Neurosciences

Introduction

We have access to state-of-the-art MR systems (Philips 3T Elition, Siemens Magnetom Prisma) as well as dual-energy Siemens CT and advanced computational hardware and software enabling us to undertake advanced imaging-based research into the nervous system. We encourage and engage in multidisciplinary collaborative research and are dedicated to advancing the diagnosis and treatment of patients with nervous system disorders.  Our current research is directed towards: 

• Stroke and small vessel disease 
• Brain tumours 
• Multiple sclerosis
• Neurodegenerative disorders (dementias, movement disorders and prodromes)
• Developmental and paediatric neuroradiology

• Development & evaluation of novel imaging techniques for stroke diagnosis and assessment
• Identification of biomarkers associated with stroke severity and prognosis
• Acute stroke imaging with immediate assessment of core and penumbra
• Endovascular therapy, and minimally invasive treatment of cerebral aneurysms and vascular malformations; carotid artery stenting 
• Novel vascular imaging techniques 

Selected publications

Cerebral Hemodynamics Underlying Artery-to-Artery Embolism in Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease (2023)
Translational Stroke Research
Feng X, Fang H, Ip BYM, Chan KL, Li S, Tian X, Zheng L, Liu Y, Lan L, Liu H, Abrigo J, Ma SH, Fan FSY, Ip VHL, Soo YOY, Mok VCT, Song B, Leung TW, Xu Y, Leng X

Risk stratification in symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease with conventional vascular risk factors and cerebral haemodynamics (2023)
Stroke and Vascular Neurology
Xuan Tian, Hui Fang, Linfang Lan, Hing Lung Ip, Jill Abrigo, Haipeng Liu, Lina Zheng, Florence S Y Fan, Sze Ho Ma, Bonaventure Ip, Bo Song, Yuming Xu, Jingwei Li, Bing Zhang, Yun Xu, Yannie O Y Soo, Vincent Mok, Ka Sing Wong, Thomas W Leung, Xinyi Leng

Systemic Inflammatory Markers Associated with Progression of Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis under Medical Treatment (2023)
Xuan Tian, Shuang Li, Yuying Liu, Bonaventure YM Ip, Jill Abrigo, Linfang Lan, Haipeng Liu, Sze Ho MA, Ka Yan Karen MA, Sin Ying Fan, Hing Lung Ip, Yannie OY Soo, Alexander Lau, Howan Leung, Vincent CT Mok, Thomas Leung, Xinyi Leng
(Refereed conference paper presented and published in conference proceedings)

Effects of stent shape on focal hemodynamics in intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis:
A simulation study with computational fluid dynamics modeling (2022)
Frontiers in Neurology
Liu H, Liu Y, Ip BYM, Ma SH, Abrigo J, Soo YOY, Leung TW, Leng X

Current concepts in imaging diagnosis and screening of blunt cerebrovascular injuries (2022)
Tomography
So T, Sawhney A, Wang L, Wang W

Evolving ischemic stroke subtypes in 15 years: A hospital-based observational study (2022)
International Journal of Stroke
Ip YMB, Au L, Chan YYA, Fan F, Ip HL, Ma SH, Ma K, Mok VC, Lau AY, Leng X, Leung H, Wong A, Abrigo J, Wong KT, Yu S, Wong KSL, Soo Y, Leung T.

Comparison of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluid models in blood flow simulation in patients with intracranial arterial stenosis (2021)
Frontiers in Physiology
Liu H, Lan L, Abrigo J, Ip HL, Soo Y, Zheng D, Wong KS, Wang D, Shi L, Leung TW, Leng X

Strategic infarct locations for post-stroke cognitive impairment: a pooled analysis of individual patient data from 12 acute ischaemic stroke cohorts (2021)
Lancet Neurology
Nick A Weaver, Hugo J Kuijf, Hugo P Aben, Jill Abrigo, Hee-Joon Bae, Mélanie Barbay, Jonathan G Best, Régis Bordet, Francesca M Chappell, Christopher P L H Chen, Thibaut Dondaine, Ruben S van der Giessen, Olivier Godefroy, Bibek Gyanwali, Olivia K L Hamilton, Saima Hilal, Irene M C Huenges Wajer, Yeonwook Kang, L Jaap Kappelle, Beom Joon Kim, Sebastian Köhler, Paul L M de Kort, Peter J Koudstaal, Gregory Kuchcinski, Bonnie Y K Lam, Byung-Chul Lee, Keon-Joo Lee, Jae-Sung Lim, Renaud Lopes, Stephen D J Makin, Anne-Marie Mendyk, Vincent C T Mok, Mi Sun Oh, Robert J van Oostenbrugge, Martine Roussel, Lin Shi, Julie Staals, Maria Del C Valdés-Hernández, Narayanaswamy Venketasubramanian, Frans R J Verhey, Joanna M Wardlaw, David J Werring, Xu Xin, Kyung-Ho Yu, Martine J E van Zandvoort, Lei Zhao, J Matthijs Biesbroek, Geert Jan Biessels

