Frontal Volume Research Articles

Computed tomography volumetric analysis of frontal sinus pneumatization and its effect on lateral lamella angle.

Anatomical associations between the frontal sinus and anterior skull base must be carefully understood in preoperative imaging to minimize surgical complications. This study aims to investigate the relationship between frontal sinus volume and lateral lamella angle. 150 computed tomography scans of paranasal sinuses (300 sides) were retrospectively reviewed. Pneumatization patterns were classified according to volume using a three-dimensional reconstruction analysis of the frontal sinuses. The angle formed between the lateral lamella and the horizontal plane in continuation with the cribriform plate was measured and grouped according to Gera classification based on the hypothetical risk of iatrogenic injury. Analysis of these measurements was conducted. A positive correlation was found between frontal sinus volume and lateral lamella angle. Hyperplastic frontal sinuses were the most prevalent followed by middle-sized sinuses. 5% of the frontal sinuses were aplastic. Lateral lamella angles ranging from 45 to 80 degrees (Gera class II) were the most common. Aplastic and hypoplastic frontal sinuses were common in subjects with less than 45 degrees lateral lamella angles (Gera class III). Males had significantly higher frontal sinus volumes and lateral lamella angles than females, while the influence of age was insignificant. Lateral lamella angles were significantly higher on the left side. The frontal sinus volume affects the lateral lamella angle. Larger frontal sinuses are associated with higher lateral lamella angles and vice versa. Understanding this anatomical relationship can help prevent surgical complications.

Middle frontal gyrus volume moderates the relationship between interleukin-1β and antidepressant response in major depressive disorder.

Inflammation is a leading biological risk factor contributing to unfavorable outcomes of major depressive disorder (MDD). Both inflammation and depression are associated with similar alterations in brain structure, indicating that brain structural alterations could serve as a mediating factor in the adverse influence of inflammation on clinical outcomes in MDD. Nonetheless, longitudinal research has yet to confirm this hypothesis. Therefore, this study aimed at elucidating the relationships between peripheral inflammatory cytokines, gray matter volume (GMV) alterations, and antidepressant response in MDD. We studied 104 MDD patients treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and 85 healthy controls (HCs). Antidepressant response was assessed after 8-week antidepressant treatment by changes in 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) scores. The GMV alterations were investigated using a voxel-based morphometry analysis. Inflammatory cytokines were measured using flow cytometry. Partial correlations were used to explore the relationships between inflammatory cytokines, GMV alterations, and antidepressant response. Compared to HCs, MDD patients showed reduced GMVs primarily in the frontal-limbic area, right insula, and right superior temporal gyrus. Furthermore, the alterations in GMVs, particularly in the right middle frontal gyrus and the left anterior cingulate gyrus, were associated with ΔHAMD-17 and inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, GMV alterations in the right middle frontal gyrus mediated the negative relationship between interleukin -1β and ΔHAMD-17. This study contributes to understanding the effect of inflammation on the brain and their relationships with antidepressant response, offering a potential explanation for the connection between inflammatory status and treatment efficacy.

A Comparative Study of Frontal and Cerebellar Lobe Volumes Between Patients With First-Episode Schizophrenia and Healthy Controls and Its Association With Psychopathology and Neurological Soft Signs in Patients.

