The correlation between apparent diffusion coefficient and neonatal behavioral neurological assessment in hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

Background: Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) quantification has been proven to be of prognostic value in term newborns with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) who were treated under normothermia. Objectives: To evaluate the prognostic value of ADC in standardized brain regions in neonates with HIE who were treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH). Methods: This prospective cohort study included 54 term newborns who were admitted with HIE and treated with TH. All magnetic resonance imaging examinations were performed between days 4 and 6 of life, and ADC values were measured in 13 standardized regions of the brain. At 2 years of age we explored whether ADC values were related to composite outcomes (death or survival with abnormal neurodevelopment). Results: The severity of HIE is inversely related to ADC values in different brain regions. We found that lower ADC values in the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), the thalami, the semioval centre, and frontal and parietal white matter were related to adverse outcomes. ADC values in the PLIC and thalami are good predictors of adverse outcomes (AUC 0.86 and 0.76). Conclusions: Low ADC values in the PLIC, thalamus, semioval centre, and frontal and parietal white matter in full-term infants with HIE treated with TH were associated with a poor outcome.

Increasing evidence demonstrates that there is marked damage and dysfunction in the white matter in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study investigates the nature of white matter damage of patients with Alzheimer's disease with diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI) and analyses the relationship between the white matter damage and the cognition function. DTI, as well as T1 fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and T2-FLAIR, was performed on probable patients of Alzheimer's disease, and sex and age matched healthy volunteers to measure the fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) in the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum, anterior and posterior limbs of the internal capsule, and the white matter of frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes. FA was lower in the splenium of corpus callosum, as well as in the white matter of the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes from patients with Alzheimer's disease than in the corresponding region from healthy controls and was strongly positive correlated with MMSE scores, whereas FA appeared no different in the anterior and posterior limbs of internal capsule, occipital lobes white matter, and the genu of corpus callosum between the patients and healthy controls. MD was significantly higher in the splenium of corpus callosum and parietal lobes white matter from patients than in that those from healthy controls and was strongly negative correlated with MMSE scores, whereas MD in the anterior and posterior limbs of internal capsule, as well as in frontal, temporal, occipital lobes white matter and the genu of corpus callosum, was not different between the patients and healthy controls. The most prominent alteration of FA and MD was in the splenium of corpus callosum. Our results suggested that white matter of patients with Alzheimer's disease was selectively impaired and the extent of damage had a strong correlation with the cognitive function, and that selective impairment reflected the cortico-cortical and cortico-subcortical disconnections in the pathomechanism of Alzheimer's disease. The values of FA and MD in white matter, especially in the splenium of corpus callosum in AD patients, might be a more appropriate surrogate marker for monitoring the disease progression.

Objectives: Many diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies have described the effects of hydrocephalus on periventricular white matter in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus. However, little is known about hydrocephalus following stroke. We investigated the effect of hydrocephalus on periventricular white matter in patients with hydrocephalus after an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) using DTI. Methods: Fourteen patients with ICH and hydrocephalus, and 17 age- and sex-matched normal control subjects were recruited. DTI parameters were estimated in six regions of interest (ROIs) in periventricular white matter: the anterior corona radiata, the posterior corona radiata, the genu of the corpus callosum, the splenium of corpus callosum, the anterior limb of the internal capsule, and the posterior limb of the internal capsule. Results: Mean fractional anisotropy of the anterior corona radiata in patients was significantly higher than in controls (p < 0.05), but apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was not different in the two groups (p > 0.05). No significant differences between fractional anisotropies and ADCs were observed in the other five ROIs (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The anterior corona radiata was found to be more compressed by hydrocephalus than the other five regions of periventricular white matter examined in patients with hydrocephalus following ICH. It is believed that the results of the present study will be useful for the diagnosis and management of hydrocephalus following stroke.

