Reduced regional homogeneity and neurocognitive impairment in patients with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea

BackgroundNeurocognitive dysfunction and abnormal regional homogeneity (ReHo) have been reported in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, little is known about whether brain functional alteration could be used to differentiate from healthy controls (HCs) and its correlation with neurocognitive impairment.MethodsThirty-three treatment-naive patients with moderate-to-severe OSA and 22 HCs with matched age, sex and education underwent the evaluation of Epworth sleepiness scale, neurocognitive function, full night polysomnography and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. ReHo, support vector machine, and correlation with neurocognitive function were administrated to analyze the data.ResultsCompared with HCs, patients with OSA showed decreased ReHo in the bilateral superior frontal gyrus (FG), bilateral superior medial prefrontal cortex (PFC)/right supplementary motor area (SMA), left middle FG, and right precentral/postcentral gyrus. Negative correlations were observed between the ReHo values in the left superior FG/middle FG and apnea hypopnea index, oxygen desaturation index in the OSA group. The scores of Stroop word test, Stroop color-word test, symbol coding test were all negatively correlated with the ReHo values in the right precentral gyrus/postcentral gyrus in patients. Scores of the animal naming fluency test were positively correlated with the ReHo values in the left superior FG/middle FG in patients. Moreover, support vector machine analysis showed the ReHo values in the left superior FG/middle FG or bilateral superior medial PFC/right SMA both could discriminate patients from HCs with good accuracies, sensitivities, and specificities (85.45%, 87.88%, 81.82% and 81.82%, 84.85%, 77.27%, respectively).ConclusionDysfunction in the frontal lobe is a potentially pivotal neuro-pathophysiological mechanism of neurocognitive impairment in patients with moderate-to-severe OSA. And significantly lower ReHo values in the left superior FG/middle FG and/or superior medial PFC/SMA are promising imaging biomarkers to discriminate moderate-to-severe patients with OSA from HCs.     

Normal aging decreases regional homogeneity of the motor areas in the resting state

Our knowledge about aging modulation of the central motor system remains sparse and contradictory. In the current study, we used functional MRI (fMRI) to study the aging influence on regional homogeneity of the motor-related brain areas in the resting state. We found that regional homogeneity in extensive motor regions, like the cingulate motor area, cerebellum, primary motor cortex, premotor area, supplementary motor area, thalamus, globus pallidus and putamen was significantly decreased in aged subjects. Our study indicates that normal aging process may disrupt the function of motor areas in the resting state, which may contribute to the declined motor ability in aged population.     

The Effect of Premature Loss of Deciduous Teeth a Biomktric Study in 14- and 10-Year-Olds

Abstract

Objective. To compare two methods used to examine the cement interface homogeneity of adhesively luted glass fiber posts (GFPs). Material and methods. GFPs were divided into four groups (n = 5 in each) and inserted into artificial root canals under standardized conditions: Group I = RelyX Unicem, application with application aid; Group II = RelyX Unicem; Group III = Panavia F 2.0; and Group IV = Variolink II. Posts in Groups II–IV were cemented without using an appliance. All specimens were sectioned at three levels (cervical, middle and apical) perpendicularly to the post's long axis and examined and photographed (n = 60) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cement interface inhomogeneities were (A) measured by means of SEM software and (B) estimated using a graphics program with SEM images being divided into 72 equal circle segments to calculate a percentage value of inhomogeneities of the 360° circumference. Results. Median values of inhomogeneities (A/B; %) within the cement interface for the cervical, middle and apical levels of analysis, respectively were 1.4/2.1, 2.2/4.2 and 1.9/2.1 for Group I; 21.0/20.1, 24.8/23.6 and 27.0/24.3 for Group II; 1.5/1.7, 5.5/6.3 and 19.4/20.8 for Group III; and 18.1/16.7, 16.1/15.3 and 27.2/25.7 for Group IV. The two methods correlated very well (0.994), with a value of one indicating a 100% correlation. Conclusion. Both evaluation methods were found to be equally appropriate for quantifying the cement interface homogeneity of SEM cross-sections of adhesively luted GFPs.     

Regional homogeneity abnormalities in patients with transient ischaemic attack: A resting-state fMRI study

ObjectiveTo investigate regional activity abnormalities in the resting state in patients with transient ischaemic attack (TIA) using a regional homogeneity (ReHo) method combined with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and to examine the relationship between regional activity abnormalities and clinical variables.MethodsResting-state fMRI was conducted in 21 patients with right-sided TIA and in 21 healthy volunteers. The ReHo was calculated to assess the strength of the local signal synchrony and was compared between the two groups.ResultsCompared with the controls, the TIA patients exhibited a decreased ReHo in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), the right inferior prefrontal cortex (iPFC), the right ventral anterior cingulate cortex (vACC) and the right dorsal posterior cingulate cortex (dPCC). In addition, the mean ReHo values in the right dlPFC and the right iPFC were significantly correlated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in TIA patients.ConclusionsNeural activities in the resting state are changed in TIA patients even without visible ischaemic lesions on conventional MRI. The positive correlation between the ReHo of resting-state fMRI and cognition suggests that ReHo could be a promising tool to observe the neurobiological consequences of TIA.SignificanceThe present study revealed abnormal local synchronisation of spontaneous neural activities in patients with TIA.     

