Article
Pediatrics
Qiufan Chen, Ke Zhang, Minjie Wang, Ruiwei Gao, Qian Wang, Mili Xiao, Chao Chen
Summary: A mouse model of preterm diffuse white matter injury (WMI) was successfully established to study the underlying mechanism.
TRANSLATIONAL PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Mireille Guillot, Steven P. Miller
Summary: White matter injury is a common type of brain injury in preterm neonates, primarily caused by hypoxia-ischemia and inflammation. Predicting, imaging diagnosing, and understanding the pathophysiology of white matter injury are all crucial aspects of research.
SEMINARS IN PERINATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Shiyu Yuan, Mengting Liu, Sharon Kim, Jingda Yang, Anthony James Barkovich, Duan Xu, Hosung Kim
Summary: The cerebral cortex undergoes rapid microstructural changes in the third trimester of pregnancy, and this study used imaging features to characterize the developing cyto/myeloarchitectural architecture. Results showed different trajectories of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics and T1-weighted/T2-weighted (T1w/T2w) measurements, with DTI showing a linear trajectory and T1w/T2w showing a parabolic trajectory. The results also revealed regional heterogeneity in the spatiotemporal courses of these changes.
Article
Clinical Neurology
J. A. Kimpton, D. Batalle, M. L. Barnett, E. J. Hughes, A. T. M. Chew, S. Falconer, J. D. Tournier, D. Alexander, H. Zhang, A. D. Edwards, S. J. Counsell
Summary: The study explored the microstructural maturation of white matter in preterm neonates using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) metrics, finding that NODDI provides more accurate estimations of neurite architecture compared to DTI. Through analyzing DTI and NODDI metrics, the researchers discovered asynchronous white matter maturation within and between tracts in preterm neonates with normal neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Shabnam Peyvandi, Jessie Mei Lim, Davide Marini, Duan Xu, V. Mohan Reddy, A. James Barkovich, Steven Miller, Patrick McQuillen, Mike Seed
Summary: This study examined the relationship between delayed brain development in fetuses with certain heart conditions and their susceptibility to postnatal white matter injury. Lower total brain volume in late gestation was associated with increased risk of white matter injury in fetuses with d-transposition of the great arteries, but not in those with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Rate of brain growth was not found to be a risk factor for white matter injury in either group, indicating different implications for postnatal risk of white matter injury.
JOURNAL OF THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Molin Jiang, Ping Zhang, Xiangyun Yang, Aihong Yu, Jie Zhang, Xiaoyu Xu, Zhanjiang Li
Summary: This study investigates the specific characteristics of the structural brain network in patients with panic disorder (PD) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and graph theory analysis. The results show that PD patients have higher network efficiency, lower shortest path length, and lower clustering coefficient at the global level compared to healthy controls. At the nodal level, PD patients exhibit higher nodal efficiency and lower average shortest path length in regions such as the prefrontal cortex, sensorimotor cortex, limbic system, insula, and cerebellum. These findings suggest that alterations in the fear network's information processing may contribute to the pathophysiology of PD.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Hassna Irzan, Erika Molteni, Michael Hutel, Sebastien Ourselin, Neil Marlow, Andrew Melbourne
Summary: The study found significant alterations in white matter connectivity in extremely preterm young adults at both macro-and microstructural levels, with overall diminished connectivity but comparable spatial configuration of WM fibres with fewer WM fibres per voxel. These alterations are widespread throughout the brain, particularly concentrated along pathways between deep grey matter regions, frontal regions, and the cerebellum, indicating that white matter abnormalities persist into early adulthood in individuals exposed to the extrauterine environment prematurely.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthias W. Wagner, Delvin So, Ting Guo, Lauren Erdman, Min Sheng, S. Ufkes, Ruth E. Grunau, Anne Synnes, Helen M. Branson, Vann Chau, Manohar M. Shroff, Birgit B. Ertl-Wagner, Steven P. Miller
Summary: This study aims to predict adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm neonates. By using brain MRI and extracting radiomic features, it was found that radiomic features outperformed clinical variables in predicting motor outcomes, and combining the two improved predictive performance.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Dalit Cayam-Rand, Ting Guo, Anne Synnes, Vann Chau, Connor Mabbott, Isabel Benavente-Fernandez, Ruth E. Grunau, Steven P. Miller
Summary: In very preterm-born children, neonatal thalamic growth and WMI volume predict school-age thalamic volumes. An interaction between FA and WMI impacts school-age thalamic volume, affecting cognition and motor outcomes.
ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Daniel J. Licht, Marin Jacobwitz, Jennifer M. Lynch, Tiffany Ko, Timothy Boorady, Mahima Devarajan, Kristina N. Heye, Kobina Mensah-Brown, John J. Newland, Alexander Schmidt, Peter Schwab, Madeline Winters, Susan C. Nicolson, Lisa M. Montenegro, Stephanie Fuller, Christopher Mascio, J. William Gaynor, Arjun G. Yodh, Juliana Gebb, Arastoo Vossough, Grace H. Choi, Mary E. Putt
Summary: Infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk for white matter injury (WMI) before neonatal heart surgery. Better knowledge of the causes of preoperative WMI may provide insights into interventions that improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in these patients.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Benita Schmitz-Koep, Aurore Menegaux, Juliana Zimmermann, Melissa Thalhammer, Antonia Neubauer, Jil Wendt, David Schinz, Marcel Daamen, Henning Boecker, Claus Zimmer, Josef Priller, Dieter Wolke, Peter Bartmann, Christian Sorg, Dennis M. Hedderich
Summary: This study investigates cortical organization in preterm-born adults using percent contrast of gray-to-white matter signal intensities. The results suggest widespread altered cortical microstructure, mainly in middle cortical layers, in preterm-born adults, with differential effects on associative and primary cortices.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Xiaohua Wang, Jing Zang, Yinxiang Yang, Siliang Lu, Qian Guan, Dou Ye, Zhaoyan Wang, Haipeng Zhou, Ke Li, Qian Wang, Youjia Wu, Zuo Luan
Summary: Transplanted human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (hOPCs) survived in the brain of rats with preterm white matter injury (PWMI) and differentiated into mature oligodendrocytes, leading to myelin production and improvements in neurobehavior. This suggests that hOPC transplantation may be an effective therapeutic strategy for children with PWMI.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Kaitlyn Easson, May Khairy, Charles V. Rohlicek, Guillaume Gilbert, Annette Majnemer, Kim-Anh Nguyen, Thuy Mai Luu, Elise Couture, Anne-Monique Nuyt, Sean C. L. Deoni, Maxime Descoteaux, Marie Brossard-Racine
Summary: This study aimed to examine the relationship between myelination and axon density and orientation alterations within association bundles and executive functioning, psychosocial well-being, and resilience in youth with CHD or born preterm. The findings suggest that microstructural alterations to association bundles have different relationships with executive functioning in youth with CHD and youth born preterm.
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Review
Pediatrics
Benjamin W. Ackermann, Daniel Klotz, Roland Hentschel, Ulrich H. Thome, Anton H. van Kaam
Summary: High-frequency ventilation (HFV) is a respiratory support mode that has been used for over 30 years in neonates. It can effectively restore lung function and potentially limit ventilator-induced lung injury. Understanding how HFV works and its clinical application is crucial for its optimal and safe use. This article presents important aspects of HFV, including gas exchange, lung-protective concepts, clinical use, and possible adverse effects. It also discusses the use of HFV in respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants and respiratory failure in term neonates.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Lisa M. Hortensius, Els Janson, Pauline E. van Beek, Floris Groenendaal, Nathalie H. P. Claessens, Henriette F. N. Swanenburg de Veye, Maria J. C. Eijsermans, Corine Koopman-Esseboom, Jeroen Dudink, Ruurd M. van Elburg, Manon J. N. L. Benders, Maria Luisa Tataranno, Niek E. van der Aa
Summary: The study found that higher postnatal protein intake is important for white matter development in extremely preterm born infants, but may not necessarily improve long-term cognitive and motor development. While higher protein intake was associated with higher white matter integrity, it was also linked to lower motor scores at 2 years corrected age. However, these differences were not sustained at 5.9 years.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Flavia M. Wehrle, Melanie Furrer, Maria Feldmann, Rabia Liamlahi, Nadja Naef, Ruth O'Gorman, Beatrice Latal, Reto Huber
Summary: Working memory is frequently impaired in children with complex congenital heart disease (CHD), but little is known about the functional neuronal correlates. This study investigated whether functional networks of working memory abilities are altered in children with complex CHD using EEG recordings during sleep. The findings suggest that sleep slow wave activity (SWA) reliably maps working memory networks in children with complex CHD and that these functional networks are generally preserved in these patients.
CHILD NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Celine Steger, Maria Feldmann, Julia Borns, Cornelia Hagmann, Beatrice Latal, Ulrike Held, Andras Jakab, Ruth O'Gorman Tuura, Walter Knirsch
Summary: Reduced white matter NAA/Cho ratios in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery for congenital heart defects may indicate delayed brain maturation. Further research is needed to understand the clinical impact of altered metabolites on brain development and outcome.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Melanie Ehrler, Peter Brugger, Matthias Greutmann, Ladina Schlosser, Flavia M. Wehrle, Rabia Liamlahi, Nadja Naef, Oliver Kretschmar, Ruth Tuura O'Gorman, Beatrice Latal
Summary: Congenital heart disease (CHD) patients have alterations in cerebral white matter microstructure (WMM) that do not change with age. Reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in white matter tracts is associated with executive function (EF) impairments in CHD patients. CHD complexity, parental education, and specific white matter tracts' FA also contribute to EF impairments.
