Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elisa Guma, Maude Bordeleau, Fernando Gonzalez Ibanez, Katherine Picard, Emily Snook, Gabriel Desrosiers-Gregoire, Shoshana Spring, Jason P. Lerch, Brian J. Nieman, Gabriel A. Devenyi, Marie-Eve Tremblay, M. Mallar Chakravarty
Summary: Exposure to maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy affects embryo development, with early exposure leading to increased apoptotic cell density, and late exposure, especially in female embryos, resulting in increased neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthew R. Bruce, Karen L. Jones, Anthony C. Vernon, Jill L. Silverman, Jacqueline N. Crawley, Jacob Ellegood, Jason P. Lerch, Judy Van de Water
Summary: The study suggests that maternal autoantibodies may play a significant role in immune responses leading to autism spectrum disorder, causing changes in offspring neurodevelopment and behavior. Findings indicate that offspring prenatally exposed to MAR-ASD autoantibodies exhibit increased brain volume, altered regional relationships, and gender-specific effects on social interaction and repetitive self-grooming behavior in adulthood.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Emily L. Morris, Stephan F. Taylor, Jian Kang
Summary: In recent years, the study of functional brain connectivity has become increasingly important as a scientific tool with potential clinical implications. Statistical methods, such as graphical models and network analysis, have been used to create functional connectivity networks for individual subjects. In this study, the focus is on investigating the link between functional connectivity networks and clinical characteristics, such as psychiatric symptoms and diagnoses. By utilizing machine learning algorithms, a method has been proposed to examine the predictability of functional connectivity networks based on clinical characteristics. The results demonstrate that salient clinical characteristics can predict the whole brain network or specific subnetworks, as illustrated by the analysis of fMRI data from the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort study.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tara C. Delorme, William Ozell-Landry, Nicolas Cermakian, Lalit K. Srivastava
Summary: Most individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders, have disrupted sleep and circadian rhythms. Prenatal infection increases the risk of developing NDDs. In this study, pregnant mice were exposed to a viral mimetic to model prenatal infection. The offspring showed behavioral differences and increased microglial morphology in the dentate gyrus, which were influenced by environmental circadian disruption. These findings suggest the importance of considering the interactions between circadian disruption and prenatal infection in developing therapies for individuals with NDDs.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Tara C. Delorme, Lalit K. Srivastava, Nicolas Cermakian
Summary: The study focused on examining the relationship between circadian rhythm disruption and neurodevelopmental disorders using a mouse model of prenatal maternal immune activation (MIA). The results showed that male offspring exposed to MIA exhibited altered locomotor activity rhythms resembling individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, with the effect being sex-dependent. The findings contribute to the understanding of the link between circadian rhythm disruption and neurodevelopmental disorders and may have implications for potential therapies.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2021)
Article
Neuroimaging
Eero Silver, Elmo P. Pulli, Eeva-Leena Kataja, Venla Kumpulainen, Anni Copeland, Ekaterina Saukko, Jani Saunavaara, Harri Merisaari, Tuire Lahdesmaki, Riitta Parkkola, Linnea Karlsson, Hasse Karlsson, Jetro J. Tuulari
Summary: The human brain undergoes dynamic development during early childhood, and is influenced by genetic programming and external exposures. This study examines the relationship between prenatal and early life environmental factors, family demographics, and cortical brain morphology in newborns. The findings reveal associations between various variables and cortical surface area and volumes, suggesting that factors such as child sex, maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index, and maternal age and education play a role in brain development.
BRAIN IMAGING AND BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Caroline Demro, Bryon A. Mueller, Jerillyn S. Kent, Philip C. Burton, Cheryl A. Olman, Michael-Paul Schallmo, Kelvin O. Lim, Scott R. Sponheim
Summary: This paper describes an investigation within the Human Connectome Project focusing on psychotic psychopathology, with data collected from clinical assessments, cognitive assessments, motor assessments, blood specimens, and MRI data. The goal is to provide information on data acquisition process for researchers planning to use the publicly available data, with a companion paper detailing the study's 7 Tesla image acquisition protocol.
