Traumatic amputations remain one of the most frequent and disturbing wounds of armed conflict.In this scenario,most amputees develop residual and phantom limb pain,impacting their quality of life.There are several ele...Traumatic amputations remain one of the most frequent and disturbing wounds of armed conflict.In this scenario,most amputees develop residual and phantom limb pain,impacting their quality of life.There are several elective surgical procedures available for both conditions,such as neuroma excision followed by nerve reconstruction,nerve relocation,e.g.,surgically implanting a transected nerve into a muscle,nerve transfers in cases of associated paralysis,and most recently,regenerative peripheral nerve interface surgery.Whenever possible in the post-conflict phase,a coordinated effort between traveling humanitarian surgeons specializing in reconstructive microsurgery and local healthcare providers is essential for successfully treating phantom and chronic residual limb pain in post-conflict amputees.While providing a detailed logistical framework for global humanitarian missions is beyond the scope of this article,we provide a brief perspective on a topic of utmost importance for reconstructive surgeons worldwide:the high-quality care and treatment of refugees and those whose lives have been impacted by conflict,disaster,or displacement.展开更多
BACKGROUND Supernumerary phantom limb(SPL)sensation is the experience of additional limbs,either single or a pair of limbs.Unique to traumatic spinal cord injuries,we report effect of transcranial direct current stimu...BACKGROUND Supernumerary phantom limb(SPL)sensation is the experience of additional limbs,either single or a pair of limbs.Unique to traumatic spinal cord injuries,we report effect of transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS)on SPL pain in a patient with cervical cord injury.CASE SUMMARY The subject was a 57-year-old man who was diagnosed with complete spinal cord injury(C6/C5,motor level;C5/C5,sensory level;AIS-A)approximately three months ago.After a period of 2 wk,we administered anodal tDCS over the motor cortex for 15 minutes at an intensity of 1.5 mA.Following that treatment,the patient experienced a decrease of SPL pain intensity and frequency,which lasted for 1 week after the end of treatment.CONCLUSION Targeting the motor cortex through neuromodulation appears to be a promising option for the management of SPL pain.展开更多
Objective To investigate cerebral structural signatures of the bulbar-and spinal-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS) using voxel-based morphometry on magnetic resonance imaging.Methods The MR structural images of...Objective To investigate cerebral structural signatures of the bulbar-and spinal-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS) using voxel-based morphometry on magnetic resonance imaging.Methods The MR structural images of the brain were obtained from 65 ALS patients(15 bulbar-onset, 50 spinalonset) and 65 normal controls(NC) on a 3.0 T MRI system. Gray matter(GM) volume changes were investigated by voxel-based morphometry, and the distribution of the brain regions with volume changes was compared between ALS and normal controls, as well as between bulbar-onset and spinal-onset ALS based on Neuromorphometrics atlas.Results On voxel-level the decreased volume of brain regions in ALS patients was located in the right precentral gyrus(r Prc Gy) and right middle frontal gyrus compared with that in NC. The bulbar-onset ALS presented extramotor cortex atrophy(fronto-temporal pattern), including left medial orbital gyrus, left inferior temporal gyrus and right middle temporal gyrus; the spinal-onset ALS suffered from motor cortex atrophy(r Prc Gy dominance) and extra-motor cortex atrophy(fronto-temporal and extra-fronto-temporal pattern) compared with NC. The spinal-onset ALS featured by GM volume loss of left postcentral gyrus and bulbar-onset ALS featured by GM volume loss of left middle temporal gyrus compared with each other. Conclusions The asymmetric GM atrophy of the motor cortex and extra-motor cortex represents the common MRI structural signatures of spinal-onset ALS, and sole extra-motor cortex atrophy represents the structural signatures of bulbar-onset ALS. The present study also demonstrated that the pattern of GM damage is likely to distribute wider in spinal-onset ALS than in bulbar-onset ALS.展开更多
Hepatic myelopathy is a complication seen in patients with chronic liver failure with physiologic or iatrogenic portosystemic shunting. The main symptom is progressive lower limb dyskinesia. The role of the brain moto...Hepatic myelopathy is a complication seen in patients with chronic liver failure with physiologic or iatrogenic portosystemic shunting. The main symptom is progressive lower limb dyskinesia. The role of the brain motor control center in hepatic myelopathy is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the gray matter changes in patients with hepatic myelopathy secondary to transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and to examine their clinical relevance. This was a cross-sectional study. Twenty-three liver failure patients with hepatic myelopathy(hepatic myelopathy group), 23 liver failure patients without hepatic myelopathy(non-hepatic myelopathy group) after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, and 23 demographically matched healthy volunteers were enrolled from