Deep Learning-Based Visual Complexity Analysis of Electroencephalography Time-Frequency Images: Can It Localize the Epileptogenic Zone in the Brain?

In drug-resistant epilepsy, a visual inspection of intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) signals is often needed to localize the epileptogenic zone (EZ) and guide neurosurgery. The visual assessment of iEEG time-frequency (TF) images is an alternative to signal inspection, but subtle variations may escape the human eye. Here, we propose a deep learning-based metric of visual complexity to interpret TF images extracted from iEEG data and aim to assess its ability to identify the EZ in the brain.

Inferring neurocognition using artificial intelligence on brain MRIs.

Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a unique lens to study neuroanatomic support of human neurocognition. A core mystery is the MRI explanation of individual differences in neurocognition and its manifestation in intelligence. The past four decades have seen great advancement in studying this century-long mystery, but the sample size and population-level studies limit the explanation at the individual level.

Divergent growth of the transient brain compartments in fetuses with nonsyndromic isolated clefts involving the primary and secondary palate.

Cleft lip/palate is a common orofacial malformation that often leads to speech/language difficulties as well as developmental delays in affected children, despite surgical repair. Our understanding of brain development in these children is limited. This study aimed to analyze prenatal brain development in fetuses with cleft lip/palate and controls.

Local SAR management strategies to use two-channel RF shimming for fetal MRI at 3 T.

Purpose: This study evaluates the imaging performance of two-channel RF-shimming for fetal MRI at 3 T using four different local specific absorption rate (SAR) management strategies.

Methods: Due to the ambiguity of safe local SAR levels for fetal MRI, local SAR limits for RF shimming were determined based on either each individual's own SAR levels in standard imaging mode (CP mode) or the maximum SAR level observed across seven pregnant body models in CP mode. Local SAR was constrained either indirectly by further constraining the whole-body SAR (wbSAR) or directly by using subject-specific local SAR models.

Time-efficient, high-resolution 3T whole-brain relaxometry using 3D-QALAS with wave-CAIPI readouts.

Purpose: Volumetric, high-resolution, quantitative mapping of brain-tissue relaxation properties is hindered by long acquisition times and SNR challenges. This study combines time-efficient wave-controlled aliasing in parallel imaging (wave-CAIPI) readouts with the 3D quantification using an interleaved Look-Locker acquisition sequence with a T preparation pulse (3D-QALAS), enabling full-brain quantitative T , T , and proton density (PD) maps at 1.15-mm isotropic voxels in 3 min.

Atypical fetal brain development in fetuses with non-syndromic isolated musculoskeletal birth defects (niMSBDs).

Non-syndromic, isolated musculoskeletal birth defects (niMSBDs) are among the leading causes of pediatric hospitalization. However, little is known about brain development in niMSBDs. Our study aimed to characterize prenatal brain development in fetuses with niMSBDs and identify altered brain regions compared to controls.

Effect of neonatal seizure burden and etiology on the long-term outcome: data from a randomized, controlled trial.

Background: Neonatal seizures are common, but the impact of neonatal seizures on long-term neurologic outcome remains unclear. We addressed this question by analyzing data from an early-phase controlled trial of bumetanide to treat neonatal seizures.

Methods: Neonatal seizure burden was calculated from continuous video-EEG data.

Association of cerebral metabolic rate following therapeutic hypothermia with 18-month neurodevelopmental outcomes after neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

Background: Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is standard of care for moderate to severe neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) but many survivors still suffer lifelong disabilities and benefits of TH for mild HIE are under active debate. Development of objective diagnostics, with sensitivity to mild HIE, are needed to select, guide, and assess response to treatment. The objective of this study was to determine if cerebral oxygen metabolism (CMRO) in the days after TH is associated with 18-month neurodevelopmental outcomes as the first step in evaluating CMRO's potential as a diagnostic for HIE.

Abnormal prenatal brain development in Chiari II malformation.

Introduction: The Chiari II is a relatively common birth defect that is associated with open spinal abnormalities and is characterized by caudal migration of the posterior fossa contents through the foramen magnum. The pathophysiology of Chiari II is not entirely known, and the neurobiological substrate beyond posterior fossa findings remains unexplored. We aimed to identify brain regions altered in Chiari II fetuses between 17 and 26 GW.

