Vulnerable brain regions in adolescent major depressive disorder:A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Adolescent major depressive disorder(MDD)is a significant mental health concern that often leads to recurrent depression in adulthood.Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)offers unique insights into the neural mechanisms underlying this condition.However,despite previous research,the specific vulnerable brain regions affected in adolescent MDD patients have not been fully elucidated.AIM To identify consistent vulnerable brain regions in adolescent MDD patients using rs-fMRI and activation likelihood estimation(ALE)meta-analysis.METHODS We performed a comprehensive literature search through July 12,2023,for studies investigating brain functional changes in adolescent MDD patients.We utilized regional homogeneity(ReHo),amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations(ALFF)and fractional ALFF(fALFF)analyses.We compared the regions of aberrant spontaneous neural activity in adolescents with MDD vs healthy controls(HCs)using ALE.RESULTS Ten studies(369 adolescent MDD patients and 313 HCs)were included.Combining the ReHo and ALFF/fALFF data,the results revealed that the activity in the right cuneus and left precuneus was lower in the adolescent MDD patients than in the HCs(voxel size:648 mm3,P<0.05),and no brain region exhibited increased activity.Based on the ALFF data,we found decreased activity in the right cuneus and left precuneus in adolescent MDD patients(voxel size:736 mm3,P<0.05),with no regions exhibiting increased activity.CONCLUSION Through ALE meta-analysis,we consistently identified the right cuneus and left precuneus as vulnerable brain regions in adolescent MDD patients,increasing our understanding of the neuropathology of affected adolescents.

Multimodal abnormalities of brain structures in adolescents and young adults with major depressive disorder:An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder(MDD)in adolescents and young adults contributes significantly to global morbidity,with inconsistent findings on brain structural changes from structural magnetic resonance imaging studies.Activation likeli-hood estimation(ALE)offers a method to synthesize these diverse findings and identify consistent brain anomalies.METHODS We performed a comprehensive literature search in PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for neuroi-maging studies on MDD among adolescents and young adults published up to November 19,2023.Two independent researchers performed the study selection,quality assessment,and data extraction.The ALE technique was employed to synthesize findings on localized brain function anomalies in MDD patients,which was supplemented by sensitivity analyses.RESULTS Twenty-two studies comprising fourteen diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)studies and eight voxel-based morphome-try(VBM)studies,and involving 451 MDD patients and 465 healthy controls(HCs)for DTI and 664 MDD patients and 946 HCs for VBM,were included.DTI-based ALE demonstrated significant reductions in fractional anisotropy(FA)values in the right caudate head,right insula,and right lentiform nucleus putamen in adolescents and young adults with MDD compared to HCs,with no regions exhibiting increased FA values.VBM-based ALE did not demonstrate significant alterations in gray matter volume.Sensitivity analyses highlighted consistent findings in the right caudate head(11 of 14 analyses),right insula(10 of 14 analyses),and right lentiform nucleus putamen(11 of 14 analyses).CONCLUSION Structural alterations in the right caudate head,right insula,and right lentiform nucleus putamen in young MDD patients may contribute to its recurrent nature,offering insights for targeted therapies.

Brain pathways of pain empathy activated by pained facial expressions: a meta-analysis of fMRI using the activation likelihood estimation method

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to summarize and analyze the brain signal patterns of empathy for pain caused by facial expressions of pain utilizing activation likelihood estimation, a meta-analysis method. DATA SOURCES: Studies concerning the brain mechanism were searched from the Science Citation Index, Science Direct, PubMed, DeepDyve, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, Wanfang, VIP, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and other databases, such as SpringerLink, AMA, Science Online, Wiley Online, were collected. A time limitation of up to 13 December 2016 was applied to this study. DATA SELECTION: Studies presenting with all of the following criteria were considered for study inclusion: Use of functional magnetic resonance imaging, neutral and pained facial expression stimuli, involvement of adult healthy human participants over 18 years of age, whose empathy ability showed no difference from the healthy adult, a painless basic state, results presented in Talairach or Montreal Neurological Institute coordinates, multiple studies by the same team as long as they used different raw data. OUTCOME MEASURES: Activation likelihood estimation was used to calculate the combined main activated brain regions under the stimulation of pained facial expression. RESULTS: Eight studies were included, containing 178 subjects. Meta-analysis results suggested that the anterior cingulate cortex(BA32), anterior central gyrus(BA44), fusiform gyrus, and insula(BA13) were activated positively as major brain areas under the stimulation of pained facial expression. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that pained facial expression alone, without viewing of painful stimuli, activated brain regions related to pain empathy, further contributing to revealing the brain's mechanisms of pain empathy.

