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Mao Z, Gao ZX, Ji T, Huan S, Yin GP, Chen L. Bidirectional two-sample mendelian randomization analysis identifies causal associations of MRI-based cortical thickness and surface area relation to NAFLD. Lipids Health Dis 2024; 23:58. [PMID: 38395962 PMCID: PMC10885469 DOI: 10.1186/s12944-024-02043-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients have exhibited extra-hepatic neurological changes, but the causes and mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates the causal effect of NAFLD on cortical structure through bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis. METHODS Genetic data from 778,614 European individuals across four NAFLD studies were used to determine genetically predicted NAFLD. Abdominal MRI scans from 32,860 UK Biobank participants were utilized to evaluate genetically predicted liver fat and volume. Data from the ENIGMA Consortium, comprising 51,665 patients, were used to evaluate the associations between genetic susceptibility, NAFLD risk, liver fat, liver volume, and alterations in cortical thickness (TH) and surface area (SA). Inverse-variance weighted (IVW) estimation, Cochran Q, and MR-Egger were employed to assess heterogeneity and pleiotropy. RESULTS Overall, NAFLD did not significantly affect cortical SA or TH. However, potential associations were noted under global weighting, relating heightened NAFLD risk to reduced parahippocampal SA and decreased cortical TH in the caudal middle frontal, cuneus, lingual, and parstriangularis regions. Liver fat and volume also influenced the cortical structure of certain regions, although no Bonferroni-adjusted p-values reached significance. Two-step MR analysis revealed that liver fat, AST, and LDL levels mediated the impact of NAFLD on cortical structure. Multivariable MR analysis suggested that the impact of NAFLD on the cortical TH of lingual and parstriangularis was independent of BMI, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. CONCLUSION This study provides evidence that NAFLD causally influences the cortical structure of the brain, suggesting the existence of a liver-brain axis in the development of NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zun Mao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, P. R. China
| | - Zhi-Xiang Gao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, P. R. China
| | - Tong Ji
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, P. R. China
| | - Sheng Huan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, P. R. China
| | - Guo-Ping Yin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Second Hospital, Nanjing, 210000, P. R. China.
| | - Long Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, P. R. China.
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Casanova-Ferrer F, Gallego JJ, Fiorillo A, Urios A, Ríos MP, León JL, Ballester MP, Escudero-García D, Kosenko E, Belloch V, Montoliu C. Improved cognition after rifaximin treatment is associated with changes in intra- and inter-brain network functional connectivity. J Transl Med 2024; 22:49. [PMID: 38217008 PMCID: PMC10787503 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04844-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rifaximin is a non-reabsorbable antibiotic which acts at gut level, and improves cognition and inflammatory parameters in minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) patients, but not all patients show the same level of response. This study aims to assess brain activity, both within and between brain networks, following rifaximin treatment, considering the differences between response groups as well. METHODS Twenty-two healthy controls and 53 patients with cirrhosis (22 without and 31 with MHE, diagnosed by Psychometric Hepatic Encephalopathy Score, PHES) performed psychometric, attention and coordination tests, and blood inflammatory parameters were measured. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) acquisitions were performed on controls and MHE patients. Eighteen MHE patients underwent a rifaximin treatment for 6 months, after which all measures were repeated. fMRI images were analysed and changes after treatment were assessed. RESULTS After rifaximin treatment, 13 patients improved their PHES score (Responder patients) while 5 did not (Non-responder patients). No significant decrease in blood ammonia was observed after rifaximin treatment, but there was a decrease in plasma inflammatory cytokines in responder patients. A global effect of rifaximin was detected on the sensorimotor and fronto-parietal networks. Responder patients showed a relative increase of thalamic network connectivity in comparison to non-responder patients. Before treatment, responder and non-responder patients showed connectivity differences in basal ganglia network. The connection of the sensorimotor and thalamic networks between them and with other networks suffered changes after treatment. These connections between networks mostly decreased after treatment. All changes and differences showed a significant level of correlation with the performance of psychometric tests and the blood levels of inflammatory biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS There was an improvement of the communication between executive, motor and attention-related brain areas, and their functional independence following rifaximin treatment. Patients who respond also show a less deteriorated connection involved in these functions before treatment. Results suggest that the improved inflammatory state of MHE patients, following rifaximin treatment would favour the observed changes in brain function and enhanced cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franc Casanova-Ferrer
- Fundacion de Investigación Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia-INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan-José Gallego
- Fundacion de Investigación Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia-INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Alessandra Fiorillo
- Fundacion de Investigación Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia-INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Amparo Urios
- Fundacion de Investigación Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia-INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - María-Pilar Ríos
- Servicio de Medicina Digestiva, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - José Luis León
- Universitats Neurorradiology Unit, Ascires Biomedical Group, Valencia, Spain
| | - María-Pilar Ballester
- Servicio de Medicina Digestiva, Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Desamparados Escudero-García
- Servicio de Medicina Digestiva, Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Elena Kosenko
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Russia
| | - Vicente Belloch
- Universitats Neurorradiology Unit, Ascires Biomedical Group, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carmina Montoliu
- Fundacion de Investigación Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia-INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain.
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Av Blasco Ibáñez, 15, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
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Huang NX, Huang HW, Dong QY, Wen YL, Li D, Li JQ, Chen HJ. Metabolic alterations in the right anterior insula among patients with cirrhosis without overt hepatic encephalopathy: a magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. Front Neurol 2024; 14:1291478. [PMID: 38283679 PMCID: PMC10811796 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1291478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose We investigated metabolic alterations in the right anterior insula (rAI) in cirrhotic patients and determined its association with patients' cognitive dysfunction. Methods In this study, 31 healthy controls (HCs) and 32 cirrhotic patients without overt hepatic encephalopathy participated. Both blood ammonia level and Child-Pugh score were measured. The psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) was used to evaluate cognitive function. 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data located in the rAI were recorded on a commercially available 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The ratios of metabolites were measured, including N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/total creatine (tCr), glutamate plus glutamine (Glx)/tCr, myo-inositol (mI)/tCr, and total choline (tCho)/tCr. We adopted the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test for intergroup comparison of metabolic ratios. To determine the association between metabolite concentration and clinical parameters, we performed Spearman correlation analyses. Results Patients with cirrhosis performed worse on PHES in comparison with HCs (P < 0.001). Patients with cirrhosis had significantly decreased mI/tCr (0.87 ± 0.07 vs. 0.74 ± 0.19, P = 0.025) and increased Glx/tCr (1.79 ± 0.17 vs. 2.07 ± 0.29, P < 0.001) in the rAI. We did not observe any significant between-group differences in tCho/tCr and NAA/tCr. The blood ammonia level was correlated with Glx/tCr (r = 0.405, P = 0.022) and mI/tCr (r = -0.398, P = 0.024) of the rAI. In addition, PHES was negatively correlated with Glx/tCr of the rAI (r = -0.379, P = 0.033). Conclusion Metabolic disturbance of the rAI, which is associated with ammonia intoxication, might account for the neural substrate of cirrhosis-related cognitive dysfunction to some extent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nao-Xin Huang
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hui-Wei Huang
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qiu-Yi Dong
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yu-Lin Wen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jian-Qi Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hua-Jun Chen
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
