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Zhang HQ, Lee JCY, Wang L, Cao P, Chan KH, Mak HKF. Dynamic Changes in Long-Standing Multiple Sclerosis Revealed by Longitudinal Structural Network Analysis Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2024; 45:305-311. [PMID: 38302198 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a8115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE DTI can be used to derive conventional diffusion measurements, which can measure WM abnormalities in multiple sclerosis. DTI can also be used to construct structural brain networks and derive network measurements. However, few studies have compared their sensitivity in detecting brain alterations, especially in longitudinal studies. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine which type of measurement is more sensitive in tracking the dynamic changes over time in MS. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighteen patients with MS were recruited at baseline and followed up at 6 and 12 months. All patients underwent MR imaging and clinical evaluation at 3 time points. Diffusion and network measurements were derived, and their brain changes were evaluated. RESULTS None of the conventional DTI measurements displayed statistically significant changes during the follow-up period; however, the nodal degree, nodal efficiency, and nodal path length of the left middle frontal gyrus and bilateral inferior frontal gyrus, opercular part showed significant longitudinal changes between baseline and at 12 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The nodal degree, nodal efficiency, and nodal path length of the left middle frontal gyrus and bilateral inferior frontal gyrus, opercular part may be used to monitor brain changes over time in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Qin Zhang
- From the Department of Diagnostic Radiology (H.-Q.Z.), National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology (H.-Q.Z., P.C., H.K.-F.M.), Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jacky Chi-Yan Lee
- Department of Medicine (J.C.-Y.L., K.-H.C.), Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics (L.W.), Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Peng Cao
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology (H.-Q.Z., P.C., H.K.-F.M.), Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Koon-Ho Chan
- Department of Medicine (J.C.-Y.L., K.-H.C.), Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Network (H.K.-F.M., K.-H.C.), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Henry Ka-Fung Mak
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology (H.-Q.Z., P.C., H.K.-F.M.), Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Network (H.K.-F.M., K.-H.C.), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences (H.K.-F.M.), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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2
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Alshehri A, Al-iedani O, Koussis N, Khormi I, Lea R, Lechner-Scott J, Ramadan S. Stability of longitudinal DTI metrics in MS with treatment of injectables, fingolimod and dimethyl fumarate. Neuroradiol J 2023; 36:388-396. [PMID: 36395524 PMCID: PMC10588600 DOI: 10.1177/19714009221140511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Diffusion MRI (dMRI) is sensitive to microstructural changes in white matter of people with relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis (pw-RRMS) that lead to progressive disability. The role of diffusion in assessing the efficacy of different therapies requires more investigation. This study aimed to evaluate selected dMRI metrics in normal-appearing white matter and white matter-lesion in pw-RRMS and healthy controls longitudinally and compare the effect of therapies given. MATERIAL AND METHODS Structural and dMRI scans were acquired from 78 pw-RRMS (29 injectables, 36 fingolimod, 13 dimethyl fumarate) and 43 HCs at baseline and 2-years follow-up. Changes in dMRI metrics and correlation with clinical parameters were evaluated. RESULTS Differences were observed in most clinical parameters between pw-RRMS and HCs at both timepoints (p ≤ 0.01). No significant differences in average changes over time were observed for any dMRI metric between treatment groups in either tissue type. Diffusion metrics in NAWM and WML correlated negatively with most cognitive domains, while FA correlated positively at baseline but only for NAWM at follow-up (p ≤ 0.05). FA correlated negatively with disability in NAWM and WML over time, while MD and RD correlated positively only in NAWM. CONCLUSIONS This is the first DTI study comparing the effect of different treatments on dMRI parameters over time in a stable cohort of pw-RRMS. The results suggest that brain microstructural changes in a stable MS cohort are similar to HCs independent of the therapies used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulaziz Alshehri
- School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
- Department of Radiology, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University King Fahd University Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Oun Al-iedani
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Nikitas Koussis
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Newcastle College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Ibrahim Khormi
- School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rodney Lea
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Jeannette Lechner-Scott
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
- Department of Neurology, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Saadallah Ramadan
- School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
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York EN, Meijboom R, Thrippleton MJ, Bastin ME, Kampaite A, White N, Chandran S, Waldman AD. Longitudinal microstructural MRI markers of demyelination and neurodegeneration in early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Magnetisation transfer, water diffusion and g-ratio. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 36:103228. [PMID: 36265199 PMCID: PMC9668599 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Quantitative microstructural MRI, such as myelin-sensitive magnetisation transfer ratio (MTR) or saturation (MTsat), axon-sensitive water diffusion Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI), and the aggregate g-ratio, may provide more specific markers of white matter integrity than conventional MRI for early patient stratification in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity of such markers to longitudinal pathological change within cerebral white matter lesions (WML) and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) in recently diagnosed RRMS. METHODS Seventy-nine people with recently diagnosed RRMS, from the FutureMS longitudinal cohort, were recruited to an extended MRI protocol at baseline and one year later. Twelve healthy volunteers received the same MRI protocol, repeated within two weeks. Ethics approval and written informed consent were obtained. 