Left Thalamus Research Articles

Disorganized thalamic subregional functional connectivity in bipolar I disorder.

Thalamus plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric conditions due to its strategic position and intricate connectivity with the cerebral cortex, limbic system, and other subcortical structures. In the present study, the potential involvement of the thalamus and subregions of the thalamus are explored in bipolar disorder (BD). In particular, functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 73 adult patients with BD-I and 78 healthy controls (HCs). Seed-based thalamus and thalamic subregional functional connectivity (FC) were compared between the BD-I patients and HCs. Compared to HCs, patients with BD-I showed higher FC between the left thalamus and right lingual gyrus and altered FC between the dorsal thalamus and the default mode network and prefrontal regions, which may be correlated with mania symptomatology. In patients with BD-I, the anterior subregions of the thalamus had higher FC than the posterior subregions. No significant difference in gray matter volume or local functional activity was found in the thalamus and thalamic subregions between BD-I and HC. These findings provide evidence of disorganized thalamocortical FC in BD-I, suggesting that the thalamus and its subregions may play important and specific roles in the neural circuitry of BD.

Alterations of subcortical structure volume in pediatric bipolar disorder patients with manic or depressive first-episode

BackgroundBipolar disorder may begin as depression or mania, which can affect the treatment and prognosis. The physiological and pathological differences among pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) patients with different onset symptoms are not clear. The aims of the present study were to investigate subcortical structural alterations in PBD patients with first-episode depressive (PBD-FED) and first-episode manic (PBD-FEM).MethodsA total of 59 individuals including 28 PBD-FED, 13 PBD-FEM, and 18 healthy controls (HCs) underwent high-resolution structural magnetic resonance scans. FreeSurfer 7.2 was used to detect changes in subcortical volumes. Simultaneously, thalamic, hippocampal, and amygdala subregion volumes were compared between the three groups.ResultsAnalysis of covariance controlling for age, sex, education, and estimated intracranial volume shows third and fourth ventricle enlargement in patients with PBD. Compared with the PBD-FED and HCs, the PBD-FEM group had reduced gray matter volume in the left thalamus, bilateral hippocampus, and right amygdala. Subsequent subregion analyses showed right cortico-amygdaloid transient, bilateral accessory-basal nucleus, left hippocampal tail, right hippocampal head, and body volume reduction in the PBD-FEM group.ConclusionsThe present findings provided evidence of decreased subcortical structure in PBD-FEM patients, which might present its trait feature.

Neurological and Systemic Pitfalls in the Diagnosis of Cluster Headaches: A Case-Based Review.

To describe different pitfalls in the diagnosis of primary cluster headaches (CHs) with the guidance of seven case vignettes. The question of whether primary CHs and migraines are totally different entities has been long debated. Autonomic features can be detected in as many as 60% of migraine patients. Although some genetic similarities have been found, CACNA1A mutations have not been detected among CH patients with hemimotor aura in contrast to hemiplegic migraine. Recently, functional MRI studies have shown that the left thalamic network was the most discriminative MRI feature in distinguishing migraine from CH patients. Compared to migraine, CH patients showed decreased functional interaction between the left thalamus and cortical areas mediating interception and sensory integration. However, clinically the most significant feature had been the restlessness and agitation seen during headache attacks patients with CHs. This feature is also important in distinguishing cluster patients from other patients having other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias except for a subset of patients with hemicrania continua. CH is an important member of the group of headache disorders characterized by their association with one or more autonomic features in the trigeminal nerve distribution and termed Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias (TACs). Although CH is a relatively rare condition, judged by the distress it generally causes to the affected individual, early diagnosis and institution of appropriate therapy seem mandatory. Correct diagnosis of CHs needs avoidance of pitfalls. Such pitfalls generally include differentiation from migraine, differentiation from other side locked headache disorders, from other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs), and lastly, recognition of rare presentations of cluster-like manifestations with hemiplegic aura and simulating trigeminal and glossopharyngeal neuralgias. Differentiation between primary and symptomatic CHs related to sellar pathologies and systemic medical conditions is of equal importance. In the present review such issues are discussed with the assistance of seven case vignettes.

