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Objective To explore the differences of regional homogeneity(ReHo)between overweight and normal weight male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)during rest and their correlations with clinical features.Methods Twenty-five untreated male overweight T2DM(OW-T2DM)patients,25 untreated male normal weight T2DM(NW-T2DM)patients and 25 healthy controls(HC)were enrolled.The brain structure and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)data were collected from all subjects.The brain structure and rs-fMRI data were preprocessed,and ReHo values of all brain regions were calculated for all subjects.ReHo values were compared among three groups and between groups respectively via the methods of one-way analysis of variance and two-sample t-test.To address the problem of multiple comparisons,the method of AlphaSim was performed(the threshold was set at P<0.005,the number of voxel clusters was>12).In addition,Pearson correlation analysis was performed to explore the relationships between ReHo values of the abnormal brain regions and clinical features in patients.Results(1)The brain regions showed differences of ReHo values among three groups were mainly distributed in the right hemisphere,including the superior parietal gyrus,superior marginal gyrus and superior occipital gyrus;(2)Compared with HC,NW-T2DM patients showed significantly decreased ReHo values in the right medial superior frontal gyrus,right middle cingulate gyrus and left anterior cingulate gyrus;(3)Compared with HC,OW-T2DM patients showed significantly decreased ReHo values in the bilateral postcentral gyrus and bilateral middle cingulate gyrus;(4)Compared with NW-T2DM patients,OW-T2DM patients showed significantly decreased ReHo values in the right superior parietal gyrus,right superior occipital gyrus and left cuneus;(5)ReHo values of the right medial superior frontal gyrus and right superior parietal gyrus were negatively correlated with hemoglobinA1c(HbA1c)level and body mass index(BMI),respectively,in all patients.Conclusion The occurrence of T2DM in male patients may lead to the declined activity of brain regions located in the default mode network(DMN),while overweight may further lead to decreased brain activity within the attention and visual recognition network in male T2DM patients.
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Objective To investigate the immediate brain effect of acupuncture at Fengchi using amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation(ALFF)and functional connectivity by the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)in patients with posterior circulation ischemia vertigo(PCIV).Methods Twenty patients with PCIV were enrolled.The dizziness handicap inventory(DHI)was used to evaluate the severity of vertigo.The patients were randomly divided into acupuncture group and sham acupoint acupuncture group.Rs-fMRI scan was performed before and after acupuncture.MATLAB-based DPABI 6.1 software was used to analyze rs-fMRI data.Correlation analysis was used between the altered ALFF values and DHI scores.The regions of altered ALFF were taken as seeds to analyze functional connectivity.Results Compared with the sham acupoint acupuncture group,the increased ALFF values were mainly located on the left precuneus,left superior frontal gyrus and left caudate nucleus after acupuncture in the acupuncture group;the decreased ALFF values were mainly located on the left cerebellum and right inferior occipital gyrus.The ALFF value of the left superior frontal gyrus was negatively correlated with the DHI score(P=0.04).The increased functional connectivity was mainly found between left precuneus and the right middle frontal gyrus,the right superior frontal gyrus,the decreased functional connectivity was mainly found between left precuneus and the bilateral paracentral lobule and right cerebellum.Conclusion The ALFF value and functional connectivity are different before and after acupuncture,indicating that the vestibular network,visual and motor brain regions functional activities are changed after needling at Fengchi,which may be the brain functional basis of Fengchi for vertigo in PCIV.
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BACKGROUND:Current studies have shown that electronic moxibustion can improve memory function in amnestic mild cognitive impairment;however,its mechanism of action needs to be further investigated.The atrophy of hippocampal volume and impairment of functional connectivity are important imaging markers of amnestic mild cognitive impairment.Whether electronic moxibustion can regulate the volume of hippocampal subregion of partients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment is worth studying. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of electronic moxibustion on the volume of hippocampal subregions in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. METHODS:Forty patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment were recruited from April 1,2018 to January 31,2019 at the community service centers around the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University(Baoan Hospital of Southern Medical University),Shenzhen,China.They were randomly divided into treatment group(n=20)and control group(n=20).The treatment group was treated with electronic moxibustion of regulating the mind and benefiting the intelligence,while the control group was treated with placebo moxibustion.Moxibustion was given at 45 oC,20 minutes each time,once a day,5 times a week,for 8 weeks in total.Memory evaluation using Rivermead behavioral memory test and magnetic resonance imaging scanning for detecting the hippocampal subregion volume were performed for each patient before and after treatment,and cognitive function of each patient was assessed using Montreal cognitive assessment and mini-mental state examination.Correlation of hippocampal subregion volumes with scores on each scale was analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After treatment,the volumes of the left parasubiculum and the left hippocampal-amygdala migrating area increased in the treatment group but decreased in the control group,and there was a significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05).Compared with the pre-treatment data,the Rivermead behavioral memory test,Montreal cognitive assessment,and mini-mental state examination scores were significantly higher in the treatment group after treatment(P<0.05),while there was no significant change in the three scale scores in the control group after treatment(P>0.05).The three scale scores were higher in the treatment group than in the control group after treatment(P<0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that the changes in the volume of the left parasubiculum was significantly and positively correlated with the Rivermead behavioral memory test scale score in the treatment group(r=0.418,P=0.014).To conclude,electronic moxibustion can improve memory in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment,and the mechanism may be the regulation of structural plasticity in hippocampal subregions.
