Objective: Functional connectivity density (FCD) mapping was used to investigate abnormalities and factors related to brain functional connectivity in cortical regions of patients with dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) and to analyze the pathogenesis of DON further.
Methods: Patients diagnosed with thyroid-associated opthalmology (TAO) in the Eye Hospital were enrolled. All patients underwent comprehensive eye examinations and best-corrected visual acuity, visual field (VF) test. MRI data collection and analysis were completed in the 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the DON group, with an average VF, mean deviation (MD) of both eyes < -5 dB, and the non-DON group (nDON group), with an average VF MD of both eyes ≥ -2 dB.
Results: A total of 30 TAO patients (14 men, 16 women) with complete data who met the experimental requirements were enrolled. The average age was 48.79 (40-57) years. There were 16 patients in the DON group and 14 patients in the nDON group. No significant differences in age, gender, education level, and the maximum horizontal diameter of either medial rectus muscle were found between the 2 groups. The difference of brain FCD between the 2 groups showed significant abnormal connectivity in the right orbital gyri of the frontal lobe (Frontal_Inf_Orb_R) and the left precuneus in the DON group compared with the nDON group. As demonstrated by decreased FCD values in the right inferior frontal gyrus/orbital part, the relevant brain regions were the left middle temporal gyrus, left precuneus, left middle frontal gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, and brain gyri (excluding the supramarginal gyrus and angular gyrus) below the left parietal bone. The FCD associated with the left precuneus was increased, and the relevant brain areas were the left middle temporal gyrus, right cuneus, superior occipital gyrus, and right fusiform gyrus. A significant correlation was identified between the MD of the binocular VF and brain FCD.
Conclusion: The abnormal FCD in the cortex of DON patients suggests that a central nervous system mechanism may be related to the pathogenesis of the DON.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000512755 | DOI Listing |
Protein Sci
February 2025
Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, BOKU University, Vienna, Austria.
Prokaryotic heme biosynthesis in Gram-positive bacteria follows the coproporphyrin-dependent heme biosynthesis pathway. The last step in this pathway is catalyzed by the enzyme coproheme decarboxylase, which oxidatively transforms two propionate groups into vinyl groups yielding heme b. The catalytic reaction cycle of coproheme decarboxylases exhibits four different states: the apo-form, the substrate (coproheme)-bound form, a transient three-propionate intermediate form (monovinyl, monopropionate deuteroheme; MMD), and the product (heme b)-bound form.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Med
January 2025
Sleep Medicine Center, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, NO.28 Qiaozhong Mid Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510160, China.
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BMC Microbiol
January 2025
Engineering Research Center of Health Emergency, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, 210009, China.
Background: Wastewater systems are usually considered antibiotic resistance hubs connecting human society and the natural environment. Antibiotic usage can increase the abundance of both ARGs (antibiotic resistance genes) and MGEs (mobile gene elements). Understanding the transcriptomic profiles of ARGs and MGEs remains a major research goal.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHandb Clin Neurol
January 2025
Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Sleep Medicine Centre, Neurology Unit, University Hospital of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) significantly affects the sleep-wake circadian rhythm through intermittent hypoxia and chronic sleep fragmentation. OSAS patients often experience excessive daytime sleepiness, frequent awakenings, and sleep fragmentation, leading to a disrupted circadian rhythm and altered sleep-wake cycle. These disruptions may exacerbate OSAS symptoms and contribute to neurodegenerative processes, particularly through the modulation of clock gene expression such as CLOCK, BMAL1, and PER.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Affect Disord
January 2025
Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. Electronic address:
Dysfunctional parenting (DP) is a factor of vulnerability and a predictive risk factor for psychopathology. Although previous research has shown specific functional and structural brain alterations, the neural basis of DP remains understudied. We therefore investigated EEG functional connectivity changes within the Salience Network before and after the exposure to attachment-related stimuli in individuals with high and low perceived DP.
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