title: Abnormal spontaneous brain activity in minimal hepatic encephalopathy: resting-state fMRI study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to assess the abnormality of baseline spontaneous brain activity in minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) by amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and fraction ALFF (fALFF).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 14 MHE patients and 14 healthy controls were included in our study. Both ALFF and fALFF of functional magnetic resonance imaging were calculated for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with healthy controls, patients with MHE had significantly decreased ALFF in the bilateral medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), left superior frontal gyrus, right precentral gyrus, left opercular part of inferior frontal gyrus, left gyrus rectus, bilateral precuneus, and the posterior lobe of right cerebellum; and they had significantly decreased fALFF in the bilateral MPFC, right middle frontal gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus, and the posterior lobe of left cerebellum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ALFF and fALFF changes in many brain regions demonstrate abnormality of the spontaneous neuronal activity in MHE. Especially the impairment of right precuneus and left MPFC may play a critical role in manifestation of MHE. Changes of ALFF and fALFF in the precuneus and the MPFC can be used as a potential marker for MHE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. zhaojiannong3060@163.com.
authors.forename: Wei-Jia
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Zhi-Ming
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jian-Nong
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Da-Jing
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology