Body Composition and Cardiovascular Risk: A Study of Polish Military Flying Personnel.

(1) Background: Military personnel worldwide exhibit high rates of obesity. Obesity, and especially visceral obesity, contribute to various health issues, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). While BMI is commonly used to diagnose obesity, it has limitations and does not consider factors like fat distribution or muscle mass. This study aims to assess the relationship between BMI, percent body fat, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and cardiovascular risk factors in Polish military flying personnel. Methods: This study involved 200 men from the Polish Air Force aged 38.8 ± 8.5 years. Anthropometric tests, body composition tests, and tests of biochemical markers of CVD were conducted. (2) Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity varied based on the evaluation criterion; they were present in 63.5% of soldiers by BMI and in 52.5% by percent body fat; abdominal obesity was present in almost half (47%) of the surveyed soldiers according to WC and in 62.5% according to WHtR. All markers of obesity correlated positively with various biochemical markers of CVD, and 8.5% of subjects met the criteria for metabolic syndrome. (3) Conclusions: The prevalence of obesity in Polish military flying personnel, regardless of the evaluation criterion, is associated with significant metabolic complications in the form of lipid disorders and insulin resistance.

Increased brain 1H-MRS glutamate and lactate signals following maximal aerobic capacity exercise in young healthy males: an exploratory study.

Physical exercise involves increased neuronal activity of many brain structures, but 1H-MRS investigations on the effects of human brain glutamate (Glu) concentrations on acute exercise have been sparse. Previous studies consistently found increases in brain lactate (Lac) concentrations following graded exercise up to 85% of the predicted maximal heart rate. However, the reported effects on brain concentrations of glutamine and glutamate were not consistent. This study aimed to determine the effect of acute intense graded maximal exercise on 1H-MRS signals related to concentrations of Glu, glutamate+glutamine (Glx), and Lac. Young adult males were randomly divided into two groups and subjected to 1H-MRS when resting (NE) or shortly after cessation of the intense graded exercise intended to pass the anaerobic threshold (E). 1H-MRS spectra were acquired from the large voxel encompassing the occipito-parietal cortex only once. Estimates of Glu, Glx, and Lac concentrations were calculated in institutional units by normalizing to a spectroscopic signal originating from creatine-containing compounds (Cr). Concentrations of Glu, Glx, and Lac were respectively 11%, 12.6%, and 48.5% higher in E than in NE (p < 0.001). The increased brain Lac signal in the exercising group indicated that in our experiment, vigorous exercise resulted in passing the anaerobic threshold and lactate apparently entered the brain. Concomitantly glutamate-related resonance signals from the vicinity of the occipito-parietal cortex were significantly increased; physiological mechanisms underlying these phenomena require further study. Future studies should evaluate whether the normalization rate of these concentrations is a marker of general physical fitness.

Recognition and Processing of Visual Information after Neuronavigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Session.

BACKGROUND: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a method of noninvasive and painless stimulation of the nervous system, which is based on Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. Over the past twenty years, the TMS technique has been deployed as a tool for the diagnosis and therapy of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as in the treatment of mental disorders (e.g., depression). METHODS: We tested the inhibitory effects of repetitive TMS (rTMS) on reaction times to militarily relevant visual stimuli amidst distractors and on accompanying blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 20 healthy people. rTMS was applied over the visual cortices, V1, on both hemispheres with the inhibitory theta burst paradigm with the intensity of 70% of the active motor threshold fMRI in 20 healthy people. RESULTS: Analysis of the reaction time to visual stimuli after using TMS to the V1 visual cortex revealed an increase in the number of incorrect recognitions, and the reaction time was from 843 to 910 ms. In the subgroup of participants (n = 15), after the stimulation, there were significant reductions of BOLD signal in blood flow within V1 cortices. CONCLUSIONS: The studies of reaction times after the rTMS revealed the inhibitory effect of rTMS on the reaction times and recognition performance of significant (military) objects in the visual field.

