Optimization of tracheoesophageal fistula model established with Tshaped magnet system based on magnetic compression technique

BACKGROUND The magnetic compression technique has been used to establish an animal model of tracheoesophageal fistula(TEF),but the commonly shaped magnets present limitations of poor homogeneity of TEF and poor model control.We designed a Tshaped magnet system to overcome these problems and verified its effectiveness via animal experiments.AIM To investigate the effectiveness of a T-shaped magnet system for establishing a TEF model in beagle dogs.METHODS Twelve beagles were randomly assigned to groups in which magnets of the Tshaped scheme(study group,n=6)or normal magnets(control group,n=6)were implanted into the trachea and esophagus separately under gastroscopy.Operation time,operation success rate,and accidental injury were recorded.After operation,the presence and timing of cough and the time of magnet shedding were observed.Dogs in the control group were euthanized after X-ray and gastroscopy to confirm establishment of TEFs after coughing,and gross specimens of TEFs were obtained.Dogs in the study group were euthanized after X-ray and gastroscopy 2 wk after surgery,and gross specimens were obtained.Fistula size was measured in all animals,and then harvested fistula specimens were examined by hematoxylin and eosin(HE)and Masson trichrome staining.RESULTS The operation success rate was 100%for both groups.Operation time did not differ between the study group(5.25 min±1.29 min)and the control group(4.75 min±1.70 min;P=0.331).No bleeding,perforation,or unplanned magnet attraction occurred in any animal during the operation.In the early postoperative period,all dogs ate freely and were generally in good condition.Dogs in the control group had severe cough after drinking water at 6-9 d after surgery.X-ray indicated that the magnets had entered the stomach,and gastroscopy showed TEF formation.Gross specimens of TEFs from the control group showed the formation of fistulas with a diameter of 4.94 mm±1.29 mm(range,3.52-6.56 mm).HE and Masson trichrome staining showed scar tissue formation and hierarchical structural disorder at the fistulas.Dogs in the study group did not exhibit obvious coughing after surgery.X-ray examination 2 wk after surgery indicated fixed magnet positioning,and gastroscopy showed no change in magnet positioning.The magnets were removed using a snare under endoscopy,and TEF was observed.Gross specimens showed well-formed fistulas with a diameter of 6.11 mm±0.16 mm(range,5.92-6.36 mm),which exceeded that in the control group(P<0.001).Scar formation was observed on the internal surface of fistulas by HE and Masson trichrome staining,and the structure was more regular than that in the control group.CONCLUSION Use of the modified T-shaped magnet scheme is safe and feasible for establishing TEF and can achieve a more stable and uniform fistula size compared with ordinary magnets.Most importantly,this model offers better controllability,which improves the flexibility of follow-up studies.

Preliminary Engineering Design of Toroidal Field Magnet System for Superconducting Tokamak HT-7U

HT7U is a large fusion experimental device. It will be built in the Institute of Plasma Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences. The mission of HT-7U is to develop the scientific basis for a continuously operating tokama-k fusion reactor. This paper describes only a toroidal field (TF) superconducting magnet system of HT7U. In this paper, design criteria of conductor and stability analysis, coil winding and support structure design of magnet system, mechanical calculation and stress analysis, heat load evaluation are given.

Present Status of the KSTAR Superconducting Magnet System Development

The mission of Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR)project is to develop an advanced steady-state superconducting tokamak for establishing a scientificand technological basis for an attractive fusion reactor. Because one of the KSTAR mission is toachieve a steady-state operation, the use of superconducting coils is an obvious choice for themagnet system. The KSTAR superconducting magnet system consists of 16 Toroidal Field (TF) coils and14 Poloidal Field (PF) coils. Internally-cooled Cable-In-Conduit Conductors (CICC) are put into usein both the TF and PF coil systems. The TF coil system provides a field of 3.5 T at the plasmacenter and the PF coil system is able to provide a flux swing of 17 V-sec. The major achievement inKSTAR magnet-system development includes the development of CICC, the development of a full-size TFmodel coil, the development of a coil system for background magnetic-field generation , theconstruction of a large-scale superconducting magnet and CICC test facility. TF and PF coils are inthe stage of fabrication to pave the way for the scheduled completion of KSTAR by the end of 2006.

