Effects of exogenous ganglioside-1 on learning and memory in a neonatal rat model of hypoxia-ischemia brain injury

BACKGROUND： Exogenous ganglioside-1 （GM1） can cross the blood-brain barrier and play a protective role against hypoxia-ischemia-induced brain damage. OBJECTIVE： To examine the possible mechanisms of exogenous GM1 protection in hypoxia-ischemia-induced brain damage in a neonatal rat model by measuring changes in brain mass, pathological morphology, growth-associated protein-43 expression, and neurobehavioral manifestations. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized block-design study was performed at the Immunohistochemistry Laboratory of the Pediatric Research Institute, Children＇s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from August 2005 to August 2006. MATERIALS： A total of 36 neonatal, 7-day-old, Sprague Dawley rats were used in this experiment. The hypoxia-ischemia-induced brain damage model was established by permanently occluding the right carotid artery, followed by oxygen inhalation at a low concentration （8% O2, 92% N2） for 2 hours, METHODS： All rats were randomly divided into the following groups： GMI, model, and sham operation, with 12 rats each group. Rats in the GM 1 and model groups received hypoxic/ischemic-induced brain damage. Rats in the GM1 group received injections of GM1 （i.p., 20 mg/kg） at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144 hours following models established, and rats in the model group were administered （i.p.） the same amount of saline. The right carotid artery was separated, but not ligated, in the sham operation group rats. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： At 1 week after surgery, expression of growth-associated protein-43, a marker of neural development and plasticity, was detected in the hippocampal CA3 region by immunohistochemistry. Brain mass was measured, and the pathological morphology was observed. At 4 weeks after surgery, behavioral changes in the remaining rats were tested by Morris water maze, and growth-associated protein-43 expression was measured. RESULTS： （1） In the GMI and sham operation groups, growth-associated protein-43 expression was greater in the hippocampal CA3 region compared to the model group 1 week after surgery （P 〈 0.05）. In all three groups, brain weight of the right hemisphere was significantly less than the left hemisphere, in particular in the model group （P 〈 0.05）. In the GMI group, the weight difference between two hemispheres, as well as the extent of damage in the right hemisphere, was less than the model group （P 〈 0.01 ）. In the sham operation Uoup, brain tissue consisted of integrated structures and ordered cells. In the model group, the cerebral cortex layers of the right hemisphere were not defined, neurons were damaged, and neurons were disarranged in the hippocampal area. In the GM1 group, neurons were dense in the right cerebral cortex and hippocampal area, with no significant change in glial proliferation. （2） The average time of escape latency in the GM1 group was shortened 4 weeks alter surgery, and significantly less than the model group （P 〈 0.05）. In addition, the frequency platform passing in the GMI group was significantly greater than the model group （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Exogenous GM1 may reduce brain injury and improve learning and memory in hypoxia-ischemia-induced brain damage rats. This protection may be associated with increased growth-associated protein-43 expression, which is involved in neuronal remodeling processes.

Reperfusion after hypoxia-ischemia exacerbates brain injury with compensatory activation of the antiferroptosis system:based on a novel rat model

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy,which predisposes to neonatal death and neurological sequelae,has a high morbidity,but there is still a lack of effective prevention and treatment in clinical practice.To better understand the pathophysiological mechanism underlying hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy,in this study we compared hypoxic-ischemic reperfusion brain injury and simple hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats.First,based on the conventional RiceVannucci model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy,we established a rat model of hypoxic-ischemic reperfusion brain injury by creating a common carotid artery muscle bridge.Then we performed tandem mass tag-based proteomic analysis to identify differentially expressed proteins between the hypoxic-ischemic reperfusion brain injury model and the conventional Rice-Vannucci model and found that the majority were mitochondrial proteins.We also performed transmission electron microscopy and found typical characteristics of ferroptosis,including mitochondrial shrinkage,ruptured mitochondrial membranes,and reduced or absent mitochondrial cristae.Further,both rat models showed high levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein and low levels of myelin basic protein,which are biological indicators of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and indicate similar degrees of damage.Finally,we found that ferroptosis-related Ferritin(Fth1)and glutathione peroxidase 4 were expressed at higher levels in the brain tissue of rats with hypoxic-ischemic reperfusion brain injury than in rats with simple hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.Based on these results,it appears that the rat model of hypoxic-ischemic reperfusion brain injury is more closely related to the pathophysiology of clinical reperfusion.Reperfusion not only aggravates hypoxic-ischemic brain injury but also activates the anti-ferroptosis system.

