Author:
Zhang Jiana,Luo Yuhan,Zhong Linchang,Liu Huiming,Yang Zhengkun,Weng Ai,Zhang Yue,Zhang Weixi,Yan Zhicong,Xu Jinping,Liu Gang,Peng Kangqiang,Ou Zilin
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Accumulating neuroimaging evidence indicates that patients with cervical dystonia (CD) have changes in the cortico-subcortical white matter (WM) bundle. However, whether these patients’ WM structural networks undergo reorganization remains largely unclear. We aimed to investigate topological changes in large-scale WM structural networks in patients with CD compared to healthy controls (HCs), and explore the network changes associated with clinical manifestations.
Methods
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was conducted in 30 patients with CD and 30 HCs, and WM network construction was based on the BNA-246 atlas and deterministic tractography. Based on the graph theoretical analysis, global and local topological properties were calculated and compared between patients with CD and HCs. Then, the AAL-90 atlas was used for the reproducibility analyses. In addition, the relationship between abnormal topological properties and clinical characteristics was analyzed.
Results
Compared with HCs, patients with CD showed changes in network segregation and resilience, characterized by increased local efficiency and assortativity, respectively. In addition, a significant decrease of network strength was also found in patients with CD relative to HCs. Validation analyses using the AAL-90 atlas similarly showed increased assortativity and network strength in patients with CD. No significant correlations were found between altered network properties and clinical characteristics in patients with CD.
Conclusion
Our findings show that reorganization of the large-scale WM structural network exists in patients with CD. However, this reorganization is attributed to dystonia-specific abnormalities or hyperkinetic movements that need further identification.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province
Guangdong Key Project
Guangzhou Key Project
Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases
Southern China International Cooperation Base for Early Intervention and Functional Rehabilitation of Neurological Diseases
Shenzhen Science and Technology Research Program
Guangdong Provincial Engineering Center for Major Neurological Disease Treatment
Guangdong Provincial Translational Medicine Innovation Platform for Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Disease
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC