Connectome-based predictive modelling of ageing, overall cognitive functioning and memory performance.

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and brain functional connectome (we use 'brain connectome' hereafter for simplicity) have advanced our understanding of the ageing brain and age-related changes in cognitive function. Previous studies have investigated the association among brain connectome and age, global cognition, and memory function separately. However, very few have predicted age, overall cognitive functioning and memory performance in a single study to better understand their complex relationship.

Prediction of Stroke Onset Time With Combined Fast High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic and Quantitative T Mapping.

Objective: The purpose of this work is to develop a multispectral imaging approach that combines fast high-resolution 3D magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) and fast quantitative T mapping to capture the multifactorial biochemical changes within stroke lesions and evaluate its potentials for stroke onset time prediction.

Methods: Special imaging sequences combining fast trajectories and sparse sampling were used to obtain whole-brain maps of both neurometabolites (2.0 × 3.

Predicting the Onset of Ischemic Stroke With Fast High-Resolution 3D MR Spectroscopic Imaging.

Background: Neurometabolite concentrations provide a direct index of infarction progression in stroke. However, their relationship with stroke onset time remains unclear.

Purpose: To assess the temporal dynamics of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine, choline, and lactate and estimate their value in predicting early (<6 hours) vs.

An artificial-intelligence-based age-specific template construction framework for brain structural analysis using magnetic resonance images.

It is an essential task to construct brain templates and analyze their anatomical structures in neurological and cognitive science. Generally, templates constructed from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a group of subjects can provide a standard reference space for analyzing the structural and functional characteristics of the group. With recent development of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, it is desirable to explore AI registration methods for quantifying age-specific brain variations and tendencies across different ages.

Real-Time Cerebral Vessel Segmentation in Laser Speckle Contrast Image Based on Unsupervised Domain Adaptation.

Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is a full-field, high spatiotemporal resolution and low-cost optical technique for measuring blood flow, which has been successfully used for neurovascular imaging. However, due to the low signal-noise ratio and the relatively small sizes, segmenting the cerebral vessels in LSCI has always been a technical challenge. Recently, deep learning has shown its advantages in vascular segmentation.

Multifunctional Nanostructure RAP-RL Rescues Alzheimer's Cognitive Deficits through Remodeling the Neurovascular Unit.

Cerebrovascular dysfunction characterized by the neurovascular unit (NVU) impairment contributes to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, a cerebrovascular-targeting multifunctional lipoprotein-biomimetic nanostructure (RAP-RL) constituted with an antagonist peptide (RAP) of receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE), monosialotetrahexosyl ganglioside, and apolipoprotein E3 is developed to recover the functional NVU and normalize the cerebral vasculature. RAP-RL accumulates along the cerebral microvasculature through the specific binding of RAP to RAGE, which is overexpressed on cerebral endothelial cells in AD.

Neurovascular Coupling Impairment in Acute Ischemic Stroke by Optogenetics and Optical Brain Imaging.

The coupling between neuronal activity and cerebral blood flow (CBF), known as neurovascular coupling, has been reported to be impaired after stroke. This study aims to investigate the neurovascular coupling impairment at the acute stage after ischemic stroke. Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) was applied to measure the hemodynamic response to optogenetic excitation of sensorimotor neurons in healthy and ischemic brain.

Cortical Hemodynamic Response to Multi-afferent Stimulation: an optical imaging study.

Multisensory stimulation plays an important role in the recovery of ischemic stroke. However, little is known about the interactions between neuronal activities with multi-afferent stimulations and their effects on hemodynamic responses. Optogenetics has been a useful tool in neuroscience research to unravel the mechanisms of neurovascular coupling at cell-specific level.

Optogenetic translocation of protons out of penumbral neurons is protective in a rodent model of focal cerebral ischemia.

Background: Intracellular acidosis in the ischemic penumbra can contribute to further cell death, effectively enlarging the infarct core. Restoring the acid-base balance may enhance tissue survivability after cerebral ischemia.

Objective: This study investigated whether translocating protons out of penumbral neurons could mitigate tissue acidification and induce neuroprotection in a rodent model of acute cerebral ischemia.

A prototype system of portable laser speckle imager based on embedded graphics processing unit platform.

Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is a high-resolution full-field optical technique for measuring blood flow, which has been widely used in clinical and biomedical research. However, most of the current LSCI instruments are bulky, limiting their application settings. In this work, we proposed a prototype system of portable laser speckle imager.