Advantages of nanocarriers for basic research in the field of traumatic brain injury

A major challenge for the efficient treatment of traumatic brain injury is the need for therapeutic molecules to cross the blood-brain barrier to enter and accumulate in brain tissue.To overcome this problem,researchers have begun to focus on nanocarriers and other brain-targeting drug delivery systems.In this review,we summarize the epidemiology,basic pathophysiology,current clinical treatment,the establishment of models,and the evaluation indicators that are commonly used for traumatic brain injury.We also report the current status of traumatic brain injury when treated with nanocarriers such as liposomes and vesicles.Nanocarriers can overcome a variety of key biological barriers,improve drug bioavailability,increase intracellular penetration and retention time,achieve drug enrichment,control drug release,and achieve brain-targeting drug delivery.However,the application of nanocarriers remains in the basic research stage and has yet to be fully translated to the clinic.

Brain Time Stack图像融合技术在CT中的应用

目的:分析Brain Time Stack图像融合技术在CT中的应用。方法:选取2021年3月—2022年9月衡水市第四人民医院收治的50例CT检查患者作为研究对象。所有患者进行CT检查并进行Brain Time Stack后处理。比较四组不同部位CT值、标准差(SD)、信噪比(SNR)。比较四组图像主观质量评分。分析不同部位CT值、SD、SNR与图像主观质量评分的相关性。结果:B组的延髓、额叶灰质、额叶白质、小脑内侧、小脑外侧、颞肌肌肉CT值明显低于A组;C组的延髓、脑室、额叶白质、小脑内侧、小脑外侧、颞肌肌肉CT值高于A组;D组延髓、额叶灰质、颞肌肌肉CT值明显低于A组,脑室、额叶白质、小脑外侧CT值明显高于A组;C组延髓、额叶灰质、额叶白质、小脑内侧、小脑外侧、颞肌肌肉CT值明显高于B组;D组延髓、脑室、额叶白质、小脑内侧、小脑外侧、颞肌肌肉CT值明显高于B组;D组延髓、额叶灰质、额叶白质、小脑内侧、小脑外侧、颞肌肌肉CT值明显低于C组;D组脑室CT值明显高于C组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。B组、C组、D组延髓、脑室、额叶灰质、额叶白质、小脑内侧、小脑外侧、颞肌肌肉SD值明显低于A组;C组延髓、脑室、额叶白质、小脑内侧、小脑外侧、颞肌肌肉SD值均明显高于B组;C组额叶灰质SD明显低于B组;D组延髓、脑室、额叶灰质、额叶白质、小脑内侧、小脑外侧、肌肉SD均明显低于B组、C组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。B组、C组、D组延髓、脑室、额叶灰质、额叶白质、小脑内侧、小脑外侧、颞肌肌肉SNR均明显高于A组;C组、D组延髓、额叶灰质、额叶白质、小脑内侧、小脑外侧、颞肌肌肉SNR值明显高于B组;C组、D组脑室SNR明显低于B组;D组延髓、脑室、额叶灰质、额叶白质、小脑内侧、小脑外侧、颞肌肌肉SNR明显高于C组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。D组图像主观质量评分最高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。延髓、脑室、额叶灰质、额叶白质、小脑内侧、小脑外侧及颞肌肌肉SD与主观质量评分呈明显负相关,SNR与主观质量评分间呈明显正相关,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:利用Brain Time Stack图像融合技术对头部CT扫描检查图像处理,动脉期结合前一期及后一期的图像数据在处理后具有更好的质量和更少的噪音。