Aberrant regional homogeneity in Parkinson’s disease: A voxel-wise meta-analysis of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging studies

Studies of abnormal regional homogeneity (ReHo) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) have reported inconsistent results. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis using the Seed-based d Mapping software package to identify the most consistent and replicable findings. A systematic literature search was performed to identify eligible whole-brain resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging studies that had measured differences in ReHo between patients with PD and healthy controls between January 2000 and June 4, 2016. A total of ten studies reporting 11 comparisons (212 patients; 182 controls) were included. Increased ReHo was consistently identified in the bilateral inferior parietal lobules, bilateral medial prefrontal cortices, and left cerebellum of patients with PD when compared to healthy controls, while decreased ReHo was observed in the right putamen, right precentral gyrus, and left lingual gyrus. The results of the current meta-analysis demonstrate a consistent and coexistent pattern of impairment and compensation of intrinsic brain activity that predominantly involves the default mode and motor networks, which may advance our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying PD.     

未经治疗的强迫障碍患者静息态磁共振脑功能局部一致性研究

目的:采用静息态功能磁共振成像(resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, RS-fMRI)技术,探讨未经治疗的强迫障碍(obsessive-compulsive disorder,OCD)患者脑局部一致性(regional homogeneity, ReHo)的变化以及与强迫症状严重程度的相关性?方法:对46例OCD患者和31例性别?年龄?受教育程度相匹配的健康对照进行静息态功能磁共振扫描,使用SPM8?DPARSF?REST等软件对影像学数据进行处理分析,比较两组间全脑ReHo的改变;采用耶鲁-布朗强迫量表(the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale,Y-BOCS)?17项汉密尔顿抑郁量表 (17-Item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression,HAMD-17)?汉密尔顿焦虑量表(Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale,HAMA)等评估临床症状,并分析OCD患者脑ReHo值与临床现象之间的关系?结果:和对照组相比,OCD患者左侧前额叶的ReHo值显著升高,左侧颞枕部和双侧梭状回的ReHo值显著降低,以上脑区的ReHo改变均未发现与Y-BOCs量表的相关性?结论:未经治疗的OCD患者在静息态下存在局部脑区的神经元活动一致性异常,这些异常改变可能与OCD的病理机制有关?     

Neurological Soft Signs Predict Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Patients With Schizophrenia

Neurological soft signs (NSS) are well documented in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ), yet so far, the relationship between NSS and specific symptom expression is unclear. We studied 76 SZ patients using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine associations between NSS, positive symptoms, gray matter volume (GMV), and neural activity at rest. SZ patients were hypothesis-driven stratified according to the presence or absence of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH; n = 34 without vs 42 with AVH) according to the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Structural MRI data were analyzed using voxel-based morphometry, whereas intrinsic neural activity was investigated using regional homogeneity (ReHo) measures. Using ANCOVA, AVH patients showed significantly higher NSS in motor and integrative functions (IF) compared with non-hallucinating (nAVH) patients. Partial correlation revealed that NSS IF were positively associated with AVH symptom severity in AVH patients. Such associations were not confirmed for delusions. In region-of-interest ANCOVAs comprising the left middle and superior temporal gyri, right paracentral lobule, and right inferior parietal lobule (IPL) structure and function, significant differences between AVH and nAVH subgroups were not detected. In a binary logistic regression model, IF scores and right IPL ReHo were significant predictors of AVH. These data suggest significant interrelationships between sensorimotor integration abilities, brain structure and function, and AVH symptom expression.     

基于Monaco的不同布野方式在左乳腺癌保乳术后调强放疗中的剂量学差异

目的探讨Monaco计划系统中不同布野方式对左乳腺癌保乳术后调强放疗剂量学的影响。方法选取左乳腺癌保乳术后患者12例,采用Monaco计划系统,在相同的优化条件下每例患者分别设计单野双弧(1F2A)、两野双弧(2F2A)、动态调强(dMLC)3种计划,比较3种计划的靶区及危及器官剂量学参数。结果3种计划的靶区剂量均能满足临床要求,2%计划靶区受到的照射剂量(D₂)、98%计划靶区受到的照射剂量(D₉₈)、50%计划靶区受到的照射剂量(D₅₀)、适形度指数(CI)、均匀性指数(HI)等参数比较,1F2A计划均优于2F2A、dMLC计划,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。2F2A计划得到的左肺接受5 Gy剂量照射的体积(V₅)以及10、20、30 Gy剂量照射的体积(V₁₀、V₂₀、V₃₀)和平均剂量(D_mean)均低于1F2A计划和dMLC计划,其中V₅、V₁₀、D mean的差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。与1F2A计划相比,2F2A计划和dMLC计划的右肺V₅、V₁₀和D mean以及右乳的D_mean、脊髓的D_max均降低,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。在心脏V₅和D_mean方面,dMLC计划均低于1F2A计划和2F2A计划,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。2F2A计划的子野数与1F2A计划、dMLC计划相比均降低,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论3种计划均能满足临床要求,2F2A计划能降低患侧肺、心脏等危及器官的受照剂量和体积。综合考虑计划质量和执行效率,建议左乳腺癌保乳术后放疗采用2F2A布野方式的容积旋转调强技术。     

血清肌钙蛋白I质控物的研究

目的评价自制血清肌钙蛋白I(cTnI)质控物均匀性和稳定性。方法按实验设计收集混合血清,分装-20℃贮存。参照CNAS-GL03《能力验证样品均匀性和稳定性评价指南》,对质控物的均匀性进行评价;运用恒温加速试验研究稳定性。结果质控物均匀性差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。恒温加速试验显示,血清cTnI降解随时间变化符合化学动力学一级反应,根据Arrhenius方程推测4℃贮存7d,-20℃贮存有效期为19个月;监测质控物9个月,与恒温加速试验结果一致。结论自制血清cTnI质控物均匀性、稳定性良好,可用于临床室内质量控制。