功能性核磁共振成像技术对原发性三叉神经痛患者脑功能的评估价值及血清IL-1β、TNF-α检测的临床意义

目的:研究功能性核磁共振成像(fMRI)技术对原发性三叉神经痛(ITN)患者静息状态下脑功能的评估价值及血清白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)检测的临床意义。方法:选取2017年2月～2019年2月安徽医科大学附属口腔医院接受诊治的ITN患者共50例进行研究,记为ITN组。另选取同期接受体检的健康人员50例记作健康对照组。两组均于静息状态下行fMRI扫描,比较两组脑区的平均低频振幅率(mfALFF)以及血清IL-1β、TNF-α水平。结果:ITN组左侧的枕中回、枕下回、梭状回、距状裂周围皮层、中央旁回、三角部额下回、右侧背外侧额上回以及左小脑脚1区的mfALFF值高于健康对照组(均P0.05)。ITN组右颞上回、右颞中回、右颞下回、右中央沟盖、右缘上回、右岛盖部颞下回、左前扣带回、扣带旁回、左颞极、颞上回脑区的mfALFF值显著低于健康对照组(均P0.05)。ITN组患者的血清IL-1β、TNF-α水平高于健康对照组(均P0.05)。结论:fMRI对ITN患者静息状态下脑功能的评估价值较高,血清IL-1β、TNF-α水平升高可能与ITN的发病密切相关,可发挥促进疾病发生、发展的作用。     

Th17及Th1相关细胞因子与支气管哮喘的关系研究

目的:分析外周血Th17、Th1及相关细胞因子表达水平和支气管哮喘(bronchial asthma,BA)发生、发展的相关性研究。方法:回顾选取我院收治的BA病例57份,称作BA组,另选取呼吸系统正常的病例55例为对照组,检测两组入选者的外周血IL-2、TNF-α、Th17、IL-6、Th1指标表达差异,并进行多因素回归分析。结果:BA组Th17(0.62±1.67)%、Th1(1.45±0.48)%及Th1/Th17(2.33±1.28)均显著低于对照组(P均0.05);BA组TNF-α(27.46±8.12)pg/mL、IL-6(11.69±2.14)pg/mL表达量显著高于对照组,IL-2(2.58±3.89)pg/mL、IFN-γ(3.74±6.15)pg/mL含量均显著低于对照组(P均0.05);经Logistic回归分析,TNF-α、IL-6、IFN-γ、Th1/Th17、IL-2均和BA有密切相关性(P均0.05)。结论:IL-2、IFN-γ、Th1/Th17、TNF-α、IL-6表达水平均与BA有密切关联,可能是参与BA发病的主要原因,及早进行Th17、Th1及相关细胞因子检查有助于明确病情。     

骨化三醇对自身免疫性甲状腺炎大鼠T淋巴细胞亚群的影响

目的:研究骨化三醇对自身免疫性甲状腺炎模型大鼠甲状腺功能、甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体(TPOAb)、甲状腺球蛋白抗体(TGAb)及脾脏T淋巴细胞亚群的影响。方法:20只Lewis大鼠采用高碘饮水联合猪甲状腺球蛋白皮下注射的方法建立自身免疫性甲状腺炎动物模型。造模成功后大鼠随机分为模型组和骨化三醇组。经10周灌胃后,检测各组大鼠甲状腺功能三项、甲状腺抗体,流式细胞技术检测大鼠脾脏T淋巴细胞亚群的比例。结果:(1)与正常组相比,模型组及骨化三醇组大鼠促甲状腺激素(TSH)明显降低,血清游离甲状腺素(FT4)及TPOAb、TGAb明显升高,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.01);与模型组大鼠相比,骨化三醇组大鼠TPOAb、TGAb明显降低(P0.01);(2)与正常组相比,模型组大鼠表现为Th1、Th17细胞比例升高(P0.05),Th1/Th2、Th17/Treg比例升高(P0.05),与模型组相比,骨化三醇组大鼠Th1、Th17细胞比例降低(P0.05),Th2、Treg比例升高(P0.05),Th1/Th2、Th17/Treg比例降低(P0.01)。结论:骨化三醇可通过抑制Th1、Th17免疫亢进,改善Th1/Th2、Th17/Treg失调,改善自身免疫性甲状腺炎免疫反应。     