Human brain organoid:trends,evolution,and remaining challenges

Advanced brain organoids provide promising platforms for deciphering the cellular and molecular processes of human neural development and diseases.Although various studies and reviews have described developments and advancements in brain organoids,few studies have comprehensively summarized and analyzed the global trends in this area of neuroscience.To identify and further facilitate the development of cerebral organoids,we utilized bibliometrics and visualization methods to analyze the global trends and evolution of brain organoids in the last 10 years.First,annual publications,countries/regions,organizations,journals,authors,co-citations,and keywords relating to brain organoids were identified.The hotspots in this field were also systematically identified.Subsequently,current applications for brain organoids in neuroscience,including human neural development,neural disorders,infectious diseases,regenerative medicine,drug discovery,and toxicity assessment studies,are comprehensively discussed.Towards that end,several considerations regarding the current challenges in brain organoid research and future strategies to advance neuroscience will be presented to further promote their application in neurological research.

Application of artificial hibernation technology in acute brain injury

Controlling intracranial pressure,nerve cell regeneration,and microenvironment regulation are the key issues in reducing mortality and disability in acute brain injury.There is currently a lack of effective treatment methods.Hibernation has the characteristics of low temperature,low metabolism,and hibernation rhythm,as well as protective effects on the nervous,cardiovascular,and motor systems.Artificial hibernation technology is a new technology that can effectively treat acute brain injury by altering the body’s metabolism,lowering the body’s core temperature,and allowing the body to enter a state similar to hibernation.This review introduces artificial hibernation technology,including mild hypothermia treatment technology,central nervous system regulation technology,and artificial hibernation-inducer technology.Upon summarizing the relevant research on artificial hibernation technology in acute brain injury,the research results show that artificial hibernation technology has neuroprotective,anti-inflammatory,and oxidative stress-resistance effects,indicating that it has therapeutic significance in acute brain injury.Furthermore,artificial hibernation technology can alleviate the damage of ischemic stroke,traumatic brain injury,cerebral hemorrhage,cerebral infarction,and other diseases,providing new strategies for treating acute brain injury.However,artificial hibernation technology is currently in its infancy and has some complications,such as electrolyte imbalance and coagulation disorders,which limit its use.Further research is needed for its clinical application.

RARRES2 regulates lipid metabolic reprogramming to mediate the development of brain metastasis in triple negative breast cancer

Background Triple negative breast cancer(TNBC),the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer,is characterized by a high incidence of brain metastasis(BrM)and a poor prognosis.As the most lethal form of breast cancer,BrM remains a major clinical challenge due to its rising incidence and lack of effective treatment strategies.Recent evidence suggested a potential role of lipid metabolic reprogramming in breast cancer brain metastasis(BCBrM),but the underlying mechanisms are far from being fully elucidated.Methods Through analysis of BCBrM transcriptome data from mice and patients,and immunohistochemical validation on patient tissues,we identified and verified the specific down-regulation of retinoic acid receptor responder 2(RARRES2),a multifunctional adipokine and chemokine,in BrM of TNBC.We investigated the effect of aberrant RARRES2 expression of BrM in both in vitro and in vivo studies.Key signaling pathway components were evaluated using multi-omics approaches.Lipidomics were performed to elucidate the regulation of lipid metabolic reprogramming of RARRES2.Results We found that downregulation of RARRES2 is specifically associated with BCBrM,and that RARRES2 deficiency promoted BCBrM through lipid metabolic reprogramming.Mechanistically,reduced expression of RARRES2 in brain metastatic potential TNBC cells resulted in increased levels of glycerophospholipid and decreased levels of triacylglycerols by regulating phosphatase and tensin homologue(PTEN)-mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)-sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1(SREBP1)signaling pathway to facilitate the survival of breast cancer cells in the unique brain microenvironment.Conclusions Our work uncovers an essential role of RARRES2 in linking lipid metabolic reprogramming and the development of BrM.RARRES2-dependent metabolic functions may serve as potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets for BCBrM.

