title: Application of brain multi-b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in adolescent orphans from AIDS families.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the application value of multi-b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with mono-exponential model and stretched-exponential model in the diagnosis of HIV-positive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multi-b-value (0, 50, 150, 200, 400, 600, 800 s mm(-2)) DWI was performed in 23 adolescent orphans from AIDS families, including 15 HIV-positive subjects and 8 HIV-negative healthy subjects. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were fitted by mono-exponential model; distribution diffusion coefficient (DDC) values and heterogeneity index (α) values were fitted by stretched-exponential model in bilateral basal ganglia, then non-parametric tests were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The signal intensity attenuation in multi-b-value DWI could be well described by both mono-exponential model and stretched-exponential model. In the left basal ganglia, mean α-values in HIV-positive subjects (α = 0.848 ± 0.068) were significantly lower than that in healthy subjects (α = 0.923 ± 0.050, p = 0.013). There was no statistical difference of α-values between HIV-positive subjects and healthy control subjects in the right basal ganglia. Apart from these, there were also no statistical differences of DDC values or ADC values between two groups in bilateral basal ganglia (all p > 0.05). In bilateral basal ganglia, DDC values were positively correlated with ADC values in HIV-positive patients (right basal ganglia: r = 0.832, p = 0.000; left basal ganglia: r = 0.770, p = 0.001) as well as in healthy cases (right basal ganglia: r = 0.927, p = 0.001; left basal ganglia: r = 0.878, p = 0.004). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis yielded area under the ROC curve (Az) values of 0.817 (p = 0.014 < 0.05) in the left basal ganglia. The sensitivity and specificity were 62.5% and 86.7%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Through the study of asymptomatic HIV-positive subjects when b < 1000 s mm(-2), we can see stretched-exponential model DWI can provide more information than mono-exponential model DWI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multi-b-value DWI was performed in subjects with HIV. DWI measurements could be neuroimaging biomarkers of cerebral injury in the course of HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: 1 Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Da-Zhen
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: 1 Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: 1 Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Ding-Yi
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: 1 Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Qing
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: 2 Medical Imaging Department of the Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Guang-Yao
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: 1 Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Quan
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D054540:Child, Orphaned; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male