Brain Functional Network Changes in Patients with Poststroke Cognitive Impairment Following Acupuncture Therapy

Background: The mechanisms by which acupuncture affects poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) remain unclear. Objective: To investigate brain functional network (BFN) changes in patients with PSCI after acupuncture therapy. Methods: Twenty-two PSCI patients who underwent acupuncture therapy in our hospital were enrolled as research subjects. Another 14 people matched for age, sex, and education level were included in the normal control (HC) group. All the subjects underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans;the PSCI patients underwent one scan before acupuncture therapy and another after. The network metric difference between PSCI patients and HCs was analyzed via the independent-sample t test, whereas the paired-sample t test was employed to analyze the network metric changes in PSCI patients before vs. after treatment. Results: Small-world network attributes were observed in both groups for sparsities between 0.1 and 0.28. Compared with the HC group, the PSCI group presented significantly lower values for the global topological properties (γ, Cp, and Eloc) of the brain;significantly greater values for the nodal attributes of betweenness centrality in the CUN. L and the HES. R, degree centrality in the SFGdor. L, PCG. L, IPL. L, and HES. R, and nodal local efficiency in the ORBsup. R, ORBsupmed. R, DCG. L, SMG. R, and TPOsup. L;and decreased degree centrality in the MFG. R, IFGoperc. R, and SOG. R. After treatment, PSCI patients presented increased degree centrality in the LING.L, LING.R, and IOG. L and nodal local efficiency in PHG. L, IOG. R, FFG. L, and the HES. L, and decreased betweenness centrality in the PCG. L and CUN. L, degree centrality in the ORBsupmed. R, and nodal local efficiency in ANG. R. Conclusion: Cognitive decline in PSCI patients may be related to BFN disorders;acupuncture therapy may modulate the topological properties of the BFNs of PSCI patients.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy in non-invasive neuromodulation

Non-invasive cerebral neuromodulation technologies are essential for the reorganization of cerebral neural networks,which have been widely applied in the field of central neurological diseases,such as stroke,Parkinson’s disease,and mental disorders.Although significant advances have been made in neuromodulation technologies,the identification of optimal neurostimulation paramete rs including the co rtical target,duration,and inhibition or excitation pattern is still limited due to the lack of guidance for neural circuits.Moreove r,the neural mechanism unde rlying neuromodulation for improved behavioral performance remains poorly understood.Recently,advancements in neuroimaging have provided insight into neuromodulation techniques.Functional near-infrared spectroscopy,as a novel non-invasive optical brain imaging method,can detect brain activity by measuring cerebral hemodynamics with the advantages of portability,high motion tole rance,and anti-electromagnetic interference.Coupling functional near-infra red spectroscopy with neuromodulation technologies offe rs an opportunity to monitor the cortical response,provide realtime feedbac k,and establish a closed-loop strategy integrating evaluation,feedbac k,and intervention for neurostimulation,which provides a theoretical basis for development of individualized precise neuro rehabilitation.We aimed to summarize the advantages of functional near-infra red spectroscopy and provide an ove rview of the current research on functional near-infrared spectroscopy in transcranial magnetic stimulation,transcranial electrical stimulation,neurofeedback,and braincomputer interfaces.Furthermore,the future perspectives and directions for the application of functional near-infrared spectroscopy in neuromodulation are summarized.In conclusion,functional near-infrared spectroscopy combined with neuromodulation may promote the optimization of central pellral reorganization to achieve better functional recovery form central nervous system diseases.