Objectives: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in adult stroke patients is known to be an independent risk factor for poor functional outcome. Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), we attempted to investigate the effect of IVH on the white matter. Methods: We recruited 10 consecutive patients with IVH and 18 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Using a 1.5-T Philips Gyroscan Intera system, DTI data was acquired at an average of 84 days (range: 38–149) after IVH onset. We measured fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values at the fornix, corpus callosum (CC), corona radiata (CR), and posterior limb of the internal capsule (PL). In addition, integrity and fiber number were measured for the fornix. Results: DTI revealed disruption of the fornix in all patients. FA values showed a decrease in the fornix, CC, and CR; in contrast, the ADC value showed an increase in the CC, without changes in the fornix or CR. Fiber number of the fornix also decreased. However, no change was observed in the PL. Conclusions: We found periventricular white matter (fornix, CC, and CR) injury following IVH. We think that this result would be helpful in the establishment of management strategies for patients with IVH.

The aim is to investigate whether there is a microstructural change in the white matter pathways in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). Additionally, the relationship between conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters is determined. Thirty patients diagnosed with SIH and 31 control patients (between January 2019 and February 2024) were included in the case-control study. MRI findings constituting the Bern score were evaluated in contrast-enhanced brain MRI. Ten different white matter pathways were evaluated with the following DTI parameters: fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), axial diffusion (AD), and radial diffusion (RD). We also examined the association between MRI findings and DTI parameters. In the cingulum, a decreased FA value (Z = -3.18, p = 0.002) was observed in patients with SIH, indicating disruption of white matter integrity and weakened synaptic transmission in this region. In the corona radiata, significant reductions were observed in both FA (Z = -5.67, p < 0.001) and AD (Z = -3.59, p < 0.001), alongside an increase in RD (Z = -4.99, p < 0.001). The concomitant increase in RD further supports the idea of potential damage to the myelin sheath, which, together with other findings, may reflect disruptions in white matter architecture that underlie the cognitive and motor deficits frequently seen in patients with SIH. In the splenium of the corpus callosum, a significant reduction in AD (Z = -3.00, p = 0.007) was also noted. In the anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC), both FA (Z = -4.57, p < 0.001) and AD (Z = -2.73, p = 0.012) values decreased, while RD increased (Z = -2.93, p = 0.007). These alterations suggest the involvement of motor and sensory pathways. In the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), significant reductions were found in both FA (Z = -5.59, p < 0.001) and AD (Z = -3.82, p < 0.001), along with an increase in RD (Z = -5.49, p < 0.001). In the corticospinal tract, patients with SIH exhibited a decrease in FA (Z = -4.15, p < 0.001), an increase in ADC (Z = -2.87, p = 0.008), and an increase in RD (Z = -3.73, p < 0.001). These findings represent significant microstructural changes reflecting a reduction in the integrity of motor pathways in white matter. In the middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP), patients with SIH showed increased ADC (Z = -4.78, p < 0.001) and RD (Z = -3.23, p = 0.002). Similarly, in optic radiation, there was decreased FA (Z = -4.55, p < 0.001) and AD (Z = -2.59, p = 0.018), with increased RD (Z = -2.95, p = 0.007). In the correlation analysis, positive correlations were found between suprasellar distance and AD values in both the ALIC (rs = 0.451, p = 0.012) and MCP (rs = 0.416, p = 0.022). These findings suggest that structural changes and anatomical shifts, especially in the suprasellar region, may be associated with microstructural changes in the adjacent white matter pathways. We revealed microstructural changes in white matter in SIH. The alterations in DTI parameters may suggest that the white matter microarchitecture is changed as a result of mechanical compression of the axons in the white matter pathways due to brain prolapse and venous congestion.