Neuronal injury and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in a rat model of amygdala kindling seizures Differences in brain regions and kindling courses

BACKGROUND：Studies have demonstrated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） has a dual effect on epilepsy. However, the relationship between epilepsy-induced brain injury and BDNF remains poorly understood.OBJECTIVE：According to ultrastructural and molecular parameters, to detect the degree of neuronal injury and BDNF expression changes at different brain regions and different kindling times to determine the effects of BDNF on epilepsy-induced brain injury.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING：A randomized, controlled, animal experiment based on neuropathology and molecular biology was performed at the Department of Physiology and Department of Pathology, Basic Medical College of Jilin University in 2003.MATERIALS：UltraSensitiveTM SP kit for immunohistochemistry （Fuzhou Maxim Biotechnology, China）, BDNF antibody （concentrated type, Wuhan Boster Biological Technology, China）, JEM-1000SX transmission electron microscopy （JEOL, Japan）, and BH-2 light microscope （Olympus, Japan） were used in the present study.METHODS：Wistar rats were randomly assigned to control （n = 6）, sham-surgery （n = 6）, and model （n = 60） groups. The control group rats were not treated; an electrode was embedded into the amygdala in rats from the sham-surgery and model groups; an amygdala kindling epilepsy model was established in the model group.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES：Pathological changes in the temporal lobe and hippocampus were observed by light and electron microscopy at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days following kindling, and BDNF expression in the various brain regions was determined by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS：In the model group, temporal lobe cortical and hippocampal neurons were swollen and the nuclei were laterally deviated. There were also some apoptotic neurons 3 days after kindling. The nucleoli disappeared and the nuclei appeared broken or lysed, as well as slight microglia hyperplasia, at 7 days. Electron microscopic observation displayed chromatin aggregation in the nuclei and slight mitochondrion swelling 3 days after kindling. Injury changes were aggravated at 7 days, characterized by broken cytoplasmic membrane and pyknosis. With the development of seizure, the number of BDNF-positive neurons in the hippocampus and temporal lobe increased and peaked at 7 days. Moreover, hippocampal and cortical temporal lobe injury continued. Following termination of electrical stimulation after 7 days of kindling, BDNF expression decreased, but continued to be expressed, up to 21 days of kindling. In addition, the number of temporal and hippocampal BDNF-positive neurons was greater than the control group.CONCLUSION：Brain injury and BDNF expression peaked at 7 days after kindling, and hippocampal changes were significant.

Susceptibility-weighted imaging is suitable for evaluating signal strength in different brain regions of a rabbit model of acute hemorrhagic anemia

Acute hemorrhagic anemia can decrease blood flow and oxygen supply to brain, and affect its physiological function. While detecting changes in brain function in patients with acute hemorrhagic anemia is helpful for preventing neurological complications and evaluating therapeutic effects, clinical changes in the nervous systems of these patients have not received much attention. In part, this is because current techniques can only indirectly detect changes in brain function following onset of anemia, which leads to lags between real changes in brain function and their detection.

Exploring the Abnormal Brain Regions and Abnormal Functional Connections in SZ by Multiple Hypothesis Testing Technique

Schizophrenia(SZ)is one of the most common mental diseases.Its main characteristics are abnormal social behavior and inability to correctly understand real things.In recent years,the magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)technique has been popularly utilized to study SZ.However,it is still a great challenge to reveal the essential information contained in the MRI data.In this paper,we proposed a biomarker selection approach based on the multiple hypothesis testing techniques to explore the difference between SZ and healthy controls by using both functional and structural MRI data,in which biomarkers represent both abnormal brain functional connectivity and abnormal brain regions.By implementing the biomarker selection approach,six abnormal brain regions and twenty-three abnormal functional connectivity in the brains of SZ are explored.It is discovered that compared with healthy controls,the significantly reduced gray matter volumes are mainly distributed in the limbic lobe and the basal ganglia,and the significantly increased gray matter volumes are distributed in the frontal gyrus.Meanwhile,it is revealed that the significantly strengthened connections are those between the middle frontal gyrus and the superior occipital gyrus,the superior occipital gyrus and the middle occipital gyrus as well as the middle occipital gyrus and the fusiform gyrus,and the rest connections are significantly weakened.

