title: Alteration of spontaneous brain activity in COPD patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Airflow limitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) results in a decrease in oxygen transport to the brain. The aim of the present study was to explore the alteration of spontaneous brain activity induced by hypoxia in patients with COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five stable patients with COPD and 25 matching healthy volunteers were investigated. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) of blood oxygenation level-dependent signal at resting state in the brain was analyzed using functional magnetic resonance imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whole-brain analysis using functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed significant decreases in ALFF in the bilateral posterior cingulate gyri and right lingual gyrus and an increase in ALFF in the left postcentral gyrus of patients with COPD. After controlling for SaO2, patients with COPD only showed an increase in ALFF in the left postcentral gyrus. Region of interest analysis showed a decrease in ALFF in the left precentral gyrus and an increase in ALFF in the left caudate nucleus of patients with COPD. In all subjects, ALFF in the bilateral posterior cingulate gyri and right lingual gyrus showed positive correlations with visual reproduction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated abnormal spontaneous brain activity of patients with COPD, which may have a pathophysiologic meaning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiangan.
authors.forename: Jiaxing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiangan.
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiangan.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiangan.
authors.forename: Cunxiu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiangan.
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Magnetic Resonance Center, Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian.
authors.forename: Jianzhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Magnetic Resonance Center, Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian.
authors.forename: Tianhe
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive Sciences, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D058256:Brain Waves; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; hypoxia; low-frequency fluctuation; neuronal activity; resting-state fMRI