Understanding the Clinical Implications of Intracranial Arterial Calcification Using Brain CT and Vessel Wall Imaging (2021)
Frontiers in Neurology
Yang WJ, Wasserman BA, Zheng L, Huang ZQ, Li J, Abrigo J, Wong SS, Ying MT, Chu WC, Wong LK, Leung TW, Chen XY

Intracranial Arterial Calcification Relates to Long-Term Risk of Recurrent Stroke and Post-stroke Mortality (2020)
Frontiers in Neurology
Wu X, Bos D, Ren L, Leung TW, Chu WC, Wong LKS, Abrigo J, Chen XY

• Improving the detection, characterization, and staging of brain tumours
• Improving differentiation of benign and malignant tumours 
• Improving tumour localization for surgical planning and treatment 
• Improved assessment of tumour growth, therapy response, and recurrence

Selected publications

Predictive performance of linear and nonlinear models for meningioma tumor grade prediction based on multiparametric MRI. Cai Z, Wong Y, Wang L, Wong L, So TY*. American Society of Neuroradiology Annual Meeting 2023.

Cai, Z.; Wong, L.M.; Wong, Y.H.; Lee, H.L.; Li, K.Y.; So, T.Y*. Dual-Level Augmentation Radiomics Analysis for Multisequence MRI Meningioma Grading. Cancers 2023, 15, 5459. 

Young CYM, Abrigo JM, Lai BMH. Update on diffuse gliomas in adults: A radiologist’s primer. 30th Annual Scientific Meeting of Hong Kong College of Radiologists, 2022

Depicting multiple schwannomas-a tale of two magnetic resonance neurogram techniques (2022)
Hong Kong Medical Journal Leung HS, Abrigo JM, Lau EHL, Chu WCW

Volumetric analysis of pre-treatment magnetic resonance imaging in glioblastoma for prediction of overall survival (2021)
Tiffany Y So, Meirui Jiang, Apurva Sawhney, Qi Dou. The British Institute of Radiology Annual Congress 2021

Abrigo JM, Fountain DM, Provenzale JM, Law EK, Kwong JS, Hart MG, Tam WWS. Magnetic resonance perfusion for differentiating low-grade from high-grade gliomas at first presentation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Jan 22;1:CD011551. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011551.pub2. 

Tam MH, Wong GK, Ip M, Kam MK, Abrigo JM, Zhu XL, Poon WS. Management outcome of NPC-related and non-NPC-related brain abscess in Hong Kong. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2012 Jul;114(6):560-3. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2011.11.028.

• Devising novel imaging techniques for detection and evaluation of lesions and active inflammation 
• Identification of disease patterns and distribution to improve diagnosis and classification.
• Assessment of structural and functional brain abnormalities in patients with multiple sclerosis

Selected publications

Macromolecular Proton Fraction Mapping Based on Spin-Lock (MPF-SL) Imaging of the Normal Appearing White Matter (NAWM) and Normal Appearing Grey Matter (NAGM) in Relapsing- Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Cai Z, Hou J, Wang L, Wong Y, Abrigo J, Lau AY, Choi C, Chen W, So TY. European Congress of Radiology, 2023.

Zhao L, Abrigo J, Chen Q, Au C, Ng A, Fan P, Mok V, Qiu W, Kermode AG, Lau AY. Advanced MRI features in relapsing multiple sclerosis patients with and without CSF oligoclonal IgG bands. Sci Rep. 2020 Aug 13;10(1):13703. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-70693-9.

Zhao L, Ng A, Chen Q, Lam B, Abrigo J, Au C, Mok VCT, Wong A, Lau AY. Impaired cognition is related to microstructural integrity in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2020 Jun 9. doi: 10.1002/acn3.51100.  