Assessment of Risk Factors for Development of Overweight and Obesity among Soldiers of Polish Armed Forces Participating in the National Health Programme 2016-2020.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Polish Armed Forces soldiers and to analyze risk factors impacting body mass. In total, 1096 male, Caucasian soldiers (36.31 ± 8.03 years) participated in this study. Anthropometric data were obtained, and questionnaires evaluated sociodemographic, environmental, behavioral and biological factors known to be associated with obesity. Only 33% of the total number of participants had normal body weight, and 17.3% were considered obese (according to WHO criteria). The results showed that being 40 years or older, sleeping six hours or less per day, more frequent reaching for food in stressful situations, having a mother with excessive body weight, not exercising or exercising at most two days per week, and spending two hours a day or more in front of the TV increase the risk of obesity. Taken together, the results show that factors such as family history of obesity, dietary habits, physical activity, length of sleep and ability to cope with stress could be used to identify soldiers at higher risk of developing obesity in order to provide them with personalized prevention programs.

Gray matter volume increases induced by intragastric balloon treatment and their associations with neuroinflammation: A magnetic resonance study.

OBJECTIVE: We simultaneously performed structural MRI, 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and whole-body hydration status assessment to evaluate brain changes in patients with morbid obesity treated with intra-gastric balloon (IGB) for six months. We asked, if changes in myo-inositol ratios (marker of neuroinflammation) are related to brain volume increases accompanying IGB-induced weight loss. METHODS: Twenty five patients with morbid obesity (OB, 43.9 ± 11.8 years, BMI = 49.1 ± 7.2, 12 females, 9 without co-morbid conditions) were treated with IGB for six months. They underwent magnetic resonance imaging at 3T one month before IGB insertion, three months after insertion (N = 19), and one month after IGB removal (N = 14). RESULTS: Insertion of IGB lead to 8.9% and 12.3% weight reduction over the first three months and over the entire treatment, respectively. Over the entire treatment, total gray matter volume increased by 2.0% (p = 0.009). These changes were mostly pronounced in the left precuneus and in the right frontal pole (>1.9%, p < 0.009). The increases in cortical volume in the right hemisphere and the left posterior cingulate cortical thickness over the entire treatment were significantly related to decreases in myo-inositol ratios measured over the first three months of the treatment (r < -0.740, p < 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: IGB treatment lead to brain structural improvements consistent with earlier studies of bariatric patients without co-morbid conditions. Our results also pointed to improvements in brain regions, where atrophy in other studies was related to type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The correlations point to neuroinflammation as one of the potential processes behind brain volume reductions in patients with morbid obesity.

Correction to: Real Life Changes in Physical Activity due to Intragastric Balloon Therapy and their Relationship to Improving Cognitive Functions: Preliminary Findings.

In the original article sections of the text include the term "(BLINDED)" rather than the correct text.

Real Life Changes in Physical Activity Due to Intragastric Balloon Therapy and Their Relationship to Improving Cognitive Functions: Preliminary Findings.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated if the intragastric balloon (IGB) treatment leads to the increase in physical activity (PA) and whether they are related to cognitive improvements. METHODS: Fourteen morbidly obese patients (151 ± 24 kg, BMI = 51.8 ± 6.5, 107 ± 26% excess weight, 43.3 ± 10.6 years) underwent 6-day-long, uninterrupted evaluations of PA 1 month before IGB insertion and 1 month after its removal. RESULTS: Active energy expenditure and physical activity duration increased by more than 80% (p < 0.001) whereas the number of steps per day by 20% (p = 0.016). There was a pattern of relationships between cognitive improvements and increases in PA (p < 0.05). In particular, working memory improvements correlated with the increase in time spent on light physical activities (r = 0.673, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: The relationships suggest that an increase in physical activity mediates cognitive improvements in bariatric patients.

Changes in resting metabolic rate and body composition due to intragastric balloon therapy.