Single Ventricle Reconstruction III: Brain Connectome and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: Design, Recruitment, and Technical Challenges of a Multicenter, Observational Neuroimaging Study.

Unlabelled: Patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome who have been palliated with the Fontan procedure are at risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, lower quality of life, and reduced employability. We describe the methods (including quality assurance and quality control protocols) and challenges of a multi-center observational ancillary study, SVRIII (Single Ventricle Reconstruction Trial) Brain Connectome. Our original goal was to obtain advanced neuroimaging (Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Resting-BOLD) in 140 SVR III participants and 100 healthy controls for brain connectome analyses.

Aluminum Thin Film Nanostructure Traces in Pediatric EEG Net for MRI and CT Artifact Reduction.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring are essential in the clinical management of neonatal seizures. EEG electrodes, however, can significantly degrade the image quality of both MRI and CT due to substantial metallic artifacts and distortions. Thus, we developed a novel thin film trace EEG net ("NeoNet") for improved MRI and CT image quality without compromising the EEG signal quality.

Rare EIF4A2 variants are associated with a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability, hypotonia, and epilepsy.

Eukaryotic initiation factor-4A2 (EIF4A2) is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase and a member of the DEAD-box protein family that recognizes the 5' cap structure of mRNAs, allows mRNA to bind to the ribosome, and plays an important role in microRNA-regulated gene repression. Here, we report on 15 individuals from 14 families presenting with global developmental delay, intellectual disability, hypotonia, epilepsy, and structural brain anomalies, all of whom have extremely rare de novo mono-allelic or inherited bi-allelic variants in EIF4A2. Neurodegeneration was predominantly reported in individuals with bi-allelic variants.

Age-related topographic map of magnetic resonance diffusion metrics in neonatal brains.

Accelerated maturation of brain parenchyma close to term-equivalent age leads to rapid changes in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics of neonatal brains, which can complicate the evaluation and interpretation of these scans. In this study, we characterized the topography of age-related evolution of diffusion metrics in neonatal brains. We included 565 neonates who had MRI between 0 and 3 months of age, with no structural or signal abnormality-including 162 who had DTI scans.

Novel User-Friendly Application for MRI Segmentation of Brain Resection following Epilepsy Surgery.

Delineation of resected brain cavities on magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of epilepsy surgery patients is essential for neuroimaging/neurophysiology studies investigating biomarkers of the epileptogenic zone. The gold standard to delineate the resection on MRI remains manual slice-by-slice tracing by experts. Here, we proposed and validated a semiautomated MRI segmentation pipeline, generating an accurate model of the resection and its anatomical labeling, and developed a graphical user interface (GUI) for user-friendly usage.

Abnormal development of transient fetal zones in mild isolated fetal ventriculomegaly.

Mild isolated fetal ventriculomegaly (iFVM) is the most common abnormality of the fetal central nervous system. It is characterized by enlargement of one or both of the lateral ventricles (defined as ventricular width greater than 10 mm, but less than 12 mm). Despite its high prevalence, the pathophysiology of iFVM during fetal brain development and the neurobiological substrate beyond ventricular enlargement remain unexplored.

Assessment of Maternal Macular Pigment Optical Density (MPOD) as a Potential Marker for Dietary Carotenoid Intake during Lactation in Humans.

Pregnancy and lactation can change the maternal nutrient reserve. Non-invasive, quantitative markers of maternal nutrient intake could enable personalized dietary recommendations that improve health outcomes in mothers and infants. Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) is a candidate marker, as MPOD values generally reflect carotenoid intake.

Optimal Method for Fetal Brain Age Prediction Using Multiplanar Slices From Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

The accurate prediction of fetal brain age using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may contribute to the identification of brain abnormalities and the risk of adverse developmental outcomes. This study aimed to propose a method for predicting fetal brain age using MRIs from 220 healthy fetuses between 15.9 and 38.

Unique variants in CLCN3, encoding an endosomal anion/proton exchanger, underlie a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders.

The genetic causes of global developmental delay (GDD) and intellectual disability (ID) are diverse and include variants in numerous ion channels and transporters. Loss-of-function variants in all five endosomal/lysosomal members of the CLC family of Cl channels and Cl/H exchangers lead to pathology in mice, humans, or both. We have identified nine variants in CLCN3, the gene encoding CIC-3, in 11 individuals with GDD/ID and neurodevelopmental disorders of varying severity.