Although the combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) has considerably lowered the risk of HIV associated dementia (HAD), the incidence of neurocognitive impairments (NCI) has not decreased likely due to the insidious and slow progressive nature of HIV infection. Recent studies showed that the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) is a prominent technique in helping the non-invasive analysis of neucognitive impairment. Our study is to explore the neuroimaging characteristics among people living with HIV (PLWH) with or without NCI in terms of cerebral regional and neural network by rs-fMRI, based on the hypothesis that HIV patients with and without NCI have independent brain imaging characteristics. 33 PLWH with NCI and 33 PLWH without NCI, recruited from the Cohort of HIV-infected associated Chronic Diseases and Health Outcomes, Shanghai, China (CHCDO) which was established in 2018, were categorized into the HIV-NCI and HIV-control groups, respectively, based on Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) results. The two groups were matched in terms of sex, education and age. Resting-state fMRI data were collected from all participants to analyze the fraction amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and functional connectivity (FC) to assess regional and neural network alterations in the brain. Correlations between fALFF/FC values in specific brain regions and clinical characteristics were also examined. The results showed increased fALFF values in the bilateral calcarine gyrus, bilateral superior occipital gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus, and left cuneus in the HIV-NCI group compared to the HIV-control group. Additionally, increased FC values were observed between the right superior occipital gyrus and right olfactory cortex, bilateral gyrus rectus, and right orbital part of the middle frontal gyrus in the HIV-NCI group. Conversely, decreased FC values were found between the left hippocampus and bilateral medial prefrontal gyrus, as well as bilateral superior frontal gyrus. The study concluded that abnormal spontaneous activity in PLWH with NCI primarily occurred in the occipital cortex, while defects in brain networks were mostly associated with the prefrontal cortex. The observed changes in fALFF and FC in specific brain regions provide visual evidence to enhance our understanding of the central mechanisms underlying the development of cognitive impairment in HIV patients.
Although the combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) has considerably lowered the risk of HIV associated dementia (HAD), the incidence of neurocognitive impairments(NCI) have not decreased likely due to the insidious and slow progressive nature of HIV infection. Recent studies show that the rest state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) is a prominent technique in helping the non-invasive analysis of neucognitive impairment. Our study is to explore the neuroimaging characteristics among people living with HIV(PLW-HIV) with or without NCI in terms of cerebral regional and neural network by rs-fMRI, based on the hypothesis that HIV patients with and without NCI have independent brain imaging characteristics. 33 HIV subjects with NCI and 33 HIV subjects without NCI, classified into HIV-NCI group and HIV-control group respectively according to Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE) results. The fraction amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and functional connectivity (FC) were calculated to characterize the cerebral regional and neural network alterations. Finally, the correlation among fALFF/FC values in certain cerebral regions and clinical characteristics were calculated. Compared to the HIV-control group, the fALFF values of bilateral calcarine gyrus, bilateral superior occipital gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus, left cuneus in the HIV-NCI group were increased. The FC values between right superior occipital gyrus and right olfactory cortex, bilateral gyrus rectus, right orbital part of middle frontal gyrus in the HIV-NCI group were increased. The FC values between left hippocampus and bilateral medial prefrontal gyrus, bilateral superior frontal gyrus were decreased. The fALFF values of left cuneus in both two groups was negatively correlated with international HIV dementia scale scores (IHDS) (R=-0.255, P=0.037) ; The fALFF values of left calcarine gyrus in both two groups was negatively correlated with MMSE scores (R=-0.316, P=0.009) ; The FC values between right superior occipital gyrus and right olfactory cortex (R=-0.396, P=0.001) in both two groups was negatively correlated with MMSE scores. Our study showed that the abnormal fMRI patterns in specific brain regions of the occipital cortex, while the defects in brain network mostly associated with prefrontal cortex, were associated with HIV-related cognitive impairment. The variation of fALFF and FC in given brain regions can be used to distinguish HIV subjects with and without cognitive impairment.
Objective: To explore the neuroimaging characteristics of eczema-induced pruritus with resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rs-fMRI). Methods: 42 patients with eczema were recruited in the PE group, and 42 healthy participants were included in the HC group. The Visual Analogue Score (VAS), 12-Item Pruritus Severity Scale (12-PSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were recorded in the PE group. The different values of fraction Amplitude of Low Frequency Fluctuation (fALFF) and functional connectivity(FC) were compared after rs-fMRI scanning. Results: Compared with the HC group, the fALFF values of the left precentral gyrus, left postcentral gyrus, left supplementary motor area (SMA) and left midcingulate cortex in the PE group were increased. The FC values between the left precentral gyrus and bilateral superior temporal gyrus, bilateral hippocampus, left inferior occipital gyrus in the PE group were decreased. The FC values between left SMA and bilateral superior temporal gyrus in the PE group were decreased. The 12-PSS score was positively correlated with fALFF value of the left precentral gyrus and left postcentral gyrus. Conclusion: Pruritus caused increased spontaneous activity in given cerebral regions, involving the perception of itch, control of scratching movements, and expression of itch-related emotions. Simultaneously, the aberrant fALFF values result in corresponding alterations in networks, primarily characterized by a bilateral decrease in the symmetry of FC values such as the superior temporal gyrus and the hippocampus. Meanwhile, there is a correlation between fALFF values of given cerebral regions and clinical scales, which provided potential neurobiological markers for the future study of pruritus.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.