丹参对非酒精性脂肪肝Th17细胞及相关细胞因子的影响*

目的:研究丹参对非酒精性脂肪肝(NAFLD)大鼠Th17细胞及相关细胞因子的影响,为临床上丹参治疗NAFLD提供实验依据。方法:SPF级别SD大鼠32只,随机分为模型组、空白对照组、葛根对照组、丹参组,每组8只。模型组给予高脂饲料喂养4周以建立NAFLD模型;丹参治疗组及葛根对照组大鼠给予6.25g·kg^-1·d^-1的浓缩液每日1次灌胃;除了空白对照组外,其余各组大鼠均给予高脂饲料喂饲4周。实验完全结束(第4周),各组大鼠禁食12～14 h,禁水2 h后,采血,收集肝脏组织,检测各组大鼠血脂(TC、TG、LDL-C、HDL-C)水平及肝功能(AST、ALT)、肝脏指数,观察肝组织病理学改变。流式细胞仪检测外周血Th17、Treg细胞含量。通过ELISA法检测血清IL-6、IL-17、TNF-α水平;RT-PCR法检测肝脏组织RORγt基因表达。结果:连续4周喂养高脂饮食后,模型组大鼠肝脏发生脂肪变性,有大量炎症细胞浸润。与模型组相比,丹参治疗组、葛根对照组大鼠TC、TG、LDL-C、ALT、AST水平及肝脏指数明显低于模型组(P＜0.05),HDL-C水平明显高于模型组(P＜0.05)成功复制NAFLD大鼠模型。丹参治疗组大鼠外周血Th17细胞含量、IL-6、IL-17水平、大鼠RORγt基因表达量显著低于模型组及葛根对照组(P＜0.05);TNF-α水平低于模型组及葛根对照组;Treg细胞含量高于模型组(P＜0.05)及葛根对照组(P＞ 0.05);Treg/ Th17显著高于模型组及葛根对照组 (P＜0.05)。结论:丹参通过降低血清中IL-6、IL-17、TNF-α水平,抑制RORγt基因表达,降低外周血Th17细胞含量,升高Treg细胞含量,调整Th17/Treg平衡,从而抑制NAFLD发生发展。     

外源性维生素D对小鼠脑缺血/再灌注神经损伤的保护作用*

目的:观察小鼠大脑中动脉闭塞(MCAO)模型制备前5 d 连续补充1,25-二羟维生素D₃(1,25-VitD₃)对缓解小鼠缺血/再灌注(I/R)后脑损伤中的作用。方法:雄性C57BL6小鼠随机分为Sham组、Vehicle组和1,25-VitD₃组,每组10只小鼠;Vehicle组和1,25-VitD₃组小鼠均进行大脑MCAO1 h,再灌注24 h后处死小鼠,1,25-VitD₃组MCAO手术前5 d连续腹腔注射,100 ng/(kg·d);取各组小鼠脑缺血半影区,进行TTC染色、RT-PCR及免疫组化检测,采用神经功能评分评估小鼠功能缺陷。结果:与sham组相比,Vehicle组小鼠脑梗死体积明显增加,小鼠脑组织中促炎介质IL-6、IL-1β和Gp91phox表达均明显增高(P＜0.05);与Vehicle组相比,补充1,25-VitD₃可减少I/R小鼠大约50%梗死体积(P＜0.05), 1,25-VitD₃组小鼠脑组织中IL-6、IL-1β和Gp91phox表达明显降低(P＜0.05),小鼠脑内T调节细胞标志物Foxp3 mRNA表达明显升高(P＜0.05),而转录因子Rorc mRNA表达明显较低(P＜0.05),提示Th17/γδT细胞反应减少,小鼠脑损伤部位中性粒细胞数量明显降低(P＜0.05)。结论:维生素D可以缓解动脉闭塞(MCAO)再灌注脑梗死发展,其机制可能是通过调节小鼠脑I/R中炎症反应。     

