Anomalous functional connectivity within the default-mode network in treatment-naive patients possessing first-episode major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown that the default-mode network (DMN) has a substantial role in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, there is a shortage of information regarding variations in the functional connectivity (FC) of the DMN of treatment-naive patients with first-episode MDD. The present study aims to explore the FC of the DMN in such patients. METHODS: The study population consisted of 33 patients and 35 controls, paired regarding age, gender, education level, and health condition. Depression severity was assessed through the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), and subjects underwent evaluation during the resting-state through functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). To assess the result, we used FC and ICA. We used Spearman's correlation test to detect potential correlations between anomalous FC and severity of HAM-D scores. RESULTS: We have found a decreased FC in the left medial orbitofrontal gyrus (MOFG) and right marginal gyrus (SMG) in depressive patients compared to controls. There was a negative correlation between abnormal FC in the right SMG and HAM-D scores. We have not found any increase in FC of the DMN in treatment-naive, first-episode of MDD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provided evidence of a negative correlation between abnormal FC in the DMN and severity of depression symptoms measured by HAM-D in treatment-naive MDD patients. This finding could shed some light on the relevance of DMN for understanding the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment in MDD.

Chest computed tomography (CT) findings and semiquantitative scoring of 60 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A retrospective imaging analysis combining anatomy and pathology.

In this study, we ascertained the chest CT data of 60 patients admitted to 3 hospitals in Chongqing with confirmed COVID-19. We conducted anatomical and pathological analyses to elucidate the possible reasons for the distribution, morphology, and characteristics of COVID-19 in chest CT. We also shared a semiquantitative scoring of affected lung segments, which was recommended by our local medical association. This scoring system was applied to quantify the severity of the disease. The most frequent imaging findings of COVID-19 were subpleural ground glass opacities and consolidation; there was a significant difference in semiquantitative scores between the early, progressive, and severe stages of the disease. We conclude that the chest CT findings of COVID-19 showed certain characteristics because of the anatomical features of the human body and pathological changes caused by the virus. Therefore, chest CT is a valuable tool for facilitating the diagnosis of COVID-19 and semiquantitative scoring of affected lung segments may further elucidate diagnosis and assessment of disease severity. This will assist healthcare workers in diagnosing COVID-19 and assessing disease severity, facilitate the selection of appropriate treatment options, which is important for reducing the spread of the virus, saving lives, and controlling the pandemic.

A Painless and Time-Saving Modified Technique for Simple Renal Cyst Treatment with Single-session Ethanol Sclerotherapy.

Percutaneous puncture ethanol sclerotherapy is a simple, effective, minimally invasive, and inexpensive procedure to manage symptomatic simple renal cysts. We modified specific technical aspects to balance certain potential intraprocedural factors for ensuring minimal procedural pain and duration as well as maximal clinical therapeutic effects and evaluated the safety and efficacy of this modified technique. A total of 84 eligible patients underwent computed tomography-guided single-session ethanol sclerotherapy using the conventional (group A) or modified (group B) technique. In group B, the puncture route was modified from tansparenchymal to direct for reducing renal injury, and preinjection of low-dose intracystic lidocaine was used to control distending pain caused by ethanol injections; therefore, greater ethanol volumes could be injected for improving the resistance and contact of ethanol with the cyst wall, precluding the need for patient repositioning multiple times to decrease procedural duration. Visual analog scale score for pain and procedural time were significantly higher in group A than in group B. The complication rate was slightly higher in group A than in group B, but the success rate was comparable between the two groups. These results suggest that the modified technique is painless, time-saving, and injury-reducing and can thus improve medical care.

Functional connectivity of the human amygdala in health and in depression.

To analyse the functioning of the amygdala in depression, we performed the first voxel-level resting state functional-connectivity neuroimaging analysis of depression of voxels in the amygdala with all other voxels in the brain, with 336 patients with major depressive disorder and 350 controls. Amygdala voxels had decreased functional connectivity (FC) with the orbitofrontal cortex, temporal lobe areas, including the temporal pole, inferior temporal gyrus and the parahippocampal gyrus. The reductions in the strengths of the FC of the amygdala voxels with the medial orbitofrontal cortex and temporal lobe voxels were correlated with increases in the Beck Depression Inventory score and in the duration of illness measures of depression. Parcellation analysis in 350 healthy controls based on voxel-level FC showed that the basal division of the amygdala has high FC with medial orbitofrontal cortex areas, and the dorsolateral amygdala has strong FC with the lateral orbitofrontal cortex and related ventral parts of the inferior frontal gyrus. In depression, the basal amygdala division had especially reduced FC with the medial orbitofrontal cortex, which is involved in reward; and the dorsolateral amygdala subdivision had relatively reduced FC with the lateral orbitofrontal cortex, which is involved in non-reward.