title: Disrupted white matter integrity in heroin dependence: a controlled study utilizing diffusion tensor imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fractional anisotropy (FA) via diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can quantify the white matter integrity. Exposure to addictive drugs, such as alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and nicotine has been shown to alter FA. White matter abnormalities have been shown, but it remains unclear whether the white matter FA is altered in heroin dependence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Utilizing DTI, we investigated the FA difference between heroin-dependent and control subjects by a voxel-based strategy. The FA values of the identified regions were calculated from the FA image of each subject and were correlated with clinical features including months of heroin use, age, education, and dose of methadone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reduced FA among 16 heroin dependent subjects was located in the bilateral frontal sub-gyral regions, right precentral and left cingulate gyrus. FA in the right frontal sub-gyral was negatively correlated with duration of heroin use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The disrupted white matter integrity in right frontal white matter may occur in continuous heroin abuse.
authors: Institute of Mental Health, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors: Haihong
authors: H
authors: Liu
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Li
authors: Yihui
authors: Y
authors: Hao
authors: Dong
authors: D
authors: Cao
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Xu
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Rohrbaugh
authors: Zhimin
authors: Z
authors: Xue
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Hao
authors: Baoci
authors: B
authors: Shan
authors: Zhening
authors: Z
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016880:Anisotropy; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008691:Methadone