NeuroImage. Clinical
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NeuroImage. Clinical · Jan 2018
Gray-matter-specific MR imaging improves the detection of epileptogenic zones in focal cortical dysplasia: A new sequence called fluid and white matter suppression (FLAWS).
To evaluate the diagnostic value and characteristic features of FCD epileptogenic zones using a novel sequence called fluid and white matter suppression (FLAWS). ⋯ FLAWS can help in the detection of FCD epileptogenic zones. It is recommended that epileptogenic zone on FLAWS be diagnosed based on a combination of two features, one of which should be the "blurred junction of the gray-white matter" in types I and II. In type III, the combination of "the blurred junction of the gray-white matter" with "abnormal signal intensity of subcortical white matter" is recommended.
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NeuroImage. Clinical · Jan 2018
Advanced diffusion imaging for assessing normal white matter development in neonates and characterizing aberrant development in congenital heart disease.
Elucidating developmental trajectories of white matter (WM) microstructure is critically important for understanding normal development and regional vulnerabilities in several brain disorders. Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) is currently the method of choice for in-vivo white matter assessment. A majority of neonatal studies use the standard Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) model although more advanced models such as the Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI) model and the Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) have been used in adult population. In this study, we compare the ability of these three diffusion models to detect regional white matter maturation in typically developing control (TDC) neonates and regional abnormalities in neonates with congenital heart disease (CHD). ⋯ In this study, all three methods revealed the expected changes in the WM regions during the early postnatal weeks; however, GMM outperformed DTI and NODDI as it showed significantly larger effect sizes while detecting differences between the TDC and CHD neonates. Future studies based on a larger sample are needed to confirm these results and to explore clinical correlates.
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NeuroImage. Clinical · Jan 2018
Connectivity derived thalamic segmentation in deep brain stimulation for tremor.
The ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) of the thalamus is an established surgical target for stereotactic ablation and deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the treatment of tremor in Parkinson's disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET). It is centrally placed on a cerebello-thalamo-cortical network connecting the primary motor cortex, to the dentate nucleus of the contralateral cerebellum through the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract (DRT). The VIM is not readily visible on conventional MR imaging, so identifying the surgical target traditionally involved indirect targeting that relies on atlas-defined coordinates. ⋯ The thalamic area, best representing the VIM, is connected to the contralateral dentate cerebellar nucleus. Connectivity based segmentation of the VIM can be achieved in individual patients in a clinically feasible timescale, using HARDI and high performance computing with parallel GPU processing. This same technique can map out the DRT tract with clear mesencephalic crossing.
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NeuroImage. Clinical · Jan 2018
Longitudinal structural gray matter and white matter MRI changes in presymptomatic progranulin mutation carriers.
Mutations in the progranulin (GRN) gene are a major source of inherited frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) spectrum disorders associated with TDP-43 proteinopathy. We use structural MRI to identify regions of baseline differences and longitudinal changes in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) in presymptomatic GRN mutation carriers (pGRN+) compared to young controls (yCTL). ⋯ Longitudinal MRI provides evidence of progressive GM and WM changes in pGRN+ participants relative to yCTL. Structural MRI illustrates the natural history of presymptomatic GRN carriers, and may provide an endpoint during disease-modifying treatment trials for pGRN+ individuals at risk for FTD.
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NeuroImage. Clinical · Jan 2018
Association of acute depressive symptoms and functional connectivity of emotional processing regions following sport-related concussion.
Acute mood disturbance following sport-related concussion is common and is known to adversely affect post-concussion symptoms and recovery. The physiological underpinnings of depressive symptoms following concussion, however, are relatively understudied. We hypothesized that functional connectivity of the emotional processing network would be altered in concussed athletes and associated with the severity of depressive symptoms following concussion. ⋯ Finally, the relationships with HAM-D scores were not driven by a general increase in somatic complaints captured by the HAM-D, but were strongly associated with mood-specific HAM-D items. These results suggest that connectivity of emotional processing regions is associated with acute mood disturbance following sport-related concussion. Increased connectivity between attention and default mode regions may reflect compensatory mechanisms.