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Qin B, Liang S, Tang S, Liang H, Zhang Y, Liang Z. Altered Spontaneous Brain Activity in Cirrhotic Patients with Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy: A Meta-Analysis of Resting-State Functional Imaging. Brain Sci 2023; 13:960. [PMID: 37371438 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13060960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is an important complication of decompensated cirrhosis. Previous studies have demonstrated spontaneous brain activity alterations in cirrhotic patients with MHE. However, the reported results are inconsistent, which has limited our understanding of the potential neural mechanisms. Thus, we conducted a quantitative meta-analysis of resting-state functional imaging studies to identify the regional activity alterations consistently involved in MHE. (2) Methods: We searched six databases to include resting-state functional imaging studies and compared spontaneous brain activity patterns between MHE patients and healthy controls (HCs), and between cirrhotic patients without minimal hepatic encephalopathy (NMHE) and HCs. Then, a separate whole-brain voxel-wise meta-analysis between MHE or NMHE patients and HCs was conducted using seed-based d mapping with permutation of subject images. We further conducted the conjunction analysis to assess the distinct regional activity alterations between MHE and NMHE patients as compared to HCs. (3) Results: Thirteen studies with twenty datasets were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with HCs, MHE patients showed decreased spontaneous brain activity in the left superior frontal gyrus, left median cingulate/paracingulate gyri, and right precuneus. Compared with NMHE patients, MHE patients indicated decreased spontaneous brain activity in the left superior frontal gyrus, left median cingulate/paracingulate gyri, and right precuneus. (4) Conclusions: MHE is associated with spontaneous brain activity alterations involving the left superior frontal gyrus and median cingulate/paracingulate gyri, which may implicate primarily in spatial working memory and emotional disorders. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of the potential neural mechanisms, and guide further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Qin
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Shuolin Liang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Shiting Tang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Huo Liang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Yunli Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Zhijian Liang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
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Casanova-Ferrer F, García-Cena CE, Gallego JJ, Fiorillo A, Urios A, Calvo-Córdoba A, Ballester MP, Ríos MP, Durbán L, Hidalgo MR, García F, Felipo V, Montoliu C. Minimal hepatic encephalopathy is associated to alterations in eye movements. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16837. [PMID: 36207472 PMCID: PMC9547018 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21230-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is diagnosed using PHES battery, but other tests are more sensitive, and a simple tool for early MHE detection is required. Assessment of saccadic eye movements is useful for early detection of cognitive alterations in different pathologies. We characterized the alterations in saccadic eye movements in MHE patients, its relationship with cognitive alterations and its utility for MHE diagnosis. One-hundred and eighteen cirrhotic patients (86 without and 32 with MHE) and 35 controls performed PHES and Stroop test and an eye movements test battery by OSCANN system: visual saccades, antisaccades, memory-guided saccades, fixation test and smooth pursuit. We analyzed 177 parameters of eye movements, assessed their diagnostic capacity for MHE, and correlated with cognitive alterations. MHE patients showed alterations in 56 of the 177 variables of eye movements compared to NMHE patients. MHE patients showed longer latencies and worse performance in most eye movements tests, which correlated with mental processing speed and attention impairments. The best correlations found were for antisaccades and memory-guided saccades, and some parameters in these tests could be useful for discriminating MHE and NMHE patients. Eye movements analysis could be a new, rapid, reliable, objective, and reproducible tool for early diagnose MHE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franc Casanova-Ferrer
- Fundación de Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia-INCLIVA, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Cecilia E García-Cena
- Centre for Automation and Robotics, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan-Jose Gallego
- Fundación de Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia-INCLIVA, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Alessandra Fiorillo
- Fundación de Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia-INCLIVA, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Amparo Urios
- Fundación de Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia-INCLIVA, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Alberto Calvo-Córdoba
- Centre for Automation and Robotics, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria-Pilar Ballester
- Fundación de Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia-INCLIVA, 46010, Valencia, Spain.,Servicio de Medicina Digestiva, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - María Pilar Ríos
- Servicio de Medicina Digestiva, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, 46015, Valencia, Spain
| | - Lucía Durbán
- Servicio de Medicina Digestiva, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, 46015, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marta R Hidalgo
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Unit, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Francisco García
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Unit, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Vicente Felipo
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carmina Montoliu
- Fundación de Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia-INCLIVA, 46010, Valencia, Spain. .,Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia/INCLIVA-Health Research Institute, Avda. Blasco Ibañez, 17, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
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6
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Peng C, Ran Q, Liu CX, Zhang L, Yang H. The instant impact of a single hemodialysis session on brain morphological measurements in patients with end-stage renal disease. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:967214. [PMID: 36082229 PMCID: PMC9445124 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.967214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate the instant impact of hemodialysis (HD) on the cerebral morphological measurements of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).Materials and methodsTwenty-five patients undergoing maintenance HD and twenty-eight age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy control (HC) were included. The HD group and HC group had 3D high-resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans twice and once, respectively. Both groups underwent neuropsychologic tests. The morphological measurements of structural MRI were measured using CAT12 and these measures were compared among three groups. The relationship between morphological measures and clinical parameters and neuropsychological tests were investigated through multiple regression analysis.ResultsCompared to the HC group, the cortical thickness before HD significantly decreased in the bilateral temporal lobe and significantly decreased in the left superior temporal gyrus after HD. The cortical thickness significantly increased in the bilateral temporal lobe, frontal lobe and occipital lobe after HD compared to before HD. The sulcus depth in the bilateral insula, frontal lobe, and parietal lobe after HD significantly increased compared to before HD. No significant differences in sulcus depth between HD and HC were detected. After HD, the cortical thickness of the right parsopercularis was positively correlated with the number connection test-A. Cortical thickness in multiple regions were positively correlated with blood flow velocity and cortical thickness in the left parahippocampal gyrus was negatively correlated with ultrafiltration volume. Patients showed better performance in the digit symbol test and line tracing test after HD compared to before HD, but there were no significant differences in the comparison of neuropsychologic tests between patients and HC.ConclusionThe instant morphological changes were captured during a single hemodialysis in HD patients. There was an association between these instant changes in the brain and clinical parameters and neuropsychologic tests. This work implied the instant impact of a single hemodialysis impact on the brain in HD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Peng
- Department of Radiology, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, China
| | - Qian Ran
- Department of Radiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Chongqing, China
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Cheng Xuan Liu
- Department of Nephrology, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, China
| | - Hua Yang
- Department of Radiology, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Hua Yang,
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Cai LM, Shi JY, Dong QY, Wei J, Chen HJ. Aberrant stability of brain functional architecture in cirrhotic patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Brain Imaging Behav 2022; 16:2258-2267. [PMID: 35729463 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-022-00696-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
To investigate the stability changes of brain functional architecture and the relationship between stability change and cognitive impairment in cirrhotic patients. Fifty-one cirrhotic patients (21 with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) and 30 without MHE (NHE)) and 29 healthy controls (HCs) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and neurocognitive assessment using the Psychometric Hepatic Encephalopathy Score (PHES). Voxel-wise functional connectivity density (FCD) was calculated as the sum of connectivity strength between one voxel and others within the entire brain. The sliding window correlation approach was subsequently utilized to calculate the FCD dynamics over time. Functional stability (FS) is measured as the concordance of dynamic FCD. From HCs to the NHE and MHE groups, a stepwise reduction of FS was found in the right supramarginal gyrus (RSMG), right middle cingulate cortex, left superior frontal gyrus, and bilateral posterior cingulate cortex (BPCC), whereas a progressive increment of FS was observed in the left middle occipital gyrus (LMOG) and right temporal pole (RTP). The mean FS values in RSMG/LMOG/RTP (r = 0.470 and P = 0.001; r = -0.458 and P = 0.001; and r = -0.384 and P = 0.005, respectively) showed a correlation with PHES in cirrhotic patients. The FS index in RSMG/LMOG/BPCC/RTP showed moderate discrimination potential between the NHE and MHE groups. Changes in FS may be linked to neuropathological bias of cognitive impairment in cirrhotic patients and could serve as potential biomarkers for MHE diagnosis and monitoring the progression of hepatic encephalopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Min Cai
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, China
| | - Jia-Yan Shi
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, China
| | - Qiu-Yi Dong
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, China
| | - Jin Wei
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, China
| | - Hua-Jun Chen
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, China.