Brain Functional Networks with Dynamic Hypergraph Manifold Regularization for Classification of End-Stage Renal Disease Associated with Mild Cognitive Impairment

The structure and function of brain networks have been altered in patients with end-stage renal disease(ESRD).Manifold regularization(MR)only considers the pairing relationship between two brain regions and cannot represent functional interactions or higher-order relationships between multiple brain regions.To solve this issue,we developed a method to construct a dynamic brain functional network(DBFN)based on dynamic hypergraph MR(DHMR)and applied it to the classification of ESRD associated with mild cognitive impairment(ESRDaMCI).The construction of DBFN with Pearson’s correlation(PC)was transformed into an optimization model.Node convolution and hyperedge convolution superposition were adopted to dynamically modify the hypergraph structure,and then got the dynamic hypergraph to form the manifold regular terms of the dynamic hypergraph.The DHMR and L_(1) norm regularization were introduced into the PC-based optimization model to obtain the final DHMR-based DBFN(DDBFN).Experiment results demonstrated the validity of the DDBFN method by comparing the classification results with several related brain functional network construction methods.Our work not only improves better classification performance but also reveals the discriminative regions of ESRDaMCI,providing a reference for clinical research and auxiliary diagnosis of concomitant cognitive impairments.

Hypidone hydrochloride(YL-0919)ameliorates functional deficits after traumatic brain injury in mice by activating the sigma-1 receptor for antioxidation

Traumatic brain injury involves complex pathophysiological mechanisms,among which oxidative stress significantly contributes to the occurrence of secondary injury.In this study,we evaluated hypidone hydrochloride(YL-0919),a self-developed antidepressant with selective sigma-1 receptor agonist properties,and its associated mechanisms and targets in traumatic brain injury.Behavioral experiments to assess functional deficits were followed by assessment of neuronal damage through histological analyses and examination of blood-brain barrier permeability and brain edema.Next,we investigated the antioxidative effects of YL-0919 by assessing the levels of traditional markers of oxidative stress in vivo in mice and in vitro in HT22 cells.Finally,the targeted action of YL-0919 was verified by employing a sigma-1 receptor antagonist(BD-1047).Our findings demonstrated that YL-0919 markedly improved deficits in motor function and spatial cognition on day 3 post traumatic brain injury,while also decreasing neuronal mortality and reversing blood-brain barrier disruption and brain edema.Furthermore,YL-0919 effectively combated oxidative stress both in vivo and in vitro.The protective effects of YL-0919 were partially inhibited by BD-1047.These results indicated that YL-0919 relieved impairments in motor and spatial cognition by restraining oxidative stress,a neuroprotective effect that was partially reversed by the sigma-1 receptor antagonist BD-1047.YL-0919 may have potential as a new treatment for traumatic brain injury.

The Effect of Different Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Time Windows on Neurological Function and Prognosis in Acute Cerebral Infarction

Objective:To observe the effects of different hyperbaric oxygen treatment time windows on the prognosis and neurological function of acute cerebral infarction.Method:160 patients with acute cerebral infarction admitted to Xiangyang Central Hospital in Hubei Province were randomly divided into four groups,each with 40 cases,using a random number table method.According to the 2017 guidelines for the treatment of cerebral infarction,the control group received routine treatment for acute cerebral infarction;On the basis of the control group,patients in Group A received hyperbaric oxygen therapy within 48 hours of onset;Group B patients receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy within 3-6 days of onset;Group C patients receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy within 7-12 days of onset.Observe the efficacy,recurrence,and neurological function recovery of four groups of patients after treatment.Result:There was no statistically significant difference in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)and Barthel Index(BI)scores among the four groups before treatment(P>0.05).There were statistically significant differences in NIHSS and BI scores between 14 and 30 days after treatment and before treatment(F=16.352,27.261,11.899,28.326,P<0.05).At 14 and 30 days after treatment,the NIHSS score in Group A decreased compared to the control group,Group B,and Group C,while the BI score increased compared to the control group,Group B,and Group C,with statistical significance(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in NIHSS and BI scores between Group C and the control group after treatment(P>0.05).After 30 days of treatment,the total effective rate of Group A was higher than that of the control group and Group C,and the difference was statistically significant(X2=6.135,P<0.05).The one-year recurrence rate of Group A and Group B is lower than that of Group C and the control group,and the difference is statistically significant(X2=8.331,P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in adverse reactions among the four groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Patients with acute cerebral infarction who receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy within 48 hours can improve neurological function and reduce the recurrence rate.The efficacy of receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy within 7-12 days of onset is equivalent to that of not receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Intranasal insulin ameliorates neurological impairment after intracerebral hemorrhage in mice

