Persistent alterations in gray matter in COVID-19 patients experiencing sleep disturbances:a 3-month longitudinal study

Sleep disturbances are among the most prevalent neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals who have recovered from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections.Previous studies have demonstrated abnormal brain structures in patients with sleep disturbances who have recovered from coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).However,neuroimaging studies on sleep disturbances caused by COVID-19 are scarce,and existing studies have primarily focused on the long-term effects of the virus,with minimal acute phase data.As a result,little is known about the pathophysiology of sleep disturbances in the acute phase of COVID-19.To address this issue,we designed a longitudinal study to investigate whether alterations in brain structure occur during the acute phase of infection,and verified the results using 3-month follow-up data.A total of 26 COVID-19 patients with sleep disturbances(aged 51.5±13.57 years,8 women and 18 men),27 COVID-19 patients without sleep disturbances(aged 47.33±15.98 years,9 women and 18 men),and 31 age-and gender-matched healthy controls(aged 49.19±17.51 years,9 women and 22 men)were included in this study.Eleven COVID-19 patients with sleep disturbances were included in a longitudinal analysis.We found that COVID-19 patients with sleep disturbances exhibited brain structural changes in almost all brain lobes.The cortical thicknesses of the left pars opercularis and left precuneus were significantly negatively correlated with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores.Additionally,we observed changes in the volume of the hippocampus and its subfield regions in COVID-19 patients compared with the healthy controls.The 3-month follow-up data revealed indices of altered cerebral structure(cortical thickness,cortical grey matter volume,and cortical surface area)in the frontal-parietal cortex compared with the baseline in COVID-19 patients with sleep disturbances.Our findings indicate that the sleep disturbances patients had altered morphology in the cortical and hippocampal structures during the acute phase of infection and persistent changes in cortical regions at 3 months post-infection.These data improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of sleep disturbances caused by COVID-19.

Application of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in metabolic alterations of prefrontal white and gray matter in depression adolescents

BACKGROUND Cases of depression among adolescents are gradually increasing.The study of the physiological basis of cognitive function from a biochemical perspective has therefore been garnering increasing attention.Depression has been hypothesized to be associated with the brain biochemical metabolism of the anterior cingulate gyrus,frontal lobe white matter,and the thalamus.AIM To explore the application of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1H-MRS)in the metabolic alterations in the prefrontal white matter(PWM)and gray matter(GM)in adolescents with depression.METHODS 1H-MRS was performed for semi-quantitative analysis of the biochemical metabolites N-acetylaspartate(NAA),choline(Cho)complexes,creatine(Cr),and myoinositol(mI)in bilateral PWM,anterior cingulate GM,and thalami of 31 adolescent patients with depression(research group)and 35 healthy adolescents(control group),and the NAA/Cr,Cho/Cr,and mI/Cr ratios were calculated.Meanwhile,Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD)and Wechsler Memory Scale were used to assess the degree of depression and memory function in all adolescents.The correlation of brain metabolite levels with scale scores was also analyzed.RESULTS The research group had markedly higher HAMD-24 scores and lower memory quotient(MQ)compared with the control group(P<0.05).Adolescents with depression were found to have lower bilateral PWM NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr ratios compared with healthy adolescents(P<0.05).The mI/Cr ratios were found to be similar in both groups(P>0.05).The bilateral anterior cingulate GM NAA/Cr,Cho/Cr,and mI/Cr also did not demonstrate marked differences(P>0.05).No statistical inter-group difference was determined in NAA/Cr of the bilateral thalami(P>0.05),while bilateral thalamic Cho/Cr and mI/Cr were reduced in teenagers with depression compared with healthy adolescents(P<0.05).A significant negative correlation was observed between the HAMD-24 scores in adolescents with depression with bilateral PWM NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr and were inversely linked to bilateral thalamic Cho/Cr and mI/Cr(P<0.05).In adolescents with depressions,MQ positively correlated with right PWH NAA/Cr,left PWH Cho/Cr,and bilateral thalamic Cho/Cr and mI/Cr.CONCLUSION PWM and thalamic metabolic abnormalities might influence teen depression,and the reduction in bilateral PWM NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr could be related to the neuropathology of adolescents with depression suffering from memory impairment.There exists a possibility of dysfunction of nerve cell membrane phospholipids in the thalami of adolescent patients with depression.