Chronic effect of olive oil on some neurotransmitter contents in different brain regions and physiological, histological structure of liver and kidney of male albino rats

Olive oil is an important source of mono-unsaturated fat and a prime component of the Mediterranean diet. The beneficial health effects of olive oil are due to both its high content of mono-unsaturated fatty acids and its high content of anti-oxidative substances. The objective of this study was to investigate the basis for the epidemiological information relating to the health benefits associated with the consumption of ex-tra-virgin olive oil (EVOO). The effect of olive oil on norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and gamm-aminobutyric acid (GABA) con-tents in different brain regions and histological structure of liver and kindey of male albino rats was studied. The chronic administration of olive oil (7.5 mg/kg body wt.) caused a significant increase in norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) , serotonin (5-HT) and gamm-aminobutyric acid (GABA) con-tent in different brain regions (Cerebellum, striatum, cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, brain steam and hip-pocampus) of male albino rats. The increase in NE, DA, 5-HT, and GABA content in the different CNS areas of male albino rat may be due to the inhibition of Ca2+/calmodulin binding which plays an important role in the release of these neurotransmitters. The results, also, revealed that urea and creatinne con-centrations in rats with oral administration with olive oil were decreased. Meanwhile, the activities of the enzymes AsT, AlT and ALP were elevated. The pre-sent results indicated that there is no change in tis-sues of kidney after treated with virgin olive oil. Olive oil may potentially be safe for use as a sedative drug. improvement also led to the reductions in risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Identification of differential brain regions in MCI progression via clustering-evolutionary weighted SVM ensemble algorithm

Mild cognitive impairment(MCI)as the potential sign of serious cognitive decline could be divided into two stages,i.e.,late MCI(LMCI)and early MCI(EMCI).Although the different cognitive states in the MCI progression have been clinically defined,effective and accurate identification of differences in neuroimaging data between these stages still needs to be further studied.In this paper,a new method of clustering-evolutionary weighted support vector machine ensemble(CEWSVME)is presented to investigate the alterations from cognitively normal(CN)to EMCI to LMCI.The CEWSVME mainly includes two steps.The first step is to build multiple SVM classifiers by randomly selecting samples and features.The second step is to introduce the idea of clustering evolution to eliminate inefficient and highly similar SVMs,thereby improving the final classification performances.Additionally,we extracted the optimal features to detect the differential brain regions in MCI progression,and confirmed that these differential brain regions changed dynamically with the development of MCI.More exactly,this study found that some brain regions only have durative effects on MCI progression,such as parahippocampal gyrus,posterior cingulate gyrus and amygdala,while the superior temporal gyrus and the middle temporal gyrus have periodic effects on the progression.Our work contributes to understanding the pathogenesis of MCI and provide the guidance for its timely diagnosis.

Regional homogeneity of intrinsic brain activity related to the main alexithymia dimensions

Background Alexithymia is a multidimensional personality construct.Objective This study aims to investigate the neuronal correlates of each alexithymia dimension by examining the regional homogeneity(ReHo) of intrinsic brain activity in a resting situation.Methods From university freshmen, students with alexithymia and non-alexlthymia were recruited. Their alexithymic traits were assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20. The ReHo was examined using a resting-state functional MRI approach.Results This study suggests significant gro叩 differences in ReHo in multiple brain regions distributed in the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe and insular cortex. However, only the ReHo in the insula was positively associated with difficulty identifying feelings, a main dimension of alexithymia. The ReHo in the lingual gyrus,precentral gyrus and postcentral gyrus was positively associated with difficulty describing feelings in participants with alexithymia. Lastly, the ReHo in the right dorsomedial prefrontal cortex(DMPFC_R) was negatively related to the externally oriented thinking style of participants with alexithymia.Conclusion In conclusion, these results suggest that the main dimensions of alexithymia are correlated with specific brain regions' function, and the role of the insula,lingual gyrus, precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus and DMPFC_R in the neuropathology of alexithymia should be further investigated.