Abnormal changes in neuropsychological function, brain structure and cerebral perfusion in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) often experience emotional changes and cognitive impairments. However, the specific mechanisms underlying these impairments are still not fully understood. In the present study, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and surface-based morphometry (SBM) were employed to investigate structural alterations in 49 patients diagnosed with UIAs compared with 50 healthy controls. Additionally, this study aimed to analyze the correlations among cortical morphological indices, cerebral blood perfusion values and neuropsychological test results. Compared with control group, UIA patients exhibited increased gray matter volume in the right anterior orbitofrontal cortex and decreased gray matter volume in the left thalamus pulvinar and hippocampus. Furthermore, the fractal dimension was lower in the right postcentral gyrus and entorhinal cortex. The cerebral perfusion values in the abnormal brain regions demonstrated a downward trend, which was associated with a reduction in gray matter volume in the left thalamus pulvinar and hippocampus, elevated anxiety levels and impaired executive function. UIA patients are prone to cognitive impairment and emotional dysregulation, which are accompanied by subtle changes in local gray matter volume and decreases in fractal dimension and cerebral blood flow. These findings provide new insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the cognitive impairment observed in UIA patients.

The possible connection between neutrophil-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio and cerebral perfusion in clinically established corticobasal syndrome: a pilot study.

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal syndrome (CBS) are tauopathic atypical parkinsonisms. Given their overlap in terms of clinical manifestation, there is growing interest in the mechanisms leading to these entities. In total, 71 patients were included in the study, 19 of whom were clinically diagnosed with CBS, 37 with PSP, and 15 with Parkinson's disease (PD). The mean ages of the participants were 72.8, 72.9, and 64.0 years, respectively, and the disease duration varied from 3 to 6 years. Each individual underwent blood collection. Morphological and biochemical evaluation of blood samples was performed to analyze the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and neutrophil-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio (NHR). A single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with technetium-99m hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (99Tc-HMPAO) tracer was used to assess perfusion in two regions of interest (ROI): the thalamus and insula. Using Pearson correlation to assess the linear relationship between NHR and perfusion in the insula and thalamus for CBS, PSP, and PD patients, the authors intended to verify possible correlations between NLR, PLR, and NHR and perfusion in the indicated ROIs. The study revealed a negative linear correlation between NHR and perfusion of both the left (Insula L; R = -0.59) and right (Insula R; R = -0.58) insula regions. Similar to the insula, a linear correlation between NHR and activity in both the left (Thalamus L) and right (Thalamus R) thalamus regions in CBS subjects with a relatively stronger correlation in the right thalamus (R = -0.64 vs. R = -0.58) was found. These observations were not confirmed in PSP and PD patients. Simultaneously using non-specific parameters for peripheral inflammation (NLR, PLR, and NHR) and perfusion, SPECT may be an interesting beginning point for further analysis of inflammatory disease mechanisms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to address the potential correlation between the peripheral neuroinflammatory markers NLR, PLR, and NHR and perfusion disturbances in particular ROIs.

Comparison of Resting-State Functional Connectivity Between Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder: Differences in the Nucleus Accumbens and Thalamus Network.

Background: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) are distinguished by whether anxiety is limited to social situations. However, reports on the differences in brain functional networks between GAD and SAD are few. Our objective is to understand the pathogenesis of GAD and SAD by examining the differences in resting brain function between patients with GAD and SAD and healthy controls (HCs). Methods: This study included 21 patients with SAD, 17 patients with GAD, and 30 HCs. Participants underwent psychological assessments and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Whole-brain analyses were performed to compare resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) among the groups. In addition, logistic regression analysis was conducted on the rsFC to identify significant differences between GAD and SAD. Results: Patients with SAD and GAD had significantly higher rsFC between the bilateral postcentral gyri and bilateral amygdalae/thalami than HCs. Compared with patients with SAD, those with GAD had significantly higher rsFC between the right nucleus accumbens and bilateral thalami and between the left nucleus accumbens and right thalamus. rsFC between the left nucleus accumbens and right thalamus positively correlated with state anxiety in patients with SAD and GAD, respectively. In addition, logistic regression analysis revealed that the right nucleus accumbens and the right thalamus connectivity could distinguish SAD from GAD. Conclusions: GAD and SAD were distinguished by the right nucleus accumbens and the right thalamus connectivity. Our findings offer insights into the disease-specific neural basis of SAD and GAD. Clinical Trial Registration Number: UMIN000024087. Impact Statement This study is the first to identify a resting state functional connectivity that distinguishes social anxiety disorder (SAD) from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and to clarify a common connectivity in both disorders. We found that the connectivity between the right nucleus accumbens and the right thalamus differentiated SAD from GAD. Furthermore, these rsFC differences suggest an underlying basis for fear overgeneralization. Our findings shed light on the pathophysiology of these conditions and could be used as a basis for further studies to improve outcomes for such patients.

