<p>The prognosis and changes of regional brain gray matter volume in MDD with gastrointestinal symptoms</p>

Abstract

Objective: It is common that major depressive disorder (MDD) is accompanied by gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. However, few studies have focused on the clinical characteristics and its possible mechanism, while brain gray matter (GM) structure is important in the pathogenesis of GI symptoms. In this study, we aimed to investigate the basic clinical characteristics and regional GM volume changes in MDD accompanied by GI symptoms. Method: Patients with MDD (n=49) and age, gender, and educational level-matched healthy controls (n=30) were recruited. Patients with MDD were divided into two groups based on the GI status: MDD with (n=27) and without (n=22) GI symptoms. The 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) was administered. T1-weighted anatomical images were obtained and analyzed. Correlation analysis was used to identify the possible associations between changed regional GM volume and GI symptoms and depressive symptoms. Results: The HAMD reductive ratio for 2 weeks of treatment in the GI symptoms group was significantly higher than the non-GI symptoms group ( P <0.05). The regional GM volume showed significant differences among the three groups (Gaussian Random Field [GRF] correction, voxel- P <0.01, cluster- P <0.05). Compared with non-GI symptoms group, GI symptoms group exhibited significantly increased GM volume in the left hippocampus, left parahippocampal gyrus, right parahippocampal gyrus; and decreased GM volume in the right middle frontal gyrus, right precentral gyrus, right cuneus, right precuneus, right superior occipital gyrus (GRF correction, voxel- P <0.01, cluster- P <0.05). These altered brain areas were correlated with the GI symptoms, not depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The changed regional brain GM volume in GI-MDD group may be the pathogenesis for the GI symptoms. In addition, the GI symptoms may predict the prognosis of MDD.

The effects of gastrointestinal symptoms on structural grey matter volume in youth

“…In CD patients experiencing pain, GMV was decreased (Bao et al., 2017). These findings suggest that the dysfunction of the CNS may be a contributing factor in the pathophysiologic mechanism that causes the symptoms experienced in gastrointestinal disorders (Liu et al., 2019).…”

“…The limbic system is an important regulator of GI function, as it controls human emotions, visceral pain as well as visceral sensation (Blankstein, Chen, Diamant, & Davis, 2010; Coss‐Adame & Rao, 2014; Liu et al., 2019; Seminowicz et al., 2010). Morphological changes were also observed in areas of the “pain matrix” (Bao et al, 2012, 2017; Labus et al., 2014; Seminowicz et al., 2010; Srinath, Young, & Szigethy, 2014) that are generally involved in pain processing and pain modulation (Iannetti, Salomons, Moayedi, Mouraux, & Davis, 2013), such as the thalamus, amygdala, middle frontal gyrus and basal ganglia (caudate and putamen) (Bao et al., 2015; Labus et al., 2014; Seminowicz et al., 2010).…”

“…Experimental colitis and intestinal dysbiosis studies have found them to be associated with abnormal mRNA or protein expression of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus along‐side abnormal development of anxiety‐like behaviour (Hassan et al, 2014; Bao et al., 2017). Additionally, the hippocampus may affect memory concerning emotional information as well as communication that occurs between other regions regarding mood regulation (Lie et al, 2019). Therefore, we can speculate that alterations of the GMV in the hippocampus may be implicated in mood disorders.…”

Evidence of cortical thickness reduction and disconnection in high myopia

“…Right precuneus located in medial parietal lobe, which is one of the most crucial brain area of default mode network and receives inputs from various vestibular and multisensory cortical areas, such as the parietal sulcus, inferior parietal lobe and parietal cover 36 . Meanwhile, it is considered to be related to cognitive and executive functions such as visual processing, auditory processing, memory, motivation, emotional processing 37,38 . As for the visual processing, visual imagery and episodic memory is the major 39 .STG is the surface of temporal neocortex, which contains two main parts: the Heschl's gyrus (HG) and planum temporal.…”

Reduced Brain Gray Matter Volume in Patients With First-Episode Major Depressive Disorder: A Quantitative Meta-Analysis

“…Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) is a whole-brain and automatic technique which has accuracy comparable with manual volumetry and overcomes the technical limitations of region-of-interest approaches (1,3). Notably, VBM has become an established research method to detect neuromorphometric abnormalities in subjects with various psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, including MDD (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11).…”