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) combined with recombinant human erythropoietin injection on neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and the effects on the expression levels of cysteine aspartic protease-3 (caspase-3) and endogenous activin A (ACT A). Methods eventy-six child patients with HIE admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of the hospital from October 2015 to May 2017 were enrolled for the study, and were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group, each consisting of 38 patients. The patients in the control group received HBO therapy on the basis of conventional treatment, while the patients in the observation group had human erythropoietin injection in addition to the treatment received by the control group. After 10 days of treatment, treatment efficacy was evaluated for the 2 groups. After 5 and 10 days of treatment, the neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) scores were evaluated, and nerve reflex recovery time and conscious recovery time for the patients of the 2 groups were recorded. The levels of serum caspase-3 and ACT A in the patients of the 2 groups were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and adverse reactions of the two groups were recorded as well. Results Total efficacy rate for the observation group (89.47%)was significantly higher than that for the control group (71.05%)(P<0.05), After 5 and 10 days of treatment, the NBNA scores of the 2 groups were all significantly higher than those before treatment and the NBNA scores of the observation group were significantly higher than those before treatment, and the NBNA scores of the observation group were also obviously higher than those of the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). After treatment, the nerve reflex recovery time and conscious recovery time of the observation group were all shorter than those of the control group (P<0.05). After 5 days of treatment, the caspase-3 levels of the two groups were significantly higher than those before treatment, and that of the observation group was obviously lower than that of the control group(P<0.05). However, after 10 days of treatment, the caspase-3 levels in the 2 groups all decreased markedly, as compared with those after 5 days of treatment, and. that of the observation group was obviously lower than that of the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion HBO combined with recombinant human erythropoietin injection was superior to simple HBO therapy in the treatment of HIE, and could down-regulate the expression levels of Caspase-3 and ACT A, inhibit cell apoptosis, promote cell repair and ultimately lessen nerve damage. Key words: Hyperbaric oxygen; Recombinant human erythropoietin; Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy; Caspase-3; Endogenous activin A(ACTA)

Objective To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on cesarean delivery women and newborn undergoing combined spinal-epidural anesthesia.Methods Ninety ASA Ⅰ-Ⅱ full-term pregnancy women who underwent elective cesarean section were randomly divided into 3 groups(n=30):control group (group A) and Dex group (group B and group C).Dex was respectively infused intravenously at 0.5 μg/kg in group B and 1 μg/kg in group C while in group A equal volume of normal saline was infused instead of Dex.The maternal mean arterial pressure (MAP),heart rate (HR),pulse oxygen saturation(SpO2),Ramsay scores of mothers were recorded at six time points:before iv(T1),5 min after iv(T2),10 min after iv(T3),15 min after iv (T4),20 min after iv (T5) and the neonate was delivered (T6).Sensory block onset time,duration,the highest level,the time required to achieve the highest level were also recorded,as well as motor block onset time,the highest scores,the time required to achieve the highest scores.Umbilical arterial blood was obtained immediately after breaking the umbilical cord for analysis of blood gas and lactic acid.Apgar scores 1 min and 5 min after labor were recorded,and neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) scores 2 d and 14 d after labor were evaluated.Results Ramsay scores were significantly higher,MAP,HR,SpO2 were lower in group C than in group A and B(P＜0.05).Sensory block onset time,duration,the highest level median,the time required to achieve the highest level of group A,group B,group C were respectively as follows:(5.5±1.9) min vs (3.9±1.5) min vs (3.9±1.6) min,(80.1±13.4) min vs (92.0±14.5) min vs (91.3±15.5) min,5.5 (6,4) vs 4 (4,3) vs 4 (4,3),(13.2±3.2) min vs (10.4±1.9) min vs (10.2±2.5) min.The differences were statistically significant (P＜O.05) compared with group A.Motor block o nset time,the highest scores,the time required to achieve the highest scores of group A,group B,group C were respectively as follows:(4.2±1.7) min vs (3.3±1.4) min vs (3.1±1.2) min,(84.5±10.4) min vs (95.6±14.3) min vs (98.3±12.3) min,(16.5±5.8) min vs (13.3±2.7) min vs (12.4±2.7) min.The differences were statistically significant compare with group A(P＜0.05).There was no significant differences in umbilical arterial blood gas analysis,lactic acid,Apgar Scores and NBNA scores among the 3 groups (P＞0.05).Conclusions Dex can provide good sedation,shorten onset time of spinal anesthesia and extend the blocking duration with no adverse effects on Apgar scores and NBNA scores before employing combined spinal-epidural anesthesia.The effect on maternal hemodynamics was less at 0.5 μg/kg than 1 μg/kg of Dex. Key words: Dexmedetomidine; Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia; Cesarean delivery; Parturient ; Newborn