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BACKGROUND:Olfactory dysfunction is an early biological marker of various diseases.However,the neuroimaging mechanism by which olfactory dysfunction occurs following cerebral small vessel disease is unclear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the different neuroimaging mechanisms of olfactory function regulation in patients with cerebral small vessel disease and Parkinson's disease,and explore the potential application value of olfactory function assessment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease. METHODS:Neuropsychological and olfactory tests,high-resolution structural magnetic resonance and resting-state functional magnetic resonance data were collected in 80 patients with cerebral small vessel disease,44 healthy controls and 29 patients with Parkinson's disease.DPABI,SPM12 and SPSS were used to analyze and compare the amplitude of low frequency fluctuation,regional homogeneity and functional connectivity values between the cerebral small vessel disease,control and Parkinson's disease groups.Correlations between the significantly altered resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging measures and olfactory and cognitive scores were evaluated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group,low-frequency fluctuation amplitude of the right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus and the regional homogeneity of the left wedge leaf were significantly reduced in the cerebral small vessel disease and Parkinson's disease groups.The right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus and the left cuneiform lobe are the seed points.Compared with the Parkinson's disease group,the functional connectivity values of the right anterior cunei,inferior temporal gyrus,anterior central gyrus and dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus,left posterior central gyrus and inferior temporal gyrus were significantly enhanced in the control and cerebral small vessel disease groups.The left cuneiform lobe was the seed point.Compared with the control group,the functional connectivity of the left lingual gyrus was significantly weakened in the cerebral small vessel disease and Parkinson's disease groups.The functional connectivity values of the left middle temporal gyrus and the right posterior central gyrus were enhanced in the control group compared with the cerebral small vessel disease and Parkinson's disease group,and that was enhanced in the cerebral small vessel disease group compared with the Parkinson's disease group.Correlation analysis showed that the olfactory score and cognitive score were positively correlated in the cerebral small vessel disease group,and the regional homogeneity of the left wedge lobe was negatively correlated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale score,while the functional connectivity of left wedge lobe-left middle temporal gyrus in the Parkinson's disease group was positively correlated with the olfactory recognition score,and the functional connectivity values of the left wedge lobe-left posterior central gyrus and left wedge lobe-left lingual gyrus were positively correlated with the olfactory identification score and the total olfactory score,respectively.The regulation of olfactory function in patients with cerebral small vessel disease has a different neuroimaging mechanism from that of olfactory dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease.The olfactory function of patients with cerebral small vessel disease is related to cognitive function.It is speculated that the olfactory function following cerebral small vessel disease is a secondary change of brain dysfunction,while olfactory dysfunction following Parkinson's disease is directly caused by abnormal function of olfactory-related brain areas.Olfactory function assessment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease has potential application in predicting cognitive function.