The 5.8 T Cryogen-Free Gyrotron Superconducting Magnet System on HL-2A

A 5.8 T cryogen-free superconducting magnet （SCM） system with a warm bore hole of 160 mm in diameter, used for gyrotrons operating in the frequency range from 68 GHz to 140 GHz, is installed on the site of the HL-2A tokamak. The SCM consists of two separate solenoidal magnetic coils connected in series, a 4.2 K Gifford-McMahon （GM） refrigerator, a com- pressor, a coil power supply and two temperature monitors. The performance, test and preliminary experimental results of this SCM system are described in this paper. The magnetic field distribu- tion was measured along the axis, and a dummy tube was used for adjusting the magnet system. Finally, the magnet was used for the operation of a 68 GHz/500 kW gyrotron, which is part of an electron cyclotron resonance heating （ECRH） system. With an additional auxiliary coil and after adjusting tile magnet system, a maximum output power for the ECRH system of up to 400 kW was achieved.

Scale Effects on Magnet Systems of Heliotron-Type Reactors

For power plants heliotron-type reactors have attractive advantages, such asno current-disruptions, no current-drive, and wide space between helical coils for the maintenanceof in-vessel components. However, one disadvantage is that a major radius has to be large enough toobtain large Q-value or to produce sufficient space for blankets. Although the larger radius isconsidered to increase the construction cost, the influence has not been understood clearly, yet.Scale effects on superconducting magnet systems have been estimated under the conditions of aconstant energy confinement time and similar geometrical parameters. Since the necessary magneticfield with a larger radius becomes lower, the increase rate of the weight of the coil support to themajor radius is less than the square root. The necessary major radius will be determined mainly bythe blanket space. The appropriate major radius will be around 13 m for a reactor similar to theLarge Helical Device (LHD).

The Progress of Magnet System for HIAF Project

High Intensity heavy ion Accelerator Facility(HIAF)consists of a Super-conducting ECR Ion Source(SECR),Superconducting linac(iLinac),Booster Ring(BRing),Fragment Separator(HFRS),Spectrometer Ring(SRing),and several transport lines and terminals.It contains more than 600 room-temperature magnets,100 superconducting magnets,and a range of injection and extraction components.The latest general layout of the HIAF is shown in Fig.1.

Contribution of glial cells to the neuroprotective effects triggered by repetitive magnetic stimulation:a systematic review

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has been increasingly studied in different neurological diseases,and although most studies focus on its effects on neuronal cells,the contribution of nonneuronal cells to the improvement trigge red by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in these diseases has been increasingly suggested.To systematically review the effects of repetitive magnetic stimulation on non-neuronal cells two online databases.Web of Science and PubMed were searched fo r the effects of high-frequency-repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation,low-frequencyrepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation,intermittent theta-bu rst stimulation,continuous thetaburst stimulation,or repetitive magnetic stimulation on non-neuronal cells in models of disease and in unlesioned animals or cells.A total of 52 studies were included.The protocol more frequently used was high-frequency-repetitive magnetic stimulation,and in models of disease,most studies report that high-frequency-repetitive magnetic stimulation led to a decrease in astrocyte and mic roglial reactivity,a decrease in the release of pro-inflammatory cyto kines,and an increase of oligodendrocyte proliferation.The trend towards decreased microglial and astrocyte reactivity as well as increased oligodendrocyte proliferation occurred with intermittent theta-burst stimulation and continuous theta-burst stimulation.Few papers analyzed the low-frequency-repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation protocol,and the parameters evaluated were restricted to the study of astrocyte reactivity and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines,repo rting the absence of effects on these paramete rs.In what concerns the use of magnetic stimulation in unlesioned animals or cells,most articles on all four types of stimulation reported a lack of effects.It is also important to point out that the studies were developed mostly in male rodents,not evaluating possible diffe rential effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation between sexes.This systematic review supports that thro ugh modulation of glial cells repetitive magnetic stimulation contributes to the neuroprotection or repair in various neurological disease models.Howeve r,it should be noted that there are still few articles focusing on the impact of repetitive magnetic stimulation on non-neuronal cells and most studies did not perform in-depth analyses of the effects,emphasizing the need for more studies in this field.