BACKGROUND: Intragastric balloon (IGB) insertion leads to dietary restriction; however, its neurohormonal actions were also described. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) adjusted for body mass (RMR/mass) seems to increase after bariatric interventions, whereas it generally decreases after caloric restriction-based therapies. However, no studies have evaluated the changes in body composition and RMR over IGB treatment. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationships between changes in body composition, RMR, RMR/mass, and RMR adjusted for fat-free mass (FFM) (RMR/FFM) over IGB treatment lasting 6 months. SETTING: Single-center observational study. METHODS: Twenty-one morbidly obese patients treated with IGB (143 ± 20 kg, body mass index [BMI] = 49.5 ± 7.3, 98% ± 29% percent excess weight, 43.6 ± 12.6 yr) were enrolled. Changes in body composition, RMR, RMR/mass, and RMR/FFM were evaluated between 1 month before IGB insertion (time point 1 [TP1]) and 3 months thereafter (TP2). Fourteen patients were also assessed 1 month after IGB removal (TP3). RESULTS: There was a 9.5% reduction in weight, a 9.4% reduction in BMI, and 19.1% decrease in percent excess weight at TP2 (n = 21; P < .001); a further 6.5% reduction in weight and BMI and a 13.1% drop in percent excess weight (n = 14, P < .001) at TP3. They were accompanied by a 5.4% reduction in FFM between TP1 and TP2 (n = 21, P < .001). Compared with pretreatment values, at TP2 RMR was 12.5% lower (P < .001) but did not change thereafter. RMR/mass increased 12.4% between TP2 and TP3 (n = 14, P = .02) but on average did not change between TP1 and TP3. The results in the smaller cohort (n = 14) between TP1 and TP2 were consistent with results obtained for the entire cohort. Similar findings were obtained for RMR/FFM. The larger increases in RMR/mass between TP1 and TP3 were associated with more weight loss, larger drop in BMI, and more loss of excess weight (r < -.55, P < .03). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to evaluate the relationship between changes in body composition and RMR over IGB treatment. IGB therapy leads to both fat and fat-free mass reductions and RMR decreases. More weight reduction is associated with larger increases in RMR/mass.

Intragastric balloon therapy leads to normalization of brain magnetic resonance spectroscopic markers of diabetes in morbidly obese patients.

Elevated brain myo-inositol (m-Ins) concentration (a putative marker of neuroinflammation) has been reported in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Obesity alone and T2DM have been found to be associated with a lower concentration of N-acetyloaspartate and N-acetylaspartylglutamate (tNAA, a marker of neuronal integrity, reflecting neuronal loss or metabolic derangement). It is not clear if these changes reverse with weight loss. The intra-gastric balloon (IGB) is an endoscopic bariatric therapy that leads to massive weight loss and improvement of glycemic control. In this study we evaluated if tNAA/tCr and m-Ins/tCr metabolite ratios are affected by weight loss, where tCr is the signal of creatine containing compounds. Twenty-three morbidly obese patients, 12 of them with T2DM (OD) and 11 without T2DM (OB), as well as 11 healthy controls of normal weight (CON), underwent single voxel spectroscopy at 3 T. Spectra were obtained within a region in the left parietal white matter one month before IGB insertion, three months after IGB insertion, and one month after IGB removal. Before IGB insertion, m-Ins/tCr was 15% higher in OD than in OB (p = 0.005) and 12% higher in OD than in CON (p = 0.03). m-Ins/tCr decreased significantly by 8% over the first three months after IGB insertion (p = 0.01) and remained normal after IGB removal. tNAA/tCr was normal in all groups throughout the study, pointing to normal brain metabolism. Normalization of m-Ins/tCr is consistent with remission of neuroinflammation in patients with T2DM. An evaluation of long-term effects of IGB treatment is necessary.

Gastric Ulcer Hemorrhage - a Potential Life-Threatening Complication of Intragastric Balloon Treatment of Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Some morbidly obese patients do not qualify for bariatric surgery due to general health contraindications. Intragastric balloon treatment might be a therapeutic option in the above-mentioned cases. It can prime super-obese patients with end-stage disease for bariatric surgery. As a neoadjuvant therapy before surgery, it leads to a downstage of the disease by preliminary weight reduction, to an improvement in general health and, in summary, to a reduction of the perioperative risk. It is generally considered to be a safe method. However, due to the wide range of possible complications and unusual symptoms after intragastric balloon treatment, an interdisciplinary, instead of only a surgical or endoscopic, treatment and follow-up might be recommended in these patients. CASE REPORT: We here describe a potential life-threatening complication in the form of gastric bleeding as a consequence of intragastric balloon treatment and simultaneous aspirin taking and Helicobacter pylori infection. CONCLUSION: There have been reports of some complications of intragastric balloon treatment. However, to the best of our knowledge there were no reports concerning life-threatening hemorrhage from gastric ulcer.