Objective To evaluate the effect and value expression of amplitude integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) combined with neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) in the diagnosis of brain injury of premature infants (BIPI). Methods From January 2017 to December 2018, 218 cases of premature infants (gestational age was 28 to 36 weeks) in our hospital were divided into brain injury group (102 cases) and non brain injury group (116 cases) according to the presence of brain damage factors. Within 6 hours after premature birth, aEEG was recorded in continuous 3 hours; head B ultrasonic examination was performed within 24 hours and on the third day after birth; head Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) detection was performed before leaving the hospital. In addition, NBNA score was performed until 40 weeks of gestational age. According to the characteristics of aEEG and NBNA score, the value of combined two methods in the diagnosis of brain injury in premature infants was evaluated. Results Clinical application showed that the sensitivity of aEEG combined with NBNA in the diagnosis of brain injury of premature infants was 91.87%, which was higher than 86.31% of aEEG and 76.32% of NBNA; the specificity of aEEG combined with NBNA was 67.53%, which was lower than 75.42% of aEEG and 86.37% of NBNA; the area under the ROC curve of combined diagnosis was 0.856, which was higher than 0.813 of aEEG and 0.754 of NBNA. Conclusion The combined evaluation method has a larger area under the ROC curve and higher sensitivity than single evaluation method, is worthy of clinical promotion and application. Key words: Amplitude integrated electroencephalography; Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment; Premature infant; Brain injury

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of selective brain hypothermia (SBH) in the treatment of neonates with moderate or severe neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and the effect of SBH treatment on serum levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and central nervous specific protein S100. A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted. From January 2015 to June 2017, 42 children with moderate to severe HIE in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College were enrolled, and they were randomly divided into SBH treatment group and routine treatment group after obtaining the consent of the guardian of the children. The children in routine treatment group were given the traditional symptomatic supportive treatment, supplemented by drugs to promote nerve cell growth. On the basis of traditional treatment, the children in the SBH treatment group were given SBH treatment within 6 hours after birth. The nasopharyngeal temperature was maintained at 33.0-34.5 centigrade and the rectal temperature was maintained at 34.5-35.0 centigrade. The general clinical data of the two groups including gender, gestational age, birth weight, age, 5-minute neonatal asphyxia score (Apgar score), score for neonatal acute physiology perinatal extension version II (SNAPPE II) were collected. The primary outcomes were hospitalized death, severe disability at 15 months of age, neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) score at 28 days of age, and Bayley scales of infant development (BSID) score [including mental development index (MDI) score and psychomotor development index (PDI) score] at 15 months of age at follow-up. The secondary outcomes were serum levels of NSE and S100 protein. The occurrences of adverse events in the two groups were recorded. Among 42 HIE children, 1 child of severe congenital malformation and 1 child of platelet count (PLT) < 50×109/L were excluded, and 40 children were enrolled in the study group. During the follow-up period, 2 children of SBH treatment group and 2 children of routine treatment group were lost or the outcome was unknown. Finally, 18 children of each group were enrolled in the analysis. There was no significant difference in the baseline data of gender, gestational age, birth weight, age, 5-minure Apgar score or SNAPPE II score between the two groups, indicating that the baseline data of the two groups were balanced and comparable. The incidence of severe disability in the SBH treatment group was significantly lower than that in the routine treatment group [5.6% (1/18) vs. 44.4% (8/18), P < 0.05]. There was 1 child death in the routine treatment group and no death in the SBH treatment group. Compared with the routine treatment group, the 28-day NBNA score of the SBH treatment group was increased by 2.9 [95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.0-4.8], BSID score at 15 months of age was improved significantly, MDI score was increased by 11.8 (95%CI = 4.3-19.3), and PDI score was increased by 12.4 (95%CI = 2.5-22.3), with significant differences between the two groups (all P < 0.05). After 3 days of treatment, the serum NSE and S100 protein levels in both groups were significantly decreased as compared with those