Journal of neuroimaging : official journal of the American Society of Neuroimaging
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Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies of people with focal epilepsies revealed gray matter (GM) alterations in brain regions involved in cardiorespiratory regulation, which have been linked to the risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). It remains unclear whether the type and localization of epileptogenic lesions influence the occurrence of such alterations. ⋯ Our findings confirm that autonomic networks are structurally altered in people with focal epilepsy and they question VBM as a suitable method to show structural correlates of the SUDEP risk score.
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Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is a relapsing demyelinating condition. There are several cross-sectional studies showing evidence of brain atrophy in people with MOGAD (pwMOGAD), but longitudinal brain volumetric assessment is still an unmet need. Current recommendations do not include monitoring with MRI and assume distinct attacks. Evidence of ongoing axon loss will have diagnostic and therapeutic implications. In this study, we assessed brain volume changes in pwMOGAD over a mean follow-up period of 2 years and compared this to changes in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). ⋯ We found evidence of loss of GM and TBV over time in pwMOGAD, similar to pwMS, although the WM and lesion volumes were unchanged.
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of tissue microstructure are important for monitoring brain white matter (WM) disorders like leukodystrophies and multiple sclerosis. They should be sensitive to underlying pathological changes. Three whole-brain isotropic quantitative methods were applied and compared within a cohort of controls and leukodystrophy patients: two novel myelin water imaging (MWI) techniques (multi-compartment relaxometry diffusion-informed MWI: MCR-DIMWI, and multi-echo T2 relaxation imaging with compressed sensing: METRICS) and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI). ⋯ This proof-of-concept study shows that MCR-DIMWI, METRICS, and NODDI are sensitive techniques to detect changes in tissue microstructure in WM disorders.
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This work investigates verbal memory functional MRI (fMRI) versus language fMRI in terms of lateralization, and assesses the validity of performing word recognition during the functional scan. ⋯ Our results support the association between language and verbal memory lateralization, optimally determined by LI quantification, and the introduction of quantitative means for language fMRI interpretation in clinical settings where verbal memory lateralization is imperative.
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In multiple sclerosis (MS), brain atrophy measurements have emerged as an important biomarker reflecting neurodegeneration and disability progression. However, due to several potential confounders, investigation of brain atrophy in clinical routine and even in controlled clinical studies can be challenging. The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term dynamics of brain atrophy development after initiation of disease-modifying therapy (DMT) in a "real-world setting." ⋯ We found PBVCs that are comparable to the results of previous studies, suggesting that brain atrophy, assessed on 3D MRI data sets acquired on the same 3T MRI, provides a robust MS biomarker.