ObjectiveTo investigate the variation of the lateral ventricles volume and the angle of lateral ventricles in AD patients.Methods20 AD patients and 20 healthy persons as the control were enrolled in this study and performed with craniocerebral scanning using 3.0T MRI,respectively.Quantitative measurements were made with stereology,including the volume of lateral ventricles,the relation of the variation of the angle and illness degree.ResultsThere were significant differences between normal controls and patients with AD in the whole volume of lateral ventricles,the left whole volume of lateral ventricles ( AD (71.53 ± 3.25 ) cm3,healthy person ( 65.39± 4.59) cm3,t =- 4.88,P ＜ 0.00),the left whole volume of lateral ventricles ( AD ( 36.14 ± 1.75 ) cm3,healthy person(31.88 ±3.24)cm3,t =- 5.16,P ＜ 0.00),the right whole volume of lateral ventricles( AD(35.42 ±2.89 ) cm3,healthy person ( 33.22 ± 2.48 ) cm3,t =- 2.58,P ＜ 0.01 ).There were significant differences between normal controls and patients with AD in left anterior horn and right anterior horn of the lateral ventricles.There were significant differences between normal controls and patients with AD in width of the left temporal horn and the right temporal horn of the lateral ventricles( AD the width of the left temporal horn(5.28 ± 1.72)mm,healthy person(2.13 ±0.97)mm,t=8.74,P＜0.05,AD the width of right temporal horn(5.13 ± 1.83) mm,healthy person (2.08 ± 1.01 )mm,t =8.01,P ＜ 0.05 ).There was significant correlation between the width of the left temporal horn,the right temporal horn and the scores of MMSE and FOM.ConclusionThe changes of the lateral ventricular volume and point of presence of patients with Alzheimer's disease were characteristically which may be reference in evaluating of Alzheimer's disease.

Objective To investigate the MRI imaging features, and pathologic basis of the orthotropic transplantation nude mouse model with human pancreatic cancer. Methods Adopting Siemens Magnetom Trio Tim 3.0 Tesla superconductive MRI and breast coil was used to examine 30 orthotropic transplantation nude mouse models of the human pancreatic cancer, these mouse were sampled to acquire TSE-T1 -weighted and T2-weighted transverse axial images. Intraperitoneal injection of Gd DTP A was used to perform continuous dynamic enhancement scanning. Signal intensities of tumors were measured in plain scanning and each phase' s enhancement scanning images, respectively. Intensification rates of tumors were calculated. Pathologic examination of tumors was performed to be compared with the findings of MRI scanning. Results The successful rate of inoculation of 30 nude mice was 100%. The histological findings were comparable with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Compared with signal of adjacent tissues, the MRI findings of the tumors were uniformly slightly hypointensity (90% , 27/30) , or unevenly (10% , 3/30) on TSE-T1WI; uniformly (20% , 6/30) or unevenly (80% , 24/30) hyperintensity with equal or more hyper signal spots on TSE-T2WI. Signal intensities on plain scanning was 228.35 ±11.71, and 1.5,3,6,9, 12 min after enhancement scanning, thesignal intensities were 258.20 ± 11.17, 301.75 ± 17.09, 358.65 ±25.13, 480.05 ± 19.01, 558.35 ± 40.49, which were significantly higher than those in plain scanning (P <0.01). The intensification rate of every phase was 0.13 ±0.04, 0.35 ±0.11, 0.56 ±0.10, 1.10 ±0.10, 1.45 ±0.18, and the difference among these phases was statistically significant (P <0.01). The significantly intensified area was the area where the tumor cells grew actively with rich capillaries; the central area without intensification was the area of necrotic tissue and/or densely packed tumor cells and few capillaries. Conclusions High resolution MRI imaging of implanted tumors can be obtained by intraperitoneal injection of contrast, and it is consistent with pathologic examinations.

