This research investigated local brain connectivity changes following Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA) by connectometry. Seventeen subjects (15 males and 2 females, mean age 74.1 years), all eligible for CEA, were prospectively recruited in this exploratory study. On the same day within the week before the CEA, each patient underwent a cognitive evaluation with a Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exam that included a DTI sequence for the connectometry analysis. A second MMSE and the same MRI protocol were performed on follow-up, 3–6 months after CEA. The MMSE scores were analyzed using T-Student tests. The connectometry analysis was performed using a multiple regression model to consider the effect of CEA, choosing three different T-score threshold (T-threshold) values (1, 2 and 3). Results were considered statistically valid for p value adjusted for False Discovery Rate (p-FDR) < 0.05. Comparison of pre-CEA and post-CEA MMSE scores showed improvement of MMSE scores after CEA. Connectometry analysis revealed no areas of statistically significant increased connectivity related to CEA for T-threshold value = 1 and 2, but showed statistically significant increase of connectivity after CEA in both cerebellar hemispheres and corpus callosum for T-threshold value = 3 (p-FDR = 0.0106667). The network property analysis showed improved small worldness (2.14%), clustering coefficient (1.64%), local (1.94%) and global efficiency (0.56%), and reduced characteristic path length (−0.52%) after CEA. These results suggest that CEA is associated both with cognitive performance improvement and changes in interhemispheric local connectivity in the corpus callosum and cerebellum.
Porcu M., Craboledda D., Garofalo P., Columbano G., Barberini L., Sanfilippo R., et al. (2019). Connectometry evaluation in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy: an exploratory study. BRAIN IMAGING AND BEHAVIOR, 13(6), 1708-1718 [10.1007/s11682-018-0024-9].
Connectometry evaluation in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy: an exploratory study
Zaccagna F.;
2019
Abstract
This research investigated local brain connectivity changes following Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA) by connectometry. Seventeen subjects (15 males and 2 females, mean age 74.1 years), all eligible for CEA, were prospectively recruited in this exploratory study. On the same day within the week before the CEA, each patient underwent a cognitive evaluation with a Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exam that included a DTI sequence for the connectometry analysis. A second MMSE and the same MRI protocol were performed on follow-up, 3–6 months after CEA. The MMSE scores were analyzed using T-Student tests. The connectometry analysis was performed using a multiple regression model to consider the effect of CEA, choosing three different T-score threshold (T-threshold) values (1, 2 and 3). Results were considered statistically valid for p value adjusted for False Discovery Rate (p-FDR) < 0.05. Comparison of pre-CEA and post-CEA MMSE scores showed improvement of MMSE scores after CEA. Connectometry analysis revealed no areas of statistically significant increased connectivity related to CEA for T-threshold value = 1 and 2, but showed statistically significant increase of connectivity after CEA in both cerebellar hemispheres and corpus callosum for T-threshold value = 3 (p-FDR = 0.0106667). The network property analysis showed improved small worldness (2.14%), clustering coefficient (1.64%), local (1.94%) and global efficiency (0.56%), and reduced characteristic path length (−0.52%) after CEA. These results suggest that CEA is associated both with cognitive performance improvement and changes in interhemispheric local connectivity in the corpus callosum and cerebellum.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
