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Tassignon B, Radwan A, Blommaert J, Stas L, Allard SD, De Ridder F, De Waele E, Bulnes LC, Hoornaert N, Lacor P, Lathouwers E, Mertens R, Naeyaert M, Raeymaekers H, Seyler L, Van Binst AM, Van Imschoot L, Van Liedekerke L, Van Schependom J, Van Schuerbeek P, Vandekerckhove M, Meeusen R, Sunaert S, Nagels G, De Mey J, De Pauw K. Longitudinal changes in global structural brain connectivity and cognitive performance in former hospitalized COVID-19 survivors: an exploratory study. Exp Brain Res 2023; 241:727-741. [PMID: 36708380 PMCID: PMC9883830 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-023-06545-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term sequelae of COVID-19 can result in reduced functionality of the central nervous system and substandard quality of life. Gaining insight into the recovery trajectory of admitted COVID-19 patients on their cognitive performance and global structural brain connectivity may allow a better understanding of the diseases' relevance. OBJECTIVES To assess whole-brain structural connectivity in former non-intensive-care unit (ICU)- and ICU-admitted COVID-19 survivors over 2 months following hospital discharge and correlate structural connectivity measures to cognitive performance. METHODS Participants underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging brain scans and a cognitive test battery after hospital discharge to evaluate structural connectivity and cognitive performance. Multilevel models were constructed for each graph measure and cognitive test, assessing the groups' influence, time since discharge, and interactions. Linear regression models estimated whether the graph measurements affected cognitive measures and whether they differed between ICU and non-ICU patients. RESULTS Six former ICU and six non-ICU patients completed the study. Across the various graph measures, the characteristic path length decreased over time (β = 0.97, p = 0.006). We detected no group-level effects (β = 1.07, p = 0.442) nor interaction effects (β = 1.02, p = 0.220). Cognitive performance improved for both non-ICU and ICU COVID-19 survivors on four out of seven cognitive tests 2 months later (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Adverse effects of COVID-19 on brain functioning and structure abate over time. These results should be supported by future research including larger sample sizes, matched control groups of healthy non-infected individuals, and more extended follow-up periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Tassignon
- Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - A Radwan
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Translational MRI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - J Blommaert
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - L Stas
- Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Research Group, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Interfaculty Center for Data Processing and Statistics, Core Facility Statistics and Methodology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - S D Allard
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - F De Ridder
- Department of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - E De Waele
- Intensive Care Unit, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - L C Bulnes
- Brain, Body and Cognition Research Group, Faculty of Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - N Hoornaert
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - P Lacor
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - E Lathouwers
- Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - R Mertens
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - M Naeyaert
- Department of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - H Raeymaekers
- Department of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - L Seyler
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - A M Van Binst
- Department of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - L Van Imschoot
- Department of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - L Van Liedekerke
- Department of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - J Van Schependom
- Artificial Intelligence and Modelling in Clinical Science, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Electronics and Informatics (ETRO), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - P Van Schuerbeek
- Department of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - M Vandekerckhove
- Department of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - R Meeusen
- Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- BruBotics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Strategic Research Program 'Exercise and the Brain in Health & Disease: The Added Value of Human-Centered Robotics', Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - S Sunaert
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Translational MRI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Radiology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - G Nagels
- Artificial Intelligence and Modelling in Clinical Science, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - J De Mey
- Department of Radiology and Magnetic Resonance, UZ Brussel, Jette, Belgium
| | - K De Pauw
- Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
- BruBotics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
- Strategic Research Program 'Exercise and the Brain in Health & Disease: The Added Value of Human-Centered Robotics', Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
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De Roeck L, Blommaert J, Defraene G, Sleurs C, Vandenbussche L, Lambrecht M. PO-1133 Comparative planning study (IMPT vs VMAT) on sparing OARs important for neurocognition in gliomas. Radiother Oncol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/s0167-8140(22)03097-3] [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: 11/28/2022]
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Stelzer CP, Blommaert J, Waldvogel AM, Pichler M, Hecox-Lea B, Mark Welch DB. Comparative analysis reveals within-population genome size variation in a rotifer is driven by large genomic elements with highly abundant satellite DNA repeat elements. BMC Biol 2021; 19:206. [PMID: 34530817 PMCID: PMC8447722 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01134-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eukaryotic genomes are known to display an enormous variation in size, but the evolutionary causes of this phenomenon are still poorly understood. To obtain mechanistic insights into such variation, previous studies have often employed comparative genomics approaches involving closely related species or geographically isolated populations within a species. Genome comparisons among individuals of the same population remained so far understudied-despite their great potential in providing a microevolutionary perspective to genome size evolution. The rotifer Brachionus asplanchnoidis represents one of the most extreme cases of within-population genome size variation among eukaryotes, displaying almost twofold variation within a geographic population. RESULTS Here, we used a whole-genome sequencing approach to identify the underlying DNA sequence differences by assembling a high-quality reference genome draft for one individual of the population and aligning short reads of 15 individuals from the same geographic population including the reference individual. We identified several large, contiguous copy number variable regions (CNVs), up to megabases in size, which exhibited striking coverage differences among individuals, and whose coverage overall scaled with genome size. CNVs were of remarkably low complexity, being mainly composed of tandemly repeated satellite DNA with only a few interspersed genes or other sequences, and were characterized by a significantly elevated GC-content. CNV patterns in offspring of two parents with divergent genome size and CNV patterns in several individuals from an inbred line differing in genome size demonstrated inheritance and accumulation of CNVs across generations. CONCLUSIONS By identifying the exact genomic elements that cause within-population genome size variation, our study paves the way for studying genome size evolution in contemporary populations rather than inferring patterns and processes a posteriori from species comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- C P Stelzer
- Research Department for Limnology, University of Innsbruck, Mondsee, Austria.