Objective Combined with susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to study the hippocampus in the first-episode depression patients for exploring the causal relationship.Methods 20 first-episode depression patients and 20 healthy volunteers underwent SWI scanning and hippocampal 1H-MRS image,analysis and comparison the changes between the venous system and metabolism of two groups.Results Proton spectroscopy analysis showed that compared with the control group,bilateral hippocampal NAA/Cr(left hippocampus:depression group 0.95±0.77,control group 1.78±0.82; right hippocampus:depression group 1.12±0.74,control group 1.91 ± 0.80) and Cho/Cr (left hippocampus:depression group 1.08±0.83,control group 1.75±0.73 ; right hippocampus:depression group 0.91±0.68,control group 1.95 ±0.74) in the depression group was significantly lower,the difference was significant(NAA/Cr:t value in left and right were -3.14,-3.49,P＜0.05; Cho/Cr:t value in left and right were-3.25,-3.19,P＜0.05),however MI/Cr had no obvious changes (t value in left and right were 1.24,-1.27,P＞0.05).Magnetic sensitive scan showed depression group compared with the control group was significantly reduced in lateral vein diameter,length and branches (t value were 3.23,4.56,2.66,P＜0.05).Conclusion The SWI sequence and 1H-MRS imaging methods can become a new research idea about the central nucleus,and this idea may explain the causal relationship between the hippocampus in depression patients of vascular abnormalities and hippocampal neuronal metabolic abnormalities.

Objective To explore the cell metabolism of the bilateral hippocampus effected by the inflammatory factor of blood serum in the development of the depression.Methods Using Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy 1 H-MRS technology to detect multiple metabolic indices of the bilateral hippocampus of 20 first episode depression patients and 20 healthy persons,and detecting the levels of IL-6,IL-2,IL-10 in blood serum were detected.Finally the correlation between them was analyzed.Results Compared with the healthy group,the values of Glx/Cr and NAA/ Cr were reduced in left hippocampus (Glx/Cr: (0.82±0.48),t=2.69,P＜0.05 ; NAA/Cr: (1.12 ±0.44),t =2.81,P＜ 0.05) and the value of Cho/ Cr was increased in left hippocampus ((2.49± 0.78),t =2.36,P＜0.05),but only the value of Glx/ Cr were reduced in right hippocampus ((0.84 ± 0.47),t =2.43,P＜ 0.05),and the other metabolic indices changed unobvious.The depressive group had the significantly higher levels of IL-6,IL-2 in blood serum(IL-6: (12.47±3.19) ng/L,t=4.53,P＜0.05 ; IL-2: (29.44±5.72) ng/L,t=2.44,P＜0.05),but no significant difference was found in the IL-10 level in blood serum.The Glx/ Cr of bilateral hippocampus level was negatively correlated to the IL-6 and IL-2 level in blood serum(left:(IL-6: r=-0.555,P＜0.05;IL-2: r=-0.624,P＜0.05) ;right:(IL-6: r=-0.575,P＜0.05; IL-2: r=-0.523,P＜0.05)).The NAA/ Cr of left hippocampus level was negatively correlated to the IL-6 and IL-2 level in blood serum(IL-6: r=-0.582,P＜0.05;IL-2: r=-0.607,P＜0.05).The Cho/Cr of left hippocampus level was negatively correlated to the IL-6 and IL-2 level in blood serum(IL-6: r=0.601,P＜0.05; IL-2: r=0.552,P＜0.05).Conclusion The abnormal of glutamic acid system in bilateral hippocampus maybe the important performance and the potential originating link,the changes of the inflammatory cytokines level maybe the factor of these abnormal changes.

Objective To explore the sensibility of the encephalic region affected by the inflammatory factor of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) and the role of the inflammatory factor in the development of the depression.Methods Based on the evaluation of ethology,forty SD rats were randomly and equally divided into control group and model group which was exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress for 4 weeks.Using analyzing technology 1 H-MRS to detect prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of each group and detecting the levels of interlukin 6(IL-6),interlukin 2 (IL-2),interlukin 10 (IL-10) in CSF at the beginning and 4 weeks later,and the correlation was analyzed between them.Results Compared with the control group,the values of Glx/ Cr and NAA/ Cr in bilateral prefrontal cortex were reduced which did not reach statistically significance (P ＞ 0.05),and the value of Cho/ Cr had no significant difference.The values of Glx/Cr and NAA/Cr in left hippocampus reduced significantly(Glx/Cr:(1.16 ±0.07),t =2.50,P＜0.05 ;NAA/Cr:(1.30 ±0.09),t=5.94,P＜0.01),and the value of Cho/Cr was increased which did not reach statistically significance(P＞ 0.05).The values of Glx/Cr and NAA/Cr were reduced and the value of Cho/Cr was increased in right hippocampus which did not reach statistical significance(P＞0.05).The depressive group had the significantly higher levels of IL-6,IL-2 in CSF(IL-6:(32.41 ± 3.52),t =11.46,P ＜ 0.01 ; IL-2:(18.89 ± 2.56),t =7.42,P ＜ 0.01),but no significant difference was found in the IL-10 level in CSF.The Glx/Cr of left hippocampus level was negatively correlated to the IL-6 and IL-2 level in CSF (IL-6:r =-0.555,P＜ 0.05 ; IL-2:r=-0.582,P＜ 0.05) ; the NAA/Cr of left hippocampus level was negatively correlated to the IL-6 and IL-2 level in CSF(IL-6:r=-0.582,P＜0.05;IL-2:r=-0.607,P＜0.05).Conclusion The development of inchoate depression has a correlation with the high sensibility of the left hippocampus affected by the inflammatory factor levels.The metabolism of never cells has changed,which maybe constitutes the physiopathology basis of the depression.

