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Green NS, Rosano C, Bangirana P, Opoka R, Munube D, Kasirye P, Kawooya M, Lubowa SK, Mupere E, Conroy A, Minja FJ, Boehme AK, Kang MS, Honig LS, Idro R. Neurofilament light chain: A potential biomarker for cerebrovascular disease in children with sickle cell anaemia. Br J Haematol 2023; 203:460-467. [PMID: 37581299 PMCID: PMC10615726 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.19036] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Cerebrovascular injury frequently occurs in children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA). Limited access to magnetic resonance imaging and angiography (MRI-MRA) in sub-Saharan Africa impedes detection of clinically unapparent cerebrovascular injury. Blood-based brain biomarkers of cerebral infarcts have been identified in non-SCA adults. Using plasma samples from a well-characterized cross-sectional sample of Ugandan children with SCA, we explored relationships between biomarker levels and MRI-detected cerebral infarcts and transcranial Doppler (TCD) arterial velocity. Testing was performed using a 4-plex panel of brain injury biomarkers, including neurofilament light chain (NfL), a central nervous system neuron-specific protein. Mean biomarker levels from the SCA group (n = 81) were similar to those from non-SCA sibling controls (n = 54). Within the SCA group, NfL levels were significantly higher in those with MRI-detected infarcts compared to no infarcts, and higher with elevated TCD velocity versus normal velocity. Elevated NfL remained strongly associated with MRI-detected infarcts after adjusting for sex and age. All non-SCA controls and SCA participants lacking MRI-detected infarcts had low NfL levels. These data suggest potential utility of plasma-based NfL levels to identify children with SCA cerebrovascular injury. Replication and prospective studies are needed to confirm these novel findings and the clinical utility of NfL versus MRI imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy S Green
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Caterina Rosano
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Paul Bangirana
- Department of Psychiatry, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
- Global Health Uganda, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Robert Opoka
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Deogratias Munube
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Philip Kasirye
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Michael Kawooya
- Department of Radiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
- Ernest Cook Ultrasound Research and Education Institute (ECUREI), Mengo Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Samson K Lubowa
- Department of Radiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ezekiel Mupere
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Andrea Conroy
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Frank J Minja
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Amelia K Boehme
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Min Suk Kang
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lawrence S Honig
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Richard Idro
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
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Koelbel M, Hamdule S, Kirkham FJ, Stotesbury H, Hood AM, Dimitriou D. Mind the gap: trajectory of cognitive development in young individuals with sickle cell disease: a cross-sectional study. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1087054. [PMID: 37560456 PMCID: PMC10408298 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1087054] [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: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Compared to typically developing children and young adults (CYA-TD), those living with Sickle Cell Disease (CYA-SCD) experience more cognitive difficulties, particularly with executive function. Few studies have examined the relative importance of silent cerebral infarction (SCI), haemoglobin and arterial oxygen content on age-related cognitive changes using cross-sectional or longitudinal (developmental trajectory) data. This study presents cohort data from a single timepoint to inform studies with multiple timepoints. METHODS We compared cross-sectional raw and scaled scores as age-related changes in cognition (trajectories) in CYA-SCD and age-and ethnicity-matched CYA-TD. We also compared cross-sectional age-related changes in cognition (trajectories) in CYA-SCD with and without SCI to CYA-TD. General cognitive abilities were assessed using Wechsler Intelligence Scales, including the Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) and Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI) underpinning IQ. Executive function was evaluated using the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) Tower subtest and the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) questionnaire. SCI were identified from contemporaneous 3 T MRI; participants with overt stroke were excluded. Recent haemoglobin was available and oxygen saturation (SpO2) was measured on the day of the MRI. RESULTS Data were available for 120 CYA-SCD [62 male; age = 16.78 ± 4.79 years; 42 (35%) with SCI] and 53 CYA-TD (23 male; age = 17.36 ± 5.16). Compared with CYA-TD, CYA-SCD experienced a delayed onset in VCI and slower rate of development for BRIEF Global Executive Composite, Metacognition Index (MI), and Behaviour Regulation Index. The rate of executive function development for the BRIEF MI differed significantly between CYA-TD and CYA-SCD, with those with SCI showing a 26% delay compared with CYA-TD. For CYA-SCD with SCI, arterial oxygen content explained 22% of the variance in VCI and 37% in PRI, while haemoglobin explained 29% of the variance in PRI. CONCLUSION Age-related cognitive trajectories of CYA-SCD may not be impaired but may progress more slowly. Longitudinal studies are required, using tests unaffected by practice. In addition to initiation of medical treatment, including measures to improve arterial oxygen content, early cognitive intervention, educational support, and delivery of extracurricular activities could support cognitive development for CYA-SCD.Graphical Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Koelbel
