Altered Brain Functional Network Topology Studies In Betel Quid Dependence

Objective:Betel quid dependence（BQD）is a chronic recurrent brain disease characterized by loss of self-control and compulsive repeated use of drugs.Long term chewing can increase the risk of a variety of cancers such as oral cancer and other chronic diseases.but the mechanism of BQD is still not clear,and there is no effective treatment.This study was conducted to investigate the changes in the topological properties of the whole brain functional network of BQD,to provide the basis for the imaging of the neural mechanism of BQD,and to provide clues for the prevention and intervention of betel nut addicts.Methods:The resting-state 3T functional magnetic resonance imaging data of fifty-three BQD individuals and thirty-seven healthy controls（HC）were collected.The automated anatomical labeling atlas（AAL）was used to construct the whole brain functional connectivity network.The global and local attribute of the large-scale functional connectivity network were analyzed by using graph theory.Two-sample t test was used to compared the brain network topological property between groups.Conduct correlation analysis between the brain areas with significant differences in node properties and the betel quid dependence scale（BQDS）and duration of BQD group.Results:1.The whole brain functional network of BQD group and HC group has typical small world properties.2.Normalized weighted characteristic shortest path length（λ）of the BQD group increased significantly compared to that of the HC group（P value<0.05）.3.Compared with the healthy control subjects,the nodal global efficiency(E_iglob)of the left hippocampus in the BQD subjects was decreased.The nodal local efficiency(E_iloc)of bilateral thalamus was decreased（P value<0.05）.The betweenness centrality parameter value（Be）of right superior temporal gyrus and left orbital inferior frontal gyrus decreased.The Be value in the left posterior cingulate gyrus,right supplementary motor area,right medial superior frontal gyrus,right insula,right hippocampus,right supramarginal gyrus,right postcentral gyrus,right superior parietal gyrus and right paracentric lobule increased（P value<0.05）.After FPA correction（P value<0.011）,the Be value of left posterior cingulate gyrus,right postcentral gyrus and right supramarginal gyrus in BQD group was significantly higher than that in HC subjects.Conclusions:By using the method of graph theory,the study of the topological properties of the whole brain functional network in the patients with BQD shows that although the patients with BQD still have the property of"small world",some topological properties within the brain function network have changed,This study revealed the abnormal functions of the default network,reward control network,inhibition control network and affective decision-making system of BQD patients,which is helpful to provide the image basis of brain network mechanism for the neural mechanism of BQD,and then provide clues for the intervention and prevention of areca addicts.