Objectives Our study aimed to investigate the fronto-cerebellar volumes in both patients and controls, as well as explore their relationship with symptomatology. Our primary objectives were to compare the frontal and cerebellar lobe volumetric measurements between patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) and healthy controlsand to assess the relationship of these volumes with psychopathology, cognition, and neurological soft signs in FES patients. The secondary objective was to explore the association of fronto-cerebellar lobe volumes with socio-demographic factors among patients and controls, as well as the duration of untreated illness (DUI) among patients. Materials and methods This was a cross-sectional, case-control study involving 60 participants, including 30 antipsychotic-naïve FES patients and 30 healthy controls. Participants underwent MRI scanning to measure frontal and cerebellar lobe volumes using the volBrain platform. Additionally, FES patients were assessedusing the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B), and Brief Motor Scale (BMS). Pearson's correlation, independent sample t-tests, multivariate linear regression, and binomial logistic regression were used to analyze the relationships between brain volumes, clinical assessments, and socio-demographic factors. Results No significant differences in frontal volumes were found between the two groups, while cerebellar volumes were significantly smaller in FES patients (p=0.004), particularly in younger males (p=0.026). Frontal volumes were negatively correlated with age in both groups (p=0.012), which remained robust in patients even after controlling for their gender, education, and DUI (p=0.012, aR2=0.221). Cerebellar volume reduction was associated with a higher likelihood of being classified as a patient (p=0.029). BMS was significantly correlated with frontal lobe volumes, especially in motor sequencing (MoSe), after adjusting for age, gender, and education (p=0.009). BMS MoSe scores were also significantly positively correlated with the DUI (r=0.415, p=0.023) and PANSS-General Psychopathology (GP) (r=0.494, p=0.005). MoCA-B scores were significantly lower in females than males (p=0.016), while PANSS-GP was significantly negatively correlated with age (r=-0.432, p=0.017). Conclusion Frontal and cerebellar volumes were differentially impacted in FES, with cerebellar atrophy being a significant distinguishing feature of the disorder. Frontal atrophy was associated with motor dysfunction but did not appear to influence psychopathology or cognition significantly in the early stages. The independent effects of frontal and cerebellar volumes, as shown by the lack of correlation between them, may suggest that these brain regions undergo separate pathological processes in schizophrenia, with frontal functional changes impacting motor function and cerebellar structural changes contributing to broader psychiatric symptoms,thereby warranting further exploration involving larger sample size.

Inflammatory protein associations with brain MRI measures: Framingham Offspring Cohort.

Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and inflammatory biomarkers are crucial for investigating preclinical neurocognitive disorders. Current investigations focus on a few inflammatory markers. The study aims to investigate the associations between inflammatory biomarkers and MRI measures and to examine sex differences among the associations in the Framingham Heart Study. Dementia and stroke-free participants underwent OLINK Proteomics profiling and MRI measurements within 5 years. Pairwise cross-sectional analysis assessed 68 biomarkers with 13 brain MRI volumes, adjusting for covariates and familial correlations. Elevated CDCP1, IL6, OPG, and 4E.BP1 were related to smaller total cerebral brain volume (TCBV), whereas higher HGF, IL8, and MMP10 were associated with smaller TCBV, total and frontal white matter volumes. Higher SCF and TWEAK were associated with larger TCBV. In sex-stratified analyses, associations were observed exclusively among males. We report several associations between inflammatory biomarkers and brain volumes, highlighting different associations within sex subgroups. Higher CDCP1, IL6, OPG, and 4E.BP1 levels were associated with smaller TCBV. Higher levels of HGF, IL8 and MMP10 were associated with smaller TCBV, CWV and FWV. Higher levels of SCF and TWEAK, were associated with larger TCBV. Significance diminished in models adjusting for CVD risk factors. Associations were observed exclusively in males.

Association of open skill exercise and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid intake with brain volume changes among older community-dwelling Japanese individuals

Considering that a multifactorial lifestyle approach may prove more effective than a single factor approach to improve or maintain brain health, we evaluated the association of exercise (open skill exercise [OSE] or closed skill exercise [CSE]) combined with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFAs) (docosahexaenoic acid [C22:6n-3, DHA], eicosapentaenoic acid [C20:5n-3, EPA], and arachidonic acid [C20:4n-6, ARA]) intake with brain atrophy among older Japanese individuals (n = 795, aged 60–88 years) without a self-reported history of dementia based on the datasets of a two-year longitudinal study. Brain volumes were measured using three-dimensional T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging for follow-up periods of two years. The associations between multivariate-adjusted changes in brain volumes and OSE or CSE frequency (≥ once/month and < once/month) along with LCPUFA intake (≥ median and < median) at the baseline were assessed using a general linear model. Subgroup analysis was performed by restricting DHA and EPA intakes (n = 263; median, 323 mg/d), which represented levels similar to those in countries with low fish consumption. Higher OSE frequencies, ARA intakes, and their combination were inversely associated with decreases in total gray matter and frontal cortex volumes. In subgroup analysis, a combination of higher OSE frequencies and DHA intakes was also associated with a smaller decrease in total gray matter volume. Overall, our findings suggest that regular OSE engagement and appropriate LCPUFA intake may contribute to preventing brain volume decreases in older individuals.

