Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) is sensitive in detecting α-Synuclein (α-Syn) accumulation-associated microstructural changes at late stages of the pathology in α-Syn overexpressing TNWT-61 mice. The aim of this study was to perform DKI in young TNWT-61 mice when α-Syn starts to accumulate and to compare the imaging results with an analysis of motor and memory impairment and α-Syn levels. Three-month-old (3mo) and six-month-old (6mo) mice underwent DKI scanning using the Bruker Avance 9.4T magnetic resonance imaging system. Region of interest (ROI) analyses were performed in the gray matter; tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) analyses were performed in the white matter. In the same mice, α-Syn expression was evaluated using quantitative immunofluorescence. Mean kurtosis (MK) was the best differentiator between TNWT-61 mice and wildtype (WT) mice. We found increases in MK in 3mo TNWT-61 mice in the striatum and thalamus but not in the substantia nigra (SN), hippocampus, or sensorimotor cortex, even though the immunoreactivity of human α-Syn was similar or even higher in the latter regions. Increases in MK in the SN were detected in 6mo mice. These findings indicate that α-Syn accumulation-associated changes may start in areas with a high density of dopaminergic nerve terminals. We also found TBSS changes in white matter only at 6mo, suggesting α-Syn accumulation-associated changes start in the gray matter and later progress to the white matter. MK is able to detect microstructural changes induced by α-Syn overexpression in TNWT-61 mice and could be a useful clinical tool for detecting early-stage Parkinson's disease in human patients.

• MeSH
• alfa-synuklein genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• difuzní magnetická rezonance * MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• motorické dovednosti fyziologie   MeSH
• mozek diagnostické zobrazování   metabolismus   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• paměť fyziologie   MeSH
• Parkinsonova nemoc diagnostické zobrazování   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• pohybová aktivita fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Changes in both the vascular system and brain tissues can occur after a prior episode of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), detectable through modifications in diffusion parameters using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. These changes in diffusion parameters may be particularly prominent in highly organized structures such as the corpus callosum (CC), including its major components, which have not been adequately studied following COVID-19 infection. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate microstructural changes in whole-brain (WB) diffusion, with a specific focus on the CC. METHODS: A total of 101 probands (age range from 18 to 69 years) participated in this retrospective study, consisting of 55 volunteers and 46 post-COVID-19 patients experiencing neurological symptoms. The participants were recruited from April 2022 to September 2023 at the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine in Prague, Czech Republic. All participants underwent MRI examinations on a 3T MR scanner with a diffusion protocol, complemented by additional MRI techniques. Two volunteers and five patients were excluded from the study due to motion artefacts, severe hypoperfusion or the presence of lesions. Participants were selected by a neurologist based on clinical examination and a serological test for COVID-19 antibodies. They were then divided into three groups: a control group of healthy volunteers (n=28), an asymptomatic group (n=25) with a history of infection but no symptoms, and a symptomatic group (n=41) with a history of COVID-19 and neurological symptoms. Symptomatic patients did not exhibit neurological symptoms before contracting COVID-19. Diffusion data underwent eddy current and susceptibility distortion corrections, and fiber tracking was performed using default parameters in DSI studio. Subsequently, various diffusion metrics, were computed within the reconstructed tracts of the WB and CC. To assess the impact of COVID-19 and its associated symptoms on diffusion indices within the white matter of the WB and CC regions, while considering age, we employed a statistical analysis using a linear mixed-effects model within the R framework. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in mean diffusivity (MD) between the symptomatic and control groups in the forceps minor (P=0.001) and CC body (P=0.003). In addition to changes in diffusion, alterations in brain perfusion were observed in two post-COVID-19 patients who experienced a severe course. Furthermore, hyperintense lesions were identified in subcortical and deep white matter areas in the vast majority of symptomatic patients. CONCLUSIONS: The main finding of our study was that post-COVID-19 patients exhibit increased MD in the forceps minor and body of the CC. This finding suggests a potential association between microstructural brain changes in post-COVID-19 patients and reported neurological symptoms, with significant implications for research and clinical applications.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Různé vyšetřovací modality magnetické rezonance (MR) prokázaly v mnoha publikovaných studiích morfologické i funkční změny v mozkové tkáni u osob se schizofrenií (SZ). Volumetrickými metodami byly popsány atrofické změny některých oblastí šedé hmoty, pomocí metody zobrazení difuzního tenzoru především pokles hodnot frakční anizotropie bílé hmoty. Tyto změny jsou obecně mírného stupně, široké distribuce a v čase pravděpodobně progredují. Při resting-state funkční magnetické rezonanci byly opakovaně nalezeny významné změny konektivity jednotlivých funkčních center mozku. Vesměs jsou MR nálezy kompatibilní s upřednostňovanou teorií o poruše konektivity mozku u schizofrenie. Mezi výsledky dosud publikovaných studií panuje ovšem velmi značná variabilita, která má více příčin. K těm nejvýznamnějším řadíme nejednotnost v metodice prováděných studií, metodologické a technické limitace MR, malé počty subjektů ve většině publikovaných studií, výraznou heterogenitu psychických a potažmo strukturálních změn u nemocných se schizofrenií, dobu trvání manifestního onemocnění (první ataka versus chronické stadium), možný vliv medikace, toxických a návykových látek na strukturální a funkční změny mozku atd. Má-li magnetická rezonance najít pevné klinické uplatnění v diagnostice schizofrenie, bude potřeba rozsáhlých multicentrických studií s klinicky homogenními skupinami probandů a jednotnou metodikou. V článku jsou shrnuty dosavadní znalosti o strukturálních a funkčních změnách mozku u schizofrenie.

