. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of RLS symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kang Min Park
- Department of Neurology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea
| | - Keun Tae Kim
- Department of Neurology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Dong Ah Lee
- Department of Neurology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea
| | - Yong Won Cho
- Department of Neurology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Park HR, Kim HR, Oh S, Seong JK, Joo EY. White matter tract-specific alterations in patients with primary restless legs syndrome. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16116. [PMID: 34373482 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95238-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Prior diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies have investigated white matter (WM) changes in patients with primary restless legs syndrome (RLS), but the results were inconsistent. Here, we proposed using tract-specific statistical analysis (TSSA) to find alterations in specific WM tracts to clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms of RLS. We enrolled 30 patients with RLS and 31 age- and sex- matched controls who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging, neuropsychological tests, and polysomnography. Fractional anisotropy (FA) maps obtained from whole-brain diffusion tensor imaging and TSSA were used to localize WM changes in patients with RLS. Subsequently, a comparison of FA values for each tract between patients and controls was performed. The associations between FA values and clinical, polysomnographic, and neuropsychological parameters in RLS patients were assessed. RLS patients demonstrated decreased FA values in the left corticospinal tract (CST) and cingulum, and in the right anterior thalamic radiation (ATR) and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFO). Patients’ attention/executive function and visual memory scores positively correlated with FA values in the right ATR, and anxiety levels negatively correlated with FA values in the right IFO. Additionally, the number of periodic leg movements and movement arousal index were negatively correlated with FA values in the left CST. The TSSA method identified previously unknown tract-specific alterations in patients with RLS and significant associations with distinct clinical manifestations of RLS.
Collapse
|
5
|
Kocar TD, Müller HP, Kassubek J. Differential functional connectivity in thalamic and dopaminergic pathways in restless legs syndrome: a meta-analysis. Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2020; 13:1756286420941670. [PMID: 32821291 PMCID: PMC7412904 DOI: 10.1177/1756286420941670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor disorder with alterations in somatosensory processing in association with a dysfunctional cerebral network, involving the basal ganglia, limbic network, and sensorimotor pathways. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful tool to provide in vivo insight into functional processing and as such is of special interest in RLS considering the widespread pattern of networks involved in this disorder. In this meta-analysis of resting state functional MRI studies, we analyzed the preponderance of functional connectivity changes associated with RLS and discussed possible links to sensorimotor dysfunction and somatosensory processing. Methods: A systematic research using the online library PubMed was conducted and a total of seven studies passed the inclusion criteria of the meta-analysis. The results of these studies were merged and a statistical probability map was generated that indicated the likelihood of functional connectivity changes within the combined cohort, both for increased and decreased connectivity. Results: The meta-analysis demonstrated decreased functional connectivity within the dopaminergic network in participants with RLS compared with healthy controls, including the nigrostriatal, mesolimbic, and mesocortical pathways. Increased functional connectivity was observed bilaterally in the thalamus, including its ventral lateral, ventral anterior, and ventral posterior lateral nuclei, and the pulvinar. Discussion: Sensorimotor dysfunction in RLS seems to be reflected by decreased functional connectivity within the dopaminergic pathways. Network extension in the thalamus can be regarded as an adaptation to somatosensory dysfunction in RLS. This differential functional connectivity pattern extends prior findings on cerebral somatosensory processing in RLS and offers an explanation for the efficacy of dopaminergic treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jan Kassubek
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, Ulm, 89081, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Xu Z, Han T, Li T, Zhang X, Huang Z, Zhan S, Liu C, Xu J, Wang Y. Increased Gray Matter Density and Functional Connectivity of the Pons in Restless Legs Syndrome. Nat Sci Sleep 2020; 12:221-230. [PMID: 32273784 PMCID: PMC7102916 DOI: 10.2147/nss.s239852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurophysiological and radiological studies provide accumulating evidence for the involvement of the brainstem in the pathogenesis of restless legs syndrome (RLS). The analysis of the various subregions of the brainstem may help us better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the disorder. In this study, we investigated the structural and functional changes in the various subregions of the brainstem in RLS patients. METHODS The subregional changes in gray matter density and functional connectivity in the brainstem were analyzed in 20 drug-naive idiopathic RLS patients, as well as 18 normal control (NC) subjects for comparison. Correlation analyses and multivariate pattern analyses using linear support vector machine (SVM) were conducted. RESULTS We found significantly increased gray matter density in two clusters in the pons (designated pons_1 and pons_2) and in one cluster in the midbrain in RLS patients compared with NC subjects. Further functional connectivity analyses revealed significantly decreased functional connectivity between the midbrain and the right middle occipital gyrus, between pons_1 and the right orbital part of the superior frontal gyrus, and between pons_2 and the right parahippocampus in RLS compared with NC. Moreover, the functional connectivity between pons_2 and the right supplementary motor area (SMA) was significantly increased in RLS compared with NC. This change in RLS was marginally correlated with RS_RLS scores in the RLS patients. SVM-based classification showed an AUC of 0.955 using gray matter density of pons_2, and functional connectivity between pons_2 and SMA as features. CONCLUSION Collectively, our findings suggest that changes in gray matter density and functional connectivity in the pons may play a pathologic role in RLS. Furthermore, these abnormal changes in the pons might help to discriminate RLS from healthy subjects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhexue Xu