Lau A, Abrigo J, Shi L, Chen Q, Au C, Ng A, Yu S, Mok V. Validation of fully automated total brain volumetric analysis by AccuBrain as Compared to SIENAX for multiple sclerosis. 34th Congress of the European Committe for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, 10-12 October 2018, Berlin, Germany.

Lau AY, Ip WK, Au C, Lau KK, Wong W, Yip KK, Yeung J, Li SH, Li P, Lee R, Sistrokeu D, Abrigo J, Wong A, Mok V, Chan E. Prevalence of neutralising antibodies to interferon-beta and clinical response in Chinese patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin. 2017 Oct 9;3(4):2055217317733485. doi: 10.1177/2055217317733485.

• Assessment of changes in brain structure related to memory loss, behavioural change and cognitive decline.
• Identification and monitoring of biomarkers associated with neurodegenerative disease.
• Identification of biomarkers to aid early detection and outcome prediction 
• Monitoring disease progression and treatment response

Selected publications

Alzheimer’s Disease

Chen Q, Abrigo J, Deng M, Shi L, Wang YX, Chu WCW; Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Diffusion Changes in Hippocampal Cingulum in Early Biologically Defined Alzheimer’s Disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2022 Dec 14. doi: 10.3233/JAD-220671.

Chen Q, Abrigo J, Liu W, Han EY, Yeung DKW, Shi L, Au LWC, Deng M, Chen S, Leung EYL, Ho CL, Mok VCT, Chu WCW. Lower Posterior Cingulate N-Acetylaspartate to Creatine Level in Early Detection of Biologically Defined Alzheimer’s Disease. Brain Sci. 2022 May 31;12(6):722. doi: 10.3390/brainsci12060722.

Liu W, Au LWC, Abrigo J, Luo Y, Wong A, Lam BYK, Fan X, Kwan PWL, Ma HW, Ng AYT, Chen S, Leung EYL, Ho CL, Wong SHM, Chu WC, Ko H, Lau AYL, Shi L, Mok VCT; Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. MRI-based Alzheimer’s disease-resemblance atrophy index in the detection of preclinical and prodromal Alzheimer’s disease. Aging (Albany NY). 2021 May 25;13(10):13496-13514. doi: 10.18632/aging.203082. 

Au CKF, Abrigo J, Liu C, Liu W, Lee J, Au LWC, Chan Q, Chen S, Leung EYL, Ho CL, Ko H, Mok VCT, Chen W. Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping of the Hippocampal Fimbria in Alzheimer’s Disease. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2020 Dec 9. doi: 10.1002/jmri.27464.

Abrigo J, Shi L, Luo Y, Chen Q, Chu WCW, Mok VCT; Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Standardization of hippocampus volumetry using automated brain structure volumetry tool for an initial Alzheimer’s disease imaging biomarker. Acta Radiol. 2019 Jun;60(6):769-776. doi: 10.1177/0284185118795327. 

Parkinson’s Disease

Tang V, Zhu XL, Lau C, Chan A, Ma K, Yeung J, Cheung T, Abrigo J, Chan DYC, Chan D, Mok V, Poon WS. Pre-operative cognitive burden as predictor of motoroutcome following bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease. Neurol Sci. 2022 Dec;43(12):6803-6811. doi: 10.1007/s10072-022-06370-8.

Tang S, Wang Y, Liu Y, Chau SW, Chan JW, Chu WC, Abrigo JM, Mok VC, Wing YK. Large-scale network dysfunction in α-Synucleinopathy: A meta-analysis of resting-state functional connectivity. EBioMedicine. 2022 Mar;77:103915. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.103915. Epub 2022 Mar 5.