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Objective To study the brain functional connectivity(FC)changes in patients with normal tension glau-coma(NTG)and healthy volunteers using FC technique of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)based on V1 region seed point(ROI),so as to explore the pathogenesis and early diagnosis of NTG.Methods Fourteen NTG patients(NTG group)who met the inclusion criteria and 14 healthy controls(HCs group)were enrolled.The clinical data of all subjects were collected,and rs-fMRI was performed in both groups.The magnetic resonance data was pre-pro-cessed by software,and bilateral A1 regions were taken as the ROI to analyze their correction with the whole brain voxel time series and obtain the FC value between the ROI and the whole brain by comparison of FC values in resting state be-tween the groups.Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between FC value in the brain regions with significant differences with the ROI and clinical variables in the NTG group.Results Compared with the subjects in the HCs group,there were no statistically significant differences in age,gender,body weight,cup-disc ratio and 24 h mean intraocular pressure of patients in the NTG group(all P>0.05),and there were statistically significant differences in the best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)of both eyes and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness(RNFLT)(all P<0.05).The Pearson correlation analysis showed that FC value of the brain regions with abnormal FC to V1 region were cor-related with RNFLT in the NTG group(P<0.05).ROI1-left superior frontal gyrus,ROI1-right superior frontal gyrus,ROI2-left cingulate gyrus and ROI2-right middle frontal gyrus were significantly positively correlated with RNFLT(all P<0.05).Compared with the HCs group,the brain regions with reduced FC to the right ROI in the NTG group were the left superior frontal gyrus and right superior frontal gyrus;the brain regions with reduced FC to the left ROI were the left cingulate gyrus and right middle frontal gyrus.Conclusion Compared to healthy individuals,NTG patients have significant changes in the functional connections between certain specific brain regions and V1 region,including bilateral superior frontal gyrus,left cingulate gyrus,and middle frontal gyrus.The changes in brain functional activity may be caused by visual dysfunction caused by NTG,leading to functional impairment of the visual and cognitive emotion processing brain regions,which may be one of the potential neuropathological mechanisms in NTG patients.
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Objective To explore the effects of cognitive reserve on brain networks based on rest state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rsfMRI).Methods Firstly,7 973 healthy middle-aged and elderly individuals were selected for rsfMRI images at UK Biobank(UKB),and 21 resting-state networks were obtained through group independent component analysis.Secondly,the parameters of network node efficiency,shortest path length and node degree centrality were extracted using graph theory analysis.Finally,four indicators of resting-state networks including activeness,network node efficiency,node shortest path length and node degree centrality were compared and analyzed,whose relationships with five cognitive reserve proxies such as education level,early fluid intelligence,sports,leisure activities and socialization level.Results The education level,early fluid intelligence and sports,and the activity correlated positively with the activeness of multi resting-state networks and the node efficiency and node degree centrality of most of cognitive control networks and default mode networks,while negatively with the shortest path length of most of cognitive control networks and default mode networks.Leisure activities,socialization level and sports had negative correlations with the activeness of the resting-state network,and had little effects on the overall topological properties of the functional network.Conclusion Resting-state networks may be affected positively by education level,early fluid intelligence and sports,while negatively by two cognitive reserve proxies including leisure activities and socialization level.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(1):1-8]
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ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) of breast cancer based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). MethodTwenty-five patients with CRCI of breast cancer were included and treated with the acupuncture based on the method of regulating qi and blood, nourishing mind and benefiting intelligence; the selected acupoints included Zusanli (ST 36, bilateral), Xuehai (SP 10, bilateral), Tanzhong (CV 17), Zhongwan (CV 12), Qihai (CV 6), Baihui (GV 20), Fengfu (GV 16, bilateral), Xinshu (BL 15, bilateral), Tongli (HT 5, bilateral), Zhaohai (KI 6, bilateral), Yixi (BL 45, bilateral) twice a week, each time interval of 2-3 days, for 8 weeks. The scores of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE), European Cancer Research and Treatment Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) were compared before and after acupuncture, and the effectiveness were evaluated by MoCA scale. The patients received rs-fMRI before and after treatment, and used low-frequency oscillation amplitude and functional connectivity (FC) analysis to extract the mean zALFF values of regions of interest such as bilateral anterior cingulate gyrus, bilateral hippocampus, bilateral amygdala, bilateral temporal pole middle temporal gyrus, and bilateral temporal pole supramarginal gyrus for comparison, and used the brain regions with statistically significant differences in the pre- and post-treatment zALFF values as the seed points for the seed-point-based FC Analysis. Correlation analyses were performed between the imaging metrics and the clinical scales. ResultsTwenty-four patients with CRCI of breast cancer completed treatment and follow-up. The zALFF values of the left hippocampus, left amygdala, and left temporal pole temporal gyrus in patients' rs-fMRI decreased after treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and left temporal pole temporal gyrus and right posterior cerebellar lobe FC were elevated (t = -5.169), and MoCA scale total scores and visuospatial and executive, naming, and delayed recall cognitive scores, MMSE scale total scores, and EORTC QLQ-C30 scale mood scores were significantly higher (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The total effective rate of MoCA was 58.33%. The difference in zALFF values of the left temporal pole middle temporal gyrus before and after treatment was negatively correlated with the MoCA total score (r= -0.499, P = 0.015), as well as the difference in abstract function (r = -0.498, P = 0.016). ConclusionThe acupuncture method of regulating qi and blood, nourishing mind and benefiting intelligence can improve the cognitive function of breast cancer patients with CRCI, and its mechanism may be related to improving the functional activities of hippocampus, amygdala and temporal lobe, as well as the functional connections of left temporal pole-temporal middle gyrus and right posterior cerebellar lobe.