USP21 modulates Goosecoid function through deubiquitination.

The homeobox gene Goosecoid (), which is known to regulate craniofacial development, is activated by mono-ubiquitination; however, the deubiquitylase responsible for GSC deubiquitination and inhibition has yet to be identified. In the present study, we constructed the recombinant plasmid pFlag-CMV-2-GSC and the SRY (sex-determining region Y)-box 6 () reporter gene system to identify deubiquitylases that regulate GSC expression. We demonstrate that the ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 21 (USP21) regulates the deubiquitination of GSC negatively, as demonstrated by its inhibition of reporter gene transcription.

Cortical functional reorganization in response to intact forelimb stimulation from acute to chronic stage in rodent amputation model.

Brain plasticity after amputation is related to the short-term unmasking of latent synapses as well as the long-term reorganization due to the sprouting new synaptic connections. The cortical functional reorganization has been reported along the intact somatosensory pathway after unilateral deafferentation. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) change serves as an important biomarker of the functional reorganization of brain.

Optogenetic Excitation of Ipsilesional Sensorimotor Neurons is Protective in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Laser Speckle Imaging Study.

Objective: Directly modulating targeted cortical function, brain stimulation provides promising techniques for stroke intervention. However, the cellular level mechanisms underlying preserved neurovascular function remains unclear. Optogenetics provides a cell-specific approach to modulate the neuronal activity.

Hemodynamic effects of intraoperative anesthetics administration in photothrombotic stroke model: a study using laser speckle imaging.

Background: Previous neuroimaging studies have shown the hemodynamic effect of either preconditioning or postconditioning anesthesia in ischemic stroke model. However, the anesthetic effect in hemodynamics during and immediately after the stroke modeling surgery remains unknown due to the lack of appropriate anesthesia-free stroke model and intraoperative imaging technology. In the present study, we utilized our recently developed photothrombotic model of focal cerebral ischemia in conscious and freely moving rats, and investigated transient hemodynamic changes with or without isoflurane administration.

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Targeted Sunitinib-Loaded Polymer Microbubbles Against Proliferation of Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Objectives: The poor safety profile of sunitinib capsules has encouraged the identification of targeted drug delivery systems against renal cell carcinoma. This study aimed to explore the effect of sunitinib-loaded microbubbles along with ultrasound (US) treatment on proliferation and apoptosis of human GRC-1 granulocyte renal carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo (xenograft tumor growth in nude mice).

Methods: Liposomes containing sunitinib were prepared by using the transmembrane ammonium sulfate gradient method and then absorbed into polymer microbubbles to generate sunitinib-loaded microbubbles.

[Digital surgical technology in reconstruction of orbital frame].

Objective: To evaluate the application of digital surgical technology in reconstruction of orbital frame and assess the treatment outcomes.

Methods: Seven patients with post-traumatic orbital defect were included in this study. Images of the orbit were obtained for each individual through computed tomography (CT).

Use of an internal bidirectional distractor to elongate goats' mandibles.

We investigated the feasibility of using an internal bidirectional mandibular distractor to elongate the mandibular bodies and rami of 4 mature male goats. An osteotomy was made at the right mandibular angle and the distractor placed within the osteotomy and allowed to heal in place for 5 days. The mandibles were simultaneously distracted vertically and horizontally at a rate of 0.

Accurate reconstruction of discontinuous mandible using a reverse engineering/computer-aided design/rapid prototyping technique: a preliminary clinical study.

Purpose: To improve the reconstructive surgical outcome of a discontinuous mandibular defect, we used reverse engineering (RE), computer-aided design (CAD), and rapid prototyping (RP) technique to fabricate customized mandibular trays to precisely restore the mandibular defects. Autogenous bone grafting was also used to restore the bony continuity for occlusion rehabilitation.

Patients And Methods: Six patients who had undergone block resection of the mandible underwent reconstruction using a custom titanium tray combining autogenous iliac grafts.

[Early surgical management of fronto-orbital retrusion in craniosynostosis].

Objective: To discuss the early surgical treatment of fronto-orbital retrusion in craniosynostosis.

Methods: Operative techniques including "C" fronto-orbital osteotomies and advancement, frontal radially oriented osteotomies and remoulding were performed to correct the fronto-orbital retrusion. Ten patients aged from 6-9 months were included.