Structural and functional cerebral changes in subjects suffering from schizophrenia (SZ) were proven by means of several modalities of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) according to the results of numerous studies. Atrophic changes were reported by using volumetric methods, microstructural changes of white matter were described by diffusion tensor imaging. These changes are of mild degree yet likely of widespread distribution and progressing over time. Extensive changes of connectivity were observed by resting-state functional MRI. MRI findings are generally compatible with currently preferred hypothesis of cerebral dysconnectivity in SZ. The published results show considerable degree of variability which can be explained by many reasons. Those of the highest importance are: different methodology, technical MRI limitations, low number of subjects included, high heterogeneity and variability of symptoms of the disease, variable duration of symptoms (first episode versus chronic illness), effects of medication, abuse of toxic substances etc. Before MRI can be utilized for diagnosing SZ in the clinical settings, more comprehensive multi-centric studies of homogenous cohorts with unified methodology are needed. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of structural and functional cerebral changes in schizophrenia.

• MeSH
• chronická nemoc MeSH
• klinická studie jako téma MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční tomografie * MeSH
• metaanalýza jako téma MeSH
• mozek * patofyziologie   MeSH
• neurozobrazování * metody   MeSH
• rozpoznávání automatizované MeSH
• schizofrenie * diagnóza   patofyziologie   MeSH
• šedá hmota patofyziologie   MeSH
• zobrazování difuzních tenzorů metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• přehledy MeSH

OBJECTIVES: Microstructural characterization of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been shown to correlate better with disability compared to conventional radiological biomarkers. Quantitative MRI provides effective means to characterize microstructural brain tissue changes both in lesions and normal-appearing brain tissue. However, the impact of the location of microstructural alterations in terms of neuronal pathways has not been thoroughly explored so far. Here, we study the extent and the location of tissue changes probed using quantitative MRI along white matter (WM) tracts extracted from a connectivity atlas. METHODS: We quantified voxel-wise T1 tissue alterations compared to normative values in a cohort of 99 MS patients. For each WM tract, we extracted metrics reflecting tissue alterations both in lesions and normal-appearing WM and correlated these with cross-sectional disability and disability evolution after 2 years. RESULTS: In early MS patients, T1 alterations in normal-appearing WM correlated better with disability evolution compared to cross-sectional disability. Further, the presence of lesions in supratentorial tracts was more strongly associated with cross-sectional disability, while microstructural alterations in infratentorial pathways yielded higher correlations with disability evolution. In progressive patients, all major WM pathways contributed similarly to explaining disability, and correlations with disability evolution were generally poor. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that microstructural changes evaluated in specific WM pathways contribute to explaining future disability in early MS, hence highlighting the potential of tract-wise analyses in monitoring disease progression. Further, the proposed technique allows to estimate WM tract-specific microstructural characteristics in clinically compatible acquisition times, without the need for advanced diffusion imaging.