Frontal brain volume correlates of impaired executive function in schizophrenia

Cognitive impairments affect functional capacity in individuals with schizophrenia (SZH), but their neural basis remains unclear. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), and the Stroop Task (SCWT), are paradigmatic tests which have been used extensively for examining executive function in SZH. However, few studies have explored how deficits on these tasks link to brain volume differences commonly seen in SZH. Here, for the first time, we tested associations between FreeSurfer-derived frontal brain volumes and performance on both WCST and SCWT, in a well-matched sample of 57 SZH and 32 control subjects. We also explored whether these associations were dissociable from links to symptom severity in SZH. Results revealed correlations between volumes and task performance which were unique to SZH. In SZH only, volumes of right middle frontal regions correlated with both WCST and Stroop performance: correlation coefficients were significantly different to those present in the control group, highlighting their specificity to the patient group. In the Stroop task, superior frontal regions also showed associations with Stroop interference scores which were unique to SZH. These findings provide important detail around how deficits on these two paradigmatic executive function tasks link to brain structural differences in SZH. Results align with converging evidence suggesting that neuropathology within right middle frontal regions (BA9 and BA46) might be of particular import in SZH. No volumetric associations with symptom severity were found, supporting the notion that the structural abnormalities underpinning cognitive deficits in SZH differ from those associated with symptomatology.

Automated Measurement of Cerebral Hemorrhagic Contusions and Outcomes After Traumatic Brain Injury in the TRACK-TBI Study

Because withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy based on perceived poor prognosis is the most common cause of death after moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), the accuracy of clinical prognoses is directly associated with mortality. Although the location of brain injury is known to be important for determining recovery potential after TBI, the best available prognostic models, such as the International Mission for Prognosis and Analysis of Clinical Trials in TBI (IMPACT) score, do not currently incorporate brain injury location. To test whether automated measurement of cerebral hemorrhagic contusion size and location is associated with improved prognostic performance of the IMPACT score. This prognostic cohort study was performed in 18 US level 1 trauma centers between February 26, 2014, and August 8, 2018. Adult participants aged 17 years or older from the US-based Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in TBI (TRACK-TBI) study with moderate or severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale score 3-12) and contusions detected on brain computed tomography (CT) scans were included. The data analysis was performed between January 2023 and February 2024. Labeled contusions detected on CT scans using Brain Lesion Analysis and Segmentation Tool for Computed Tomography (BLAST-CT), a validated artificial intelligence algorithm. The primary outcome was a Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE) score of 4 or less at 6 months after injury. Whether frontal or temporal lobe contusion volumes improved the performance of the IMPACT score was tested using logistic regression and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve comparisons. Sparse canonical correlation analysis was used to generate a disability heat map to visualize the strongest brainwide associations with outcomes. The cohort included 291 patients with moderate or severe TBI and contusions (mean [SD] age, 42 [18] years; 221 [76%] male; median [IQR] emergency department arrival Glasgow Coma Scale score, 5 [3-10]). Only temporal contusion volumes improved the discrimination of the IMPACT score (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.86 vs 0.84; P = .03). The data-derived disability heat map of contusion locations showed that the strongest association with unfavorable outcomes was within the bilateral temporal and medial frontal lobes. These findings suggest that CT-based automated contusion measurement may be an immediately translatable strategy for improving TBI prognostic models.

Association of sarcopenia with regional brain atrophy and white matter lesions in a general older population: the Hisayama Study.

