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Functional and structural connectivity of the brain in very preterm babies: relationship with gestational age and body and brain growth

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Abstract

Background

Structural and functional changes of the brain have been reported in premature babies.

Objective

To evaluate the relationship of functional and structural connectivity with gestational age, body growth and brain maturation in very preterm babies.

Materials and methods

We studied 18 very preterm babies (gestational age: mean ± standard deviation, 29.7±1.7 weeks). We examined functional connectivity by multivariate pattern analysis of resting-state functional MRI data. We assessed structural connectivity by analysis of diffusion tensor imaging data and probabilistic tractography.

Results

The average functional connectivity of the medial orbitofrontal cortex with the rest of the brain was positively associated with gestational age (P<0.001). Fractional anisotropy of the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus was positively associated with head circumference at term-equivalent age. Structural connectivity of the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus with the medial orbitofrontal cortex was positively associated with head circumference at term-equivalent age. Body weight at term-equivalent age was the only independent predictor of average structural connectivity of the medial orbitofrontal cortex with the rest of the brain (P=0.020).

Conclusion

Structural and functional connectivity of the medial orbitofrontal cortex with the rest of the brain depend on body growth and degree of prematurity, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical School, University Hospital of Ioannina, P.O. Box 1186, 45110, Ioannina, Greece

    Vassiliki Mouka, Vasileios G. Xydis, Anastasia K. Zikou, Paraskevi Kosta & Maria I. Argyropoulou

  2. Neonatology Unit, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    Aikaterini Drougia & Styliani Andronikou

  3. Medical Physics, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    Loukas G. Astrakas

Authors
  1. Vassiliki Mouka
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  2. Aikaterini Drougia
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  3. Vasileios G. Xydis
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  4. Loukas G. Astrakas
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  5. Anastasia K. Zikou
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  6. Paraskevi Kosta
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  7. Styliani Andronikou
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  8. Maria I. Argyropoulou
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Correspondence to Maria I. Argyropoulou.

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Mouka, V., Drougia, A., Xydis, V.G. et al. Functional and structural connectivity of the brain in very preterm babies: relationship with gestational age and body and brain growth. Pediatr Radiol 49, 1078–1084 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-019-04412-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-019-04412-6

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