Increased Laterality of the Thalamus in Children and Adolescents with Asperger's Disorder: An MRI and Proton Spectroscopy Study

OBJECTIVE: Thalamic abnormalities have been reported in people with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) including Asperger's Disorder (ASP). The aim of the present study was to compare the volume and volume fraction of the thalamus and the metabolite concentrations in children and adolescents with ASP using the magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Additionally, the relationships between thalamic abnormalities and clinical features were examined. METHODS: Volume and volume fractional and metabolic measurements of bilateral thalamus were collected from 15 boys with ASP with a total IQ over 70 (age range 7-18 years, mean age 11.6+/-3.79 years), and 15 healthy controls matching age, sex and IQ. The thalamic volumes, hemisphere volumes and total brain volumes (TBV) were estimated using the stereological methods on magnetic resonance images. Chemical metabolites of thalamus were evaluated by 1H spectroscopy. RESULTS: No differences in thalamic volumes, volume fractions and metabolites were observed between the groups. There were significant correlation between thalamic volume and total brain volume in both groups. The ASP group showed a significant left-minus-right thalamus difference as well as a significantly greater laterality index. In addition, a significant correlation between the laterality index and Autism Behavior Checklist language scores was observed. CONCLUSION: Findings from this investigation point to a significant increase in laterality of the thalamus and a relationship with language problems in individuals with ASP. Our findings suggest that thalamic abnormalities may be related to mild language problems observed in ASP.

Increased Laterality of the Thalamus in Children and Adolescents with Asperger's Disorder: An MRI and Proton Spectroscopy Study

OBJECTIVE: Thalamic abnormalities have been reported in people with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) including Asperger's Disorder (ASP). The aim of the present study was to compare the volume and volume fraction of the thalamus and the metabolite concentrations in children and adolescents with ASP using the magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Additionally, the relationships between thalamic abnormalities and clinical features were examined. METHODS: Volume and volume fractional and metabolic measurements of bilateral thalamus were collected from 15 boys with ASP with a total IQ over 70 (age range 7-18 years, mean age 11.6+/-3.79 years), and 15 healthy controls matching age, sex and IQ. The thalamic volumes, hemisphere volumes and total brain volumes (TBV) were estimated using the stereological methods on magnetic resonance images. Chemical metabolites of thalamus were evaluated by 1H spectroscopy. RESULTS: No differences in thalamic volumes, volume fractions and metabolites were observed between the groups. There were significant correlation between thalamic volume and total brain volume in both groups. The ASP group showed a significant left-minus-right thalamus difference as well as a significantly greater laterality index. In addition, a significant correlation between the laterality index and Autism Behavior Checklist language scores was observed. CONCLUSION: Findings from this investigation point to a significant increase in laterality of the thalamus and a relationship with language problems in individuals with ASP. Our findings suggest that thalamic abnormalities may be related to mild language problems observed in ASP.

Volume and volume fraction of the lateral ventricles in schizophrenic patients

Schizophrenia is the most common and the most severe psychiatric disorder which generally results in atrophy of brain. The aim of this study is measurement of the volume of cerebrum, volume and volume fraction of the lateral ventricles using magnetic resonance imaging in combination with stereology, to detect the alterations in schizophrenics. In the present study 88 control and 57 schizophrenic subjects were participated. Structural magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] was done to both groups with SIEMENS 1.5 Tesla scanner. The Dicom images were analyzed using the ImageJ software. The volumes of cerebrum and lateral ventricles were estimated using the planimetry technique of stereological methods. The volume fraction of lateral ventricles was also estimated. According to the present findings, the mean volume of right, left, and total hemispheres in controls were 550.81, 550.21, 1101.02 cm[3], respectively. The mean volume of right, left, and total lateral ventricles in controls were 6.61, 7.39, 13.99 cm[3], respectively. The mean volume of right, left, and total lateral ventricles in schizophrenics were 7.22, 8.41, 15.63 cm[3], respectively. Volume fraction of the lateral ventricles was higher in schizophrenics [p<0.05]. The results showed that the volumes of schizophrenics' brain were smaller than the controls. However, the volume fractional changes in schizophrenics showed sex dependant differences that may help in the diagnosis of the disorder

estimation of cerebral asymmetries in schizophrenia by the Cavalieri principle

To demonstrate hemispheric asymmetry in patients with schizophrenia using a cheap, simple stereologic method on the basis of standard CT scans of the brain. To demonstrate hemispheric asymmetry, standard CT scans of 30 schizophrenic patients [14 males, 16 females] were compared with 39 [13 male, 26 female] control subjects at Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey in 2005. Brain volumes were investigated by using a cheap, simple stereologic method, namely, Cavalieri. In patients with schizophrenia, we found that as age increases, right and left hemisphere volumes decrease. However, in the control group there was no relationship found between age and hemisphere volumes. In the control group, the left hemisphere was significantly bigger in males compared to females. There was a significant difference in both right and left hemisphere volumes between the control group and the schizophrenic group. In the schizophrenic group, a significant difference was observed in right hemisphere volumes between genders [p = 0.002], while there was no difference in the control group. There was a difference in left hemisphere volumes between genders in both groups. Right and left hemispheric volumes of the schizophrenic group were smaller than those of control group. Cerebral asymmetry is an arguable subject for the diagnosis of schizophrenia. The method that we used in this study will be useful in estimating hemispheric volumes