Aberrant functional connectome gradient and its neurotransmitter basis in Parkinson's disease.

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibit heterogenous clinical deficits not only in motor function, other deficits in both sensory and higher-order cognitive processing are also involved. Connectome studies have suggested a primary-to-transmodal gradient and a primary-to-primary gradient in functional brain networks, supporting the spectrum from sensation to cognition. However, whether these gradients are altered in PD patients and how these alterations associate with neurotransmitter profiles remain unknown.

Exploring the application of machine learning to identify the correlations between phthalate esters and disease: enhancing nursing assessments.

Background: Health risks associated with phthalate esters depend on exposure level, individual sensitivities, and other contributing factors.

Purpose: This study employed artificial intelligence algorithms while applying data mining techniques to identify correlations between phthalate esters [di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, DEHP], lifestyle factors, and disease outcomes.

Methods: We conducted exploratory analysis using demographic and laboratory data collected from the Taiwan Biobank.

The surface oxidation effect on photocurrent in WSeTe nanosheets.

Surface oxidation effect on photocurrent responsibility was detected in WSeTe nanosheets, and the photocurrent response depends on the light wavelength. It is enhanced at the wavelength of 405 nm, while showing no change at the wavelength of 532 nm and suppressed at the wavelength of 808 nm. The incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) is expected to increase at 405 nm wavelength, remain unchanged at 532 nm wavelength, and decrease at 808 nm wavelength.

Wider and faster degeneration of white matter in Parkinson's disease with possible REM sleep behaviour disorder.

Background: In Parkinson's disease (PD), rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) signifies a poorer prognosis, yet its impact on white matter (WM) degeneration remains unclear. The study examined the effect of RBD on WM alterations in PD progression.

Methods: The study included 45 PD patients with possible RBD (PD-pRBD), 38 PD patients without possible RBD (PD-npRBD), and 79 healthy controls (HC).

Unsupervised definition of two clinical subtypes of Essential tremor and the underlying brain topology.

Background: Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most prevalent neurological diseases varying considerably in clinical manifestations and prognosis, which indicates the existence of subtypes. Identifying ET subtypes is crucial for explaining clinical heterogeneity. This study aimed to identify ET subtypes using unsupervised clustering analysis based on clinical manifestations and explore underlying brain topology within both functional and structural networks.

Spatiotemporal neurodegeneration of the substantia nigra and its connecting cortex and subcortex in Parkinson's disease.

Background And Purpose: Neurodegeneration is uneven in Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aimed to investigate spatiotemporal neurodegeneration in functional subregions of the substantia nigra (SN) and their connected cortex and subcortex in people with PD.

Methods: A total of 120 patients with early-stage PD, 45 patients with advanced PD, and 120 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled.

Glymphatic system dysfunction and risk of clinical milestones in patients with Parkinson disease.

Background And Purpose: Glymphatic dysfunction may play a significant role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. We aimed to evaluate the association between glymphatic dysfunction and the risk of malignant event/clinical milestones in Parkinson disease (PD).

Methods: This study included 236 patients from August 2014 to December 2020.

Therapeutic Effect of Lecigel, CetiolCC, Activonol-6, Activonol-M, 1,3-Propanediol, Soline, and Fucocert (LCAA-PSF) Treatment on Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-like Skin in Mice.

The individual ingredients of 1,3-Propanediol, Soline, and Fucocert (PSF) are often used as cosmetic formulations in skin care. In addition, the mixture of Lecigel, CetiolCC, Activonol-6, and Activonol-M (LCAA) is often used as a cosmetic base. However, whether the combination of LCAA with PSF (LCAA-PSF) exerts a therapeutic effect on psoriasis remains unclear.

Evaluating stress and displacement in the craniomandibular complex using Twin Block appliances at varied angles: A finite element study.

Objectives: The objective of this investigation was to assess the stress and displacement pattern of the craniomandibular complex by employing finite element methodology to simulate diverse angulations of inclined planes that are incorporated in the Twin Block appliance.

Methods: A 3D finite element representation was established by use of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans. This comprehensive structure included craniofacial skeletal components, the articular disc, a posterior disc elastic layer, dental elements, periodontal ligaments, and a Twin Block appliance.

Assessing the Role of Locus Coeruleus Degeneration in Essential Tremor and Parkinson's Disease with Sleep Disorders.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of the locus coeruleus (LC) in sleep-wake regulation. Both essential tremor (ET) and Parkinson's disease (PD) share common sleep disorders, such as poor quality of sleep (QoS). LC pathology is a feature of both diseases.