Sarcopenia has been reported to be associated with cognitive decline and the risk of dementia. However, few studies have addressed the association between sarcopenia and brain morphological changes in the general population. A total of 1373 community-dwelling participants aged ≥ 65years underwent brain MRI. Sarcopenia was defined based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia's criteria. The pattern of regional gray matter volume loss associated with sarcopenia were assessed using a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis. Regional brain volumes, intracranial volumes (ICV), and white matter lesions volumes (WMLV) were also measured using FreeSurfer. An analysis of covariance was used to examine the associations of sarcopenia with regional brain volumes in proportion to ICV. Of the participants, 112 had sarcopenia. The participants with sarcopenia had significantly lower total brain volume/ICV and total gray matter volume/ICV and higher WMLV/ICV than those without sarcopenia after adjusting for confounders. In VBM, sarcopenia was associated with lower gray matter volume in the frontal lobe, insula, cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, amygdala, and basal ganglia. Using FreeSurfer, we confirmed that the participants with sarcopenia had significantly lower frontal, insular, cingulate, and hippocampal volumes than those without sarcopenia. The current study showed that participants with sarcopenia had significantly lower volume in the frontal lobe, insula, cingulate, and hippocampus and higher WMLV than participants without sarcopenia. As these brain regions are likely to play an important role in cognitive function, these changes may suggest a shared underlying mechanism for the progression of sarcopenia and cognitive decline.

Changes in paranasal sinus volumes, temporal bone pneumatization, internal acoustic canal and olfactory cleft dimensions over the centuries: a comparison of skulls from different epochs in Anatolia

ObjectivesInvestigating changes in temporal bone pneumatization (TBP) and paranasal sinus volumes (PSV) across different eras may help understanding not only changes in skull anatomy but also pathophysiology of chronic otitis media and sinusitis, respectively, which are common health problems.MethodsEight skulls from the second century AD, 20 skulls were from the 10th–11th centuries AD, 20 skulls from the 16th–19th centuries AD, and 60 contemporary skulls were included in this cross-sectional observational study. Using computerized tomography (CT) scans, the PSV were calculated by multiplying the height, width, and antero-posterior distance of the sinuses. TBP was divided into three types. Internal acoustic canal (IAC) length and width, and olfactory cleft (OC) width were measured.ResultsNo statistically significant differences were found between the paranasal sinus (frontal, maxillary, and sphenoid) volumes between the groups. However, TBP decreased statistically significantly over time on both sides of the skulls (p = 0.001). The contemporary IAC and OC measures were found to be significantly lower on both sides compared to the skulls from the other three eras (p < 0.001 for both).ConclusionsAlthough no significant change was observed in PSV, decreases were evident in TBP, OC width and IAC length and width over time. It appears a fair inference that changes in size of OC and IAC might be another indication of the fact that olfaction and hearing were more vital for survival in old eras. Since we do not know incidence of chronic ear problems in old eras, we cannot speculate outcome of increased TBP in terms of developing chronic ear diseases. On the contrary, increased TBP was likely to play a protective role in traumas in old ears. Additionally, the environmental influences may be crucial role in the development of paranasal sinuses.

Aerobic exercise improves cognitive flexibility and modulates regional volume changes in a rat model of autism

Gestational exposure to valproic acid (VPA) is a risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Rodents exposed to VPA in utero display common features of ASD, including volumetric dysregulation in higher-order cognitive regions like the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and the hippocampus. Exercise has been shown in elderly populations to boost cognition and to buffer against brain volume losses with age. This study employed an adolescent treadmill exercise intervention to facilitate cognitive flexibility and regional brain volume regulation in rats exposed to VPA during gestation. It was found that exercise improved performance on extra-dimensional shifts of attention on a set-shifting task, which is indicative of improved cognitive flexibility. Exercise decreased frontal cortex volume in females, whereas in males exercise increased the ventral hippocampus. These findings suggest that aerobic exercise may be an effective intervention to counteract the altered development of prefrontal and hippocampal regions often observed in ASD.

Baseline Frontoparietal Gray Matter Volume Predicts Executive Function Performance in Aging and Mild Cognitive Impairment at 24-Month Follow-Up.