Correlation Between Brain Activation Changes and Cognitive Improvement Following Cognitive Remediation Therapy in Schizophrenia： An Activation Likelihood Estimation Meta-analysis

Background：Several studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） and positron emission tomography （PET） have indicated that cognitive remediation therapy （CRT） might improve cognitive function by changing brain activations in patients with schizophrenia.However,the results were not consistent in these changed brain areas in different studies.The present activation likelihood estimation （ALE） meta-analysis was conducted to investigate whether cognitive function change was accompanied by the brain activation changes,and where the main areas most related to these changes were in schizophrenia patients after CRT.Analyses of whole-brain studies and whole-brain ＋ region of interest （ROI） studies were compared to explore the effect of the different methodologies on the results.Methods：A computerized systematic search was conducted to collect fMRI and PET studies on brain activation changes in schizophrenia patients from pre-to post-CRT.Nine studies using fMRI techniques were included in the meta-analysis.Ginger ALE 2.3.1 was used to perform meta-analysis across these imaging studies.Results：The main areas with increased brain activation were in frontal and parietal lobe,including left medial frontal gyrus,left inferior frontal gyrus,right middle frontal gyrus,right postcentral gyrus,and inferior parietal lobule in patients after CRT,yet no decreased brain activation was found.Although similar increased activation brain areas were identified in ALE with or without ROI studies,analysis including ROI studies had a higher ALE value.Conclusions：The current findings suggest that CRT might improve the cognition of schizophrenia patients by increasing activations of the frontal and parietal lobe.In addition,it might provide more evidence to confirm results by including ROI studies in ALE meta-analysis.

针灸对肠易激综合征患者脑区激活的磁共振成像研究:一项基于激活似然估计的分析

目的:运用激活似然估计(ALE)分析探讨肠易激综合征(IBS)病人胃肠相关脑区激活特点,并试图阐明IBS病人通过针灸治疗后丘脑区活动改变的神经机制。方法:系统检索中文及外文数据库,检索时间从建库开始—2023年5月。运用软件Ginger-ALE 3.0.2进行坐标统一化与元分析。计算出的脑区ALE分布图通过Mircron软件与Dpabi软件呈现。结果:共纳入8项研究,其中IBS病例248例、健康对照者149例。元分析结果显示:与健康被试者比较,IBS病人右侧额下回、右侧额中回、右侧豆状核、右侧丘脑与右侧脑岛等脑区激活增强,无减弱脑区;而经针灸治疗后,IBS病人与针灸治疗前比较,其左侧额中回、左侧豆状核、左侧中央前回、左侧海马旁与左侧扣带回等脑区激活减弱;进一步联合对比分析发现:豆状核为针灸共同的易激活脑区。结论:IBS患者相关脑区存在神经代谢的改变;针灸可以整体调节IBS患者优势侧脑区功能活动,从而调节胃肠道紊乱。

基于激活似然估计法的针刺阳明经穴治疗缺血性中风偏瘫的中枢机制研究

目的:通过分析针刺干预卒中后运动障碍的功能性磁共振(fMRI)临床研究结果,筛选针刺阳明经穴干预该病的中枢核心、稳定核团,为针刺治疗本病的中枢作用机制提供可靠证据。方法:检索PubMed、Web of Science、中国知网、万方和维普文献数据库,收集从建库—2022年12月使用fMRI观察针刺阳明经穴治疗卒中后脑区变化情况的研究。使用Ginger-ALE 3.0.2软件计算脑区激活似然评估(ALE)分布,最后使用DPABI软件进行图像整合。结果:共有20篇文献纳入研究,包括356名患者和144名健康人。结果显示,与健康人比较,缺血性卒中患者存在异常的大脑功能活动模式,异常的脑区主要与额叶、颞叶、边缘系统以及小脑有关;针刺阳明经穴对缺血性卒中后运动障碍患者左侧顶叶和小脑后叶(具体包括:顶下小叶、缘上回、中央后回以及下半月小叶、蚓锥体和小脑扁桃体)功能活动有稳定的调制作用。结论:卒中发生后相关运动支配脑区存在损伤与功能重塑;针刺阳明经穴可以稳定调节缺血性卒中后运动障碍患者优势侧运动-感觉系统功能活动。