Differential influences of rest tremor on brain fiber architecture in essential tremor and Parkinson's disease.

Background: Rest tremor is a movement disorder commonly found in diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET). Rest tremor typically shows slower progression in PD, but more severe progression in ET. However, the underlying white matter organization of rest tremor behind PD and ET remains unclear.

Microstructural alterations of the hypothalamus in Parkinson's disease and probable REM sleep behavior disorder.

Background: Whether there is hypothalamic degeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD) and its association with clinical symptoms and pathophysiological changes remains controversial.

Objectives: We aimed to quantify microstructural changes in hypothalamus using a novel deep learning-based tool in patients with PD and those with probable rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder (pRBD). We further assessed whether these microstructural changes associated with clinical symptoms and free thyroxine (FT4) levels.

Neurovascular coupling alteration in drug-naïve Parkinson's disease: The underlying molecular mechanisms and levodopa's restoration effects.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) patients exhibit an imbalance between neuronal activity and perfusion, referred to as abnormal neurovascular coupling (NVC). Nevertheless, the underlying molecular mechanism and how levodopa, the standard treatment in PD, regulates NVC is largely unknown.

Material And Methods: A total of 52 drug-naïve PD patients and 49 normal controls (NCs) were enrolled.

The accuracy and reliability of different midsagittal planes in the symmetry assessment using cone-beam computed tomography.

Symmetry is an essential component of esthetic assessment. Accurate assessment of facial symmetry is critical to the treatment plan of orthognathic surgery and orthodontic treatment. However, there is no internationally accepted midsagittal plane (MSP) for orthodontists and orthognathic surgeons.

Comparison of Taiwanese and European Calibration Factors for Heart-to-Mediastinum Ratio in Multicenter I-mIBG Phantom Studies.

: Cross-calibration of I-labeled -iodobenzylguanidine (IBG) myocardial-derived indices is essential to extrapolate findings from several clinical centers. Here, we conducted a phantom study to generate conversion coefficients for the calibration of heart-to-mediastinum ratios and compare them between Taiwan and Europe. : We used an acrylic phantom dedicated to I-IBG planar imaging to calculate the conversion coefficients of 136 phantom images derived from 36 Taiwanese institutions.

The effect of dopamine replacement therapy on cortical structure in Parkinson's disease.

Aims: To explore the cortical structural reorganization in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients under chronic dopamine replacement therapy (DRT) in cross-sectional and longitudinal data and determine whether these changes were associated with clinical alterations.

Methods: A total of 61 DRT-treated, 60 untreated PD patients, and 61 normal controls (NC) were retrospectively included. Structural MRI scans and neuropsychological tests were conducted.

Cholinergic basal forebrain system degeneration underlies postural instability/gait difficulty and attention impairment in Parkinson's disease.

Background And Purpose: The specific pathophysiological mechanisms underlying postural instability/gait difficulty (PIGD) and cognitive function in Parkinson's disease (PD) remain unclear. Both postural and gait control, as well as cognitive function, are associated with the cholinergic basal forebrain (cBF) system.

Methods: A total of 84 PD patients and 82 normal controls were enrolled.

Stress distribution of the modified clear twin-block aligner on the temporomandibular joint, alveolar bone and teeth: A finite element analysis.

Objective: The modified clear twin-block aligner (CTBA) was developed to provide a mandibular advancement appliance for the treatment of mandibular retrognathia. The objective of this study was to analyse the stress distribution changes of CTBA with 45°, 60° and 70° bite blocks.

Material And Methods: A three-dimensional model of the craniomaxillofacial bones and teeth was generated from a spiral computed tomography (CT) scan.

Machine learning-based speech recognition system for nursing documentation - A pilot study.

Purpose: Considering the significant workload of nursing tasks, enhancing the efficiency of nursing documentation is imperative. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a machine learning-based speech recognition (SR) system in reducing the clinical workload associated with typing nursing records, implemented in a psychiatry ward.

Methods: The study was conducted between July 15, 2020, and June 30, 2021, at Cheng Hsin General Hospital in Taiwan.

Predictability of inter-regional cerebral perfusion similarity on dopamine responsiveness and the moderation role of cognition in PD patients.

Background: Large heterogeneity can be found in dopamine responsiveness of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Instantly and objectively understanding dopamine responsiveness of patients may help clinical practice.

Purpose: This PD study explored the predictability of off-state inter-regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) perfusion similarity on patient's dopamine responsiveness and tested whether the predictive power could be moderated by patient's cognitive status.