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Vincent Paquin, Mylene Lapierre, Franz Veru, Suzanne King
Summary: This review discusses the impact of prenatal environmental factors on schizophrenia spectrum disorders, proposes potential mechanisms and future research directions, and emphasizes the importance of gene-environment interactions, developmental timing, and individual ecosystem in the development of psychiatric disorders.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, VOL 17, 2021
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
M. Bekiesinska-Figatowska, P. Sobieraj, M. Pasieczna, J. Szymkiewicz-Dangel
Summary: There is a strong emphasis on early detection and treatment of tuberous sclerosis complex before seizure onset, which can be achieved through prenatal ultrasound and MR imaging. Cardiac rhabdomyomas can be detected during fetal ultrasound, while prenatal MR imaging can detect major cerebral manifestations.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NEURORADIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ivonne Alexandra Bedei, Thierry A. G. M. Huisman, William Whitehead, Roland Axt-Fliedner, Michael Belfort, Magdalena Sanz Cortes
Summary: Fetal brain tumors are rare and have a poor prognosis. They differ from pediatric brain tumors in terms of location and tumor type. They can be benign or malignant and can invade or displace nearby brain structures. Their rapid growth is due to a high mitotic rate. The age of diagnosis, size, and histological tumor type are factors that determine the outcome. Polyhydramnios and macrocephaly are often associated findings on routine ultrasound. Prenatal counseling and decision making should consider both maternal and fetal prognosis.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Brendan Bos, Ben Barratt, Dafnis Batalle, Oliver Gale-Grant, Emer J. Hughes, Sean Beevers, Lucilio Cordero-Grande, Anthony N. Price, Jana Hutter, Joseph V. Hajnal, Frank J. Kelly, David Edwards, Serena J. Counsell
Summary: The study suggests that prenatal exposure to air pollution is associated with altered brain development in newborns. Specifically, higher exposure to PM10 and lower exposure to NO2 are linked to changes in ventricular volume and cerebellum size. These findings highlight the importance of reducing maternal exposure to particulate matter during pregnancy.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Shao-Lun Lu, Heng-Chun Liao, Feng-Ming Hsu, Chun-Chih Liao, Feipei Lai, Furen Xiao
Summary: The ICTS dataset consists of contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images of 1500 patients, with tumors labeled by qualified neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists. This dataset is publicly available for ongoing benchmarking through an online evaluation system.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Manuel F. Lopez-Aranda, Ishanu Chattopadhyay, Gayle M. Boxx, Elizabeth R. Fraley, Tawnie K. Silva, Miou Zhou, Miranda Phan, Isaiah Herrera, Sunrae Taloma, Rochelle Mandanas, Karen Bach, Michael Gandal, Daniel H. Geschwind, Genhong Cheng, Andrey Rzhetsky, Stephanie A. White, Alcino J. Silva
Summary: Research indicates that early postnatal immune activation has a significant impact on social memory and behavior, particularly in male mice heterozygous for the gene responsible for tuberous sclerosis complex. These effects are caused by abnormal interferon signaling and microglia function, and are associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders in males with a history of hospitalizations due to infections.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Richard E. Frye, Janet Cakir, Shannon Rose, Raymond F. Palmer, Christine Austin, Paul Curtin, Manish Arora
Summary: The mitochondrion plays a crucial role in the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with many prenatal environmental factors affecting mitochondrial function. Research has linked prenatal environmental exposures to long-term changes in mitochondrial physiology in children with ASD. Understanding the role of mitochondria in the etiology of ASD can lead to targeted therapeutics and strategies for prevention.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Yuri V. Chaban, Jan Vosshenrich, Hayley Mckee, Suvai Gunasekaran, Maura J. Brown, Michael K. Atalay, Tobias Heye, Michael Markl, Sean A. Woolen, Orlando P. Simonetti, Kate Hanneman
Summary: The environmental impact of MRI is a growing concern due to its high electricity demand and contamination of water bodies with anthropogenic gadolinium. It is essential to address these challenges and prepare for climate change effects to improve the environmental sustainability of MRI. Strategies to reduce GHG emissions, minimize environmental impact, and develop adaption plans are discussed, emphasizing the co-benefits of these approaches. Continued research, technical development, and collaboration with industry partners are necessary to further reduce emissions and reliance on finite resources.
JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Stephanie Raymann, Sina M. Schalbetter, Ron Schaer, Alexandra C. Bernhardt, Flavia S. Mueller, Urs Meyer, Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
Summary: Prenatal immune activation can have transgenerational effects on brain and behavior, affecting cognitive functions and gene expression patterns across multiple generations. These effects are found to be transmitted through both maternal and paternal lineages and are accompanied by changes in maternal care behavior.