针刺内关穴对静息态功能MRI脑区的激活似然分析

目的探讨静息态功能磁共振(rs-fMRI)下针刺内关穴(PC6)较为一致的激活脑区,揭示针刺内关穴(PC6)的中枢效应机制。方法检索2022年11月以前使用血氧水平依赖成像(BOLD)方法探讨针刺内关穴(PC6)静息态脑功能改变的文献,按照严格的纳入和排除标准,采用激活似然估计法(ALE)基于Ginger ALE 3.0软件进行数据处理,对既往研究中健康成人针刺内关穴(PC6)前后激活差异的脑区进行汇总分析。结果共纳入4篇文献,健康志愿者51例,均采用ALFF分析方法,针刺后激活脑区63个,经过ALE数据结合分析,结果显示相对于针刺前健康成人志愿者针刺后产生了2个活动增强的激活簇,左侧中央后回、左侧额上回(体素串分别为536、472mm3,P<0.001),未发现活动减低脑区。结论运用ALE元分析发现针刺内关穴(PC6)存在的相对一致激活脑区,激活的脑区可能揭示了针刺内关穴(PC6)产生治疗效应的中枢机制。

带状疱疹后神经痛患者的脑自发活动改变:一项基于rs-fMRI数据的ALE元分析

目的探讨带状疱疹后神经痛(postherpetic neuralgia,PHN)患者的脑自发活动改变特点,从而揭示PHN可能的神经机制,为后期通过PHN患者的脑自发活动改变客观评估PHN治疗疗效奠定基础。材料与方法在线检索PubMed、The Cochrane Library、EMBase、Medine、Web of Science、中国知网、中国生物医学文献数据库(CBM)、维普网和万方数据知识服务平台数据库中采用局部一致性(regional homogeneity,ReHo)及低频振幅(amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation,ALFF)/比率低频振幅(fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation,fALFF)分析方法研究PHN患者脑自发活动改变的文献。采用激活似然估计法(activation likelihood estimation,ALE)对纳入研究中PHN患者相对于健康对照组(healthy controls,HCs)出现脑自发活动异常改变的脑区进行元分析。结果共纳入11篇文献16个研究,包括5项ReHo研究、4项ALFF研究及7项fALFF研究,共计PHN患者200名,HCs 236名。联合ALFF/fALFF及ReHo研究的数据进行元分析结果显示:PHN患者相对于HCs右侧额中回、右侧丘脑、左侧纹状体及右侧楔叶脑自发活动增高,而右侧颞叶及右侧海马旁回脑自发活动减低。单独使用ALFF/fALFF研究的数据进行元分析结果显示:PHN患者相对于HCs右侧额中回、右侧丘脑及左侧纹状体脑自发活动增高,并未发现脑自发活动减低的脑区;单独使用ReHo研究的数据进行元分析结果显示,PHN患者相对于HCs未出现脑自发活动增高或减低的脑区。结论本文通过ALE元分析的方法,基于目前已有的rs-fMRI全脑研究数据,发现PHN患者脑自发活动改变脑区可能为右侧额中回、右侧丘脑、左侧纹状体、右侧楔叶、右侧颞叶及右侧海马旁回,为后期通过PHN患者的脑自发活动改变客观评估PHN治疗疗效提供了重要依据。

原发性失眠患者易损脑区的静息态功能磁共振成像研究:一项基于激活似然估计法的Meta分析

目的探讨应用静息态功能磁共振成像(resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging,rs-fMRI)技术研究原发性失眠(primary insomnia,PI)患者较为一致的易损脑区,从而揭示PI脑损伤可能的神经机制。材料与方法检索2022年4月7日之前采用局部一致性(regional honogeneity,ReHo)及低频振幅/比率低频振幅/动态低频振幅(amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation/fraction amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation/dynamic amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation,ALFF/fALFF/dALFF)分析方法探讨PI患者脑功能改变的文献,按照严格的纳排标准,采用激活似然估计法(activation likelihood estimation,ALE)对既往研究中PI患者相对于健康对照组(healthy controls,HCs)自发神经活动异常的脑区进行整合分析。结果共纳入19篇文献20个研究(PI 706例,HCs 681例)。结合ReHo及ALFF/fALFF/dALFF数据元分析结果显示,PI患者相对于HCs左侧梭状回和海马旁回活动增加(体素分别为3640、928 mm3,P<0.05),并未发现活动减低的脑区。单独ALFF数据元分析结果显示,PI患者相对于HCs左侧梭状回活动增加(体素为1360 mm3,P<0.05),并未发现活动减低的脑区。单独ReHo数据元分析结果显示,PI患者相对于HCs并未出现任何活动增高或减低的脑区。结论本文通过ALE元分析发现PI患者较为一致的易损脑区为左侧梭状回和海马旁回,这有助于进一步从神经病理学的角度理解PI脑损伤。