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8
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Zhu L, Zhang W, Chen L, Ren Y, Cao Y, Sun T, Sun B, Liu J, Wang J, Zheng C. Brain Gray Matter Alterations in Hepatic Encephalopathy: A Voxel-Based Meta-Analysis of Whole-Brain Studies. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:838666. [PMID: 35517986 PMCID: PMC9062230 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.838666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Previous studies on voxel-based morphometry (VBM) have found that there were gray matter alterations in patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE). However, the reported results were inconsistent and lack a quantitative review. Therefore, this study aims for a quantitative meta-analysis of VBM analysis on patients with HE. Methods The studies in our meta-analysis were collected from Pubmed, Web of Science, and Embase, which were published from January 1947 to October 2021. The seed-based d mapping (SDM) method was applied to quantitatively estimate the regional gray matter abnormalities in patients with HE. A meta-regression analysis was applied to evaluate the relationship between plasma ammonia and gray matter alteration. Results There were nine studies, with sixteen datasets consisting of 333 participants with HE and 429 healthy controls. The pooled and subgroup meta-analyses showed an increase in gray matter volume (GMV) in the bilateral thalamus and the calcarine fissure but a decrease in the GMV in the bilateral insula, the basal ganglia, the anterior cingulate gyrus, and the cerebellum. The meta-regression showed that plasma ammonia was positively associated with the GMV in the left thalamus but was negatively associated with the GMV in the cerebellum and the bilateral striatum. Conclusion Gray matter volume in patients with HE largely varied and could be affected by plasma ammonia. The findings of this study could help us to better understand the pathophysiology of cognitive dysfunction in patients with HE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Licheng Zhu
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Weihua Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanqiao Ren
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanyan Cao
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Sun
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bo Sun
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Chuansheng Zheng
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
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9
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Ochoa-Sanchez R, Tamnanloo F, Rose CF. Hepatic Encephalopathy: From Metabolic to Neurodegenerative. Neurochem Res 2021; 46:2612-2625. [PMID: 34129161 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-021-03372-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric syndrome of both acute and chronic liver disease. As a metabolic disorder, HE is considered to be reversible and therefore is expected to resolve following the replacement of the diseased liver with a healthy liver. However, persisting neurological complications are observed in up to 47% of transplanted patients. Several retrospective studies have shown that patients with a history of HE, particularly overt-HE, had persistent neurological complications even after liver transplantation (LT). These enduring neurological conditions significantly affect patient's quality of life and continue to add to the economic burden of chronic liver disease on health care systems. This review discusses the journey of the brain through the progression of liver disease, entering the invasive surgical procedure of LT and the conditions associated with the post-transplant period. In particular, it will discuss the vulnerability of the HE brain to peri-operative factors and post-LT conditions which may explain non-resolved neurological impairment following LT. In addition, the review will provide evidence; (i) supporting overt-HE impacts on neurological complications post-LT; (ii) that overt-HE leads to permanent neuronal injury and (iii) the pathophysiological role of ammonia toxicity on astrocyte and neuronal injury/damage. Together, these findings will provide new insights on the underlying mechanisms leading to neurological complications post-LT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Ochoa-Sanchez
- Hepato-Neuro Laboratory, CRCHUM, Université de Montréal, 900, rue Saint-Denis Pavillon R, R08.422, Montreal, QC, H2X-0A9, Canada
| | - Farzaneh Tamnanloo
- Hepato-Neuro Laboratory, CRCHUM, Université de Montréal, 900, rue Saint-Denis Pavillon R, R08.422, Montreal, QC, H2X-0A9, Canada
| | - Christopher F Rose
- Hepato-Neuro Laboratory, CRCHUM, Université de Montréal, 900, rue Saint-Denis Pavillon R, R08.422, Montreal, QC, H2X-0A9, Canada.
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10
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Chen HJ, Zhang XH, Shi JY, Jiang SF, Sun YF, Zhang L, Li D, Chen R. Thalamic Structural Connectivity Abnormalities in Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy. Front Neuroanat 2021; 15:592772. [PMID: 33716679 PMCID: PMC7947347 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.592772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims: Numerous studies have demonstrated thalamus-related structural, functional, and metabolic abnormalities in minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). We conducted the first study to investigate thalamic structural connectivity alterations in MHE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua-Jun Chen
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jia-Yan Shi
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shao-Fan Jiang
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yi-Fan Sun
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China.,Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Gastroenterology and Fujian Institute of Digestive Disease, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Rong Chen
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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11
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Luo S, Zhou ZM, Guo DJ, Li CM, Liu H, Wu XJ, Liang S, Zhao XY, Chen T, Sun D, Shi XL, Zhong WJ, Zhang W. Radiomics-based classification models for HBV-related cirrhotic patients with covert hepatic encephalopathy. Brain Behav 2021; 11:e01970. [PMID: 33236529 PMCID: PMC7882152 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The significant abnormalities of precuneus (PC), which are associated with brain dysfunction, have been identified in cirrhotic patients with covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE). The present study aimed to apply radiomics analysis to identify the significant radiomic features in PC and their subregions, combine with clinical risk factors, then build and evaluate the classification models for CHE diagnosis. METHODS 106 HBV-related cirrhotic patients (54 had current CHE and 52 had non-CHE) underwent the three-dimensional T1-weighted imaging. For each participant, PC and their subregions were segmented and extracted a large number of radiomic features and then identified the features with significant discriminative power as the radiomics signature. The logistic regression analysis was employed to develop and evaluate the classification models, which are constructed using the radiomics signature and clinical risk factors. RESULTS The classification model (R-C model) achieved best diagnostic performance, which incorporated radiomics signature (4 radiomic features from right PC), venous blood ammonia, and the Child-Pugh stage. And the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy values were 0.926, 1.000, 0.765, and 0.848, in the testing set. Application of the radiomics nomogram in the testing set still showed a good predictive accuracy. CONCLUSIONS This study presented the radiomic features of the right PC, as a potential image marker of CHE. The radiomics nomogram that incorporates the radiomics signature and clinical risk factors may facilitate the individualized prediction of CHE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Luo
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhi-Ming Zhou
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Da-Jing Guo
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chuan-Ming Li
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Huan Liu
- GE Healthcare Life Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Jia Wu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shuang Liang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Zhao
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dong Sun
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xin-Lin Shi
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei-Jia Zhong
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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12
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Reduced Cortical Complexity in Cirrhotic Patients with Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:7364649. [PMID: 32256557 PMCID: PMC7104259 DOI: 10.1155/2020/7364649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Gray matter volume loss, regional cortical thinning, and local gyrification index alteration have been documented in minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). Fractal dimension (FD), another morphological parameter, has been widely used to describe structural complexity alterations in neurological or psychiatric disease. Here, we conducted the first study to investigate FD alterations in MHE. Methods and Materials We performed high-resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging on cirrhotic patients with MHE (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 21). We evaluated their cognitive performance using the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES). The regional FD value was calculated by Computational Anatomy Toolbox (CAT12) and compared between groups. We further estimated the association between patients' cognitive performance and FD values. Results MHE patients presented significantly decreased FD values in the left precuneus, left supramarginal gyrus, right caudal anterior cingulate cortex, right isthmus cingulate cortex, right insula, bilateral pericalcarine cortex, and bilateral paracentral cortex compared to normal controls. In addition, the FD values in the right isthmus cingulate cortex and right insula were shown to be positively correlated with patients' cognitive performance. Conclusion Aberrant cortical complexity is an additional characteristic of MHE, and FD analysis may provide novel insight into the neurobiological basis of cognitive dysfunction in MHE.