Th17细胞的分化、调节及其主要细胞因子和功能

近几年来以分泌白介素17(interleukin 17,IL-17)为特征的辅助性T细胞Th17(T help cell 17,Th17)细胞被认为是有区别于Th1(T help cell 1,Th1)、Th2(T help cell 2,Th2)新型的细胞亚群,它的发现改变了以往人们只将Th细胞分为Th1、Th2的传统分类认识。Th17细胞参与了自身免疫疾病、肿瘤的发生及机体各种炎症的发病机制,其分泌的细胞因子在生物学功能中发挥了极其重要的作用。同时Th17细胞的活化需要各种转化生长因子、IL-6(interleukin 6,IL-6)、IL-23(interleukin 23,IL-23)等细胞因子的参与,活化的Th17细胞同时再进一步的促进各种细胞因子的分泌,以通过分泌IL-17、IL-21(interleukin 21,IL-21)、IL-22(interleukin22,IL-22)、IL-26(interleukin 26,IL-26)、肿瘤坏死因子(tumor necrosis factor,TNF)α等细胞因子导致机体炎症等各种疾病的发生。     

木犀草素调节SIRT3/AMPK/mTOR信号通路对溃疡性结肠炎小鼠Th17/Treg免疫平衡的影响CSCD

探究木犀草素对溃疡性结肠炎(ulcerative colitis,UC)小鼠模型中辅助性T细胞17(Th17)/调节性T细胞(Treg)免疫平衡的影响,并分析其潜在机制。60只BALB/c雄性小鼠随机分为正常组、模型组、阳性对照组、木犀草素组、木犀草素+3-TYP组,每组12只。采用葡聚糖硫酸钠(DSS)诱导建立UC模型,观察并记录小鼠体重变化、大便稠度和大便潜血情况,计算疾病活动指数(DAI);HE染色观察结肠组织病理学变化;流式细胞术检测脾脏Th17、Treg细胞比例,计算Th17/Treg比值;ELISA检测结肠组织中IL-6、IL-10、IL-17和IL-23含量;RT-qPCR检测结肠组织RORγt和Foxp3的mRNA表达;Western blot检测结肠组织SIRT3、AMPK、p-AMPK、mTOR、p-mTOR蛋白表达。与正常组相比,模型组小鼠DAI评分、组织病理学评分、脾脏Th17/Treg比值、结肠组织IL-6、IL-17、IL-23、RORγt mRNA水平和p-mTOR/mTOR比值升高,IL-10、Foxp3 mRNA和SIRT3蛋白水平以及p-AMPK/AMPK比值降低(P<0.05)。经药物干预后,小鼠DAI评分、组织病理学评分、脾脏Th17/Treg比值、结肠组织IL-6、IL-17、IL-23、RORγt mRNA水平和p-mTOR/mTOR比值降低,IL-10、Foxp3 mRNA和SIRT3蛋白水平以及p-AMPK/AMPK比值升高(P<0.05);3-TYP可减弱木犀草素对UC小鼠Th17/Treg细胞分化平衡的影响(P<0.05)。木犀草素可改善DSS诱导的UC小鼠模型中Th17/Treg失衡,其机制可能与激活SIRT3/AMPK/mTOR通路有关。     

幽门螺杆菌感染与儿童哮喘发病的关系及对免疫功能的影响

目的:探讨幽门螺杆菌(Hp)感染与儿童哮喘发病的关系以及对免疫功能的影响。方法:随机选取2013年1月~2016年4月我院收治的哮喘儿童95例,定义为哮喘组,同时选择来我院做儿保的健康儿童100例定义为对照组,测定两组患儿Hp感染情况;采集哮喘组儿童的静脉血,对比Hp阳性哮喘患儿与Hp阴性哮喘患儿外周血T淋巴细胞亚群辅助性T细胞1(Th1)、辅助性T细胞2(Th2)、Th1/Th2、辅助性T细胞17(Th17)、调节性T细胞(Treg)、Th17/Treg分布情况和血清细胞因子白细胞介素1-β(IL1-β)、白细胞介素-2(IL-2)、γ干扰素(IFN-γ)、白细胞介素-4(IL-4)、白细胞介素5(IL-5)、白细胞介素-17(IL-17)、白细胞介素-25(IL-25)含量。结果:哮喘组儿童Hp阳性率为36.84%,显著高于对照组的16.00%(P0.05);哮喘组发作期儿童Hp阳性率为54.10%,显著高于哮喘组缓解期儿童的5.88%(P0.05);Hp阳性哮喘患儿的Th1细胞、Th1/Th2比例显著低于Hp阴性哮喘患儿(P0.05),Th2细胞、Th17细胞、Th17/Treg比例均显著高于Hp阴性哮喘患儿(P0.05);Hp阳性哮喘患儿IL1-β、IL-4、IL-5、IL-17、IL-25含量显著高于Hp阴性哮喘患儿(P0.05),IL-2、IFN-γ含量显著低于Hp阴性哮喘患儿(P0.05)。结论:哮喘儿童Hp感染率高于健康儿童,随着病情的进展,Hp阳性率升高,Hp感染能够显著造成患儿免疫系统功能紊乱,导致哮喘发生或加重,临床应给予重视。     