Disturbances rejection optimization based on improved two-degree-of-freedom LADRC for permanent magnet synchronous motor systems

Permanent magnet synchronous motor(PMSM)speed control systems with conventional linear active disturbance rejection control(CLADRC)strategy encounter issues regarding the coupling between dynamic response and disturbance suppression and have poor performance in suppressing complex nonlinear disturbances.In order to address these issues,this paper proposes an improved two-degree-of-freedom LADRC(TDOF-LADRC)strategy,which can enhance the disturbance rejection performance of the system while decoupling entirely the system's dynamic and anti-disturbance performance to boost the system robustness and simplify controller parameter tuning.PMSM models that consider total disturbances are developed to design the TDOF-LADRC speed controller accurately.Moreover,to evaluate the control performance of the TDOF-LADRC strategy,its stability is proven,and the influence of each controller parameter on the system control performance is analyzed.Based on it,a comparison is made between the disturbance observation ability and anti-disturbance performance of TDOF-LADRC and CLADRC to prove the superiority of TDOF-LADRC in rejecting disturbances.Finally,experiments are performed on a 750 W PMSM experimental platform,and the results demonstrate that the proposed TDOF-LADRC exhibits the properties of two degrees of freedom and improves the disturbance rejection performance of the PMSM system.

Research on modeling and self-excited vibration mechanism in magnetic levitation-collision interface coupling system

The modeling and self-excited vibration mechanism in the magnetic levitation-collision interface coupling system are investigated.The effects of the control and interface parameters on the system's stability are analyzed.The frequency range of self-excited vibrations is investigated from the energy point of view.The phenomenon of self-excited vibrations is elaborated with the phase trajectory.The corresponding control strategies are briefly analyzed with respect to the vibration mechanism.The results show that when the levitation objects collide with the mechanical interface,the system's vibration frequency becomes larger with the decrease in the collision gap;when the vibration frequency exceeds the critical frequency,the electromagnetic system continues to provide energy to the system,and the collision interface continuously dissipates energy so that the system enters the self-excited vibration state.

Advances in magnetic-assisted triboelectric nanogenerators:structures,materials and self-sensing systems

Triboelectric nanogenerators(TENG),renowned for their remarkable capability to harness weak mechanical energy from the environment,have gained considerable attention owing to their cost-effectiveness,high output,and adaptability.This review provides a unique perspective by conducting a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of magnetically assisted TENGs that encompass structures,materials,and self-powered sensing systems.We systematically summarize the diverse functions of the magnetic assistance for TENGs,including system stiffness,components of the hybrid electromagnetic-triboelectric generator,transmission,and interaction forces.In the material domain,we review the incorporation of magnetic nano-composites materials,along with ferrofluid-based TENG and microstructure verification,which have also been summarized based on existing research.Furthermore,we delve into the research progress on physical quantity sensing and human-machine interface in magnetic-assisted TENGs.Our analysis highlights that magnetic assistance extends beyond the repulsive and suction forces under a magnetic field,thereby playing multifaceted roles in improving the output performance and environmental adaptability of the TENGs.Finally,we present the prevailing challenges and offer insights into the future trajectory of the magnetic-assisted TENGs development.

Three-dimensional magnetic reconnection in complex multiple X-point configurations in an ancient solar-lunar terrestrial system

Magnetic reconnection processes in three-dimensional(3D)complex field configurations have been investigated in different magneto-plasma systems in space,laboratory,and astrophysical systems.Two-dimensional(2D)features of magnetic reconnection have been well developed and applied successfully to systems with symmetrical property,such as toroidal fusion plasmas and laboratory experiments with an axial symmetry.But in asymmetric systems,the 3D features are inevitably different from those in the 2D case.Magnetic reconnection structures in multiple celestial body systems,particularly star-planet-Moon systems,bring fresh insights to the understanding of the 3D geometry of reconnection.Thus,we take magnetic reconnection in an ancient solar-lunar terrestrial magneto-plasma system as an example by using its crucial parameters approximately estimated already and also some specific applications in pathways for energy and matter transports among Earth,ancient Moon,and the interplanetary magnetic field(IMF).Then,magnetic reconnection of the ancient lunar-terrestrial magnetospheres with the IMF is investigated numerically in this work.In a 3D simulation for the Earth-Moon-IMF system,topological features of complex magnetic reconnection configurations and dynamical characteristics of magnetic reconnection processes are studied.It is found that a coupled lunar-terrestrial magnetosphere is formed,and under various IMF orientations,multiple X-points emerge at distinct locations,showing three typical magnetic reconnection structures in such a geometry,i.e.,the X-line,the triple current sheets,and the A-B null pairs.The results can conduce to further understanding of reconnection physics in 3D for plasmas in complex magnetic configurations,and also a possible mechanism for energy and matters transport in evolutions of similar astrophysical systems.

