Studying neuroanatomy using MRI

The study of neuroanatomy using imaging enables key insights into how our brains function, are shaped by genes and environment, and change with development, aging, and disease. Developments in MRI acquisition, image processing, and data modelling have been key to these advances. However, MRI provides an indirect measurement of the biological signals we aim to investigate. Thus, artifacts and key questions of correct interpretation can confound the readouts provided by anatomical MRI. In this review we provide an overview of the methods for measuring macro- and mesoscopic structure and inferring microstructural properties; we also describe key artefacts and confounds that can lead to incorrect conclusions. Ultimately, we believe that, though methods need to improve and caution is required in its interpretation, structural MRI continues to have great promise in furthering our understanding of how the brain works

Multi-Method Analysis of MRI Images in Early Diagnostics of Alzheimer's Disease

The role of structural brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is becoming more and more emphasized in the early diagnostics of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to assess the improvement in classification accuracy that can be achieved by combining features from different structural MRI analysis techniques. Automatically estimated MR features used are hippocampal volume, tensor-based morphometry, cortical thickness and a novel technique based on manifold learning. Baseline MRIs acquired from all 834 subjects (231 healthy controls (HC), 238 stable mild cognitive impairment (S-MCI), 167 MCI to AD progressors (P-MCI), 198 AD) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database were used for evaluation. We compared the classification accuracy achieved with linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and support vector machines (SVM). The best results achieved with individual features are 90% sensitivity and 84% specificity (HC/AD classification), 64%/66% (S-MCI/P-MCI) and 82%/76% (HC/P-MCI) with the LDA classifier. The combination of all features improved these results to 93% sensitivity and 85% specificity (HC/AD), 67%/69% (S-MCI/P-MCI) and 86%/82% (HC/P-MCI). Compared with previously published results in the ADNI database using individual MR-based features, the presented results show that a comprehensive analysis of MRI images combining multiple features improves classification accuracy and predictive power in detecting early AD. The most stable and reliable classification was achieved when combining all available features

Multimodal surface-based morphometry reveals diffuse cortical atrophy in traumatic brain injury.

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) often present with significant cognitive deficits without corresponding evidence of cortical damage on neuroradiological examinations. One explanation for this puzzling observation is that the diffuse cortical abnormalities that characterize TBI are difficult to detect with standard imaging procedures. Here we investigated a patient with severe TBI-related cognitive impairments whose scan was interpreted as normal by a board-certified radiologist in order to determine if quantitative neuroimaging could detect cortical abnormalities not evident with standard neuroimaging procedures.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cortical abnormalities were quantified using multimodal surfaced-based morphometry (MSBM) that statistically combined information from high-resolution structural MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Normal values of cortical anatomy and cortical and pericortical DTI properties were quantified in a population of 43 healthy control subjects. Corresponding measures from the patient were obtained in two independent imaging sessions. These data were quantified using both the average values for each lobe and the measurements from each point on the cortical surface. The results were statistically analyzed as z-scores from the mean with a p < 0.05 criterion, corrected for multiple comparisons. False positive rates were verified by comparing the data from each control subject with the data from the remaining control population using identical statistical procedures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The TBI patient showed significant regional abnormalities in cortical thickness, gray matter diffusivity and pericortical white matter integrity that replicated across imaging sessions. Consistent with the patient's impaired performance on neuropsychological tests of executive function, cortical abnormalities were most pronounced in the frontal lobes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>MSBM is a promising tool for detecting subtle cortical abnormalities with high sensitivity and selectivity. MSBM may be particularly useful in evaluating cortical structure in TBI and other neurological conditions that produce diffuse abnormalities in both cortical structure and tissue properties.</p

A influência da iniciativa hospital amigo da criança na amamentação La influencia de la Iniciativa Hospital Amigo del Niño en el amamantamiento The influence of the 'Friend of Children Hospital' campaign on breast-feeding

O trabalho investiga a percepção de mulheres que foram parturientes num Hospital Amigo da Criança (HAC) sobre a influência dessa proposta na sua decisão de aleitar. Realizamos entrevistas semi-estruturadas enfocando o processo de aleitamento materno (AM), expectativas, vivências e importância da equipe de saúde. A análise de conteúdo dos dados realizou-se a partir dos "Dez Passos para o Sucesso do Aleitamento Materno". Constatamos que em situações reconhecidas pelas mulheres como problemáticas e não encontrando respostas que atenuassem diferentes desconfortos e o sofrimento vivenciados, frente ao seu desejo de amamentar, interromperam o AM. Consideramos que com a manutenção do apoio à mulher, pelo HAC, para o enfrentamento dessas dificuldades, sua influência pode ser decisiva para a continuidade do AM.<br>El trabajo investiga la percepción de las mujeres que eran parturientas en un Hospital Amigo del Niño (HAN) sobre la influencia de esta propuesta en su decisión de amamantar. Realizamos entrevistas semiestructuradas enfocando el proceso de amamantar (AM); las expectativas; las vivencias; la importancia del equipo de salud, entre otros. El análisis de contenido de los datos se realizó a partir de los «Diez Pasos para el Éxito de Amamantamiento Materno». Constatamos que en situaciones reconocidas por las mujeres como problemáticas y no encontrando respuestas que atenuaran diferentes incomodidades y el sufrimiento vivenciado, frente a su deseo de amamantar, interrumpieron el AM. Consideramos que con el mantenimiento del apoyo a la mujer, por el HAC para el enfrentamiento de esas dificultades, su influencia puede ser decisiva para la continuidad del AM.<br>The paper investigates the awareness of women who gave birth in a 'Friend of Children' Hospital (FCH) of the influence of this campaign on their decision to breast-feed. We conducted semi-structured interviews, focusing the maternal breast-feeding process, expectations, experiences, and the importance of the health staff. The data analysis was based on the "Ten Steps to Successful Maternal Breast-Feeding." We found out that in situations regarded by women as problematic and lacking in answers that could attenuate their discomfort and suffering in the face of their desire to breast-feed, they stopped breast-feeding. We believe that by maintaining the FCH support to women (so that they can face those difficulties), its influence can be decisive to the continuation of breast-feeding