Exploring cerebral structural and functional abnormalities in a mouse model of post-traumatic headache induced by mild traumatic brain injury

Mild traumatic brain injury(mTBI)-induced post-traumatic headache(PTH)is a pressing public health concern and leading cause of disability worldwide.Although PTH is often accompanied by neurological disorders,the exact underlying mechanism remains largely unknown.Identifying potential biomarkers may prompt the diagnosis and development of effective treatments for mTBI-induced PTH.In this study,a mouse model of mTBI-induced PTH was established to investigate its effects on cerebral structure and function during short-term recovery.Results indicated that mice with mTBI-induced PTH exhibited balance deficits during the early post-injury stage.Metabolic kinetics revealed that variations in neurotransmitters were most prominent in the cerebellum,temporal lobe/cortex,and hippocampal regions during the early stages of PTH.Additionally,variations in brain functional activities and connectivity were further detected in the early stage of PTH,particularly in the cerebellum and temporal cortex,suggesting that these regions play central roles in the mechanism underlying PTH.Moreover,our results suggested that GABA and glutamate may serve as potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for PTH.Future studies should explore the specific neural circuits involved in the regulation of PTH by the cerebellum and temporal cortex,with these two regions potentially utilized as targets for non-invasive stimulation in future clinical treatment.

The role of snapin in regulation of brain homeostasis

Brain homeostasis refe rs to the normal working state of the brain in a certain period,which is impo rtant for overall health and normal life activities.Currently,there is a lack of effective treatment methods for the adverse consequences caused by brain homeostasis imbalance.Snapin is a protein that assists in the formation of neuronal synapses and plays a crucial role in the normal growth and development of synapses.Recently,many researchers have reported the association between snapin and neurologic and psychiatric disorders,demonstrating that snapin can improve brain homeostasis.Clinical manifestations of brain disease often involve imbalances in brain homeostasis and may lead to neurological and behavioral sequelae.This article aims to explo re the role of snapin in restoring brain homeostasis after injury or diseases,highlighting its significance in maintaining brain homeostasis and treating brain diseases.Additionally,it comprehensively discusses the implications of snapin in other extracerebral diseases such as diabetes and viral infections,with the objective of determining the clinical potential of snapin in maintaining brain homeostasis.

The miR-9-5p/CXCL11 pathway is a key target of hydrogen sulfide-mediated inhibition of neuroinflammation in hypoxic ischemic brain injury

We previously showed that hydrogen sulfide(H2S)has a neuroprotective effect in the context of hypoxic ischemic brain injury in neonatal mice.However,the precise mechanism underlying the role of H2S in this situation remains unclear.In this study,we used a neonatal mouse model of hypoxic ischemic brain injury and a lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV2 cell model and found that treatment with L-cysteine,a H2S precursor,attenuated the cerebral infarction and cerebral atrophy induced by hypoxia and ischemia and increased the expression of miR-9-5p and cystathionineβsynthase(a major H2S synthetase in the brain)in the prefrontal cortex.We also found that an miR-9-5p inhibitor blocked the expression of cystathionineβsynthase in the prefrontal cortex in mice with brain injury caused by hypoxia and ischemia.Furthermore,miR-9-5p overexpression increased cystathionine-β-synthase and H2S expression in the injured prefrontal cortex of mice with hypoxic ischemic brain injury.L-cysteine decreased the expression of CXCL11,an miR-9-5p target gene,in the prefrontal cortex of the mouse model and in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV-2 cells and increased the levels of proinflammatory cytokines BNIP3,FSTL1,SOCS2 and SOCS5,while treatment with an miR-9-5p inhibitor reversed these changes.These findings suggest that H2S can reduce neuroinflammation in a neonatal mouse model of hypoxic ischemic brain injury through regulating the miR-9-5p/CXCL11 axis and restoringβ-synthase expression,thereby playing a role in reducing neuroinflammation in hypoxic ischemic brain injury.