Changes of brain gray matter structure in Parkinson's disease patients with dementia

Voxel-based morphometry is gaining considerable interest for studies examining Parkinson＇s disease dementia patients. In this study, 12 patients with clinically defined Parkinson＇s disease and dementia and 12 non-demented patients with Parkinson＇s disease were examined using a T1WI three-dimensional fast spoiled gradient echo sequence. Gray matter data were analyzed using a voxel-based morphometry method and independent sample t-test based on Statistical Parametric Mapping 5 software. Differences in gray matter volume were represented with statistical parametric mapping. Compared with Parkinson＇s disease patients without dementia, decreased gray matter volume in Parkinson＇s disease dementia patients was observed in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus, bilateral posterior cingulate and left cingulate gyrus, right parahippocampal gyrus and hippocampus, right precuneus and right cuneus, left inferior frontal gyrus and left insular lobe. No increased gray matter volume was apparent. These data indicate that gray matter atrophy in the limbic system and cerebral neocortex is related to the presence of dementia.

Correlation between white matter damage and gray matter lesions in multiple sclerosis patients

We observed the characteristics of white matter fibers and gray matter in multiple sclerosis patients, to identify changes in diffusion tensor imaging fractional anisotropy values following white matter fiber injury. We analyzed the correlation between fractional anisotropy values and changes in whole-brain gray matter volume. The participants included 20 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and 20 healthy volunteers as controls. All subjects underwent head magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging. Our results revealed that fractional anisotropy values decreased and gray matter volumes were reduced in the genu and splenium of corpus callosum, left anterior thalamic radiation, hippocampus, uncinate fasciculus, right corticospinal tract, bilateral cingulate gyri, and inferior longitudinal fasciculus in multiple sclerosis patients. Gray matter volumes were significantly different between the two groups in the right frontal lobe（superior frontal, middle frontal, precentral, and orbital gyri）, right parietal lobe（postcentral and inferior parietal gyri）, right temporal lobe（caudate nucleus）, right occipital lobe（middle occipital gyrus）, right insula, right parahippocampal gyrus, and left cingulate gyrus. The voxel sizes of atrophic gray matter positively correlated with fractional anisotropy values in white matter association fibers in the patient group. These findings suggest that white matter fiber bundles are extensively injured in multiple sclerosis patients. The main areas of gray matter atrophy in multiple sclerosis are the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, caudate nucleus, parahippocampal gyrus, and cingulate gyrus. Gray matter atrophy is strongly associated with white matter injury in multiple sclerosis patients, particularly with injury to association fibers.

Magnetic resonance morphometry of the loss of gray matter volume in Parkinson's disease patients

Voxel-based morphometry can be used to quantitatively compare structural differences and func-tional changes of gray matter in subjects. In the present study, we compared gray matter images of 32 patients with Parkinson’s disease and 25 healthy controls using voxel-based morphometry based on 3.0 T high-field magnetic resonance T1-weighted imaging and clinical neurological scale scores. Results showed that the scores in Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment were lower in patients compared with controls. In particular, the scores of visuospatial/executive function items in Montreal Cognitive Assessment were significantly reduced, but mean scores of non-motor symptoms significantly increased, in patients with Parkinson’s dis-ease. In addition, gray matter volume was significantly diminished in Parkinson’s disease patients compared with normal controls, including bilateral temporal lobe, bilateral occipital lobe, bilateral parietal lobe, bilateral frontal lobe, bilateral insular lobe, bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, bilateral amygdale, right uncus, and right posterior lobe of the cerebel um. These findings indicate that voxel-based morphometry can accurately and quantitatively assess the loss of gray matter volume in patients with Parkinson＇s disease, and provide essential neuroimaging evidence for multisystem pathological mechanisms involved in Parkinson’s disease.

