Brain ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Myotonic Dystrophy ; diagnosis ; pathology ; White Matter ; pathology

Humans ; White Matter/pathology* ; Central Nervous System Neoplasms/pathology* ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/pathology*

At present, an effective detecting method for brain function impairment for the patients with the glioma is urgently needed in clinic, because it may help us understand its pathogenesis. This paper proposes a method of combining diffusion tensor tracing technology and 'small world' network. It utilizes the degree of brain function network to study complex network topological properties of the patients with the glioma in temporal lobe area. The experimental results showed that the brain networks of the patients with the glioma of different grades were destroyed compared with those of the normal persons, but the destruction degree is independent of the tumor grades. The distribution of functional connections is index truncated power-law accompanied by significant heterogeneity. Meanwhile, the stronger functional areas of information in the glioma have transferred and there exists lack of language function area and sensory function area.
Brain ; physiopathology ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Glioma ; pathology ; Humans ; White Matter ; pathology

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the cerebral white matter micro-structure in patients with idiopathic olfactory loss using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). METHODS: Sixteen patients with idiopathic olfactory loss and sixteen normal subjects matched by age and sex were recruited in this study. Sniffin'Stick olfactory test was performed to evaluate the olfactory function of all subjects. We acquired diffusion tensor images with an echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence from all subject on a 3T scanner. The fractional anisotropy (FA) images were performed using DTI-studio, and bilateral Piriform cortex, Orbitofrontal cortex, Hippocampus and Insula cortex adjacent white matter and Capsula interna were delineated as the region of interesting (ROI), the FA for each ROI was calculated. Independent sample t test analysis was used to compare the FA value of all ROIs between the controls and patients. In addition, correlation analysis between FA value and MMSE score in patients were conducted. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, patients showed significantly decreased FA value in the adjacent white matter of bilateral Piriform cortex, Orbitofrontal cortex, Hippocampus and Insula cortex (<0.05). There is no significant difference of FA value in bilateral Capsula interna between two groups (>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The patients with idiopathic olfactory loss show the damage of white matter micro-structure in the olfactory center, which could be important for the pathogenesis study and early intervention of idiopathic olfactory loss.
Anisotropy ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Humans ; Olfaction Disorders ; pathology ; Smell ; White Matter ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology

Adult ; Epilepsy ; genetics ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; genetics ; Hypogonadism ; genetics ; Intellectual Disability ; genetics ; Male ; White Matter ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate different degrees of punctate cerebral white matter damage (CWMD) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and to investigate the value of DTI for CWMD in preterm infants.

METHODSThirty-one preterm infants who were hospitalized in the Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University between November 2011 and April 2012 were enrolled and divided into focal CWMD (n=11), widespread CWMD (n=10), and normal groups (n=10). The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values were determined in the periventricular regions of patients in three groups, and comparison of the two indices between the three groups was performed using one-way analysis of variance. The correlation between the changes in ADC and FA values was analyzed using the Pearson coefficient, and the color-encoded FA maps in the three groups were evaluated.

RESULTSThe ADC values in the focal CWMD and widespread CWMD groups were both significantly higher than in the normal group, while the FA values in the focal CWMD and widespread CWMD groups were both significantly lower than in the normal group. The FA value in the widespread CWMD group was significantly lower than in the focal CWMD group. The color-encoded FA maps after post-processing indicated that the normal group had the highest FA value in the periventricular white matter regions, followed by the focal CWMD group and the widespread CWMD group.

CONCLUSIONSThe DTI technique can quantitatively evaluate the degree of punctate CWMD. The FA value may be more accurate than the ADC value in the evaluation of CWMD.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; White Matter ; pathology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of cerebral hemodynamic changes on white matter damage in premature infant with patent ductus arteriosus(PDA). METHODS: A total of 106 premature infants were enrolled in the study, including 35 PDA infants with hemodynamic changes (hsPDA group), 35 PDA infants without hemodynamic changes (non-hsPDA group) and 36 non-PDA infants (control group). Serum level of neuron-specific enolase (NES) was detected and craniocerebral ultrasound examination was performed on d3, d7 and d14 after birth. The correlation between blood flow rate of PDA and gray scale value of lateral ventricle was analyzed. RESULTS: Gray scale values of lateral ventricle and serum levels of NES in hsPDA group were higher than those in control group on d3, d7 and d14 (P<0.01), but no significant difference was observed between non-hsPDA group and control group (P>0.05). There was a positive correlation between the blood flow rate of PDA and gray scale value of lateral ventricle (r=0.876, P<0.01) in premature infants. CONCLUSION Patent ductus arteriosus with hemodynamic changes is closely related to white matter damage in premature infants, and early intervention is necessary.
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; complications ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Ultrasonography ; White Matter ; pathology