肺炎支原体肺炎伴喘息儿童血清25(OH)D_3、Th17/Treg表达水平与肺功能的关系

目的:探讨肺炎支原体肺炎伴喘息儿童血清25羟基维生素D3[25(OH)D_3]、辅助性17细胞/调节性T细胞(Th17/Treg)表达水平与肺功能的关系。方法:将新疆医科大学第五附属医院收治的肺炎支原体肺炎伴喘息患儿26例作为肺炎伴喘息组,肺炎支原体肺炎不伴有喘息患儿54例作为肺炎不伴喘息组,另选取健康儿童30例作为对照组,比较各组血清25(OH)D_3、白细胞介素(IL)-10、IL-17、Th17细胞及Treg细胞占CD4+T细胞比例及肺功能,并分析其相关性。结果:肺炎伴喘息组血清25(OH)D_3、IL-10、Treg细胞占CD4+T细胞比例低于肺炎不伴喘息组、对照组,Th17细胞占CD4+T细胞比例、Th17/Treg、IL-17高于肺炎不伴喘息组、对照组(P0.05)。各组第一秒最大呼气量占用力肺活量百分比(FEV1/FVC)比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),肺炎伴喘息组FEV1占预计值百分比(FEV1%pred)、峰值呼气流量(PEF)低于肺炎不伴喘息组、对照组(P0.05),肺炎不伴喘息组与对照组FEV1%pred、PEF比较无统计学意义(P0.05)。肺炎伴喘息组患儿血清25 (OH)D_3与Th17/Treg、IL-17呈负相关(P0.05),与IL-10、FEV1%pred、PEF呈正相关(P0.05),血清Th17/Treg与IL-10、FEV1%pred、PEF呈负相关(P0.05),与IL-17呈正相关(P0.05)。结论:肺炎支原体肺炎伴喘息儿童血清25(OH)D_3、Th17/Treg表达水平异常,肺功能下降,且25(OH)D_3、Th17/Treg表达水平与肺功能相关。     

乳杆菌肽聚糖对β-乳球蛋白致敏小鼠脾细胞Th1/Th2及Treg/Th17失衡的体外影响

【目的】观察嗜酸乳杆菌完整肽聚糖(Whole peptidoglycan,WPG)对致敏脾淋巴细胞Th1/Th2及Treg/Th17平衡的体外调节作用。【方法】通过腹腔注射β-乳球蛋白(β-Lg)建立BALB/c小鼠牛乳过敏模型。造模成功后,分离致敏小鼠的脾淋巴细胞并分别与不同剂量的WPG共同孵育,酶联免疫法检测细胞上清液中抗体(总IgE和特异性IgE),Th1/Th2及Treg/Th17相关细胞因子(IFN-γ,IL-4,TGF-β,IL-17)水平,流式细胞术检测脾淋巴细胞中CD3+、CD4+和CD8+的百分含量,荧光定量PCR法检测过敏小鼠脾细胞中Th1/Th2及Treg/Th17相关转录因子T-bet、GATA-3、Foxp3和RORγt mRNA的表达量。【结果】WPG体外刺激致敏脾细胞后可显著抑制IgE的产生,上调CD3+、CD4+细胞数及CD4+/CD8+比值,下调Th2型因子(IL-4,GATA-3mRNA)和Th17型因子(IL-17,RORγt mRNA)的表达,且与过敏组相比,中、高剂量WPG的作用效果显著(P0.05);另外,WPG体外作用还上调了Th1型因子(IFN-γ,T-bet mRNA)及Treg型因子(TGF-β,Foxp3 mRNA)的表达,且具有剂量依赖性。【结论】嗜酸乳杆菌WPG体外刺激可有效纠正致敏脾淋巴细胞的Th1/Th2及Treg/Th17失衡。     