Regional gray matter atrophy and neuropsychologcal problems in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

In multiple sclerosis, gray matter atrophy is extensive, and cognitive deficits and mood disorders are frequently encountered. It has been conjectured that focal atrophy is associated with emotional decline. However, conventional MRI has revealed that the pathological characteristics cannot fully account for the mood disorders. Moreover, there is no correlation between cognitive disorders and MRI results in clinically isolated syndromes or in cases of definite multiple sclerosis. In this casecontrol study, voxel-based morphometric analysis was performed on 11 subjects with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, and the results show that these patients exhibit gray matter atrophy. Moreover, the gray matter atrophy in the superior and middle gyri of the right frontal lobe in patients with multiple sclerosis was correlated with scores from the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. The scores obtained with the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status were associated with gray matter atrophy in the middle gyrus of the left frontal lobe, the superior and middle gyrus of the right frontal lobe, the middle gyrus of the left cingulate, the superior and middle gyri of the left frontal lobe, and the triangular area of the left frontal lobe. However, there was no statistical significance. These findings suggest that the cingulate and frontal cortices of the dominant hemisphere are the most severely atrophic regions of the brain, and this atrophy is correlated with cognitive decline and emotional abnormalities.

Healthy individuals vs patients with bipolar or unipolar depression in gray matter volume

BACKGROUND Previous studies using voxel-based morphometry(VBM)revealed changes in gray matter volume(GMV)of patients with depression,but the differences between patients with bipolar disorder(BD)and unipolar depression(UD)are less known.AIM To analyze the whole-brain GMV data of patients with untreated UD and BD compared with healthy controls.METHODS Fourteen patients with BD and 20 with UD were recruited from the Mental Health Center of Shantou University between August 2014 and July 2015,and 20 nondepressive controls were recruited.After routine three-plane positioning,axial T2WI scanning was performed.The connecting line between the anterior and posterior commissures was used as the scanning baseline.The scanning range extended from the cranial apex to the foramen magnum.Categorical data are presented as frequencies and were analyzed using the Fisher exact test.RESULTS There were no significant intergroup differences in gender,age,or years of education.Disease course,age at the first episode,and Hamilton depression rating scale scores were similar between patients with UD and those with BD.Compared with the non-depressive controls,patients with BD showed smaller GMVs in the right inferior temporal gyrus,left middle temporal gyrus,right middle occipital gyrus,and right superior parietal gyrus and larger GMVs in the midbrain,left superior frontal gyrus,and right cerebellum.In contrast,UD patients showed smaller GMVs than the controls in the right fusiform gyrus,left inferior occipital gyrus,left paracentral lobule,right superior and inferior temporal gyri,and the right posterior lobe of the cerebellum,and larger GMVs than the controls in the left posterior central gyrus and left middle frontal gyrus.There was no difference in GMV between patients with BD and UD.CONCLUSION Using VBM,the present study revealed that patients with UD and BD have different patterns of changes in GMV when compared with healthy controls.

Effects of electrostimulation and administration of succinylcholine on the expression of Fos protein in mesencephalic periaqueductal gray matter of rats after simulated weightlessness

