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Citation
Tags
HERO ID
7135935
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Heavy smokers show abnormal microstructural integrity in the anterior corpus callosum: A diffusion tensor imaging study with tract-based spatial statistics
Author(s)
Lin, F; Wu, G; Zhu, L; Lei, Hao; ,
Year
2013
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
ISSN:
0376-8716
Publisher
ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
Location
CLARE
Page Numbers
82-87
PMID
23062873
DOI
10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.09.013
Web of Science Id
WOS:000316827600011
Abstract
Background: Abnormal macrostructural brain abnormalities in both gray matter and white matter have been reported in cigarette smokers. However, less is known about white matter microstructure in heavy cigarette smokers. In this study, we used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate the integrity of the white matter microstructure in heavy smokers.Methods: Thirty-four heavy smokers and 34 non-smokers participated in this study. Whole brain analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA) was performed using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) to detect abnormal white matter regions between groups. Volume-of-interest (VOI) analysis was used to investigate changes in diffusivity indices in the regions showing FA abnormalities. Multiple regression analysis was applied to assess the relationships between diffusion indices and smoking-related variables in heavy smokers.Results: Compared with non-smokers, heavy smokers had lower FA in the left anterior (i.e., the genu and rostral body) corpus callosum while exhibiting no areas of higher FA. In the affected region, FA reduction was accompanied by a significantly decreased axial diffusivity and increased radial diffusivity, which suggests that axonal damage and disrupted myelin integrity may be associated with the degraded white matter integrity in heavy smokers. Moreover, significant positive correlations were found between both radial diffusivity and mean diffusivity and the duration of regular smoking.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that heavy smokers demonstrate abnormal integrity of the white matter microstructure in the anterior corpus callosum, which is related to the duration of regular smoking. In addition, our study may increase the understanding of the neurobiological basis of chronic cigarette smoking. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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