title: Abnormality of spontaneous brain activities in patients with chronic neck and shoulder pain: A resting-state fMRI study.
abstract: Objectives Chronic gneck and shoulder pain (CNSP) is a common clinical symptom of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Several studies using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) have reported that most chronic pain diseases are accompanied by structural and functional changes in the brain. However, few rs-fMRI studies have examined CNSP. The current study investigated cerebral structural and functional changes in CNSP patients. Methods In total, 25 CNSP patients and 20 healthy volunteers participated in the study. 3D-T1W and rs-fMRI images were acquired. Voxel-based morphometry analysis was applied to structural images, and regional homogeneity (ReHo) was extracted from rs-fMRI. Statistical analysis was performed on post-processing images and ReHo parameter maps. Results The results revealed no significant differences in brain structure between the two groups. In the patient group, ReHo values were significantly increased in the bilateral middle frontal gyrus and decreased in the left insula, superior frontal gyrus, middle cingulate gyrus, supplementary motor area, right postcentral gyrus, and superior parietal lobule. Conclusions This initial structural and rs-fMRI study of CNSP revealed characteristic features of spontaneous brain activity of CNSP patients. These findings may be helpful for increasing our understanding of the neuropathology of CNSP.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science of China Three Gorges University and Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yichang, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Cheng-Xin
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science of China Three Gorges University and Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yichang, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Ting-Ting
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science of China Three Gorges University and Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yichang, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science of China Three Gorges University and Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yichang, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science of China Three Gorges University and Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yichang, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science of China Three Gorges University and Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yichang, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 2 Clinical Science, Philips Healthcare, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Zheng
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Zhuo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012146:Rest; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Chronic neck and shoulder pain; fasting; regional homogeneity; resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging; spontaneous brain activity; voxel-based morphometry