- Developmental Neurosciences Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
- Sleep Education and Research Laboratory, UCL Institute of Education, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shifa Hamdule
- Developmental Neurosciences Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fenella J. Kirkham
- Developmental Neurosciences Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Hanne Stotesbury
- Developmental Neurosciences Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Marie Hood
- Developmental Neurosciences Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Dagmara Dimitriou
- Sleep Education and Research Laboratory, UCL Institute of Education, London, United Kingdom
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Jones RS, Donahue MJ, Davis LT, Pruthi S, Waddle SL, Custer C, Patel NJ, DeBaun MR, Kassim AA, Rodeghier M, Jordan LC. Silent infarction in sickle cell disease is associated with brain volume loss in excess of infarct volume. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1112865. [PMID: 37064181 PMCID: PMC10102616 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1112865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Sickle cell disease (SCD) increases cerebral infarct risk, but reported effects on brain volume have varied. More detailed information using larger cohorts and contemporary methods could motivate the use of longitudinal brain volume assessment in SCD as an automated marker of disease stability or future progression. The purpose of this study was to rigorously evaluate whether children and young adults with SCD have reduced gray matter volume (GMV) and white matter volume (WMV) compared to healthy controls using high-resolution MRI. We tested the hypotheses that (i) elevated CBF, a marker of cerebral hemodynamic compensation in SCD, is associated with global and regional brain atrophy, and (ii) silent cerebral infarct burden is associated with brain atrophy in excess of infarct volume. Methods Healthy controls (n = 49) and SCD participants without overt stroke (n = 88) aged 7-32 years completed 3 T brain MRI; pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling measured CBF. Multivariable linear regressions assessed associations of independent variables with GMV, WMV, and volumes of cortical/subcortical regions. Results Reduced hemoglobin was associated with reductions in both GMV (p = 0.032) and WMV (p = 0.005); reduced arterial oxygen content (CaO2) was also associated with reductions in GMV (p = 0.035) and WMV (p = 0.006). Elevated gray matter CBF was associated with reduced WMV (p = 0.018). Infarct burden was associated with reductions in WMV 30-fold greater than the infarct volume itself (p = 0.005). Increased GM CBF correlated with volumetric reductions of the insula and left and right caudate nuclei (p = 0.017, 0.017, 0.036, respectively). Infarct burden was associated with reduced left and right nucleus accumbens, right thalamus, and anterior corpus callosum volumes (p = 0.002, 0.002, 0.009, 0.002, respectively). Discussion We demonstrate that anemia and decreased CaO2 are associated with reductions in GMV and WMV in SCD. Increased CBF and infarct burden were also associated with reduced volume in subcortical structures. Global WMV deficits associated with infarct burden far exceed infarct volume itself. Hemodynamic compensation via increased cerebral blood flow in SCD seems inadequate to prevent brain volume loss. Our work highlights that silent cerebral infarcts are just a portion of the brain injury that occurs in SCD; brain volume is another potential biomarker of brain injury in SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Sky Jones
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Manus J. Donahue
- Department of Radiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - L. Taylor Davis
- Department of Radiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Sumit Pruthi
- Department of Radiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Spencer L. Waddle
- Department of Radiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Chelsea Custer
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Radiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Niral J. Patel
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Radiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Michael R. DeBaun
- Vanderbilt-Meharry Center of Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Adetola A. Kassim
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | | | - Lori C. Jordan
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Radiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
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4
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Ramos K, Guilliams KP, Fields ME. The Development of Neuroimaging Biomarkers for Cognitive Decline in Sickle Cell Disease. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2022; 36:1167-1186. [PMID: 36400537 PMCID: PMC9973749 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2022.07.011] [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] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is complicated by neurologic complications including vasculopathy, hemorrhagic or ischemic overt stroke, silent cerebral infarcts and cognitive dysfunction. Patients with SCD, even in the absence of vasculopathy or stroke, have experience cognitive dysfunction that progresses with age. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound and structural brain MRI are currently used for primary and secondary stroke prevention, but laboratory or imaging biomarkers do not currently exist that are specific to the risk of cognitive dysfunction in patients with SCD. Recent investigations have used advanced MR sequences assessing cerebral hemodynamics, white matter microstructure and functional connectivity to better understand the pathophysiology of cognitive decline in SCD, with the long-term goal of developing neuroimaging biomarkers to be used in risk prediction algorithms and to assess the efficacy of treatment options for patients with SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristie Ramos