March 2014 to November 2016 at Xijing Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University(Fourth Military Medical University), China. High-resolution magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo brain imaging was acquired. Group differences in regional gray matter were assessed using voxel-based morphometry analysis. The relationship between aberrant gray matter and motor characteristics was investigated. Results demonstrated that compared with the non-hepatic myelopathy group, gray matter volume abnormalities were asymmetric, with decreased volume in the left insula(P = 0.003), left thalamus(P = 0.029), left superior frontal gyrus(P = 0.006), and right middle cingulate cortex(P = 0.021), and increased volume in the right caudate nucleus(P = 0.017), corrected with open-source software. The volume of the right caudate nucleus in the hepatic myelopathy group negatively correlated with the lower limb clinical rating of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment(r = –0.53, P = 0.01). Compared with healthy controls, patients with and without hepatic myelopathy exhibited overall increased gray matter volume in both thalami, and decreased gray matter volume in both putamen, as well as in the globus pallidus, cerebellum, and vermis. The gray matter abnormalities we found predominantly involved motor-related regions, and may be associated with motor dysfunction. An enlarged right caudate nucleus might help to predict weak lower limb motor performance in patients with preclinical hepatic myelopathy after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Xijing Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University(Fourth Military Medical University), China(approval No. 20140227-6) on February 27, 2014.展开更多
A reduction in gray matter volume is common in patients with chronic back pain, and different types of pain are associated with gray matter abnormalities in distinct brain regions. To examine differ- ences in brain mo...A reduction in gray matter volume is common in patients with chronic back pain, and different types of pain are associated with gray matter abnormalities in distinct brain regions. To examine differ- ences in brain morphology in patients with low back pain or neck and upper back pain, we investi- gated changes in gray matter volume in chronic back pain patients having different sites of pain using voxel-based morphometry. A reduction in cortical gray matter volume was found primarily in the left postcentral gyrus and in the left precuneus and bilateral cuneal cortex of patients with low back pain. In these patients, there was an increase in subcortical gray matter volume in the bilateral putamen and accumbens, right pallidum, right caudate nucleus, and left amygdala. In upper back pain patients, reduced cortical gray matter volume was found in the left precentral and left postcen- tral cortices. Our findings suggest that regional gray matter volume abnormalities in low back pain patients are more extensive than in upper back pain patients. Subcortical gray matter volume in- creases are found only in patients with low back pain.展开更多
Voxel-based morphometry-diffeomorphic anatomical registration using exponentiated lie algebra analysis was used to investigate the structural characteristics of white matter in young males with antisocial personality ...Voxel-based morphometry-diffeomorphic anatomical registration using exponentiated lie algebra analysis was used to investigate the structural characteristics of white matter in young males with antisocial personality disorder (APD) and healthy controls without APD. The results revealed that APD subjects, relative to healthy subjects, exhibited increased white matter volume in the bilateral prefrontal lobe, right insula, precentral gyrus, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, right inferior parietal Iobule, right precuneus, right middle occipital lobe, right parahippocampal gyrus and bilateral cingulate, and decreased volume in the middle temporal cortex and right cerebellum. The white matter volume in the medial frontal gyrus was significantly correlated with antisocial type scores on the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire in APD subjects. These experimental findings indicate that white matter abnormalities in several brain areas may contribute to antisocial behaviors in APD subjects.展开更多
Our previous study used regional homogeneity analysis and found that activity in some brain areas of patients with ischemic stroke changed significantly. In the current study, we examined structural changes in these b...Our previous study used regional homogeneity analysis and found that activity in some brain areas of patients with ischemic stroke changed significantly. In the current study, we examined structural changes in these brain regions by taking structural magnetic resonance imaging scans of 11 ischemic stroke patients and 15 healthy participants, and analyzing the data using voxel-based morphometry. Compared with healthy participants, patients exhibited higher gray matter density in the left inferior occipital gyrus and right anterior white matter tract. In contrast, gray matter density in the right cerebellum, left precentral gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, and left middle temporal gyrus was less in ischemic stroke patients. The changes of gray matter density in the middle frontal gyrus were negatively associated with the clin- ical rating scales of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment (r = -0.609, P = 0.047) and the left middle temporal gyrus was negatively correlated with the clinical rating scales of the nervous functional deficiency scale (r = -0.737, P = 0.010). Our findings call objectively identify the functional abnormality in some brain regions of ischemic stroke patients.展开更多