BACKGROUND： Expression of Fos in neurons of periaqueductal gray （PAG） is used to reflect the excitability. However, changes of expression of Fos in neurons of PAG are caused by injured electrostimulation after simulated weightlessness, and the relationship between pretreatment and injection of succinylcholine has not been determined yet. OBJECTIVE ： To investigate the changes of expression of Fos in PAG induced by injured electrostimulation pretreatment and injection of succinylcholine at 2 weeks after simulated weightlessness.DESIGN： Observational and controlled animal study.SETTING： Department of Physiology, Medical School, Xi＇an Jiaotong University; Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education. MATERIALS： A total of 24 adult female SD rats, of clean grade and weighing 180-220 g, were selected in this study. METHODS： The experiment was completed in the Experimental Animal Center of Xi＇an Jiaotong University.① All rats were randomly divided into 2 groups according to body mass： simulated weightlessness group and control group with 12 in each group. And then, each group was also divided into 3 subgroups： electrostimulation group, succinylcholine-pretreatment group and succinylcholine-injection group with 4 in each subgroup. ②The model of weightlessness was simulated by tail-suspended female rats, which were described and modified by Cheng Jie. Rats in normal control group were given the same interventions as simulated weightlessness group except for tail-suspended. ③ Experimental method： The rats in electrostimulation group were given nociceptive stimulus by a pair of subcutaneous electrodes inserted into 1 and 5 claw of left hindlimb. The stimulus （current： 10 mA; duration： 1 ms; interval： 1 s） lasted for 30 minutes. The rats in succinylcholine-pretreatment group received stimulus after intravenous administration of succinylcholine, rats in succinylcholine-injection group were not given stimulus, just received succinylcholine. ④ All rats were perfused and fixed after 2 hours from the end of stimulation. The brains were removed, and serial frozen sections of midbrain were stained using immunocytochemical method, observed and taken photos under light-microscope. The number and morphological characters of Fos-immunoreactive （Fos-IR） neurons in ventrolateral part of PAG were investigated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The alterations in number and morphological characters of Fos-IR neurons in ventrolateral PAG of all rats.RESULTS： A total of 24 rats were involved in the final analysis. ① The morphological changes of Fos-IR neurons： The expressions of Fos in ventrolateral part of PAG were observed in both control and simulated weightlessness groups rats after being given nociceptive stimulus. As compared with control group, Fos-IR neurons in simulated weightlessness group were dyed lightly, cellular integrity was impaired, and cellular verge was unclear. ② The numbers of Fos-IR neurons： In control group, the numbers of Fos-IR neurons in ventrolateral part of PAG in simulated weightlessness group were obviously lower than succinylcholine-pretreatment group, but obviously higher than succinylcholine-injection group （46.94±3.38, 71.06±8.96 and 35.04±4.62, respectively, P 〈 0.05）. In 14-day simulated weightlessness group, the numbers of Fos-IR neurons in electrostimulation group were also obviously lower than succinylcholine-pretreatment group, and obviously higher than succinylcholine-injection group （27.77±3.27, 32.91±2.99 and 11.75±1.00, respectively, P 〈 0.05）. The numbers of Fos-IR neurons in all subgroups in control group were obviously higher than those subgroups in simulated weightlessness group. Compared with electrostimulation group, the percentage of expression of Fos in ventrolateral part of PAG responsed to nociceptive stimulus after administration of succinylcholine （SCH） was increased to 51.83% in control group and 18.51% in simulated weightlessness group.CONCLUSION ：① The expression of Fos in neurons in ventrolateral part of PAG were increased by the pretreatment of SCH before nociceptive stimulus.② Nociceptive stimulus could increase the expression of Fos in neurons in ventrolateral part of PAG. ③ The numbers of Fos-IR neurons in ventrolateral part of PAG were decreased obviously after 2-week simulated weightlessness.

Hippocampus Gray Matter Atrophy Happens More Seriously in AD Female Patients

Hippocampus, an area of cortex that plays an important role in thinking, planning and remembering. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the hippocampus is one of the first areas of the brain to become shriveled and this leads to the memory less, damage in learning and declaration of emotional behaviors. In this paper, we investigate the effects of sex on hippocampus gray matter (HGM) atrophy in four groups of participants, namely, males with AD (M-AD, n = 34), age-matched normal male controls (M-NC, n = 34), females with AD (F-AD, n = 34), and age matched normal female controls (F-NC, n = 34) from ADNI dataset. In this regard, Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is employed to compare means of HGM differences among groups. The statistical results obtained by ANOVA show that the distribution of HGM atrophy is effected by sex. Also there was a significant diagnosis with higher severity in the F-AD compared to M-AD. The AD studies based on the sex may help to figure out the root of AD mechanisms and poten-tially can be used as an imaging marker for the studies of AD in the future.

Structural changes in the gray matter of unmedicated patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: a voxel-based morphometric study

The aim of the current study was to use whole brain voxel-based morphometry（VBM）to assess the gray matter（GM）changes in unmedicated patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder（OCD）compared with normal controls.We compared the GM volumes in28 patients with 22 matched healthy controls using a1.5T MRI.Three-dimensional T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were obtained from all participants.VBM was performed to detect GM volume differences between the two groups.We detected increased regional GM volumes in the bilateral middle temporal gyri,bilateral middle occipital gyri,bilateral globus pallidus,right inferior parietal gyrus,left superior parietal gyrus,right parahippocampus,right supramarginal gyrus,right medial superior frontal gyrus,and left inferior frontal opercular cortex in the OCD patients relative to controls（P〈0.001,uncorrected,cluster size〉100 voxels）.No decreased GM volume was found in the OCD group compared with normal controls.Our findings suggest that structural changes in the GM are not limited to fronto-striato-thalamic circuits in the pathogenesis of OCD.Temporo-parietal cortex may also play an important role.

