Interhemispheric functional connectivity for Alzheimer's disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment based on the triple network model / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in interhemispheric functional connectivity in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) based on a triple network model consisting of the default mode network (DMN), salience network (SN), and executive control network (ECN). The technique of voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) analysis was applied to explore the aberrant connectivity of all patients. The results showed that: (1) the statistically significant connections of interhemispheric brain regions included DMN-related brain regions (i.e. precuneus, calcarine, fusiform, cuneus, lingual gyrus, temporal inferior gyrus, and hippocampus), SN-related brain regions (i.e. frontoinsular cortex), and ECN-related brain regions (i.e. frontal middle gyrus and frontal inferior); (2) the precuneus and frontal middle gyrus in the AD group exhibited lower VMHC values than those in the aMCI and healthy control (HC) groups, but no significant difference was observed between the aMCI and HC groups; and (3) significant correlations were found between peak VMHC results from the precuneus and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Scale (MOCA) scores and their factor scores in the AD, aMCI, and AD plus aMCI groups, and between the results from the frontal middle gyrus and MOCA factor scores in the aMCI group. These findings indicated that impaired interhemispheric functional connectivity was observed in AD and could be a sensitive neuroimaging biomarker for AD. More specifically, the DMN was inhibited, while the SN and ECN were excited. VMHC results were correlated with MMSE and MOCA scores, highlighting that VMHC could be a sensitive neuroimaging biomarker for AD and the progression from aMCI to AD.

A case report on the relationship between treatment-resistant childhood-onset schizophrenia and an abnormally enlarged cavum septum pellucidum combined with cavum vergae / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

The treatment of refractory schizophrenia has been a clinical challenge for most psychiatrists; the possible reasons include diagnostic errors, medical conditions and brain dysgenesis. Here, we described a patient with childhood-onset schizophrenia who had severe psychiatric symptoms such as auditory hallucinations and persecutory delusions, and etc. We reexamined all his possible medical conditions and found that the patient had an abnormally enlarged cavus septum pellucidum (CSP) combined with cavum vergae (CV) (maximum length >30 mm). Some reports suggested that abnormal CSP (length >6 mm) has a significant association with schizophrenia. However, abnormally large CSP or CSP/CV and related prognosis were reported rarely. This case suggested that abnormally enlarged CSP or CSP/CV may worsen the prognosis.

A survey of mental health among transferred injured survivors in Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the depression and anxious status among transferred injured survivors in Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 43 transferred injured survivors were investigated by questionnaire exploring their trauma symptoms and mental health status.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>High rates of trauma symptoms were remarkably observed in these survivors. Of all the respondents, 60% had some emotional symptoms and sleeping difficulties. About one third of respondents experienced recurrent and intrusive distressing recollection of event, 16 (37.21%) experienced nightmare, 15 (34.88%) had flashback and 7 (16.28%) of them tried to avoid relative stress.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Many mental symptoms were observed in transferred injured survivors. The two major factors of mental stress were emotional symptoms and re-experience of the disaster.</p>