Structural and functional connectivity of the whole brain and subnetworks in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury:predictors of patient prognosis

Patients with mild traumatic brain injury have a diverse clinical presentation,and the underlying pathophysiology remains poorly understood.Magnetic resonance imaging is a non-invasive technique that has been widely utilized to investigate neuro biological markers after mild traumatic brain injury.This approach has emerged as a promising tool for investigating the pathogenesis of mild traumatic brain injury.G raph theory is a quantitative method of analyzing complex networks that has been widely used to study changes in brain structure and function.However,most previous mild traumatic brain injury studies using graph theory have focused on specific populations,with limited exploration of simultaneous abnormalities in structural and functional connectivity.Given that mild traumatic brain injury is the most common type of traumatic brain injury encounte red in clinical practice,further investigation of the patient characteristics and evolution of structural and functional connectivity is critical.In the present study,we explored whether abnormal structural and functional connectivity in the acute phase could serve as indicators of longitudinal changes in imaging data and cognitive function in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.In this longitudinal study,we enrolled 46 patients with mild traumatic brain injury who were assessed within 2 wee ks of injury,as well as 36 healthy controls.Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging data were acquired for graph theoretical network analysis.In the acute phase,patients with mild traumatic brain injury demonstrated reduced structural connectivity in the dorsal attention network.More than 3 months of followup data revealed signs of recovery in structural and functional connectivity,as well as cognitive function,in 22 out of the 46 patients.Furthermore,better cognitive function was associated with more efficient networks.Finally,our data indicated that small-worldness in the acute stage could serve as a predictor of longitudinal changes in connectivity in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.These findings highlight the importance of integrating structural and functional connectivity in unde rstanding the occurrence and evolution of mild traumatic brain injury.Additionally,exploratory analysis based on subnetworks could serve a predictive function in the prognosis of patients with mild traumatic brain injury.

Brain Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Metabolic Changes Adapting to Hyperhaline or Hypohaline Environments in Spotted Scat(Scatophagus argus)

The fish brain is crucial for adjusting to environmental changes.Metabolic changes play a vital role in the adaptation to salinity change in aquatic animals.However,few studies have evaluated the responses of the fish brain to salinity changes.To evaluate the response to various salinities,spotted scat(Scatophagus argus)was cultured in water with salinity levels of 5(low salinity:LS),25(control group:Ctrl),and 35(high salinity group:HS)for 22 days.The brain transcriptome was analyzed.In total,1698 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified between the HS and Ctrl groups,and 841 DEGs were identified between the LS and Ctrl groups.KEGG analysis showed that the DEGs in the HS vs.Ctrl comparison were involved in steroid biosynthesis,terpenoid backbone biosynthesis,fatty acid biosynthesis,ascorbate and aldarate metabolism,other types of O-glycan biosynthesis,and fatty acid metabolism.Glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism,one carbon pool by folate,steroid biosynthesis,and cysteine and methionine metabolism were significantly enriched in the LS vs.Ctrl comparison.Additionally,the genes related to metabolism(acc,fas,hmgcr,hmgcs1,mvd,soat1,nsdhl,sqle,cel,fdft1,dnmt3a and mtr)were significantly up-regulated in the HS vs.Ctrl comparison.The genes related to metabolism(lipa,sqle,acc,fas,bhmt,mpst,dnmt3a,mtr,hao2,LOC111225351 and hmgcs1)were significantly up-regulated,while hmgcr and soat1 were significantly down-regulated in the LS vs.Ctrl compparison.These results suggest that salinity stress affects signaling pathways and genes’expressions involved in metabolic processes in the brain,and the differences in metabolism play an important role in adaptation to hyperhaline or hypohaline environments in spotted scat.This research provides a comprehensive overview of transcriptional changes in the brain under hyperhaline or hypohaline conditions,which is helpful to understand the mechanisms underlying salinity adaptation in euryhaline fishes.