Exploring the Neural Mechanisms of Mirrored-Self Misidentification in Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative condition that causes a range of cognitive disturbances, including mirror-self misidentification syndrome (MSM), in which patients cannot recognize themselves in a mirror. However, the mechanism of action of MSM is not precisely known. This study aimed to explore the possible neural mechanisms of action of MSM in AD using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). This study included 48 AD patients, 13 in the MSM group and 35 in the non-MSM group. The permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was quantitatively monitored by measuring the transfer rate (Ktrans) of the contrast agent from the vasculature to the surrounding tissue using DCE-MRI. The concentration of contrast agents in different brain regions was measured, and the Patlak model was used to calculate Ktrans. Ktrans values were compared between the left and right cerebral hemispheres in different brain areas between the MSM and non-MSM groups. Additionally, the difference in Ktrans values between mild and severe MSM was assessed. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the risk factors for MSM. The Mann‒Whitney U test was used to compare two groups and revealed elevated Ktrans values in the left thalamus, left putamen, left globus pallidus, left corona radiata, and right caudate in the MSM group (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that increased Ktrans values in the left putamen (OR=1.53, 95% CI=1.04, 2.26) and left globus pallidus (OR=1.54, 95% CI=1.02, 2.31) may be risk factors for MSM. After dividing MSM patients into mild and moderate-severe groups, the Ktrans values of the thalamus in the moderate-severe group were greater than those in the mild group (p<0.05). Our study revealed the relationship between BBB permeability and MSM in AD. MSM is associated with BBB breakdown in the left putamen and globus pallidus. The left putamen and globus pallidus may function in mirror self-recognition. Higher BBB permeability in the thalamus may reflect the severity of AD in MSM.

Association between subcortical nuclei volume changes and cognition in preschool-aged children with tetralogy of Fallot after corrective surgery: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundNeurocognitive disorders frequently occur in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) because of the hemodynamic abnormalities induced by preoperative cardiac structural changes. We aimed to evaluate subcortical nuclei volume changes and cognition in postoperative tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) children, and analyze their relationship with preoperative cardiac structural changes.MethodsThis case-control study involved thirty-six children with repaired TOF and twenty-nine healthy controls (HCs). We utilized three-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted high-resolution structural images alongside the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV) to evaluate the cognitive differences between the TOF and HC group.ResultsWe observed notable differences in subcortical nuclei volume between the TOF and HC group, specifically in the left amygdala nucleus (LAM, TOF: 1292.60 ± 155.57; HC: 1436.27 ± 140.62, p < 0.001), left thalamus proper nucleus (LTHA, TOF: 6771.54 ± 666.03; HC: 7435.36 ± 532.84, p < 0.001), and right thalamus proper nucleus (RTHA, TOF: 6514.61 ± 715.23; HC: 7162.94 ± 554.60, p < 0.001). Furthermore, a diminished integrity of LAM ( β:-19.828, 95% CI: -36.462, -3.193), which showed an inverse relationship with the size of the preoperative ventricular septal defect (VSD), correlated with lower working memory indices in children with TOF.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that subcortical nuclei structural injuries possibly potentially stemming from cardiac anatomical abnormalities, are associated with impaired working memory in preschool-aged children with TOF. The LAM in particular may serve as a potential biomarker for neurocognitive deficits in TOF, offering predictive value for future neurodevelopmental outcomes, and shedding light on the neurophysiological mechanisms of these cognitive impairments.