Regional brain volume changes in alcohol-dependent individuals during early abstinence: associations with relapse following treatment.

Cross-sectional structural magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies of individuals with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) report that those who relapse after treatment, relative to individuals who maintain a period of extended abstinence, show greater morphological abnormalities in multiple brain regions near the inception of treatment, particularly in the frontal lobe. However, given the cross-sectional design of previous studies, it is unclear if the baseline morphological differences between future abstainers and relapsers were maintained over the course of early recovery. The primary goal of this study was to determine if frontal lobe tissue volume recovery during early abstinence is associated with long-term abstinence from alcohol. We compared frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes, at 1 and 4 weeks of abstinence, among individuals who resumed alcohol consumption within 12 months of treatment (Relapsers) and those who showed sustained abstinence over 12 months following treatment (Abstainers). At 1 and 4 weeks of sobriety, both Abstainers and Relapsers demonstrated significantly smaller GM volumes than Controls in the majority of ROIs, but Relapsers exhibited significantly smaller bilateral frontal GM volumes than Abstainers. No significant group differences were observed for any WM region of interest. The persistent bilateral frontal GM volume deficits in Relapsers over 4 weeks from last alcohol use may represent an endophenotype that differentiates those who respond more favorably to the typical psychosocial and pharmacological interventions provided for AUD.

Long-Term Consumption of High-Fat Diet in Rats: Effects on Microglial and Astrocytic Morphology and Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression.

Obesity in humans is associated with cognitive decline and elevated risk of neurodegenerative diseases of old age. Variations of high-fat diet are often used to model these effects in animal studies. However, we previously reported improvements in markers of memory and learning, as well as larger hippocampi and higher metabolite concentrations in Wistar rats fed high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet (HFCD, 60 % energy from fat, 28 % from carbohydrates) for 1 year; this diet leads to mild ketonemia (Setkowicz et al. in PLoS One 10:e0139987, 2015). In the present study, we follow up on this cohort to assess glial morphology and expression of markers related to gliosis. Twenty-five male Wistar rats were kept on HFCD and twenty-five on normal chow. At 12 months of age, the animals were sacrificed and processed for immunohistochemical staining for astrocytic (glial fibrillary acidic protein), microglial (Iba1), and neuronal (neuronal nitric oxide synthetase, nNOS) markers in the hippocampus. We have found changes in immunopositive area fraction and cellular complexity, as studied by a simplified Sholl procedure. To our knowledge, this study is the first to apply this methodology to the study of glial cells in HFCD animals. GFAP and Iba1 immunoreactive area fraction in the hippocampi of HFCD-fed rats were decreased, while the mean number of intersections (an indirect measure of cell complexity) was decreased in GFAP-positive astrocytes, but not in Iba1-expressing microglia. At the same time, nNOS expression was lowered after HFCD in both the cortex and the hippocampus.

Hypoxia and Coriolis Illusion in Pilots During Simulated Flight.

INTRODUCTION: Pilots' vision and flight performance may be impeded by spatial disorientation and high altitude hypoxia. The Coriolis illusion affects both orientation and vision. However, the combined effect of simultaneous Coriolis illusion and hypoxia on saccadic eye movement has not been evaluated. METHOD: A simulated flight was performed by 14 experienced pilots under 3 conditions: once under normal oxygen partial pressure and twice under reduced oxygen partial pressures, reflecting conditions at 5000 m and 6000 m (16,404 and 19,685 ft), respectively. Eye movements were evaluated with a saccadometer. RESULTS: At normal oxygen pressure, Coriolis illusion resulted in 55% and 31% increases in mean saccade amplitude and duration, respectively, but a 32% increase in mean saccade frequency was only noted for saccades smaller than the angular distance between cockpit instruments, suggesting an increase in the number of correction saccades. At lower oxygen pressures a pronounced increase in the standard deviation of all measures was noticed; however, the pattern of changes remained unchanged. DISCUSSION: Simple measures of saccadic movement are not affected by short-term hypoxia, most likely due to compensatory mechanisms.