3T MRI included magnetisation transfer, and multi-shell diffusion-weighted imaging. NAWM and whole brain were segmented from 3D T1-weighted MPRAGE, and WML from T2-weighted FLAIR. MTR, MTsat, NODDI isotropic (ISOVF) and intracellular (ICVF) volume fractions, and g-ratio (calculated from MTsat and NODDI data) were measured within WML and NAWM. Brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) was also calculated. Longitudinal change in BPF and microstructural metrics was assessed with paired t-tests (α = 0.05) and linear mixed models, adjusted for confounding factors with False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction for multiple comparisons. Longitudinal changes were compared with test-retest Bland-Altman limits of agreement from healthy control white matter. The influence of longitudinal change on g-ratio was explored through post-hoc analysis in silico by computing g-ratio with realistic simulated MTsat and NODDI values. RESULTS In NAWM, g-ratio and ICVF increased, and MTsat decreased over one year (adjusted mean difference = 0.007, 0.005, and -0.057 respectively, all FDR-corrected p < 0.05). There was no significant change in MTR, ISOVF, or BPF. In WML, MTsat, NODDI ICVF and ISOVF increased over time (adjusted mean difference = 0.083, 0.024 and 0.016, respectively, all FDR-corrected p < 0.05). Group-level longitudinal changes exceeded test-retest limits of agreement for NODDI ISOVF and ICVF in WML only. In silico analysis showed g-ratio may increase due to a decrease in MTsat or ISOVF, or an increase in ICVF. DISCUSSION G-ratio and MTsat changes in NAWM over one year may indicate subtle myelin loss in early RRMS, which were not apparent with BPF or NAWM MTR. Increases in NAWM and WML NODDI ICVF were not anticipated, and raise the possibility of axonal swelling or morphological change. Increases in WML MTsat may reflect myelin repair. Changes in NODDI ISOVF are more likely to reflect alterations in water content. Competing MTsat and ICVF changes may account for the absence of g-ratio change in WML. Longitudinal changes in microstructural measures are significant at a group level, however detection in individual patients in early RRMS is limited by technique reproducibility. CONCLUSION MTsat and g-ratio are more sensitive than MTR to early pathological changes in RRMS, but complex dependence of g-ratio on NODDI parameters limit the interpretation of aggregate measures in isolation. Improvements in technique reproducibility and validation of MRI biophysical models across a range of pathological tissue states are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth N York
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Edinburgh Imaging, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
| | - Rozanna Meijboom
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Edinburgh Imaging, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J Thrippleton
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Edinburgh Imaging, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mark E Bastin
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Edinburgh Imaging, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Agniete Kampaite
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Edinburgh Imaging, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Nicole White
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Edinburgh Imaging, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Adam D Waldman
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Edinburgh Imaging, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
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Feng J, Offerman E, Lin J, Fisher E, Planchon SM, Sakaie K, Lowe M, Nakamura K, Cohen JA, Ontaneda D. Exploratory MRI measures after intravenous autologous culture-expanded mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin 2019; 5:2055217319856035. [PMID: 31236284 PMCID: PMC6572894 DOI: 10.1177/2055217319856035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have immunomodulatory and neuro-protective properties and are being studied for treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Tractography-based diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), cortical thickness (Cth) and T2 lesion volume (T2LV) can provide insight into treatment effects. Objective The objective of this study was to analyse the effects of MSC transplantation in MS on exploratory MRI measures. Methods MRIs were obtained from 24 MS patients from a phase 1 open-label study of autologous MSC transplantation. DTI metrics were obtained in lesions and normal-appearing white matter motor tracts (NAWM). T2LV and Cth were derived. Longitudinal evolution of MRI outcomes were modelled using linear mixed effects. Pearson’s correlation was calculated between MRI and clinical measures. Results Lesional radial diffusivity (RD) and axial diffusivity (AD) decreased pre-transplant and showed no changes post-transplant. There were mixed trends in NAWM RD and AD pre/post-transplant. Transplantation stabilized T2LV growth. NAWM RD and AD correlated with Cth, T2LV and with leg and arm function but not with cognition. Lesional DTI demonstrated similar but less robust correlations. Conclusions Microstructural tissue integrity is altered in MS. DTI changes pre-transplant may be influenced by concomitant lesion accrual. Contributor to DTI stabilization post-transplant is multifactorial. DTI of major motor tracts correlated well with clinical measures, highlighting its sensitivity to clinically meaningful changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Feng
- Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research, Cleveland Clinic, USA
| | | | - Jian Lin
- Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic, USA
| | | | - Sarah M Planchon
- Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research, Cleveland Clinic, USA
| | | | - Mark Lowe
- Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey A Cohen
- Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research, Cleveland Clinic, USA
| | - Daniel Ontaneda
- Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research, Cleveland Clinic, USA
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Kolasa M, Hakulinen U, Brander A, Hagman S, Dastidar P, Elovaara I, Sumelahti ML. Diffusion tensor imaging and disability progression in multiple sclerosis: A 4-year follow-up study. Brain Behav 2019; 9:e01194. [PMID: 30588771 PMCID: PMC6346728 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is sensitive technique to detect widespread changes in water diffusivity in the normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) that appears unaffected in conventional magnetic resonance imaging. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value and stability of DTI indices in the NAWM of the brain in an assessment of disability progression in patients with a relapsing-onset multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS Forty-six MS patients were studied for DTI indices (fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), radial (RD), and axial (AD) diffusivity) in the NAWM of the corpus callosum (CC) and the internal capsule at baseline and at 1 year after. DTI analysis for 10 healthy controls was also performed at baseline. Simultaneously, focal brain lesion volume and atrophy measurements were done at baseline for MS patients. Associations between DTI indices, volumetric measurements, and disability progression over 4 years were studied by multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS At baseline, most DTI metrics differed significantly between MS patients and healthy controls. There was tendency for associations between baseline DTI indices in the CC and disability progression (p < 0.05). Changes in DTI indices over 1 year were observed only in the CC (p < 0.008), and those changes were not found to predict clinical worsening over 4 years. Clear-cut association with disability progression was not detected for baseline volumetric measurements. CONCLUSION Aberrant diffusivity measures in the NAWM of the CC may provide additional information for individual disability progression over 4 years in MS with the relapsing-onset disease. CC may be a good target for DTI measurements in monitoring disease activity in MS, and more studies are needed to assess the related prognostic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Kolasa
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Department of Radiology, Medical Imaging Center of Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Ullamari Hakulinen