Monte Carlo simulations are frequently utilized in radiation dose assessments.However,many researchers find the prevailing computing platforms to be intricate.This highlights a pressing need for a specialized framewor...Monte Carlo simulations are frequently utilized in radiation dose assessments.However,many researchers find the prevailing computing platforms to be intricate.This highlights a pressing need for a specialized framework for phantom dose evalua-tion.To address this gap,we developed a user-friendly radiation dose assessment platform using the Monte Carlo toolkit,Geant4.The Tsinghua University Phantom Dose(THUDosePD)augments the flexibility of Monte Carlo simulations in dosi-metric research.Originating from THUDose,a code with generic,functional,and application layers,THUDosePD focuses predominantly on anatomical phantom dose assessment.Additionally,it enables medical exposure simulation,intricate geometry creation,and supports both three-dimensional radiation dose analysis and phantom format transformations.The system operates on a multi-threaded parallel CPU architecture,with some modules enhanced for GPU parallel computing.Benchmark tests on the ICRP reference male illustrated the capabilities of THUDosePD in phantom dose assessment,covering the effective dose,three-dimensional dose distribution,and three-dimensional organ dose.We also conducted a voxelization conversion on the polygon mesh phantom,demonstrating the method’s efficiency and consistency.Extended applications based on THUDosePD further underline its broad adaptability.This intuitive,three-dimensional platform stands out as a valuable tool for phantom radiation dosimetry research.展开更多
Many studies have shown the functional relevance of cross-modal plasticity in blind men. In order to study the changes of their brain structure, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) methods are used. The regional gray matt...Many studies have shown the functional relevance of cross-modal plasticity in blind men. In order to study the changes of their brain structure, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) methods are used. The regional gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) concentrations of magnetic resonance (MR) images from 11 blind people and 9 sighted control subjects are compared using standard VBM. Optimized VBM is also discussed to measure the absolute local volume of GM or WM. Consistent results are achieved by statistical analysis with these methods. There are distinct differences not only in visual cortex but also the sensory area, auditory area and motor area. GM concentrations in blind men significantly decreased in Brodmann 7 and 22. While in Brodmann 18 and 19, GM concentration increased. GM volumes decreased in Brodmann 3, 4, 6, 9 and 45. On the other hand, both WM concentration and volume increased in Brodmann 7. These results suggest that early visual deprivation can lead to changes in the brain structural anatomy which is consistent with the cortical cross-modal reorganization found by functional imaging. It may help to discover the relationship between the brain structural anatomy and the brain functional data of blind men at a macroscopic level from neuroimaging perspective.展开更多
Voxel-based canopy profiling is commonly used to determine small-scale leaf area.Layer thickness and voxel size impact accuracy when using this method.Here,we determined the optimal combination of layer thickness and ...Voxel-based canopy profiling is commonly used to determine small-scale leaf area.Layer thickness and voxel size impact accuracy when using this method.Here,we determined the optimal combination of layer thickness and voxel size to estimate leaf area density accurately.Terrestrial LiDAR Stonex X300 was used to generate point cloud data for Masson pines(Pinus massoniana).The canopy layer was stratified into 0.10-1.00-m-thick layers,while voxel size was 0.01-0.10 m.The leaf area density of individual trees was estimated using leaf area indices for the upper,middle,and lower canopy and the overall canopy.The true leaf area index,obtained by layered harvesting,was used to verify the inversion results.Leaf area density was inverted by nine combinations of layer thickness and voxel size.The average relative accuracy and mean estimated accuracy of these combined inversion results exceeded 80%.When layer thickness was 1.00 m and voxel size 0.05 m,inversion was closest to the true value.The average relative accuracy was 92.58%,mean estimated accuracy 98.00%,and root mean square error 0.17.The combination of leaf area density and index was accurately retrieved.In conclusion,nondestructive voxel-based canopy profiling proved suitable for inverting the leaf area density of Masson pine in Hetian Town,Fujian Province.展开更多