EEG Findings in a Patient with Holmes Tremor after AVM Surgery: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Holmes tremor (HT) is a rare motor disorder characterized by high-amplitude and low-frequency resting, intentional, and postural tremors. HT typically arises from disruptions in neural pathways, including the dopaminergic system. Its causes include cerebrovascular incidents, neoplasms, demyelination, and infections. Diagnosis involves thorough clinical, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging assessments. Our report details the clinical profile, neuroimaging and EEG results and levodopa treatment response of an HT patient after cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) surgery. Case Report: A female patient who underwent AVM surgery developed head tremor and dystonia. Neuroimaging revealed left thalamus involvement. Video electroencephalography (EEG) revealed high-amplitude, low-frequency tremors. The patient responded well to levodopa treatment. Conclusions: Involuntary rhythmic or non-rhythmic movements are a primary clinical feature of HT. A differential diagnosis of epilepsy and HT can be achieved through neurophysiological monitoring, avoiding the overuse of antiepileptic drugs. Symptoms can be alleviated with levodopa intervention.

Abnormal dynamic features of spontaneous brain activity and their concordance in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder related optic neuritis: A resting-state fMRI study

ObjectiveCharacterizing the neuropathological features of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder-related optic neuritis (NMOSD-ON) is crucial for understanding its mechanisms. Given the important role of dynamic features in the brain’s functional architecture, we aim to investigate the dynamic features of spontaneous brain activity and their concordance using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) in NMOSD-ON. MethodsFourteen NMOSD-ON patients and 21 healthy controls (HCs) underwent rs-fMRI and ophthalmological examinations. Five dynamic indices depicting different aspects of functional characteristics were calculated using a sliding window method based on rs-fMRI data. Kendall’s coefficient was utilized to measure concordance among these indices at each time point. The differences of dynamic features between two groups were evaluated using two-sample t-tests, with correlations explored between altered dynamics and clinical parameters. ResultsCompared to HCs, NMOSD-ON patients exhibited significant decreases in dynamic regional homogeneity (dReHo) and dynamic degree centrality (dDC) in visual regions, including bilateral cuneus, lingual gyrus, calcarine sulcus, and occipital gyrus. Conversely, increases were observed in left insula, left thalamus, and bilateral caudate. The concordance of NMOSD-ON patients was significantly lower than HCs. The dReHo of right cuneus negatively correlated with mean deviation of visual field (r = -0.591, p = 0.026) and the dReHo of left cuneus negatively correlated with disease duration (r = -0.588, p = 0.030). ConclusionThe evidence suggests that regional dynamic functional alterations involving vision, emotional processing, and cognitive control may provide a new understanding of brain changes in the progression of NMOSD-ON.

Accurate Whole-Brain Image Enhancement for Low-Dose Integrated PET/MR Imaging Through Spatial Brain Transformation.

Positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) systems can provide precise anatomical and functional information with exceptional sensitivity and accuracy for neurological disorder detection. Nevertheless, the radiation exposure risks and economic costs of radiopharmaceuticals may pose significant burdens on patients. To mitigate image quality degradation during low-dose PET imaging, we proposed a novel 3D network equipped with a spatial brain transform (SBF) module for low-dose whole-brain PET and MR images to synthesize high-quality PET images. The FreeSurfer toolkit was applied to derive the spatial brain anatomical alignment information, which was then fused with low-dose PET and MR features through the SBF module. Moreover, several deep learning methods were employed as comparison measures to evaluate the model performance, with the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity (SSIM) and Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) serving as quantitative metrics. Both the visual results and quantitative results illustrated the effectiveness of our approach. The obtained PSNR and SSIM were 41.96 ± 4.91 dB (p < 0.01) and 0.9654 ± 0.0215 (p < 0.01), which achieved a 19% and 20% improvement, respectively, compared to the original low-dose brain PET images. The volume of interest (VOI) analysis of brain regions such as the left thalamus (PCC = 0.959) also showed that the proposed method could achieve a more accurate standardized uptake value (SUV) distribution while preserving the details of brain structures. In future works, we hope to apply our method to other multimodal systems, such as PET/CT, to assist clinical brain disease diagnosis and treatment.