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【Objective】 To explore the correlation between abnormal thalamic functional connectivity (FC) and memory loss in maintenance hemodialysis patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). 【Methods】 An auditory verbal learning test (AVLT-H) was conducted on 22 patients with ESRD and 28 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls (HC) to evaluate memory function. After that, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were gathered, and a whole-brain FC analysis centered on the thalamus was executed to discern variations in thalamic FC between the two groups. Finally, Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses were carried out. 【Results】 Compared to the HC group, the ESRD group exhibited notably lower scores in IR-S (P=0.002), SR-S (P<0.001), and LR-S (P=0.005). Concurrently, the ESRD group demonstrated diminished FC of the right thalamus with the left superior frontal gyrus, the left parietal lobule, the right suproccipital gyrus, the right anterior cuneus, and the right middle frontal gyrus (P<0.05, TFCE correction). Additionally, reduced FC were observed between the left thalamus and the left gyrus rectus, the left parietal lobule, and the right parietal lobule in the ESRD group (P<0.05, TFCE correction). Moreover, the FC values between the left thalamus and the left gyrus rectus in the ESRD group displayed significant negative correlations with IR-S (r=-0.499), SR-S (r=-0.458), and LR-S (r=-0.455) (all P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 Memory impairment is evident in ESRD patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, and it appears to be intricately linked to anomalous FC within the left thalamus and the left gyrus rectus. These findings offer potential imaging markers for monitoring memory dysfunction in individuals with ESRD.
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Objective:To explore the correlations of brain network functional connectivity (FC) alterations with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathological biomarkers in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods:A total of 39 patients with cognitive impairment, admitted to Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University from January 2020 to December 2022 were recruited; 23 patients were with AD and 16 with non-AD. Clinical data were compared between the 2 groups. Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data were collected, and FC differences between brain networks and FC differences within brain networks were compared by independent component analysis. Correlations of FC differences between brain networks and FC differences within brain networks with concentrations of β-amyloid protein 1-42 (Aβ 1-42) and Tau protein in CSF were analyzed. Results:Compared with the non-AD group, AD group had significantly lower Aβ 1-42 in CSF ( P<0.05). Compared with those in the non-AD group, FC alterations between the left frontoparietal network (lFPN) and anterior default mode network (aDMN) and between the visual network (VN) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), as well as FC alterations in lFPN, were significantly increased in AD group ( P<0.05). Compared with those in the non-AD group, FC alterations between lFPN and cerebellar network (CEN), and FC alterations in aDMN, sensorimotor network (SMN) and VN were significantly decreased in AD group ( P<0.05). In AD group, FC in SMN was positively correlated with total Tau and phosphorylated-Tau181 in CSF ( P<0.05); FC between VN and PCC was positively correlated with total Tau in CSF ( P<0.05). CSF Aβ 1-42 was positively correlated with FC alterations in aDMN and VN, but negatively correlated with FC in FPN ( P<0.05). Conclusion:In AD patients, characteristic changes in FC within and between multiple brain networks are noted, which are related to changes of Tau protein and Aβ 1-42 in CSF.
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Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an emerging neuroimaging tool that reflects the activity and function of brain neurons by monitoring changes in brain oxygen metabolism based on the neurovascular coupling mechanism. It is non-invasive and convenient, especially suitable for monitoring neonatal brain function. This article provides a comprehensive review of research related to the developmental patterns of brain networks concerning language, music, and emotions in neonates using fNIRS. It also covers brain network imaging in neonatal care, resting-state brain network connectivity patterns, and characteristics of brain functional imaging in disease states of neonates using fNIRS.