This study compared the difference in brain structure in 12 mine disaster survivors with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, 7 cases of improved post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, and 14 controls who experie...This study compared the difference in brain structure in 12 mine disaster survivors with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, 7 cases of improved post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, and 14 controls who experienced the same mine disaster but did not suffer post-traumatic stress disorder, using the voxel-based morphometry method. The correlation between differences in brain structure and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms was also investigated. Results showed that the gray matter volume was the highest in the trauma control group, followed by the symptoms-improved group, and the lowest in the chronic post-traumatic stress disorder group. Compared with the symptoms-improved group, the gray matter volume in the lingual gyrus of the right occipital lobe was reduced in the chronic post-traumatic stress disorder group. Compared with the trauma control group, the gray matter volume in the right middle occipital gyrus and left middle frontal gyrus was reduced in the symptoms-improved group. Compared with the trauma control group, the gray matter volume in the left superior parietal lo- bule and right superior frontal gyrus was reduced in the chronic post-traumatic stress disorder group. The gray matter volume in the left superior parietal Iobule was significantly positively correlated with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory subscale score in the symptoms-improved group and chronic post-traumatic stress disorder group (r = 0.477, P = 0.039). Our findings indicate that (1) chronic post-traumatic stress disorder patients have gray matter structural damage in the prefrontal lobe, oc- cipital lobe, and parietal lobe, (2) after post-traumatic stress, the disorder symptoms are improved and gray matter structural damage is reduced, but cannot recover to the trauma-control level, and (3) the superior parietal Iobule is possibly associated with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder patients exhibit gray matter abnormalities.展开更多
BACKGROUND Congenital heart disease(CHD)is a cardiovascular malformation caused by abnormal heart and/or vascular development in the fetus.In children with CHD,abnormalities in the development and function of the nerv...BACKGROUND Congenital heart disease(CHD)is a cardiovascular malformation caused by abnormal heart and/or vascular development in the fetus.In children with CHD,abnormalities in the development and function of the nervous system are common.At present,there is a lack of research on the preoperative neurological development and injury in young children with non-cyanotic CHD.AIM To determine the changes in white matter,gray matter,and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in children with non-cyanotic CHD as compared with healthy controls.METHODS Children diagnosed with non-cyanotic CHD on ultrasonography(n=54)and healthy control subjects(n=35)were included in the study.All the subjects were aged 1-3 years.Brain MRI was performed prior to surgery for CHD.The SPM v12 software was used to calculate the volumes of the gray matter,white matter,CSF,and the whole brain(sum of the gray matter,white matter,and CSF volumes).Volume differences between the two groups were analyzed.Voxel-based morphometry was used to compare specific brain regions with statistically significant atrophy.RESULTS Compared with the control group,the study group had significantly reduced whole-brain white matter volume(P<0.05),but similar whole-brain gray matter,CSF,and whole-brain volumes(P>0.05).As compared with the healthy controls,children with non-cyanotic CHD had mild underdevelopment in the white matter of the anterior central gyrus,the posterior central gyrus,and the pulvinar.CONCLUSION Children with non-cyanotic CHD show decreased white matter volume before surgery,and this volume reduction is mainly concentrated in the somatosensory and somatic motor nerve regions.展开更多
Background:As mammography X-ray imaging technologies advance and provide elevated contrast in soft tissues,a need has developed for reliable imaging phantoms for use in system design and component calibration.In advan...Background:As mammography X-ray imaging technologies advance and provide elevated contrast in soft tissues,a need has developed for reliable imaging phantoms for use in system design and component calibration.In advanced imaging modalities such as refraction-based methods,it is critical that developed phantoms capture the biological details seen in clinical precancerous and cancerous cases while minimizing artifacts that may be caused due to phantom production.This work presents the fabrication of a breast tissue imaging phantom from cadaveric breast tissue suitable for use in both transmission and refraction-enhanced imaging systems.Methods:Human cancer cell tumors were grown orthotopically in nude athymic mice and implanted into the fixed tissue while maintaining the native tumor/adipose tissue interface.Results:The resulting human–murine tissue hybrid phantom was mounted on a clear acrylic housing for absorption and refraction X-ray imaging.Digital breast tomosynthesis was also performed.Conclusion:Both attenuation-based imaging and refraction-based imaging of the phantom are presented to confirm the suitability of this phantom's use in both imaging modalities.展开更多