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kristin P Guilliams
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Melanie E Fields
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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5
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González-Zacarías C, Choi S, Vu C, Xu B, Shen J, Joshi AA, Leahy RM, Wood JC. Chronic anemia: The effects on the connectivity of white matter. Front Neurol 2022; 13:894742. [PMID: 35959402 PMCID: PMC9362738 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.894742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic anemia is commonly observed in patients with hemoglobinopathies, mainly represented by disorders of altered hemoglobin (Hb) structure (sickle cell disease, SCD) and impaired Hb synthesis (e.g. thalassemia syndromes, non-SCD anemia). Both hemoglobinopathies have been associated with white matter (WM) alterations. Novel structural MRI research in our laboratory demonstrated that WM volume was diffusely lower in deep, watershed areas proportional to anemia severity. Furthermore, diffusion tensor imaging analysis has provided evidence that WM microstructure is disrupted proportionally to Hb level and oxygen saturation. SCD patients have been widely studied and demonstrate lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in the corticospinal tract and cerebellum across the internal capsule and corpus callosum. In the present study, we compared 19 SCD and 15 non-SCD anemia patients with a wide range of Hb values allowing the characterization of the effects of chronic anemia in isolation of sickle Hb. We performed a tensor analysis to quantify FA changes in WM connectivity in chronic anemic patients. We calculated the volumetric mean of FA along the pathway of tracks connecting two regions of interest defined by BrainSuite's BCI-DNI atlas. In general, we found lower FA values in anemic patients; indicating the loss of coherence in the main diffusion direction that potentially indicates WM injury. We saw a positive correlation between FA and hemoglobin in these same regions, suggesting that decreased WM microstructural integrity FA is highly driven by chronic hypoxia. The only connection that did not follow this pattern was the connectivity within the left middle-inferior temporal gyrus. Interestingly, more reductions in FA were observed in non-SCD patients (mainly along with intrahemispheric WM bundles and watershed areas) than the SCD patients (mainly interhemispheric).
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Affiliation(s)
- Clio González-Zacarías
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States,Signal and Image Processing Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States,Department of Pediatrics and Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Soyoung Choi
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States,Signal and Image Processing Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States,Department of Pediatrics and Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Chau Vu
- Department of Pediatrics and Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States,Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Botian Xu
- Department of Pediatrics and Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States,Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jian Shen
- Department of Pediatrics and Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States,Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Anand A. Joshi
- Signal and Image Processing Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Richard M. Leahy
- Signal and Image Processing Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States,Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - John C. Wood
- Department of Pediatrics and Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States,Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States,*Correspondence: John C. Wood
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Stotesbury H, Hales PW, Hood AM, Koelbel M, Kawadler JM, Saunders DE, Sahota S, Rees DC, Wilkey O, Layton M, Pelidis M, Inusa BPD, Howard J, Chakravorty S, Clark CA, Kirkham FJ. Individual Watershed Areas in Sickle Cell Anemia: An Arterial Spin Labeling Study. Front Physiol 2022; 13:865391. [PMID: 35592036 PMCID: PMC9110791 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.865391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have pointed to a role for regional cerebral hemodynamic stress in neurological complications in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA), with watershed regions identified as particularly at risk of ischemic tissue injury. Using single- and multi-inflow time (TI) arterial spin labeling sequences (ASL) in 94 patients with SCA and 42 controls, the present study sought to investigate cerebral blood flow (CBF) and bolus arrival times (BAT) across gray matter, white matter with early arrival times, and in individual watershed areas (iWSAs). In iWSAs, associations between hemodynamic parameters, lesion burden, white matter integrity, and general cognitive performance were also explored. In patients, increases in CBF and reductions in BAT were observed in association with reduced arterial oxygen content across gray matter and white matter with early arrival times using both sequences (all p < 0.001, d = -1.55--2.21). Across iWSAs, there was a discrepancy between sequences, with estimates based on the single-TI sequence indicating higher CBF in association with reduced arterial oxygen content in SCA patients, and estimates based on the multi-TI sequence indicating no significant between-group differences or associations with arterial oxygen content. Lesion burden was similar between white matter with early arrival times and iWSAs in both patients and controls, and using both sequences, only trend-level associations between iWSA CBF and iWSA lesion burden were observed in patients. Further, using the multi-TI sequence in patients, increased iWSA CBF was associated with reduced iWSA microstructural tissue integrity and slower processing speed. Taken together, the results highlight the need for researchers to consider BAT when estimating CBF using single-TI sequences. Moreover, the findings demonstrate the feasibility of multi-TI ASL for objective delineation of iWSAs and for detection of regional hemodynamic stress that is associated with reduced microstructural tissue integrity and slower processing speed. This technique may hold promise for future studies and treatment trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Stotesbury
