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Dabbagh A, Horn U, Kaptan M, Mildner T, Müller R, Lepsien J, Weiskopf N, Brooks JCW, Finsterbusch J, Eippert F. Reliability of task-based fMRI in the dorsal horn of the human spinal cord. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.22.572825. [PMID: 38187724 PMCID: PMC10769329 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.22.572825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The application of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to the human spinal cord is still a relatively small field of research and faces many challenges. Here we aimed to probe the limitations of task-based spinal fMRI at 3T by investigating the reliability of spinal cord blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) responses to repeated nociceptive stimulation across two consecutive days in 40 healthy volunteers. We assessed the test-retest reliability of subjective ratings, autonomic responses, and spinal cord BOLD responses to short heat pain stimuli (1s duration) using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). At the group level, we observed robust autonomic responses as well as spatially specific spinal cord BOLD responses at the expected location, but no spatial overlap in BOLD response patterns across days. While autonomic indicators of pain processing showed good-to-excellent reliability, both β-estimates and z-scores of task-related BOLD responses showed poor reliability across days in the target region (gray matter of the ipsilateral dorsal horn). When taking into account the sensitivity of gradient-echo echo planar imaging (GE-EPI) to draining vein signals by including the venous plexus in the analysis, we observed BOLD responses with fair reliability across days. Taken together, these results demonstrate that heat pain stimuli as short as one second are able to evoke a robust and spatially specific BOLD response, which is however strongly variable within participants across time, resulting in low reliability in the dorsal horn gray matter. Further improvements in data acquisition and analysis techniques are thus necessary before event-related spinal cord fMRI as used here can be reliably employed in longitudinal designs or clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Dabbagh
- Max Planck Research Group Pain Perception, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Horn
- Max Planck Research Group Pain Perception, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Merve Kaptan
- Max Planck Research Group Pain Perception, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, CA, USA
| | - Toralf Mildner
- Methods & Development Group Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Roland Müller
- Methods & Development Group Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jöran Lepsien
- Methods & Development Group Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Weiskopf
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Felix Bloch Institute for Solid State Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jonathan C W Brooks
- School of Psychology, University of East Anglia Wellcome Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre (UWWBIC), Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Jürgen Finsterbusch
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Falk Eippert
- Max Planck Research Group Pain Perception, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
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Sengupta A, Mishra A, Wang F, Chen LM, Gore JC. Characteristic BOLD signals are detectable in white matter of the spinal cord at rest and after a stimulus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2316117121. [PMID: 38776372 PMCID: PMC11145258 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316117121] [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: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
We report the reliable detection of reproducible patterns of blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) MRI signals within the white matter (WM) of the spinal cord during a task and in a resting state. Previous functional MRI studies have shown that BOLD signals are robustly detectable not only in gray matter (GM) in the brain but also in cerebral WM as well as the GM within the spinal cord, but similar signals in WM of the spinal cord have been overlooked. In this study, we detected BOLD signals in the WM of the spinal cord in squirrel monkeys and studied their relationships with the locations and functions of ascending and descending WM tracts. Tactile sensory stimulus -evoked BOLD signal changes were detected in the ascending tracts of the spinal cord using a general-linear model. Power spectral analysis confirmed that the amplitude at the fundamental frequency of the response to a periodic stimulus was significantly higher in the ascending tracts than the descending ones. Independent component analysis of resting-state signals identified coherent fluctuations from eight WM hubs which correspond closely to the known anatomical locations of the major WM tracts. Resting-state analyses showed that the WM hubs exhibited correlated signal fluctuations across spinal cord segments in reproducible patterns that correspond well with the known neurobiological functions of WM tracts in the spinal cord. Overall, these findings provide evidence of a functional organization of intraspinal WM tracts and confirm that they produce hemodynamic responses similar to GM both at baseline and under stimulus conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirban Sengupta
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN37235
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN37235
| | - Arabinda Mishra
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN37235
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN37235
| | - Feng Wang
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN37235
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN37235
| | - Li Min Chen
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN37235
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN37235
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN37235
| | - John C. Gore
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN37235
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN37235
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN37235
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN37235
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3
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Hagert E, Rein S. Wrist proprioception-An update on scientific insights and clinical implications in rehabilitation of the wrist. J Hand Ther 2024; 37:257-268. [PMID: 37866985 DOI: 10.1016/j.jht.2023.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
