Regional GABA levels modulate abnormal resting-state network functional connectivity and cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis.

More evidence shows that changes in functional connectivity with regard to brain networks and neurometabolite levels correlated to cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis. However, the neurological basis underlying the relationship among neurometabolite levels, functional connectivity, and cognitive impairment remains unclear. For this purpose, we used a combination of magnetic resonance spectroscopy and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to study gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate concentrations in the posterior cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex and left hippocampus, and inter-network functional connectivity in 29 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients and 34 matched healthy controls. Neuropsychological tests were used to evaluate the cognitive function. We found that relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients demonstrated significantly reduced gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate concentrations and aberrant functional connectivity involving cognitive-related networks compared to healthy controls, and both alterations were associated with specific cognition decline. Moreover, mediation analyses indicated that decremented hippocampus gamma-aminobutyric acid levels in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients mediated the association between inter-network functional connectivity in various components of default mode network and verbal memory deficits. In summary, our findings shed new lights on the essential function of GABAergic system abnormalities in regulating network dysconnectivity and functional connectivity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients, suggesting potential novel approach to treatment.

Evaluating changes in the strength of the levator ani muscle after vaginal delivery using T2-parameter mapping.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pelvic floor muscle injury in patients with levator ani muscle (LAM) weakness after vaginal delivery using T2-parameter mapping. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 40 parturients (patient group) and 25 nonparturients (healthy control group) were enrolled in the study. The LAM weakness group had a Modified Oxford Grading System (MOGS) grade of less than 3 after vaginal delivery. All participants underwent pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, including T2 and T2* mapping, on which the main branches of the LAM, the puborectalis and iliococcygeus, were evaluated. The differences in T2 and T2* values in the puborectalis and iliococcygeus between patients with LAM weakness and controls were analyzed using an independent samples t test or a Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: For both the right and left iliococcygeus, the T2* values of the patient group were lower than those of the control group (P = 0.002 and 0.008, respectively), while no significant difference was observed in the T2 values between the groups (P = 0.45 and 0.69, respectively). For both the right and left puborectalis, no significant differences in the T2* (P = 0.25 and P = 0.25, respectively) or T2 values (P = 0.38 and 0.43, respectively) were observed between the patient and control groups. CONCLUSION: T2* mapping as a quantitative measurement is an effective imaging tool to assess LAM injury in women after vaginal delivery. The iliococcygeus was more susceptible to vaginal delivery damage than the puborectalis, and pelvic floor dysfunction may be mainly driven by iliococcygeus injury.

Susceptibility-weighted imaging to evaluate normal and abnormal vertebrae in fetuses: A preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) in visualizing normal and abnormal fetal vertebrae in vivo and in utero. METHODS: Ninety-seven women with normal fetal vertebrae and 127 women suspected fetal vertebral anomalies on ultrasound were included in our study. SWI, true fast imaging with steady state precession (TrueFISP), and half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) of the fetal spine were performed on 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging. The image quality and diagnostic performance between HASTE/TrueFISP and SWI were compared. Pearson correlations to correlate the L1 centrum ossification center (COC) measurements with gestational age (GA) were performed. RESULTS: The visibility of the fetal vertebral structures on the SWI images (3.58 ± 0.69) was significantly greater than those on the HASTE (1.98 ± 0.51, p < 0.001) and TrueFISP (2.63 ± 0.52, p < 0.001). The diagnostic accuracy of SWI (89.0%) was superior to HASTE/TrueFISP (48.0%) (p < 0.001) and the area under the curve for SWI was 0.909 (p < 0.001). The height, transverse, sagittal diameter, and area of L1 COC were linearly correlated with GA (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: SWI proved to be a reliable method for depicting fetal vertebral structure and growth, which can significantly improve the diagnostic performance of vertebral anomalies in fetuses.