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13
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Chen QF, Zou TX, Yang ZT, Chen HJ. Identification of patients with and without minimal hepatic encephalopathy based on gray matter volumetry using a support vector machine learning algorithm. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2490. [PMID: 32051514 PMCID: PMC7016173 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59433-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is characterized by diffuse abnormalities in cerebral structure, such as reduced cortical thickness and altered brain parenchymal volume. This study tested the potential of gray matter (GM) volumetry to differentiate between cirrhotic patients with and without MHE using a support vector machine (SVM) learning method. High-resolution, T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were acquired from 24 cirrhotic patients with MHE and 29 cirrhotic patients without MHE (NHE). Voxel-based morphometry was conducted to evaluate the GM volume (GMV) for each subject. An SVM classifier was employed to explore the ability of the GMV measurement to diagnose MHE, and the leave-one-out cross-validation method was used to assess classification accuracy. The SVM algorithm based on GM volumetry achieved a classification accuracy of 83.02%, with a sensitivity of 83.33% and a specificity of 82.76%. The majority of the most discriminative GMVs were located in the bilateral frontal lobe, bilateral lentiform nucleus, bilateral thalamus, bilateral sensorimotor areas, bilateral visual regions, bilateral temporal lobe, bilateral cerebellum, left inferior parietal lobe, and right precuneus/posterior cingulate gyrus. Our results suggest that SVM analysis based on GM volumetry has the potential to help diagnose MHE in cirrhotic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiu-Feng Chen
- College of Computer and Information Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Tian-Xiu Zou
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, China
| | - Zhe-Ting Yang
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, China
| | - Hua-Jun Chen
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, China.
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14
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Altered cognitive control network is related to psychometric and biochemical profiles in covert hepatic encephalopathy. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6580. [PMID: 31036843 PMCID: PMC6488566 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42957-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cognitive control network (CCN) is a network responsible for multiple executive functions, which are impaired in covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE). We aimed to use functional connectivity (FC) magnetic resonance imaging to test the hypothesis that CHE manifested with disconnection within the CCN, which is associated with impaired neuropsychiatric and biochemical profiles. CHE was detected with abnormally low psychometric hepatic encephalopathy scores (PHES) (total cut-off score <−4). Two seeds in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) were used to calculate the FC map within the CCN. Pearson correlation analysis was performed between the CCN and psychometric, biochemical profiles including ammonia, Interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Eighteen CHE, 36 non-HE (NHE) cirrhotic patients and 36 controls were studied. Significant differences in FC were noted among groups, which revealed CHE patients had a lower FC in the bilateral lateral occipital cortex (seed in the bilateral dACC) and in the right lateral occipital and precuneus cortices (seed in the left DLPFC) (P < 0.05, corrected) compared with NHE. Progressively decreased FC in the left precentral gyrus within the CCN was noted from control, NHE to CHE. PHES positively and biochemistry negatively correlated with FC in the CCN. In conclusion, CHE patients showed aberrant FC within the CCN which is correlated with both cognitive dysfunction and biochemical profiles. Ammonia and pro-inflammatory cytokines may contribute to the occurrence of aberrant connectivity. Impaired FC within the CCN may serve as a complementary biomarker for CHE.
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15
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Zou TX, She L, Zhan C, Gao YQ, Chen HJ. Altered Topological Properties of Gray Matter Structural Covariance Networks in Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy. Front Neuroanat 2018; 12:101. [PMID: 30555305 PMCID: PMC6281039 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2018.00101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims: Liver cirrhosis commonly induces brain structural impairments that are associated with neurological complications (e.g., minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE)), but the topological characteristics of the brain structural network are still less well understood in cirrhotic patients with MHE. This study aimed to conduct the first investigation on the topological alterations of brain structural covariance networks in MHE. Methods: This study included 22 healthy controls (HCs) and 22 cirrhotic patients with MHE. We calculated the gray matter volume of 90 brain regions using an automated anatomical labeling (AAL) template, followed by construction of gray matter structural covariance networks by thresholding interregional structural correlation matrices as well as graph theoretical analysis. Results: MHE patients showed abnormal small-world properties of the brain structural covariance network, i.e., decreased clustering coefficient and characteristic path length and lower small-worldness parameters, which indicated a tendency toward more random architecture. In addition, MHE patients lost hubs in the prefrontal and parietal regions, although they had new hubs in the temporal and occipital regions. Compared to HC, MHE patients had decreased regional degree/betweenness involving several regions, primarily the prefrontal and parietal lobes, motor region, insula and thalamus. In addition, the MHE group also showed increased degree/betweenness in the occipital lobe and hippocampus. Conclusion: These results suggest that MHE leads to altered coordination patterns of gray matter morphology and provide structural evidence supporting the idea that MHE is a neurological complication related to disrupted neural networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Xiu Zou
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Lilan She
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chuanyin Zhan
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yong-Qing Gao
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China.,Department of Radiology, Fuqing City Hospital, Fuqing, China
| | - Hua-Jun Chen
- Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
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16
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Lu CQ, Jiao Y, Meng XP, Cai Y, Luan Y, Xu XM, Ju S. Structural change of thalamus in cirrhotic patients with or without minimal hepatic encephalopathy and the relationship between thalamus volume and clinical indexes related to cirrhosis. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 20:800-807. [PMID: 30268989 PMCID: PMC6169337 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 08/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant brain structural change in cirrhotic patients with or without hepatic encephalopathy is one of the most typical cases in voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies. However, there exist inconsistent results regarding to the volume change of the thalamus. Furthermore, the relationship between thalamus structural change and cirrhotic symptoms has not yet been fully elucidated. To address these two issues, we repeated two VBM analyses in SPM and FreeSurfer and compared the two measurements with manually measured thalamic volumes. We also correlated the VBM results with clinical indexes related to cirrhosis to further investigate the relationship between thalamic structural change and liver cirrhosis. The inconsistent result of thalamic structural change was successfully reproduced in regard to the volume measurements of SPM and FreeSurfer. The manually measured results demonstrate an increase in the volume of the thalamus in cirrhotic patients compared to healthy controls, which differs from the results of FreeSurfer. The structural change of thalamus closely correlated with the blood biochemical indexes, including albumin levels, blood coagulation time, and AST/ALT ratio. All of these biochemical indexes are closely related to the severity of liver cirrhosis. Beyond all the results, this study also provides a good demonstration of the difference between multiple VBM measurements for clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Qiang Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yun Jiao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiang-Pan Meng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yu Cai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Ying Luan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiao-Min Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Shenghong Ju
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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17
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García-García R, Cruz-Gómez ÁJ, Urios A, Mangas-Losada A, Forn C, Escudero-García D, Kosenko E, Torregrosa I, Tosca J, Giner-Durán R, Serra MA, Avila C, Belloch V, Felipo V, Montoliu C. Learning and Memory Impairments in Patients with Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy are Associated with Structural and Functional Connectivity Alterations in Hippocampus. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9664. [PMID: 29941971 PMCID: PMC6018225 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27978-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) show mild cognitive impairment associated with alterations in attentional and executive networks. There are no studies evaluating the relationship between memory in MHE and structural and functional connectivity (FC) changes in the hippocampal system. This study aimed to evaluate verbal learning and long-term memory in cirrhotic patients with (C-MHE) and without MHE (C-NMHE) and healthy controls. We assessed the relationship between alterations in memory and the structural integrity and FC of the hippocampal system. C-MHE patients showed impairments in learning, long-term memory, and recognition, compared to C-NMHE patients and controls. Cirrhotic patients showed reduced fimbria volume compared to controls. Larger volumes in hippocampus subfields were related to better memory performance in C-NMHE patients and controls. C-MHE patients presented lower FC between the L-presubiculum and L-precuneus than C-NMHE patients. Compared to controls, C-MHE patients had reduced FC between L-presubiculum and subiculum seeds and bilateral precuneus, which correlated with cognitive impairment and memory performance. Alterations in the FC of the hippocampal system could contribute to learning and long-term memory impairments in C-MHE patients. This study demonstrates the association between alterations in learning and long-term memory and structural and FC disturbances in hippocampal structures in cirrhotic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel García-García
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Amparo Urios
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Valencia, Spain
- Fundacion Investigacion Hospital Clinico Valencia. INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Alba Mangas-Losada
- Fundacion Investigacion Hospital Clinico Valencia. INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Cristina Forn
- Departamento Psicologia Basica, Clinica y Psicobiologia. Universitat Jaume I, Castellon, Spain
| | | | - Elena Kosenko
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Pushchino, Russia
| | | | - Joan Tosca
- Unidad de Digestivo-Hospital Clínico. Departamento Medicina, Universidad Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Miguel Angel Serra
- Unidad de Digestivo-Hospital Clínico. Departamento Medicina, Universidad Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - César Avila
- Departamento Psicologia Basica, Clinica y Psicobiologia. Universitat Jaume I, Castellon, Spain
| | | | - Vicente Felipo
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carmina Montoliu
- Fundacion Investigacion Hospital Clinico Valencia. INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain.