- Imaging and Biophysics Section, Developmental Neurosciences, UCL Great Ormond St. Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick W. Hales
- Imaging and Biophysics Section, Developmental Neurosciences, UCL Great Ormond St. Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna M. Hood
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Melanie Koelbel
- Imaging and Biophysics Section, Developmental Neurosciences, UCL Great Ormond St. Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jamie M. Kawadler
- Imaging and Biophysics Section, Developmental Neurosciences, UCL Great Ormond St. Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dawn E. Saunders
- Radiology, Great Ormond Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sati Sahota
- Imaging and Biophysics Section, Developmental Neurosciences, UCL Great Ormond St. Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - David C. Rees
- Paediatric Haematology, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Olu Wilkey
- Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Layton
- Haematology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Pelidis
- Department of Haematology and Evelina Children’s Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Baba P. D. Inusa
- Department of Haematology and Evelina Children’s Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jo Howard
- Department of Haematology and Evelina Children’s Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Subarna Chakravorty
- Paediatric Haematology, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Chris A. Clark
- Imaging and Biophysics Section, Developmental Neurosciences, UCL Great Ormond St. Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fenella J. Kirkham
- Clinical Neurosciences Section, Developmental Neurosciences, UCL Great Ormond St. Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
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7
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Akinyemi RO, Yaria J, Ojagbemi A, Guerchet M, Okubadejo N, Njamnshi AK, Sarfo FS, Akpalu A, Ogbole G, Ayantayo T, Adokonou T, Paddick SM, Ndetei D, Bosche J, Ayele B, Damas A, Coker M, Mbakile-Mahlanza L, Ranchod K, Bobrow K, Anazodo U, Damasceno A, Seshadri S, Pericak-Vance M, Lawlor B, Miller BL, Owolabi M, Baiyewu O, Walker R, Gureje O, Kalaria RN, Ogunniyi A. Dementia in Africa: Current evidence, knowledge gaps, and future directions. Alzheimers Dement 2022; 18:790-809. [PMID: 34569714 PMCID: PMC8957626 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In tandem with the ever-increasing aging population in low and middle-income countries, the burden of dementia is rising on the African continent. Dementia prevalence varies from 2.3% to 20.0% and incidence rates are 13.3 per 1000 person-years with increasing mortality in parts of rapidly transforming Africa. Differences in nutrition, cardiovascular factors, comorbidities, infections, mortality, and detection likely contribute to lower incidence. Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated neurocognitive disorders are the most common dementia subtypes. Comprehensive longitudinal studies with robust methodology and regional coverage would provide more reliable information. The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele is most studied but has shown differential effects within African ancestry compared to Caucasian. More candidate gene and genome-wide association studies are needed to relate to dementia phenotypes. Validated culture-sensitive cognitive tools not influenced by education and language differences are critically needed for implementation across multidisciplinary groupings such as the proposed African Dementia Consortium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rufus O Akinyemi
- Neuroscience and Ageing Research Unit, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Centre for Genomic and Precision Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Department of Neurology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Joseph Yaria
- Department of Neurology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Akin Ojagbemi
- Department of Psychiatry University College Hospital/College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Maëlenn Guerchet
- INSERM, Univ. Limoges, CHU Limoges, IRD, U1094 Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Epidemiology and Tropical Neurology, GEIST, Limoges, France
| | - Njideka Okubadejo
- Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Alfred K Njamnshi
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital/Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Geneva, Switzerland/Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Fred S Sarfo
- Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Albert Akpalu
- Department of Medicine, University of Ghana Medical School/Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
| | - Godwin Ogbole
- Department of Radiology, University College Hospital/College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Temitayo Ayantayo
- Neuroscience and Ageing Research Unit, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Thierry Adokonou
- Department of Neurology, University Teaching Hospital, Parakou, Benin
| | - Stella-Maria Paddick
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, UK/Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, Gateshead, UK
| | - David Ndetei
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi and African Meatal Health and Training Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Judith Bosche