| | - J Blommaert
- Research Department for Limnology, University of Innsbruck, Mondsee, Austria
- Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - A M Waldvogel
- Institute of Zoology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - M Pichler
- Research Department for Limnology, University of Innsbruck, Mondsee, Austria
| | - B Hecox-Lea
- Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - D B Mark Welch
- Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA
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Blommaert J, Radwan A, Sleurs C, Maggen C, van Gerwen M, Wolters V, Christiaens D, Peeters R, Dupont P, Sunaert S, Van Calsteren K, Deprez S, Amant F. The impact of cancer and chemotherapy during pregnancy on child neurodevelopment: A multimodal neuroimaging analysis. EClinicalMedicine 2020; 28:100598. [PMID: 33294813 PMCID: PMC7700909 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study applies multimodal MRI to investigate neurodevelopment in nine-year-old children born to cancer-complicated pregnancies. METHODS In this cohort study, children born after cancer-complicated pregnancies were recruited alongside 1:1 matched controls regarding age, sex and gestational age at birth (GA). Multimodal MRI was used to investigate whole-brain and subcortical volume, cortical structure (using surface-based morphometry), white matter microstructure (using fixel-based analysis) and functional connectivity (using resting-state blood-oxygen-level-dependant signal correlations). Graph theory probed whole-brain structural and functional organization. For each imaging outcome we conducted two group comparisons: 1) children born after cancer-complicated pregnancies versus matched controls, and 2) the subgroup of children with prenatal chemotherapy exposure versus matched controls. In both models, we used the covariate of GA and the group-by-GA interaction, using false-discovery-rate (FDR) or family-wise-error (FWE) correction for multiple comparisons. Exploratory post-hoc analyses investigated the relation between brain structure/function, neuropsychological outcome and maternal oncological/obstetrical history. FINDINGS Forty-two children born after cancer-complicated pregnancies were included in this study, with 30 prenatally exposed to chemotherapy. Brain organization and functional connectivity were not significantly different between groups. Both cancer and chemotherapy in pregnancy, as compared to matched controls, were associated with a lower travel depth, indicating less pronounced gyrification, in the left superior temporal gyrus (pFDR ≤ 006), with post-hoc analysis indicating platinum derivatives during pregnancy as a potential risk factor (p = .028). Both cancer and chemotherapy in pregnancy were related to a lower fibre cross-section (FCS) and lower fibre density and cross-section (FDC) in the posterior corpus callosum and its tapetal fibres, compared to controls. Higher FDC in the chemotherapy subgroup and higher FCS in the whole study group were observed in the anterior thalamic radiations. None of the psycho-behavioural parameters correlated significantly with any of the brain differences in the study group or chemotherapy subgroup. INTERPRETATION Prenatal exposure to maternal cancer and its treatment might affect local grey and white matter structure, but not functional connectivity or global organization. While platinum-based therapy was identified as a potential risk factor, this was not the case for chemotherapy in general. FUNDING This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (European Research council, grant no 647,047), the Foundation against cancer (Stichting tegen kanker, grant no. 2014-152) and the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO, grants no. 11B9919N, 12ZV420N).