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Infant, Newborn , Humans , Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Emotions , Language , TechnologyABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the interaction effects on brain activity between the smoking addiction and weight status by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.Methods:Retrospective analysis of clinical data and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were analyzed from 99 recruited subjects from January 2019 to December 2021. All participants were divided into four groups: overweight smokers ( n=24), normal-weight smokers ( n=28), overweight non-smokers ( n=19), and normal weight non-smokers ( n=28). Calculate regional homogeneity (ReHo) to reflect the internal brain activity of the subjects. Two-way ANOVA was used to detect the interaction effects between smoking addiction and overweight on ReHo by SPM12 software, correcting for age, years of education and head motion. Results:The interaction effect between smoking addiction and overweight on ReHo was significant in right superior frontal gyrus(x, y, z=15, 9, 60)(GRF corrected, Pvoxel<0.005, Pcluster<0.05). The ReHo value in the right superior frontal gyrus of overweight smokers was significantly higher than that of normal weight smokers ( t=3.768, P<0.001, Bonferroni corrected). The ReHo values in the right superior frontal gyrus of overweight non-smokers were significantly lower than those of normal weight non-smokers ( t=-3.242, P=0.002, Bonferroni corrected). The ReHo values in the right superior frontal gyurs of normal-weight smokers were significantly lower than those of normal weight non-smokers( t=-3.540, P=0.001, Bonferroni corrected). The ReHo values in the right superior frontal gyrus of overweight smokers were significantly higher than those of overweight non-smokers ( t=3.392, P=0.002, Bonferroni corrected). Correlation analyses showed that the strengthen ReHo value in right superior frontal gyrus was positively associated with pack-year in smoking addicts( r=0.387, P=0.007, Bonferroni corrected). Conclusion:Smoking addiction and overweight have an antagonistic effect on brain activity in the right superior frontal gyrus, which may provide potential therapeutic targets for individuals with comorbidity of smoking addiction and overweight.
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Introduction: Seed-based analysis has shown that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) can modulate the dysfunctional brain network in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the voxel-based neuropsychological mechanism of taVNS on patients with first-episode MDD is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of an 8-week course of taVNS on patients with first-episode MDD. Methods: Twenty-two patients with first-episode MDD accepted an 8-week course of taVNS treatment. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans were performed before and after treatment. Voxel-based analyses were performed to characterize spontaneous brain activity. Healthy controls (n=23) were recruited to minimize test-retest effects. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed to ascertain treatment-related changes. Then, correlations between changes in brain activity and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)/Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) remission rate were estimated. Results: Significant group-by-time interactions on voxel-based analyses were observed in the inferior ventral striatum (VSi) and precuneus. Post-hoc analyses showed that taVNS inhibited higher brain activity in the VSi, while upregulating it in the precuneus. Functional connectivity (FC) between the VSi and precuneus decreased. Positive correlations were found between the HAM-D remission rate and changes in brain activity in the VSi. Conclusion: taVNS reduced the FC between VSi and precuneus by normalizing the abnormal spontaneous brain activity of VSi in first-episode MDD patients.
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Objective:Childhood traumatic experiences greatly influenced the brain network activities of patients with depression,and there is an urgent need to explore the temporal dynamics for these changes.This study aims to investigate the abnormalities of resting-state electroencephalogram(EEG)microstates in eye-open state of depressed adolescents and to explore the correlations between their EEG microstates and the childhood traumatic experience. Methods:Using resting-state EEG microstate analysis,we explored the temporal dynamics of brain activity in patients with adolescent depression.This study selected 66 adolescents with depression as a patient group,and 27 healthy adolescents as a healthy control group.A modified k-means clustering algorithm was used to classify the 64-channel resting-state EEG data into different microstates.Independent sample t-tests were used to compare the microstate parameters between the 2 groups and further assciations between these parameters and childhood traumatic experience in patients were explored via using Spearman correlation. Results:In this study,significant differences were observed in the occurrence and transition probabilities of EEG microstates between the healthy control and the patient group.Notably,there was a statistically significant difference(P<0.05)in the occurrence of microstate A across 2 groups,exhibiting a negative correlation with the emotional abuse component within the childhood trauma scores(Spearman's rho=-0.31,P=0.013).Furthermore,patient-specific,non-random transitions from microstate B to A(Spearman's rho=-0.30,P=0.015)and C to A(Spearman's rho=-0.31,P=0.013)were inversely associated with the scores of emotional abuse factors from childhood trauma in the patient group,showing statistically significant differences when comparing to the healthy controls(P<0.05).Upon stratification into quartiles based on the emotional abuse factor scores,the occurrence of microstate A,as well as the transition rates from microstates B to A and C to A,retained statistical significance following adjustment for multiple comparisons(all P<0.05). Conclusion:The abnormal temporal dynamics in brain networks of adolescents with depression are linked to childhood emotional abuse.Those who have suffered severe emotional abuse may show greater impairments in the brain's visual and central executive networks.EEG microstate analysis could be a potential tool for detecting adolescent depression with severe childhood trauma.