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, People's Republic of China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing 100053, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Han
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, People's Republic of China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing 100053, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian Li
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaodong Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaoyang Huang
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, People's Republic of China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing 100053, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuqin Zhan
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, People's Republic of China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing 100053, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunyan Liu
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, People's Republic of China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing 100053, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinping Xu
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuping Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, People's Republic of China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing 100053, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Li T, Liu C, Lyu H, Xu Z, Hu Q, Xu B, Wang Y, Xu J. Alterations of Sub-cortical Gray Matter Volume and Their Associations With Disease Duration in Patients With Restless Legs Syndrome. Front Neurol 2018; 9:1098. [PMID: 30619055 PMCID: PMC6304426 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.01098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Object: The purpose of this study was to uncover the pathology of restless legs syndrome (RLS) by exploring brain structural alterations and their corresponding functional abnormality. Method: Surface-based morphometry (SBM) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) were performed to explore the alterations in cortical and sub-cortical gray matter volume (GMV) in a cohort of 20 RLS and 18 normal controls (NC). Furthermore, resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) was also performed to identify the functional alterations in patients with RLS. Results: We found significant alterations of sub-cortical GMV, especially the bilateral putamen (PUT), rather than alterations of cortical GMV in patients with RLS compared to NC using both SBM and VBM. Further sub-regional analysis revealed that GMV alterations of PUT was mostly located in the left dorsal caudal PUT in patients with RLS. In addition, altered RSFC patterns of PUT were identified in patients with RLS compared to NC. Moreover, correlation analyses showed that the GMV of the left caudate and the left ventral rostral PUT were positively correlated with disease duration in patients with RLS. Conclusions: The alterations of subcortical GMV might imply that the primarily affected areas are located in sub-cortical areas especially in the sub-region of PUT by the pathologic process of RLS, which might be used as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of RLS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tian Li
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Hubei University, Wuhan, China.,Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chunyan Liu
- Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing, China
| | - Hanqing Lyu
- Radiology Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhexue Xu
- Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing, China
| | - Qingmao Hu
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bibo Xu
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuping Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing, China
| | - Jinping Xu
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Mu J, Liu X, Ma S, Chen T, Ma X, Li P, Ding D, Liu J, Zhang M. The variation of motor-related brain structure and its relation to abnormal motor behaviors in end-stage renal disease patients with restless legs syndrome. Brain Imaging Behav 2018; 14:42-50. [DOI: 10.1007/s11682-018-9968-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
|
9
|
|
10
|
Lanza G, Bachmann CG, Ghorayeb I, Wang Y, Ferri R, Paulus W. Central and peripheral nervous system excitability in restless legs syndrome. Sleep Med 2017; 31:49-60. [PMID: 27745789 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2016.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Neurophysiological techniques have been applied in restless legs syndrome (RLS) to obtain direct and indirect measures of central and peripheral nervous system excitability, as well as to probe different neurotransmission pathways. Data converge on the hypothesis that, from a pure electrophysiological perspective, RLS should be regarded as a complex sensorimotor disorder in which cortical, subcortical, spinal cord, and peripheral nerve generators are all involved in a network disorder, resulting in an enhanced excitability and/or decreased inhibition. Although the spinal component may have dominated in neurophysiological assessment, possibly because of better accessibility compared to the brainstem or cerebral components of a hypothetical dysfunction of the diencephalic A11 area, multiple mechanisms, such as reduced central inhibition and abnormal peripheral nerve function, contribute to the pathogenesis of RLS similarly to some chronic pain conditions. Dopamine transmission dysfunction, either primary or triggered by low iron and ferritin concentrations, may also bridge the gap between RLS and chronic pain entities. Further support of disturbed central and peripheral excitability in RLS is provided by the effectiveness of nonpharmacological tools, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation, in transiently modulating neural excitability, thereby extending the therapeutic repertoire. Understanding the complex interaction of central and peripheral neuronal circuits in generating the symptoms of RLS is mandatory for a better refinement of its therapeutic support.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Lanza
- Sleep Research Center, I.R.C.C.S. "Oasi Maria SS.", Troina, Italy.