Differential Neutrophil Infiltration Contributes to Regional Differences in Brain Infiammation in the Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta and Cortex

脑的炎症反应是神经退行性疾病的危险因素之一。有趣的是,黑质密部(SNpc)严重的炎性反应会加速帕金森病的发作和进展。本研究通过比较SNpc与皮质的炎性过程来检测SNpc严重炎性反应的潜在机制。在完整的脑组织中,SNpc和皮质的CD11b+小胶质细胞密度是相似的。但是,脂多糖注射可增加SNpc的CD11b+细胞数目,而不能增加皮质中的。以前作者曾报道内毒素注射之后,黑质密部有CD11b和MPO双阳性的中性粒细胞浸润(GLIA55:1577-1588)。值得注意的是,MPO+中性粒细胞数量在SNpc中显著增加,而在皮质中只有轻微提高。中性粒细胞浸润的范围与神经元损伤相关。作者证实,内毒素注射后,中性粒细胞减少大鼠的SNpc中的神经元丢失较正常大鼠显著减少。此外,完整的SNpc中的星形胶质细胞密度明显低于皮质。而且,内毒素注射后,SNpc的内皮细胞和星形胶质细胞的损害以及血脑屏障的通透性均有显著变化。这些结果都提示,过度的中性粒细胞浸润和环境因子,例如低星形胶质细胞浓度和高血脑屏障通透性,会导致SNpc的重度炎症和神经元死亡。

Brain Localization and the Integrated Systems Hypothesis: Evidence from Broca’s Region

The human brain is a fascinatingly complex organ with specialized structures associated with distinct functions. Classical and recent studies on brain localization propose that Broca’s area underpin expressive language and this has been generalized to explain brain functional organization. However, recent neuroimaging studies have shown that the Broca’s area is an extended network that not only participate in its primary function-expressive language processing but in secondary functions-processing non-linguistic/nonverbal tasks as well. Also, there is hierarchical connectivity and interaction of Broca’s region and different brain areas in underlying related primary functions. For this review, I start with revisiting the classical description of brain localization. I then discuss the neuroanatomy of language production and the role of Broca’s region in language processing. I then highlight the participation of the Broca’s area in non-linguistic tasks and non-primary linguistic tasks. Ultimately, I propose a novel hypothesis called integrated systems hypothesis. The integrated systems hypothesis is useful for guiding research on the multimodal role of specific localized integrated systems of the brain especially the role of the Broca’s region in integrating linguistic and non-linguistic processing and how this facilitate language production.

基于Partial New Causality的因果脑网络情绪识别

为了研究情绪产生过程中脑区以及通道之间的因果作用,在部分格兰杰与新型因果关系的基础上,提出一种用于研究时间序列之间因果关系的部分新型因果关系(PNC)方法。在不同情绪下选取脑区内的8个通道,用PNC计算脑区内通道之间的因果连接关系,根据连接关系构建因果网络;对因果网络中节点的信息流向和介数属性进行分析,将PNC因果网络和Granger因果网络节点之间的因果连接视为一种特征送入SVM中训练分类。实验结果表明,基于PNC因果网络和Granger因果网络的平均识别精度分别为76.4%和68.5%,PNC可用于计算时间序列之间的因果关系。

基于深层图卷积的EEG情绪识别方法研究

针对浅层图卷积提取的局部脑区空间关联信息对情感脑电表征不足的问题,本文提出了一种深层图卷积网络模型。该模型利用深层图卷积学习情绪脑电全局通道间的内在关系,在卷积传播过程中应用残差连接和权重自映射解决深层图卷积网络面临的节点特征收敛到固定空间无法学习到有效特征的问题,并在卷积层后加入PN正则化扩大不同情绪特征间的距离,提高情绪识别的性能。在SEED数据集上进行实验,与浅层图卷积网络相比准确率提高了0.7%,标准差下降了3.15。结果表明该模型提取的全局脑区空间关联信息对情绪识别的有效性。