Coma Due to Artery of Percheron Infarction: An Unusual Case Report

Ischemic stroke attributable to obstruction of the artery of Percheron (AOP), an infrequent anatomical arterial variant perfusing both medial thalami, can pose difficult diagnostic challenges. Obstruction or occlusion of the AOP results in bilateral paramedian thalamic infarction which is an unusual and rare vascular cause of coma. We present a 65-year-old male patient who came to the emergency department with altered sensorium for 10 days. The initial computed tomography (CT) brain was normal, followed by subsequent CT revealing an ill-defined hypodensity in the ventromedial aspect of the left thalamus and ventral aspect of the midbrain. T2/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging illustrated hyperintensity in the mesencephalon and bilateral paramedian thalami with restricted diffusion, suggesting an AOP infarct.

Structural and functional connectivity in relation to executive functions in antipsychotic-naïve patients with first episode schizophrenia

Patients with schizophrenia exhibit structural and functional dysconnectivity but the relationship to the well-documented cognitive impairments is less clear. This study investigates associations between structural and functional connectivity and executive functions in antipsychotic-naïve patients experiencing schizophrenia. Sixty-four patients with schizophrenia and 95 matched controls underwent cognitive testing, diffusion weighted imaging and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging. In the primary analyses, groupwise interactions between structural connectivity as measured by fixel-based analyses and executive functions were investigated using multivariate linear regression analyses. For significant structural connections, secondary analyses examined whether functional connectivity and associations with executive functions also differed for the two groups. In group comparisons, patients exhibited cognitive impairments across all executive functions compared to controls (p < 0.001), but no group difference were observed in the fixel-based measures. Primary analyses revealed a groupwise interaction between planning abilities and fixel-based measures in the left anterior thalamic radiation (p = 0.004), as well as interactions between cognitive flexibility and fixel-based measures in the isthmus of corpus callosum and cingulum (p = 0.049). Secondary analyses revealed increased functional connectivity between grey matter regions connected by the left anterior thalamic radiation (left thalamus with pars opercularis p = 0.018, and pars orbitalis p = 0.003) in patients compared to controls. Moreover, a groupwise interaction was observed between cognitive flexibility and functional connectivity between contralateral regions connected by the isthmus (precuneus p = 0.028, postcentral p = 0.012), all p-values corrected for multiple comparisons. We conclude that structural and functional connectivity appear to associate with executive functions differently in antipsychotic-naïve patients with schizophrenia compared to controls.

Patterns of the left thalamus embedding into the connectome associated with reading skills in children with reading disabilities

Abstract We examined how the connectivity structure of left thalamus, especially thalamo-cortical connections, are reflected in children’s reading performance. Diffusion-weighted MRI at 3T and a series of reading measures were collected from 64 children ages from 8 to 14 years, 33 girls and 31 boys. The topological properties of the left thalamus were computed based on the whole-brain white matter network and a hub-attached reading network, and correlated with reading scores. Significant correlations between topological metrics of the left thalamus and reading scores were observed only in the hub-attached reading network. Two efficiency measures were negatively correlated with rapid automatized naming. Transmission cost was positively correlated with phonemic decoding, and this correlation was independent of efficiency scores. A validation analysis using an independent dataset replicated most of the findings, except for the correlation between local efficiency of the thalamus and rapid automatized naming. Our result highlights the role of the left thalamus and thalamo-cortical network in understanding the neurocognitive bases of skilled reading and dyslexia in children.

Development and Validation of Artificial Intelligence Models for Prognosis Prediction of Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy with Clinical and Radiological Features.