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Biniyam Ayele
- College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Andrea Damas
- Mirembe Mental Health Hospital, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Motunrayo Coker
- Neuroscience and Ageing Research Unit, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Lingani Mbakile-Mahlanza
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Kirti Ranchod
- Lufuno Neuropsychiatry Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Kirsten Bobrow
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Udunna Anazodo
- Lawson Health Research Institute / Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Albertino Damasceno
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Sudha Seshadri
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's & Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Margaret Pericak-Vance
- John T. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics and the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Brian Lawlor
- Global Brain Health Institute, Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Bruce L Miller
- Global Brain Health Institute, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Mayowa Owolabi
- Neuroscience and Ageing Research Unit, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Centre for Genomic and Precision Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Department of Neurology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Olusegun Baiyewu
- Department of Psychiatry University College Hospital/College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Richard Walker
- Neuroscience and Ageing Research Unit, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Department of Medicine, North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields, UK
| | - Oye Gureje
- Department of Psychiatry University College Hospital/College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Rajesh N Kalaria
- Neuroscience and Ageing Research Unit, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Adesola Ogunniyi
- Neuroscience and Ageing Research Unit, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Department of Neurology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
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Cui C, Zhao Y, Cui D, Li N, Pan J, Shen W. In vivo evaluation of the levator ani muscle in primiparous women using diffusion tensor imaging and fiber tractography. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2021; 157:663-670. [PMID: 34492120 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.13897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize the levator ani muscle (LAM) injury after first vaginal delivery and investigate the clinical application of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and fiber tractography in evaluating the LAM. METHODS Fifty-eight primiparous women at 6 weeks after vaginal delivery and 27 nulliparous women as controls underwent T2-weighted sequence and DTI sequence of the pelvic floor. A LAM scoring system was used to characterize the morphological changes. Fiber tractography of each major subdivision of LAM was performed, followed by assessment of the quality of fiber tracking. Fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), fiber volume, and length were calculated. RESULTS Puborectalis and iliococcygeus injuries were observed in 30/58 (51.7%) and 10/58 (17.2%) primiparae, respectively. No LAM defects were identified in the control group. For the puborectalis, the FA values were lower (P = 0.010) and ADC values were higher (P = 0.024) in the primiparous group than in the control group. For the iliococcygeus, the fiber volume values were lower in the primiparous group than in the control group (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION Vaginal delivery can result in LAM injury at the puborectalis. DTI parameters can assist in the quantitative diagnosis of the LAM injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Cui
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated JinHua Hospital, ZheJiang University School of Medicine (JinHua Municipal Central Hospital), JinHua, China
| | - Yujiao Zhao
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin First Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Dawei Cui
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated JinHua Hospital, ZheJiang University School of Medicine (JinHua Municipal Central Hospital), JinHua, China
| | - Na Li
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiangfeng Pan
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated JinHua Hospital, ZheJiang University School of Medicine (JinHua Municipal Central Hospital), JinHua, China
| | - Wen Shen
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin First Center Hospital, Tianjin, China
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Wang Y, Fellah S, Fields ME, Guilliams KP, Binkley MM, Eldeniz C, Shimony JS, Reis M, Vo KD, Chen Y, Lee JM, An H, Ford AL. Cerebral Oxygen Metabolic Stress, Microstructural Injury, and Infarction in Adults With Sickle Cell Disease. Neurology 2021; 97:e902-e912. [PMID: 34172536 PMCID: PMC8408504 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000012404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the patient- and tissue-based relationships between cerebral hemodynamic and oxygen metabolic stress, microstructural injury, and infarct location in adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). METHODS Control and SCD participants underwent brain MRI to quantify cerebral blood flow (CBF), oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), mean diffusivity (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA) within normal-appearing white matter (NAWM), and infarcts on FLAIR. Multivariable linear regression examined the patient- and voxel-based associations between hemodynamic and metabolic stress (defined as elevated CBF and OEF, respectively), white matter microstructure, and infarct location. RESULTS Of 83 control and SCD participants, adults with SCD demonstrated increased CBF (50.9 vs 38.8 mL/min/100g, p<0.001), increased OEF (0.35 vs 