Introduction: The ring vortex phantom is a novel, cost-effective prototype which generates complex and well-characterised reference flows in the form of the ring vortex. Although its reproducibility has been demonstra...Introduction: The ring vortex phantom is a novel, cost-effective prototype which generates complex and well-characterised reference flows in the form of the ring vortex. Although its reproducibility has been demonstrated, with ring speeds routinely behaving within 10% tolerances at speeds of approximately 10 - 70 cm/s, a form of real-time QA of the device at the time of imaging is needed to confirm correct function on demand in any environment. Methods: The technology described here achieves real-time QA, comprising a linear encoder, laser-photodiode array, and Doppler probe, measuring piston motion, ring speed and intra-ring velocity respectively. This instrumentation does not interfere with imaging system QA, but allows QA to be performed on both the ring vortex and the device in real-time. Results: The encoder reports the reliability of the piston velocity profile, whilst ring speed is measured by laser behaviour. Incorporation of a calibrated Doppler probe offers a consistency check that confirms behaviour of the central axial flow. For purposes of gold-standard measurement, all elements can be related to previous Laser PIV acquisitions with the same device settings. Conclusion: Consequently, ring vortex production within tolerances is confirmed by this instrumentation, delivering accurate QA in real-time. This implementation offers a phantom QA procedure that exceeds anything seen in the literature, providing the technology to enhance quantitative assessment of flow imaging modalities.展开更多
文摘Traumatic amputations remain one of the most frequent and disturbing wounds of armed conflict.In this scenario,most amputees develop residual and phantom limb pain,impacting their quality of life.There are several elective surgical procedures available for both conditions,such as neuroma excision followed by nerve reconstruction,nerve relocation,e.g.,surgically implanting a transected nerve into a muscle,nerve transfers in cases of associated paralysis,and most recently,regenerative peripheral nerve interface surgery.Whenever possible in the post-conflict phase,a coordinated effort between traveling humanitarian surgeons specializing in reconstructive microsurgery and local healthcare providers is essential for successfully treating phantom and chronic residual limb pain in post-conflict amputees.While providing a detailed logistical framework for global humanitarian missions is beyond the scope of this article,we provide a brief perspective on a topic of utmost importance for reconstructive surgeons worldwide:the high-quality care and treatment of refugees and those whose lives have been impacted by conflict,disaster,or displacement.
文摘BACKGROUND Supernumerary phantom limb(SPL)sensation is the experience of additional limbs,either single or a pair of limbs.Unique to traumatic spinal cord injuries,we report effect of transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS)on SPL pain in a patient with cervical cord injury.CASE SUMMARY The subject was a 57-year-old man who was diagnosed with complete spinal cord injury(C6/C5,motor level;C5/C5,sensory level;AIS-A)approximately three months ago.After a period of 2 wk,we administered anodal tDCS over the motor cortex for 15 minutes at an intensity of 1.5 mA.Following that treatment,the patient experienced a decrease of SPL pain intensity and frequency,which lasted for 1 week after the end of treatment.CONCLUSION Targeting the motor cortex through neuromodulation appears to be a promising option for the management of SPL pain.
基金Supported by the grant of the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China(30470512)
文摘Objective To investigate cerebral structural signatures of the bulbar-and spinal-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS) using voxel-based morphometry on magnetic resonance imaging.Methods The MR structural images of the brain were obtained from 65 ALS patients(15 bulbar-onset, 50 spinalonset) and 65 normal controls(NC) on a 3.0 T MRI system. Gray matter(GM) volume changes were investigated by voxel-based morphometry, and the distribution of the brain regions with volume changes was compared between ALS and normal controls, as well as between bulbar-onset and spinal-onset ALS based on Neuromorphometrics atlas.Results On voxel-level the decreased volume of brain regions in ALS patients was located in the right precentral gyrus(r Prc Gy) and right middle frontal gyrus compared with that in NC. The bulbar-onset ALS presented extramotor cortex atrophy(fronto-temporal pattern), including left medial orbital gyrus, left inferior temporal gyrus and right middle temporal gyrus; the spinal-onset ALS suffered from motor cortex atrophy(r Prc Gy dominance) and extra-motor cortex atrophy(fronto-temporal and extra-fronto-temporal pattern) compared with NC. The spinal-onset ALS featured by GM volume loss of left postcentral gyrus and bulbar-onset ALS featured by GM volume loss of left middle temporal gyrus compared with each other. Conclusions The asymmetric GM atrophy of the motor cortex and extra-motor cortex represents the common MRI structural signatures of spinal-onset ALS, and sole extra-motor cortex atrophy represents the structural signatures of bulbar-onset ALS. The present study also demonstrated that the pattern of GM damage is likely to distribute wider in spinal-onset ALS than in bulbar-onset ALS.