Design and Implementation of a High-Sensitivity Magnetic Sensing System Based on GMI Effect

A high-sensitivity magnetic sensing system based on giant magneto-impedance(GMI)effect is designed and fabricated.The system comprises a GMI sensor equipped with a gradient probe and an signal acquisition and processing module.A segmented superposition algorithm is used to increase target signal and reduce the random noise.The results show that under unshielded,room temperature conditions,the system achieves successful detection of weak magnetic fields down to 2 pT with a notable sensitivity of 1.84×10^(8)V/T(G=1000).By applying 17 overlays,the segmented superposition algorithm increases the power proportion of the target signal at 31 Hz from6.89%to 45.91%,surpassing the power proportion of the 2 Hz low-frequency interference signal.Simultaneously,it reduces the power proportion of the 20 Hz random noise.The segmented superposition process effectively cancels out certain random noise elements,leading to a reduction in their respective power proportions.This high-sensitivity magnetic sensing system features a simple structure,and is easy to operate,making it highly valuable for both practical applications and broader dissemination.

Simplified liver imaging reporting and data system for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma on gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

BACKGROUND The liver imaging reporting and data system(LI-RADS)diagnostic table has 15 cells and is too complex.The diagnostic performance of LI-RADS for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is not satisfactory on gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(EOB-MRI).AIM To evaluate the ability of the simplified LI-RADS(sLI-RADS)to diagnose HCC on EOB-MRI.METHODS A total of 331 patients with 356 hepatic observations were retrospectively analysed.The diagnostic performance of sLI-RADS A-D using a single threshold was evaluated and compared with LI-RADS v2018 to determine the optimal sLIRADS.The algorithms of sLI-RADS A-D are as follows:The single threshold for sLI-RADS A and B was 10 mm,that is,classified observations≥10mm using an algorithm of 10-19 mm observations(sLI-RADS A)and≥20 mm observations(sLI-RADS B)in the diagnosis table of LI-RADS v2018,respectively,while the classification algorithm remained unchanged for observations<10 mm;the single threshold for sLI-RADS C and D was 20 mm,that is,for<20 mm observations,the algorithms for<10 mm observations(sLI-RADS C)and 10-19 mm observations(sLI-RADS D)were used,respectively,while the algorithm remained unchanged for observations≥20 mm.With hepatobiliary phase(HBP)hypointensity as a major feature(MF),the final sLI-RADS(F-sLI-RADS)was formed according to the optimal sLI-RADS,and its diagnostic performance was evaluated.The times needed to classify the observations according to F-sLIRADS and LI-RADS v2018 were compared.RESULTS The optimal sLI-RADS was sLI-RADS D(with a single threshold of 20 mm),because its sensitivity was greater than that of LI-RADS v2018(89.8%vs 87.0%,P=0.031),and its specificity was not lower(89.4%vs 90.1%,P>0.999).With HBP hypointensity as an MF,the sensitivity of F-sLI-RADS was greater than that of LI-RADS v2018(93.0%vs 87.0%,P<0.001)and sLI-RADS D(93.0%vs 89.8%,P=0.016),without a lower specificity(86.5%vs 90.1%,P=0.062;86.5%vs 89.4%,P=0.125).Compared with that of LI-RADS v2018,the time to classify lesions according to FsLI-RADS was shorter(51±21 s vs 73±24 s,P<0.001).CONCLUSION The use of sLI-RADS with HBP hypointensity as an MF may improve the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis and reduce lesion classification time.

From strength to precision: A systematic review exploring the clinical utility of 7-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging in abdominal imaging