Automatic Finding of Brain-Tumour Group Using CNN Segmentation and Moth-Flame-Algorithm,Selected Deep and Handcrafted Features

Augmentation of abnormal cells in the brain causes brain tumor(BT),and early screening and treatmentwill reduce its harshness in patients.BT’s clinical level screening is usually performed with Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI)due to its multi-modality nature.The overall aims of the study is to introduce,test and verify an advanced image processing technique with algorithms to automatically extract tumour sections from brain MRI scans,facilitating improved accuracy.The research intends to devise a reliable framework for detecting the BT region in the twodimensional(2D)MRI slice,and identifying its class with improved accuracy.The methodology for the devised framework comprises the phases of:(i)Collection and resizing of images,(ii)Implementation and Segmentation of Convolutional Neural Network(CNN),(iii)Deep feature extraction,(iv)Handcrafted feature extraction,(v)Moth-Flame-Algorithm(MFA)supported feature reduction,and(vi)Performance evaluation.This study utilized clinical-grade brain MRI of BRATS and TCIA datasets for the investigation.This framework segments detected the glioma(low/high grade)and glioblastoma class BT.This work helped to get a segmentation accuracy of over 98%with VGG-UNet and a classification accuracy of over 98%with the VGG16 scheme.This study has confirmed that the implemented framework is very efficient in detecting the BT in MRI slices with/without the skull section.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor activation:anti-inflammatory effects in the brain

The glucagon-like peptide 1 is a pleiotropic hormone that has potent insulinotropic effects and is key in treating metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.Glucagon-like peptide 1 exerts its effects by activating a membrane receptor identified in many tissues,including diffe rent brain regions.Glucagon-like peptide 1 activates several signaling pathways related to neuroprotection,like the support of cell growth/survival,enhancement promotion of synapse formation,autophagy,and inhibition of the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines,microglial activation,and apoptosis during neural morphogenesis.The glial cells,including astrocytes and microglia,maintain metabolic homeostasis and defe nse against pathogens in the central nervous system.After brain insult,microglia are the first cells to respond,followed by reactive astrocytosis.These activated cells produce proinflammato ry mediators like cytokines or chemokines to react to the insult.Furthermore,under these circumstances,mic roglia can become chro nically inflammatory by losing their homeostatic molecular signature and,consequently,their functions during many diseases.Several processes promote the development of neurological disorders and influence their pathological evolution:like the formation of protein aggregates,the accumulation of abnormally modified cellular constituents,the formation and release by injured neurons or synapses of molecules that can dampen neural function,and,of critical impo rtance,the dysregulation of inflammato ry control mechanisms.The glucagonlike peptide 1 receptor agonist emerges as a critical tool in treating brain-related inflammatory pathologies,restoring brain cell homeostasis under inflammatory conditions,modulating mic roglia activity,and decreasing the inflammato ry response.This review summarizes recent advances linked to the anti-inflammato ry prope rties of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor activation in the brain related to multiple sclerosis,Alzheimer’s disease,Parkinson’s disease,vascular dementia,or chronic migraine.

Use of donepezil for neurocognitive recovery after brain injury in adult and pediatric populations:a scoping review

