Altered Resting-State Electroencephalogram Microstate Characteristics in Stroke Patients.

Background: Stroke remains a leading cause of disability globally and movement impairment is the most common complication in stroke patients. Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) microstate analysis is a non-invasive approach of whole-brain imaging based on the spatiotemporal pattern of the entire cerebral cortex. The present study aims to investigate microstate alterations in stroke patients.

Motor imagery-based brain-computer interface rehabilitation programs enhance upper extremity performance and cortical activation in stroke patients.

Background: The most challenging aspect of rehabilitation is the repurposing of residual functional plasticity in stroke patients. To achieve this, numerous plasticity-based clinical rehabilitation programs have been developed. This study aimed to investigate the effects of motor imagery (MI)-based brain-computer interface (BCI) rehabilitation programs on upper extremity hand function in patients with chronic hemiplegia.

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) activates p38 to affect pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective: We aimed to examine whether heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) affects the lung fibrosis process through the activation of p38 protein in mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway, as well as the expression of downstream inflammatory factors.

Methods: The expression levels of HB-EGF, collagen type I (COL-I), and hexokinase 2 (HK2) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) were examined by qPCR, Western blotting and ELISA.

Results: In vitro experiments showed that HB-EGF was increased in almost all subtypes [rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc) and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs)] as well as in all groups (P < 0.

Ketogenic diet-produced β-hydroxybutyric acid accumulates brain GABA and increases GABA/glutamate ratio to inhibit epilepsy.

Ketogenic diet (KD) alleviates refractory epilepsy and reduces seizures in children. However, the metabolic/cell biologic mechanisms by which the KD exerts its antiepileptic efficacy remain elusive. Herein, we report that KD-produced β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB) augments brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the GABA/glutamate ratio to inhibit epilepsy.

Evidence of neuroplasticity with brain-computer interface in a randomized trial for post-stroke rehabilitation: a graph-theoretic study of subnetwork analysis.

Background: Brain-computer interface (BCI) has been widely used for functional recovery after stroke. Understanding the brain mechanisms following BCI intervention to optimize BCI strategies is crucial for the benefit of stroke patients.

Methods: Forty-six patients with upper limb motor dysfunction after stroke were recruited and randomly divided into the control group or the BCI group.

Cerebral F-fluorodeoxyglucose metabolism alteration of reward- and motivation-related regions in groups of different BMI classifications.

Objective: This study explored the relationship between BMI and regional cerebral glucose metabolism and explicitly detected regions with significant differences in cerebral metabolism using positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging in the resting state.

Methods: Corresponding PET images acquired from 220 participants were sorted into four groups according to Asian BMI standards: underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis was performed to assess the association between BMI and standard uptake value.

Brain Function and Upper Limb Deficit in Stroke With Motor Execution and Imagery: A Cross-Sectional Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Background: Motor imagery training might be helpful in stroke rehabilitation. This study explored if a specific modulation of movement-related regions is related to motor imagery (MI) ability.

Methods: Twenty-three patients with subcortical stroke and 21 age-matched controls were recruited.

Dysfunction in the Interaction of Information Between and Within the Bilateral Primary Sensory Cortex.

Background: Interhemispheric and intrahemispheric long-range synchronization and information communication are crucial features of functional integration between the bilateral hemispheres. Previous studies have demonstrated that disrupted functional connectivity (FC) exists in the bilateral hemispheres of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), but they did not clearly clarify the phenomenon of central dysfunctional connectivity. This study aimed to further investigate the potential mechanism of the weakened connectivity of primary somatosensory cortex (S1) based on a precise template.

Cerebral Metabolic Analysis of Patients With Colorectal Cancer and Chronic Enteritis: Inquiry Into Gut-Brain Crosstalk.

Gut-brain crosstalk has been demonstrated previously. However, brain metabolic patterns of colorectal cancer and chronic enteritis remain unclear. A better understanding of gut-brain crosstalk from a radiological perspective is necessary.

Electroacupuncture treatment improves motor function and neurological outcomes after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been widely used for functional restoration after stroke. However, its role in post-stroke rehabilitation and the associated regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we applied EA to the Zusanli (ST36) and Quchi (LI11) acupoints in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion.

Effective connectivity decreases in specific brain networks with postparalysis facial synkinesis: a dynamic causal modeling study.