Default-Mode Network Changes in Huntington’s Disease: An Integrated MRI Study of Functional Connectivity and Morphometry

Previous MRI studies of functional connectivity in pre-symptomatic mutation carriers of Huntington’s disease (HD) have shown dysfunction of the Default-Mode Network (DMN). No data however are currently available on the DMN alterations in the symptomatic stages of the disease, which are characterized by cortical atrophy involving several DMN nodes. We assessed DMN integrity and its possible correlations with motor and cognitive symptoms in 26 symptomatic HD patients as compared to 22 normal volunteers, by analyzing resting state functional MRI data, using the Precuneal Cortex/Posterior Cingulate Cortices (PC/PCC) as seed, controlling at voxel level for the effect of atrophy by co-varying for gray matter volume. Direct correlation with PC/PCC was decreased, without correlation with atrophy, in the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (including anterior cingulate and subgenual cortex), right dorso-medial prefrontal cortex, and in the right inferior parietal cortex (mainly involving the angular gyrus). Negative correlations with PC/PCC were decreased bilaterally in the inferior parietal cortices, while a cluster in the right middle occipital gyrus presented increased correlation with PC/PCC. DMN changes in the ventral medial prefrontal cortex significantly correlated with the performance at the Stroop test (p = .0002). Widespread DMN changes, not correlating with the atrophy of the involved nodes, are present in symptomatic HD patients, and correlate with cognitive disturbances.     

带状疱疹后遗神经痛患者脑基础活动改变的功能核磁共振研究

带状疱疹后遗神经痛(postherpetic neuralgia,PHN)是临床上一种慢性顽固性神经病理性疼痛,然而,对于其潜在的中枢机制还知之甚少.为了进一步探讨带状疱疹后遗神经痛患者的相关脑区活动,利用功能核磁共振成像低频振幅振荡(ALFF)技术观察带状疱疹后遗神经痛患者的基础脑区活动.8名带状疱疹后遗神经痛患者与8名性别、年龄相匹配的健康者行静息态功能磁共振(f MRI)成像扫描,用SPM8中的多重回归分析,在控制被试年龄、性别、教育年限的影响下,将每个体素的ALFF值同每个被试的病程、视觉模拟评分(visual analog scale,VAS)进行相关分析.与健康志愿者相比,PHN组与VAS评分相关的ALFF值增高的脑区有:右侧小脑后叶、前额叶背外侧区域(BA11/46/47)、右侧顶叶(BA40)、右侧舌回(BA17/18/19);与VAS评分相关的ALFF值降低的脑区有:右侧颞中回(BA21)、左侧舌回(BA17/18)、右侧小脑前叶、左侧后扣带回(BA30/19)和右侧中央前回(BA3/4/6);PHN组与病程相关的ALFF值增高的脑区有:右侧小脑后叶、前额叶背外侧区域(BA9/10/11/47)、左侧颞上回(BA38)、右侧顶叶和右侧舌回(BA17/18/19);与病程相关ALFF值降低的脑区有:左侧海马旁回(BA28)、右侧小脑前叶、左侧扣带回(BA24)、右侧颞上回(BA13)、左侧中央前回和右侧顶下小叶(BA39/40).研究结果提示,涉及疼痛的情绪、警觉行为、注意的脑区在带状疱疹后遗痛慢性疼痛的产生和维持中发挥重要作用.     

