Early functional brain network characteristics in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy assessed by functional near-infrared spectroscopy
10.3760/cma.j.cn113903-20241009-00670
- VernacularTitle:基于功能性近红外光谱成像的新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病早期脑功能网络特征
- Author:
Ziming WANG
1
;
Zhuoyu ZHAO
1
;
Ling ZHAO
1
;
Jiayu ZHOU
1
;
Yingying JIANG
1
;
Laishuan WANG
1
Author Information
1. 复旦大学附属儿科医院新生儿诊疗中心，国家儿童医学中心，国家卫生健康委员会新生儿疾病重点实验室，上海 201102
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Neonate;
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy;
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy;
Brain functional networks;
Graph theory
- From:
Chinese Journal of Perinatal Medicine
2025;28(4):273-279
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the clinical utility of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in evaluating cerebral function in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).Methods:This was a case-control study. Fifteen neonates with moderate to severe HIE who were admitted to the Department of Neonatal Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Fudan University from March 2023 to August 2024 and completed fNIRS testing were selected as the HIE group, and 15 full-term infants without neurological diseases and completed fNIRS testing were selected as the control group during the same period. Resting-state fNIRS data were acquired to construct cerebral functional connectivity networks and topological properties were analyzed. Statistical analyses included independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, analysis of variance, and Chi-square tests. Results:Compared with controls, the HIE group exhibited significantly reduced global functional connectivity strength [0.15 (0.05-0.26) vs. 0.24 (0.13-0.35), Z=－7.66, P<0.001]. Both groups demonstrated small-world network properties, with no intergroup difference (1.17±0.05 vs. 1.14±0.05, t=2.02, P=0.050). The HIE group showed decreased shortest path length (6.22±0.52 vs. 13.74±0.49, t=48.18, P<0.001), global efficiency (0.26±0.04 vs. 0.30±0.05, t=2.50, P=0.018) and normalized shortest path length (1.50±0.07 vs. 1.62±0.22, t=2.43, P=0.020). No differences were observed in the clustering coefficient or local efficiency between the two groups. Regional analysis revealed reduced nodal efficiency in both left (0.30±0.06 vs. 0.35±0.05, t=2.47, P=0.021) and right hemispheres (0.30±0.06 vs. 0.37±0.06, t=2.68, P=0.013) in HIE neonates compared with that of the corresponding hemispheres in the control group. The intra-group comparison showed no statistical significance in node efficiency between the left and right hemispheres (both P>0.05). Conclusion:fNIRS captures functional network signatures in HIE, demonstrating clinical potential for early detection of cerebral dysfunction in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic injury.