• MeSH
• bílá hmota * diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční tomografie metody   MeSH
• mozek diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• roztroušená skleróza * diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

OBJECTIVE: Several evidences demonstrated the role of white matter (WM) lesions in the pathogenesis of Vascular Parkinsonism (VP), a clinical entity characterized by parkinsonism, postural instability, marked gait difficulty and poor response to levodopa. However, the involvement of normal appearing white matter (NAWM) in VP still remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the microstructural integrity of NAWM in VP compared to Parkinson's disease (PD) and controls using neuroimaging approach. METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired from 50 participants (15 VP, 20 PD and 15 controls). Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) were performed to assess microstructural NAWM changes. In order to evaluate the relationship between specific fiber tract involvement and clinical picture, diffusion alterations were correlated with clinical features. RESULTS: Compared to PD patients and controls, significantly reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) and increased mean diffusivity (MD) and radial diffusivity (RD) in NAWM of corpus callosum, internal and external capsule, and corona radiata were present in VP. By contrast, DTI metrics were normal in NAWM-PD and controls. A significant correlation was found between FA and MD of anterior third of corpus callosum and clinical variables (postural instability, freezing-of-gait and symmetry of parkinsonism). CONCLUSIONS: This study improves the knowledge on WM pathology in VP, as our results demonstrate that NAWM damage occurs in VP, but not in PD nor in controls. NAWM damage might relate to clinical picture and suggest that non-clearly-visible WM alterations may contribute to the physiopathology of this vascular disease.

• MeSH
• bílá hmota diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• cerebrovaskulární poruchy diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• parkinsonské poruchy diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• zobrazování difuzních tenzorů metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Background Previous functional and structural imaging studies have revealed that subcortical structures play a key a role in pain processing. The recurring painful episodes might trigger maladaptive plasticity or alternatively degenerative processes that might be detected by MRI as changes in size or microstructure. In the current investigation, we aimed to identify the macro- and microstructural alterations of the subcortical structures in episodic cluster headache. Methods High-resolution T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted MRI images with 60 gradient directions were acquired from 22 patients with cluster headache and 94 healthy controls. Surface-based segmentation analysis was used to measure the volume of the subcortical nuclei, and mean diffusion parameters (fractional anisotropy, mean, radial and axial diffusivity) were determined for these structures. In order to understand whether the size and diffusion parameters could be investigated in a headache lateralised manner, first the asymmetry of the size and diffusion parameters of the subcortical structures was analysed. Volumes and diffusion parameters were compared between groups and correlated with the cumulative number of headache days. To account for the different size of the patient and control group, a bootstrap approach was used to investigate the stability of the findings. Results A significant lateralisation of the size (caudate, putamen and thalamus) and the diffusion parameters of the subcortical structures were found in normal controls. In cluster headache patients, the mean fractional anisotropy of the right amygdalae, the mean axial and mean diffusivity of the right caudate nucleus and the radial diffusivity of the right pallidum were higher. The mean anisotropy of the right pallidum was lower in patients. Conclusion The analysis of the pathology in the subcortical structures in episodic cluster headache reveals important features of the disease, which might allow a deeper insight into the pathomechanism of the pain processing in this headache condition.

• MeSH
• cluster headache diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• interpretace obrazu počítačem metody   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mozek diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• zobrazování difuzních tenzorů metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Methamphetamine (METH) abuse is known to increase the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) due to its dopaminergic neurotoxicity. This is the rationale for the METH model of PD developed by toxic METH dosing (10 mg/kg four times every 2 h) which features robust neurodegeneration and typical motor impairment in mice. In this study, we used diffusion kurtosis imaging to reveal microstructural brain changes caused by METH-induced neurodegeneration. The METH-treated mice and saline-treated controls underwent diffusion kurtosis imaging scanning using the Bruker Avance 9.4 Tesla MRI system at two time-points: 5 days and 1 month to capture both early and late changes induced by METH. At 5 days, we found a decrease in kurtosis in substantia nigra, striatum and sensorimotor cortex, which is likely to indicate loss of DAergic neurons. At 1 month, we found an increase of kurtosis in striatum and sensorimotor cortex and hippocampus, which may reflect certain recovery processes. Furthermore, we performed tract-based spatial statistics analysis in the white matter and at 1 month, we observed increased kurtosis in ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus and some of the lateral thalamic nuclei. No changes were present at the early stage. This study confirms the ability of diffusion kurtosis imaging to detect microstructural pathological processes in both grey and white matter in the METH model of PD. The exact mechanisms underlying the kurtosis changes remain to be elucidated but kurtosis seems to be a valuable biomarker for tracking microstructural brain changes in PD and potentially other neurodegenerative disorders.