带状疱疹后遗神经痛疼痛矩阵的研究进展

带状疱疹后遗神经痛(PHN)是一种典型的慢性神经性疼痛综合征,外周和中枢神经系统作用机制均被认为参与了PHN,但中枢神经系统相关脑网络结构和功能尚未完全阐明,限制了临床镇痛药物及其他干预策略的研究。近年来,疼痛矩阵相关脑网络的研究有助于揭示疼痛的中枢神经系统调节机制,但PHN疼痛矩阵的研究报道较少。现就近年关于PHN疼痛矩阵的研究进行综述,回顾性分析疼痛相关具体脑区的功能及结构变化,旨在为探索高效靶向的镇痛治疗提供新的思路。

基于伪连续式动脉自旋标记对原发性三叉神经痛病人疼痛相关脑区血流量的分析

目的应用伪连续式动脉自旋标记(pCASL)技术分析原发性三叉神经痛(PTN)病人疼痛相关脑区局部脑血流量(rCBF)的变化。方法回顾性纳入48例PTN病人,根据疼痛部位将病人分为右侧PTN(RPTN)组28例和左侧PTN(LPTN)组20例,另纳入健康对照(HC)35例。全部研究对象均行常规头颅MRI及动脉自旋标记(ASL)成像检查,选取中央后回、岛叶、前扣带回、眶额皮质、丘脑共5个疼痛相关的感兴趣脑区(ROI)并分析rCBF值。采用配对t检验比较3组内左右两侧的rCBF值,采用SNK校正的单因素方差分析比较3组间的rCBF值。结果RPTN组左侧和LPTN组右侧的中央后回、眶额皮质r CBF均增高(均P<0.05),RPTN组和LPTN组右侧岛叶rCBF均增高(均P<0.05),RPTN组左侧和LPTN组右侧丘脑r CBF均减低(均P<0.05)。3组间比较发现,RPTN组左侧和LPTN组右侧的中央后回、眶额皮质r CBF值均高于其他2组(均P<0.05),RPTN组左侧和LPTN组右侧的丘脑rCBF值均低于其他2组(均P<0.05),RPTN组、LPTN组右侧岛叶rCBF值均高于HC组(均P<0.05)。结论pCASL技术显示PTN病人中央后回、右侧岛叶、眶额皮质、丘脑的rCBF均发生改变,提示PTN的发生可能导致与疼痛相关脑区的脑血流量的改变。

静息态功能磁共振分析轻微型肝性脑病不同脑区的功能变化

目的探讨静息态功能磁共振(rs-fMRI)分析轻微型肝性脑病(MHE)不同脑区的功能变化。方法选取2017年2月~2022年5月于本院就诊的88例肝硬化患者作为研究对象,根据是否发生MHE分为MHE组(n=45)和非MHE组(n=43),并选取同期在本院进行体检的健康人员(n=50)作为对照组。通过倾向性评分匹配(PSM)法按照1:1:1匹配后三组各为40例,比较三组受试者的一般资料。受试者均行头颅rs-fMRI扫描,采用统计学方法分析比较三组受试者全脑不同脑区的功能连接(FC)。分析三组受试者认知功能评分情况。Spearman相关性检验分析肝硬化患者认知功能评分与FC改变的相关性。结果与对照组相比,MHE组双侧中央后回、双侧楔叶/枕上小叶、左侧枕中回、左侧盖部额下回以及右侧舌回FC明显降低,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。与对照组相比,MHE组数字连接试验(NCT-A)测试结果更高(P<0.05),数字符号试验(DST)评分更低(P<0.05)。NCT-A与DST量表评分与双侧楔叶/枕上小叶、左侧盖部额下回以及左侧颞上回的FC改变均呈显著负相关(P<0.05)。结论若肝硬化患者伴有MHE,双侧中央后回、双侧楔叶/枕上小叶、左侧枕中回、左侧盖部额下回以及右侧舌回FC存在异常,会出现认知功能障碍,其认知功能障碍可能与不同脑区FC改变有关。