Resting-State Functional Connectivity Patterns Predict Chinese Word Reading Competency

Resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) offers a novel approach to reveal the temporal synchronization of functionally related brain regions. Recent studies have identified several RSFCs whose strength was associated with reading competence in alphabetic languages. In the present study, we examined the role of intrinsic functional relations for reading a non-alphabetic language – Chinese – by correlating RSFC maps of nine Chinese reading-related seed regions and reaction time in the single-character reading task. We found that Chinese reading efficiency was positively correlated with the connection between left inferior occipital gyrus and left superior parietal lobule, between right posterior fusiform gyrus and right superior parietal lobule, and between left inferior temporal gyrus and left inferior parietal lobule. These results could not be attributed to inter-individual differences arising from the peripheral processes of the reading task such as visual input detection and articulation. The observed RSFC-reading correlation relationships are discussed in the framework of Chinese character reading, including visuospatial analyses and semantic/phonological processes.     

Structural Alteration of the Dorsal Visual Network in DLB Patients with Visual Hallucinations: A Cortical Thickness MRI Study

Visual hallucinations (VH) represent one of the core features in discriminating dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) from Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Previous studies reported that in DLB patients functional alterations of the parieto-occipital regions were correlated with the presence of VH. The aim of our study was to assess whether morphological changes in specific cortical regions of DLB could be related to the presence and severity of VH. We performed a cortical thickness analysis on magnetic resonance imaging data in a cohort including 18 DLB patients, 15 AD patients and 14 healthy control subjects. Relatively to DLB group, correlation analysis between the cortical thickness and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) hallucination item scores was also performed. Cortical thickness was reduced bilaterally in DLB compared to controls in the pericalcarine and lingual gyri, cuneus, precuneus, superior parietal gyrus. Cortical thinning was found bilaterally in AD compared to controls in temporal cortex including the superior and middle temporal gyrus, part of inferior temporal cortex, temporal pole and insula. Inferior parietal and supramarginal gyri were also affected bilaterally in AD as compared to controls. The comparison between DLB and AD evidenced cortical thinning in DLB group in the right posterior regions including superior parietal gyrus, precuneus, cuneus, pericalcarine and lingual gyri. Furthermore, the correlation analysis between cortical thickness and NPI hallucination item scores showed that the structural alteration in the dorsal visual regions including superior parietal gyrus and precuneus closely correlated with the occurrence and severity of VH. We suggest that structural changes in key regions of the dorsal visual network may play a crucial role in the physiopathology of VH in DLB patients.     

Surface Vulnerability of Cerebral Cortex to Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is accompanied by atypical brain structure. This study first presents the alterations in the cortical surface of patients with MDD using multidimensional structural patterns that reflect different neurodevelopment. Sixteen first-episode, untreated patients with MDD and 16 matched healthy controls underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The cortical maps of thickness, surface area, and gyrification were examined using the surface-based morphometry (SBM) approach. Increase of cortical thickness was observed in the right posterior cingulate region and the parietal cortex involving the bilateral inferior, left superior parietal and right paracentral regions, while decreased thickness was noted in the parietal cortex including bilateral pars opercularis and left precentral region, as well as the left rostral-middle frontal regions in patients with MDD. Likewise, increased or decreased surface area was found in five sub-regions of the cingulate gyrus, parietal and frontal cortices (e.g., bilateral inferior parietal and superior frontal regions). In addition, MDD patients exhibited a significant hypergyrification in the right precentral and supramarginal region. This integrated structural assessment of cortical surface suggests that MDD patients have cortical alterations of the frontal, parietal and cingulate regions, indicating a vulnerability to MDD during earlier neurodevelopmental process.     

Parietal and hippocampal contribution to topokinetic and topographic memory.