激活似然估计法分析运动相关专业人员脑灰质可塑性

目的采用激活似然估计(ALE)荟萃分析方法观察长期专业技能训练诱发运动相关专业人员大脑灰质结构的可塑性。方法于CNKI、PubMed、Web of Science数据库及Google scholar检索2005年1月1日—2020年6月12日基于体素形态学分析(VBM)运动相关专业人员大脑灰质变化的文献,以Ginger ALE软件包对检索结果进行Meta分析。结果共纳入21项研究,包括396名专业运动员(试验组)和538名健康对照者(对照组)。与对照组相比,试验组左侧脑岛、右侧顶下小叶、右侧额中回、右侧前扣带回、左侧楔前叶及右侧颞上回灰质体积增大;右侧小脑前叶、右侧小脑顶、左侧海马旁回、右侧丘脑、右侧小脑后叶、右侧额上回及左侧楔前叶灰质密度增加。结论运动相关专业人员多个脑区灰质结构可塑性可能与其所受长期专业技能训练相关。

基于坐标的脑成像元分析方法：激活似然性评估

随着脑成像研究数量的增长,研究者迫切需要一种能够将众多研究进行整合的元分析方法。本文在简单回顾了以往脑成像元分析方法的基础上,介绍了激活似然性评估法(ALE)的操作实施、优势特征、更新完善,以及其发展与应用。该元分析方法将每一个激活的坐标看作一种分布的可能性,通过特定的算法与拟合获得激活似然值,最后,将不同文献汇聚计算而来的ALE值与虚无分布获得的ALE值进行对比,以确定激活的可能性分布。近十年来,激活似然性评估法几经修正,已被广泛运用于各领域元分析的研究中。

轻度脑损伤病人任务态fMRI脑区激活:元分析

目的运用激活似然估计(activation likelihood estimation,ALE)元分析探讨轻度创伤性脑损伤(mild traumatic brain injury,mTBI)病人认知相关脑区激活特点,并试图阐明mTBI病人认知功能改变的神经机制。方法系统检索中文及外文数据库,检索时间从建库开始至2020年3月2日。运用软件Ginger-ALE 3.0.2进行坐标统一化与元分析。计算出的脑区ALE分布图通过Mango软件与Brainnet Review软件呈现。结果共纳入7项研究,其中mTBI病例174例,健康对照者140例。元分析结果显示:与健康被试者相比,mTBI病人左前叶角回、左枕叶视觉联合、左侧中脑、右颞叶角回、右侧小脑扁桃体等脑区激活增强,而右背外侧前额叶、左小脑前叶、左背外侧前额叶、右侧额中回、右侧后扣带回等脑区激活减弱。进一步联合分析发现:右侧额中回背外侧前额叶为共激活减弱脑区。结论右侧额中回背外侧前额叶激活减弱是区分mTBI病人与健康被试者的主要脑区。此外,认知障碍可能与右侧额中回背外侧前额叶激活减弱有关,这可能与控制注意力的神经网络的募集能力下降有关。

实验性瘙痒脑机制的功能性磁共振成像系统评价

目的通过Meta分析更全面地概括描绘实验性瘙痒所激活脑区,以更明确瘙痒相关高级中枢处理过程。材料与方法检索Pubmed、Cochrane中心、Wiley Online Library、Springer Link、Science Direct、Embase、CNKI和中国生物医学文献数据库,收集建库以来至2016年8月使用功能性磁共振成像(functional magnetic resonance imaging,f MRI)观察瘙痒状态下脑区激活的研究。使用Ginger-ALE 2.3.6软件计算脑区激活似然评估(activation likelihood estimation,ALE)分布,Mango软件进行图像整合。结果共有8篇文献纳入研究,样本量100。岛叶、丘脑内侧背核、屏状核、壳核、扣带前回、额上回、扣带后回、楔前叶、额中回、额下回和中央后回激活增加。结论通过对既往瘙痒f MRI研究的整合分析,认为外周瘙痒信息经脊髓的上行传导束传入中枢,主要激活中央后回、楔前叶、岛叶、扣带回、前运动和辅助运动区及前额叶等脑区,可能涉及感觉分辨加工、情绪反应、运动规划及认知评价等心理反应,从而实现瘙痒高级中枢处理过程。