The field of wrist proprioception, as it relates to rehabilitation and surgery, has gone through a period of intense growth in the past decade. From being primarily focused on the function of the joint and ligaments in patients with wrist trauma or after wrist surgery, the understanding is now that of a greater complexity in treating not just the wrist but the hand and arm as a whole. Proprioception is derived from the Latin words "proprius" - belonging to (oneself) and "-ception" to sense. In other words, how to sense ourselves. To have a complete sense of self, multiple sensory afferents originating from joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons, nerves, skin, vision, and hearing work together to orchestrate a balanced integration of sensorimotor functions, with the true goal to perceive and adapt to the physical world around us. In this update on wrist proprioception, we review current developments in the understanding of proprioception, with an implication for our everyday work as hand therapists and hand surgeons. Each contributing sense-joint, ligaments, muscles, skin, and brain-will be reviewed, and the clinical relevance will be discussed. An updated wrist rehabilitation protocol is proposed where the therapist is guided to rehabilitate a patient after wrist trauma and/or surgery in 4 stages: (1) basic hand and wrist rehabilitation with a focus on reducing edema, pain, and scar formation; (2) proprioception awareness to improve the sense of joint motion and position; (3) conscious neuromuscular rehabilitation where isometric exercises of muscles that are beneficial for a particular injury are promoted, whereas others that are potentially harmful are avoided; and (4) unconscious neuromuscular rehabilitation with training of the reflex and joint protective senses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabet Hagert
- Aspetar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar; Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Susanne Rein
- Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Burn Unit, Hospital Sankt Georg, Leipzig, Germany; Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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4
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Vahdat S, Landelle C, Lungu O, De Leener B, Doyon J, Baniasad F. FASB: an integrated processing pipeline for Functional Analysis of simultaneous Spinal cord-Brain fMRI. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3889284. [PMID: 38352433 PMCID: PMC10862948 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3889284/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Simultaneous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the spinal cord and brain represents a powerful method for examining both ascending sensory and descending motor pathways in humans in vivo . However, its image acquisition protocols, and processing pipeline are less well established. This limitation is mainly due to technical difficulties related to spinal cord fMRI, and problems with the logistics stemming from a large field of view covering both brain and cervical cord. Here, we propose an acquisition protocol optimized for both anatomical and functional images, as well as an optimized integrated image processing pipeline, which consists of a novel approach for automatic modeling and mitigating the negative impact of spinal voxels with low temporal signal to noise ratio (tSNR). We validate our integrated pipeline, named FASB, using simultaneous fMRI data acquired during the performance of a motor task, as well as during resting-state conditions. We demonstrate that FASB outperforms the current spinal fMRI processing methods in three domains, including motion correction, registration to the spinal cord template, and improved detection power of the group-level analysis by removing the effects of participant-specific low tSNR voxels, typically observed at the disk level. Using FASB, we identify significant task-based activations in the expected sensorimotor network associated with a unilateral handgrip force production task across the entire central nervous system, including the contralateral sensorimotor cortex, thalamus, striatum, cerebellum, brainstem, as well as ipsilateral ventral horn at C5-C8 cervical levels. Additionally, our results show significant task-based functional connectivity between the key sensory and motor brain areas and the dorsal and ventral horns of the cervical cord. Overall, our proposed acquisition protocol and processing pipeline provide a robust method for characterizing the activation and functional connectivity of distinct cortical, subcortical, brainstem and spinal cord regions in humans.
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Kaptan M, Pfyffer D, Konstantopoulos CG, Law CS, Weber II KA, Glover GH, Mackey S. Recent developments and future avenues for human corticospinal neuroimaging. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1339881. [PMID: 38332933 PMCID: PMC10850311 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1339881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive neuroimaging serves as a valuable tool for investigating the mechanisms within the central nervous system (CNS) related to somatosensory and motor processing, emotions, memory, cognition, and other functions. Despite the extensive use of brain imaging, spinal cord imaging has received relatively less attention, regardless of its potential to study peripheral communications with the brain and the descending corticospinal systems. To comprehensively understand the neural mechanisms underlying human sensory and motor functions, particularly in pathological conditions, simultaneous examination of neuronal activity in both the brain and spinal cord becomes imperative. Although technically demanding in terms of data acquisition and analysis, a growing but limited number of studies have successfully utilized specialized acquisition protocols for corticospinal imaging. These studies have effectively assessed sensorimotor, autonomic, and interneuronal signaling within the spinal cord, revealing interactions with cortical processes in the brain. In this mini-review, we aim to examine the expanding body of literature that employs cutting-edge corticospinal imaging to investigate the flow of sensorimotor information between the brain and spinal cord. Additionally, we will provide a concise overview of recent advancements in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques. Furthermore, we will discuss potential future perspectives aimed at enhancing our comprehension of large-scale neuronal networks in the CNS and their disruptions in clinical disorders. This collective knowledge will aid in refining combined corticospinal fMRI methodologies, leading to the development of clinically relevant biomarkers for conditions affecting sensorimotor processing in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Kaptan
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Dario Pfyffer
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Christiane G. Konstantopoulos
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Christine S.W. Law
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Kenneth A. Weber II
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Gary H. Glover
- Radiological Sciences Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Sean Mackey
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States
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6
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Braaß H, Feldheim J, Chu Y, Tinnermann A, Finsterbusch J, Büchel C, Schulz R, Gerloff C. Association between activity in the ventral premotor cortex and spinal cord activation during force generation-A combined cortico-spinal fMRI study. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:6471-6483. [PMID: 37873743 PMCID: PMC10681651 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Force generation is a crucial element of dexterity and a highly relevant skill of the human motor system. How cerebral and spinal components interact and how spinal activation is associated with the activity in the cerebral primary motor and premotor areas is poorly understood. Here, we conducted combined cortico-spinal functional magnetic resonance imaging during a simple visually guided isometric force generation task in 20 healthy young subjects. Activation was localized in the right cervical spinal cord and left primary motor and premotor areas. The main finding is that spinal activation was negatively correlated with ventral premotor cortex activation. Spinal activation was furthermore significantly correlated with primary motor cortex activation, while increasing target forces led to an increase in the amount of activation. These data indicate that human premotor areas such as the ventral premotor cortex might be functionally connected to the lower cervical spinal cord contributing to distal upper limb functions, a finding that extends our understanding of human motor function beyond the animal literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Braaß
- Department of NeurologyUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Jan Feldheim
- Department of NeurologyUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Ying Chu
- Institute of Systems NeuroscienceUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Alexandra Tinnermann
- Institute of Systems NeuroscienceUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Jürgen Finsterbusch
- Institute of Systems NeuroscienceUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Christian Büchel
- Institute of Systems NeuroscienceUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Robert Schulz
- Department of NeurologyUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Christian Gerloff
- Department of NeurologyUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
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7
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Hemmerling KJ, Hoggarth MA, Sandhu MS, Parrish TB, Bright MG. Spatial distribution of hand-grasp motor task activity in spinal cord functional magnetic resonance imaging. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:5567-5581. [PMID: 37608682 PMCID: PMC10619382 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Upper extremity motor paradigms during spinal cord functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can provide insight into the functional organization of the cord. Hand-grasping is an important daily function with clinical significance, but previous studies of similar squeezing movements have not reported consistent areas of activity and are limited by sample size and simplistic analysis methods. Here, we study spinal cord fMRI activation using a unimanual isometric hand-grasping task that is calibrated to participant maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Two task modeling methods were considered: (1) a task regressor derived from an idealized block design (Ideal) and (2) a task regressor based on the recorded force trace normalized to individual MVC (%MVC). Across these two methods, group motor activity was highly lateralized to the hemicord ipsilateral to the side of the task. Activation spanned C5-C8 and was primarily localized to the C7 spinal cord segment. Specific differences in spatial distribution are also observed, such as an increase in C8 and dorsal cord activity when using the %MVC regressor. Furthermore, we explored the impact of data quantity and spatial smoothing on sensitivity to hand-grasp motor task activation. This analysis shows a large increase in number of active voxels associated with the number of fMRI runs, sample size, and spatial smoothing, demonstrating the impact of experimental design choices on motor activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly J. Hemmerling
- Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of EngineeringNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinoisUSA
| | - Mark A. Hoggarth
- Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
- Department of Physical TherapyNorth Central CollegeNapervilleIllinoisUSA
| | - Milap S. Sandhu
- Shirley Ryan Ability LabChicagoIllinoisUSA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Todd B. Parrish
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of EngineeringNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinoisUSA
- Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Molly G. Bright
- Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of EngineeringNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinoisUSA
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8
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Kinany N, Pirondini E, Micera S, Van De Ville D. Spinal Cord fMRI: A New Window into the Central Nervous System. Neuroscientist 2023; 29:715-731. [PMID: 35822665 PMCID: PMC10623605 DOI: 10.1177/10738584221101827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
With the brain, the spinal cord forms the central nervous system. Initially considered a passive relay between the brain and the periphery, the spinal cord is now recognized as being active and plastic. Yet, it remains largely overlooked by the human neuroscience community, in stark contrast with the wealth of research investigating the brain. In this review, we argue that fMRI, traditionally used to image cerebral function, can be extended beyond the brain to help unravel spinal mechanisms involved in human behaviors. To this end, we first outline strategies that have been proposed to tackle the challenges inherent to spinal cord fMRI. Then, we discuss how they have been utilized to provide insights into the functional organization of spinal sensorimotor circuits, highlighting their potential to address fundamental and clinical questions. By summarizing guidelines and applications of spinal cord fMRI, we hope to stimulate and support further research into this promising yet underexplored field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nawal Kinany
- Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Medical Image Processing Laboratory, Center for Neuroprosthetics, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland
- Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Translational Neuroengineering, Center for Neuroprosthetics, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Elvira Pirondini
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of BioEngineering, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Rehabilitation Neural Engineering Laboratories, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Silvestro Micera
- Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Translational Neuroengineering, Center for Neuroprosthetics, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland
- Translational Neural Engineering Area, The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Dimitri Van De Ville
- Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Medical Image Processing Laboratory, Center for Neuroprosthetics, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland
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9
