A comprehensive survey on deep learning techniques in CT image quality improvement.

High-quality computed tomography (CT) images are key to clinical diagnosis. However, the current quality of an image is limited by reconstruction algorithms and other factors and still needs to be improved. When using CT, a large quantity of imaging data, including intermediate data and final images, that can reflect important physical processes in a statistical sense are accumulated.

Abnormal Intrinsic Brain Activity and Neuroimaging-Based fMRI Classification in Patients With Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia.

Neuroimaging studies on neuropathic pain have discovered abnormalities in brain structure and function. However, the brain pattern changes from herpes zoster (HZ) to postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) remain unclear. The present study aimed to compare the brain activity between HZ and PHN patients and explore the potential neural mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment in neuropathic pain patients.

[Brain functional network reconstruction based on compressed sensing and fast iterative shrinkage-thresholding algorithm].

The construction of brain functional network based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is an effective method to reveal the mechanism of human brain operation, but the common brain functional network generally contains a lot of noise, which leads to wrong analysis results. In this paper, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) model in compressed sensing is used to reconstruct the brain functional network. This model uses the sparsity of -norm penalty term to avoid over fitting problem.

EEG Beta-Band Spectral Entropy Can Predict the Effect of Drug Treatment on Pain in Patients With Herpes Zoster.

Background: Medication is the main approach for early treatment of herpes zoster, but it could be ineffective in some patients. It is highly desired to predict the medication responses to control the degree of pain for herpes zoster patients. The present study is aimed to elucidate the relationship between medication outcome and neural activity using EEG and to establish a machine learning model for early prediction of the medication responses from EEG.

Early Treatment with Temporary Spinal Cord Stimulation Effectively Prevents Development of Postherpetic Neuralgia.

Background: Some 7.7% of the Chinese population suffer from herpes zoster each year, with 29.8% proceeding on to develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

A Randomized Comparative Study of Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment With or Without Selective Nerve Root Block for Chronic Cervical Radicular Pain.

Background: We demonstrated a combination of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) and cervical nerve root block (CNRB) via a posterior approach was superior to a transforaminal epidural steroid injection through the anterolateral approach for cervical radicular pain in a previous study. This randomized trial was conducted to determine the comparative efficacy between CNRB, PRF, and CNRB + PRF for cervical radicular pain.

Methods: A prospective and randomized design was used in this study.

Changes of gamma-band oscillatory activity to tonic muscle pain.

It is well know that phasic pain could induce suppression of alpha oscillations and enhancement of gamma oscillations. However, the cortical responses to tonic pain, especially tonic pain originating from deep tissue, which was proposed to better resemble the clinical pain, are not well understood. Here we aimed to investigate electroencephalographic (EEG) responses to tonic muscle pain.

A posterior approach to cervical nerve root block and pulsed radiofrequency treatment for cervical radicular pain: a retrospective study.

Background: Catastrophic complications have been reported for selective cervical nerve root block (SCNRB) or pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) via an anterolateral transforaminal approach. A posterior approach to these procedures under computed tomography guidance has been reported. Here, we report the clinical outcomes of 42 patients with chronic cervical radicular pain (CCRP) treated with a combination of SCNRB and PRF through a posterior approach under fluoroscopy guidance.

Combining Botulinum Toxin (A) Injection With Peripheral Nerve Stimulation in a Patient for Intractable Ophthalmic Postherpetic Neuralgia.

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a particularly challenging neuropathic pain condition, especially when it involves the trigeminal nerve. Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) can provide 50-70% improvement in pain to many who fail medical management. However, this pain relief can be incomplete, and residual pain may persist for many years.