Article
Neurosciences
Fan Huang, Peng Xia, Varut Vardhanabhuti, Sai-Kam Hui, Kui-Kai Lau, Henry Ka-Fung Mak, Peng Cao
Summary: This study proposed a new loss function called level-set loss (LSLoss) for cerebral white matter hyperintensities segmentation. By training a V-Net using MRI images, the method achieved high dice similarity coefficients on various testing sets.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Felisa Herrero, Flavia S. Mueller, Joel Gruchot, Patrick Kuery, Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer, Urs Meyer
Summary: This study suggests that maternal immune activation (MIA), an environmental risk factor, can lead to altered expression of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), which may be associated with the development of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Joel Gruchot, Felisa Herrero, Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer, Urs Meyer, Patrick Kuery
Summary: Human endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are retroviral elements integrated into our genome through germline infections and insertions, and have been implicated in the pathophysiology of various disorders, particularly those affecting the central nervous system. Increasing evidence suggests that the induction and expression of ERVs are associated with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, and a common factor in these disorders is the presence of chronic inflammation. This review discusses the bidirectional relationship between ERV expression and inflammation, and identifies several pathways that contribute to this relationship.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Sunniva Fenn-Moltu, Sean P. Fitzgibbon, Judit Ciarrusta, Michael Eyre, Lucilio Cordero-Grande, Andrew Chew, Shona Falconer, Oliver Gale-Grant, Nicholas Harper, Ralica Dimitrova, Katy Vecchiato, Daphna Fenchel, Ayesha Javed, Megan Earl, Anthony N. Price, Emer Hughes, Eugene P. Duff, Jonathan O'Muircheartaigh, Chiara Nosarti, Tomoki Arichi, Daniel Rueckert, Serena Counsell, Joseph Hajnal, A. David Edwards, Grainne McAlonan, Dafnis Batalle
Summary: The formation of the functional connectome in early life is crucial for future learning and behavior. However, our understanding of how the functional organization of brain regions matures during the early postnatal period, especially in response to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes like preterm birth, is limited. In this study involving 366 neonates, we found that functional centrality (weighted degree) increased with age in visual regions and decreased in motor and auditory regions in term-born infants. Preterm-born infants scanned at term equivalent age showed higher functional centrality in visual regions and lower measures in motor regions. Functional centrality did not predict neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months old.
Review
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Edward S. Hui
Summary: There is a need to improve our understanding of poststroke recovery in order to develop better rehabilitation interventions and clinical management for stroke patients. Previous investigations have focused on the relationship between brain functional connections and post-stroke deficits and recovery, but the static anatomical brain connections may provide better alternatives to functional MRI-based biomarkers. This review provides an overview of two recently proposed advanced diffusion MRI techniques that can be useful for studying stroke recovery, as well as other emerging techniques that require further investigation.
JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Jack Jiaqi Zhang, Dalinda Isabel Sanchez Vidana, Jackie Ngai-Man Chan, Edward S. K. Hui, Kui Kai Lau, Xin Wang, Benson W. M. Lau, Kenneth N. K. Fong
Summary: This study aimed to review potential biomarkers that can predict poststroke functional recovery. Neurophysiological measurements, neuroimaging, and a wide variety of molecules have been used as prognostic biomarkers. Future studies may incorporate a combination of multiple biomarkers and develop algorithms using data mining methods to predict the recovery potential of patients after stroke more accurately.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Xiaoxi Liu, Shihui Chen, Di Cui, Edward S. Hui, Queenie Chan, Nan-Kuei Chen, Hing-Chiu Chang
Summary: This study proposes a robust 2D Nyquist ghost correction method for multi-band interleaved EPI without reference scan. The method directly measures the 2D phase errors between positive and negative echoes from the multi-band interleaved EPI data and corrects them using the MUSE framework. The proposed method successfully suppresses ghost artifacts and improves the SNR and GSR performance in various imaging scenarios.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Anina S. von Arx, Kara Dawson, Han-Yu Lin, Daniele Mattei, Tina Notter, Urs Meyer, Sina M. Schalbetter