Vascular Dementia 

Biesbroek JM, Weaver NA, Aben HP, Kuijf HJ, Abrigo J, Bae HJ, Barbay M, Best JG, Bordet R, Chappell FM, Chen CPLH, Dondaine T, van der Giessen RS, Godefroy O, Gyanwali B, Hamilton OKL, Hilal S, Huenges Wajer IMC, Kang Y, Kappelle LJ, Kim BJ, Köhler S, de Kort PLM, Koudstaal PJ, Kuchcinski G, Lam BYK, Lee BC, Lee KJ, Lim JS, Lopes R, Makin SDJ, Mendyk AM, Mok VCT, Oh MS, van Oostenbrugge RJ, Roussel M, Shi L, Staals J, Valdés-Hernández MDC, Venketasubramanian N, Verhey FRJ, Wardlaw JM, Werring DJ, Xin X, Yu KH, van Zandvoort MJE, Zhao L, Biessels GJ. Network impact score is an independent predictor of post-stroke cognitive impairment: A multicenter cohort study in 2341 patients with acute ischemic stroke. Neuroimage Clin. 2022;34:103018. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103018. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Weaver NA, Kuijf HJ, Aben HP, Abrigo J, Bae HJ, Barbay M, Best JG, Bordet R, Chappell FM, Chen CPLH, Dondaine T, van der Giessen RS, Godefroy O, Gyanwali B, Hamilton OKL, Hilal S, Huenges Wajer IMC, Kang Y, Kappelle LJ, Kim BJ, Köhler S, de Kort PLM, Koudstaal PJ, Kuchcinski G, Lam BYK, Lee BC, Lee KJ, Lim JS, Lopes R, Makin SDJ, Mendyk AM, Mok VCT, Oh MS, van Oostenbrugge RJ, Roussel M, Shi L, Staals J, Del C Valdés-Hernández M, Venketasubramanian N, Verhey FRJ, Wardlaw JM, Werring DJ, Xin X, Yu KH, van Zandvoort MJE, Zhao L, Biesbroek JM, Biessels GJ. Strategic infarct locations for post-stroke cognitive impairment: a pooled analysis of individual patient data from 12 acute ischaemic stroke cohorts. Lancet Neurol. 2021 Apr 23:S1474-4422(21)00060-0. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(21)00060-0.

Biesbroek JM, Lam BYK, Zhao L, Tang Y, Wang Z, Abrigo J, Chu WWC, Wong A, Shi L, Kuijf HJ, Biessels GJ, Mok VCT. High white matter hyperintensity burden in strategic white matter tracts relates to worse global cognitive performance in community-dwelling individuals. J Neurol Sci. 2020 Jul 15;414:116835. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2020.116835. 

Wong A, Lou W, Ho KF, Yiu BK, Lin S, Chu WC, Abrigo J, Lee D, Lam BY, Au LW, Soo YO, Lau AY, Kwok TC, Leung TW, Lam LC, Ho K, Mok VC. Indoor incense burning impacts cognitive functions and brain functional connectivity in community older adults. Sci Rep. 2020 Apr 27;10(1):7090. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-63568-6.

Lam BYK, Leung KT, Yiu B, Zhao L, Biesbroek JM, Au L, Tang Y, Wang K, Fan Y, Fu JH, Xu Q, Song H, Tian X, Chu WCW, Abrigo J, Shi L, Ko H, Lau A, Duering M, Wong A, Mok VCT. Peak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity and its association with age-related cognitive alterations and vascular risk factors. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). 2019 Oct 25;11:721-729. doi: 10.1016/j.dadm.2019.09.003. eCollection 2019 Dec.

• Evaluation of congenital and developmental brain abnormalities in infants and children

Focal cerebral arteriopathy-inflammatory type in a child – MR diagnosis using vessel wall imaging technique with review of classification and diagnostic evaluation criteria (2023)
Radiology Case Reports
Wang AHH, Yau MLY, Fung ELW, Chan KC, Lai BMH, Wang K, Chu WCW

Validation of the Sonographic Measurement of Lateral Parapharyngeal Wall Thickness in Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea (2022)
Nature and Science of Sleep
Yuen HM, Lai AC, Liu EK, Lee MC, Chu WC, Chan JW, Chan NY, Wing YK, Li AM, Chan KC, Au CT

A Prospective Cohort Study of Fecal miR-223 and miR-451a as Noninvasive and Specific Biomarkers for Diagnosis of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants (2021)
Neonatology
Ng PC, Chan KYY, Lam HS, Wong RPO, Ma TPY, Sit T, Leung KT, Chan LCN, Pang YLI, Cheung HM, Chu WCW, Li K

Tsoi H, Yu AC, Chen ZS, Ng NK, Chan AY, Yuen LY, Abrigo JM, Tsang SY, Tsui SK, Tong TM, Lo IF, Lam ST, Mok VC, Wong LK, Ngo JC, Lau KF, Chan TF, Chan HY. A novel missense mutation in CCDC88C activates the JNK pathway and causes a dominant form of spinocerebellar ataxia. J Med Genet. 2014 Sep;51(9):590-5. doi: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2014-102333.  

Intermediate phenotypes of childhood obstructive sleep apnea (2021)
Journal of Sleep Research
Au CT, Chan KC, Zhang J, Liu KH, Chu WCW, Wing YK, Li AM