before treatment [NSE (μg/L): 30.15±15.18 vs. 31.32±14.75, S100 (ng/L): 387.5 (273.3, 573.0) vs. 890.0 (590.5, 1 162.5) in routine treatment group; NSE (μg/L): 29.09±16.22 vs. 32.25±15.43, S100 (ng/L): 402.5 (302.2, 580.5) vs. 842.0 (462.3, 1 200.5) in SBH treatment group, all P < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in serum NSE or S100 protein level between the two groups (all P > 0.05). There was no serious adverse event such as arrhythmia, large vein thrombosis or irreducible hypotension in both groups, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of general adverse events such as sinus bradycardia, scleredema, blood glucose disorder, or systemic infection between the two groups [16.7% (3/18) vs. 11.1% (2/18), 5.6% (1/18) vs. 5.6% (1/18), 22.2% (4/18) vs. 11.1% (2/18), 5.6% (1/18) vs. 5.6% (1/18), all P > 0.05]. SBH treatment could significantly increase the NBNA score at 28 days of birth and BSID score at 15 months of age, reduce the incidence of severe disability in moderate and severe HIE children, but it was not be proved that SBH could reduce the mortality. Compared with routine treatment, SBH treatment had no significant superiority on improving the levels of serum NSE and S100 protein, suggesting that SBH could not protect the brain by inhibiting the apoptosis of nerve cells and promoting the repair of nerve cells.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of mild hypothermia complicated with heperbaric oxygen in the treatment of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.Methods Seventy-five neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy patients were randomly divided into mild hypothermia complicated with heperbaric oxygen group(40 cases) and the control group(35 cases).The newborns in control group were given routine and comprehensive treatment.The newborns in treatment group were given mild hypothermia complicated with heperbaric oxygen therapy on the basis of routine and comprehensive treatment.The newborns with HIE were estimated by neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) after being born 4 days and 14 days and were examined by mental and psycho-motor development after being born 3 months,6months and 12 months.Results The NBNA score when the newborns were 4 days had no obvious difference between the two groups (t=0.126,P>0.05).The NBNA score when the newborns were 14 days had obvious difference between the two groups(t=2.48,P<0.05).The index of mental and psychomotor development when the newborns were 3 months,6months and 12 months in mild hypothermia complicated with heperbaric oxygen therapy group was obviously higher than that in control group.There were obvious difference between the two groups(P<0.05).Conclusions Mild hypothermia complicated with heperbaric oxygen therapy have obvious near ang long neurological protective action on neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and can improve the living quality.The treatment effect is positive. Key words: Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy; Mild hypothermia; Hyperbaric oxygen; Asphyxia; Organ injury; Prognosis

The use of spectrin breakdown products (SBDPs) and Tau protein levels for diagnosis and a mild hypothermia therapy for treatment of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) was evaluated. One hundred and fifty infants, with HIE within 12 h after birth, participated in the study. There were 30 newborns with mild symptoms, 60 with moderate symptoms, 60 with severe symptoms, and 30 in a control group. Regular therapy was used for the control and the mild HIE groups, and also for 30 cases in the group with moderate symptoms and for 30 in the group with severe symptoms. For the remaining infants, with moderate and severe symptoms, mild hypothermia therapy was used instead. A sandwich ELISA measured plasma concentrations of SBDPs and Tau proteins, at different time-points. For clinical follow-up, the neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) assay and the Gesell development scale were performed at different time-points. The levels of SBDP and Tau proteins increased with the exacerbation of HIE, and decreased with the prolongation of therapy with statistically significant differences amongst groups. After treatment, the levels of SBDP and Tau proteins in groups with moderate and severe symptoms treated with mild hypothermia therapy were significantly lower than those of the groups treated with regular therapy. NBNA scores and the developmental quotient (DQ) were both worse with the increase in severity of HIE, however, the scores of groups with moderate and severe symptoms treated with mild hypothermia therapy were significantly better than those of groups treated with regular therapy (P<0.05). A gradual improvement of DQ was seen in the process of therapy in each group (P<0.05). According to a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, at a critical plasma concentration of SBDPs of 1.58 ng/ml, the sensitivity and specificity for HIE diagnosis was 84.6 and 87.5%, respectively. The ROC analysis for Tau protein yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 79.5 and 96.9%, respectively, at a critical plasma concentration of 4.76 pg/ml. Given our results, SBDPs and Tau proteins are very useful for the early diagnosis of HIE. Early application of mild hypothermia therapy for the treatment of HIE can greatly improve the function of neural development. These findings should greatly improve the evaluation and treatment approaches for HIE.