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Blommaert
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - A. Radwan
- Department of Imaging & Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - C. Sleurs
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - C. Maggen
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - M. van Gerwen
- Department of Gynecology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Princess Máxima Center for pediatric oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - V. Wolters
- Department of Gynecology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - D. Christiaens
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT/PSI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - R. Peeters
- Department of Imaging & Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - P. Dupont
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - S. Sunaert
- Department of Imaging & Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - K. Van Calsteren
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Unit Woman and child, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - S. Deprez
- Department of Imaging & Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - F. Amant
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Gynaecologic Oncology Amsterdam, Netherlands Cancer Institute and University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Blommaert J, Riss S, Hecox-Lea B, Mark Welch DB, Stelzer CP. Small, but surprisingly repetitive genomes: transposon expansion and not polyploidy has driven a doubling in genome size in a metazoan species complex. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:466. [PMID: 31174483 PMCID: PMC6555955 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5859-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The causes and consequences of genome size variation across Eukaryotes, which spans five orders of magnitude, have been hotly debated since before the advent of genome sequencing. Previous studies have mostly examined variation among larger taxonomic units (e.g., orders, or genera), while comparisons among closely related species are rare. Rotifers of the Brachionus plicatilis species complex exhibit a seven-fold variation in genome size and thus represent a unique opportunity to study such changes on a relatively short evolutionary timescale. Here, we sequenced and analysed the genomes of four species of this complex with nuclear DNA contents spanning 110-422 Mbp. To establish the likely mechanisms of genome size change, we analysed both sequencing read libraries and assemblies for signatures of polyploidy and repetitive element content. We also compared these genomes to that of B. calyciflorus, the closest relative with a sequenced genome (293 Mbp nuclear DNA content). RESULTS Despite the very large differences in genome size, we saw no evidence of ploidy level changes across the B. plicatilis complex. However, repetitive element content explained a large portion of genome size variation (at least 54%). The species with the largest genome, B. asplanchnoidis, has a strikingly high 44% repetitive element content, while the smaller B. plicatilis genomes contain between 14 and 25% repetitive elements. According to our analyses, the B. calyciflorus genome contains 39% repetitive elements, which is substantially higher than previously reported (21%), and suggests that high repetitive element load could be widespread in monogonont rotifers. CONCLUSIONS Even though the genome sizes of these species are at the low end of the metazoan spectrum, their genomes contain substantial amounts of repetitive elements. Polyploidy does not appear to play a role in genome size variations in these species, and these variations can be mostly explained by changes in repetitive element content. This contradicts the naïve expectation that small genomes are streamlined, or less complex, and that large variations in nuclear DNA content between closely related species are due to polyploidy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Blommaert
- Research Department for Limnology, University of Innsbruck, Mondsee, Austria
| | - S. Riss
- Research Department for Limnology, University of Innsbruck, Mondsee, Austria
| | - B. Hecox-Lea
- Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA USA
| | - D. B. Mark Welch
- Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA USA
| | - C. P. Stelzer
- Research Department for Limnology, University of Innsbruck, Mondsee, Austria
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Sima AA, Baeck P, Nuyts D, Delalieux S, Livens S, Blommaert J, Delauré B, Boonen M. COMPACT HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING SYSTEM (COSI) FOR SMALL REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (RPAS) – SYSTEM OVERVIEW AND FIRST PERFORMANCE EVALUATION RESULTS. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.5194/isprsarchives-xli-b1-1157-2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
This paper gives an overview of the new COmpact hyperSpectral Imaging (COSI) system recently developed at the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO, Belgium) and suitable for remotely piloted aircraft systems. A hyperspectral dataset captured from a multirotor platform over a strawberry field is presented and explored in order to assess spectral bands co-registration quality. Thanks to application of line based interference filters deposited directly on the detector wafer the COSI camera is compact and lightweight (total mass of 500g), and captures 72 narrow (FWHM: 5nm to 10 nm) bands in the spectral range of 600-900 nm. Covering the region of red edge (680 nm to 730 nm) allows for deriving plant chlorophyll content, biomass and hydric status indicators, making the camera suitable for agriculture purposes. Additionally to the orthorectified hypercube digital terrain model can be derived enabling various analyses requiring object height, e.g. plant height in vegetation growth monitoring. Geometric data quality assessment proves that the COSI camera and the dedicated data processing chain are capable to deliver very high resolution data (centimetre level) where spectral information can be correctly derived. Obtained results are comparable or better than results reported in similar studies for an alternative system based on the Fabry–Pérot interferometer.
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Evenberg D, Van Boxtel R, Lugtenberg B, Schurer F, Blommaert J, Bootsma R. Cell surface of the fish pathogenic bacterium Aeromonas salmonicida. I. Relationship between autoagglutination and the presence of a major cell envelope protein. Biochim Biophys Acta 1982; 684:241-8. [PMID: 7055565 DOI: 10.1016/0005-2736(82)90012-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
A comparison was made of membrane protein patterns of various Aeromonas salmonicida strains, initially isolated from different habitats with respect to fish species affected, pathological entity, and geographic location of the outbreak of the disease. A major protein with a molecular weight of 54 000 was found in all autoagglutinating strains, whereas this protein is present in low amounts, or not at all, in non-autoagglutinating strains. Evidence for a causal relationship between the presence of this protein and the phenomenon of autoagglutination came from the observation that a change of the growth medium led simultaneously to an almost complete loss of the additional cell envelope protein and the property of autoagglutination. As it has already been reported that autoagglutination is correlated with the presence of an additional cell surface layer, we hypothesize that the additional cell envelope protein is the (major) subunit of this layer. The application of the gel immuno radio assay, an immunological technique suited to detect antigens in a gel, revealed that the additional cell envelope proteins of all tested strains are immunologically related. The possibility to the use of this protein as a component of a vaccine against A. salmonicida infections is discussed.
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