• MeSH
• chování zvířat účinky léků   MeSH
• difuzní magnetická rezonance MeSH
• dopaminové látky toxicita   MeSH
• methamfetamin toxicita   MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• mozek diagnostické zobrazování   účinky léků   patologie   MeSH
• myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
• Parkinsonova nemoc sekundární diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

White matter (WM) development has been studied extensively, but most studies used cross-sectional data, and to the best of our knowledge, none of them considered the possible effects of biological (vs. chronological) age. Therefore, we conducted a longitudinal multimodal study of WM development and studied changes in fractional anisotropy (FA) in the different WM tracts and their relationship with cortical thickness-based measures of brain aging in young adulthood. A total of 105 participants from the European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ELSPAC) prenatal birth cohort underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the age of 23-24, and the age of 28-30 years. At both time points, FA in the different WM tracts was extracted using the JHU atlas, and brain age gap estimate (BrainAGE) was calculated using the Neuroanatomical Age Prediction using R (NAPR) model based on cortical thickness maps. Changes in FA and the speed of cortical brain aging were calculated as the difference between the respective variables in the late vs. early 20s. We demonstrated tract-specific increases as well as decreases in FA, which indicate that the WM microstructure continues to develop in the third decade of life. Moreover, the significant interaction between the speed of cortical brain aging, tract, and sex on mean FA revealed that a greater speed of cortical brain aging in young adulthood predicted greater decreases in FA in the bilateral cingulum and left superior longitudinal fasciculus in young adult men. Overall, these changes in FA in the WM tracts in young adulthood point out the protracted development of WM microstructure, particularly in men.

• MeSH
• anizotropie MeSH
• bílá hmota * diagnostické zobrazování   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• longitudinální studie MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mozek * růst a vývoj   diagnostické zobrazování   anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• stárnutí * fyziologie   MeSH
• zobrazování difuzních tenzorů metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

MR traktografie (MRT) se stala v posledních letech velmi důležitou a neinvazivní metodou zobrazení svazků bílé hmoty a periferních nervů měřením difúze molekul vody magnetickou rezonancí. Zde je uveden krátký historický vývoj a implementace MRT do klinické praxe na našem pracovišti IKEM. Dále je uveden stručný přehled některých aplikací MRT mozku a 3D MR neurografíe (MRN) periferních nervů. Obě metody mohou hrát důležitou roli při plánování neurochirurgických operací a sledování postoperačních změn mozkových a periferních nervových mikrostruktur.

MR tractography (MRT) has become an important method for noninvasive visualization of white matter bundles and peripheral nerves using magnetic resonance imaging measurment of water molecule diffusion. This paper gives a short historical overview and implementation of the MRT into clinical practice in the institute IKEM. Furthermore, the paper gives a short overview of some MRT applications of brain and 3D MR neurography of peripheral nerves. The MR tractography and MR neurography may be used in the presurgical planning and post-operative follow-up of the brain and peripheral nerves microstructural changes.

• MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční tomografie * metody   MeSH
• mozek * diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• neurozobrazování metody   MeSH
• periferní nervy * diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• zobrazování difuzních tenzorů * metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• přehledy MeSH

OBJECTIVES: T1 relaxometry is a promising tool for the assessment of microstructural changes during brain ageing. Previous cross-sectional studies demonstrated increasing T1 values in white and decreasing T1 values in grey matter over the lifetime. However, these findings have not yet been confirmed on the basis of a longitudinal study. In this longitudinal study over 7 years, T1 relaxometry was used to investigate the dynamics of age-related microstructural changes in older healthy subjects. METHODS: T1 mapping was performed in 17 healthy subjects (range 51-77 years) at baseline and after 7 years. Advanced cortical and white matter segmentation was used to determine mean T1 values in the cortex and white matter. RESULTS: The analysis revealed a decrease of mean cortical T1 values over 7 years, the rate of T1 reduction being more prominent in subjects with higher age. T1 decreases were predominantly localized in the lateral frontal, parietal and temporal cortex. In contrast, mean white matter T1 values remained stable. CONCLUSIONS: T1 mapping is shown to be sensitive to age-related microstructural changes in healthy ageing subjects in a longitudinal setting. Data of a cohort in late adulthood and the senescence period demonstrate a decrease of cortical T1 values over 7 years, most likely reflecting decreasing water content and increased iron concentrations. KEY POINTS: • T1 mapping is sensitive to age-related microstructural changes in a longitudinal setting. • T1 decreases were predominantly localized in the lateral frontal, parietal and temporal cortex. • The rate of T1 reduction was more prominent in subjects with higher age. • These changes most likely reflect decreasing cortical water and increasing iron concentrations.

• MeSH
• bílá hmota diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• hodnotící studie jako téma MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• longitudinální studie MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční tomografie metody   MeSH
• mapování mozku metody   MeSH
• mozek diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• následné studie MeSH
• počítačové zpracování obrazu metody   MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• šedá hmota diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• spánkový lalok diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• stárnutí patologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• železo analýza   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• hodnotící studie MeSH