- Department of Radiology, Medical Imaging Center of Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.,Faculty of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland.,Department of Medical Physics, Medical Imaging Center, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Antti Brander
- Department of Radiology, Medical Imaging Center of Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Sanna Hagman
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Prasun Dastidar
- Department of Radiology, Medical Imaging Center of Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Irina Elovaara
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
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6
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Vavasour IM, Tam R, Li DKB, Laule C, Taylor C, Kolind SH, MacKay AL, Javed A, Traboulsee A. A 24-month advanced magnetic resonance imaging study of multiple sclerosis patients treated with alemtuzumab. Mult Scler 2018; 25:811-818. [DOI: 10.1177/1352458518770085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background: Tissue damage in both multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) are important contributors to disability and progression. Specific aspects of MS pathology can be measured using advanced imaging. Alemtuzumab is a humanised monoclonal antibody targeting CD52 developed for MS treatment. Objective: To investigate changes over 2 years of advanced magnetic resonance (MR) metrics in lesions and NAWM of MS patients treated with alemtuzumab. Methods: A total of 42 relapsing–remitting alemtuzumab-treated MS subjects were scanned for 2 years at 3 T. T1 relaxation, T2 relaxation, diffusion tensor, MR spectroscopy and volumetric sequences were performed. Mean T1 and myelin water fraction (MWF) were determined for stable lesions, new lesions and NAWM. Fractional anisotropy was calculated for the corpus callosum (CC) and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) concentration was determined from a large NAWM voxel. Brain parenchymal fraction (BPF), cortical thickness and CC area were also calculated. Results: No change in any MR measurement was found in lesions or NAWM over 24 months. BPF, cortical thickness and CC area all showed decreases in the first year followed by stability in the second year. Conclusion: Advanced MR biomarkers of myelin (MWF) and neuron/axons (NAA) show no change in NAWM over 24 months in alemtuzumab-treated MS participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene M Vavasour
- Department of Radiology and UBC MRI Research Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Roger Tam
- Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - David KB Li
- Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cornelia Laule
- Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Carolyn Taylor
- Department of Statistics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shannon H Kolind
- Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alex L MacKay
- Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Adil Javed
- Department of Neurology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Anthony Traboulsee
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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7
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Herbert E, Engel-Hills P, Hattingh C, Fouche JP, Kidd M, Lochner C, Kotze MJ, van Rensburg SJ. Fractional anisotropy of white matter, disability and blood iron parameters in multiple sclerosis. Metab Brain Dis 2018; 33:545-557. [PMID: 29396631 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-017-0171-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disorder related to myelin damage, which can be investigated by neuroimaging techniques such as fractional anisotropy (FA), a measure of microstructural white matter properties. The objectives of this study were to investigate (1) the relationship between FA and disability using an extremes of outcome approach, and (2) whether blood iron parameters were associated with FA and/or disability. Patients diagnosed with MS (n = 107; 14 males and 93 females) had iron parameter tests and disability determinations using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). FA was recorded in 48 white matter tracts in 11 of the female patients with MS and 12 female controls. RESULTS In patients with high disability scores the mean FA was significantly lower (0.34 ± 0.067) than in the control group (0.45 ± 0.036; p = 0.04), while patients with low disability had mean FA values (0.44 ± 0.014) similar to controls (p = 0.5). Positive associations were found between FA and the iron parameters serum iron, ferritin and percentage transferrin saturation (%Tfsat) in all the white matter tracts. For % Tfsat, the associations were highly significant in 14 tracts (p < 0.01; r-values 0.74-0.84) and p < 0.001 (r = 0.83) in the superior fronto occipital fasciculus (LH). In the whole patient group a trend was found towards an inverse association between the EDSS and the %Tfsat (r = -0.26, p = 0.05) after excluding male gender and smoking as confounders, suggesting reduced disability in the presence of higher blood iron parameters. Additionally, significant inverse associations between disease duration and haemoglobin (p = 0.04) as well as %Tfsat (p = 0.02) suggested that patients with MS may experience a decrease in blood iron concentrations over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Herbert
- Department of Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Penelope Engel-Hills
- Department of Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Coenraad Hattingh
- Division of Chemical Pathology, Department of Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jean-Paul Fouche
- MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Martin Kidd
- Centre for Statistical Consultation, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Christine Lochner
- MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Maritha J Kotze
- Division of Chemical Pathology, Department of Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Susan J van Rensburg
- Division of Chemical Pathology, Department of Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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8
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Klistorner A, Wang C, Yiannikas C, Parratt J, Dwyer M, Barton J, Graham SL, You Y, Liu S, Barnett MH. Evidence of progressive tissue loss in the core of chronic MS lesions: A longitudinal DTI study. Neuroimage Clin 2017; 17:1028-1035. [PMID: 29387524 PMCID: PMC5772506 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2017.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Objective Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), we examined chronic stable MS lesions, peri-lesional white matter (PLWM) and normal appearing white matter (NAWM) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) for evidence of progressive tissue destruction and evaluated whether diffusivity change is associated with conventional MRI parameters and clinical findings. Method Pre- and post-gadolinium T1, T2 and DTI images were acquired from 55 consecutive RRMS patients at baseline and 42.3 ± 9.7 months later. Chronic stable T2 lesions of sufficient size were identified in 43 patients (total of 134 lesions). Diffusivity parameters such as axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were compared at baseline and follow-up. MRI was also performed in 20 normal subjects of similar age and gender. Results Within the core of chronic MS lesions the diffusion of water molecules significantly increased over the follow-up period, while in NAWM all diffusivity indices remained stable. Since increase of AD and RD in lesional core was highly concordant, indicating isotropic nature of diffusivity change, and