Compression analysis of the gray and white matter of the spinal cord

The spinal cord is composed of gray matter and white matter.It is well known that the properties of these two tissues differ considerably.Spinal diseases often present with symptoms that are caused by spinal cord compression.Understanding the mechanical properties of gray and white matter would allow us to gain a deep understanding of the injuries caused to the spinal cord and provide information on the pathological changes to these distinct tissues in several disorders.Previous studies have reported on the physical properties of gray and white matter,however,these were focused on longitudinal tension tests.Little is known about the differences between gray and white matter in terms of their response to compression.We therefore performed mechanical compression test of the gray and white matter of spinal cords harvested from cows and analyzed the differences between them in response to compression.We conducted compression testing of gray matter and white matter to detect possible differences in the collapse rate.We found that increased compression(especially more than 50%compression)resulted in more severe injuries to both the gray and white matter.The present results on the mechanical differences between gray and white matter in response to compression will be useful when interpreting findings from medical imaging in patients with spinal conditions.

Nonspecific Effect of Stress on Brain Gray Matter Volume in Drug-naive Female Patients with First Depressive Episode

Background： This study aimed to observe the differences in brain gray matter volume in drug-naive female patients after the first episode of major depression with and without stressful life events （SLEs） before the onset of depression.Methods： Forty-three drug-naive female patients voluntarily participated in the present study after the first major depressive episode.The life event scale was used to evaluate the severity of the impact of SLEs during 6 months before the onset of the major depressive episode.High-field magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） scans were obtained, and the VBM and SPM8 software process were used to process and analyze the MRI.Results： Compared to that in patients without SLEs, the volume of brain gray matter was lower in the bilateral temporal lobe, right occipital lobe, and right limbic lobe in the SLE group.However, the gray matter volume did not differ significantly between the two groups after the application of false discovery rate （FDR） correction.Conclusions： Although the results of the present study suggest the absence of significant differences in brain gray matter volume between female drug-naive patients after the first episode of major depression with and without SLEs after FDR correction, the study provides useful information for exploring the definitive role of stress in the onset of depression.

Quantitative study of MR T_1 and T_2 relaxation times and ~1HMRS in gray matter of normal adult brain

Objective To evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) Imaging and 1 H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1 HMRS) in the study of normal biochemical process of the brain, as well as differentiation of normal senile brain from cerebral diseases related to senility. Methods One hundred and eighty healthy adult volunteers were selected for MR examination and 60 other healthy subjects for 1 HMRS examination. Ages of subjects ranged from 18 to 80 years. They were divided into six age groups. A 0.35 T superconductive MR system was used to perform MR examination. Point resolved spectroscopy sequence was required for 1 HMRS. The metabolites in the spectra included: N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline compounds (CHO), creatine compounds (CR), myo-inositol (MI), glutamate and glutamine (Glu-n). Results In 180 cases of MR, the shortest T2 relaxation time occurred in the deep gray matter within the same age group while the length of T1 relaxation time was ordered from low to high compared to age groups. T2 relaxation time decreased as age increased. The peaks, ordered from high to low, were as follows in 60 cases of 1 HMRS: NAA, CR, CHO, MI, Glu-n. The ratios of NAA/CR and Glu-n/CR were higher in the senile age group, while that of MI/CR was lower. The ratio of CHO/CR was increased as age decreased. The ratio of NAA/CR and MI/CR gradually decreased in relation to movement from the anterior to the posterior part of the brain; the ratio of CHO/CR was highest in the occipital cortex. Correlation of T1 relaxation time and partial metabolite ratios to age were present in gray matter.Conclusions Quantitative studies of MR T1 and T2 relaxation times and 1 HMRS are essential to evaluation of normal myelinization processes, neuronal integrity and age-related biochemical changes in the brain.