In Alzheimer’s disease and ischemic stroke,intranasal insulin can act as a neuroprotective agent.However,whether intranasal insulin has a neuroprotective effect in intracerebral hemorrhage and its potential mechanisms remain poorly understood.In this study,a mouse model of autologous blood-induced intracerebral hemorrhage was treated with 0.5,1,or 2 IU insulin via intranasal delivery,twice per day,until 24 or 72 hours after surgery.Compared with saline treatment,1 IU intranasal insulin treatment significantly reduced hematoma volume and brain edema after cerebral hemorrhage,decreased blood-brain barrier permeability and neuronal degeneration damage,reduced neurobehavioral deficits,and improved the survival rate of mice.Expression levels of p-AKT and p-GSK3βwere significantly increased in the perihematoma tissues after intranasal insulin therapy.Our findings suggest that intranasal insulin therapy can protect the neurological function of mice after intracerebral hemorrhage through the AKT/GSK3βsignaling pathway.The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the North Sichuan Medical College of China(approval No.NSMC(A)2019(01))on January 7,2019.

Acupuncture enhances brain function in patients with mild cognitive impairment: evidence from a functional-near infrared spectroscopy study

Mild cognitive impairment(MCI)is a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease.It is imperative to develop a proper treatment for this neurological disease in the aging society.This observational study investigated the effects of acupuncture therapy on MCI patients.Eleven healthy individuals and eleven MCI patients were recruited for this study.Oxy-and deoxy-hemoglobin signals in the prefrontal cortex during working-memory tasks were monitored using functional near-infrared spectroscopy.Before acupuncture treatment,working-memory experiments were conducted for healthy control(HC)and MCI groups(MCI-0),followed by 24 sessions of acupuncture for the MCI group.The acupuncture sessions were initially carried out for 6 weeks(two sessions per week),after which experiments were performed again on the MCI group(MCI-1).This was followed by another set of acupuncture sessions that also lasted for 6 weeks,after which the experiments were repeated on the MCI group(MCI-2).Statistical analyses of the signals and classifications based on activation maps as well as temporal features were performed.The highest classification accuracies obtained using binary connectivity maps were 85.7%HC vs.MCI-0,69.5%HC vs.MCI-1,and 61.69%HC vs.MCI-2.The classification accuracies using the temporal features mean from 5 seconds to 28 seconds and maximum(i.e,max(5:28 seconds))values were 60.6%HC vs.MCI-0,56.9%HC vs.MCI-1,and 56.4%HC vs.MCI-2.The results reveal that there was a change in the temporal characteristics of the hemodynamic response of MCI patients due to acupuncture.This was reflected by a reduction in the classification accuracy after the therapy,indicating that the patients’brain responses improved and became comparable to those of healthy subjects.A similar trend was reflected in the classification using the image feature.These results indicate that acupuncture can be used for the treatment of MCI patients.