- Departamento Patología, Facultad Medicina, Universidad Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
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18
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Zhang XD, Zhang LJ. Multimodal MR imaging in hepatic encephalopathy: state of the art. Metab Brain Dis 2018; 33:661-671. [PMID: 29374342 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-018-0191-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neurological or neuropsychological complication due to liver failure or portosystemic shunting. The clinical manifestation is highly variable, which can exhibit mild cognitive or motor impairment initially, or gradually progress to a coma, even death, without treatment. Neuroimaging plays a critical role in uncovering the neural mechanism of HE. In particular, multimodality MR imaging is able to assess both structural and functional derangements of the brain with HE in focal or neural network perspectives. In recent years, there has been rapid development in novel MR technologies and applications to investigate the pathophysiological mechanism of HE. Therefore, it is necessary to update the latest MR findings regarding HE by use of multimodality MRI to refine and deepen our understanding of the neural traits in HE. Herein, this review highlights the latest MR imaging findings in HE to refresh our understanding of MRI application in HE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Dong Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Clinical School of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300192, People's Republic of China
| | - Long Jiang Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, No. 305 Zhongshan East Road, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.
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19
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García-García R, Cruz-Gómez ÁJ, Mangas-Losada A, Urios A, Forn C, Escudero-García D, Kosenko E, Ordoño JF, Tosca J, Giner-Durán R, Serra MA, Avila C, Belloch V, Felipo V, Montoliu C. Reduced resting state connectivity and gray matter volume correlate with cognitive impairment in minimal hepatic encephalopathy. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186463. [PMID: 29023586 PMCID: PMC5638549 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is associated with cognitive alterations and changes in connectivity. We assessed the relationship of the abnormalities of resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) and gray matter (GM) volume with different cognitive alterations and biochemical parameters associated to MHE. METHODS Thirty-nine cirrhotic patients (26 without and 13 with MHE) and 24 controls were widely cognitive assessed with a battery of psychometric tests. Atrophy was determined using Voxel-Based Morphometry and rs-FC was assessed by independent component analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was performed to assess the diagnostic utility of rs-FC and GM reduction for the discrimination of patients with and without MHE. Blood ammonia, cGMP, and levels of pro-inflammatory interleukins were measured. RESULTS MHE patients showed significant decrease of GM volume and lesser degree of rs-FC in different networks related to attention and executive functions as compared to controls and patients without MHE. There is a progressive reduction in rs-FC in the default mode network with the progression of cognitive impairment. MHE patients showed GM reduction in the right frontal lobe, right insula and right cerebellum compared to patients without MHE. Alterations in GM volume and rs-FC correlated with the scores of different cognitive tests. CONCLUSIONS Decreased cognitive performance is associated by reduced rs-FC and GM atrophy in MHE patients. These changes could have predictive value for detecting MHE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Álvaro Javier Cruz-Gómez
- Departamento Psicologia Basica, Clinica y Psicobiologia. Universitat Jaume I. Castellon, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
| | - Alba Mangas-Losada
- Fundacion Investigacion Hospital Clinico Valencia. INCLIVA. Valencia, Spain
| | - Amparo Urios
- Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe. Valencia, Spain
- Fundacion Investigacion Hospital Clinico Valencia. INCLIVA. Valencia, Spain
| | - Cristina Forn
- Departamento Psicologia Basica, Clinica y Psicobiologia. Universitat Jaume I. Castellon, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
| | | | - Elena Kosenko
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Pushchino, Russia
| | - Juan Fermín Ordoño
- Servicio Neurofisiología, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Valencia, Spain
- Psychopatology and Neurophysiology Unit, Paterna Mental Health Center, CIBERSAM, Valencia, Spain
| | - Joan Tosca
- Unidad de Digestivo-Hospital Clínico. Departamento Medicina, Universidad Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Miguel Angel Serra
- Unidad de Digestivo-Hospital Clínico. Departamento Medicina, Universidad Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - César Avila
- Departamento Psicologia Basica, Clinica y Psicobiologia. Universitat Jaume I. Castellon, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
| | | | | | - Carmina Montoliu
- Fundacion Investigacion Hospital Clinico Valencia. INCLIVA. Valencia, Spain
- Departamento Patología, Facultad Medicina, Universidad Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- * E-mail:
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20
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Brain Microstructural Abnormalities in Patients With Cirrhosis Without Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy: A Voxel-Based Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging Study. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2017; 209:1128-1135. [PMID: 28813200 DOI: 10.2214/ajr.17.17827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate whole-brain microstructural abnormalities and their correlation with cognitive impairment in patients with cirrhosis using diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI). SUBJECTS AND METHODS Eighteen patients with cirrhosis and 17 healthy control subjects underwent DKI. Cognition was measured using psychometric hepatic encephalopathy (HE) scores. Whole-brain voxel-based analyses were performed to investigate between-group differences in DKI-derived parameters, including mean kurtosis, axial kurtosis, and radial kurtosis. RESULTS Compared with control subjects, the patients with cirrhosis had lower psychometric HE scores, indicating cognitive impairments. The patients with cirrhosis had significantly lower global mean kurtosis, axial kurtosis, and radial kurtosis in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM). Voxel-based analyses showed that patients with cirrhosis had decreased mean kurtosis, axial kurtosis, and radial kurtosis in diffuse GM regions (particularly in the cingulate cortex, precuneus, insular cortex, frontal areas, basal ganglia, hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus and angular gyrus, postcentral and precentral gyrus, and cerebellum) and WM regions (particularly in the corpus callosum, internal capsule, frontal regions, parietal regions, occipital regions, and cerebellum). The DKI metrics were positively correlated with psychometric HE score among patients. CONCLUSION Lower DKI parameters suggest decreased brain microstructural complexity in patients with cirrhosis, which may contribute to the neurobiologic basis of cognitive impairment.