considering potential effect of crossing fibers on directionally-selective indices, only MD, a directionally-independent measure, was used for further analysis. The significant increase of MD in the lesion core during the follow-up period (1.29 ± 0.19 μm2/ms and 1.34 ± 0.20 μm2/ms at baseline and follow-up respectively, P < 0.0001) was independent of age or disease duration, total brain lesion volume or new lesion activity, lesion size or location and baseline tissue damage (T1 hypointensity). Change of MD in the lesion core, however, was associated with progressive brain atrophy (r = 0.47, P = 0.002). A significant gender difference was also observed: the MD change in male patients was almost twice that of female patients (0.030 ± 0.04 μm2/ms and 0.058 ± 0.03 μm2/ms in female and male respectively, P = 0.01). Sub-analysis of lesions with lesion-free surrounding revealed the largest MD increase in the lesion core, while MD progression gradually declined towards PLWM. MD in NAWM remained stable over the follow-up period. Conclusion The significant increase of isotropic water diffusion in the core of chronic stable MS lesions likely reflects gradual, self-sustained tissue destruction in demyelinated white matter that is more aggressive in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Klistorner
- Save Sight Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Sydney Neuroimaging Analysis Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Chenyu Wang
- Sydney Neuroimaging Analysis Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - John Parratt
- Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael Dwyer
- Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Joshua Barton
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Stuart L Graham
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Yuyi You
- Save Sight Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sidong Liu
- Save Sight Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Sydney Neuroimaging Analysis Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael H Barnett
- Sydney Neuroimaging Analysis Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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9
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Kocevar G, Stamile C, Hannoun S, Roch JA, Durand-Dubief F, Vukusic S, Cotton F, Sappey-Marinier D. Weekly follow up of acute lesions in three early multiple sclerosis patients using MR spectroscopy and diffusion. J Neuroradiol 2017; 45:108-113. [PMID: 29032126 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurad.2017.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Revised: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECT Pathophysiological mechanisms underlying multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion formation, including inflammation, demyelination/remyelination and axonal damage, and their temporal evolution are still not clearly understood. To this end, three acute white matter lesions were monitored using a weekly multimodal magnetic resonance (MR) protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three untreated patients with early relapsing-remitting MS and one healthy control subject were followed weekly for two months. MR protocol included conventional MR imaging (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and localized MR spectroscopy (MRS), performed on the largest gadolinium-enhancing lesion, selected at the first exam. RESULTS Mean diffusivity increased and fractional anisotropy decreased in lesions compared to healthy control. Cho/Cr ratios remained elevated in lesions throughout the follow-up. In contrast, temporal profiles of mI/Cr ratios varied between patients' lesions. For patient 1, mI/Cr ratios were already elevated at the beginning of the follow-up. Patients 2 and 3 ratios increase was delayed by two and five weeks. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) recovery occurred after three weeks. CONCLUSION This multimodal MR follow-up highlighted the complementary role of DTI and MRS in identifying temporal relationships between BBB disruption, inflammation, and demyelination. Diffusion metrics showed high sensitivity to detect inflammatory processes. The different temporal profiles of mI suggested a potential better specificity to monitor pathological mechanisms occurring after lesion formation, such as glial proliferation and remyelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Kocevar
- CREATIS, UMR5520, U1206 Inserm, université Claude-Bernard-Lyon1, 69621 Lyon, France
| | - Claudio Stamile
- CREATIS, UMR5520, U1206 Inserm, université Claude-Bernard-Lyon1, 69621 Lyon, France
| | - Salem Hannoun
- Nehme and Therese Tohme Multiple Sclerosis Center, American University of Beirut Medical Center, 1107 2020 Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Jean-Amédée Roch
- Service de radiologie, centre hospitalier Lyon-Sud, hospices civils de Lyon, 69495 Lyon, France
| | - Françoise Durand-Dubief
- CREATIS, UMR5520, U1206 Inserm, université Claude-Bernard-Lyon1, 69621 Lyon, France; Service de neurologie A, hôpital neurologique de Lyon, hospices civils de Lyon, 69677 Lyon, France
| | - Sandra Vukusic
- Service de neurologie A, hôpital neurologique de Lyon, hospices civils de Lyon, 69677 Lyon, France
| | - François Cotton
- CREATIS, UMR5520, U1206 Inserm, université Claude-Bernard-Lyon1, 69621 Lyon, France; Service de radiologie, centre hospitalier Lyon-Sud, hospices civils de Lyon, 69495 Lyon, France
| | - Dominique Sappey-Marinier
- CREATIS, UMR5520, U1206 Inserm, université Claude-Bernard-Lyon1, 69621 Lyon, France; CERMEP, Imagerie-du-Vivant, université de Lyon, 69677 Lyon, France.
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Ontaneda D, Sakaie K, Lin J, Wang XF, Lowe MJ, Phillips MD, Fox RJ. Measuring Brain Tissue Integrity during 4 Years Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2016; 38:31-38. [PMID: 27659189 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a4946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE DTI is an MR imaging measure of brain tissue integrity. Little is known regarding the long-term longitudinal evolution of lesional and nonlesional tissue DTI parameters in multiple sclerosis and the present study examines DTI evolution over 4 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-one patients with multiple sclerosis were imaged for up to 48 months after starting natalizumab therapy. Gadolinium-enhancing lesions at baseline, chronic T2 lesions, and normal-appearing white matter were followed longitudinally. T2 lesions were subclassified as black holes and non-black holes. Within each ROI, the average values of DTI metrics were derived by using Analysis of Functional Neuro Images software. The longitudinal trend in DTI metrics was estimated by using a mixed-model regression analysis. RESULTS A significant increase was observed for axial diffusivity (P < .001) in gadolinium-enhancing lesions and chronic T2 lesions during 4 years. No significant change in radial diffusivity either in normal-appearing white matter or lesional tissue was observed. The evolution of axial diffusivity was different in gadolinium-enhancing lesions (P < .001) and chronic T2 lesions (P = .02) compared with normal-appearing white matter. CONCLUSIONS An increase in axial diffusion in both gadolinium-enhancing lesions and T2 lesions may relate to the complex evolution of chronically demyelinated brain tissue. Pathologic changes in normal-appearing white matter are likely more subtle than in lesional tissue and may explain the stability of these measures with DTI.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Ontaneda
- From the Department of Neurology (D.O., R.J.F.), Neurological Institute, Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research
| | - K Sakaie
- Imaging Institute (K.S., J.L., M.J.L., M.D.P.)
