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Objective
To study the changes of brain function in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) by using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) based on the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) method.
Methods
A cross-sectional study method was performed, 34 cases of non-proliferative DR patients treated in the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University during July 2018 to March 2019 were collected.Meanwhile, 34 healthy volunteers with matched age, gender, and education years were recruited.All subjects were performed with conventional MRI scanning and rs-fMRI scanning, then the fALFF values in the whole brain were calculated, and the differences of neuronal activities between the two groups were explored.This research protocol was approved by the Ethic Committee of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, and written informed consent was obtained from each subject before any medical examination.
Results
The fALFF values of DR patients in the left inferior temporal gyrus, left cerebellum, right pallidum, left supplementary motor area, and right superior orbitofrontal gyrus were -0.58±0.29, -0.47±0.39, -0.37±0.24, -0.31±0.26 and 0.29±0.49, respectively, which were significantly higher than -1.03±0.29, -0.90±0.31, -0.78±0.22, -0.72±0.21 and-0.17±0.46 of the normal control (voxel level P<0.01, gaussian random field correction, cluster level P<0.05)(all at P<0.001).
Conclusions
Abnormal spontaneous neuronal activities occur in the left inferior temporal gyrus, left cerebellum, right pallidum, left supplementary motor area, and right superior orbitofrontal gyrus of DR patients.These abnormalities may associate with cognitive, vision and emotion.