Large-scale functional connectivity predicts cognitive impairment related to type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND Large-scale functional connectivity(LSFC)patterns in the brain have unique intrinsic characteristics.Abnormal LSFC patterns have been found in patients with dementia,as well as in those with mild cognitive impairment(MCI),and these patterns predicted their cognitive performance.It has been reported that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)may develop MCI that could progress to dementia.We investigated whether we could adopt LSFC patterns as discriminative features to predict the cognitive function of patients with T2DM,using connectome-based predictive modeling(CPM)and a support vector machine.AIM To investigate the utility of LSFC for predicting cognitive impairment related to T2DM more accurately and reliably.METHODS Resting-state functional magnetic resonance images were derived from 42 patients with T2DM and 24 healthy controls.Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA).Patients with T2DM were divided into two groups,according to the presence(T2DM-C;n=16)or absence(T2DM-NC;n=26)of MCI.Brain regions were marked using Harvard Oxford(HOA-112),automated anatomical labeling(AAL-116),and 264-region functional(Power-264)atlases.LSFC biomarkers for predicting MoCA scores were identified using a new CPM technique.Subsequently,we used a support vector machine based on LSFC patterns for among-group differentiation.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve determined the appearance of the classification.RESULTS CPM could predict the MoCA scores in patients with T2DM(Pearson’s correlation coefficient between predicted and actual MoCA scores,r=0.32,P=0.0066[HOA-112 atlas];r=0.32,P=0.0078[AAL-116 atlas];r=0.42,P=0.0038[Power-264 atlas]),indicating that LSFC patterns represent cognition-level measures in these patients.Positive(anti-correlated)LSFC networks based on the Power-264 atlas showed the best predictive performance;moreover,we observed new brain regions of interest associated with T2DM-related cognition.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values(T2DM-NC group vs.T2DM-C group)were 0.65-0.70,with LSFC matrices based on HOA-112 and Power-264 atlases having the highest value(0.70).Most discriminative and attractive LSFCs were related to the default mode network,limbic system,and basal ganglia.CONCLUSION LSFC provides neuroimaging-based information that may be useful in detecting MCI early and accurately in patients with T2DM.

A Functional Scoring System to Assess the Level of Impairment in Patients with Low Vision Impairment

Background: Low vision is referred to as visual impairment (VI) if it is not cured through surgery, drugs, spectacles or contact lenses. It interferes with day-to-day living activities and is associated with the major eye blinding diseases. Numerous tests are used to carry out diagnosis of VI, but their outcomes are unreliable. Objective: To develop a functional scoring system, for accessing the ailment of patients with VI based on observations and clinical symptoms. Methods and Findings: We prepared the list of all possible symptoms that were associated with low vision. Based on this list, we established a scoring system, Nutech Functional Score (NFS), which is a 33-point positional and directional scoring system that evaluates the patient with VI. The scores have been converted into numeric values for conducting probability based studies. All the symptoms are graded between 1 to 5 that runs in BAD → GOOD direction. Conclusion: NFS is a distinctive tool that can be used globally to evaluate the patients with low vision.

Erythropoietin inhibits ferroptosis and ameliorates neurological function after spinal cord injury

Ferroptosis is one of the critical pathological events in spinal cord injury.Erythropoietin has been reported to improve the recovery of spinal cord injury.However,whether ferroptosis is involved in the neuroprotective effects of erythropoietin on spinal cord injury has not been examined.In this study,we established rat models of spinal cord injury by modified Allen’s method and intraperitoneally administered 1000 and 5000 IU/kg erythropoietin once a week for 2 successive weeks.Both low and high doses of erythropoietin promoted recovery of hindlimb function,and the high dose of erythropoietin led to better outcome.High dose of erythropoietin exhibited a stronger suppressive effect on ferroptosis relative to the low dose of erythropoietin.The effects of erythropoietin on inhibiting ferroptosis-related protein expression and restoring mitochondrial morphology were similar to those of Fer-1(a ferroptosis suppressor),and the effects of erythropoietin were largely diminished by RSL3(ferroptosis activator).In vitro experiments showed that erythropoietin inhibited RSL3-induced ferroptosis in PC12 cells and increased the expression of xCT and Gpx4.This suggests that xCT and Gpx4 are involved in the neuroprotective effects of erythropoietin on spinal cord injury.Our findings reveal the underlying anti-ferroptosis role of erythropoietin and provide a potential therapeutic strategy for treating spinal cord injury.

miR-181b promotes angiogenesis and neurological function recovery after ischemic stroke

