Functional and structural connectivity of the brain in very preterm babies: relationship with gestational age and body and brain growth.

Autor: Mouka V; Medical School, University Hospital of Ioannina, P.O. Box 1186, 45110, Ioannina, Greece., Drougia A; Neonatology Unit, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece., Xydis VG; Medical School, University Hospital of Ioannina, P.O. Box 1186, 45110, Ioannina, Greece., Astrakas LG; Medical Physics, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece., Zikou AK; Medical School, University Hospital of Ioannina, P.O. Box 1186, 45110, Ioannina, Greece., Kosta P; Medical School, University Hospital of Ioannina, P.O. Box 1186, 45110, Ioannina, Greece., Andronikou S; Neonatology Unit, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece., Argyropoulou MI; Medical School, University Hospital of Ioannina, P.O. Box 1186, 45110, Ioannina, Greece. margyrop@cc.uoi.gr.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Pediatric radiology [Pediatr Radiol] 2019 Jul; Vol. 49 (8), pp. 1078-1084. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 May 03.
DOI: 10.1007/s00247-019-04412-6
Abstrakt: Background: Structural and functional changes of the brain have been reported in premature babies.
Objective: To evaluate the relationship of functional and structural connectivity with gestational age, body growth and brain maturation in very preterm babies.
Materials and Methods: We studied 18 very preterm babies (gestational age: mean ± standard deviation, 29.7±1.7 weeks). We examined functional connectivity by multivariate pattern analysis of resting-state functional MRI data. We assessed structural connectivity by analysis of diffusion tensor imaging data and probabilistic tractography.
Results: The average functional connectivity of the medial orbitofrontal cortex with the rest of the brain was positively associated with gestational age (P<0.001). Fractional anisotropy of the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus was positively associated with head circumference at term-equivalent age. Structural connectivity of the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus with the medial orbitofrontal cortex was positively associated with head circumference at term-equivalent age. Body weight at term-equivalent age was the only independent predictor of average structural connectivity of the medial orbitofrontal cortex with the rest of the brain (P=0.020).
Conclusion: Structural and functional connectivity of the medial orbitofrontal cortex with the rest of the brain depend on body growth and degree of prematurity, respectively.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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