This paper reviews the involvement of the parietal cortex and the hippocampus in three kinds of spatial memory tasks which all require a memory of a previously experienced movement in space. The first task compared, by means of positron emission tomography (PET) scan techniques, the production, in darkness, of self-paced saccades (SAC) with the reproduction, in darkness, of a previously learned sequence of saccades to visual targets (SEQ). The results show that a bilateral increase of activity was seen in the depth of the intraparietal sulcus and the medial superior parietal cortex (superior parietal gyrus and precuneus) together with the frontal sulcus but only in the SEQ task, which involved memory of the previously seen targets and possibly also motor memory. The second task is the vestibular memory contingent task, which requires that the subject makes, in darkness, a saccade to the remembered position of a visual target after a passively imposed whole-body rotation. Deficits in this task, which involves vestibular memory, were found predominantly in patients with focal vascular lesions in the parieto-insular (vestibular) cortex, the supplementary motor area-supplementary eye field area, and the prefrontal cortex. The third task requires mental navigation from the memory of a previously learned route in a real environment (the city of Orsay in France). A PET scan study has revealed that when subjects were asked to remember visual landmarks there was a bilateral activation of the middle hippocampal regions, left inferior temporal gyrus, left hippocampal regions, precentral gyrus and posterior cingulate gyrus. If the subjects were asked to remember the route, and their movements along this route, bilateral activation of the dorsolateral cortex, posterior hippocampal areas, posterior cingulate gyrus, supplementary motor areas, right middle hippocampal areas, left precuneus, middle occipital gyrus, fusiform gyrus and lateral premotor area was found. Subtraction between the two conditions reduced the activated areas to the left hippocampus, precuneus and insula. These data suggest that the hippocampus and parietal cortex are both involved in the dynamic aspects of spatial memory, for which the name ''topokinetic memory'' is proposed. These dynamic aspects could both overlap and be different from those involved in the cartographic and static aspects of ''topographic'' memory.     

Identify Changes of Brain Regional Homogeneity in Bipolar Disorder and Unipolar Depression Using Resting-State fMRI

Background

To identify changes in brain activation patterns in bipolar disorder (BD) and unipolar depression (UD) patients.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Resting-state fMRI scans of 16 healthy controls, 17 BD and 16 UD patients were obtained. T-test of normalized regional homogeneity (ReHo) was performed in a voxel-by-voxel manner. A combined threshold of á = 0.05, minimum cluster volume of V = 10503 mm³ (389 voxels) were used to determine ReHo differences between groups. In UD group, fMRI revealed ReHo increases in the left middle occipital lobe, right inferior parietal lobule, right precuneus and left convolution; and ReHo decreases in the left parahippocampalgyrus, right precentralgyrus, left postcentralgyrus, left precentralgyrus and left cingulated. In BD group, ReHo increases in the right insular cortex, left middle frontal gyrus, left precuneus, left occipital lobe, left parietal, left superior frontal gyrus and left thalamus; and ReHo decreases in the right anterior lobe of cerebellum, pons, right precentralgyrus, left postcentralgyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, and right cingulate. There were some overlaps in ReHo profiles between UD and BD groups, but a marked difference was seen in the thalamus of BD.

Conclusions/Significance

The resting-state fMRI and ReHo mapping are a promising tool to assist the detection of functional deficits and distinguish clinical and pathophysiological signs of BD and UD.     

Voxel Based Morphometry Alterations in Mal de Debarquement Syndrome

Background

Mal de debarquement syndrome (MdDS) is a disorder of chronic self-motion perception that occurs though entrainment to rhythmic background motion, such as from sea voyage, and involves the perception of low-frequency rocking that can last for months or years. The neural basis of this persistent sensory perception abnormality is not well understood.

Methods

We investigated grey matter volume differences underlying persistent MdDS by performing voxel-based morphometry on whole brain and pre-specified ROIs in 28 individuals with MdDS and comparing them to 18 age, sex, and handedness matched controls.

Results

MdDS participants exhibited greater grey matter volume in the left inferior parietal lobule, right inferior occipital gyrus (area V3v), right temporal pole, bilateral cerebellar hemispheric lobules VIII/IX and left lobule VIIa/VIIb. Grey matter volumes were lower in bilateral inferior frontal, orbitofrontal, pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC) and left superior medial gyri (t = 3.0, p<0.005_uncorr). In ROI analyses, there were no volume differences in the middle occipital gyrus (region of V5/MT) or parietal operculum 2 (region of the parietoinsular vestibular cortex). Illness duration was positively related to grey matter volume in bilateral inferior frontal gyrus/anterior insula (IFG/AI), right posterior insula, superior parietal lobule, left middle occipital gyrus (V5/MT), bilateral postcentral gyrus, anterior cerebellum, and left cerebellar hemisphere and vermian lobule IX. In contrast, illness duration was negatively related to volume in pgACC, posterior middle cingulate gyrus (MCC), left middle frontal gyrus (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex-DLPFC), and right cerebellar hemispheric lobule VIIIb (t = 3.0, p<0.005_uncorr). The most significant differences were decreased volume in the pgACC and increased volume in the left IFG/AI with longer illness duration (qFDR_corr <0.05). Concurrent medication use did not correlate with these findings or have a relationship with duration of illness. MdDS participants showed positive correlations between grey matter volume in pgACC and bilateral cerebellar lobules VIII/IX, which was not seen in controls.