CHILD NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Samantha Bezanson, Emily S. Nichols, Emma G. Duerden
Summary: This study found that postnatal maternal distress is associated with infant emotional development and brain development. Maternal anxiety is associated with increased right pallidum volumes in infants. Moreover, increased display of negative emotions in infants at 8-11 months is associated with smaller hippocampal volumes, with a stronger association in girls. These findings highlight the importance of maternal mental health for infant brain development and emotional outcomes.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH-NEUROIMAGING
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Ladina Schlosser, Nadja Naef, Melanie Ehrler, Flavia Wehrle, Matthias Greutmann, Angela Oxenius, Ruth Tuura, Beatrice Latal, Peter Brugger
Summary: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is associated with deficits in executive functions (EFs), specifically random number generation (RNG). The Mental Dice Task (MDT) was used to assess RNG performance in CHD patients and healthy controls. CHD patients demonstrated impaired inhibition and a lack of small-number bias in RNG, while structural-volumetric correlates were observed in MRI scans. This suggests that RNG may be a valuable tool for assessing EFs in CHD patients.
BRAIN AND COGNITION
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Susana Correa, Emily S. Nichols, Megan E. Mueller, Barbra de Vrijer, Roy Eagleson, Charles A. McKenzie, Sandrine de Ribaupierre, Emma G. Duerden
Summary: The default mode network plays a crucial role in higher-order cognitive processes and is composed of a complex network of functional and structural connections. The association between the default mode network and structural development during fetal life is not well understood. In this study, the researchers used imaging techniques to examine the relationship between functional connectivity in the default mode network and the development of subcortical volumes in pregnant women. The results suggest that increased functional connectivity in the default mode network is associated with changes in specific subcortical volumes.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Maria Feldmann, Jessica Borer, Walter Knirsch, Moritz M. Daum, Stephanie Wermelinger, Beatrice Latal
Summary: This study aimed to assess the development of social-cognitive abilities in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) compared to healthy controls. Eye tracking tests were conducted on 23 infants with CHD and 84 healthy controls, and it was found that infants with CHD had lower gaze-following behavior at 12 months. Further research is needed to investigate the clinical relevance of these findings and their association with later social-cognitive development.
EARLY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Nadja Naef, Selma J. Hottinger, Ladina Schlosser, Matthias Greutmann, Beatrice Latal, Ruth Tuura O'Gorman
Summary: Patients with congenital heart disease are at risk for cognitive and motor function impairments, brain injury, and smaller total brain volumes. The specific vulnerability of the cerebellum and its role in cognitive and motor functions in adults with congenital heart disease is not well defined.
NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Dominique A. A. Eichelberger, Beatrice Latal, Tanja H. H. Kakebeeke, Jon A. A. Caflisch, Oskar G. G. Jenni, Flavia M. M. Wehrle
Article
Clinical Neurology
Katherine M. Sawicka, Lindsey M. Vogt, Danielle M. Andrade, Hans D. Katzberg, Steven P. Miller, Mahendranath Moharir, David F. Tang-Wai, Ana Marissa Lagman-Bartolome
Summary: This article discusses the current landscape and unmet needs of pediatric to adult transition care in neurology and introduces the activities of the University of Toronto Pediatric-Adult Transition Working Group. The aim is to establish a national neurology transition strategy.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Philipp Biedermann, Vanessa Sitte-Koch, Martin Schweiger, Anke Meinold, Daniel Quandt, Oliver Kretschmar, Christian Balmer, Walter Knirsch
Summary: Pulmonary hypertension is common before pediatric heart transplantation, but post-transplantation normalization of pulmonary hemodynamics starts immediately in cardiomyopathy patients and is delayed in congenital heart disease patients.
CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ilona Stefanos-Yakoub, Kevin Wingeier, Dorottya Cserpan, Antonio Giulio Gennari, Beatrice Latal, Gitta Reuner, Georgia Ramantani
Summary: This study explores the impact of lesion-related variables and epilepsy-related predictors on intellectual functioning in children with focal lesional epilepsy, finding that lesion extent and epilepsy duration are important risk factors for intellectual impairment.
PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Amira Hmidan, Diane Seguin, Emma G. G. Duerden
Summary: Children's increased screen time during the pandemic is associated with behavioural difficulties, including internalizing and externalizing behaviours. Parental stress levels and screen time usage have a significant impact on children's behaviour. It is important to focus on reducing parent stress and screen time use to improve children's mental health during the ongoing pandemic.
Article
Neurosciences
Jose Sanchez-Bornot, Roberto C. Sotero, J. A. Scott Kelso, Ozguer Simsek, Damien Coyle
Summary: This study proposes a multi-penalized state-space model for analyzing unobserved dynamics, using a data-driven regularization method. Novel algorithms are developed to solve the model, and a cross-validation method is introduced to evaluate regularization parameters. The effectiveness of this method is validated through simulations and real data analysis, enabling a more accurate exploration of cognitive brain functions.