An Initial Study And Correlation Analysis Of Brain White Matter And Gray Matter Lesions In Multiple Sclerosis

Objective:This study applied 3.0T magnetic resonance T1 images and diffusion tensor imaging technology, combined with the tract-based spatial statics method and voxel-based morphometry method, to observe the white matter and gray matter in multiple sclerosis, and to definite the changes and meaning of FA value of DTI in white matter,and the feature of gray matter changes in gray matter, at last we analyzed the correlation of FA index and gray matter volume in different places.Materials and methods:According to the Mc Donald 2010 diagnostic criteria, we collected 20 cases of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis(RRMS) patients that visited the China and Japan union hospital of Jilin university during September 2013 to September 2015 which made up of the patient group, the control group consisted of 20 healthy volunteers whose ages were matched with the patient group. Both the patient group and the control group received the routine MRI and DTI check, the patients group also accepted the expanded disability status scale(EDSS)testing in order to evaluate the extent of neurologic impairment.1. Using the TBSS formation in Functional MRI software Library(FSL5.0.9) to take a one-stop tracking the white matter fibers and processing for the data, and using the Randomize formation in FSL to take multiple comparison analysis, in the process we used nonparametric randomized permutation test, the number was 5000, and took the method of threshold-free cluster enhancement to revise the type I error. P<0.05 was considered to have statistical significance. About above process, we could use the tool-PANDA(pipeline for analyzing brain diffusion images) to take one-stop process.2. Using MRIcro N software for T1 image preprocessing, and using VBM 5(the tool of SPM5 software) for the analysis on the level of voxel,including standardization, segmentation, smoothing steps, finally we applied SPM’s own statistics tool by making use of two sample t-test method to statistically analysis the two groups of data, threshold was0.05(using FDR correction), more than 10 voxels’ combination was considered to have statistical meaning. Using SPM5 to generate results report, with its’ slice and section function we could observed the images preliminary, the group statistical results could be rendered to three-dimensional surface of the brain, with xj View tool the statistical activated location could be showed to us.3. Using SPSS 22.0 analysed the correlation of FA values and gray matter volume changes in different positions. We taked normality analysis respectively of the FA values and voxel sizes, and found thecorrelation of FA values and gray matter volume changes in different locations through the Pearson correlation analysis, P<0.05 was considered to have statistical significance. Because gray matter atrophy in patients group mostly concentrated in the right hemisphere, and white matter FA value lowered mainly in the contact fiber(cingulate gyrus, inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus, superior longitudinal fasciculus,anterior longitudinal fasciculus, fasciculus uncinatus), so we mainly analyzed the correlation of gray matter atrophy and the contact fiber.Results:1.The FA values were extensive decrease in the whole brain white matter fiber tracts of MS patient group(P<0.05). The FA values of genu and splenium of corpus callosum, the left side of anterior thalamic radiation, cingulate cortex, hippocampus, the longitudinal fasciculus,uncinate fasciculus, the right side of the corticospinal tract, cingulate cortex, longitudinal fasciculus were significantly lower than the control group, which had significant statistical significance(P < 0.01).2. the gray matter volume of MS patients reduced than the control group in the following sites: the right side of the frontal lobes( superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, anterior central gyrus and gyri orbitales), the parietal lobe(posterior central gyrus, anterior parietal gyrus), the temporal lobe(caudate nucleus) and occipital lobe(middleoccipital gyrus), the insula, the parahippocampal gyrus, and the left cingulate gyrus, which had statistically significant difference(P < 0.05).3.Through the Pearson correlation analysis, it was concluded that FA value in contact fiber and gray matter atrophy of MS group were positively correlated.Conclusion:1.The FA values were extensive decrease in the whole brain white matter fiber tracts of MS patient group. MS patients had atrophy on gray matters. The gray matter volume of MS patients reduced mainly in frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, caudate nucleus, parahippocampal gyrus, and the cingulate gyrus.2.By using TBSS for post-processing of the images we could quantitatively analyze the integrity degree of cerebral white matter, we coule timely find the hidden damage of brain white matter, which provide objective and accurate imaging basis in the direction of the clinical diagnosis.3.The gray matter atrophy of MS patients was closely associated with white matter lesions, especially related to the contact fiber damage.