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Haynes G, Muhammad F, Khan AF, Mohammadi E, Smith ZA, Ding L. The current state of spinal cord functional magnetic resonance imaging and its application in clinical research. J Neuroimaging 2023; 33:877-888. [PMID: 37740582 DOI: 10.1111/jon.13158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Since its development, spinal cord functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has utilized various methodologies and stimulation protocols to develop a deeper understanding of a healthy human spinal cord that lays a foundation for its use in clinical research and practice. In this review, we conducted a comprehensive literature search on spinal cord fMRI studies and summarized the recent advancements and resulting scientific achievements of spinal cord fMRI in the following three aspects: the current state of spinal cord fMRI methodologies and stimulation protocols, knowledge about the healthy spinal cord's functions obtained via spinal cord fMRI, and fMRI's exemplary usage in spinal cord diseases and injuries. We conclude with a discussion that, while technical challenges exist, novel fMRI technologies for and new knowledge about the healthy human spinal cord have been established. Empowered by these developments, investigations of pathological and injury states within the spinal cord have become the next important direction of spinal cord fMRI. Recent clinical investigations into spinal cord pathologies, for example, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and cervical spondylotic myelopathy, have already provided deep insights into spinal cord impairments and the time course of impairment-caused changes. We expect that future spinal cord fMRI advancement and research development will further enhance our understanding of various spinal cord diseases and provide the foundation for evaluating existing and developing new treatment plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Haynes
- Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Fauziyya Muhammad
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Ali F Khan
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Esmaeil Mohammadi
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Zachary A Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Lei Ding
- Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Technology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
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10
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Combes A, Narisetti L, Sengupta A, Rogers BP, Sweeney G, Prock L, Houston D, McKnight CD, Gore JC, Smith SA, O'Grady KP. Detection of resting-state functional connectivity in the lumbar spinal cord with 3T MRI. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18189. [PMID: 37875563 PMCID: PMC10597994 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45302-0] [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: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional MRI (fMRI) of the spinal cord is an expanding area of research with potential to investigate neuronal activity in the central nervous system. We aimed to characterize the functional connectivity features of the human lumbar spinal cord using resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) at 3T, using region-based and data-driven analysis approaches. A 3D multi-shot gradient echo resting-state blood oxygenation level dependent-sensitive rs-fMRI protocol was implemented in 26 healthy participants. Average temporal signal-to-noise ratio in the gray matter was 16.35 ± 4.79 after denoising. Evidence of synchronous signal fluctuations in the ventral and dorsal horns with their contralateral counterparts was observed in representative participants using interactive, exploratory seed-based correlations. Group-wise average in-slice Pearson's correlations were 0.43 ± 0.17 between ventral horns, and 0.48 ± 0.16 between dorsal horns. Group spatial independent component analysis (ICA) was used to identify areas of coherent activity¸ and revealed components within the gray matter corresponding to anatomical regions. Lower-dimensionality ICA revealed bilateral components corresponding to ventral and dorsal networks. Additional separate ICAs were run on two subsets of the participant group, yielding two sets of components that showed visual consistency and moderate spatial overlap. This work shows feasibility of rs-fMRI to probe the functional features and organization of the lumbar spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Combes
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Ave S, MCN AA1105, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Lipika Narisetti
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Ave S, MCN AA1105, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Anirban Sengupta
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Ave S, MCN AA1105, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Baxter P Rogers
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Ave S, MCN AA1105, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Grace Sweeney
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Ave S, MCN AA1105, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Logan Prock
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Ave S, MCN AA1105, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Delaney Houston
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Ave S, MCN AA1105, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Colin D McKnight
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - John C Gore
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Ave S, MCN AA1105, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Seth A Smith
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Ave S, MCN AA1105, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Kristin P O'Grady
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Ave S, MCN AA1105, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
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11
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Hussain O, Kaushal M, Agarwal N, Kurpad S, Shabani S. The Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography in Spinal Cord Injury. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1680. [PMID: 37629537 PMCID: PMC10455833 DOI: 10.3390/life13081680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic injuries of the spine are associated with long-term morbidity and mortality. Timely diagnosis and appropriate management of mechanical instability and spinal cord injury are important to prevent further neurologic deterioration. Spine surgeons require an understanding of the essential imaging techniques concerning the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of spinal cord injury. We present a review in the role of computed tomography (CT) including advancements in multidetector CT (MDCT), dual energy CT (DECT), and photon counting CT, and how it relates to spinal trauma. We also review magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and some of the developed MRI based classifications for prognosticating the severity and outcome of spinal cord injury, such as diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), diffusion tractography (DTI), functional MRI (fMRI), and perfusion MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Hussain
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (O.H.); (M.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Mayank Kaushal
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (O.H.); (M.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Nitin Agarwal
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA;
| | - Shekar Kurpad
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (O.H.); (M.K.); (S.K.)