There are few pharmacologic options for the treatment of cognitive deficits associated with traumatic brain injury in pediatric patients.Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil have been evaluated in adult patients after traumatic brain injury,but relatively less is known about the effect in pediatric populations.The goal of this review is to identify knowledge gaps in the efficacy and safety of acetylcholinesterase inhibito rs as a potential a djuvant treatment fo r neurocognitive decline in pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury.Investigators queried PubMed to identify literature published from database inception thro ugh June 2023 desc ribing the use of donepezil in young adult traumatic brain injury and pediatric patients with predefined conditions.Based on preselected search criteria,340 unique papers we re selected for title and abstra ct screening.Thirty-two reco rds were reviewed in full after eliminating preclinical studies and pape rs outside the scope of the project.In adult traumatic brain injury,we review results from 14 papers detailing 227 subjects where evidence suggests donepezil is well tole rated and shows both objective and patient-reported efficacy for reducing cognitive impairment.In children,3 pape rs report on 5 children recovering from traumatic brain injury,showing limited efficacy.An additional 15 pediatric studies conducted in populations at risk for cognitive dysfunction provide a broader look at safety and efficacy in 210 patients in the pediatric age group.Given its promise for efficacy in adults with traumatic brain injury and tole rability in pediatric patients,we believe further study of donepezil for children and adolescents with traumatic brain injury is warranted.

Epileptic brain network mechanisms and neuroimaging techniques for the brain network

Epilepsy can be defined as a dysfunction of the brain network,and each type of epilepsy involves different brain-network changes that are implicated diffe rently in the control and propagation of interictal or ictal discharges.Gaining more detailed information on brain network alterations can help us to further understand the mechanisms of epilepsy and pave the way for brain network-based precise therapeutic approaches in clinical practice.An increasing number of advanced neuroimaging techniques and electrophysiological techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging-based fiber tra ctography,diffusion kurtosis imaging-based fiber tractography,fiber ball imagingbased tra ctography,electroencephalography,functional magnetic resonance imaging,magnetoencephalography,positron emission tomography,molecular imaging,and functional ultrasound imaging have been extensively used to delineate epileptic networks.In this review,we summarize the relevant neuroimaging and neuroelectrophysiological techniques for assessing structural and functional brain networks in patients with epilepsy,and extensively analyze the imaging mechanisms,advantages,limitations,and clinical application ranges of each technique.A greater focus on emerging advanced technologies,new data analysis software,a combination of multiple techniques,and the construction of personalized virtual epilepsy models can provide a theoretical basis to better understand the brain network mechanisms of epilepsy and make surgical decisions.

Planning Target Volume Margin in Linac-Based Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Brain Metastases

Background: The treatment of brain metastases with radiotherapy has shifted to the use of Stereotactic Radio-surgery (SRS). The technical issue of expanding the treatment volume around the Gross Tumor Volume (GTV) is a current debate. Radiotherapy centers use variable GTV-PTV margins, ranging from one to 2 mm. Material and Methods: We performed a dosimetric comparison in plans of twenty patients using three margins: PTV zero, PTV1, and PTV2. We also developed imaginary Peel volumes. These volumes are described as follows: Peel1 = PTV1 − GTV, Peel2 = PTV2 − GTV. Results: Our results showed that the mean PTV volume differed significantly across the different margins (p = 0.000). The V12 of the brain significantly varied as a function of PTV margin (p = 0.000). The target coverage and plan quality indices were not significantly different. The Peel volume dosimetric analysis showed that the mean dose was significantly higher in the nearby normal brain tissue: Peel1 (p = 0.022) and Peel 2 (p = 0.013). Conclusion: According to our dosimetric analysis, expanding the GTV into a PTV by 1 mm margin is more convenient than 2 mm.

Data-driven modeling on anisotropic mechanical behavior of brain tissue with internal pressure