Objective To explore the dynamic change and correlation of the behavior and hippocampal volumes by MRI of rat depressive model. Methods Based on the evaluation of ethology, thirty SD rats were randomly and equally divided into control group and model group which was exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress for 8 weeks. The body weight, fluid consumption test and Morris water maze test were done at the beginning and per week while the bilateral hippocampal volumes of every rat were measured by high field MRI at the beginning and per two weeks. Results Based on the behavioral data,the rat depressive model was established successfully,and changed dynamically. On 4th week,the left hippocampal volumes of depressive rat were significantly reduced (model group(37.13 ±2.40)mm3 ,control group (39.05 ±2.05)mm3, t=2.36, P＜0.05) while the right ones did not. On 6th week, the right ones began to reduce significantly ( model group ( 37.85 ± 2.11 ) mm3, control group ( 39.44 ± 2.10 ) mm3, t = 2.07, P ＜ 0.05 ) while the left one still reduced, but the extent of the left's reduction was bigger than the right( left:15% ,right:8% ). And there was apparent correlation between the behavior and the reduction of hippocampal volumes. Conclusion The behavior and hippocampal volumes of rat depressive model changes dynamically,and there was a regularity of them.

Objective To explore the brain's metabolism about the hippocampus, anterior cingulate and thalamus of first episode depressive patients. Methods Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and 1 HMRS analyzing technology to detect multiple metabolic indices of the hippocampus, anterior cingulate and thalamus of 20 patients and 20 healthy persons, including N-acetylaspartate ( NAA), choline ( Cho ), myoinositol ( MI ), creatine(Cr). Results The ratios of MI/Cr of the bilateral thalamus of the depressive patients group decreased ( Left (0.23 ±0.13) ,(0.25 ±0.09), t=2.25, P=0.03,Right(0.33 ±0.15,0.34 ±0.04), t=2.42, P=0.02).The ratios of NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr of the bilateral hippocampus of the depressive patients group were both lower (NAA/Cr: Left t=3.06, P=0.004,Right t=3.54, P=0.001. Cho/Cr: Left t=2.94, P=0.006,Right t=4.02,P=0.001 ). The ratios of Cho/Cr and MI/Cr of the anterior cingulate of the depressive patients group were both significantly higher (NAA/Cr: t=3.12, P=0. 003;Cho/Cr: t=2.62, P=0.01). Conclusion The metabolic abnormalities of hippocampus, anterior cingulate and thalamus maybe constitute the nervous biochemical basis of first episode depression.