| | - Saman Shabani
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (O.H.); (M.K.); (S.K.)
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12
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Hemmerling KJ, Hoggarth MA, Sandhu MS, Parrish TB, Bright MG. Spatial distribution of hand-grasp motor task activity in spinal cord functional magnetic resonance imaging. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.25.537883. [PMID: 37503173 PMCID: PMC10370018 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.25.537883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Upper extremity motor paradigms during spinal cord functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can provide insight into the functional organization of the cord. Hand-grasping is an important daily function with clinical significance, but previous studies of similar squeezing movements have not reported consistent areas of activity and are limited by sample size and simplistic analysis methods. Here, we study spinal cord fMRI activation using a unimanual isometric hand-grasping task that is calibrated to participant maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Two task modeling methods were considered: (1) a task regressor derived from an idealized block design (Ideal) and (2) a task regressor based on the recorded force trace normalized to individual MVC (%MVC). Across these two methods, group motor activity was highly lateralized to the hemicord ipsilateral to the side of the task. Activation spanned C5-C8 and was primarily localized to the C7 spinal cord segment. Specific differences in spatial distribution are also observed, such as an increase in C8 and dorsal cord activity when using the %MVC regressor. Furthermore, we explored the impact of data quantity and spatial smoothing on sensitivity to hand-grasp motor task activation. This analysis shows a large increase in number of active voxels associated with the number of fMRI runs, sample size, and spatial smoothing, demonstrating the impact of experimental design choices on motor activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly J. Hemmerling
- Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Mark A. Hoggarth
- Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
- Department of Physical Therapy, North Central College, Naperville, IL, United States
| | - Milap S. Sandhu
- Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, Chicago, IL, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Todd B. Parrish
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
- Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Molly G. Bright
- Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
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13
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Kinany N, Khatibi A, Lungu O, Finsterbusch J, Büchel C, Marchand-Pauvert V, Ville DVD, Vahdat S, Doyon J. Decoding cerebro-spinal signatures of human behavior: application to motor sequence learning. Neuroimage 2023; 275:120174. [PMID: 37201642 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Mapping the neural patterns that drive human behavior is a key challenge in neuroscience. Even the simplest of our everyday actions stem from the dynamic and complex interplay of multiple neural structures across the central nervous system (CNS). Yet, most neuroimaging research has focused on investigating cerebral mechanisms, while the way the spinal cord accompanies the brain in shaping human behavior has been largely overlooked. Although the recent advent of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) sequences that can simultaneously target the brain and spinal cord has opened up new avenues for studying these mechanisms at multiple levels of the CNS, research to date has been limited to inferential univariate techniques that cannot fully unveil the intricacies of the underlying neural states. To address this, we propose to go beyond traditional analyses and instead use a data-driven multivariate approach leveraging the dynamic content of cerebro-spinal signals using innovation-driven coactivation patterns (iCAPs). We demonstrate the relevance of this approach in a simultaneous brain-spinal cord fMRI dataset acquired during motor sequence learning (MSL), to highlight how large-scale CNS plasticity underpins rapid improvements in early skill acquisition and slower consolidation after extended practice. Specifically, we uncovered cortical, subcortical and spinal functional networks, which were used to decode the different stages of learning with a high accuracy and, thus, delineate meaningful cerebro-spinal signatures of learning progression. Our results provide compelling evidence that the dynamics of neural signals, paired with a data-driven approach, can be used to disentangle the modular organization of the CNS. While we outline the potential of this framework to probe the neural correlates of motor learning, its versatility makes it broadly applicable to explore the functioning of cerebro-spinal networks in other experimental or pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Kinany
- Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, University of Geneva, Geneva, 1211, Switzerland; Neuro-X Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Geneva, 1202, Switzerland.