Promotion of new blood vessel formation is a new strategy for treating ischemic stroke.Non-coding miRNAs have been recently considered potential therapeutic targets for ischemic stroke.miR-181b has been shown to promote angiogenesis in hypoxia and traumatic brain injury model,while its effect on ischemic stroke remains elusive.In this study,we found that overexpression of miR-181b in brain microvascular endothelial cells subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation in vitro restored cell prolife ration and enhanced angiogenesis.In rat models of focal cerebral ischemia,ove rexpression of miR-181b reduced infarction volume,promoted angiogenesis in ischemic penumbra,and improved neurological function.We further investigated the molecular mechanism by which miR-181b participates in angiogenesis after ischemic stroke and found that miR-181b directly bound to the 3’-UTR of phosphatase and tensin homolog(PTEN) mRNA to induce PTEN downregulation,leading to activation of the protein kinase B(Akt) pathway,upregulated expression of vascular endothelial growth facto rs,down-regulated expression of endostatin,and promoted angiogenesis.Taken togethe r,these results indicate that exogenous miR-181b exhibits neuroprotective effects on ischemic stro ke through activating the PTEN/Akt signal pathway and promoting angiogenesis.

Overexpression of Sirt6 ameliorates sleep deprivation induced-cognitive impairment by modulating glutamatergic neuron function

Sleep benefits the restoration of energy metabolism and thereby suppo rts neuronal plasticity and cognitive behaviors.Sirt6 is a NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase that has been recognized as an essential regulator of energy metabolism because it modulates various transcriptional regulators and metabolic enzymes.The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of Sirt6 on cerebral function after chronic sleep deprivation(CSD).We assigned C57BL/6J mice to control or two CSD groups and subjected them to AAV2/9-CMV-EGFP or AAV2/9-CMV-Sirt6-EGFP infection in the prelimbic cortex(PrL).We then assessed cerebral functional connectivity(FC) using resting-state functional MRI,neuron/astrocyte metabolism using a metabolic kinetics analysis;dendritic spine densities using sparse-labeling;and miniature excitato ry postsynaptic currents(mEPSCs) and action potential(AP) firing rates using whole-cell patchclamp recordings.In addition,we evaluated cognition via a comprehensive set of behavioral tests.Compared with controls,Sirt6 was significantly decreased(P<0.05) in the PrL after CSD,accompanied by cognitive deficits and decreased FC between the PrL and accumbens nucleus,piriform cortex,motor co rtex,somatosensory co rtex,olfactory tubercle,insular cortex,and cerebellum.Sirt6 ove rexpression reve rsed CSD-induced cognitive impairment and reduced FC.Our analysis of metabolic kinetics using [1-13C] glucose and [2-13C] acetate showed that CSD reduced neuronal Glu4and GABA2synthesis,which could be fully restored via forced Sirt6 expression.Furthermore,Sirt6 ove rexpression reversed CSD-induced decreases in AP firing rates as well as the frequency and amplitude of mEPSCs in PrL pyramidal neurons.These data indicate that Sirt6 can improve cognitive impairment after CSD by regulating the PrL-associated FC network,neuronal glucose metabolism,and glutamatergic neurotransmission.Thus,Sirt6 activation may have potential as a novel strategy for treating sleep disorder-related diseases.

Can pH Monitoring Predict Gastric Emptying Measured by ¹³C-Acetate Breath Test in Gastroesophageal Reflux with Neurological Impairment?

Introduction: Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) often occurs in patients with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) due to neurological impairment (NI). 13C has been used as an alternative tool for measuring the gastric emptying rates. The aim of this study was to predict gastric emptying in children with GER using 13C-acetate breath test (ABT) by 24-hour pH monitoring. Methods: Nineteen patients were divided into 2 groups: a DGE group with NI (14 patients), and normal-emptying group without NI (5 patients). The liquid test meal consisted of RacolTM (5 ml/kg) mixed with 13C-acetate (50 mg for infants, 100 mg for children, and 150 mg for adolescents). 13CO2 was measured using a gas chromatograph-isotope ratio mass spectrometer. The results are expressed as the % of 13C expired per hour and cumulative 13C excretion over a 3-hour periods including the parameters of half excretion and lag time. Results: The mean half excretion time was 1.762 hour in the DGE group and 1.095 hour in the normal-emptying group (P = 0.0196). The mean lag time was 0.971 hour in the DGE group and 0.666 hour in the normal-emptying group (P = 0.0196). Therefore, DGE was significantly more prevalent in the DGE compared to the normal-emptying group. The percentage of the time when the pH was less than 4 on 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring was 21.6% ± 9.2% in the DGE group and 28.5% ± 11.6% in the normal-emptying group (P = 0.4634). Conclusion: The percentage of time when the pH is less than 4 on 24-hour pH monitoring cannot predict DGE measured by the 13C-ABT in GER.