| | - J Lin
- Imaging Institute (K.S., J.L., M.J.L., M.D.P.)
| | - X-F Wang
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences (X.-F.W.), Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - M J Lowe
- Imaging Institute (K.S., J.L., M.J.L., M.D.P.)
| | | | - R J Fox
- From the Department of Neurology (D.O., R.J.F.), Neurological Institute, Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research
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11
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Chiang GC, Pinto S, Comunale JP, Gauthier SA. Gadolinium-Enhancing Lesions Lead to Decreases in White Matter Tract Fractional Anisotropy in Multiple Sclerosis. J Neuroimaging 2015; 26:289-95. [PMID: 26458494 DOI: 10.1111/jon.12309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Although MRI identification of new lesions forms the basis for monitoring disease progression in multiple sclerosis patients, how lesion activity relates to longitudinal white matter changes in the brain is unknown. We hypothesized that patients with gadolinium-enhancing lesions would show greater longitudinal decline in fractional anisotropy in major tracts compared to those with stable disease. METHODS Thirty patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis were included in this study-13 had enhancing lesions at baseline and 17 did not. Each patient underwent at least two 3 Tesla contrast-enhanced MRI scans with a DTI sequence with a median interval of 2.1 years between scans. The forceps major and minor of the corpus callosum and the bilateral corticospinal tracts were selected as the major white matter tracts of interest. These tracts were reconstructed using region-of-interest placement on standard anatomical landmarks and a fiber assignment by continuous tracking algorithm using TrackVis (version 0.5.2.2) software. Mixed-effects regression models were used to determine the association between enhancing lesions and subsequent longitudinal change in fractional anisotropy. RESULTS In patients with enhancing lesions, there was greater decline in fractional anisotropy compared to those with stable disease in the forceps major (P = .026), right corticospinal tract (P = .032), and marginally in the left corticospinal tract (P = .050), but not the forceps minor (P = .11). CONCLUSION Fractional anisotropy of major white matter tracts declined more rapidly in patients with enhancing lesions, suggesting greater diffuse white matter injury with active inflammatory disease. DTI may provide a means of monitoring white matter injury following relapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria C Chiang
- Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
| | - Soniya Pinto
- Department of Surgery, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
| | - Joseph P Comunale
- Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
| | - Susan A Gauthier
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
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12
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Kolasa M, Hakulinen U, Helminen M, Hagman S, Raunio M, Rossi M, Brander A, Dastidar P, Elovaara I. Longitudinal assessment of clinically isolated syndrome with diffusion tensor imaging and volumetric MRI. Clin Imaging 2015; 39:207-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2014.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Revised: 09/28/2014] [Accepted: 10/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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13
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Jovicich J, Marizzoni M, Bosch B, Bartrés-Faz D, Arnold J, Benninghoff J, Wiltfang J, Roccatagliata L, Picco A, Nobili F, Blin O, Bombois S, Lopes R, Bordet R, Chanoine V, Ranjeva JP, Didic M, Gros-Dagnac H, Payoux P, Zoccatelli G, Alessandrini F, Beltramello A, Bargalló N, Ferretti A, Caulo M, Aiello M, Ragucci M, Soricelli A, Salvadori N, Tarducci R, Floridi P, Tsolaki M, Constantinidis M, Drevelegas A, Rossini PM, Marra C, Otto J, Reiss-Zimmermann M, Hoffmann KT, Galluzzi S, Frisoni GB. Multisite longitudinal reliability of tract-based spatial statistics in diffusion tensor imaging of healthy elderly subjects. Neuroimage 2014; 101:390-403. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.06.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Revised: 04/30/2014] [Accepted: 06/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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Bonnier G, Roche A, Romascano D, Simioni S, Meskaldji D, Rotzinger D, Lin YC, Menegaz G, Schluep M, Du Pasquier R, Sumpf TJ, Frahm J, Thiran JP, Krueger G, Granziera C. Advanced MRI unravels the nature of tissue alterations in early multiple sclerosis. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2014; 1:423-32. [PMID: 25356412 PMCID: PMC4184670 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2014] [Revised: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides only limited insights into the nature of brain damage with modest clinic-radiological correlation. In this study, we applied recent advances in MRI techniques to study brain microstructural alterations in early relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients with minor deficits. Further, we investigated the potential use of advanced MRI to predict functional performances in these patients. Methods Brain relaxometry (T1, T2, T2*) and magnetization transfer MRI were performed at 3T in 36 RRMS patients and 18 healthy controls (HC). Multicontrast analysis was used to assess for microstructural alterations in normal-appearing (NA) tissue and lesions. A generalized linear model was computed to predict clinical performance in patients using multicontrast MRI data, conventional MRI measures as well as demographic and behavioral data as covariates. Results Quantitative T2 and T2* relaxometry were significantly increased in temporal normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) of patients compared to HC, indicating subtle microedema (P = 0.03 and 0.004). Furthermore, significant T1 and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) variations in lesions (mean T1 z-score: 4.42 and mean MTR z-score: −4.09) suggested substantial tissue loss. Combinations of multicontrast and conventional MRI data significantly predicted cognitive fatigue (P = 0.01, Adj-R2 = 0.4), attention (P = 0.0005, Adj-R2 = 0.6), and disability (P = 0.03, Adj-R2 = 0.4). Conclusion Advanced MRI techniques at 3T, unraveled the nature of brain tissue damage in early MS and substantially improved clinical–radiological correlations in patients with minor deficits, as compared to conventional measures of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Bonnier
- Advanced Clinical Imaging Technology group, Siemens Healthcare IM BM PI Lausanne, Switzerland ; Neuro-immunology and Laboratoire de recherché en neuroimagérie, Neurology Division, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne Lausanne, Switzerland ; LTS5, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexis Roche
- Advanced Clinical Imaging Technology group, Siemens Healthcare IM BM PI Lausanne, Switzerland ; LTS5, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Lausanne, Switzerland ; Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - David Romascano
- Advanced Clinical Imaging Technology group, Siemens Healthcare IM BM PI Lausanne, Switzerland ; LTS5, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Samanta Simioni