Executive dysfunction in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been associated with gray matter atrophy. Prior studies have yielded limited insight into associations between gray matter volume and executive function in early and late amnestic MCI (aMCI). To examine the relative importance of predictors of executive function at 24 months and relationships between baseline regional gray matter volume and executive function performance at 24-month follow-up in non-demented older adults. 147 participants from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (mean age = 70.6 years) completed brain magnetic resonance imaging and neuropsychological testing and were classified as cognitively normal (n = 49), early aMCI (n = 60), or late aMCI (n = 38). Analyses explored the importance of demographic, APOEɛ4, biomarker (p-tau/Aβ42, t-tau/Aβ42), and gray matter regions-of-interest (ROI) variables to 24-month executive function, whether ROIs predicted executive function, and whether relationships varied by baseline diagnostic status. Across all participants, baseline anterior cingulate cortex and superior parietal lobule volumes were the strongest predictors of 24-month executive function performance. In early aMCI, anterior cingulate cortex volume was the strongest predictor and demonstrated a significant interaction such that lower volume related to worse 24-month executive function in early aMCI. Educational attainment and inferior frontal gyrus volume were the strongest predictors of 24-month executive function performance for cognitively normal and late aMCI groups, respectively. Baseline frontoparietal gray matter regions were significant predictors of executive function performance in the context of aMCI and may identify those at risk of Alzheimer's disease. Anterior cingulate cortex volume may predict executive function performance in early aMCI.

Dynamic radiologic changes in repeated barotraumatic frontal sinusitis: A CARE case report

IntroductionFlight staff are at particular risk of iterative sinus barotrauma. We here report a case of barotraumatic atelectasic frontal sinusitis with dynamic radiologic change in frontal sinus volume. Case reportA 46-year-old air pilot was referred for right frontal pain occurring at each landing. Two sinus CT scans were taken: one after a period of intense flying and the other after a month without flying. In the right frontal sinus, a type-3 Kuhn cell changed in volume from 6×11×12mm to 13×18×19mm. The alteration involved a modification in the medial wall, which was demineralized and changed position within the frontal sinus. Removal during endoscopic frontal sinusotomy allowed complete resolution of pain. DiscussionThis article reports radiologic change in a frontal sinus wall in a setting of repeated barotraumatic frontal sinusitis with a dynamic atelectasic component. In iterative barotrauma, we advocate imaging at different time points. When the ostial obstruction is identified, functional aeration surgery can be applied.

Gray matter volume mediates the association of long-term blood pressure variability with cognitive function in an adult population.

We delineated the associations among long-term blood pressure variability (BPV), brain structure, and cognitive function. We included 1254 adult participants from the Kailuan study. BPV was calculated from 2006 to 2020. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were conducted in 2020. Higher systolic BPV (SBPV) and diastolic BPV (DBPV) were associated with lower total and frontal gray matter (GM) volume, and higher SBPV was associated with lower temporal GM volume. Elevated DBPV was associated with lower volume of total brain and parietal GM, and higher white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume. Higher SBPV and DBPV were associated with lower MoCA scores. Decreased total and regional GM volume and increased WMH volume were associated with lower MoCA scores. The association between SBPV and cognitive function was mediated by total, frontal, and temporal GM volume. GM volume may play key roles in the association between SBPV and cognitive function. SBPV and DBPV were negatively associated with total and regional brain volume. SBPV and DBPV were negatively associated with cognitive function. Decreased brain volume was associated with cognitive decline. GM volume mediated the negative association between SBPV and cognitive function.

The Effect of Computerized Cognitive Training, with and without Exercise, on Cortical Volume and Thickness and Its Association with Gait Speed in Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Slower walking is associated with changes in cortical volume and thickness. Computerized cognitive training (CCT) and exercise improve cortical volume and thickness and thus, may promote gait speed. Slowing of gait is predictive of Alzheimer's disease. To examine: 1) the effect of CCT, with or without physical exercise, on cortical volume and thickness and; 2) the association of changes in cortical volume and thickness with changes in gait speed. A subset of 124 adults (n = 53), aged 65-85 years, enrolled in an 8-week randomized controlled trial and completed T1-weighted MRI and 4-meter walk at baseline and 8 weeks. Participants were randomized to: 1) active control (BAT; n = 19); 2) CCT (n = 17); or 3) CCT preceded by exercise (Ex-CCT; n = 17). Change in cortical volume and thickness were assessed and compared across all groups using Freesurfer. BAT versus CCT increased left rostral middle frontal gyrus volume (p = 0.027) and superior temporal gyrus thickness (p = 0.039). Ex-CCT versus CCT increased left cuneus thickness (p < 0.001) and right post central gyrus thickness (p = 0.005), and volume (p < 0.001). Ex-CCT versus BAT increased left (p = 0.001) and right (p = 0.020) superior parietal gyri thickness. There were no significant between-group differences in gait speed (p > 0.175). Increased left superior parietal volume (p = 0.036, r = 0.340) and thickness (p = 0.002, r = 0.348), right post central volume (p = .017, r = 0.341) and thickness (p = 0.001, r = 0.348), left banks of superior temporal sulcus thickness (p = 0.002, r = 0.356), and left precuneus thickness (p < 0.001, r = 0.346) were associated with increased gait speed. CCT with physical exercise, but not CCT alone, improves cortical volume and thickness in older adults. These changes may contribute to the maintenance of gait speed in aging.