BACKGROUND After approval for clinical use in 2017 early investigations of ultra-high-field abdominal magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)have demonstrated the feasibility as well as diagnostic capabilities of liver,kidney,and prostate MRI at 7-Tesla.However,the elevation of the field strength to 7-Tesla not only brought advantages to abdominal MRI but also presented considerable challenges and drawbacks,primarily stemming from heightened artifacts and limitations in Specific Absorption Rate,etc.Furthermore,evidence in the literature is relatively scarce concerning human studies in comparison to phantom/animal studies which necessitates an investigation into the evidence so far in humans and summarizing all relevant evidence.AIM To offer a comprehensive overview of current literature on clinical abdominal 7T MRI that emphasizes current trends,details relevant challenges,and provides a concise set of potential solutions.METHODS This systematic review adheres to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.A PubMed search,utilizing Medical Subject Headings terms such as"7-Tesla"and organ-specific terms,was conducted for articles published between January 1,1985,and July 25,2023.Eligibility criteria included studies exploring 7T MRI for imaging human abdominal organs,encompassing various study types(in-vivo/ex-vivo,method development,reviews/meta-analyses).Exclusion criteria involved animal studies and those lacking extractable data.Study selection involved initial identification via title/abstract,followed by a full-text review by two researchers,with discrepancies resolved through discussion.Data extraction covered publication details,study design,population,sample size,7T MRI protocol,image characteristics,endpoints,and conclusions.RESULTS The systematic review included a total of 21 studies.The distribution of clinical 7T abdominal imaging studies revealed a predominant focus on the prostate(n=8),followed by the kidney(n=6)and the hepatobiliary system(n=5).Studies on these organs,and in the pancreas,demonstrated clear advantages at 7T.However,small bowel studies showed no significant improvements compared to traditional MRI at 1.5T.The majority of studies evaluated originated from Germany(n=10),followed by the Netherlands(n=5),the United States(n=5),Austria(n=2),the United Kingdom(n=1),and Italy(n=1).CONCLUSION Further increase of abdominal clinical MRI field strength to 7T demonstrated high imaging potential,yet also limitations mainly due to the inhomogeneous radiofrequency(RF)excitation field relative to lower field strengths.Hence,further optimization of dedicated RF coil elements and pulse sequences are expected to better optimize clinical imaging at high magnetic field strength.

Intracranial magnetic resonance venography in healthy individuals:normal anatomy and variations of the cerebral venous system

Objective:To evaluate the basic appearance and variation of the venous sinuses and veins in healthy individuals.Methods:Prospectively-recruited healthy volunteers completed a questionnaire and underwent magnetic resonance imaging plus contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance venography(CE-MRV)to measure their sinus diameters.Anatomical variations of cerebral venous sinuses were evaluated.Results:Fifty-eight individuals were included.The mean diameter of the left transverse sinus(LTS)(5.37±1.35 mm)was significantly smaller than that of the right transverse sinus(RTS)(6.65±1.57 mm)(P<0.001),and the average discrepancy was 19.2%.RTS dominance was noted in 55.1%of cases.Four superior sagittal sinus(SSS)anatomical variations were found.Type A was the most common and was present in 43 participants(74.1%).The SSS preferentially drained into the RTS in 32 patients(55.2%),and arachnoid granulation was observed in the transverse sinus(TS)and SSS in patients.According to our reclassification combined with Osborn’s previous research,we found that the SSS commonly drained into the RTS and that the straight sinus(StS)branched into both TSs.Conclusions:A 19%difference between the LTS and RTS provides a threshold for TS lateral dominance instead of a TS abnormality.Clinicians and radiologists should not ignore the influence of acquired pathology when the SSS drains in a non-RTS-dominant manner.Anatomical variations of the torcular herophili are frequent;the most commonly observed was the StS branching into both TSs,with the SSS draining into the RTS.

Low‑Temperature Oxidation Induced Phase Evolution with Gradient Magnetic Heterointerfaces for Superior Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Gradient magnetic heterointerfaces have injected infinite vitality in optimizing impedance matching,adjusting dielectric/magnetic resonance and promoting electromagnetic(EM)wave absorption,but still exist a significant challenging in regulating local phase evolution.Herein,accordion-shaped Co/Co_(3)O_(4)@N-doped carbon nanosheets(Co/Co_(3)O_(4)@NC)with gradient magnetic heterointerfaces have been fabricated via the cooperative high-temperature carbonization and lowtemperature oxidation process.The results indicate that the surface epitaxial growth of crystal Co_(3)O_(4) domains on local Co nanoparticles realizes the adjustment of magnetic-heteroatomic components,which are beneficial for optimizing impedance matching and interfacial polarization.Moreover,gradient magnetic heterointerfaces simultaneously realize magnetic coupling,and long-range magnetic diffraction.Specifically,the synthesized Co/Co_(3)O_(4)@NC absorbents display the strong electromagnetic wave attenuation capability of−53.5 dB at a thickness of 3.0 mm with an effective absorption bandwidth of 5.36 GHz,both are superior to those of single magnetic domains embedded in carbon matrix.This design concept provides us an inspiration in optimizing interfacial polarization,regulating magnetic coupling and promoting electromagnetic wave absorption.