- Neuro-immunology and Laboratoire de recherché en neuroimagérie, Neurology Division, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Djalel Meskaldji
- LTS5, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - David Rotzinger
- Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ying-Chia Lin
- Department of Computer Science, University of Verona Verona, Italy
| | - Gloria Menegaz
- Department of Computer Science, University of Verona Verona, Italy
| | - Myriam Schluep
- Neuro-immunology and Laboratoire de recherché en neuroimagérie, Neurology Division, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Renaud Du Pasquier
- Neuro-immunology and Laboratoire de recherché en neuroimagérie, Neurology Division, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tilman Johannes Sumpf
- Biomedizinische NMR Forschungs GmbH, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry Goettingen, Germany
| | - Jens Frahm
- Biomedizinische NMR Forschungs GmbH, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry Goettingen, Germany
| | | | - Gunnar Krueger
- Advanced Clinical Imaging Technology group, Siemens Healthcare IM BM PI Lausanne, Switzerland ; Healthcare Sector IM&WS S, Siemens Schweiz AG Renens, Switzerland
| | - Cristina Granziera
- Advanced Clinical Imaging Technology group, Siemens Healthcare IM BM PI Lausanne, Switzerland ; Neuro-immunology and Laboratoire de recherché en neuroimagérie, Neurology Division, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne Lausanne, Switzerland ; LTS5, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Lausanne, Switzerland
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Ontaneda D, Sakaie K, Lin J, Wang X, Lowe MJ, Phillips MD, Fox RJ. Identifying the start of multiple sclerosis injury: a serial DTI study. J Neuroimaging 2014; 24:569-576. [PMID: 25370339 DOI: 10.1111/jon.12082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2013] [Revised: 10/14/2013] [Accepted: 11/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The events leading up to the development of new multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions on conventional imaging are unknown. The purpose of this study is to use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate prelesional changes in MS to better understand the pathological changes that lead to lesion development. METHODS Twenty-one patients with relapsing MS starting natalizumab therapy underwent serial DTI for 12-18 months. Regions of interest were outlined within normal-appearing white matter and new gadolinium-enhancing lesions that developed over the course of the study. Images from all time points were coregistered and nonparametric regression was used to assess DTI changes prior to lesion appearance. RESULTS A total of 31 newly enhancing lesions were identified. Significant changes in transverse diffusivity (TD) (P < .001), longitudinal diffusivity (LD) (P = .025), mean diffusivity (MD) (P < .001), and fractional anisotropy (FA) (P = .04) were observed prior to gadolinium enhancement. A progressive increase in TD and LD occurred up to 10 months prior to lesion development. DTI measures in normal appearing white matter remained unchanged over the study period. CONCLUSIONS A significant change in diffusion measures can be seen prior to gadolinium enhancement. Changes in TD drove changes in FA and MD, providing evidence for impaired myelin integrity prior to gadolinium enhancement. DTI may be a sensitive measure for early detection of inflammatory disease activity in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Ontaneda
- Mellen Center, Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Ken Sakaie
- Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Jian Lin
- Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Mark J Lowe
- Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | | | - Robert J Fox
- Mellen Center, Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
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16
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Papinutto ND, Maule F, Jovicich J. Reproducibility and biases in high field brain diffusion MRI: An evaluation of acquisition and analysis variables. Magn Reson Imaging 2013; 31:827-39. [PMID: 23623031 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2013.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2012] [Revised: 01/29/2013] [Accepted: 03/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of in-vivo human brain provides insights into white matter anatomical connectivity, but little is known about measurement difference biases and reliability of data obtained with last generation high field scanners (>3T) as function of MRI acquisition and analyses variables. Here we assess the impact of acquisition (voxel size: 1.8×1.8×1.8, 2×2×2 and 2.5×2.5×2.5mm(3), b-value: 700, 1000 and 1300s/mm(2)) and analysis variables (within-session averaging and co-registration methods) on biases and test-retest reproducibility of some common tensor derived quantities like fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial and radial diffusivity in a group of healthy subjects at 4T in three regions: arcuate fasciculus, corpus callosum and cingulum. Averaging effects are also evaluated on a full-brain voxel based approach. The main results are: i) group FA and MD reproducibility errors across scan sessions are on average double of those found in within-session repetitions (≈1.3 %), regardless of acquisition protocol and region; ii) within-session averaging of two DTI acquisitions does not improve reproducibility of any of the quantities across sessions at the group level, regardless of acquisition protocol; iii) increasing voxel size biased MD, axial and radial diffusivities to higher values and FA to lower values; iv) increasing b-value biased all quantities to lower values, axial diffusivity showing the strongest effects; v) the two co-registration methods evaluated gave similar bias and reproducibility results. Altogether these results show that reproducibility of FA and MD is comparable to that found at lower fields, not significantly dependent on pre-processing and acquisition protocol manipulations, but that the specific choice of acquisition parameters can significantly bias the group measures of FA, MD, axial and radial diffusivities.
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17
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DTI Measurements in Multiple Sclerosis: Evaluation of Brain Damage and Clinical Implications. Mult Scler Int 2013; 2013:671730. [PMID: 23606965 PMCID: PMC3628664 DOI: 10.1155/2013/671730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2012] [Revised: 02/20/2013] [Accepted: 03/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an effective means of quantifying parameters of demyelination and axonal loss. The application of DTI in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has yielded noteworthy results. DTI abnormalities, which are already detectable in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), become more pronounced as disease duration and neurological impairment increase. The assessment of the microstructural alterations of white and grey matter in MS may shed light on mechanisms responsible for irreversible disability accumulation. In this paper, we examine the DTI analysis methods, the results obtained in the various tissues of the central nervous system, and correlations with clinical features and other MRI parameters. The adoption of DTI metrics to assess the outcome of prognostic measures may represent an extremely important step forward in the MS research field.
