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Analysis of institutional authors

Armangue, ThaisAuthor

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May 19, 2024
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Early Access

Brainstem Chipmunk Sign: A Diagnostic Imaging Clue across All Subtypes of Alexander Disease

Publicated to: American Journal Of Neuroradiology. 45 (6): 769-772 - 2024-05-02 45(6), DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8220

Authors:

Armangue, T; Whitehead, MT; Tonduti, D; Farina, L; Tavasoli, AR; Vossough, A; Bennett, ML; Vaia, Y; Bernard, G; Salsano, E; Mercimek-Andrews, S; Waldman, A; Vanderver, A
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Affiliations

Childrens Hosp Philadelphia, 3615 Civ Ctr Blvd Abramson Res Ctr 516H, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA - Author
Childrens Hosp Philadelphia, Dept Radiol, Philadelphia, PA USA - Author
Fdn IRCCS Ist Neurol Carlo Besta, Unit Rare Neurol Dis, Milan, Italy - Author
Hosp Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada - Author
IRCCS Fdn Santa Lucia, Neuroimaging Lab, Rome, Italy - Author
McGill Univ, Child Hlth & Human Dev Program, Hlth Ctr, Res Inst, Montreal, PQ, Canada - Author
McGill Univ, Dept Neurol & Neurosurg Pediat & Human Genet, Montreal, PQ, Canada - Author
McGill Univ, Dept Specialized Med, Div Med Genet, Hlth Ctr, Montreal, PQ, Canada - Author
Phoenix Childrens Hosp, Barrow Neurol Inst, Dept Neurol, Phoenix, AZ USA - Author
Univ Alberta, Fac Med & Dent, Dept Med Genet, Edmonton, AB, Canada - Author
Univ Barcelona, Hosp Clin, Inst Invest Biomd August Pi i Sunyer IDIBAPS, Neuroimmunol Program, Barcelona, Spain - Author
Univ Barcelona, St Joan Deu Childrens Hosp, Neurol Dept, Neuroimmunol Unit, Barcelona, Spain - Author
Univ Milan, V Buzzi Childrens Hosp, Ctr Diag & Treatment Leukodystrophies, Unit Pediat Neurol, Milan, Italy - Author
Univ Penn, Perelman Sch Med, Philadelphia, PA USA - Author
Univ Tehran Med Sci, Childrens Med Ctr, Dept Neurol, Tehran, Iran - Author
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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: While classic brain MR imaging features of Alexander disease have been well-documented, lesional patterns can overlap with other leukodystrophies, especially in the early stages of the disease or in milder phenotypes. We aimed to assess the utility of a new neuroimaging sign to help increase the diagnostic specificity of Alexander disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A peculiar bilateral symmetric hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images affecting the medulla oblongata was identified in an index patient with type I Alexander disease. Subsequently, 5 observers performed a systematic MR imaging review for this pattern by examining 55 subjects with Alexander disease and 74 subjects with other leukodystrophies. Interobserver agreement was assessed by the ? index. Sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristic curves were determined. RESULTS: The identified pattern was present in 87% of subjects with Alexander disease and 14% of those without Alexander disease leukodystrophy (P? CONCLUSIONS: The identified pattern in the medulla oblongata, called the chipmunk sign due to its resemblance to the face of this rodent, is extremely common in subjects with Alexander disease and represents a diagnostic tool that can aid in early diagnosis, especially in subjects with otherwise atypical MR imaging findings and/or clinical features.
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Keywords

AdolescentAdultAdult polyglucosan body diseaseAgedAlexander diseaseArticleBrain stemChildChild, preschoolClassificationConfidence intervalDiagnostic imagingFemaleHumanHumansInterrater reliabilityLeukodystrophiesLeukodystrophyMagnetic resonance imagingMajor clinical studyMaleMedulla oblongataMiddle agedNuclear magnetic resonance imagingPathologyPreschool childProceduresReceiver operating characteristicSensitivity and specificityT2 weighted imagingVanishing white matter diseaseYoung adult

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NEURORADIOLOGY due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2024 there are still no calculated indicators, but in 2023, it was in position 3/16, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Neuroimaging.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2026-04-07:

  • WoS: 1
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-07:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 8.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 8 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 19.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 30 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Canada; Iran; Italy; United States of America.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Armangué Salvador, Thais) .

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Awards linked to the item

No Statement Available
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