| | | | - Imad Ghorayeb
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; CNRS, INCIA, CNRS UMR 5287, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Yuping Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Raffale Ferri
- Sleep Research Center, I.R.C.C.S. "Oasi Maria SS.", Troina, Italy
| | - Walter Paulus
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
Several studies provide information useful to our understanding of restless legs syndrome (RLS), using various imaging techniques to investigate different aspects putatively involved in the pathophysiology of RLS, although there are discrepancies between these findings. The majority of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies using iron-sensitive sequences supports the presence of a diffuse, but regionally variable low brain-iron content, mainly at the level of the substantia nigra, but there is increasing evidence of reduced iron levels in the thalamus. Positron emission tomography (PET) and single positron emission computed tomography (SPECT) findings mainly support dysfunction of dopaminergic pathways involving not only the nigrostriatal but also mesolimbic pathways. None or variable brain structural or microstructural abnormalities have been reported in RLS patients; reports are slightly more consistent concerning levels of white matter. Most of the reported changes were in regions belonging to sensorimotor and limbic/nociceptive networks. Functional MRI studies have demonstrated activation or connectivity changes in the same networks. The thalamus, which includes different sensorimotor and limbic/nociceptive networks, appears to have lower iron content, metabolic abnormalities, dopaminergic dysfunction, and changes in activation and functional connectivity. Summarizing these findings, the primary change could be the reduction of brain iron content, which leads to dysfunction of mesolimbic and nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathways, and in turn to a dysregulation of limbic and sensorimotor networks. Future studies in RLS should evaluate the actual causal relationship among these findings, better investigate the role of neurotransmitters other than dopamine, focus on brain networks by connectivity analysis, and test the reversibility of the different imaging findings following therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Rizzo
- IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy; Unit of Neurology, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Xu Li
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sebastiano Galantucci
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Yong Won Cho
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University, Daegu, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wang K, Wang WT, Wang J, Chen Z, Song QX, Chen SY, Hao Q, He DW, Shen HX. Compared study of routine magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor tractography on the predictive value of diagnosis and prognosis in acute cervical spinal cord injury. Journal of Acute Disease 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.joad.2016.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
|
13
|
Gorges M, Rosskopf J, Müller HP, Lindemann K, Hornyak M, Kassubek J. Patterns of increased intrinsic functional connectivity in patients with restless legs syndrome are associated with attentional control of sensory inputs. Neurosci Lett 2016; 617:264-9. [PMID: 26921454 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.02.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Revised: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Potential alterations of intrinsic functional connectivity in idiopathic restless legs syndrome (RLS) are to be assumed since RLS is considered a network disorder. Whole-brain-based investigation of intrinsic functional connectivity networks including the sensorimotor systems in patients with RLS was compared with matched healthy controls. METHODS 'Resting-state' functional MRI (1.5 T) from 26 patients with RLS and 26 matched controls were analyzed using standardized seed-based analysis procedures. The motor/sensorimotor, sensory thalamic, ventral and dorsal attention, basal ganglia-thalamic, cingulate, and brainstem networks were used for voxel-based group comparisons between RLS patients and controls. RESULTS Significantly increased connectivities were observed in the sensory thalamic, ventral and dorsal attention, basal ganglia-thalamic, and cingulate networks in RLS patients, whereas no differences could be demonstrated for the motor/sensorimotor and the brainstem system. The pattern of functional connectivity alterations was positively correlated with increasing symptom severity. CONCLUSIONS Abnormally increased regional BOLD synchronization appears to be a key feature of intrinsic brain architecture in RLS. Alterations in cortical and sub-cortical functional networks support the notion that the underlying pathophysiology of RLS is beyond the sensorimotor and the brainstem system and may be also associated with altered attentional control of sensory inputs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Gorges
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Magdolna Hornyak
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany; Neuropsychiatry Centre Erding/München, Erding, Germany
| | - Jan Kassubek
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|