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result from blunt trauma or acceleration/deceleration force and is considered to be one of the most important public health problems. Many patients of TBI lose professional competence and independence. They may eventually suffer serious sequelae, such as cognitive impairment, memory loss, and long-term headache. In craniocerebral trauma patients, mild traumatic brain injury accounts for 70% - 80% of the cases. Early diagnosis and intervention can decrease the post-concussional sequelae for mild TBI (mTBI). Objectives: To investigate the value of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) patients. Patients and Methods: Conventional MRI sequences (T1 and T2 weighted images) and DKI scans of 25 healthy controls and 24 mTBI patients were obtained. Regions of interests (ROIs) were drawn and analyzed on several planes including white matter, deep gray matter nuclei, peri-contusion and contusion lesion on fused fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusion (MD) maps, and mean kurtosis (MK) maps, respectively. FA, MD, and MK values were measured in a certain region (he area of bilateral centrum semiovale (CS), corona radiate (CR), caudate nucleus head (CNH), genu of corpus callosum (CCG), corpus callosum splenium (CCS), anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC), posterior limb of internal capsule (PLIC), external capsule (EC), lenticular nucleus (LN), and thalamus). Student’s t test was used to compare the average values of FA, MD, and MK between mTBI patients and healthy controls. Paired t-test was also used to compare contusion lesions and mirror symmetrical areas. Results: FA and MK values were significantly different in all of the white matter and grey matter, while MD values among the various ROIs were insignificantly different in the healthy control group. In mTBI patients, the FA values of genu of corpus callosum, splenium of corpus callosum, and external capsule were decreased. Whereas, MD value of genu of corpus callosum in trauma group was increased. Except for the head of the caudate nucleus and posterior limb of the internal capsule, the MK values of the rest of the ROIs in the trauma group decreased significantly. Moreover, compared with the contra-lateral, there were more significant contusion lesions of FA and MK reductions than increased MD values. FA and MD values of peri-contusion had no significant difference compared with the contra-lateral while MK values decreased significantly. Conclusion: Compared with conventional MRI sequences, DKI can detect micro white matter injury, and MK parameter is more sensitive than FA and MD. In addition, DKI can find these changes not only in the white matter but also in deep gray matter nucleus, making it a promising imaging tool to assist the detection of mild traumatic brain injury.

To investigate the features of white matter myelin development in preterm infants using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). A total of 31 preterm infants with a gestational age of ≤32 weeks and a birth weight of <1 500 g were enrolled. According to head MRI findings, these infants were divided into preterm group with brain injury (12 infants) and preterm group without brain injury (19 infants). A total of 24 full-term infants were enrolled as control group. Head MRI and DTI were performed at a gestational age or corrected gestational age of 37-40 weeks. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were measured for the same regions of interest in the three groups. The preterm group with brain injury showed a significantly lower FA value of the posterior limb of the internal capsule than the preterm group without brain injury and full-term control group (P<0.05). The preterm groups with and without brain injury showed significantly lower FA values of frontal white matter and lenticular nucleus than the full-term control group (P<0.05). The FA value of occipital white matter showed no significant differences among the three groups (P>0.05). Compared with the full-term control group, the preterm groups with and without brain injury showed significantly higher ADC values of the posterior limb of the internal capsule, lenticular nucleus, occipital white matter, and frontal white matter (P<0.05). After brain injury, preterm infants tend to develop disorder or delay of white matter myelination in the posterior limb of the internal capsule. At a corrected full-term gestational age, the preterm infants with and without brain injury have a lower grade of maturity in periventricular white matter and grey matter than full-term infants.