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18
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Tracking cerebral white matter changes across the lifespan: insights from diffusion tensor imaging studies. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2013; 120:1369-95. [PMID: 23328950 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-013-0971-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2012] [Accepted: 01/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Delineating the normal development of brain white matter (WM) over the human lifespan is crucial to improved understanding of underlying WM pathology in neuropsychiatric and neurological conditions. We review the extant literature concerning diffusion tensor imaging studies of brain WM development in healthy individuals available until October 2012, summarise trends of normal development of human brain WM and suggest possible future research directions. Temporally, brain WM maturation follows a curvilinear pattern with an increase in fractional anisotropy (FA) from newborn to adolescence, decelerating in adulthood till a plateau around mid-adulthood, and a more rapid decrease of FA from old age onwards. Spatially, brain WM tracts develop from central to peripheral regions, with evidence of anterior-to-posterior maturation in commissural and projection fibres. The corpus callosum and fornix develop first and decline earlier, whilst fronto-temporal WM tracts like cingulum and uncinate fasciculus have protracted maturation and decline later. Prefrontal WM is most vulnerable with greater age-related FA reduction compared with posterior WM. Future large scale studies adopting longitudinal design will better clarify human brain WM changes over time.
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Tofts PS, Collins DJ. Multicentre imaging measurements for oncology and in the brain. Br J Radiol 2012; 84 Spec No 2:S213-26. [PMID: 22433831 DOI: 10.1259/bjr/74316620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Multicentre imaging studies of brain tumours (and other tumour and brain studies) can enable a large group of patients to be studied, yet they present challenging technical problems. Differences between centres can be characterised, understood and minimised by use of phantoms (test objects) and normal control subjects. Normal white matter forms an excellent standard for some MRI parameters (e.g. diffusion or magnetisation transfer) because the normal biological range is low (<2-3%) and the measurements will reflect this, provided the acquisition sequence is controlled. MR phantoms have benefits and they are necessary for some parameters (e.g. tumour volume). Techniques for temperature monitoring and control are given. In a multicentre study or treatment trial, between-centre variation should be minimised. In a cross-sectional study, all groups should be represented at each centre and the effect of centre added as a covariate in the statistical analysis. In a serial study of disease progression or treatment effect, individual patients should receive all of their scans at the same centre; the power is then limited by the within-subject reproducibility. Sources of variation that are generic to any imaging method and analysis parameters include MR sequence mismatch, B(1) errors, CT effective tube potential, region of interest generation and segmentation procedure. Specific tissue parameters are analysed in detail to identify the major sources of variation and the most appropriate phantoms or normal studies. These include dynamic contrast-enhanced and dynamic susceptibility contrast gadolinium imaging, T(1), diffusion, magnetisation transfer, spectroscopy, tumour volume, arterial spin labelling and CT perfusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- P S Tofts
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK.
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20
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Papadaki EZ, Mastorodemos VC, Amanakis EZ, Tsekouras KC, Papadakis AE, Tsavalas ND, Simos PG, Karantanas AH, Plaitakis A, Maris TG. White matter and deep gray matter hemodynamic changes in multiple sclerosis patients with clinically isolated syndrome. Magn Reson Med 2012; 68:1932-42. [PMID: 22367604 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.24194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2011] [Revised: 01/02/2012] [Accepted: 01/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging perfusion technique was used to investigate possible hemodynamic changes in normal appearing white matter and deep gray matter (DGM) of 30 patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and 30 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Thirty normal volunteers were studied as controls. Cerebral blood volume, cerebral blood flow (CBF), and mean transit time values were estimated. Normalization was achieved for each subject with respect to average values of CBF and mean transit time of the hippocampi's dentate gyrus. Measurements concerned three regions of normal white matter of normal volunteers, normal appearing white matter of CIS and patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, and DGM regions, bilaterally. All measured normal appearing white matter and DGM regions of the patients with CIS had significantly higher cerebral blood volume and mean transit time values, while averaged DGM regions had significantly lower CBF values, compared to those of normal volunteers (P < 0.001). Regarding patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, all measured normal appearing white matter and DGM regions showed lower CBF values than those of normal volunteers and lower cerebral blood volume and CBF values compared to patients with CIS (P < 0.001). These data provide strong evidence that hemodynamic changes--affecting both white and DGM--may occur even at the earliest stage of multiple sclerosis, with CIS patients being significantly different than relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients.