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Objective:To investigate the characteristics of regional brain functional centrality(DC)in patients with levodopa-induced dyskinesia(LID)and to explore the pathogenesis of LID.Methods:A total of 33 PD patients with LID(PD-LID), 41 PD patients without LID(PD-nLID)and 37 healthy controls from the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were enrolled in this study.Differences in DC among the three groups were compared and the correlation between Z-DC values of the brain regions with differences and the scores of the involuntary movement scale(items 1-7)was analyzed.Results:Compared with Controls, PD-LID patients showed increased DC in the right amygdala(extending to the right globus pallidus)(MNI: x=30, y=-3, z=-18, t=4.00, P<0.05 after AlphaSim correction)and in the right postcentral gyrus(MNI: x=57, y=-9, z=39, t=-3.59; MNI: x=42, y=-33, z=57, t=-4.23, P<0.05 after AlphaSim correction)and reduced DC in the right superior parietal lobule(MNI: x=24, y=-51, z=72, t=-3.95, P<0.05 after AlphaSim correction).Compared with the PD-nLID group, the PD-LID group showed increased DC in the right globus pallidus(MNI: x=30, y=-12, z=-3, t=3.09, P<0.05 after AlphaSim correction).DC changes in the right globus pallidus were positively correlated with AIMS score( r=0.482, P=0.004). Conclusions:The enhancement of DC function in the right globus pallidus may be closely related to the onset and severity of LID.
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Objective:To investigate the topological properties of whole-brain functional networks in first-episode drug-na?ve adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD).Methods:Seventy-six first-episode drug-na?ve adolescents with MDD admitted to Department of Neurology, Xiangyang No.1 Hospital Affilated to Hubei University of Medicince from January 2022 to January 2023 were selected as study subjects; 66 gender- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited via advertisement. All subjects underwent resting-state functional MRI. The whole-brain functional networks were constructed for each subject; and then, the global topological metrics (global efficiency, local efficiency, clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, normalized clustering coefficient, normalized characteristic path length, and small-worldness properties) and local topological metrics (nodal degree centrality, nodal efficiency and nodal betweenness centrality) of the functional brain networks were analyzed between the two groups using graph-theory methods. Network-based statistics were used to examine between-group differences in functional connectivity strength of whole brain networks. Results:Small-worldness properties were demonstrated in both MDD group and HC group. MDD patients showed significantly higher global efficiency (0.129[0.124, 0.132] vs. 0.131[0.128, 0.133]), significantly lower clustering coefficient and characteristic path length (0.143[0.139, 0.146] vs. 0.139[0.135, 0.144]; 0.457[0.446, 0.734] vs. 0.451[0.440, 0.463]), and significantly increased nodal centralities in the right inferior parietal lobule, bilateral caudate nucleus and bilateral thalamus of brain functional networks compared with HCs ( P<0.05, FDR-corrected). Compared with HCs, MDD patients exhibited obviously lower functional connectivity strength in the orbitofrontal-temporal and anterior cingulate-limbic-temporal circuits. Conclusion:Abnormal alterations of topological properties of the brain functional networks are found in adolescents with MDD, which may be the underlying neuropathologic basis for MDD.
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OBJECTIVE@#To explore the brain effect mechanism and the correlation between brain functional imaging and cognitive function in treatment of depressive disorder (DD) with transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) based on the resting-state functional magenetic reasonance imaging (rs-fMRI).@*METHODS@#Thirty-two DD patients were included in a depression group and 32 subjects of healthy condition were enrolled in a normal group. In the depression group, the taVNS was applied to bilateral Xin (CO15) and Shen (CO10), at disperse-dense wave, 4 Hz/20 Hz in frequency and current intensity ≤20 mA depending on patient's tolerance, 30 min each time, twice daily. The duration of treatment consisted of 8 weeks. The patients of two groups were undertaken rs-fMRI scanning. The scores of Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) and Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST) were observed in the normal group at baseline and the depression group before and after treatment separately. The differential brain regions were observed before and after treatment in the two groups and the value of degree centrality (DC) of fMRI was obtained. Their correlation was analyzed in terms of HAMD, HAMA and WCST scores.@*RESULTS@#The scores of HAMD and HAMA in the depression group were all higher than those in the normal group (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of HAMD and HAMA were lower than those before treatment in the depression group; the scores of total responses, response errors and perseverative errors of WCST were all lower than those before treatment (P<0.05). The brain regions with significant differences included the left inferior temporal gyrus, the left cerebellar peduncles region 1, the left insula, the right putamen, the bilateral supplementary motor area and the right middle frontal gyrus. After treatment, the value of DC in left supplementary motor area was negatively correlated to HAMD and HAMA scores respectively (r=-0.324, P=0.012; r=-0.310, P=0.015); the value of DC in left cerebellar peduncles region 1 was negatively correlated to the total responses of WCST (r=-0.322, P=0.013), and the left insula was positively correlated to the total responses of WCST (r=0.271, P=0.036).@*CONCLUSION@#The taVNS can modulate the intensity of the functional activities of some brain regions so as to relieve depressive symptoms and improve cognitive function.
