Occipital atrophy signature in prodromal Lewy bodies disease

Introduction: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is typically characterized by parietal, temporal, and occipital atrophy, but less is known about the newly defined prodromal phases. The objective of this study was to evaluate structural brain alterations in prodromal DLB (p-DLB) as compared to healthy controls (HC) and full-blown dementia (DLB-DEM). Methods: The study included 42 DLB patients (n = 20 p-DLB; n = 22 DLB-DEM) and 27 HC with a standardized neurological assessment and 3-tesla magnetic resonance imaging. Voxel-wise analyses on gray-matter and cortical thickness were implemented to evaluate differences between p-DLB, DLB-DEM, and HC. Results: p-DLB and DLB-DEM exhibited reduced occipital and posterior parieto-temporal volume and thickness, extending from prodromal to dementia stages. Occipital atrophy was more sensitive than insular atrophy in differentiating p-DLB and HC. Occipital atrophy correlated to frontotemporal structural damage increasing from p-DLB to DLB-DEM. Discussion: Occipital and posterior-temporal structural alterations are an early signature of the DLB continuum and correlate with a long-distance pattern of atrophy

Sequential monitoring of lymphocyte subsets and of T-and-B cell neogenesis indexes to identify time-varying immunologic profiles in relation to graft-versus-host disease and relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

T and B lymphocyte subsets have been not univocally associated to Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and relapse of hematological alignancies after stem cell transplantation (SCT). Their sequential assessment together with B and T cell neogenesis indexes has been not thoroughly analysed in relation to these changing and interrelated immunologic/clinic events yet. Lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood (PB) and B and T cell neogenesis indexes were analysed together at different time points in a prospective study of 50 patients. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used as first step of multivariate analysis to address issues related to a high number of variables versus a relatively low number of patients. Multivariate analysis was completed by Fine-Gray proportional hazard regression model. PCA identified 3 clusters of variables (PC1-3), which correlated with acute GVHD: PC1 (pre-SCT: KRECs 656608/ml, unswitched memory B 44%, CD8+TCM cells>4%; HR 1.9, p = 0.01), and PC3 (at aGVHD onset: CD4+TEMRA69%, switched memory CD19+ = 0 cells and KRECs<6614/ml at +90; HR 0.1, p = 0.008). All these immunologic parameters were independent indicators of chronic GVHD and relapse, also considering the possible effect of previous steroid-therapy for acute GVHD. Specific time-varying immunologic profiles were associated to GVHD and relapse. Pre-SCT host immune-microenvironment and changes of B cell homeostasis could influence GVH- and Graft-versus-Tumor reactions. The paradoxical increase of EM Treg in PB of patients with GVHD could be explained by their compartmentalization outside lymphoid tissues, which are of critical relevance for regulation of GVH reactions

Occipital atrophy signature in prodromal Lewy bodies disease

Abstract INTRODUCTION Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is typically characterized by parietal, temporal, and occipital atrophy, but less is known about the newly defined prodromal phases. The objective of this study was to evaluate structural brain alterations in prodromal DLB (p‐DLB) as compared to healthy controls (HC) and full‐blown dementia (DLB‐DEM). METHODS The study included 42 DLB patients (n = 20 p‐DLB; n = 22 DLB‐DEM) and 27 HC with a standardized neurological assessment and 3‐tesla magnetic resonance imaging. Voxel‐wise analyses on gray‐matter and cortical thickness were implemented to evaluate differences between p‐DLB, DLB‐DEM, and HC. RESULTS p‐DLB and DLB‐DEM exhibited reduced occipital and posterior parieto‐temporal volume and thickness, extending from prodromal to dementia stages. Occipital atrophy was more sensitive than insular atrophy in differentiating p‐DLB and HC. Occipital atrophy correlated to frontotemporal structural damage increasing from p‐DLB to DLB‐DEM. DISCUSSION Occipital and posterior‐temporal structural alterations are an early signature of the DLB continuum and correlate with a long‐distance pattern of atrophy

Characteristics of the 50 patients and transplant.

<p>Characteristics of the 50 patients and transplant.</p