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21
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Montoliu C, Felipo V. Current state of knowledge of hepatic encephalopathy (part II): changes in brain white matter tracts integrity are associated with cognitive deficits in minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Metab Brain Dis 2016; 31:1359-1360. [PMID: 27651376 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-016-9909-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carmina Montoliu
- Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico de Valencia, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Vicente Felipo
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología, Centro Investigación Príncipe Felipe de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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22
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Nardone R, De Blasi P, Höller Y, Brigo F, Golaszewski S, Frey VN, Orioli A, Trinka E. Intracortical inhibitory and excitatory circuits in subjects with minimal hepatic encephalopathy: a TMS study. Metab Brain Dis 2016; 31:1065-70. [PMID: 27255390 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-016-9848-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is the earliest form of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and affects up to 80 % of patients with liver cirrhosis. By definition, MHE is characterized by psychomotor slowing and subtle cognitive deficits, but obvious clinical manifestations are lacking. Given its covert nature, MHE is often underdiagnosed. This study was aimed at detecting neurophysiological changes, as assessed by means of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), involved in the early pathogenesis of the HE. We investigated motor cortex excitability in 15 patients with MHE and in 15 age-matched age-matched cirrhotic patients without MHE; the resting motor threshold, the short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and the intracortical facilitation (ICF) were examined. Paired-pulse TMS revealed significant increased SICI and reduced ICF in the patients with MHE. These findings may reflect abnormalities in intrinsic brain activity and altered organization of functional connectivity networks. In particular, the results suggest a shift in the balance between intracortical inhibitory and excitatory mechanisms towards a net increase of inhibitory neurotransmission. Together with other neurophysiological (in particular EEG) and neuroimaging techniques, TMS may thus provide early markers of cerebral dysfunction in cirrhotic patients with MHE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Nardone
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
- Department of Neurology, Franz Tappeiner Hospital, Via Rossini, 5, 39012, Merano, BZ, Italy.
| | | | - Yvonne Höller
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Francesco Brigo
- Department of Neurology, Franz Tappeiner Hospital, Via Rossini, 5, 39012, Merano, BZ, Italy
- Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Stefan Golaszewski
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Vanessa N Frey
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Andrea Orioli
- Department of Neurology, Franz Tappeiner Hospital, Via Rossini, 5, 39012, Merano, BZ, Italy
| | - Eugen Trinka
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
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Golaszewski S, Langthaler PB, Schwenker K, Florea C, Christova M, Brigo F, Trinka E, Nardone R. Abnormal cortical synaptic plasticity in minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Brain Res Bull 2016; 125:200-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2016.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Revised: 07/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Nardone R, Taylor AC, Höller Y, Brigo F, Lochner P, Trinka E. Minimal hepatic encephalopathy: A review. Neurosci Res 2016; 111:1-12. [PMID: 27153746 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2016.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Revised: 04/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/23/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is the earliest form of hepatic encephalopathy and can affect up to 80% of patients with liver cirrhosis. By definition, MHE is characterized by cognitive function impairment in the domains of attention, vigilance and integrative function, but obvious clinical manifestation are lacking. MHE has been shown to affect daily functioning, quality of life, driving and overall mortality. The diagnosis can be achieved through neuropsychological testing, recently developed computerized psychometric tests, such as the critical flicker frequency and the inhibitory control tests, as well as neurophysiological procedures. Event related potentials can reveal subtle changes in patients with normal neuropsychological performances. Spectral analysis of electroencephalography (EEG) and quantitative analysis of sleep EEG provide early markers of cerebral dysfunction in cirrhotic patients with MHE. Neuroimaging, in particular MRI, also increasingly reveals diffuse abnormalities in intrinsic brain activity and altered organization of functional connectivity networks. Medical treatment for MHE to date has been focused on reducing serum ammonia levels and includes non-absorbable disaccharides, probiotics or rifaximin. Liver transplantation may not reverse the cognitive deficits associated with MHE. We performed here an updated review on epidemiology, burden and quality of life, neuropsychological testing, neuroimaging, neurophysiology and therapy in subjects with MHE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Nardone
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Klinik and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria; Department of Neurology, Franz Tappeiner Hospital, Italy.
| | - Alexandra C Taylor
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Klinik and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Yvonne Höller
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Klinik and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Francesco Brigo
- Department of Neurology, Franz Tappeiner Hospital, Italy; Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurology, University of Verona, Italy
| | - Piergiorgio Lochner
- Department of Neurology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
| | - Eugen Trinka
- Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Klinik and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
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Yadav SK, Gupta RK, Saraswat VA, Rangan M, Thomas MA, Rutella S, Danese S, Wang E, Marincola FM, Haris M. Reduced cortical thickness in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure due to non-alcoholic etiology. J Transl Med 2015; 13:322. [PMID: 26444271 PMCID: PMC4596551 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-015-0679-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a form of liver disease with high short-term mortality. ACLF offers considerable potential to affect the cortical areas by significant tissue injury due to loss of neurons
and other supporting cells. We measured changes in cortical thickness and metabolites profile in ACLF patients following treatment, and compared it with those of age matched healthy volunteers. Methods For the cortical thickness analysis we performed whole brain high resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on 15 ACLF and 10 healthy volunteers at 3T clinical MR scanner. Proton MR Spectroscopy (1H MRS) was also performed to measure level of altered metabolites. Out of 15 ACLF patients 10 survived and underwent follow-up study after clinical recovery at 3 weeks. FreeSurfer program was used to quantify cortical thickness and LC- Model software was used to quantify absolute metabolites concentrations. Neuropsychological (NP) test was performed to assess the cognitive performance in follow-up ACLF patients compared to controls. Results Significantly reduced cortical thicknesses in multiple brain sites, and significantly decreased N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), myo-inositol (mI) and significantly increased glutamate/glutamine (glx) metabolites were observed in ACLF compared to those of controls at baseline study. Follow-up patients showed significant recovery in cortical thickness and Glx level, while NAA and mI were partially recovered compared to baseline study. When compared to controls, follow-up patients still showed reduced cortical thickness and altered metabolites level. Follow-up patients had abnormal neuropsychological (NP) scores compared to controls. Conclusions Neuronal loss as suggested by the reduced NAA, decreased cellular density due to increased cerebral hyperammonemia as supported by the increased glx level, and increased proinflammatory cytokines and free radicals may account for the reduced cortical thickness in ACLF patients. Presence of reduced cortical thickness, altered metabolites and abnormal NP test scores in post recovery subjects as compared to those of controls is associated with incomplete clinical recovery. The current imaging protocol can be easily implemented in clinical settings to evaluate and monitor brain tissue changes in patients with ACLF during the course of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh K Yadav
- Research Branch, Sidra Medical and Research Center, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Rakesh K Gupta
- Department of Radiology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, Haryana, India.
| | - Vivek A Saraswat
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.
| | - Murali Rangan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.
| | - Michael A Thomas
- Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
| | - Sergio Rutella
- Research Branch, Sidra Medical and Research Center, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Silvio Danese
- Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy.
| | - Ena Wang
- Research Branch, Sidra Medical and Research Center, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar.
| | | | - Mohammad Haris
- Research Branch, Sidra Medical and Research Center, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar.