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Humans , Depression/therapy , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Vagus Nerve Stimulation/methods , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation/methods , Vagus NerveABSTRACT
Objective:To comprehensively evaluate the ability of common resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) indices to detect abnormal brain activity in childhood absence epilepsy (CAE).Methods:Simultaneous electroencephalography-functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of 20 patients with CAE who were treated in the Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine from February 2010 to September 2021 were retrospectively collected. After excluding 2 patients with CAE with greater head movement, 44 fMRI data containing discharges from 18 patients were obtained finally. The generalized spike and slow-wave discharges (GSWD) related fMRI activation mappings were obtained by using the generalized linear model. At the same time, 94 age- and sex-matched healthy controls underwent rs-fMRI scanning. Meanwhile, 12 indices of rs-fMRI were calculated respectively [amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF), fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (fALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), functional connectivity density (FCD), long FCD, local FCD, granger causality density (GCD)-in, GCD-out, GCD-int, resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging lag analysis (RSLA), Hurst index and brain entropy]. Two-sample t-tests were employed to detect significant differences in 12 indices of rs-fMRI. The Dice coefficient was used to evaluate the overlap between different brain maps of 12 indices of rs-fMRI and the GSWD-related blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) activation. Results:Positive activation of GSWD-related BOLD in CAE was mainly in the bilateral thalamus, and negative activation was mainly in default mode network (DMN) related brain regions. There was a significant overlap between the abnormal brain regions detected by various resting-state indicators: compared with normal controls, ALFF, fALFF, ReHo, GCD-in, GCD-out and local FCD were elevated in the bilateral thalamus, while FCD, long FCD, GCD-int and RSLA were decreased in CAE; ALFF, fALFF, ReHo, local FCD, GCD-out, RSLA and brain entropy were decreased in the DMN, while FCD, long FCD, GCD-in and GCD-int were increased in CAE. The Dice coefficient of long FCD was the highest (0.365),FCD was 0.362, while the Hurst index showed the lowest (0.142).Conclusions:Rs-fMRI indices variously revealed abnormal brain activity in CAE, in which the FCD is better for detection of epileptic activity. Rs-fMRI could be helpful to understand the pathophysiological mechanism of CAE, and to find reliable imaging markers.
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ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy of acupuncture intervention for children with monocular refractive-parallax amblyopia and the possible mechanisms of brain function based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance (rs-fMRI). MethodsSeventy-six children with anisometropic amblyopia were randomly divided into routine treatment group (38 cases) and acupuncture treatment group (38 cases). In the conventional group, the children were given three regular treatments of red flash, grating and visual stimulation for 5 mins each time; in the acupuncture group, on the basis of the conventional treatment, the children were given acupuncture for 20 mins each time on bilateral Jingming (BL 1), Cuanzhu (BL 2), Guangming (GB 37) and Fengchi (GB 20); the children in both groups were treated once every other day and three times a week for 4 weeks. The corrected visual acuity was compared between groups before and after treatment. Fifteen children with left-sided refractive amblyopia were randomly selected from each of the above two groups and underwent brain rs-fMRI scans before and after treatment, and 10 healthy children with normal visual acuity of the matched gender and age were included in the normal group and underwent brain rs-fMRI scans. Based on the activation likelihood estimation (ALE) method, we constructed the what visual pathway network, and compared and analyzed the spherical regions of interest (ROIs) of the children with normal children, and both groups of children with differences in functional connectivity (FC values) within the what pathway in the brain before and after treatment. ResultsTwo cases dropout in the acupuncture group, and finally 36 cases in the acupuncture group and 38 cases in the conventional group were included in the analysis. Compared with before treatment, the best corrected visual acuity of amblyopia in both groups was significantly improved after treatment (P<0.05), and the improvement of vision in the acupuncture group was significantly better than that in the conventional group (P<0.05). The results of rs-fMRI showed that the FC values of the primary optic cortex and the right fusiform gyrus, the left lingual gyrus and the right fusiform gyrus, and the right infraoccipital gyrus and the right middle temporal gyrus were significantly elevated in the brain of the refractive amblyopia children with the whitepathic amblyopia, compared with that of the normal children (P<0.05). The