Objective To explore the morphometric and functional alterations of amygdale and hippocampus in patients with depression by anatomical and functional MRI, and try to reveal the pattern and pathogenesis of the changes in depression. Methods Sixty patients (divided equally into mild, moderate and major groups according to patient′s scores of HAMD) and 20 healthy control groups were scanned using T1WI and fMRI. The outlines of hippocampus and amygdale were drawn manually by observer and the volumes were calculated and normalized subsequently. Functional MRI was processed using SPM5 and individual activation map was got subsequently. Dunnett-t test and Pearson correlation analysis were separately used to analyze the morphometric and functional changes and the correlations between cerebral changes and clinical severity. Results The hippocampal volumes of control groups were 2296±202 left for left side and 2283±199 for right side. The hippocampal volumes of depressive patients were smaller than those of control groups, especially for the major group (left 1978±176,Dunnett-t=-10.0,P<0.01,right 1981±171,Dunnett-t=-9.2,P<0.01). The moderate group showed moderate reduced volume(left 2127±180,Dunnett-t=-3.0,P<0.05,right 2135±183,Dunnett-t=-3.0,P<0.05), while the mild ones showed slightly decreased volume (left 2207±189,Dunnett-t=-1.4,P>0.05,right 2210±191,Dunnett-t=-1.6,P>0.05). The amygdale′s volumes of control groups was 1762±185,the right was 1749±182, while those in patient group reduced along with the patient′s condition, i.e., the mild groups (left 1992±200,Dunnett-t=4.8,P<0.01,right 1989±191, Dunnett-t=5.0,P<0.001), the moderate groups (left 1889±192, Dunnett-t=2.8,P<0.05,right 1896±195,Dunnett-t=2.8,P<0.05), and the major groups (left 1539±178,Dunnett-t=-6.8,P<0.01,right 1543±180,Dunnett-t=-7.0,P<0.01).For fMRI study, patient group demonstrated more activation of the amygdale and hippocampus under the stimulations of negative images than controls. Furthermore, the strengthens of activation decreased along with the patient′s condition, i.e., the major ones showed the weakest activation among the patients, though it was higher than that of control group. In patient group, both the volumes and activations of hippocampus and amygdale showed significant negative correlations with HAMD scores(r=-0.80--0.90,P＜0.05). Conclusion The hippocampal volumes of depressive patients reduced, which may be due to the change of the amygdale, and the amygdale′s volumes were changed along with the patient′s condition. There were more activation in the amygdale and hippocampus of depressive patients under the stimulations of negative images.

Objective To observe the dynamic changes of 18F-FDG uptake and clearance in the amygdala and hippocampus in patients with first-episode depression (FED),and explore the neurobiology mechanism of FED.Methods i8 F-FDG PET/CT imaging was performed on 35 patients with FED and 35 healthy volunteers from January 2014 to January 2016.SUV in the amygdala and hippocampus at different time points were collected.The clearance rates were calculated and the difference between patients and healthy volunteers were compared by two-sample t test.Results The FDG uptake in the left amygdala of patients reached the peak earlier compared with that in the healthy group,with the SUVmax of 12.94±2.03 at 25 min and 10.50±1.79 at 40 min,respectively.FDG uptake in the left amygdala at 10,25,40,55,70,85 min between the 2 groups were significantly different (t values:12.92,8.65,6.99,12.34,28.87,13.87;all P＜ 0.05).The clearance rate in the left amygdala of patients at different time interval was increased compared with that of the healthy group(40-55 min:t=32.53;56-70 min:t=32.73;71-85 min:t=11.10;all P＜ 0.05).Compared with the healthy group,FDG uptake in the left hippocampus of patients was decreased significantly at 10,25,40,55,85 min (t values:2.70,7.75,7.78,8.81,7.00;all P＜0.05) for FDG uptake,and the clearance rate was also decreased significantly at different time interval(40-55 min:t =6.02;56-70 min:t=62.15;71-85 min:t=37.39;all P＜0.05).Differences of metabolic changes in the right amygdala and the right hippocampus were not significant.Conclusions 18F-FDG metabolism in the amygdala and hippocampus of patients with FED may be abnormal,which is characterized by earlier peak uptake and quicker clearance in the left amygdala while lower uptake and slower clearance in the left hippocampus.

BACKGROUNDThe hippocampus and amygdala exhibit structural and functional alterations in patients with depression. The objective of this study was to investigate the structural and functional relationships between these core regions.

METHODSBased on the severity of their condition, 60 patients and 20 healthy controls were equally divided into four groups (mild group, moderate group, major group and health controls group), scanned by T1-MR, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI). Structural image, BOLD image, and SWI image were collected for processing and analysis. The characteristics of the depression and controls were checked by analysis of variance test, and the difference between groups was checked by Dunnett's test.

RESULTSThe volume of hippocampus and amygdala varied with the severity of the condition. The signal obtained under the stimulation of negative events was linearly decreased in the mild, moderate and major groups revealed by fMRI. The length and diameter of the lateral ventricle vein was reduced in the mild group, whereas the number of branches increased. In the moderate and major groups, the reduction in the length, diameter and increase in the number of branches of the lateral ventricle vein were greater.

CONCLUSIONThe alterations of the volume, fMRI, and cerebral veins in these core regions may account for the causal relationship between structure and function.

Adult ; Amygdala ; pathology ; Depression ; pathology ; Female ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male