Divergent time-varying connectivity of thalamic sub-regions characterizes clinical phenotypes and cognitive status in multiple sclerosis.

We aimed to investigate abnormal time-varying functional connectivity (FC) for thalamic sub-regions in multiple sclerosis (MS) and their clinical, cognitive and MRI correlates. Eighty-nine MS patients (49 relapsing-remitting [RR] MS; 40 progressive [P] MS) and 53 matched healthy controls underwent neurological, neuropsychological and resting state fMRI assessment. Time-varying connectivity (TVC) was quantified using sliding-window seed-voxel correlation analysis.

Differential association of cortical, subcortical and spinal cord damage with multiple sclerosis disability milestones: A multiparametric MRI study.

Background: In multiple sclerosis (MS), cortical, subcortical and infratentorial structural damage may have a differential contribution to clinical disability according to disease phases.

Purpose: To determine the relative contributions of cortical, deep (D) grey matter (GM), cerebellar and cervical cord damage to MS disability milestones.

Methods: Multi-centre 3T brain and cervical cord T- and three-dimensional (3D) T-weighted images were acquired from 198 MS patients (139 relapsing-remitting (RR) MS, 59 progressive (P) MS) and 67 healthy controls.

Dynamic Functional Connectivity in the Main Clinical Phenotypes of Multiple Sclerosis.

Dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) allows capturing recurring patterns (states) of interaction among functional networks. In this study, we investigated resting state (RS) dFC abnormalities across the different clinical phenotypes of multiple sclerosis (MS) and assessed their correlation with motor and cognitive performances. RS functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and 3D T1-weighted MRI data were acquired from 128 MS patients (69 relapsing-remitting [RR] MS, 34 secondary progressive [SP] MS, and 25 primary progressive [PP] MS) and 40 healthy controls (HC).

MRI correlates of clinical disability and hand-motor performance in multiple sclerosis phenotypes.

Background: Hand-motor impairment affects a large proportion of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients; however, its substrates are still poorly understood.

Objectives: To investigate the association between global disability, hand-motor impairment, and alterations in motor-relevant structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) networks in MS patients with different clinical phenotypes.

Methods: One hundred thirty-four healthy controls (HC) and 364 MS patients (250 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and 114 progressive MS (PMS)) underwent Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) rating, nine-hole peg test (9HPT), and electronic finger tapping rate (EFTR).

Longitudinal cortical thinning progression differs across multiple sclerosis phenotypes and is clinically relevant: A multicentre study.

Background: Longitudinal evolution of cortical thickness (CTh) in different MS phenotypes has been rarely studied.

Aim: To investigate the regional pattern and 1-year progression of cortical thinning in relapsing-remitting (RR) and progressive (P) MS.

Methods: 3T high-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was obtained from 86 patients (75 RRMS, 11 PMS) and 34 healthy controls (HC) at three European sites at baseline and 1-year follow-up.

Clinical predictivity of thalamic sub-regional connectivity in clinically isolated syndrome: a 7-year study.

Here, we explored trajectories of sub-regional thalamic resting state (RS) functional connectivity (FC) modifications occurring in clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients early after their first clinical episode, and assessed their relationship with disability over 7 years. RS fMRI and clinical data were prospectively acquired from 59 CIS patients and 13 healthy controls (HC) over 2 years. A clinical re-assessment was performed in 53 (89%) patients after 7 years.

Characterizing Rapid Fluctuations of Resting State Functional Connectivity in Demyelinating, Neurodegenerative, and Psychiatric Conditions: From Static to Time-Varying Analysis.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at resting state (RS) has been widely used to characterize the main brain networks. Functional connectivity (FC) has been mostly assessed assuming that FC is static across the whole fMRI examination. However, FC is highly variable at a very fast time-scale, as demonstrated by neurophysiological techniques.

Two-year dynamic functional network connectivity in clinically isolated syndrome.

Background: The features of functional network connectivity reorganization at the earliest stages of MS have not been investigated yet.

Objective: To combine static and dynamic analysis of resting state (RS) functional connectivity (FC) to identify mechanisms of clinical dysfunction and recovery occurring in clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients.

Methods: RS functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and clinical data were prospectively acquired from 50 CIS patients and 13 healthy controls (HC) at baseline, month 12 and month 24.

Elevated plasma fibrinogen levels in multiple sclerosis patients during relapse.

Unlabelled: Fibrinogen is a protein that plays a key role in blood coagulation and thrombosis and it is involved in several inflammatory processes; in multiple sclerosis (MS) may be related with blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption. We analysed the relationship between plasma fibrinogen levels and the presence of active lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during relapses of multiple sclerosis (MS) and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients.

Methods: We collected data of patients admitted to a tertiary-care hospital with relapse of MS and CIS from 2008 to 2013 and we analysed the relation between plasma fibrinogen levels (normal: 200mg/dl-417mg/dl) and the presence of active lesions on brain or spinal MRI.

Structural connectivity-defined thalamic subregions have different functional connectivity abnormalities in multiple sclerosis patients: Implications for clinical correlations.

In spite of the well-known importance of thalami in multiple sclerosis (MS), only limited data on whole and subregional thalamic functional connectivity (FC) changes are available. Using diffusion tensor imaging, we performed a structural connectivity based thalamic parcellation and investigated subregional thalamic resting-state (RS) FC alterations and their relationship with clinical/cognitive measures in MS. MRI data from a reference set of healthy controls (HC) were used to parcellate the thalami into five subregions, according to their structural connectivity.

Hepatotoxicity after high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone in multiple sclerosis patients.

Hepatotoxicity is a rare adverse event of methylprednisolone that should be considered in clinical practice. In patients at risk, we propose liver function surveillance, by measuring hepatic enzymes concentration 15-30 days after methylprednisolone administration. Additionally, we propose ACTH, dexamethasone, or plasma exchange as alternate treatment options for these patients.

Abnormal functional connectivity of thalamic sub-regions contributes to fatigue in multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To investigate sub-regional thalamic resting-state (RS) functional connectivity (FC) abnormalities in multiple sclerosis (MS) and their correlation with fatigue and its subcomponents (physical, cognitive, and psychosocial).

Methods: From 122 MS patients and 94 healthy controls, 5 thalamic sub-regions (frontal, motor, postcentral, occipital, temporal) were parcellated based on their cortico-thalamic structural connectivity and used for a seed-based RS FC analysis. Abnormalities of thalamic RS FC in MS patients and their correlation with Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) were assessed.

Palatal and Oromandibular Tremor Secondary to Degenerative Olivary Hypertrophy After Ependymoma Surgery.

Palatal tremor (PT) is a rare movement disorder that involves pharynx, tongue, and other facial muscles. Symptomatic PT is due to lesions on the dentate-rubro-olivary pathways. We present an illustrative case of PT due to degenerative olivary hypertrophy after ependymoma surgery.