This study aimed to evaluate the effect of brain atrophy on the functional outcome of patients with moderate-volume basal ganglia hemorrhage. Of 1003 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, 124 with moderate-volume basal ganglia hemorrhage (hematoma volume of 20–50 mL) were enrolled. The intercaudate distance (ICD) and sylvian fissure ratio (SFR) were used as linear brain atrophy parameters. The patients were divided into groups with favorable and unfavorable outcomes, according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale score, 90 days after symptom onset. Demographic and radiographic features, including the ICD and SFR, were compared between the two groups. Among the 124 patients, 74 (59.7%) exhibited a favorable outcome. The ICD and SFR values were significantly greater for the favorable group than for the unfavorable group. Multivariate analysis indicated that young age, high Glasgow Coma Scale score at admission, small hematoma volume, and increased ICD (odds ratio [OR], 1.207; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.004–1.451) and SFR (OR, 1.046; 95% CI, 1.007–1.086, per 0.001) values had a beneficial effect on functional outcome. In conclusion, brain atrophy exhibits protective effects in patients with moderate-volume basal ganglia hemorrhage, and is an important factor for predicting functional outcome.

Purpose This study aimed to examine the inter-method reliability and volumetric differences between NeuroQuant (NQ) and Freesurfer (FS) using T1 volume imaging sequence with different slice thicknesses in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Materials and Methods This retrospective study enrolled 80 patients diagnosed with MCI at our memory clinic. NQ and FS were used for volumetric analysis of three-dimensional T1-weighted images with slice thickness of 1 and 1.2 mm. Inter-method reliability was measured with Pearson correlation coefficient (r), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and effect size (ES). Results Overall, NQ volumes were larger than FS volumes in several locations: whole brain (0.78%), cortical gray matter (5.34%), and white matter (2.68%). Volume measures by NQ and FS showed good-to-excellent ICCs with both 1 and 1.2 mm slice thickness (ICC=0.75–0.97, ES=−1.0–0.73 vs. ICC=0.78–0.96, ES=−0.9–0.77, respectively), except for putamen, pallidum, thalamus, and total intracranial volumes. The ICCs in all locations, except the putamen and cerebellum, were slightly higher with a slice thickness of 1 mm compared to those of 1.2 mm. Conclusion Inter-method reliability between NQ and FS was good-to-excellent in most regions with improvement with a 1-mm slice thickness. This finding indicates that the potential effects of slice thickness should be considered when performing volumetric measurements for cognitive impairment.

Objective To compare two clinically available MR volumetry software, NeuroQuant® (NQ) and Inbrain® (IB), and examine the inter-method reliabilities and differences between them. Materials and Methods This study included 172 subjects (age range, 55–88 years; mean age, 71.2 years), comprising 45 normal healthy subjects, 85 patients with mild cognitive impairment, and 42 patients with Alzheimer's disease. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were analyzed with IB and NQ. Mean differences were compared with the paired t test. Inter-method reliability was evaluated with Pearson's correlation coefficients and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Effect sizes were also obtained to document the standardized mean differences. Results The paired t test showed significant volume differences in most regions except for the amygdala between the two methods. Nevertheless, inter-method measurements between IB and NQ showed good to excellent reliability (0.72 < r < 0.96, 0.83 < ICC < 0.98) except for the pallidum, which showed poor reliability (left: r = 0.03, ICC = 0.06; right: r = −0.05, ICC = −0.09). For the measurements of effect size, volume differences were large in most regions (0.05 < r < 6.15). The effect size was the largest in the pallidum and smallest in the cerebellum. Conclusion Comparisons between IB and NQ showed significantly different volume measurements with large effect sizes. However, they showed good to excellent inter-method reliability in volumetric measurements for all brain regions, with the exception of the pallidum. Clinicians using these commercial software should take into consideration that different volume measurements could be obtained depending on the software used.

Highlights Maturation of specific WM tracts in preterm individuals differs from those of term controls. The elastic net logistic regression model was used to identify altered white matter tracts in the preterm brain. The alteration of the cingulum in the preterm at near-term correlate with neurodevelopmental scores at 18–22 months of age.

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The infant brain grows quickly with elaborate microstructural development during the neonatal period. The white matter, during critical periods of development, is selectively vulnerable to altered maturation and impaired growth in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> To evaluate whether abnormal white matter maturation in VLBW infants is associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months of corrected age. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Between 2015 and 2017, we recruited 60 VLBW infants at 24–32 weeks of gestational age and 15 full-term controls. All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging at near-term age and were assessed at 18 months of corrected age with the <i>Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition</i>. The associations between regional white matter fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and developmental outcomes were explored using multivariable linear regression after correcting for gestational age, postmenstrual age at DTI scan, and maternal education level. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The FA values of the splenium of the corpus callosum (<i>p</i> = 0.032), corticospinal tract (<i>p</i> = 0.025), middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001), and cingulum (<i>p</i> = 0.043) were significantly related to cognitive scores; however, only the association corresponding to the MCP remained significant after correcting for multiple comparisons. The MCP FA (<i>p</i> = 0.008) was associated with motor scores after correction for multiple comparisons (<i>p</i> = 0.008). Cognitive impairment (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.823, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.722–0.911) and motor impairment (AUC = 0.776, 95% CI = 0.656–0.899) were predicted by MCP FA. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The FA of MCP at near-term age may predict developmental outcomes of VLBW infants at 18 months of corrected age.