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Wu X, Lv XF, Zhang YL, Wu HW, Cai PQ, Qiu YW, Zhang XL, Jiang GH. Cortical signature of patients with HBV-related cirrhosis without overt hepatic encephalopathy: a morphometric analysis. Front Neuroanat 2015; 9:82. [PMID: 26106307 PMCID: PMC4458689 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2015.00082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis (HBV-RC) without overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) are associated with a varying degree of cognitive dysfunction. Several resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have been conducted to explore the neural correlates of such cognitive deficits, whereas little effort has been made to investigate the cortical integrity in cirrhotic patients without OHE. Here, using cortical thickness, surface area and local gyrification index (lGI), this study performed a comprehensive analysis on the cortical morphometry of patients with HBV-RC without OHE (HBV-RC-NOHE) vs. matched healthy controls. Compared with healthy controls, we found significantly increased cortical thickness in the bilateral lingual and parahippocampal gyrus, right posterior cingulate cortex, precuneus, peri-calcarine sulcus and fusiform gyrus in patient with HBV-RC-NOHE, which may closely relate to be the low-grade brain edema. Cortical gyrification analysis showed significantly increased lGI in the left superior and inferior parietal cortex as well as lateral occipital cortex, which was speculated to be associated with disruptions in white matter connectivity and sub-optimal intra-cortical organization. In addition, the mean cortical thickness/lGI of the regions with structural abnormalities was shown to be negatively correlated with psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) of the patients with HBV-RC-NOHE. These morphological changes may serve as potential markers for the preclinical diagnosis and progression of HBV-RC-NOHE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu Wu
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu, China ; Department of Medical Imaging, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Fei Lv
- Department of Medical Imaging, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Ling Zhang
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu, China
| | - Hua-Wang Wu
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu, China ; Department of Medical imaging, Guangzhou Brain Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University Guangzhou, China
| | - Pei-Qiang Cai
- Department of Medical Imaging, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying-Wei Qiu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong No. 2 Provincial People's Hospital Guangzhou, China
| | - Xue-Lin Zhang
- Medical Imaging Centre, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medial University Guangzhou, China
| | - Gui-Hua Jiang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong No. 2 Provincial People's Hospital Guangzhou, China
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Solinas A, Piras MR, Deplano A. Cognitive dysfunction and hepatitis C virus infection. World J Hepatol 2015; 7:922-925. [PMID: 25954475 PMCID: PMC4419096 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v7.i7.922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2015] [Revised: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a distinct form of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). In fact, the majority of HCV-positive patients, irrespective of the grading of liver fibrosis, display alterations of verbal learning, attention, executive function, and memory when they are evaluated by suitable neuropsychological tests. Similarities between the cognitive dysfunction of HCV patients and MHE of patients with different etiologies are unclear. It is also unknown how the metabolic alterations of advanced liver diseases interact with the HCV-induced cognitive dysfunction, and whether these alterations are reversed by antiviral therapies. HCV replication in the brain may play a role in the pathogenesis of neuroinflammation. HCV-related brain dysfunction may be associated with white matter neuronal loss, alterations of association tracts and perfusion. It is unclear to what extent, in patients with cirrhosis, HCV triggers an irreversible neurodegenerative brain damage. New insights on this issue will be provided by longitudinal studies using the protocols established by the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders fifth edition for cognitive disorders. The domains to be evaluated are complex attention; executive functions; learning and memory; perceptual motor functions; social cognition. These evaluations should be associated with fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols for major cognitive disorders including magnetic resonance spectroscopy, diffusion tensor imaging, magnetic resonance perfusion, and functional MRI. Also, the characteristics of portal hypertension, including the extent of liver blood flow and the type of portal shunts, should be evaluated.
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28
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Lv XF, Liu K, Qiu YW, Cai PQ, Li J, Jiang GH, Deng YJ, Zhang XL, Wu PH, Xie CM, Wen G. Anomalous gray matter structural networks in patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis without overt hepatic encephalopathy. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0119339. [PMID: 25786256 PMCID: PMC4364769 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2014] [Accepted: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Purpose Increasing evidence suggests that cirrhosis may affect the connectivity among different brain regions in patients before overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) occurs. However, there has been no study investigating the structural reorganization of these altered connections at the network level. The primary focus of this study was to investigate the abnormal topological organization of the structural network in patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis (HBV-RC) without OHE using structural MRI. Methods Using graph theoretical analysis, we compared the global and regional topological properties of gray matter structural networks between 28 patients with HBV-RC without OHE and 30 age-, sex- and education-matched healthy controls. The structural correlation networks were constructed for the two groups based on measures of gray matter volume. Results The brain network of the HBV-RC group exhibited a significant decrease in the clustering coefficient and reduced small-worldness at the global level across a range of network densities. Regionally, brain areas with altered nodal degree/betweenness centrality were observed predominantly in association cortices (frontal and temporal regions) (p < 0.05, uncorrected), including a significantly decreased nodal degree in the inferior temporal gyrus (p < 0.001, uncorrected). Furthermore, the HBV-RC group exhibited a loss of association hubs and the emergence of an increased number of non-association hubs compared with the healthy controls. Conclusion The results of this large-scale gray matter structural network study suggest reduced topological organization efficiency in patients with HBV-RC without OHE. Our findings provide new insight concerning the mechanisms of neurobiological reorganization in the HBV-RC brain from a network perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Fei Lv
- Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Liu
- Medical Imaging Centre, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medial University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying-Wei Qiu
- Department of medical imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong No. 2 Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Pei-Qiang Cai
- Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Li
- Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Gui-Hua Jiang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong No. 2 Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Jia Deng
- Medical Imaging Centre, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medial University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xue-Lin Zhang
- Medical Imaging Centre, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medial University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Pei-Hong Wu
- Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuan-Miao Xie
- Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- * E-mail: (CMX); (GW)
| | - Ge Wen
- Medical Imaging Centre, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medial University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- * E-mail: (CMX); (GW)
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Alonso J, Córdoba J, Rovira A. Brain magnetic resonance in hepatic encephalopathy. Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2014; 35:136-52. [PMID: 24745889 DOI: 10.1053/j.sult.2013.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The term hepatic encephalopathy (HE) covers a wide spectrum of neuropsychiatric abnormalities caused by portal-systemic shunting. The diagnosis requires demonstration of liver dysfunction or portal-systemic shunts and exclusion of other neurologic disorders. Most patients with this condition have liver dysfunction caused by cirrhosis, but it also occurs in patients with acute liver failure and less commonly, in patients with portal-systemic shunts that are not associated with hepatocellular disease. Various magnetic resonance (MR) techniques have improved our knowledge about the pathophysiology of HE. Proton MR spectroscopy and T1-weighted imaging can detect and quantify accumulations of brain products that are normally metabolized or eliminated such as glutamine and manganese. Other MR techniques such as T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted imaging can identify white matter abnormalities resulting from disturbances in cell volume homeostasis secondary to brain hyperammonemia. Partial or complete recovery of these abnormalities has been observed with normalization of liver function or after successful liver transplantation. MR studies have undoubtedly improved our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of HE, and some findings can be considered biomarkers for monitoring the effects of therapeutic measures focused on correcting this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juli Alonso
- Departament de Radiologia, Unitat de Ressonància Magnètica (IDI), Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Vall d'Hebron Institut of Research (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Córdoba
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Servei de Medicina Interna-Hepatologia, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Vall d'Hebron Institut of Research (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alex Rovira
- Departament de Radiologia, Unitat de Ressonància Magnètica (IDI), Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Vall d'Hebron Institut of Research (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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May ES, Butz M, Kahlbrock N, Brenner M, Hoogenboom N, Kircheis G, Häussinger D, Schnitzler A. Hepatic encephalopathy is associated with slowed and delayed stimulus-associated somatosensory alpha activity. Clin Neurophysiol 2014; 125:2427-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2014.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2013] [Revised: 01/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Interplay between glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission alterations in cognitive and motor impairment in minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Neurochem Int 2014; 88:15-9. [PMID: 25447766 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2014.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Revised: 10/11/2014] [Accepted: 10/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The cognitive and motor alterations in hepatic encephalopathy (HE) are the final result of altered neurotransmission and communication between neurons in neuronal networks and circuits. Different neurotransmitter systems cooperate to modulate cognitive and motor function, with a main role for glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission in different brain areas and neuronal circuits. There is an interplay between glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission alterations in cognitive and motor impairment in HE. This interplay may occur: (a) in different brain areas involved in specific neuronal circuits; (b) in the same brain area through cross-modulation of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission. We will summarize some examples of the (1) interplay between glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission alterations in different areas in the basal ganglia-thalamus-cortex circuit in the motor alterations in minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE); (2) interplay between glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission alterations in cerebellum in the impairment of cognitive function in MHE through altered function of the glutamate-nitric oxide-cGMP pathway. We will also comment the therapeutic implications of the above studies and the utility of modulators of glutamate and GABA receptors to restore cognitive and motor function in rats with hyperammonemia and hepatic encephalopathy.