| | - A Khatibi
- Center of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - O Lungu
- McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - J Finsterbusch
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - C Büchel
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - V Marchand-Pauvert
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Imagerie biomédicale, Paris F-75006, France
| | - D Van De Ville
- Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, University of Geneva, Geneva, 1211, Switzerland; Neuro-X Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Geneva, 1202, Switzerland
| | - S Vahdat
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, FL 32611, United States
| | - J Doyon
- McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Paquette T, Eskandari N, Leblond H, Piché M. Spinal neurovascular coupling is preserved despite time-dependent alterations of spinal cord blood flow responses in a rat model of chronic back pain: implications for functional spinal cord imaging. Pain 2023; 164:758-770. [PMID: 36036900 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Functional magnetic resonance imaging has been used to investigate nociceptive processes in patients with chronic pain. However, the results may be confounded with changes in neurovascular coupling induced by chronic pain. The objective of this study was to examine spinal neurovascular coupling in a rat model of chronic back pain induced by muscle inflammation. Rats received 150 µL intramuscular injections of either complete Freund adjuvant (CFA: n = 18) or saline (control [CTL]: n = 18) in L5-L6 paravertebral muscles. Under 1.2% isoflurane anesthesia, spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) and local field potentials evoked by electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve were recorded simultaneously in the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord, 14 or 28 days after the injections. Mechanical hypersensitivity was observed in CFA rats compared with CTL rats for the back ( P < 0.001) and hind paws ( P < 0.01). Spinal cord blood flow response amplitude and local field potential amplitude were not significantly different between groups (day 14: P > 0.5; day 28: P > 0.6). However, the time course of SCBF responses was different between groups on day 14 ( P < 0.001) and day 28 ( P < 0.001). Nevertheless, neurovascular coupling was comparable between groups on days 14 and 28, whether neurovascular coupling was calculated with the amplitude or the area under the curve of SCBF responses (all P > 0.2). These results indicate that spinal hemodynamic changes reflect neuronal activity in this animal model, although the time course of SCBF responses is affected by chronic inflammatory back pain. This warrants a careful use of spinal functional magnetic resonance imaging in animal models and patients with chronic back pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thierry Paquette
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- CogNAC Research Group, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | - Nasim Eskandari
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- CogNAC Research Group, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | - Hugues Leblond
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- CogNAC Research Group, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | - Mathieu Piché
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- CogNAC Research Group, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
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Charyasz E, Heule R, Molla F, Erb M, Kumar VJ, Grodd W, Scheffler K, Bause J. Functional mapping of sensorimotor activation in the human thalamus at 9.4 Tesla. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1116002. [PMID: 37008235 PMCID: PMC10050447 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1116002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the thalamus is perceived as a passive relay station for almost all sensory signals, the function of individual thalamic nuclei remains unresolved. In the present study, we aimed to identify the sensorimotor nuclei of the thalamus in humans using task-based fMRI at a field strength of 9.4T by assessing the individual subject-specific sensorimotor BOLD response during a combined active motor (finger-tapping) and passive sensory (tactile-finger) stimulation. We demonstrate that both tasks increase BOLD signal response in the lateral nuclei group (VPL, VA, VLa, and VLp), and in the pulvinar nuclei group (PuA, PuM, and PuL). Finger-tapping stimuli evokes a stronger BOLD response compared to the tactile stimuli, and additionally engages the intralaminar nuclei group (CM and Pf). In addition, our results demonstrate reproducible thalamic nuclei activation during motor and tactile stimuli. This work provides important insight into understanding the function of individual thalamic nuclei in processing various input signals and corroborates the benefits of using ultra-high-field MR scanners for functional imaging of fine-scale deeply located brain structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edyta Charyasz
- Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department for High Field Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience, Tübingen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Edyta Charyasz,
| | - Rahel Heule
- Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department for High Field Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- Center for MR Research, University Children’s Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Francesko Molla
- Department for High Field Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience, Tübingen, Germany
- Center for Neurology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michael Erb
- Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department for High Field Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Vinod Jangir Kumar
- Department for High Field Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Grodd
- Department for High Field Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Klaus Scheffler
- Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department for High Field Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jonas Bause
- Department for High Field Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
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16