Objective To explore the safety and efficacy of intrathecal administration of adipose stem cells derived from bioactive secretome (ASCBS) in treatment of whiter matter injury (WMI) in the preterm infants. Methods Sixty-three cases of WMI were recruited according to the uniform standards from multiple medical centers and they were divided into 3 gestational age (GA) subgroups, which were 21 cases in group A (GA 24-28+ 6), 20 cases in group B (GA 29-32+ 6), and 22 cases in group C (GA 33-36+ 6). The patients were randomly divided into treatment groups and control groups by tossing coins.The treatment groups received lumbar puncture followed with ASCBS intra-thecal injection once daily for 3 consecutive days.Follow-up study included Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment (NBNA) at term-equivalent age and neurodevelopment at corrected age of 6-month.Neurodevelopment was assessed by using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and Peabody Developmental Motor Scale.The survival rates, NBNA scores, mental development index (MDI), psychomotor develop index (PDI), total motor development quotient, gross motor development quotient and fine motor development among each subgroup were compared. Results Sixty-three cases were recruited, including 31 in the treatment group and 32 in the control group.Only 1 case in the treatment groups lost in the follow-up.No clinical side effects were found in the treatment groups.There was no significant diffe-rence in the survival rate and complication in the preterms in all subgroups of the treatment group and control group (all P>0.05). The gross and total motor development quotient in the treatment group A was higher than that in the control group A(gross motor development quotient: 98.330±6.282 in treatment group A, 90.330±3.777 in control group A, P=0.040; total motor development quotient: 97.330±4.803 in treatment group A, 91.000±4.472 in control group A, P=0.023). The rest findings showed no significant difference between groups. Conclusion The treatment of WMI in preterm infants with ASCBS is safe and can promote the motor development of preterm infants with GA in 24 -28 weeks. Key words: Stem cells; Infant, premature; White matter injury; Lipid stem cells bioactive secretion

Disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space hydrocephalus (DESH) findings on MRI were described as a prognostic factor for responsiveness to the treatment of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). Our premise is that DESH could be associated with compression of the cerebral white matter. Microstructural changes can be identified using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), specifically fractional anisotropy (FA). The aim of this study is to compare FA in iNPH patients with and without DESH and healthy controls. We analysed 1.5-T MRI scans of patients fulfilling the criteria of probable or possible iNPH and positive supplementary tests before and after surgery (ventriculo-peritoneal shunt). FA was measured in the anterior and posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC) and in the corpus callosum. Patients were divided into the DESH and non-DESH group. These data were also compared to FA values in the control group. Twenty-seven patients and 24 healthy controls were enrolled. DESH was present in 15 patients and lacking in 12. Twenty-three iNPH patients were shunt responders (85.2%), and 4 were non-responders (14.8%). All patients in the DESH group were shunt responders. In the non-DESH group, eight patients were responders (66.7%). A significant difference between the DESH and non-DESH group was found in the FA of the PLIC. The mean value of FA in the PLIC was 0.72 in the DESH group and 0.66 in the non-DESH group. After the surgery FA decreased in both groups. In the DESH iNPH group FA PLIC decreased to 0.65 and in the non-DESH iNPH group to 0.60. In the healthy controls, the mean FA in the PLIC was 0.58. DESH on MRI scans is related to a higher FA in the PLIC with a decrease after the surgery. It reflects a more severe compression of the white matter than in non-DESH patients or healthy volunteers. DESH patients had better outcome than non-DESH patients. This study confirmed the importance of DESH as a supportive sign for iNPH.