Influence of ganglioside combined with methylprednisolone sodium succinate on efficacy and neurological function in patients with acute myelitis

BACKGROUND Acute myelitis(AM)can lead to sudden sensory,motor and autonomic nervous dysfunction,which negatively affects their daily activities and quality of life,so it is necessary to explore optimization from a therapeutic perspective to curb the progression of the disease.AIM To investigate the effect of ganglioside(GM)combined with methylprednisolone sodium succinate(MPSS)on the curative effect and neurological function of patients with AM.METHODS First,we selected 108 AM patients visited between September 2019 and September 2022 and grouped them based on treatment modality,with 52 patients receiving gamma globulin(GG)+MPSS and 56 patients receiving GM+MPSS,assigned to the control group(Con)and observation group(Obs),respectively.The therapeutic effect,neurological function(sensory and motor function scores),adverse events(AEs),recovery(time to sphincter function recovery,time to limb muscle strength recovery above grade 2,and time to ambulation),inflammatory factors(IFs)[interleukin(IL)-6,C-reactive protein(CRP),and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α]and other data of the two groups were collected for evaluation and comparison.RESULTS The Obs had:(1)A significantly higher response rate of treatment than the Con;(2)Higher scores of sensory and motor functions after treatment that were higher than the baseline(before treatment)and higher than the Con levels;(3)Lower incidence rates of skin rash,gastrointestinal discomfort,dyslipidemia,osteoporosis and other AEs;(4)Faster posttreatment recovery of sphincter function,limb muscle strength and ambulation;and(5)Markedly lower posttreatment IL-6,CRP and TNF-αlevels than the baseline and the Con levels.CONCLUSION From the above,it can be seen that GM+MPSS is highly effective in treating AM,with a favorable safety profile comparable to that of GG+MPSS.It can significantly improve patients’neurological function,speed up their recovery and inhibit serum IFs.

Effects of Personalized Ultra-early Limb Function Rehabilitation on Neurological Impairment and Satisfaction of Inpatients with Hemiplegia after Ischemic Stroke

[Objectives]To investigate the effects of personalized ultra-early limb function rehabilitation on neurological impairment and satisfaction of inpatients with hemiplegia after ischemic stroke.[Methods]From November 2020 to November 2021,66 ischemic stroke patients with hemiplegia in the Neurology Department of a Grade A hospital were randomly divided into experimental group and control group,with 33 cases in each group.The experimental group received personalized ultra-early limb function rehabilitation,and the control group adopted routine rehabilitation nursing.The neurological function defect and nursing service satisfaction of inpatients were compared between the two groups at discharge.[Results]After intervention,the neurological impairment in the experimental group was lighter than that in the control group(P<0.05),and the nursing service satisfaction of the inpatients in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).[Conclusions]Personalized ultra-early limb function rehabilitation can improve the neurological deficit of inpatients with hemiplegia after ischemic stroke and improve the satisfaction of inpatients.

The ferroptosis activity is associated with neurological recovery following chronic compressive spinal cord injury