Use of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of fetal vertebral abnormalities in utero: a single-center retrospective cohort study.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used increasingly as an adjunct examination to ultrasound (US) for the evaluation of fetal anomalies. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the accuracy and confidence of diagnosing fetal vertebral anomalies are improved with MRI. We also assessed whether fetal MRI provides additional information when diagnosing fetal vertebral anomalies. Methods: We performed a single-center, retrospective study of 127 pregnant women with fetuses suspected of having vertebral anomalies on US examination; women also underwent fetal MRI scanning. Comparisons of diagnostic accuracy and confidence were made between MRI and US for the identification of fetal vertebral anomalies. We also assessed any additional information provided by MRI. McNemar's paired binomial test, chi-square test, or Fisher's exact test were used to compare the diagnostic ability between MRI and US. In all cases, postnatal or postmortem imaging findings were used as reference standards. Results: A total of 127 participants were recruited between December 2015 and January 2021. Fetal vertebral anomalies were detected in 63.8% (81/127) cases and found to be negative in 36.2% (46/127) of cases at follow up. The diagnostic accuracy of vertebral anomalies was 46.9% (38/81) for US and 84.0% (68/81) for MRI [difference, 37.1%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 27% to 48%; P<0.001]. Both MRI and US were concordant and correct in 36.2% (46/127) of fetuses; MRI provided additional information for 16.5% (21/127) of fetuses, and corrected US diagnoses of 36.2% (46/127) of fetuses; both MRI and US were not consistent with postnatal findings in 10.2% (13/127) of fetuses, and the remaining fetus (0.8%, 1/127) was diagnosed correctly using US but failed to be diagnosed by MRI. Diagnoses were reported with high confidence using MRI in 95.3% (121/127) of cases and 73.2% (93/127) using US. Conclusions: Fetal vertebral MRI improves the accuracy and confidence of diagnosing fetal vertebral anomalies. This finding indicates that fetal MRI supplements the information provided by US and that MRI may be a good complement in selected fetuses, when US can either not achieve a definite diagnosis or there is doubt regarding its reliability. Thus, MRI may be used to inform prenatal counseling and management decisions.

Gefitinib Versus Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Stage II-IIIA Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Harboring Positive EGFR Mutations: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: The superior efficacy of first-line treatment with gefitinib over that of standard chemotherapy was demonstrated in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring sensitive mutation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). However, scarce evidence showing the superiority of gefitinib to chemotherapy exists regarding the postoperative adjuvant therapy of EGFR mutation-positive patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC. To address this important gap, we undertook a retrospective study to assess the efficacy of adjuvant gefitinib versus adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in patients with completely resected EGFR-mutant stage II-IIIA NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 116 patients with completely resected II-IIIA NSCLC and confirmed positive EGFR mutation (exon 19 deletion or exon 21 Leu858Arg) between January 2013 and March 2017 were included in our study. Disease-free survival (DFS) was analyzed in 55 patients treated with gefitinib and 61 patients treated with a platinum-based 2-drug-combination AC. Propensity score matching allowed the generation of best matched pairs for the 2 categories (1:1 ratio). Factors affecting survival were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The matched cohort consisted of 52 gefitinib and 52 AC patients with a median follow-up of 37.1 and 31.5 months, respectively. DFS was significantly longer in the gefitinib group than that in the AC group (34.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 21.1-48.7] versus 19.3 months [95% CI, 13.3-25.3]; hazard ratio = 0.36 [95% CI, 0.19-0.68], log-rank P = .001). In the gefitinib group the most common adverse events (AEs) were rash (76.9%), aminotransferase elevation (53.8%), and diarrhea (46.2%), whereas in the AC group the most common AEs were neutropenia (67.3%), nausea or vomiting (63.5%), and anemia (44.2%). Less frequent grade 3 or higher AEs were observed in the gefitinib group (15.4% vs. 38.5% in the AC group). After receiving gefitinib for 3 months, one patient was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease, which was regarded as the most severe treatment-related AE. No deaths were treatment related. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study, compared to AC, gefitinib provided a statistically significant DFS benefit, reduced toxicity in EGFR mutation-positive patients with resected II-IIIA NSCLC. These results require further validation by prospective randomized trials.