Summary: The prefrontal cortex (PFC) in the brain plays an important role in cognitive processes and matures throughout adolescence to early adulthood. Recent research using a mouse model shows that microglia, a type of brain cell, contribute to the maturation of the PFC in males. This study aimed to investigate whether microglia have a similar role in the maturation of the female PFC. The findings demonstrate that transient depletion of microglia during a specific window of adolescence disrupts cognitive functions and synaptic structures in the female PFC.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Martina Arenella, Rugile Matuleviciute, Ryad Tamouza, Marion Leboyer, Grainne Mcalonan, Janita Bralten, Declan Murphy
Summary: The article discusses the genetic factors underlying autism spectrum disorder (ASD), highlighting the role of the immune system and its genetic regulators. Through a systematic review of previous studies, the researchers identified immune genes relevant to ASD and found that these genes not only regulate immune function but also control neurodevelopment processes. The findings suggest that perturbations in immune genes may contribute to ASD by affecting typical neurodevelopment trajectories.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Siofra Heraty, Alexandra Lautarescu, David Belton, Alison Boyle, Pietro Cirrincione, Mary Doherty, Sarah Douglas, Jan Roderik Derk Plas, Katrien Van Den Bosch, Pierre Violland, Jerneja Tercon, Amber Ruigrok, Declan G. M. Murphy, Thomas Bourgeron, Christopher Chatham, Eva Loth, Bethany Oakley, Grainne M. Mcalonan, Tony Charman, Nicolaas Puts, Louise Gallagher, Emily J. H. Jones
Summary: A change in research culture is needed to improve the relationship between autistic people and the biomedical research community. Through participatory research, we can reject negative perceptions of autism and work towards a shared vision that embraces neurodiversity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joel Gruchot, Isabel Lewen, Michael Dietrich, Laura Reiche, Mustafa Sindi, Christina Hecker, Felisa Herrero, Benjamin Charvet, Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer, Hans-Peter Hartung, Philipp Albrecht, Herve Perron, Urs Meyer, Patrick Kuery
Summary: The encoded envelope protein of human endogenous retrovirus type W (HERV-W) interferes with myelin repair and contributes to cell damage in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to recent research.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Ryad Tamouza, Urs Meyer, Alexandre Lucas, Jean Romain Richard, Irene Nkam, Armand Pinot, Ndilyam Djonouma, Wahid Boukouaci, Benjamin Charvet, Justine Pierquin, Joanna Brunel, Slim Fourati, Christophe Rodriguez, Caroline Barau, Philippe Le Corvoisier, Kawtar El Abdellati, Livia De Picker, Herve Perron, Marion Leboyer
Summary: Epidemiological studies have shown a link between certain infections and an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders. These infections can activate retro-transposable genetic elements (HERV), which in turn impact immune receptors and synaptic plasticity. Recent research has found an association between the HERV-W ENV protein and pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The COVID-19 pandemic's influence on patients with psychosis spectrum disorders (PSD) was investigated, revealing a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in PSD patients, with HERV-W ENV detected only in seropositive individuals. SARS-CoV-2 infection and HERV-W ENV positivity were found to co-cluster with high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in psychotic patients. These findings suggest a dominant influence of the virus on HERV-W ENV and cytokine expression, and the need for further investigation into the interplay between viral infection and the clinical evolution of PSD patients.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Qiyun Huang, Hester Velthuis, Andreia C. Pereira, Jumana Ahmad, Samuel F. Cooke, Claire L. Ellis, Francesca M. Ponteduro, Nicolaas A. J. Puts, Mihail Dimitrov, Dafnis Batalle, Nichol M. L. Wong, Lukasz Kowalewski, Glynis Ivin, Eileen Daly, Declan G. M. Murphy, Grainne M. Mcalonan
Summary: This study evaluated the role of GABA in auditory repetition suppression in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The results showed weaker suppression of auditory responses in individuals with ASD, but this suppression could be reversed by treatment with arbaclofen, a GABA receptor agonist. These findings suggest that GABA dysfunction contributes to alterations in auditory sensory processing in ASD and targeting GABA activity may be a potential therapeutic approach.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Martina Arenella, Giuseppe Fanelli, Lambertus A. Kiemeney, Grainne Mcalonan, Declan G. Murphy, Janita Bralten
Summary: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common and complex neurodevelopmental condition. The pathophysiology of ASD is poorly defined, but a strong genetic component and immune dysregulation are believed to play a role. This study found a positive correlation between ASD and allergic diseases (ALG), but negative correlations with lymphocyte count, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Additionally, specific genetic loci related to RA, C-reactive protein, and granulocytes and lymphocyte counts were found to be correlated with ASD. In the general population, increased genetic liability for SLE, RA, ALG, and lymphocyte levels was associated with autistic traits, particularly rigidity and childhood behavior.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR & IMMUNITY-HEALTH
(2023)