背景:扩散张量成像(DTI)研究表明颞叶癫痫(TLE)患者的白质(WM)异常。然而,TLE患者WM结构网络的拓扑特性改变尚不清楚.图论分析为评估WM结构网络的连通性提供了新的视角。
方法:DTI用于绘制18例TLE患者(10例男性和8例女性)和29例(17例男性和12例女性)年龄和性别匹配的正常对照(NC)的结构网络图。使用图论来分析两组之间的全脑网络及其拓扑特性。最后,对加权网络属性和临床特征进行了部分相关分析,即,癫痫的持续时间,言语智商(IQ),和性能IQ。
结果:TLE患者的总体有效率降低,特征路径长度增加。在患者的分数各向异性加权网络中检测到总共31个具有淋巴结效率改变的区域。通信枢纽,比如颞中回,右颞下回,左边的calcarine,和右顶叶上回,与NC相比,患者的分布也不同。几个淋巴结区域显示与癫痫的持续时间密切相关,言语智商,和性能IQ。
结论:我们的结果表明TLE患者的WM结构网络被破坏。本研究可能有助于进一步了解TLE的病理机制。
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies have demonstrated white matter (WM) abnormalities in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). However, alterations in the topological properties of the WM structural network in patients with TLE remain unclear. Graph theoretical analysis provides a new perspective for evaluating the connectivity of WM structural networks.
DTI was used to map the structural networks of 18 patients with TLE (10 males and 8 females) and 29 (17 males and 12 females) age- and gender-matched normal controls (NC). Graph theory was used to analyze the whole-brain networks and their topological properties between the two groups. Finally, partial correlation analyses were performed on the weighted network properties and clinical characteristics, namely, duration of epilepsy, verbal intelligence quotient (IQ), and performance IQ.
Patients with TLE exhibited reduced global efficiency and increased characteristic path length. A total of 31 regions with nodal efficiency alterations were detected in the fractional anisotropy_ weighted network of the patients. Communication hubs, such as the middle temporal gyrus, right inferior temporal gyrus, left calcarine, and right superior parietal gyrus, were also differently distributed in the patients compared with the NC. Several node regions showed close relationships with duration of epilepsy, verbal IQ, and performance IQ.
Our results demonstrate the disruption of the WM structural network in TLE patients. This study may contribute to the further understanding of the pathological mechanism of TLE.