Chronic compressive spinal cord injury in compressive cervical myelopathy conditions can lead to rapid neurological deterioration in the early phase,followed by partial self-recovery,and ultimately an equilibrium state of neurological dysfunction.Ferroptosis is a crucial pathological process in many neurodegenerative diseases;however,its role in chro nic compressive spinal cord injury remains unclear.In this study,we established a chronic compressive spinal cord injury rat model,which displayed its most severe behavioral and electrophysiological dysfunction at 4 wee ks and partial recovery at 8 weeks after compression.Bulk RNA sequencing data identified enriched functional pathways,including ferroptosis,presynapse,and postsynaptic membrane activity at both 4 and 8 wee ks following chro nic compressive spinal co rd injury.Tra nsmission electron microscopy and malondialdehyde quantification assay confirmed that ferroptosis activity peaked at 4 weeks and was attenuated at 8 weeks after chronic compression.Ferro ptosis activity was negatively correlated with behavioral score.Immunofluorescence,quantitative polymerase chain reaction,and western blotting showed that expression of the anti-ferroptosis molecules,glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4) and MAF BZIP transcription factor G(MafG),in neuro ns was suppressed at 4 weeks and upregulated at 8 weeks following spinal co rd compression.There was a positive correlation between the expression of these two molecules,suggesting that they may work together to contribute to functional recovery following chronic compressive spinal cord injury.In conclusion,our study determined the genome-wide expression profile and fe rroptosis activity of a consistently compressed spinal cord at different time points.The results showed that anti-fe rroptosis genes,specifically GPX4 and MafG,may be involved in spontaneous neurological recovery at 8 weeks of chronic compressive spinal cord injury.These findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying chronic compressive spinal cord injury and may help identify new therapeutic targets for compressive cervical myelopathy.

Value of individualized active rehabilitation training for neurological functional reconstruction in the convalescence of cerebral hemorrhage

Objective: To explore the value of individualized active rehabilitation training for neurological functional reconstruction in the convalescence of cerebral hemorrhage. Methods: The rehabilitation programs of 120 patients in the convalescence of cerebral hemorrhage were reviewed and used to divide them into the control group (n=71) who received conventional rehabilitation training and the observation group (n=49) who received individualized active rehabilitation training. The differences in serum contents of nerve injury-related indexes, pituitary-thyroid axis function indexes, neurotransmitters and so on were compared between the two groups of patients before rehabilitation and after 3 months of rehabilitation. Results:Before rehabilitation, there was no statistically significant difference in serum contents of nerve injury-related indexes, pituitary-thyroid axis function indexes and neurotransmitters between the two groups. After 3 months of rehabilitation, serum nerve injury-related indexes NSE, MBP and S100β contents of observation group were lower than those of control group;serum pituitary-thyroid axis function index FT3 content was higher than that of control group whereas FT4 and TSH contents were lower than those of control group;serum neurotransmitters Dny-A, SP and Glu contents were lower than those of control group whereas GABA content was higher than that of control group. Conclusion: The individualized active rehabilitation training can effectively optimize the neurological function and reduce the nerve injury in patients in the convalescence of cerebral hemorrhage, and can help the recovery of disease.

Disrupted functional connectivity of default mode network and executive control network in patients with vascular cognitive impairment, no dementia

Objective： To investigate functional connectivity within default mode network （DMN） and ex-ecutive control network （ECN） in vascular cognitive im-pairment, no dementia （VCIND）. Methods： Twenty-eight VCIND patients and sixteen healthy controls were recruit-ed. A seed-based connectivity analysis was performed us-ing data from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI）. Based on previous fndings, posteriorcingulate cortex （PCC） and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex （DLPFC） were chosen as regions of interest to study these networks.One-sample t-test and two-sample t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results： Compared with thecontrols, the VCIND group exhibited increased functional activity in such DMN regions as the left inferior temporal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, and medial frontal gyrus. The VCIND group had decreased functional connectivity of DMN at right superior frontal gyrus, left mid-cingu-late area, the medial part of left superior frontal gyrus, and bilateral medial frontal gyrus. The VCIND group also showed decreased functional connectivity of ECN pri-marilyat left inferior parietal gyrus, right angular gyrus, right middle occipital gyrus, and right middle frontal cor-tex. Conclusions： Increased functional connectivity with-in DMN and decreased functional connectivity within ECN suggested dysfunction of these two networks, which mightbe associated with the cognitive defcitsin patients with VCIND. These fndingsmay help usunderstandthe pathogenesis and clinical characteristics of VCIND.