Temporal dynamics of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy injuries on magnetic resonance imaging

Moderate to severe perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy occurs in~1 to 3/1000 live births in high-income countries and is associated with a significant risk of death or neurodevelopmental disability.Detailed assessment is important to help identify highrisk infants,to help families,and to support appropriate interventions.A wide range of monitoring tools is available to assess changes over time,including urine and blood biomarkers,neurological examination,and electroencephalography.At present,magnetic resonance imaging is unique as although it is expensive and not suited to monitoring the early evolution of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy by a week of life it can provide direct insight into the anatomical changes in the brain after hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and so offers strong prognostic information on the long-term outcome after hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.This review investigated the temporal dynamics of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy injuries,with a particular emphasis on exploring the correlation between the prognostic implications of magnetic resonance imaging scans in the first week of life and their relationship to long-term outcome prediction,particularly for infants treated with therapeutic hypothermia.A comprehensive literature search,from 2016 to 2024,identified 20 pertinent articles.This review highlights that while the optimal timing of magnetic resonance imaging scans is not clear,overall,it suggests that magnetic resonance imaging within the first week of life provides strong prognostic accuracy.Many challenges limit the timing consistency,particularly the need for intensive care and clinical monitoring.Conversely,although most reports examined the prognostic value of scans taken between 4 and 10 days after birth,there is evidence from small numbers of cases that,at times,brain injury may continue to evolve for weeks after birth.This suggests that in the future it will be important to explore a wider range of times after hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy to fully understand the optimal timing for predicting long-term outcomes.

An embedded electron current layer observed at the edge of the plasma sheet in the Earth’s magnetotail

The formation of an embedded electron current sheet within the magnetotail plasma sheet has been poorly understood.In this article,we present an electron current layer detected at the edge of the magnetotail plasma sheet.The ions were demagnetized inside the electron current layer,but the electrons were still frozen in with the magnetic field line.Thus,this decoupling of ions and electrons gave rise to a strong Hall electric field,which could be the reason for the formation of the embedded thin current layer.The magnetized electrons,the absence of the nongyrotropic electron distribution,and negligible energy dissipation in the layer indicate that magnetic reconnection had not been triggered within the embedded thin current layer.The highly asymmetric plasma on the two sides of the current layer and low magnetic shear across it could suppress magnetic reconnection.The observations indicate that the embedded electric current layer,probably generated by the Hall electric field,even down to electron scale,is not a sufficient condition for magnetic reconnection.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in Alzheimer’s disease:effects on neural and synaptic rehabilitation

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease resulting from deficits in synaptic transmission and homeostasis.The Alzheimer’s disease brain tends to be hyperexcitable and hypersynchronized,thereby causing neurodegeneration and ultimately disrupting the operational abilities in daily life,leaving patients incapacitated.Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is a cost-effective,neuro-modulatory technique used for multiple neurological conditions.Over the past two decades,it has been widely used to predict cognitive decline;identify pathophysiological markers;promote neuroplasticity;and assess brain excitability,plasticity,and connectivity.It has also been applied to patients with dementia,because it can yield facilitatory effects on cognition and promote brain recovery after a neurological insult.However,its therapeutic effectiveness at the molecular and synaptic levels has not been elucidated because of a limited number of studies.This study aimed to characterize the neurobiological changes following repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment,evaluate its effects on synaptic plasticity,and identify the associated mechanisms.This review essentially focuses on changes in the pathology,amyloidogenesis,and clearance pathways,given that amyloid deposition is a major hypothesis in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.Apoptotic mechanisms associated with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation procedures and different pathways mediating gene transcription,which are closely related to the neural regeneration process,are also highlighted.Finally,we discuss the outcomes of animal studies in which neuroplasticity is modulated and assessed at the structural and functional levels by using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation,with the aim to highlight future directions for better clinical translations.

Advancement in utilization of magnetic resonance imaging and biomarkers in the understanding of schizophrenia

Historically,psychiatric diagnoses have been made based on patient’s reported symptoms applying the criteria from diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders.The utilization of neuroimaging or biomarkers to make the diagnosis and manage psychiatric disorders remains a distant goal.There have been several studies that examine brain imaging in psychiatric disorders,but more work is needed to elucidate the complexities of the human brain.In this editorial,we examine two articles by Xu et al and Stoyanov et al,that show developments in the direction of using neuroimaging to examine the brains of people with schizo-phrenia and depression.Xu et al used magnetic resonance imaging to examine the brain structure of patients with schizophrenia,in addition to examining neurotransmitter levels as biomarkers.Stoyanov et al used functional magnetic resonance imaging to look at modulation of different neural circuits by diagnostic-specific scales in patients with schizophrenia and depression.These two studies provide crucial evidence in advancing our understanding of the brain in prevalent psychiatric disorders.