Computed Tomography Evaluation of Frontal Sinus Volume in Migraine Patients.

This study aimed to assess the frontal sinus volume (FSV) on computed tomography (CT) scans in migraine patients. Cranial and paranasal CT images from 75 migraine patients (mean age: 39.14±13.63y) and 23 control cases (mean age: 38.78±13.32y) were analyzed retrospectively. Three-dimensionally reconstructed images of frontal sinuses were generated. Total FSV, anterolateral, and transverse diameters of the head were measured. The presence/absence and nature of supraorbital foramen and notches were evaluated. The total FSV was 8.02±5.97cm 3 in the migraine group and 8.38±4.83cm 3 in the control group, with no significant differences between them. Mean FSV values showed no statistically significant difference between females (7.79±5.85cm 3 ) and males (9.12±6.66cm 3 ) within and between the groups. Single notch was the most observed structure in both groups, with bilateral presence being the most common. Double foramen and notch were observed only in the migraine group, and the coexistence of both structures was higher in the migraine patients than in controls. There was no statistical difference in FSV between migraine and control groups, nor based on sex. Overall, the frontal region anatomy, particularly the exit locations of the supraorbital or supratrochlear foramen/notches, may be influenced by hyperplasia/hypoplasia of FSV. Therefore, assessing FSV using CT may be crucial for surgical planning in migraine patients undergoing open or endoscopic approaches to the frontal region.

Cardiovascular disease risk exacerbates brain aging among Hispanic/Latino adults in the SOL-INCA-MRI Study.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are highly prevalent among Hispanic/Latino adults, while the prevalence of MRI infarcts is not well-documented. We, therefore, sought to examine the relationships between CVD risk factors and infarcts with brain structure among Hispanic/Latino individuals. Participants included 1,886 Hispanic/Latino adults (50-85 years) who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as part of the Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging-MRI (SOL-INCA-MRI) study. CVD risk was measured approximately 10.5 years before MRI using the Framingham cardiovascular risk score, a measure of 10-year CVD risk (low (<10%), medium (10- < 20%), and high (≥20%)). MR infarcts were determined as present or absent. Outcomes included total brain, cerebral and lobar cortical gray matter, hippocampal, lateral ventricle, and total white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes. Linear regression models tested associations between CVD risk and infarct with MRI outcomes and for modifications by age and sex. Sixty percent of participants were at medium or high CVD risk. Medium and high CVD risk were associated with lower total brain and frontal gray matter and higher WMH volumes compared to those with low CVD risk. High CVD risk was additionally associated with lower total cortical gray matter and parietal volumes and larger lateral ventricle volumes. Men tended to have greater CVDRF-related differences in total brain volumes than women. The association of CVD risk factors on total brain volumes increased with age, equal to an approximate 7-year increase in total brain aging among the high-CVD-risk group compared to the low-risk group. The presence of infarct(s) was associated with lower total brain volumes, which was equal to an approximate 5-year increase in brain aging compared to individuals without infarcts. Infarcts were also associated with smaller total cortical gray matter, frontal and parietal volumes, and larger lateral ventricle and WMH volumes. The high prevalence of CVD risk among Hispanic/Latino adults may be associated with accelerated brain aging.