Acupuncture inhibits cue-induced heroin craving and brain activation

Previous research using functional MRI has shown that specific brain regions associated with drug dependence and cue-elicited heroin craving are activated by environmental cues. Craving is an important trigger of heroin relapse, and acupuncture may inhibit craving. In this study, we performed functional MRI in heroin addicts and control subjects. We compared differences in brain activation between the two groups during heroin cue exposure, heroin cue exposure plus acupuncture at the Zusanli point （ST36） without twirling of the needle, and heroin cue exposure plus acupuncture at the Zusanli point with twirling of the needle. Heroin cue exposure elicited significant activation in craving-related brain regions mainly in the frontal lobes and callosal gyri. Acupuncture without twirling did not significantly affect the range of brain activation induced by heroin cue exposure, but significantly changed the extent of the activation in the heroin addicts group. Acupuncture at the Zusanli point with twirling of the needle significantly decreased both the range and extent of activation induced by heroin cue exposure compared with heroin cue exposure plus acupuncture without twirling of the needle. These experimental findings indicate that presentation of heroin cues can induce activation in craving-related brain regions, which are involved in reward, learning and memory, cognition and emotion. Acupuncture at the Zusanli point can rapidly suppress the activation of specific brain regions related to craving, supporting its potential as an intervention for drug craving.

Activated and deactivated functional brain areas in the Deqi state: A functional MRI study

We compared the activities of functional regions of the brain in the Deqi versus non-Deqi state, as reported by physicians and subjects cludng acupuncture, Twelve healthy volunteers received sham and true needling at the Waiguan （TE5） acupoint. Real-time cerebral functional MRI showed that compared with non-sensation after sham needling, true needling activated Brodmann areas 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 20, 21, 37, 39, 40, 43, and 47, the head of the caudate nucleus, the parahippocampal gyrus, thalamus and red nucleus. True needling also deactivated Brodmann areas 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9. 10. 18.24.31.40 and 46.

Neural stem cell-derived exosomes promote mitochondrial biogenesis and restore abnormal protein distribution in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.We previously showed that neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles improved mitochondrial function in the cortex of AP P/PS1 mice.Because Alzheimer’s disease affects the entire brain,further research is needed to elucidate alterations in mitochondrial metabolism in the brain as a whole.Here,we investigated the expression of several important mitochondrial biogenesis-related cytokines in multiple brain regions after treatment with neural stem cell-derived exosomes and used a combination of whole brain clearing,immunostaining,and lightsheet imaging to clarify their spatial distribution.Additionally,to clarify whether the sirtuin 1(SIRT1)-related pathway plays a regulatory role in neural stem cell-de rived exosomes interfering with mitochondrial functional changes,we generated a novel nervous system-SIRT1 conditional knoc kout AP P/PS1mouse model.Our findings demonstrate that neural stem cell-de rived exosomes significantly increase SIRT1 levels,enhance the production of mitochondrial biogenesis-related fa ctors,and inhibit astrocyte activation,but do not suppress amyloid-βproduction.Thus,neural stem cell-derived exosomes may be a useful therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s disease that activates the SIRT1-PGC1αsignaling pathway and increases NRF1 and COXIV synthesis to improve mitochondrial biogenesis.In addition,we showed that the spatial distribution of mitochondrial biogenesis-related factors is disrupted in Alzheimer’s disease,and that neural stem cell-derived exosome treatment can reverse this effect,indicating that neural stem cell-derived exosomes promote mitochondrial biogenesis.