伴中央颞区棘波儿童自限性癫痫的静息态自发脑活动改变:基于激活似然估计的Meta分析

目的:本研究通过激活似然估计的Meta分析,探究中央颞区棘波儿童自限性癫痫患儿(self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes,SeLECTS)的局部脑区功能变化特点。方法:通过系统检索中文及外文数据库,检索自建库开始至2024年1月25日伴中央颞区棘波自限性癫痫患儿自发脑活动改变的文献,运用基于体素的Meta分析,对SeLECTS患儿与健康对照组局部脑区功能变化相关的研究结果进行了整合分析。利用元回归分析的方法计算Meta结果与人口学变量和临床信息的相关性。结果:全效应Meta分析发现右侧中央前回自发脑活动升高。局部一致性Meta分析并未发现自发脑区活动的升高和减低。单独低频振幅和低频振幅分数Meta分析发现自发脑活动增加脑区包括右侧中央后回、左侧脑岛、右侧前扣带回,自发脑活动减低脑区包括左侧颞中回、左侧楔前叶、左侧枕中回。Meta-回归分析表明,SeLECTS患儿右侧中央前回的自发活动与年龄呈正相关。结论:SeLECTS患儿多个区域的脑区自发脑活动出现了异常,其功能改变的脑区可以帮助更好的解释SeLECTS的发病机制,在此基础上未来为进一步探索SeLECTS的影像学机制提供参考。

基于fMRI技术研究针刺神门穴对急性睡眠剥夺后工作记忆相关脑网络的影响

目的:基于激活似然估计法(ALE)元分析和功能磁共振成像(fMRI)技术,探究针刺神门穴对急性睡眠剥夺(SD)后工作记忆相关脑网络内功能连接的影响。方法:纳入23例健康被试者,进行24 h SD,随后接受针刺双侧神门穴或旁开假穴。同时筛选已发表的急性SD后工作记忆任务态脑影像学文献,应用ALE元分析提取种子点构建工作记忆相关脑网络。采用DPABINet软件计算每个被试SD后、针刺真穴和针刺假穴状态下种子点间的功能连接。结果:与SD后比较,真穴针刺可增强左侧楔前叶与右侧楔前叶、右侧顶下小叶与左侧楔叶等脑区之间的功能连接(经FDR校正,P<0.05),而假穴针刺后未发现工作记忆相关脑网络内明显变化的功能连接(经FDR校正,P>0.05)。与假穴针刺比较,真穴针刺可增强左侧枕中回与右侧后扣带回、右侧楔前叶与左侧梭状回等脑区之间的功能连接(经FDR校正,P<0.05)。结论:针刺神门穴可以调节急性SD后工作记忆相关脑网络内的功能连接,这可能是针刺改善急性SD后工作记忆损伤的潜在中枢效应机制。

社交焦虑障碍患者情绪面孔加工的脑区激活似然估计分析

目的探讨社交焦虑障碍(social anxiety disorder,SAD)患者的面孔与非面孔加工以及不同情绪效价下面孔加工的相关激活脑区。方法通过关键词检索了PubMed、Medline、Sciencedirect、CNKI等数据库,得到符合要求的31项经同行评议的SAD患者情绪面孔研究,其中SAD患者面孔与非面孔加工元分析纳入13篇文献,包含被试481人、161个激活点。SAD患者不同情绪效价的面孔加工元分析纳入18篇文献,包含被试586人、331个激活点。基于Talairach空间下采用簇水平整体错误(Cluster-level family-wise error,FWE,P<0.05)方法分析。结果SAD患者的面孔加工激活了左侧杏仁核(x=-18,y=-8,z=-12),右侧杏仁核(x=26,y=0,z=-20),内嗅皮层(Brodmann脑区28,x=16,y=-8,z=-10)和内侧前额叶皮质(Brodmann脑区10,x=2,y=44,z=-8)。并且,SAD患者在处理负性面孔时左侧杏仁核(x=-26,y=0,z=-16),右侧杏仁核(x=26,y=0,z=-12),左内侧苍白球(x=-20,y=-10,z=-6)和右内侧苍白球(x=20,y=-10,z=-6)有强烈激活,其中恐惧面孔激活双侧杏仁核(左:x=-28,y=0,z=-16,右:x=28,y=-2,z=-12)、愤怒面孔激活内侧苍白球(x=20,y=-8,z=-6)。结论SAD患者的面孔加工存在特定神经机制,双侧杏仁核、内嗅皮层和内侧前额叶皮质是面孔加工的关键脑区,杏仁核和内侧苍白球是负性情绪面孔加工的重要神经区域。