Chronic Cigarette Smoking in Healthy Middle-Aged Individuals Is Associated With Decreased Regional Brain N-acetylaspartate and Glutamate Levels.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking is associated with metabolite abnormalities in anterior brain regions, but it is unclear if these abnormalities are apparent in other regions. Additionally, relationships between regional brain metabolite levels and measures of decision making, risk taking, and impulsivity in smokers and nonsmokers have not been investigated. METHODS: In young to middle-aged (predominately male) nonsmokers (n = 30) and smokers (n = 35), N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds, creatine-containing compounds (Cr), myo-inositol (mI), and glutamate (Glu) levels in the anterior cingulate cortex and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) were compared via 4-tesla proton single volume magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Groups also were compared on NAA, choline-containing compounds, Cr, and mI concentrations in the gray matter and white matter of the four cerebral lobes and subcortical nuclei/regions with 1.5-tesla proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Associations of regional metabolite levels with neurocognitive, decision-making, risk-taking, and self-reported impulsivity measures were examined. RESULTS: Smokers showed lower DLPFC NAA, Cr, mI and Glu concentrations and lower lenticular nuclei NAA level; smokers also demonstrated greater age-related decreases of DLPFC NAA and anterior cingulate cortex and DLPFC Glu levels. Smokers exhibited poorer decision making and greater impulsivity. Across the sample, higher NAA and Glu in the DLPFC and NAA concentrations in multiple lobar gray matter and white matter regions and subcortical nuclei were associated with better neurocognition and lower impulsivity. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides additional novel evidence that chronic smoking in young and middle-aged individuals is associated with significant age-related neurobiological abnormalities in anterior frontal regions implicated in the development and maintenance of addictive disorders.

[The prevalence of overweight and obesity vs. the level of physical activity of aviation military academy students]. / Czestosc wystepowania nadwagi i otylosci u studentów lotniczej uczelni wojskowej a poziom ich aktywnosci fizycznej.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate overweight, obesity and the level of physical activity in the study group of 100 cadets of the Air Force Military Academy in Deblin (WSOSP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Evaluation of overweight and obesity was based on body mass index (BMI) and body fat content. An accelerometer AiperMotion 500TM was used to measure the level of physical activity. There were marked such parameters as the average daily energy consumption, the average distance covered during the day and the whole week and the indicator of physical activity level (PAL). RESULTS: Based on BMI indicators, 71.3% of the cadets had normal body weight, 25.3% were overweight and 3.4% were obese. Assessment of nutritional status showed significant differences between the 1st and 2nd vs. the 4th and 5th years of study. Normal BMI values showed 88% of the 1st and 2nd year students, while of the 4th and 5th years - only 48.6% (p < 0.05). Based on the body fat content, obesity was found only in a group of older students (16.2%) and overweight was 10 times higher in the 4th and 5th years (21.6%) in comparison to younger students (2%). The average distance covered during the day or during the whole week was significantly higher in the 1st and 2nd year students. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to implement appropriate measures in the field of nutrition and physical activity to prevent the development of excessive body weight during studies among the military cadets of the Air Force Military Academy in Deblin.

