| This topic is divided into two parts. The first for the use of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to detect cellular level metabolic changes in thalamus in patients with vascular cognitive impairment no dementia(VCIND). To investigate characteristics of changes of 1H-MRS biochemical metabolite parameters and to analyze it's correlation with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score. In the second part, using magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) technology to understand whether any diffusion characteristic abnormalities are present in thalamus in patients with VCIND. To investigate characteristics of changes of DTI parameters and analyze it's correlation with the MoCA score. Evaluating the application values of 1H-MRS and DTI examination on thalamus in early diagnosis, course of disease monitoring and efficacy evaluation of VCIND.Part I Study of Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy on Thalamus in Patients with Vascular Cognitive Impairment no DementiaObjective Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) technology to understand the characteristics of changes of 1H-MRS biochemical metabolite parameters in thalamus in patients with vascular cognitive impairment no dementia(VCIND),and to assess the application values of 1H-MRS examination on thalamus in the diagnosis of VCIND.Materials and Methods The research was performed in 24 VCIND patients and 24 matched conditions volunteers. All patients and controls received 1H-MRS examination.For each individual,relative concentrations of biochemical metabolites including N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline compound (Cho) and creatine compound (Cr) were detected in amb-thalamus. And a quantitative analysis were made on the measured values. Moreover, the correlations between ratios of NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr and scores of MoCA were analyzed in VCIND group.Results 1. Compared with control group, the ratios of NAA/Cr on region of interest of amb-thalamus were significantly decreased in VCIND group, and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). The ratios of Cho / Cr in both sides of thalamus showed no significant difference between the two groups (P> 0.05); 2. The ratios of NAA/Cr on the left region of interest were lower than the opposite in VCIND group,and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). And the ratios of NAA/Cr between both sides of thalamus compared no significant difference in control group (P> 0.05).The ratios of Cho / Cr between both sides of thalamus compared no significant difference in both groups (P> 0.05).There is no significant difference between the two groups about asymmetry index of NAA / Cr, Cho / Cr values (P> 0.05); 3. A significant positive correlation was present between the ratios of NAA/Cr in amb-thalamus and the MoCA score (P <0.05), and the ratios of Cho / Cr in amb-thalamus showed no significant correlation with MoCA score in VCIND group (P> 0.05).Conclusion There were any changes on the concentration levels of thalamus biochemical metabolites in patients with VCIND. Changes of 1H-MRS index can objectively reflect the lesions of thalamus in VCIND patients.Thalamic lesions might be one of the important causes of cognitive impairment in patients with VCIND. 1H-MRS examination on thalamus is helpful for the diagnosis and pathogenetic condition monitoring of VCIND.Part II Study of Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Tensor Imaging on Thalamus in Patients with Vascular Cognitive Impairment no Dementia Objective Using magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) technology to understand whether any diffusion characteristic abnormalities are present in thalamus in patients with VCIND. To investigate characteristics of changes of DTI parameters and analyze it's correlation with MoCA score. Evaluating the application values of DTI examination on thalamus in early diagnosis of VCIND.Materials and Methods The research was performed in 24 VCIND patients and 24 matched conditions volunteers. All patients and controls received DTI scanning, and data collected were performed post-processing after scanning. The values of mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were measured on both sides of region of interest in thalamus.And a quantitative analysis were made on the measured values. Moreover, the correlations between scores of MoCA and MD, FA values were analyzed in VCIND group.Results 1. Compared with control group, the MD values on region of interest of amb-thalamus were significantly increased in VCIND group, and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). The FA values in both sides of thalamus showed no significant difference between the two groups (P> 0.05); 2. There was a lateralization difference of MD values in VCIND group. The MD values on the left region of interest were higher than the opposite in VCIND group,and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). And the MD values between both sides of thalamus compared no significant difference in control group (P> 0.05).The FA values between both sides of thalamus compared no significant difference in both groups (P> 0.05).There is no significant difference between the two groups about asymmetry index of MD,FA values (P> 0.05); 3. A significant positive correlation was present between the MD values in amb-thalamus and the MoCA score (P <0.05), and the FA values in amb-thalamus showed no significant correlation with MoCA score in VCIND group (P> 0.05).Conclusion There were any diffusion characteristic abnormalities in thalamus in patients with VCIND. DTI technique can sensitively detect out the possible existing delitescence lesions of thalamus in patients with VCIND. There was a intimate relationship between thalamic lesions and VCIND,and thalamic lesions might be responsible for cognitive impairment in patients with VCIND. DTI examination on thalamus is helpful for the early diagnosis of VCIND.
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