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Landelle C, Dahlberg LS, Lungu O, Misic B, De Leener B, Doyon J. Altered Spinal Cord Functional Connectivity Associated with Parkinson's Disease Progression. Mov Disord 2023; 38:636-645. [PMID: 36802374 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parkinson's disease (PD) has traditionally been viewed as an α-synucleinopathy brain pathology. Yet evidence based on postmortem human and animal experimental models indicates that the spinal cord may also be affected. OBJECTIVE Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) seems to be a promising candidate to better characterize spinal cord functional organization in PD patients. METHODS Resting-state spinal fMRI was performed in 70 PD patients and 24 age-matched healthy controls, the patients being divided into three groups based on their motor symptom severity: PDlow (n = 24), PDmed (n = 22), and PDadv (n = 24) groups. A combination of independent component analysis (ICA) and a seed-based approach was applied. RESULTS When pooling all participants, the ICA revealed distinct ventral and dorsal components distributed along the rostro-caudal axis. This organization was highly reproducible within subgroups of patients and controls. PD severity, assessed by Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores, was associated with a decrease in spinal functional connectivity (FC). Notably, we observed a reduced intersegmental correlation in PD as compared to controls, the latter being negatively associated with patients' upper-limb UPDRS scores (P = 0.0085). This negative association between FC and upper-limb UPDRS scores was significant between adjacent C4-C5 (P = 0.015) and C5-C6 (P = 0.20) cervical segments, levels associated with upper-limb functions. CONCLUSIONS The present study provides the first evidence of spinal cord FC changes in PD and opens new avenues for the effective diagnosis and therapeutic strategies in PD. This underscores how spinal cord fMRI can serve as a powerful tool to characterize, in vivo, spinal circuits for a variety of neurological diseases. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Landelle
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Linda Solstrand Dahlberg
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ovidiu Lungu
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Bratislav Misic
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Benjamin De Leener
- Department of Computer Engineering and Software Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Julien Doyon
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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17
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Zhu H, Li Z, Zhou Y, Zheng R, Diao C, Li K, Feng Q, Wang D. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a risk factor for osteoporotic vertebrae fractures and femoral neck fractures. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e32125. [PMID: 36482639 PMCID: PMC9726278 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000032125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fracture is associated with osteopenia after osteoporosis. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is common in inflammatory diseases. NLR can be used as an effective clinical tool to assess postmenopausal osteoporosis. The aim of this study is to further explore the relationship between elevated NLR and the severity of osteoporotic vertebrae fractures and femoral neck fracture based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A total of 80 patients with osteoporotic vertebrae fractures, osteoporotic femoral neck fracture in Baoding Second Central Hospital from 2017 to 2020 were selected as the research objects. This study included a series of pretreatment factors, mainly including white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and the general condition of the patients. Statistical methods included Pearson chi-square test, Spearman correlation test, logistic regression analysis and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. According to Pearson chi-square test, Spearman correlation test, univariate/multivariate logistic regression analysis, the severity of osteoporotic vertebrae fractures, osteoporotic femoral neck fracture was significantly correlated with NLR (P < .001). NLR (odds ratio [OR] = 13.229, 95% CI: 4.167-41.998, P < .001) was a significant independent risk factor for osteoporotic vertebrae fractures, osteoporotic femoral neck fracture. receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used to detect the specificity and sensitivity. The level of NLR has an important influence on the severity of osteoporotic vertebrae fractures and femoral neck fracture. The higher the level of NLR, the more serious the osteoporotic vertebrae fractures and femoral neck fracture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhu
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Central Hospital of Baoding, Zhuozhou City, Hebei Province, PR China
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Central Hospital of Baoding, Zhuozhou City, Hebei Province, PR China
| | - Yizhai Zhou
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Central Hospital of Baoding, Zhuozhou City, Hebei Province, PR China
| | - Rugeng Zheng
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Central Hospital of Baoding, Zhuozhou City, Hebei Province, PR China
| | - Cong Diao
- Obstetrics Department, The Second Central Hospital of Baoding, Zhuozhou City, Hebei Province, PR China
| | - Kepeng Li
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Central Hospital of Baoding, Zhuozhou City, Hebei Province, PR China
| | - Qi Feng
- Department of Orthopedics, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, PR China
| | - Donglai Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, PR China
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18
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Rowald A, Amft O. A computational roadmap to electronic drugs. Front Neurorobot 2022; 16:983072. [PMID: 36386388 PMCID: PMC9659757 DOI: 10.3389/fnbot.2022.983072] [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: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing number of complex neurostimulation strategies promise symptom relief and functional recovery for several neurological, psychiatric, and even multi-organ disorders. Although pharmacological interventions are currently the mainstay of treatment, neurostimulation offers a potentially effective and safe alternative, capable of providing rapid adjustment to short-term variation and long-term decline of physiological functions. However, rapid advances made by clinical studies have often preceded the fundamental understanding of mechanisms underlying the interactions between stimulation and the nervous system. In turn, therapy design and verification are largely driven by clinical-empirical evidence. Even with titanic efforts and budgets, it is infeasible to comprehensively explore the multi-dimensional optimization space of neurostimulation through empirical research alone, especially since anatomical structures and thus outcomes vary dramatically between patients. Instead, we believe that the future of neurostimulation strongly depends on personalizable computational tools, i.e. Digital Neuro Twins (DNTs) to efficiently identify effective and safe stimulation parameters. DNTs have the potential to accelerate scientific discovery and hypothesis-driven engineering, and aid as a critical regulatory and clinical decision support tool. We outline here how DNTs will pave the way toward effective, cost-, time-, and risk-limited electronic drugs with a broad application bandwidth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Rowald