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Raz E, Pantano P. Diffusion tensor imaging in multiple sclerosis: longitudinal changes. FUTURE NEUROLOGY 2011. [DOI: 10.2217/fnl.11.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Evaluation of: Harrison DM, Caffo BS, Shiee N et al.: Longitudinal changes in diffusion tensor-based quantitative MRI in multiple sclerosis. Neurology 76(2), 179–186 (2011). This article reviews the study by Harrison et al., who assessed the feasibility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetization transfer (MT) ratio measures as surrogates of longitudinal changes in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in order to integrate them into clinical trials. A total of 78 patients with MS underwent a magnetic resonance examination at baseline, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year, and yearly thereafter. The magnetic resonance sequences were DTI, MT, proton density/T2-weighted, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and T1–3D sequence (MPRAGE). The indices with the highest longitudinal variation were the supratentorial qT2 (percentage change per year = +2.0), supratentorial fractional anisotropy (percentage change per year = -0.5) and corpus callosum fractional anisotropy (percentage change per year = -1.7); MT ratio yielded measurable longitudinal changes in all of the areas studied, although at a slower rate than those yielded by DTI. With 80% power, the number of participants (per trial arm) needed for a 12- or 24-month trial were calculated using each of the MRI indices as outcome measures. The DTI indices were those that provided the smaller, more convenient numbers. Further studies are required to assess these proposed MRI parameters, and these studies will need to analyze both a more homogeneous MS population and MS patients in an early disease phase who have undergone no treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eytan Raz
- Department of Neurology & Psychiatry – Sapienza University of Rome, Vialedell’Università, 30 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Pantano
- Department of Neurology & Psychiatry – Sapienza University of Rome, Vialedell’Università, 30 00185, Rome, Italy
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Harrison DM, Caffo BS, Shiee N, Farrell JAD, Bazin PL, Farrell SK, Ratchford JN, Calabresi PA, Reich DS. Longitudinal changes in diffusion tensor-based quantitative MRI in multiple sclerosis. Neurology 2011; 76:179-86. [PMID: 21220722 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0b013e318206ca61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate longitudinal changes in a quantitative whole-brain and tract-specific MRI study of multiple sclerosis (MS), with the intent of assessing the feasibility of this approach in clinical trials. METHODS A total of 78 individuals with MS underwent a median of 3 scans over 2 years. Diffusion tensor imaging indices, magnetization transfer ratio, and T2 relaxation time were analyzed in supratentorial brain, corpus callosum, optic radiations, and corticospinal tracts by atlas-based tractography. Linear mixed-effect models estimated annualized rates of change for each index, and sample size estimates for potential clinical trials were determined. RESULTS There were significant changes over time in fractional anisotropy and perpendicular diffusivity in the supratentorial brain and corpus callosum, mean diffusivity in the supratentorial brain, and magnetization transfer ratio in all areas studied. Changes were most rapid in the corpus callosum, where fractional anisotropy decreased 1.7% per year, perpendicular diffusivity increased 1.2% per year, and magnetization transfer ratio decreased 0.9% per year. The T2 relaxation time changed more rapidly than diffusion tensor imaging indices and magnetization transfer ratio but had higher within-participant variability. Magnetization transfer ratio in the corpus callosum and supratentorial brain declined at an accelerated rate in progressive MS relative to relapsing-remitting MS. Power analysis yielded reasonable sample sizes (on the order of 40 participants per arm or fewer) for 1- or 2-year trials. CONCLUSIONS Longitudinal changes in whole-brain and tract-specific diffusion tensor imaging indices and magnetization transfer ratio can be reliably quantified, suggesting that small clinical trials using these outcome measures are feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Harrison
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
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Giorgio A, Palace J, Johansen-Berg H, Smith SM, Ropele S, Fuchs S, Wallner-Blazek M, Enzinger C, Fazekas F. Relationships of brain white matter microstructure with clinical and MR measures in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. J Magn Reson Imaging 2010; 31:309-16. [PMID: 20099343 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.22062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the relationships of microstructural damage in the cerebral white matter (WM), as measured by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), with clinical parameters and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of focal tissue damage in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty-five relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients (12 male, 33 female; median age = 29 years, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) = 1.5, disease duration = 3 years) were studied. T2-lesion masks were created and voxelwise DTI analyses performed with Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS). RESULTS T2-lesion volume (T2-LV) was significantly (P < 0.05, corrected) correlated with fractional anisotropy (FA) in both lesions and normal-appearing WM (NAWM). Relationships (P = 0.08, corrected) between increasing EDSS score and decreasing FA were found in the splenium of the corpus callosum (sCC) and along the pyramidal tract (PY). All FA associations were driven by changes in the perpendicular (to primary tract direction) diffusivity. No significant global and voxelwise FA changes were found over a 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSION FA changes related to clinical disability in RR-MS patients with minor clinical disability are localized to specific WM tracts such as the sCC and PY and are driven by changes in perpendicular diffusivity both within lesions and NAWM. Longitudinal DTI measurements do not seem able to chart the early disease course in the WM of MS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Giorgio
- Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Holper L, Coenen M, Weise A, Stucki G, Cieza A, Kesselring J. Characterization of functioning in multiple sclerosis using the ICF. J Neurol 2010; 257:103-13. [PMID: 19756827 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-009-5282-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2008] [Revised: 07/01/2009] [Accepted: 08/04/2009] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to explore whether it is possible to describe based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) relevant aspects of functioning and disability affected in multiple sclerosis (MS) as well as environmental factors relevant to persons with MS. The specific aim was to identify most relevant 'Body functions', 'Body structures', 'Activities and participation', as well as 'Environmental factors' in patients with MS using the ICF. Additionally, different MS forms were compared with respect to the identified problems. A multi-centre study was conducted in an empirical cross-sectional design. Data from 205 individuals with MS were collected in rehabilitation centres: disease related data, socio-demographic data, single interviews based on the Extended ICF Checklist and a patient questionnaire including ratings on general health and functioning status, Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and Comorbidity Questionnaire (SCQ). The 129 ICF categories identified represent a comprehensive classification of functioning in MS from the clinical perspective. Differences between MS forms were observed for several ICF categories, EDSS, general health and functioning status, but not for BDI and SCQ. The study showed that it is possible to describe based on the ICF the spectrum in functioning and disability affected in MS as well as environmental factors relevant to persons with MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Holper
- Department of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Rehabilitation Centre Valens, Valens, Switzerland
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Bosnell R, Giorgio A, Johansen-Berg H. Imaging white matter diffusion changes with development and recovery from brain injury. Dev Neurorehabil 2008; 11:174-86. [PMID: 18781502 DOI: 10.1080/17518420802289065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study reviews the application of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to the study of developmental and pathological changes in brain white matter. The ability to measure and monitor such changes in vivo would provide important opportunities for charting disease progression and monitoring response to therapeutic intervention. This study first reviews the use of DTI in studying normal human brain development. It goes on to illustrate how DTI has been used to provide insights into recovery from damage in selected brain disorders. CONCLUSIONS It is concluded that potential clinical applications of DTI include: (i) monitoring pathological change, (ii) providing markers that predict recovery and allow for individual targeting of therapy, (iii) providing outcome measures, (iv) providing measures of potentially compensatory structural changes and (v) improving understanding of normal brain anatomy to aid in interpretation of the consequences of localized damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Bosnell
- Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK
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