Gray matter involvement in patients with multiple sclerosis as shown by magnetic resonance imaging

Objective To summarize the main findings seen on conventional and advanced magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） used to assess gray matter （GM） involvement in patients with multiple sclerosis （MS）. Data sources The data used in this review were obtained mainly from studies reported in the PubMed database using the terms of multiple sclerosis, gray matter, magnetic resonance imaging. Study selection Relevant literatures on studies of GM involvement in MS patients were identified, retrieved and reviewed. Results MS is the most common chronic, disabling central nervous system disease in young adults. Although traditional thinking has considered MS to be a chronic inflammatory demyelinating condition affecting solely the white matter （WM） of the central nervous system, over the last few years it has been shown that GM pathology is also common and extensive. GM demyelinating lesions can not only be found in the cerebral cortex but also in the deep gray nuclei. Apart from focal demyelinated lesions, diffuse neuronal loss and atrophy is also present in the GM of MS patients. Conclusions The widespread use of conventional and quantitative MRI based techniques in MS has led to an improved understanding of the mechanisms underlying the inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes of the disease. However, more researches are needed to unravel GM pathology in MS patients, which at present remains enigmatic.

Morphological changes in gray matter volume correlate with catechol-O-methyl transferase gene Val158Met polymorphism in first-episode treatment-nave patients with schizophrenia

The catechol-O-methyltransferase（COMT） gene is a schizophrenia susceptibility gene. A common functional polymorphism of this gene,Val158/158 Met,has been proposed to influence gray matter volume（GMV）. However,the effects of this polymorphism on cortical thickness/surface area in schizophrenic patients are less clear. In this study,we explored the relationship between the Val158 Met polymorphism of the COMT gene and the GMV/ cortical thickness/cortical surface area in 150 firstepisode treatment-nave patients with schizophrenia and 100 healthy controls. Main effects of diagnosis were found for GMV in the cerebellum and the visual,medial temporal,parietal,and middle frontal cortex. Patients with schizophrenia showed reduced GMVs in these regions. And main effects of genotype were detected for GMV in the left superior frontal gyrus. Moreover,a diagnosis × genotype interaction was found for the GMV of the left precuneus,and the effect of the COMT gene on GMV was due mainly to cortical thickness rather than cortical surface area. In addition,a pattern ofincreased GMV in the precuneus with increasing Met dose found in healthy controls was lost in patients with schizophrenia. These findings suggest that the COMTMet variant is associated with the disruption of dopaminergic influence on gray matter in schizophrenia,and the effect of the COMT gene on GMV in schizophrenia is mainly due to changes in cortical thickness rather than in cortical surface area.

Brain gray matter volume changes associated with motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease

Background:Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease.Most studies have found that the histopathological lesion is not only localized at the extrapyramidal area (basal ganglia) but also at the cortex in PD patients.Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) based on the voxel as a unit is described for quantitative detection of density and volume of brain tissue.In this study,VBM was used to investigate the brain gray matter changes associated with motor symptoms in PD patients.Methods:Twelve outpatients with PD and 12 healthy controls were recruited in our hospital from September 2013 to March 2014.VBM was performed on the whole brain of all subjects.Image processing and statistical analysis were performed using SPM8.A two-sample t test and multiple regression analysis were performed.Results were displayed with a threshold of P ＜ 0.01,corrected by false discovery rate (FDR) correction and cluster size ＞30 voxels.Results:Comparing control healthy subjects with the patients,the data showed that PD patients had reduced gray matter volume in the postcentral gyrus,the right supramarginal center,superior temporal gyrus,precentral gyrus,Brodmann area 41,transverse temporal gyrus,Brodmann area 3,and inferior parietal Iobule.The data also found that between gray matter volume and UPDRSIII in PD patients,there were negative correlations in the right middle frontal gyrus,BA06,right precentral gyrus,right superior frontal gyrus,and medial frontal gyrus,and between gray matter volume and Hoehn-Yahr (HY) in PD patients,there were negative correlations in the right middle frontal gyrus,right superior frontal gyrus,BA6,and right precentral gyrus.Conclusions:These data supported that extensive changes associated with motor symptoms in the gray matter volume was mainly located in the related area of movement,which had obvious relevance with the progression of PD.

