The effect of Astragaloside IV on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats: Involvement of inflammation.

The present study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats. The animals were divided into 7 groups and pretreated with vehicle, various doses of AS-IV (1,2 and 4mg/kg, i.p.

Enhanced Autophagy Contributes to Protective Effects of GM1 Ganglioside Against Aβ1-42-Induced Neurotoxicity and Cognitive Deficits.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. The aggregation of Aβ peptides, Aβ1-42 in particular, is thought to be a fundamental pathogenic mechanism leading to the neuronal damage in AD. Recently, monosialoganglioside GM1 is reported to possess pivotal neuroprotection in neurodegenerative diseases.

Staging of cervical cancer based on tumor heterogeneity characterized by texture features on (18)F-FDG PET images.

The aim of the study is to assess the staging value of the tumor heterogeneity characterized by texture features and other commonly used semi-quantitative indices extracted from (18)F-FDG PET images of cervical cancer (CC) patients. Forty-two patients suffering CC at different stages were enrolled in this study. Firstly, we proposed a new tumor segmentation method by combining the intensity and gradient field information in a level set framework.

A Segmentation Algorithm for Quantitative Analysis of Heterogeneous Tumors of the Cervix With ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT.

As positron-emission tomography (PET) images have low spatial resolution and much noise, accurate image segmentation is one of the most challenging issues in tumor quantification. Tumors of the uterine cervix present a particular challenge because of urine activity in the adjacent bladder. Here, we propose and validate an automatic segmentation method adapted to cervical tumors.

A longitudinal study of hand motor recovery after sub-acute stroke: a study combined FMRI with diffusion tensor imaging.

Previous studies have shown that motor recovery of stroke can be assessed by the cortical activity and the structural integrity of the corticospinal tract (CST), but little is known about the relation between the cortical activity and the structural integrity during motor recovery. In the present study, we investigated the changes in brain activities evoked by twenty days' functional electrical stimulation (FES) training in twelve sub-acute stroke patients with unilateral upper-limb disability. We compared cortex activity evoked by wrist movement of eleven stroke patients to that of eleven age-matched healthy subjects to figure out how cortex activity changed after stroke.

Altered hub configurations within default mode network following acupuncture at ST36: a multimodal investigation combining fMRI and MEG.

Acupuncture, an externally somatosensory stimulation in the Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been proposed about its modulations on the brain's default mode network (DMN). However, it is still unknown on how the internal brain resting networks are modulated and what inferences can be made about the physiological processes underlying these changes. Combining high spatial resolution of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with high temporal resolution of magnetoencephalography (MEG), in the current multimodal study, we sought to explore spatiotemporally whether or not band-specific DMN hub configurations would be induced by verum acupuncture, compared with sham control.

Exploring the effective connectivity of resting state networks in mild cognitive impairment: an fMRI study combining ICA and multivariate Granger causality analysis.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was recognized as the prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent neuroimaging studies have shown that the cognitive and memory decline in AD and MCI patients is coupled with abnormal functions of focal brain regions and disrupted functional connectivity between distinct brain regions, as well as losses of small-world attributes. However, the causal interactions among the spatially isolated but function-related resting state networks (RSNs) are still largely unexplored in MCI patients.

Acupuncture induces divergent alterations of functional connectivity within conventional frequency bands: evidence from MEG recordings.

As an ancient Chinese healing modality which has gained increasing popularity in modern society, acupuncture involves stimulation with fine needles inserted into acupoints. Both traditional literature and clinical data indicated that modulation effects largely depend on specific designated acupoints. However, scientific representations of acupoint specificity remain controversial.

Altered topological patterns of brain networks in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: a resting-state fMRI study.

Recent studies have shown that cognitive and memory decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is coupled with losses of small-world attributes. However, few studies have investigated the characteristics of the whole brain networks in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we investigated the topological properties of the whole brain networks in 18 AD patients, 16 MCI patients, and 18 age-matched healthy subjects.

Investigation of the effective connectivity of resting state networks in Alzheimer's disease: a functional MRI study combining independent components analysis and multivariate Granger causality analysis.

Recent neuroimaging studies have shown that the cognitive and memory decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is coupled with abnormal functions of focal brain regions and disrupted functional connectivity between distinct brain regions, as well as losses in small-world attributes. However, the causal interactions among the spatially isolated, but functionally related, resting state networks (RSNs) are still largely unexplored. In this study, we first identified eight RSNs by independent components analysis from resting state functional MRI data of 18 patients with AD and 18 age-matched healthy subjects.

Differential neural responses to acupuncture revealed by MEG using wavelet-based time-frequency analysis: a pilot study.

Acupoint specificity, lying at the core of the Traditional Chinese Medicine, still faces many controversies. As previous neuroimaging studies on acupuncture mainly adopted relatively low time-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology and inappropriate block-designed experimental paradigm due to sustained effect, in the current study, we employed a single block-designed paradigm together with high temporal-resolution magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology. We applied time-frequency analysis based upon Morlet wavelet transforming approach to detect differential oscillatory brain dynamics induced by acupuncture at Stomach Meridian 36 (ST36) using a nearby nonacupoint (NAP) as control condition.

Exploring the evolution of post-acupuncture resting-state networks combining ICA and multivariate Granger causality.

The sustained effects of acupuncture have been widely applied to clinical treatment, thus it can be assumed that the relatively functional specificity of acupoints may evolve as the function of time. In this study, we originally combined ICA and multivariate Granger causality analysis to explore the causal interactions within and among the post-acupuncture resting-state networks (RSNs) at a hearing-related acupoint GB40, with the cognition-related acupoint KI3 as a control. Following acupuncture at GB40, the superior temporal gyrus (STG) and anterior insula (AI) within auditory network appeared persistent bidirectional connection with maximal strength, and the interactions between the auditory network and others became more complex as time passed.

Modulatory effects of acupuncture on resting-state networks: a functional MRI study combining independent component analysis and multivariate Granger causality analysis.

Purpose: To investigate acupuncture specificity by exploring causal relationships of brain networks following acupuncture at GB40 (Qiuxu), with the acupoint KI3 (Taixi) as a control (belonging to the same nerve segment but different meridians).

Materials And Methods: Needling at acupoints GB40 and KI3 was performed in 12 subjects separately. The specific coherent patterns, resting-state networks (RSNs), were retrieved by independent component analysis (ICA) from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of resting state and post-acupuncture resting states, respectively.

[Study on complex system of Chinese materia medica GAP fulfilling].

Objective: To provide new model of thinking and management for Chinese Meteria Medica GAP fulfilling.

Method: After analyzing the problems of GAP fulfilling, and considering GAP a complex system, we had some initial discussions about the systematic structure, characteristics and the methods for fulfilling it.

Result: The GAP was a complex system which consisted of biological system, environment system and management system with its own characteristics and methods.