Does Long-Term High Fat Diet Always Lead to Smaller Hippocampi Volumes, Metabolite Concentrations, and Worse Learning and Memory? A Magnetic Resonance and Behavioral Study in Wistar Rats.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a worldwide epidemic with more than 600 million affected individuals. Human studies have demonstrated some alterations in brains of otherwise healthy obese individuals and elevated risk of neurodegenerative disease of old age; these studies have also pointed to slightly diminished memory and executive functions among healthy obese individuals. Similar findings were obtained in animal models of obesity induced by high fat diet. On the other hand, low carbohydrate high fat diets are currently promoted for losing weight (e.g., Atkin's style diets). However, the long-term effects of such diets are not known. Additionally, high fat diets leading to (mild) ketonemia were shown to improve brain function in elderly humans and in some animal models. AIM: To evaluate the hypothesis that long-term use of a high fat diet was associated with decreases in spatial memory, smaller hippocampi and hippocampi metabolite concentrations in Wistar rats. METHODS: Twenty five male Wistar rats were put on high fat diet (HFD; 60% calories from fat, 30% from carbohydrates) on their 55th day of life, while 25 control male rats (CONs) remained on chow. Adequate levels of essential nutrients were provided. Both groups underwent memory tests in 8-arm radial maze at 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th month. 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy was employed to measure concentrations of tNAA (marker of neuronal integrity) at one month and one year, whereas MRI was used to evaluate hippocampal volumes. RESULTS: Obese rats (OBRs) consumed similar amount of calories as CONs, but less proteins. However, their protein intake was within recommended amounts. Throughout the experiment OBRs had statistically higher concentrations of blood ketone bodies than CONs, but still within normal values. At post-mortem assessment, OBRs had 38% larger fat deposits than CONs (p<0.05), as evaluated by volume of epididymis fat, an acknowledged marker of fat deposits in rats. Contrary to our expectations, OBRs had better scores of memory behavioral tasks than CONs throughout the experiment. At one year, their hippocampi were by 2.6% larger than in CONs (p = 0.05), whereas concentration of tNAA was 9.8% higher (p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: Long-term HFD in our study resulted in better memory, larger hippocampal volumes, as well as higher hippocampal metabolite concentrations, possibly due to increased levels of blood ketone bodies. The results should be interpreted with caution, as results from animal models do not necessarily directly translate in human condition.

Serial longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging data indicate non-linear regional gray matter volume recovery in abstinent alcohol-dependent individuals.

The trajectory of regional volume changes during the first year of sustained abstinence in those recovering from an alcohol use disorder is unclear because previous research typically employed only two assessment points. To better understand the trajectory of regional brain volume recovery in treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent individuals (ALC), regional brain volumes were measured after 1 week, 1 month and 7.5 months of sustained abstinence via magnetic resonance imaging at 1.5 T. ALC showed significant volume increases in frontal, parietal and occipital gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM), total cortical GM and total lobar WM, thalamus and cerebellum, and decreased ventricular volume over 7.5 months of abstinence. Volume increases in regional GM were significantly greater over 1 week to 1 month than from 1 month to 7.5 months of abstinence, indicating a non-linear rate of change in regional GM over 7.5 months. Overall, regional lobar WM showed linear volume increases over 7.5 months. With increasing age, smoking ALC showed lower frontal and total cortical GM volume recovery than non-smoking ALC. Despite significant volume increases, ALC showed smaller GM volumes in all regions, except the frontal cortex, than controls after 7.5 months of abstinence. ALC and controls showed no regional WM volume differences at any assessment point. In non-smoking ALC only, increasing regional GM and WM volumes were related to improving processing speed. Findings may indicate a differential rate of recovery of cell types/cellular components contributing to GM and WM volume during early abstinence, and that GM volume deficits persist after 7.5 months of sustained sobriety in this ALC cohort.

Structural brain differences in alcohol-dependent individuals with and without comorbid substance dependence.

BACKGROUND: Over 50% of individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUD) also use other substances; brain structural abnormalities observed in alcohol dependent individuals may not be entirely related to alcohol consumption. This MRI study assessed differences in brain regional tissue volumes between short-term abstinent alcohol dependent individuals without (ALC) and with current substance use dependence (polysubstance users, PSU). METHODS: Nineteen, one-month-abstinent PSU and 40 ALC as well as 27 light-drinkers (LD) were studied on a 1.5 T MR system. Whole brain T1-weighted images were segmented automatically into regional gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volumes. MANOVA assessed group differences of intracranial volume-normalized tissue volumes of the frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes and regional subcortical GM volumes. The volumetric measures were correlated with neurocognitive measures to assess their functional relevance. RESULTS: Despite similar lifetime drinking and smoking histories, PSU had significantly larger normalized WM volumes than ALC in all lobes. PSU also had larger frontal and parietal WM volumes than LD, but smaller temporal GM volumes and smaller lenticular and thalamic nuclei than LD. ALC had smaller frontal, parietal, and temporal GM, thalamic GM and cerebellar volumes than LD. ALC had more sulcal CSF volumes than both PSU and LD. CONCLUSION: One-month-abstinent ALC and PSU exhibited different patterns of gross brain structural abnormalities. The larger lobar WM volumes in PSU in the absence of widespread GM volume loss contrast with widespread GM atrophy in ALC. These structural differences may demand different treatment approaches to mitigate specific functionally relevant brain abnormalities.