Experimental investigation on frosting performance of a microchannel heat exchanger in heat pump system for electric vehicles

Frosting of outdoor heat exchangers deteriorates the heat transfer performance of the electric vehicle (EV) heat pump system. The frosting performance of the outdoor heat exchanger in an EV heat pump air-conditioning system was investigated experimentally, considering different flow configurations, tube arrangements, and frontal air volume. The purpose of the study was to establish the optimal tube arrangements and flow configurations for minimizing frost formation and maximizing system performance. The results indicate that a three-flow configuration outperforms a two-flow setup under frosting conditions. Specifically, a flow sequence of 14-21-35 increases the heat capacity by 15.05 %–20.64 % compared to that of the reverse flow of 35-21-14. Additionally, the coefficient of performance (COP) increases by 1.19 %–3.55 %. Higher airflow reduces frost formation. A significant correlation exists between the refrigerant distribution within the heat exchanger and the corresponding frost distribution on the surface of the microchannel heat exchanger. The frost formation rate was slower for the flat tube vertical arrangement. Furthermore, horizontal tube arrangements were more conductive than vertical ones, providing a more uniform temperature distribution and higher heat transfer rates (an increase of 2.7% in heat transfer and 3.4% in heat capacity). The COP of the vertical arrangement system was consistently higher than that of the horizontal arrangement by 1.4 %–3 %.

Neighborhood disadvantage is associated with working memory and hippocampal volumes among older adults

ABSTRACT It is not well understood how neighborhood disadvantage is associated with specific domains of cognitive function and underlying brain health within older adults. Thus, the objective was to examine associations between neighborhood disadvantage, brain health, and cognitive performance, and examine whether associations were more pronounced among women. The study included 136 older adults who underwent cognitive testing and MRI. Neighborhood disadvantage was characterized using the Area Deprivation Index (ADI). Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and multiple regressions were run. Multiple regressions, adjusted for age, sex, education, and depression, showed that higher ADI state rankings (greater disadvantage) were associated with poorer working memory performance (p < .01) and lower hippocampal volumes (p < .01), but not total, frontal, and white matter lesion volumes, nor visual and verbal memory performance. There were no significant sex interactions. Findings suggest that greater neighborhood disadvantage may play a role in working memory and underlying brain structure.

Culture, prefrontal volume, and memory.

Prior cross-cultural studies have demonstrated differences among Eastern and Western cultures in memory and cognition along with variation in neuroanatomy and functional engagement. We further probed cultural neuroanatomical variability in terms of its relationship with memory performance. Specifically, we investigated how memory performance related to gray matter volume in several prefrontal lobe structures, including across cultures. For 58 American and 57 Taiwanese young adults, memory performance was measured with the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) using performance on learning trial 1, on which Americans had higher scores than the Taiwanese, and the long delayed free recall task, on which groups performed similarly. MRI data were reconstructed using FreeSurfer. Across both cultures, we observed that larger volumes of the bilateral rostral anterior cingulate were associated with lower scores on both CVLT tasks. In terms of effects of culture, the relationship between learning trial 1 scores and gray matter volumes in the right superior frontal gyrus had a trend for a positive relationship in Taiwanese but not in Americans. In addition to the a priori analysis of select frontal volumes, an exploratory whole-brain analysis compared volumes-without considering CVLT performance-across the two cultural groups in order to assess convergence with prior research. Several cultural differences were found, such that Americans had larger volumes in the bilateral superior frontal and lateral occipital cortex, whereas Taiwanese had larger volumes in the bilateral rostral middle frontal and inferior temporal cortex, and the right precuneus.

Sex estimation of frontal sinus volume from computed tomography scans in a Western Australian adult population.

With the increasing use of radiological three-dimensional imaging, different metric and morphological aspects of the frontal sinuses (FS) have been examined relative to their potential to aid human identification, including sex estimation. The aim of this study is to assess the validity of the metric analysis of the FS volume for estimating sex in a Western Australian (WA) adult population, following the Michel et al. (2015) method. The right, left and total frontal sinus volume (TFSV) from 99 computed tomography scans (47 males and 52 females) of WA individuals aged 18-40 years were three-dimensionally reconstructed using OsiriX® and their volumes acquired in mm3. Sexual dimorphism in the TFSV was tested, and the accuracy of the Michel et al. (2015) formulae was calculated. Population-specific regression equations were also produced. There was a significant difference between the mean TFSV in males and females. The classification accuracy derived from the Michel et al. (2015) formulae was 59.6%. The WA-specific logistic regression analysis yielded an accuracy of 57.2%. The low accuracy rates preclude the use of the sex estimation method in the WA population, but the volume analysis confirmed the individual variability of the frontal sinuses, which may be useful for personal identification.