Background: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is a common adolescent epilepsy characterized by myoclonic, generalized tonic-clonic, and sometimes absence seizures. Prognosis varies, with many patients experiencing relapse despite pharmacological treatment. Recent advances in imaging and artificial intelligence suggest that combining microstructural brain changes with traditional clinical variables can enhance potential prognostic biomarkers identification. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients with JME at the Severance Hospital, analyzing clinical variables and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Machine learning models were developed to predict prognosis using clinical and radiological features. Results: The study utilized six machine learning models, with the XGBoost model demonstrating the highest predictive accuracy (AUROC 0.700). Combining clinical and MRI data outperformed models using either type of data alone. The key features identified through a Shapley additive explanation analysis included the volumes of the left cerebellum white matter, right thalamus, and left globus pallidus. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that integrating clinical and radiological data enhances the predictive accuracy of JME prognosis. Combining these neuroanatomical features with clinical variables provided a robust prediction of JME prognosis, highlighting the importance of integrating multimodal data for accurate prognosis.

Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging features of unilateral thalamic porencephaly in a dog

AbstractA 1‐year‐3‐month‐old, female, neutered labrador retriever was presented with a history of circling behaviour since 2 months of age and a recently detected blindness affecting its right eye. Neurological examination revealed a left‐sided head tilt, compulsive tight circling towards the left, postural reaction deficits in the right thoracic and pelvic limbs, absent menace response in the right eye and ventral positional strabismus of the left eye. The neurological examination findings were localised to the left thalamus. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head revealed porencephaly involving the left dorsal aspect of the thalamus. Furthermore, reduced volume of the left rostral colliculus, crus cerebri and optic chiasm, alongside marked thinning of the left cerebral hemispheric white matter tracts with associated left lateral ventriculomegaly, were present. Based on magnetic resonance imaging features and clinical history, a congenital or perinatal encephaloclastic porencephaly with secondary hypoplasia or atrophy of the associated thalamic projection pathways was prioritised.

Increased periventricular thalamic damage gradient in multiple sclerosis detected by quantitative gradient echo MRI

ObjectiveThalamic tissue damage in multiple sclerosis (MS) follows a ‘surface-in’ gradient from the ventricular surface. The clinical consequences of this gradient are not completely understood. Using quantitative gradient-recalled echo (qGRE) MRI, we evaluated a periventricular thalamic gradient of tissue integrity in MS and its relationship with clinical variables. MethodsStructural and qGRE MRI scans were acquired for a cohort of MS patients and healthy controls (HC). qGRE-derived R2t* values were used as a measure of tissue integrity. Thalamic segmentations were divided into 1-mm concentric bands radiating from the ventricular surface, excluding the CSF-adjacent band. Median R2t* values within these bands were used to calculate the periventricular thalamic gradient. ResultsWe included 44 MS patients and 17 HC. R2t* increased slightly with distance from the ventricular surface in HC. MS patients had a steeper periventricular thalamic gradient compared to HC (mean slope 0.55 vs. 0.36; p < 0.001), which correlated with longer disease duration (β = 0.001 /year; p = 0.027) and higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score (β = 0.07 /EDSS point; p = 0.019). Left and right thalamus were symmetrically affected. ConclusionsWe detected an increased thalamic gradient in MS in vivo using qGRE MRI, which correlated with disease duration and greater clinical disability. These findings further support the ‘surface-in’ pathology hypothesis in MS and suggest a CSF-mediated process given symmetric bi-thalamic involvement.

Effects of four-week intranasal oxytocin administration on large-scale brain networks in older adults

Oxytocin (OT) is a crucial modulator of social cognition and behavior. Previous work primarily examined effects of acute intranasal oxytocin administration (IN-OT) in younger males on isolated brain regions. Not well understood are (i) chronic IN-OT effects, (ii) in older adults, (iii) on large-scale brain networks, representative of OT's wider-ranging brain mechanisms. To address these research gaps, 60 generally healthy older adults (mean age = 70.12 years, range = 55–83) were randomly assigned to self-administer either IN-OT or placebo twice daily via nasal spray over four weeks. Chronic IN-OT reduced resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) of both the right insula and the left middle cingulate cortex with the salience network but enhanced rs-FC of the left medial prefrontal cortex with the default mode network as well as the left thalamus with the basal ganglia–thalamus network. No significant chronic IN-OT effects were observed for between-network rs-FC. However, chronic IN-OT increased selective rs-FC of the basal ganglia–thalamus network with the salience network and the default mode network, indicative of more specialized, efficient communication between these networks. Directly comparing chronic vs. acute IN-OT, reduced rs-FC of the right insula with the salience network and between the default mode network and the basal ganglia–thalamus network, and greater selective rs-FC of the salience network with the default mode network and the basal ganglia–thalamus network, were more pronounced after chronic than acute IN-OT. Our results delineate the modulatory role of IN-OT on large-scale brain networks among older adults.