Conclusions

Individuals with MdDS show brain volume differences from healthy controls as well as duration of illness dependent volume changes in (a) visual-vestibular processing areas (IPL, SPL, V3, V5/MT), (b) default mode network structures (cerebellar IX, IPL, ACC), (c) salience network structures (ACC and IFG/AI) (d) somatosensory network structures (postcentral gyrus, MCC, anterior cerebellum, cerebellar lobule VIII), and (e) a structure within the central executive network (DLPFC). The identification of these associations may enhance future investigations into how exposure to oscillating environments can modulate brain function and affect motion perception as well cognitive and affective control.     

Complex Visual Search in Children and Adolescents: Effects of Age and Performance on fMRI Activation

Complex visuospatial processing relies on distributed neural networks involving occipital, parietal and frontal brain regions. Effects of physiological maturation (during normal brain development) and proficiency on tasks requiring complex visuospatial processing have not yet been studied extensively, as they are almost invariably interrelated. We therefore aimed at dissociating the effects of age and performance on functional MRI (fMRI) activation in a complex visual search task. In our cross-sectional study, healthy children and adolescents (n = 43, 19 females, 7-17 years) performed a complex visual search task during fMRI. Resulting activation was analysed with regard to the differential effects of age and performance. Our results are compatible with an increase in the neural network''s efficacy with age: within occipital and parietal cortex, the core regions of the visual exploration network, activation increased with age, and more so in the right than in the left hemisphere. Further, activation outside the visual search network decreased with age, mainly in left inferior frontal, middle temporal, and inferior parietal cortex. High-performers had stronger activation in right superior parietal cortex, suggesting a more mature visual search network. We could not see effects of age or performance in frontal cortex. Our results show that effects of physiological maturation and effects of performance, while usually intertwined, can be successfully disentangled and investigated using fMRI in children and adolescents.     

Nyctohemeral Rhythms of Gonadal, Thyroid and Pineal Function in the Hyperprolactinemic Male Rat

In young adult male rats bearing a donor anterior pituitary gland grafted for 3 weeks under a kidney capsule, serum prolactin (PRL) concentrations were elevated and exhibited a rhythm with the highest values in the light phase. Serum PRL in control animals did not exhibit a significant rhythm. Eutopic pituitary PRL content, manifesting a biphasic (12-hr) rhythm with crests during the day and night in controls, exhibited a similar pattern in grafted rats though an overall reduction in pituitary PRL content was seen in the grafted animals. Neither the normal biphasic serum testosterone rhythm nor the normal 24-hr rhythm (nocturnal surge) of pineal N-acetyltransferase activity and melatonin content were altered in the hyperprolactinemic rats. Serum thyroxine (T₄) and triiodothyronine (T₃) and their free indices (FT₄ I, FT₃ I) and serum thyrotropin (TSH) were highest during the day in controls and grafted rats and a 12-hr rhythmic component was detected in data for these variables. In the grafted animals, the 12-hr component was reflected in an additional peak at night detectable by testing of means. The overall serum T₄ FT₄ I, and TSH levels were lower in grafted rats though overall T₃ and FT₃I levels did not differ between grafted and controls. T₃ uptake (T₃ U) values were similar between controls and grafted rats, in both cases exhibiting a fall during the night. Changes in serum thyronines could not be explained by changes in serum binding as assessed by the T₃U₃ and thus may represent changes in thyroidal secretion of T₄. The rhythm in serum PRL of grafted rats suggests the presence of rhythmic circulating factor(s) capable of influencing ectopic lactotrophs. The reduced eutopic pituitary PRL content suggests a role for PRL in influencing eutopic lactotrophs in the pituitary-grafted hyperprolactinemic male rat model. Though circulating testosterone and pineal melatonin synthesis were not altered in this model, thyroid function appeared to be so.