0.25, p<0.001), increased MD (0.76 vs 0.72 x 10-3mm2 s-1, p=0.005), and decreased FA (0.40 vs 0.42, p=0.021) within NAWM compared to controls. In multivariable analysis, increased OEF (β=0.19, p=0.035), but not CBF (β=0.00, p=0.340), independently predicted increased MD in the SCD cohort, while neither were predictors in controls. On voxel-wise regression, the SCD cohort demonstrated widespread OEF elevation, encompassing deep white matter regions of elevated MD and reduced FA, which spatially extended beyond high density infarct locations from the SCD cohort. CONCLUSION Elevated OEF, a putative index of cerebral oxygen metabolic stress, may provide a metric of ischemic vulnerability which could enable individualization of therapeutic strategies in SCD. The patient- and tissue-based relationships between elevated OEF, elevated MD, and cerebral infarcts suggest that oxygen metabolic stress may underlie microstructural injury prior to the development of cerebral infarcts in SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Slim Fellah
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Melanie E Fields
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Kristin P Guilliams
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Michael M Binkley
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Cihat Eldeniz
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Joshua S Shimony
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Martin Reis
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Katie D Vo
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Yasheng Chen
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Jin-Moo Lee
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.,Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Hongyu An
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.,Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Andria L Ford
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; .,Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
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Jordan LC, DeBaun MR, Donahue MJ. Advances in neuroimaging to improve care in sickle cell disease. Lancet Neurol 2021; 20:398-408. [PMID: 33894194 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(20)30490-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Sickle cell disease is associated with progressive and increased neurological morbidity throughout the lifespan. In people with sickle cell anaemia (the most common and severe type of sickle cell disease), silent cerebral infarcts are found in more than a third of adolescents by age 18 years and roughly half of young adults by age 30 years, many of whom have cognitive impairment despite having few or no conventional stroke risk factors. Common anatomical neuroimaging in individuals with sickle disease can assess structural brain injury, such as stroke and silent cerebral infarcts; however, emerging advanced neuroimaging methods can provide novel insights into the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease, including insights into the cerebral haemodynamic and metabolic contributors of neurological injury. Advanced neuroimaging methods, particularly methods that report on aberrant cerebral blood flow and oxygen delivery, have potential for triaging patients for appropriate disease-modifying or curative therapies before they have irreversible neurological injury, and for confirming the benefit of new therapies on brain health in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori C Jordan
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Michael R DeBaun
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt-Meharry Center of Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Manus J Donahue
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Stotesbury H, Kawadler JM, Saunders DE, Kirkham FJ. MRI detection of brain abnormality in sickle cell disease. Expert Rev Hematol 2021; 14:473-491. [PMID: 33612034 PMCID: PMC8315209 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2021.1893687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Over the past decades, neuroimaging studies have clarified that a significant proportion of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) have functionally significant brain abnormalities. Clinically, structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences (T2, FLAIR, diffusion-weighted imaging) have been used by radiologists to diagnose chronic and acute cerebral infarction (both overt and clinically silent), while magnetic resonance angiography and venography have been used to diagnose arteriopathy and venous thrombosis. In research settings, imaging scientists are increasingly applying quantitative techniques to shine further light on underlying mechanisms.Areas covered: From a June 2020 PubMed search of 'magnetic' or 'MRI' and 'sickle' over the previous 5 years, we selected manuscripts on T1-based morphometric analysis, diffusion tensor imaging, arterial spin labeling, T2-oximetry, quantitative susceptibility, and connectivity.Expert Opinion: Quantitative MRI techniques are identifying structural and hemodynamic biomarkers associated with risk of neurological and neurocognitive complications. A growing body of evidence suggests that these biomarkers are sensitive to change with treatments, such as blood transfusion and hydroxyurea, indicating that they may hold promise as endpoints in future randomized clinical trials of novel approaches including hemoglobin F upregulation, reduction of polymerization, and gene therapy. With further validation, such techniques may eventually also improve neurological and neurocognitive risk stratification in this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Stotesbury
- Developmental Neurosciences Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Jamie Michelle Kawadler
- Developmental Neurosciences Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Dawn Elizabeth Saunders
- Developmental Neurosciences Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Fenella Jane Kirkham
- Developmental Neurosciences Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
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