Acupuncture modulates emotional network resting-state functional connectivity in patients with insomnia disorder: a randomized controlled trial and fMRI study

BackgroundInsomnia disorder (ID) is one of the most common sleep problems, usually accompanied by anxiety and depression symptoms. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study suggests that both poor sleep quality and negative emotion are linked to the dysregulation of brain network related to emotion processing in ID patients. Acupuncture therapy has been proven effective in improving sleep quality and mood of ID patients, but the involved neurobiological mechanism remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the modulation effect of acupuncture on resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the emotional network (EN) in patients experiencing insomnia.MethodsA total of 30 healthy controls (HCs) and 60 ID patients were enrolled in this study. Sixty ID patients were randomly assigned to real and sham acupuncture groups and attended resting-state fMRI scans before and after 4 weeks of acupuncture treatment. HCs completed an MRI/fMRI scan at baseline. The rsFC values within EN were calculated, and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hyperarousal Scale (HAS), and actigraphy data were collected for clinical efficacy evaluation.ResultsResting-state FC analysis showed abnormalities in rsFC centered on the thalamus and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex within EN of ID patients compared to HCs. After real acupuncture treatment, rsFC of the anterior cingulate cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala were increased compared with the sham acupuncture group (p < 0.05, FDR corrected). In real acupuncture group, the rsFC value was decreased between left amygdala and left thalamus after 4 weeks of treatment compared with baseline. A trend of correlation was found that the increased rsFC value between the right amygdala and left hippocampus was positively correlated with the decreased HAMA scores across all ID patients, and the decreased left amygdala rsFC value with the left thalamus was negatively correlated with the increased sleep efficiency in the real acupuncture group.ConclusionOur findings showed that real acupuncture could produce a positive effect on modulating rsFC within network related to emotion processing in ID patients, which may illustrate the central mechanism underlying acupuncture for insomnia in improving sleep quality and emotion regulation.Trial registrationhttp://www.chictr.org.cn., ChiCTR1800015282, 20/03/2018.

A Comparison of Pre- and Post-Treatment Cranial MRI Characteristics in Patients with Pediatric Epilepsy Receiving Levetiracetam.

Background and Objectives: This study was performed for the purpose of assessing whether antiepileptic levetiracetam treatment produces a change in brain volumes in children with epilepsy. To that end, we compared the volumes of the basal ganglia (caudate nucleus, putamen, globus, hip-pocampus, and thalamus) at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after treatment (months 18-24) in pediatric epilepsy patients using levetiracetam. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study involved a volumetric comparison of patients presenting to the Balikesir University Medical Faculty pediatric neurology clinic between 01.08.2019 and 01.11.2023 and diagnosed with epilepsy, and who underwent cranial MRI before and 18-24 months after treatment at the radiology department. The demographic and clinical characteristics (age, sex, family history of epilepsy, type of epilepsy, and EEG features (normal, abnormal, epileptiform)) of the patients included in the study were recorded. Results: The comparison of basal ganglia volumes at cranial MRI before and at months 18-24 of treatment revealed significant differences in the left caudate nucleus, right putamen, left putamen, left globus pallidus, right thalamus, left thalamus, and right hippocampal regions. Conclusions: In conclusion, differing findings are encountered at cranial imaging in patients with epilepsy, depending on the seizure frequency, activity, and the type of antiepileptic drugs used. This study compared basal ganglia volumes on cranial MRIs taken before and 18-24 months after treatment in pediatric epilepsy patients using levetiracetam. A significant increase was observed in the volumes of basal ganglia (caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, hippocampus, and thalamus) on the MRIs of pediatric epilepsy patients using levetiracetam.