- ProModell Group, Chair of Digital Health, Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Andreas Rowald
| | - Oliver Amft
- ProModell Group, Chair of Digital Health, Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Intelligent Embedded Systems Lab, Institute of Computer Science, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Hahn-Schickard, Freiburg, Germany
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Hoggarth MA, Wang MC, Hemmerling KJ, Vigotsky AD, Smith ZA, Parrish TB, Weber KA, Bright MG. Effects of variability in manually contoured spinal cord masks on fMRI co-registration and interpretation. Front Neurol 2022; 13:907581. [PMID: 36341092 PMCID: PMC9630922 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.907581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the human spinal cord (SC) is a unique non-invasive method for characterizing neurovascular responses to stimuli. Group-analysis of SC fMRI data involves co-registration of subject-level data to standard space, which requires manual masking of the cord and may result in bias of group-level SC fMRI results. To test this, we examined variability in SC masks drawn in fMRI data from 21 healthy participants from a completed study mapping responses to sensory stimuli of the C7 dermatome. Masks were drawn on temporal mean functional image by eight raters with varying levels of neuroimaging experience, and the rater from the original study acted as a reference. Spatial agreement between rater and reference masks was measured using the Dice Similarity Coefficient, and the influence of rater and dataset was examined using ANOVA. Each rater's masks were used to register functional data to the PAM50 template. Gray matter-white matter signal contrast of registered functional data was used to evaluate the spatial normalization accuracy across raters. Subject- and group-level analyses of activation during left- and right-sided sensory stimuli were performed for each rater's co-registered data. Agreement with the reference SC mask was associated with both rater (F(7, 140) = 32.12, P < 2 × 10-16, η2 = 0.29) and dataset (F(20, 140) = 20.58, P < 2 × 10-16, η2 = 0.53). Dataset variations may reflect image quality metrics: the ratio between the signal intensity of spinal cord voxels and surrounding cerebrospinal fluid was correlated with DSC results (p < 0.001). As predicted, variability in the manually-drawn masks influenced spatial normalization, and GM:WM contrast in the registered data showed significant effects of rater and dataset (rater: F(8, 160) = 23.57, P < 2 × 10-16, η2 = 0.24; dataset: F(20, 160) = 22.00, P < 2 × 10-16, η2 = 0.56). Registration differences propagated into subject-level activation maps which showed rater-dependent agreement with the reference. Although group-level activation maps differed between raters, no systematic bias was identified. Increasing consistency in manual contouring of spinal cord fMRI data improved co-registration and inter-rater agreement in activation mapping, however our results suggest that improvements in image acquisition and post-processing are also critical to address.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A. Hoggarth
- Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Max C. Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Kimberly J. Hemmerling
- Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Andrew D. Vigotsky
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
- Department of Statistics, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Zachary A. Smith
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Todd B. Parrish
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
- Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Kenneth A. Weber
- Systems Neuroscience and Pain Lab, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Molly G. Bright
- Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
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20
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Ablat N, Ablimit M, Sun Y, Zhao X, Pu X. Application of new imaging methods in the development of Chinese medicine. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 153:113470. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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21
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Diagnosis of Neural Activity among Abnormal Brain Regions in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder by Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2022; 2022:3044010. [PMID: 35799635 PMCID: PMC9256329 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3044010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In order to explore the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for neural activity among abnormal brain regions in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), thirty patients with MDD (observation group) were selected for comparison with 30 healthy people without MDD (control group). The included subjects were examined by MRI to compare the MRI features and were analyzed for regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF). The results showed that compared with the control group, the brain regions with increased ReHo and ALFF in the observation group were medial frontal gyrus (right), middle temporal lobe (left), inferior parietal lobe (left), and posterior cerebellar lobe (right); the brain region with increased ReHo and ALFF in the observation group was the middle temporal gyrus (right). Compared with the control group, there were significant differences in ReHo and ALFF in the observation group. It was found that the brain function of patients with MDD was abnormal compared with that of the normal subjects, and the brain network activity was also abnormal. MRI features can be used to explore abnormal brain regions in patients with MDD and have positive guiding value.
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