基于fNIRS的主动、被动与想象屈肘运动脑激活的特点及比较

目的 利用功能性近红外光谱成像(functional near-infrared spectroscopy, fNIRS)技术探究健康成年人主动屈肘、被动屈肘和想象屈肘运动脑激活的特点。方法 选取30名健康大学生为被试者,男女各15例,年龄(21.22±1.42)岁,选择右手主动、被动和想象屈肘任务作为刺激模式,采用近红外光谱脑功能成像系统实时采集被试者3种不同运动模式下脑功能区氧合血红蛋白(Oxyhemoglobin, HbO2)水平作为脑激活的特征值,并以静息态(resting state, RS)的HbO2水平为基线值,比较3种运动模式下脑激活的特点。结果 非参数检验结果表明,不同运动模式下,右侧初级运动皮层(H=13.309,P=0.004),右侧前额叶前部皮层(H=20.30,P<0.001),右侧背外侧前额叶皮层(H=12.194,P=0.007),左侧初级体感皮层(H=12.642,P=0.005),左侧初级运动皮层(H=20.03,P<0.001),左侧前额叶前部皮层(H=18.187,P<0.001),左侧背外侧前额叶皮层(H=13.379,P=0.004)的HbO2水平比较差异有统计学意义;而其右侧初级体感皮层(H=4.284,P=0.232),右侧前运动区和辅助运动皮层(H=4.201,P=0.241),左侧前运动区和辅助运动皮层(H=8.793,P=0.052)HbO2水平比较差异无统计学意义。结论 不同运动模式下存在特定的脑功能区激活,其激活程度既有相似性又有差异性,主动运动和被动运动任务下的脑激活区最类似。

神经元自噬在创伤后应激障碍的研究进展

创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)是一种应激性精神疾病,具有发病率高,难治愈的特点,病情严重者能够造成社会功能损害。临床治疗PTSD以药物干预和心理疏导为主,不良作用较大,疗效不持续。自噬作为维持内环境稳态的一种方式,在多种疾病中发挥重要作用,其中PTSD患者海马神经元受损,内有大量自噬溶酶体,可能与PTSD发病有关。文章以神经元自噬角度作为出发点,从PTSD发生相关脑区、发病机制等方面进行综述,以期为PTSD发病机制研究提供新方向,为寻求安全有效治疗靶点提供新思路。

不同侧小脑梗死患者脑区比率低频振幅的改变及其与认知功能改变的关联

目的:研究不同侧小脑梗死患者不同脑区域的比率低频振幅(fALFF)值的改变及其与认知功能改变的关联性。方法:回顾性研究2022年4月至2024年3月我院神经内科明确诊断的急性单侧小脑梗死的患者92例,以梗死位置分为左侧组45例与右侧组47例,另选取健康体检的受检者50例作为健康对照组,对比不同分组之间的认知功能评分,以及左侧与右侧组患者的fALFF值差异,以及不同脑区域fALFF值与认知功能的相关性。结果:小脑梗死组患者的MMSE评分、RAVLT评分、BNT评分均明显低于健康对照组(P<0.05),TMT耗时相比对照组明显延长(P<0.05)。小脑梗死组患者右侧扣带回、右侧额下回、左侧额上回、小脑后叶的fALFF值差异均相比健康对照组明显升高(P<0.05)。左侧组患者右侧扣带回、额下回、左侧额上回的fALFF值均显著高于右侧组(P<0.05),小脑后叶的fALFF值相比右侧组明显降低(P<0.05)。右侧组右侧额叶的fALFF值与MMSE评分正相关(P<0.05),右侧顶下小叶与MMSE评分负相关(P<0.05),左侧前扣带回与RAVLT评分正相关(P<0.05),左侧顶叶与TMT耗时负相关(P<0.05)。左侧组右侧前额叶、顶下小叶、扣带回与MMSE评分负相关(P<0.05),右侧顶下小叶与RAVLT评分负相关(P<0.05),右侧枕叶与RAVLT评分正相关(P<0.05),右侧顶叶与TMT耗时正相关(P<0.05)。结论:小脑梗死患者相比健康人群的认知功能明显降低,同时梗死对侧关键脑区的fALFF值表现出明显的代偿性升高,与认知功能水平相关性较强。