Detecting Epileptic Regions Based on Global Brain Connectivity Patterns

We present a method to detect epileptic regions based on functional connectivity differences between individual epilepsy patients and a healthy population. Our model assumes that the global functional characteristics of these differences are shared across patients, but it allows for the epileptic regions to vary between individuals. We evaluate the detection performance against intracranial EEG observations and compare our approach with two baseline methods that use standard statistics. The baseline techniques are sensitive to the choice of thresholds, whereas our algorithm automatically estimates the appropriate model parameters and compares favorably with the best baseline results. This suggests the promise of our approach for pre-surgical planning in epilepsy.MIT/Lincoln Laboratory CollaborationNational Alliance for Medical Image Computing (U.S.) (grant (NIH NIBIB NAMIC U54-EB005149))Neuroimaging Analysis Center (U.S.) (NIH NCRR NAC P41-RR13218)Neuroimaging Analysis Center (U.S.) (NIH NIBIB NAC P41-EB-015902)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (NSF CAREER Grant 0642971

Contextual adaptation of the Personnel Evaluation Standards for assessing faculty evaluation systems in developing countries: the case of Iran

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Faculty evaluations can identify needs to be addressed in effective development programs. Generic evaluation models exist, but these require adaptation to a particular context of interest. We report on one approach to such adaptation in the context of medical education in Iran, which is integrated into the delivery and management of healthcare services nationwide.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using a triangulation design, interviews with senior faculty leaders were conducted to identify relevant areas for faculty evaluation. We then adapted the published checklist of the Personnel Evaluation Standards to fit the Iranian medical universities' context by considering faculty members' diverse roles. Then the adapted instrument was administered to faculty at twelve medical schools in Iran.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The interviews revealed poor linkages between existing forms of development and evaluation, imbalance between the faculty work components and evaluated areas, inappropriate feedback and use of information in decision making. The principles of Personnel Evaluation Standards addressed almost all of these concerns and were used to assess the existing faculty evaluation system and also adapted to evaluate the core faculty roles. The survey response rate was 74%. Responses showed that the four principles in all faculty members' roles were met <it>occasionally </it>to <it>frequently</it>. Evaluation of teaching and research had the highest mean scores, while clinical and healthcare services, institutional administration, and self-development had the lowest mean scores. There were statistically significant differences between small medium and large medical schools (p < 0.000).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The adapted Personnel Evaluation Standards appears to be valid and applicable for monitoring and continuous improvement of a faculty evaluation system in the context of medical universities in Iran. The approach developed here provides a more balanced assessment of multiple faculty roles, including educational, clinical and healthcare services. In order to address identified deficiencies, the evaluation system should recognize, document, and uniformly reward those activities that are vital to the academic mission. Inclusion of personal developmental concerns in the evaluation discussion is essential for evaluation systems.</p

Contralateral preoperative resting-state functional MRI network integration is associated with surgical outcome in temporal lobe epilepsy

Background: Although most patients with medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) experience seizure freedom after anterior temporal lobectomy, approximately 40% may continue to have seizures. Functional network integration, as measured with preoperative resting-state functional MRI, may help stratify patients who are more likely to experience postoperative seizure freedom. Purpose: To relate preoperative resting-state functional MRI and surgical outcome in patients with medically refractory TLE. Materials and Methods: Data from patients with medically intractable TLE were retrospectively analyzed. Patients underwent preoperative resting-state functional MRI between March 2010 and April 2013 and subsequent unilateral anterior temporal lobectomy. Postoperative seizure-free status was categorized using the Engel Epilepsy Surgery Outcome Scale. Global and regional resting-state functional MRI network properties on preoperative functional MRI scans related to integration were calculated and statistically compared between patients who experienced complete postoperative seizure freedom (Engel class IA) and all others (Engel class IB to class IV) using t tests and multiple logistic regression. Results: Forty patients (mean age, 34 years 6 15 [standard deviation]; 21 female) were evaluated. Preoperative global network integration was different (P = .01) between patients who experienced seizure freedom after surgery and all other patients, with 9% lower leaf fraction and 10% lower tree hierarchy in patients with ongoing seizures. Preoperative regional network integration in the contralateral temporoinsular region was different (P = .04) between patients in these two groups. Specifically, the group-level leaf proportion was 59% lower in the entorhinal cortex, 73% lower in the inferior temporal gyrus, 43% lower in the temporal pole, and 69% lower in the insula in patients with ongoing seizures after surgery. When using multivariate regression, contralateral temporoinsular leaf proportion (P = .002) and epilepsy duration (P = .04) were predictive of postoperative seizure freedom, while age (P . .70) and age at seizure onset (P . .50) were not. Conclusion: Lower network integration globally and involving the contralateral temporoinsular cortex on preoperative resting-state functional MRI scans is associated with ongoing postoperative seizures in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy

Dissociated multimodal hubs and seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy

Objective: Brain connectivity at rest is altered in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), particularly in “hub” areas such as the posterior default mode network (DMN). Although both functional and anatomical connectivity are disturbed in TLE, the relationships between measures as well as to seizure frequency remain unclear. We aim to clarify these associations using connectivity measures specifically sensitive to hubs. Methods: Connectivity between 1000 cortical surface parcels was determined in 49 TLE patients and 23 controls with diffusion and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Two types of hub connectivity were investigated across multiple brain modules (the DMN, motor system, etcetera): (1) within-module connectivity (a measure of local importance that assesses a parcel's communication level within its own subnetwork) and (2) between-module connectivity (a measure that assesses connections across multiple modules). Results: In TLE patients, there was lower overall functional integrity of the DMN as well as an increase in posterior hub connections with other modules. Anatomical between-module connectivity was globally decreased. Higher DMN disintegration (DD) coincided with higher anatomical between-module connectivity, whereas both were associated with increased seizure frequency. DD related to seizure frequency through mediating effects of anatomical connectivity, but seizure frequency also correlated with anatomical connectivity through DD, indicating a complex interaction between multimodal networks and symptoms. Interpretation We provide evidence for dissociated anatomical and functional hub connectivity in TLE. Moreover, shifts in functional hub connections from within to outside the DMN, an overall loss of integrative anatomical communication, and the interaction between the two increase seizure frequency

Loss of Resting-State Posterior Cingulate Flexibility Is Associated with Memory Disturbance in Left Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

The association between cognition and resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) has been the focus of many recent studies, most of which use stationary connectivity. The dynamics or flexibility of connectivity, however, may be seminal for understanding cognitive functioning. In temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), stationary connectomic correlates of impaired memory have been reported mainly for the hippocampus and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). We therefore investigate resting-state and task-based hippocampal and PCC flexibility in addition to stationary connectivity in left TLE (LTLE) patients. Sixteen LTLE patients were analyzed with respect to rs-fMRI and task-based fMRI (t-fMRI), and underwent clinical neuropsychological testing. Flexibility of connectivity was calculated using a sliding-window approach by determining the standard deviation of Fisher-transformed Pearson correlation coefficients over all windows. Stationary connectivity was also calculated. Disturbed memory was operationalized as having at least one memory subtest score equal to or below the 5th percentile compared to normative data. Lower PCC flexibility, particularly in the contralateral (i.e. right) hemisphere, was found in memory-disturbed LTLE patients, who had up to 22% less flexible connectivity. No significant group differences were found with respect to hippocampal flexibility, stationary connectivity during both rs-fMRI and t-fMRI, or flexibility during t-fMRI. Contralateral resting-state PCC flexibility was able to classify all but one patient with respect to their memory status (94% accuracy). Flexibility of the PCC during rest relates to memory functioning in LTLE patients. Loss of flexible connectivity to the rest of the brain originating from the PCC, particularly contralateral to the seizure focus, is able to discern memory disturbed patients from their preserved counterparts. This study indicates that the dynamics of resting-state connectivity are associated with cognitive status of LTLE patients, rather than stationary connectivity

Characteristics of patients with preserved and disturbed memory functioning.

<p>Note. PCC = posterior cingulate cortex, rs-fMRI = resting-state fMRI, t-fMRI = task fMRI. Elements indicate mean (standard deviation). There were no significant differences in these variables between patients with preserved versus disturbed memory functioning, apart from full IQ which was significantly lower in memory disturbed patients (* p = 0.030).</p><p>Characteristics of patients with preserved and disturbed memory functioning.</p