文摘Hepatic myelopathy is a complication seen in patients with chronic liver failure with physiologic or iatrogenic portosystemic shunting. The main symptom is progressive lower limb dyskinesia. The role of the brain motor control center in hepatic myelopathy is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the gray matter changes in patients with hepatic myelopathy secondary to transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and to examine their clinical relevance. This was a cross-sectional study. Twenty-three liver failure patients with hepatic myelopathy(hepatic myelopathy group), 23 liver failure patients without hepatic myelopathy(non-hepatic myelopathy group) after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, and 23 demographically matched healthy volunteers were enrolled from March 2014 to November 2016 at Xijing Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University(Fourth Military Medical University), China. High-resolution magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo brain imaging was acquired. Group differences in regional gray matter were assessed using voxel-based morphometry analysis. The relationship between aberrant gray matter and motor characteristics was investigated. Results demonstrated that compared with the non-hepatic myelopathy group, gray matter volume abnormalities were asymmetric, with decreased volume in the left insula(P = 0.003), left thalamus(P = 0.029), left superior frontal gyrus(P = 0.006), and right middle cingulate cortex(P = 0.021), and increased volume in the right caudate nucleus(P = 0.017), corrected with open-source software. The volume of the right caudate nucleus in the hepatic myelopathy group negatively correlated with the lower limb clinical rating of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment(r = –0.53, P = 0.01). Compared with healthy controls, patients with and without hepatic myelopathy exhibited overall increased gray matter volume in both thalami, and decreased gray matter volume in both putamen, as well as in the globus pallidus, cerebellum, and vermis. The gray matter abnormalities we found predominantly involved motor-related regions, and may be associated with motor dysfunction. An enlarged right caudate nucleus might help to predict weak lower limb motor performance in patients with preclinical hepatic myelopathy after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Xijing Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University(Fourth Military Medical University), China(approval No. 20140227-6) on February 27, 2014.
基金supported partially by two grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30870686 and 81371530
文摘A reduction in gray matter volume is common in patients with chronic back pain, and different types of pain are associated with gray matter abnormalities in distinct brain regions. To examine differ- ences in brain morphology in patients with low back pain or neck and upper back pain, we investi- gated changes in gray matter volume in chronic back pain patients having different sites of pain using voxel-based morphometry. A reduction in cortical gray matter volume was found primarily in the left postcentral gyrus and in the left precuneus and bilateral cuneal cortex of patients with low back pain. In these patients, there was an increase in subcortical gray matter volume in the bilateral putamen and accumbens, right pallidum, right caudate nucleus, and left amygdala. In upper back pain patients, reduced cortical gray matter volume was found in the left precentral and left postcen- tral cortices. Our findings suggest that regional gray matter volume abnormalities in low back pain patients are more extensive than in upper back pain patients. Subcortical gray matter volume in- creases are found only in patients with low back pain.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30570609
文摘Voxel-based morphometry-diffeomorphic anatomical registration using exponentiated lie algebra analysis was used to investigate the structural characteristics of white matter in young males with antisocial personality disorder (APD) and healthy controls without APD. The results revealed that APD subjects, relative to healthy subjects, exhibited increased white matter volume in the bilateral prefrontal lobe, right insula, precentral gyrus, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, right inferior parietal Iobule, right precuneus, right middle occipital lobe, right parahippocampal gyrus and bilateral cingulate, and decreased volume in the middle temporal cortex and right cerebellum. The white matter volume in the medial frontal gyrus was significantly correlated with antisocial type scores on the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire in APD subjects. These experimental findings indicate that white matter abnormalities in several brain areas may contribute to antisocial behaviors in APD subjects.
基金financially supported by the National Program on Key Basic Research Project of China(973 Program)No.2012CB518501the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81072864
文摘Our previous study used regional homogeneity analysis and found that activity in some brain areas of patients with ischemic stroke changed significantly. In the current study, we examined structural changes in these brain regions by taking structural magnetic resonance imaging scans of 11 ischemic stroke patients and 15 healthy participants, and analyzing the data using voxel-based morphometry. Compared with healthy participants, patients exhibited higher gray matter density in the left inferior occipital gyrus and right anterior white matter tract. In contrast, gray matter density in the right cerebellum, left precentral gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, and left middle temporal gyrus was less in ischemic stroke patients. The changes of gray matter density in the middle frontal gyrus were negatively associated with the clin- ical rating scales of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment (r = -0.609, P = 0.047) and the left middle temporal gyrus was negatively correlated with the clinical rating scales of the nervous functional deficiency scale (r = -0.737, P = 0.010). Our findings call objectively identify the functional abnormality in some brain regions of ischemic stroke patients.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(General Program)(Nos.12175114,U2167209)the Foundation of Key Laboratory of Metrology and Calibration Technology(No.JLKG2022001C001)+2 种基金the Platform Development foundation of China Institute for Radiation Protection(No.YP21030101)the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2021YFF0603600)the Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program(No.20211080081).