White matter damage, characterized by demyelination due to the damage of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), is the most common type of brain damage in preterm infants. Survivors are often subject to long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae because of the lack of effective treatment. In recent years, it has been found that cell transplantation has the potential for the treatment of white matter damage. OPCs are frequently used cells in cell transplantation therapy. With abilities of migration and myelinization, OPCs are the best seed cells for the treatment of white matter damage. Several studies have found that OPCs may not only replace impaired cells to reconstruct the structure and function of white matter, but also inhibit neuronal apoptosis, promote the proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells, and enhance the repairment of the blood-brain barrier. However, the clinical application of OPC transplantation therapy faces many challenges, such as the effectiveness, risk of tumorigenesis and immune rejection. With reference to these studies, this article reviewed the development of myelination, the obtainment of OPCs, the therapeutic mechanism as well as application research, and analyzed the current challenges of OPC transplantation, in order to provide a new direction for clinical treatment of white matter damage in preterm infants.
Cell Separation ; Demyelinating Diseases ; therapy ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells ; transplantation ; White Matter ; pathology

BACKGROUNDThe ability to predict posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a critical issue in the management of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), as early medical and rehabilitative interventions may reduce the risks of long-term cognitive changes. The aim of the present study was to investigate how diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics changed in the transition from acute to chronic phases in patients with mTBI and whether the alteration relates to the development of PTSD.

METHODSForty-three patients with mTBI and 22 healthy volunteers were investigated. The patients were divided into two groups: successful recovery (SR, n = 22) and poor recovery (PR, n = 21), based on neurocognitive evaluation at 1 or 6 months after injury. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging investigation at acute (within 3 days), subacute (10-20 days), and chronic (1-6 months) phases after injury. Group differences of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were analyzed using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). The accuracy of DTI metrics for classifying PTSD was estimated using Bayesian discrimination analysis.

RESULTSTBSS showed white matter (WM) abnormalities in various brain regions. In the acute phase, FA values were higher for PR and SR patients than controls (all P < 0.05). In subacute phase, PR patients have higher mean MD than SR and controls (all P < 0.05). In the chronic phase, lower FA and higher MD were observed in PR compared with both SR and control groups (all P < 0.05). PR and SR groups could be discriminated with a sensitivity of 73%, specificity of 78%, and accuracy of 75.56%, in terms of MD value in subacute phase.

CONCLUSIONSPatients with mTBI have multiple abnormalities in various WM regions. DTI metrics change over time and provide a potential indicator at subacute stage for PTSD following mTBI.

Adult ; Brain Injuries, Traumatic ; pathology ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; pathology ; White Matter ; pathology

Subjective memory impairment (SMI) is now increasingly recognized as a risk factor of progression to dementia. This study investigated gray and white matter changes in the brains of SMI patients compared with normal controls and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. We recruited 28 normal controls, 28 subjects with SMI, and 29 patients with MCI aged 60 or older. We analyzed gray and white matter changes using a voxel-based morphometry (VBM), hippocampal volumetry and regions of interest in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). DTI parameters of corpus callosum and cingulum in SMI showed more white matter changes compared with those in normal controls, they were similar to those in MCI except in the hippocampus, which showed more degenerations in MCI. In VBM, SMI showed atrophy in the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes compared with normal controls although it was not as extensive as that in MCI. Patients with SMI showed gray and white matter degenerations, the changes were distinct in white matter structures. SMI might be the first presenting symptom within the Alzheimer's disease continuum when combined with additional risk factors and neurodegenerative changes.
Aged ; Brain/*pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging/methods ; Female ; Gray Matter/*pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Memory Disorders/*diagnosis/etiology ; Mild Cognitive Impairment/complications/*diagnosis ; Neurodegenerative Diseases/complications/*pathology ; Reference Values ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; White Matter/*pathology