Lung Function Impairment among Gasoline Attendants: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Occupational health is an important consideration, especially for people that work in an environment with pollutants. Gasoline attendants are individuals that work in filling stations. They are constantly exposed to gasoline fumes and automobile engine products from vehicle exhaust. This increases the risk of acute and chronic respiratory diseases and carcinogenesis among them. The risk of health complications tends to increase with the duration of exposure. The study aimed to determine the proportion of gasoline attendants with lung function impairment. Methods and Materials: Two hundred and eight eligible participants were recruited for this study. A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out in Esan West local government area of Edo state, Nigeria. The study was carried out for a period of six months from December 2015 to May 2016. A questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographic characteristics, work history, mode of exposure and duration of exposure to petrol fumes. Lung function was assessed using a DTspiro spirometer (Model POP 10. Serial no 110843-005);also the anthropometric parameters of the respondent were measured. Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 20.0. Frequency and percentages were used to present categorical data. The mean and standard deviation of continuous variables were calculated and compared using the student’s t-test. The criteria of significant association were assumed for a p-value less than 0.05. Results: A total of one hundred and forty petrol pump attendants and one hundred and forty controls participated in this study. The mean age for petrol pump attendants was 24 ± 3.1 years and 23 ± 2.8 years for the control group. There were no significant differences in the gender distribution and anthropometric parameters as observed in this study. The lung impairment pattern observed in this study was obstructive in twelve (8.6%) gasoline pump attendants and restrictive pattern in thirty-nine (27.9%) gasoline pump attendants, while only four (2.9%) had an obstructive pattern and twelve (8.6%) had a restrictive pattern of lung impairment among the control group. This implies that a restrictive pattern was predominant. This study also observed that there was an increase in the number of gasoline pump attendants with declined lung function compared to the control group. Conclusion: Restrictive pattern of lung impairment was more predominant than the obstructive pattern among gasoline pump attendants. As a result, public health interventions should be instituted among these individuals, especially in developing countries.

5种认知功能筛查量表在老年人中的应用效果分析

目的:评价三级甲等综合医院记忆门诊常用的5种认知筛查量表的应用效果,以期为临床医护人员进行神经认知障碍的评估和诊断提供参考依据。方法:选取2020年10月—2022年5月就诊于记忆门诊且主诉记忆减退的155例病人,经神经内科医生初诊,在征得病人同意后,开具认知障碍筛查处方,病人预约后由具有认知筛查培训资质的护士依次对病人及家属完成中文版认知功能检查量表-Ⅲ(ACE-Ⅲ)、简易智力状态检查量表(MMSE)、画钟测试4分法(CDT4)、蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MoCA)、认知障碍自评量表(AD8)和日常生活能力(ADL)量表的筛查,病人携带认知筛查结果、相关实验室及影像学检查结果到神经内科初诊专家处进行诊疗。结果:155例病人中,正常对照组72人,认知障碍组38例,痴呆组45例。5种认知筛查量表与相关因素间相关性比较结果显示,年龄、教育年限、认知障碍程度与中文版ACE-Ⅲ、MoCA相关性更为显著;认知障碍组病人中文版ACE-Ⅲ、MMSE、MoCA和AD8的受试者工作特征曲线下面积为0.698~0.788,MoCA、中文版ACE-Ⅲ和AD8对轻度认知障碍诊断的特异性分别为78.9%、76.3%和73.7%,敏感性分别为70.8%、58.3%和56.9%;痴呆组病人的中文版ACE-Ⅲ、MMSE、MoCA量表的受试者工作特征曲线下面积为0.915~0.931,其中MMSE、中文版ACE-Ⅲ和MoCA对痴呆诊断的敏感性分别为91.7%,84.7%和83.3%,特异性分别为86.7%、84.4%和84.4%。结论:对于具有记忆力减退、高龄、具有一定学历的病人宜选用MoCA、中文版ACE-Ⅲ在三级甲等综合医院记忆门诊筛查使用;认知筛查量表对轻度认知障碍筛查的准确性依次为MoCA>中文版ACE-Ⅲ>AD8,对痴呆筛查的准确性MMSE>中文版ACE-Ⅲ>MoCA。