文摘Monte Carlo simulations are frequently utilized in radiation dose assessments.However,many researchers find the prevailing computing platforms to be intricate.This highlights a pressing need for a specialized framework for phantom dose evalua-tion.To address this gap,we developed a user-friendly radiation dose assessment platform using the Monte Carlo toolkit,Geant4.The Tsinghua University Phantom Dose(THUDosePD)augments the flexibility of Monte Carlo simulations in dosi-metric research.Originating from THUDose,a code with generic,functional,and application layers,THUDosePD focuses predominantly on anatomical phantom dose assessment.Additionally,it enables medical exposure simulation,intricate geometry creation,and supports both three-dimensional radiation dose analysis and phantom format transformations.The system operates on a multi-threaded parallel CPU architecture,with some modules enhanced for GPU parallel computing.Benchmark tests on the ICRP reference male illustrated the capabilities of THUDosePD in phantom dose assessment,covering the effective dose,three-dimensional dose distribution,and three-dimensional organ dose.We also conducted a voxelization conversion on the polygon mesh phantom,demonstrating the method’s efficiency and consistency.Extended applications based on THUDosePD further underline its broad adaptability.This intuitive,three-dimensional platform stands out as a valuable tool for phantom radiation dosimetry research.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30400136)
文摘Many studies have shown the functional relevance of cross-modal plasticity in blind men. In order to study the changes of their brain structure, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) methods are used. The regional gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) concentrations of magnetic resonance (MR) images from 11 blind people and 9 sighted control subjects are compared using standard VBM. Optimized VBM is also discussed to measure the absolute local volume of GM or WM. Consistent results are achieved by statistical analysis with these methods. There are distinct differences not only in visual cortex but also the sensory area, auditory area and motor area. GM concentrations in blind men significantly decreased in Brodmann 7 and 22. While in Brodmann 18 and 19, GM concentration increased. GM volumes decreased in Brodmann 3, 4, 6, 9 and 45. On the other hand, both WM concentration and volume increased in Brodmann 7. These results suggest that early visual deprivation can lead to changes in the brain structural anatomy which is consistent with the cortical cross-modal reorganization found by functional imaging. It may help to discover the relationship between the brain structural anatomy and the brain functional data of blind men at a macroscopic level from neuroimaging perspective.
基金This research was funded by Fujian University Industry-University Cooperation Project(grant number 2019N5012)Remote Sensing Quantitative Simulation of Rainfall Erosion Reduction Function of Forest Vertical Structure(grant number 31770760).
文摘Voxel-based canopy profiling is commonly used to determine small-scale leaf area.Layer thickness and voxel size impact accuracy when using this method.Here,we determined the optimal combination of layer thickness and voxel size to estimate leaf area density accurately.Terrestrial LiDAR Stonex X300 was used to generate point cloud data for Masson pines(Pinus massoniana).The canopy layer was stratified into 0.10-1.00-m-thick layers,while voxel size was 0.01-0.10 m.The leaf area density of individual trees was estimated using leaf area indices for the upper,middle,and lower canopy and the overall canopy.The true leaf area index,obtained by layered harvesting,was used to verify the inversion results.Leaf area density was inverted by nine combinations of layer thickness and voxel size.The average relative accuracy and mean estimated accuracy of these combined inversion results exceeded 80%.When layer thickness was 1.00 m and voxel size 0.05 m,inversion was closest to the true value.The average relative accuracy was 92.58%,mean estimated accuracy 98.00%,and root mean square error 0.17.The combination of leaf area density and index was accurately retrieved.In conclusion,nondestructive voxel-based canopy profiling proved suitable for inverting the leaf area density of Masson pine in Hetian Town,Fujian Province.
