Magnetic resonance imaging-based assessment of hippocampal glutamate and morphometric changes in preterm infants at term-equivalent age with low birth weight.
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Low birth weight and preterm infants may have higher risks of poor health. As the key brain region for learning and memory, normal development of the hippocampus is crucial for the cognitive abilities of preterm infants.
Objective: This study aimed to analyze hippocampal glutamate (Glu) levels and morphometric changes in preterm infants at term-equivalent age (TEA) with different birth weights.
Materials and methods: Eighty-seven infants (23 full-term infants and 64 preterm infants) born between 2023 and 2025, underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at TEA. Glutamate chemical exchange saturation transfer (GluCEST) MRI and 3D-SPACE were used to assess hippocampal Glu levels and morphometric changes. The preterm cohort was categorized by birth weight: preterm infants born at extremely and very low birth weight (Group 1), preterm infants born at low birth weight (Group 2) and preterm infants born at normal birth weight (Group 3). Full-term infants born at normal birth weight (Group 4) were included as controls.
Results: Group 1 exhibited elevated Glu levels, Group 2 showed intermediate Glu levels. In infants with normal birth weight, preterm at TEA have higher glutamate levels than full-term infants. No differences were observed in the bilateral hippocampal Glu levels within each group. The bilateral hippocampal volume, surface area, and long diameter in Group 1 were all significantly smaller than those in Group 3. Morphological analysis revealed rightward hippocampal asymmetry in all preterm groups.
Conclusion: Birth weight significantly influences hippocampal glutamate levels and morphology in preterm infants. These findings offer new insights into the metabolic variations in preterm neurodevelopment.
期刊介绍：
Official Journal of the European Society of Pediatric Radiology, the Society for Pediatric Radiology and the Asian and Oceanic Society for Pediatric Radiology
Pediatric Radiology informs its readers of new findings and progress in all areas of pediatric imaging and in related fields. This is achieved by a blend of original papers, complemented by reviews that set out the present state of knowledge in a particular area of the specialty or summarize specific topics in which discussion has led to clear conclusions. Advances in technology, methodology, apparatus and auxiliary equipment are presented, and modifications of standard techniques are described.
Manuscripts submitted for publication must contain a statement to the effect that all human studies have been reviewed by the appropriate ethics committee and have therefore been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in an appropriate version of the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki. It should also be stated clearly in the text that all persons gave their informed consent prior to their inclusion in the study. Details that might disclose the identity of the subjects under study should be omitted.
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