FC values of the left lingual gyrus, the right suboccipital gyrus with the right fusiform gyrus, the left lingual gyrus with the right middle temporal gyrus, the right and left lateral middle occipital gyrus, and the right and left lateral middle occipital gyrus with the right suboccipital gyrus were significantly (P<0.05) lower in the conventional group compared with those in the conventional group before treatment. Compared with that before acupuncture treatment, the FC values of the right lingual gyrus and the right fusiform gyrus, the primary visual cortex and the right middle temporal gyrus increased significantly after acupuncture treatment (P<0.05), and the FC values of the left inferior occipital gyrus and the right middle temporal gyrus, the FC values of the left lingual gyrus and the right middle occipital gyrus decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared between groups after treatment, the FC between the left suboccipital gyrus and the right fusiform gyrus in the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in the conventional group (P<0.05), and the FC between the left middle occipital gyrus and the right and left suboccipital gyrus was significantly lower than that in the conventional group (P<0.05). ConclusionAcupuncture can significantly improve the corrected vision of anisometropic amblyopic children, and its effect mechanism may focus on regulating the occipito-temporal interlobular functional connectivity within the what pathway, thus improving the children's visual function of shape and color vision and visual learning and memory ability.
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BackgroundCompared with adult-onset schizophrenia, patients with adolescent-onset schizophrenia experience a high genetic susceptibility, severe negative symptoms, high recurrence rate, poor prognosis and social function recovery. And clarifying the brain functional alterations in adolescent-onset schizophrenia is of great significance for further elucidating the pathogenesis of the disease and exploring personalized and precise treatment. ObjectiveTo investigate the altered functional and effective connectivity of bilateral precuneus in first-episode patients with adolescent-onset schizophrenia based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), thus providing reliable imaging evidence in guiding the study on mechanism involved in adolescent-onset schizophrenia. MethodsTwenty-one drugnaïve first-episode patients with adolescent-onset schizophrenia who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) criteria for schizophrenia were enrolled, and another 21 psychiatrially healthy controls matched on age, educational background and gender were concurrently selected. The schizophrenic subjects were evaluated using the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS) and Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS). All participants underwent rs-fMRI scans, and the whole-brain seed-based functional and effective connectivity analyses were conducted in bilateral cuneus region. Then the correlation between functional connectivity strength and clinical symptoms of patients was discussed. ResultsIn terms of functional connectivity, the functional connectivity of bilateral precuneus and left middle temporal gyrus was increased in patient group compared with healthy control group [P<0.01, family-wise error (FWE) correction at cluster level, P<0.05]. In terms of effective connectivity, patient group responded to negative feedback with greater activation of seed region and left middle frontal gyrus than healthy control group. Correlation analysis within patient group denoted that the decreased effective connectivity of bilateral precuneus and left middle frontal gyrus was positively correlated with the total PANSS score (r=0.450, P<0.05). ConclusionThe resting-state functional and effective connectivity of bilateral precuneus is abnormally alerted in drugnaïve first-episode patients with adolescent-onset schizophrenia, and the decreased effective connectivity of bilateral precuneus and left middle frontal gyrus may be related to the development of clinical symptoms. [Funded by National Key Research and Development Program of China (number, 2022YFC2009901, 2022YFC2009900)]
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The purpose of this article is to identify the characteristics and research progress of resting-state EEG microstates in patients with schizophrenia, in order to provide references for clinical research of schizophrenia from the perspective of neuroelectrophysiology. In September 2022, literature was retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform and PubMed database, and 27 studies meeting the requirements were finally included. Previous studies have demonstrated that patients with schizophrenia show increased presence of microstate class C and decreased presence of microstate class D in resting-state recordings, and the two commonly EEG microstate classes have been suggested as a potential endophenotype for schizophrenia. Although the correlation between psychiatric symptoms and resting-state EEG microstate abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia remains unclear, the altered resting-state EEG microstates in patients before and after treatment have undoubtedly validated its clinical significance.