基金Key Program forGuangming Lu,No.BWS11J063 and No.10z026
文摘This study compared the difference in brain structure in 12 mine disaster survivors with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, 7 cases of improved post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, and 14 controls who experienced the same mine disaster but did not suffer post-traumatic stress disorder, using the voxel-based morphometry method. The correlation between differences in brain structure and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms was also investigated. Results showed that the gray matter volume was the highest in the trauma control group, followed by the symptoms-improved group, and the lowest in the chronic post-traumatic stress disorder group. Compared with the symptoms-improved group, the gray matter volume in the lingual gyrus of the right occipital lobe was reduced in the chronic post-traumatic stress disorder group. Compared with the trauma control group, the gray matter volume in the right middle occipital gyrus and left middle frontal gyrus was reduced in the symptoms-improved group. Compared with the trauma control group, the gray matter volume in the left superior parietal lo- bule and right superior frontal gyrus was reduced in the chronic post-traumatic stress disorder group. The gray matter volume in the left superior parietal Iobule was significantly positively correlated with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory subscale score in the symptoms-improved group and chronic post-traumatic stress disorder group (r = 0.477, P = 0.039). Our findings indicate that (1) chronic post-traumatic stress disorder patients have gray matter structural damage in the prefrontal lobe, oc- cipital lobe, and parietal lobe, (2) after post-traumatic stress, the disorder symptoms are improved and gray matter structural damage is reduced, but cannot recover to the trauma-control level, and (3) the superior parietal Iobule is possibly associated with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder patients exhibit gray matter abnormalities.
文摘BACKGROUND Congenital heart disease(CHD)is a cardiovascular malformation caused by abnormal heart and/or vascular development in the fetus.In children with CHD,abnormalities in the development and function of the nervous system are common.At present,there is a lack of research on the preoperative neurological development and injury in young children with non-cyanotic CHD.AIM To determine the changes in white matter,gray matter,and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in children with non-cyanotic CHD as compared with healthy controls.METHODS Children diagnosed with non-cyanotic CHD on ultrasonography(n=54)and healthy control subjects(n=35)were included in the study.All the subjects were aged 1-3 years.Brain MRI was performed prior to surgery for CHD.The SPM v12 software was used to calculate the volumes of the gray matter,white matter,CSF,and the whole brain(sum of the gray matter,white matter,and CSF volumes).Volume differences between the two groups were analyzed.Voxel-based morphometry was used to compare specific brain regions with statistically significant atrophy.RESULTS Compared with the control group,the study group had significantly reduced whole-brain white matter volume(P<0.05),but similar whole-brain gray matter,CSF,and whole-brain volumes(P>0.05).As compared with the healthy controls,children with non-cyanotic CHD had mild underdevelopment in the white matter of the anterior central gyrus,the posterior central gyrus,and the pulvinar.CONCLUSION Children with non-cyanotic CHD show decreased white matter volume before surgery,and this volume reduction is mainly concentrated in the somatosensory and somatic motor nerve regions.
基金National Institutes of Health,Grant/Award Number:EB023969 and HL154687。
文摘Background:As mammography X-ray imaging technologies advance and provide elevated contrast in soft tissues,a need has developed for reliable imaging phantoms for use in system design and component calibration.In advanced imaging modalities such as refraction-based methods,it is critical that developed phantoms capture the biological details seen in clinical precancerous and cancerous cases while minimizing artifacts that may be caused due to phantom production.This work presents the fabrication of a breast tissue imaging phantom from cadaveric breast tissue suitable for use in both transmission and refraction-enhanced imaging systems.Methods:Human cancer cell tumors were grown orthotopically in nude athymic mice and implanted into the fixed tissue while maintaining the native tumor/adipose tissue interface.Results:The resulting human–murine tissue hybrid phantom was mounted on a clear acrylic housing for absorption and refraction X-ray imaging.Digital breast tomosynthesis was also performed.Conclusion:Both attenuation-based imaging and refraction-based imaging of the phantom are presented to confirm the suitability of this phantom's use in both imaging modalities.
文摘Introduction: The ring vortex phantom is a novel, cost-effective prototype which generates complex and well-characterised reference flows in the form of the ring vortex. Although its reproducibility has been demonstrated, with ring speeds routinely behaving within 10% tolerances at speeds of approximately 10 - 70 cm/s, a form of real-time QA of the device at the time of imaging is needed to confirm correct function on demand in any environment. Methods: The technology described here achieves real-time QA, comprising a linear encoder, laser-photodiode array, and Doppler probe, measuring piston motion, ring speed and intra-ring velocity respectively. This instrumentation does not interfere with imaging system QA, but allows QA to be performed on both the ring vortex and the device in real-time. Results: The encoder reports the reliability of the piston velocity profile, whilst ring speed is measured by laser behaviour. Incorporation of a calibrated Doppler probe offers a consistency check that confirms behaviour of the central axial flow. For purposes of gold-standard measurement, all elements can be related to previous Laser PIV acquisitions with the same device settings. Conclusion: Consequently, ring vortex production within tolerances is confirmed by this instrumentation, delivering accurate QA in real-time. This implementation offers a phantom QA procedure that exceeds anything seen in the literature, providing the technology to enhance quantitative assessment of flow imaging modalities.