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Zhang XD, Zhang LJ, Wu SY, Lu GM. Multimodality magnetic resonance imaging in hepatic encephalopathy: An update. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20:11262-11272. [PMID: 25170210 PMCID: PMC4145764 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i32.11262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2013] [Revised: 01/29/2014] [Accepted: 05/29/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric complication of cirrhosis or acute liver failure. Currently, HE is regarded as a continuous cognitive impairment ranging from the mildest stage, minimal HE to overt HE. Hyperammonaemia and neuroinflammation are two main underlying factors which contribute to the neurological alterations in HE. Both structural and functional impairments are found in the white mater and grey mater involved in HE. Although the investigations into HE pathophysiological mechanism are enormous, the exact pathophysiological causes underlying HE remain controversial. Multimodality magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in helping to understand the pathological process of HE. This paper reviews the up-to-date multimodality MRI methods and predominant findings in HE patients with a highlight of the increasingly important role of blood oxygen level dependent functional MRI.
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Butz M, May ES, Häussinger D, Schnitzler A. The slowed brain: Cortical oscillatory activity in hepatic encephalopathy. Arch Biochem Biophys 2013; 536:197-203. [DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2013.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2013] [Revised: 04/04/2013] [Accepted: 04/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Braissant O, McLin VA, Cudalbu C. Ammonia toxicity to the brain. J Inherit Metab Dis 2013; 36:595-612. [PMID: 23109059 DOI: 10.1007/s10545-012-9546-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2012] [Revised: 09/19/2012] [Accepted: 09/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Hyperammonemia can be caused by various acquired or inherited disorders such as urea cycle defects. The brain is much more susceptible to the deleterious effects of ammonium in childhood than in adulthood. Hyperammonemia provokes irreversible damage to the developing central nervous system: cortical atrophy, ventricular enlargement and demyelination lead to cognitive impairment, seizures and cerebral palsy. The mechanisms leading to these severe brain lesions are still not well understood, but recent studies show that ammonium exposure alters several amino acid pathways and neurotransmitter systems, cerebral energy metabolism, nitric oxide synthesis, oxidative stress and signal transduction pathways. All in all, at the cellular level, these are associated with alterations in neuronal differentiation and patterns of cell death. Recent advances in imaging techniques are increasing our understanding of these processes through detailed in vivo longitudinal analysis of neurobiochemical changes associated with hyperammonemia. Further, several potential neuroprotective strategies have been put forward recently, including the use of NMDA receptor antagonists, nitric oxide inhibitors, creatine, acetyl-L-carnitine, CNTF or inhibitors of MAPKs and glutamine synthetase. Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy will ultimately be a powerful tool to measure the effects of these neuroprotective approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Braissant
- Service of Biomedicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Avenue Pierre-Decker 2, CI 02/33, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Ciećko-Michalska I, Wójcik J, Senderecka M, Wyczesany M, Binder M, Szewczyk J, Dziedzic T, Słowik A, Mach T. Cognitive functions in patients with liver cirrhosis: a tendency to commit more memory errors. Med Sci Monit 2013; 19:283-8. [PMID: 23598598 PMCID: PMC3659153 DOI: 10.12659/msm.883890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is the mildest form of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). For diagnostic purposes, 2 alternative batteries of psychometric screening tests are recommended. They differ from each other in terms of the cognitive domains assessed. The research was designed to provide a profile of cognitive functioning in patients with liver cirrhosis, using an assessment that covers a wider range of cognitive functions than the usual screening battery. Material/Methods We examined 138 persons, including 88 with liver cirrhosis and 50 healthy volunteers. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used for screening and excluding advanced cognitive impairment. Then, to assess cognitive functions in more detail, the following tests were used: Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), Letter and Semantic Fluency Tests (LF and SF), Trail Making Test (TMT A&B), Digit Symbol Test (DST), Block Design Test (BDT), and Mental Rotation Test (MRT). The MRT task has not been used in MHE diagnosis so far. Finally, 57 patients and 48 controls took part in the entire study. Results Patients with liver cirrhosis commit significantly more errors of intrusions in the AVLT during the delayed free recall trial. Results significantly deviating from the norm in at least 2 tests were found only in 7 cirrhosis patients. Conclusions The results do not provide any specific profile of cognitive disturbances in MHE, but suggest that cirrhosis patients have a tendency to commit more memory errors, probably due to subtle impairments of executive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Ciećko-Michalska
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
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Zhang LJ, Qi R, Zhong J, Ni L, Zheng G, Xu J, Lu GM. Disrupted functional connectivity of the anterior cingulate cortex in cirrhotic patients without overt hepatic encephalopathy: a resting state fMRI study. PLoS One 2013; 8:e53206. [PMID: 23308163 PMCID: PMC3538769 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2012] [Accepted: 11/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background To evaluate the changes of functional connectivity of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in patients with cirrhosis without overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) using resting state functional MRI. Methodology/Principal Findings Participants included 67 cirrhotic patients (27 minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) and 40 cirrhotic patients without MHE (non-HE)), and 40 age- and gender- matched healthy controls. rsfMRI were performed on 3 Telsa scanners. The pregenual ACC resting-state networks (RSNs) were characterized by using a standard seed-based whole-brain correlation method and compared between cirrhotic patients and healthy controls. Pearson correlation analysis was performed between the ACC RSNs and venous blood ammonia levels, neuropsychological tests (number connection test type A [NCT-A] and digit symbol test [DST]) scores in cirrhotic patients. All thresholds were set at P<0.05, with false discovery rate corrected. Compared with controls, non-HE and MHE patients showed significantly decreased functional connectivity in the bilateral ACC, bilateral middle frontal cortex (MFC), bilateral middle cingulate cortex (MCC), bilateral superior temporal gyri (STG)/middle temporal gyri (MTG), bilateral thalami, bilateral putamen and bilateral insula, and increased functional connectivity of bilateral precuneus and left temporo-occipital lobe and bilateral lingual gyri. Compared with non-HE patients, MHE showed the decreased functional connectivity of right MCC, bilateral STG/MTG and right putamen. This indicates decreased ACC functional connectivity predominated with the increasing severity of HE. NCT-A scores negatively correlated with ACC functional connectivity in the bilateral MCC, right temporal lobe, and DST scores positively correlated with functional connectivity in the bilateral ACC and the right putamen. No correlation was found between venous blood ammonia levels and functional connectivity in ACC in cirrhotic patients. Conclusions/Significance Disrupted functional connectivity in ACC was found in cirrhotic patients which further deteriorated with the increasing severity of HE and correlated cognitive dysfunction in cirrhotic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Jiang Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medical College, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rongfeng Qi
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medical College, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianhui Zhong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ling Ni
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medical College, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Gang Zheng
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medical College, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medical College, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- * E-mail: (JX); (GML)
| | - Guang Ming Lu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medical College, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- * E-mail: (JX); (GML)
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Yang HY, Chen DH, Gong HT, Zheng PY. Advances in diagnosis and treatment of minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2012; 20:2058-2062. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v20.i22.2058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), also known as subclinical hepatic encephalopathy (SHE), is a common complex and potentially reversible neuropsychiatric syndrome secondary to chronic liver disease or cirrhosis. Although a clear pathogenesis is yet to be determined, elevated ammonia in serum and the central nervous system is the mainstay for pathogenesis and treatment of MHE. Patients with MHE, regardless of its cause, show a number of quantifiable neuropsychological defects, yet have a normal mental and neurological status on global clinical examination. Although ammonia is the main toxic substance involved in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy, other mechanisms, such as modifications of the blood-brain barrier, disruptions in neurotransmission and abnormalities in GABAergic and benzodiazepine pathways, may also play a role. Current treatments are based on reducing intestinal ammonia load by agents such as antibiotics, disaccharides and probiotics whose efficacy is yet to be clearly established. This paper summarizes the latest advances in the diagnosis and treatment of MHE.
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