Interactive effects of chronic cigarette smoking and age on brain volumes in controls and alcohol-dependent individuals in early abstinence.

Chronic alcohol-use disorders (AUDs) have been shown to interact with normal age-related volume loss to exacerbate brain atrophy with increasing age. However, chronic cigarette smoking, a highly co-morbid condition in AUD and its influence on age-related brain atrophy have not been evaluated. We performed 1.5 T quantitative magnetic resonance imaging in non-smoking controls [non-smoking light drinking controls (nsCONs); n = 54], smoking light drinking controls (sCONs, n = 34), and one-week abstinent, treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent (ALC) non-smokers (nsALCs, n = 35) and smokers (sALCs, n = 43), to evaluate the independent and interactive effects of alcohol dependence and chronic smoking on regional cortical and subcortical brain volumes, emphasizing the brain reward/executive oversight system (BREOS). The nsCONs and sALCs showed greater age-related volume losses than the nsALCs in the dorsal prefrontal cortex (DPFC), total cortical BREOS, superior parietal lobule and putamen. The nsALCs and sALCs demonstrated smaller volumes than the nsCONs in most cortical region of interests (ROIs). The sCONs had smaller volumes than the nsCONs in the DPFC, insula, inferior parietal lobule, temporal pole/parahippocampal region and all global cortical measures. The nsALCs and sALCs had smaller volumes than the sCONs in the DPFC, superior temporal gyrus, inferior and superior parietal lobules, precuneus and all global cortical measures. Volume differences between the nsALCs and sALCs were observed only in the putamen. Alcohol consumption measures were not related to volumes in any ROI for ALC; smoking severity measures were related to corpus callosum volume in the sCONs and sALCs. The findings indicate that consideration of smoking status is necessary for a better understanding of the factors contributing to regional brain atrophy in AUD.

Chronic cigarette smoking in alcohol dependence: associations with cortical thickness and N-acetylaspartate levels in the extended brain reward system.

Chronic smoking in alcohol dependence is associated with abnormalities in brain morphology and metabolite levels in large lobar regions (e.g. frontal lobe). Here, we evaluated if these abnormalities are specifically apparent in several cortical and select subcortical components of the extended brain reward system (BRS), a network that is critically involved in the development and maintenance of all forms of addictive disorders. We studied 33 non-smoking and 43 smoking alcohol-dependent individuals (ALC) with 1 week of abstinence and 42 non-smoking Controls. At 1.5 Tesla, we obtained regional measures of cortical thickness and N-acetylaspartate (NAA; a surrogate marker of neuronal integrity) concentration in major components of the BRS as well as the corresponding measures throughout the cortex. Smoking ALC and non-smoking ALC demonstrated decreased thickness compared with Controls in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), insula, orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), the total BRS, total frontal cortex and global cortex. Smoking ALC had significantly decreased thickness compared to non-smoking ALC in the ACC, insula, the total BRS and total frontal cortex. Smoking ALC had also lower NAA concentrations than both non-smoking ALC and Controls in the DLPFC, insula, superior corona radiata and the total BRS. Alcohol consumption and common medical and psychiatric co-morbidities did not mediate differences between smoking and non-smoking ALC. This dual modality magnetic resonance (MR) study indicated that chronic smoking in ALC was associated with significant cortical thinning and NAA abnormalities in anterior brain regions that are implicated in the development and maintenance of addictive disorders.