Currently, the treatments for postparalysis facial synkinesis are still inadequate. However, neuroimaging mechanistic studies are very limited and blurred. Instead of mapping activation regions, we were devoted to characterizing the organizational features of brain regions to develop new targets for therapeutic intervention.

Structural white matter alterations in carpal tunnel syndrome: A modified TBSS study.

Functional and structural brain alterations have been noted in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), the most common entrapment peripheral neuropathy. Previous studies were mainly focused on somatosensory cortices. However, the changes of white matter diffusion properties in nonsensorimotor cortices remain uninvestigated.

Tracking whole-brain connectivity dynamics in the resting-state fMRI with post-facial paralysis synkinesis.

Background: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) is widely applied to explore abnormal functional connectivity (FC) in patients with post-facial paralysis synkinesis (PFPS). However, most studies considered steady spatial-temporal signal interactions between distinct brain regions during the period of scanning.

Objective: In this study, we aim to investigate abnormal dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) in PFPS patients.

Abnormal Brain Connectivity in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Assessed by Graph Theory.

Introduction: Numerous resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) researches have indicated that large-scale functional and structural remodeling occurs in the whole brain despite an intact sensorimotor network after carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Investigators aimed to explore alterations of the global and nodal properties that occur in the whole brain network of patients with CTS based on topographic theory.

Methods: Standard-compliant fMRI data were collected from 27 patients with CTS in bilateral hands and 19 healthy control subjects in this cross-sectional study.

Alteration of spatial patterns at the network-level in facial synkinesis: an independent component and connectome analysis.

Background: The treatment of post-facial palsy synkinesis (PFPS) remains inadequate. Previous studies have confirmed that brain plasticity is involved in the process of functional restoration. Isolated activation has been well studied, however, the brain works as an integrity of several isolated regions.

Iguratimod inhibits osteoclastogenesis by modulating the RANKL and TNF-α signaling pathways.

Background: Iguratimod, a small molecular drug, has been proven to have effective bone protection for treatment of patients with bone loss-related diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the exact bone protective mechanism of iguratimod remains to be determined. The purpose of this study was to better explore the underlying mechanism of bone protection of iguratimod.

Brain plasticity after peripheral nerve injury treatment with massage therapy based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Massage therapy is an alternative treatment for chronic pain that is potentially related to brain plasticity. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We established a peripheral nerve injury model in rats by unilateral sciatic nerve transection and direct anastomosis.

Intra and inter: Alterations in functional brain resting-state networks after peripheral nerve injury.

Introduction: Numerous treatments suggest that brain plasticity changes after peripheral nerve injury (PNI), and most studies examining functional magnetic resonance imaging focused on abnormal changes in specific brain regions. However, it is the large-scale interaction of neuronal networks instead of isolated brain regions contributed to the functional recovery after PNI. In the present study, we examined the intra- and internetworks alterations between the related functional resting-state networks (RSNs) in a sciatic nerve injury rat model.

Acupuncture Induces Reduction in Limbic-Cortical Feedback of a Neuralgia Rat Model: A Dynamic Causal Modeling Study.

Background: Neuropathic pain after brachial plexus avulsion remained prevalent and intractable currently. However, the neuroimaging study about neural mechanisms or etiology was limited and blurred.

Objective: This study is aimed at investigating the effect of electroacupuncture on effective connectivity and neural response in corticolimbic circuitries during implicit processing of nociceptive stimulus in rats with brachial plexus pain.

The Localization Research of Brain Plasticity Changes after Brachial Plexus Pain: Sensory Regions or Cognitive Regions?

Objective: Neuropathic pain after brachial plexus injury remains an increasingly prevalent and intractable disease due to inadequacy of satisfactory treatment strategies. A detailed mapping of cortical regions concerning the brain plasticity was the first step of therapeutic intervention. However, the specific mapping research of brachial plexus pain was limited.

Expression and clinical significance of the NEK7-NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the expression of the NEK7-NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), as well as its clinical significance.

Methods: A total of 38 SLE patients and 33 healthy volunteers were recruited. Real time PCR and western blotting were performed to determine mRNA and protein levels of , NLRP3 inflammasome components (, , and ), and downstream cytokines ( and ) in PBMCs from the two groups.

Dual synchronization of fractional-order chaotic systems via a linear controller.

The problem of the dual synchronization of two different fractional-order chaotic systems is studied. By a linear controller, we realize the dual synchronization of fractional-order chaotic systems. Finally, the proposed method is applied for dual synchronization of Van der Pol-Willis systems and Van der Pol-Duffing systems.