Brain tissue is one of the softest parts of the human body,composed of white matter and grey matter.The mechanical behavior of the brain tissue plays an essential role in regulating brain morphology and brain function.Besides,traumatic brain injury(TBI)and various brain diseases are also greatly influenced by the brain's mechanical properties.Whether white matter or grey matter,brain tissue contains multiscale structures composed of neurons,glial cells,fibers,blood vessels,etc.,each with different mechanical properties.As such,brain tissue exhibits complex mechanical behavior,usually with strong nonlinearity,heterogeneity,and directional dependence.Building a constitutive law for multiscale brain tissue using traditional function-based approaches can be very challenging.Instead,this paper proposes a data-driven approach to establish the desired mechanical model of brain tissue.We focus on blood vessels with internal pressure embedded in a white or grey matter matrix material to demonstrate our approach.The matrix is described by an isotropic or anisotropic nonlinear elastic model.A representative unit cell(RUC)with blood vessels is built,which is used to generate the stress-strain data under different internal blood pressure and various proportional displacement loading paths.The generated stress-strain data is then used to train a mechanical law using artificial neural networks to predict the macroscopic mechanical response of brain tissue under different internal pressures.Finally,the trained material model is implemented into finite element software to predict the mechanical behavior of a whole brain under intracranial pressure and distributed body forces.Compared with a direct numerical simulation that employs a reference material model,our proposed approach greatly reduces the computational cost and improves modeling efficiency.The predictions made by our trained model demonstrate sufficient accuracy.Specifically,we find that the level of internal blood pressure can greatly influence stress distribution and determine the possible related damage behaviors.

Elevated brain temperature under severe heat exposure impairs cortical motor activity and executive function

Background:Excessive heat exposure can lead to hyperthermia in humans,which impairs physical performance and disrupts cognitive function.While heat is a known physiological stressor,it is unclear how severe heat stress affects brain physiology and function.Methods:Eleven healthy participants were subjected to heat stress from prolonged exercise or warm water immersion until their rectal temperatures(T_(re))attained 39.5℃,inducing exertional or passive hyperthermia,respectively.In a separate trial,blended ice was ingested before and during exercise as a cooling strategy.Data were compared to a control condition with seated rest(normothermic).Brain temperature(T_(br)),cerebral perfusion,and task-based brain activity were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging techniques.Results:T_(br)in motor cortex was found to be tightly regulated at rest(37.3℃±0.4℃(mean±SD))despite fluctuations in T_(re).With the development of hyperthermia,T_(br)increases and dovetails with the rising T_(re).Bilateral motor cortical activity was suppressed during high-intensity plantarflexion tasks,implying a reduced central motor drive in hyperthermic participants(T_(re)=38.5℃±0.1℃).Global gray matter perfusion and regional perfusion in sensorimotor cortex were reduced with passive hyperthermia.Executive function was poorer under a passive hyperthermic state,and this could relate to compromised visual processing as indicated by the reduced activation of left lateral-occipital cortex.Conversely,ingestion of blended ice before and during exercise alleviated the rise in both T_(re)and T_(bc)and mitigated heat-related neural perturbations.Conclusion:Severe heat exposure elevates T_(br),disrupts motor cortical activity and executive function,and this can lead to impairment of physical and cognitive performance.

Endorepellin downregulation promotes angiogenesis after experimental traumatic brain injury

Endorepellin plays a key role in the regulation of angiogenesis,but its effects on angiogenesis after traumatic brain injury are unclear.This study explored the effects of endorepellin on angiogenesis and neurobehavioral outcomes after traumatic brain injury in mice.Mice were randomly divided into four groups:sham,controlled cortical impact only,adeno-associated virus(AAV)-green fluorescent protein,and AAV-shEndorepellin-green fluorescent protein groups.In the controlled cortical impact model,the transduction of AAV-shEndorepellin-green fluorescent protein downregulated endorepellin while increasing the number of CD31+/Ki-67+proliferating endothelial cells and the functional microvessel density in mouse brain.These changes resulted in improved neurological function compared with controlled cortical impact mice.Western blotting revealed increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin-1 in mice treated with AAV-shEndorepellin-green fluorescent protein.Synchrotron radiation angiography showed that endorepellin downregulation promoted angiogenesis and increased cortical neovascularization,which may further improve neurobehavioral outcomes.Furthermore,an in vitro study showed that downregulation of endorepellin increased tube formation by human umbilical vein endothelial cells compared with a control.Mechanistic analysis found that endorepellin downregulation may mediate angiogenesis by activating vascular endothelial growth factor-and angiopoietin-1-related signaling pathways.