Relationship between early nutrition and deep gray matter and lateral ventricular volumes of preterm infants at term-equivalent age

Background The survival of preterm infants has improved over the last decade,but impaired brain development leading to poor neurological outcomes is still a major comorbidity associated with prematurity.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutrition on neurodevelopment in preterm infants and identify markers for improved outcomes.Methods Totally 67 premature infants with a gestational age of 24–34 weeks and a birth weight of 450–2085 g were included.Clinical parameters and documented diet were collected from medical records.The nutritional analysis comprised the protein,fat,carbohydrate,and energy intake during different time spans.Brain development was assessed by determining deep gray matter(DGM;basal ganglia and thalamus)and lateral ventricular(LV)volumes as measured on cerebral magnetic resonance imaging scans obtained at term-equivalent age(TEA),and potential associations between nutrition and brain volumetrics were detected by regression analysis.Results We observed a negative correlation between mean daily protein intake in the third postnatal week and MRI-measured DGM volume at TEA(P=0.007).In contrast,head circumference at a corrected age of 35 weeks gestation(P<0.001)and mean daily fat intake in the fourth postnatal week(P=0.004)were positively correlated with DGM volume.Moreover,mean daily carbohydrate intake in the first postnatal week(P=0.010)and intraventricular hemorrhage(P=0.003)were revealed as independent predictors of LV volume.Conclusion The study emphasizes the importance of nutrition for brain development following preterm birth.

Correlations between cognitive function and gray matter alterations in patients with acute lacunar stroke

Researchers emphasized acute lacunar stroke(ALS)patients suffer from poor social/physical outcomes,cognitive decline,and decreased quality of life.We hypothesized brain abnormalities may occur in ALS during this particular stage and may be associated with cognitive deficits upon evaluation.We investigated structural abnormalities in ALS using magnetic resonance imaging and voxel-based morphometry conducted on 28 healthy controls(HC)and 29 patients with ALS and proximal anterior circulation occlusion within 12 hours of symptom onset.Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)scores were used to evaluate cognitive dysfunction.Decreased gray matter(GM)in ALS vs.HC was predominantly in the superior frontal gyrus,inferior frontal gyrus,insula,superior temporal gyrus(STG),heschl gyrus,middle temporal gyrus(MTG),posterior cingulate cortex(PCC),hippocampus(HIP),and others.Positive correlation was found between GM density and MMSE scores in STG(r=0.59,p=0.0007),MTG(r=0.46,p=0.01),PCC(r=0.42,p=0.02),HIP(r=0.4,p=0.03),and medial prefrontal cortex(r=0.5,p=0.005).This study provided further information on pathophysiological/morphological mechanisms related to cognitive impairment in ALS and is the basis for further studies in aging-related diseases.

Atlas-based deep gray matter and white matter analysis in Alzheimer's disease: diffusion abnormality and correlation with cognitive function

Objective To identify the diffusion alterations of deep gray matter(GM)and white matter(WM)among Alzheimer’s disease(AD),mild cognitive impairment(MCI)and healthy people by atlas-based analysis(ABA),and to investigate the respective relationship with cognitive function.Methods Twenty-one AD patients(AD group),8 MCI patients(MCI group)and

Differences in brain structure in patients with distinct sites of chronic pain:A voxel-based morphometric analysis

A reduction in gray matter volume is common in patients with chronic back pain, and different types of pain are associated with gray matter abnormalities in distinct brain regions. To examine differ- ences in brain morphology in patients with low back pain or neck and upper back pain, we investi- gated changes in gray matter volume in chronic back pain patients having different sites of pain using voxel-based morphometry. A reduction in cortical gray matter volume was found primarily in the left postcentral gyrus and in the left precuneus and bilateral cuneal cortex of patients with low back pain. In these patients, there was an increase in subcortical gray matter volume in the bilateral putamen and accumbens, right pallidum, right caudate nucleus, and left amygdala. In upper back pain patients, reduced cortical gray matter volume was found in the left precentral and left postcen- tral cortices. Our findings suggest that regional gray matter volume abnormalities in low back pain patients are more extensive than in upper back pain patients. Subcortical gray matter volume in- creases are found only in patients with low back pain.