Resting-state brain network remodeling after different nerve reconstruction surgeries: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study in brachial plexus injury rats.

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202505000-00031/figure1/v/2024-07-28T173839Z/r/image-tiff Distinct brain remodeling has been found after different nerve reconstruction strategies, including motor representation of the affected limb. However, differences among reconstruction strategies at the brain network level have not been elucidated. This study aimed to explore intra-network changes related to altered peripheral neural pathways after different nerve reconstruction surgeries, including nerve repair, end-to-end nerve transfer, and end-to-side nerve transfer. Sprague-Dawley rats underwent complete left brachial plexus transection and were divided into four equal groups of eight: no nerve repair, grafted nerve repair, phrenic nerve end-to-end transfer, and end-to-side transfer with a graft sutured to the anterior upper trunk. Resting-state brain functional magnetic resonance imaging was obtained 7 months after surgery. The independent component analysis algorithm was utilized to identify group-level network components of interest and extract resting-state functional connectivity values of each voxel within the component. Alterations in intra-network resting-state functional connectivity were compared among the groups. Target muscle reinnervation was assessed by behavioral observation (elbow flexion) and electromyography. The results showed that alterations in the sensorimotor and interoception networks were mostly related to changes in the peripheral neural pathway. Nerve repair was related to enhanced connectivity within the sensorimotor network, while end-to-side nerve transfer might be more beneficial for restoring control over the affected limb by the original motor representation. The thalamic-cortical pathway was enhanced within the interoception network after nerve repair and end-to-end nerve transfer. Brain areas related to cognition and emotion were enhanced after end-to-side nerve transfer. Our study revealed important brain networks related to different nerve reconstructions. These networks may be potential targets for enhancing motor recovery.

Modifying MSCs-derived EVs with esterase-responsive and charge-reversal cationic polymers enhances bone regeneration.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the treatment of bone defects have been widely reported as a cell-free therapy because of their appropriate stability and biocompatibility. However, EV isolation is expensive and time-consuming. We developed a method of modifying EVs derived from bone marrow MSCs (BMSCs) via the cationic polymer (ERP) with characteristics of charge reversal and esterase response (ERP-EVs). When simply mixing BMSCs-EVs with ERP at a 1:1 ratio, ERP-EVs significantly enhanced the osteogenesis of BMSCs. More EVs were released by ERP in BMSCs than in fibroblasts, realizing the selective release. Last, ERP-EVs were loaded on an nHA/CS-MS scaffold and showed enhanced bone regeneration on rat calvarial bone defects in vivo. In general, this study provided an effective strategy to improve cellular uptake and selective release of BMSCs-EVs in bone-related cells, which had great potential to accelerate the clinical practice of BMSCs-EVs-based bone defect repair.

Machine learning and single-cell analysis identify the mitophagy-associated gene TOMM22 as a potential diagnostic biomarker for intervertebral disc degeneration.

Background: Mitophagy selectively eliminates potentially cytotoxic and damaged mitochondria and effectively prevents excessive cytotoxicity from damaged mitochondria, thereby attenuating inflammatory and oxidative responses. However, the potential role of mitophagy in intervertebral disc degeneration remains to be elucidated. Methods: The GSVA method, two machine learning methods (SVM-RFE algorithm and random forest), the CIBERSORT and MCPcounter methods, as well as the consensus clustering method and the WGCNA algorithm were used to analyze the involvement of mitophagy in intervertebral disc degeneration, the diagnostic value of mitophagy-associated genes in intervertebral disc degeneration, and the infiltration of immune cells, and identify the gene modules that were closely related to mitophagy. Single-cell analysis was used to detect mitophagy scores and TOMM22 expression, and pseudo-temporal analysis was used to explore the function of TOMM22 in nucleus pulposus cells. In addition, TOMM22 expression was compared between human normal and degenerated intervertebral disc tissue samples by immunohistochemistry and PCR. Results: This study identified that the mitophagy pathway score was elevated in intervertebral disc degeneration compared with the normal condition. A strong link was present between mitophagy genes and immune cells, which may be used to typify intervertebral disc degeneration. The single-cell level showed that mitophagy-associated gene TOMM22 was highly expressed in medullary cells of the disease group. Further investigations indicated the upregulation of TOMM22 expression in late-stage nucleus pulposus cells and its role in cellular communication. In addition, human intervertebral disc tissue samples established that TOMM22 levels were higher in disc degeneration samples than in normal samples. Conclusions: Our findings revealed that mitophagy may be used in the diagnosis of intervertebral disc degeneration and its typing, and TOMM22 is a molecule in this regard and may act as a potential diagnostic marker in intervertebral disc degeneration.

Altered Brain Functional and Effective Connectivity Induced by Electroacupuncture in Rats Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Transection.

Background: The chronic pain arising from knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent clinical manifestation. As a traditional Chinese approach, electroacupuncture (EA) has a positive influence in relieving chronic pain from KOA. The study aims to explore functional connectivity (FC) and effective connectivity (EC) alterations induced by EA in anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) rat model of KOA using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods: After the establishment of ACLT, rats were randomly divided into the EA group and the sham-EA group. The EA group received EA intervention while the sham-EA group received sham-intervention for 3 weeks. Mechanical pain threshold (MPT) assessment was performed before and after intervention, and fMRI was conducted after intervention. Results: EA intervention effectively relieved pain in post-ACLT rats. Results of rest-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) analysis revealed that compared with the sham-EA group, the EA group had higher FC between the right raphe and the left auditory cortex, the left caudate_ putamen and the left internal capsule (IC), as well as the right zona incerta (ZI) and the left piriform cortex, but lower FC between the right raphe and the left hippocampus ventral, as well as the right septum and the left septum. Furthermore, Granger causality analysis (GCA) found the altered EC between the right septum and the left septum, as well as the left IC and the right septum. Conclusion: The results confirmed the effect of EA on analgesia in post- ACLT rats. The alterations of FC and EC, mainly involving basal ganglia and limbic system neural connections, might be one of the neural mechanisms underlying the effect of EA, providing novel information about connectomics plasticity of EA following ACLT.

Light-activated nanoclusters with tunable ROS for wound infection treatment.

Infected wounds pose a significant clinical challenge due to bacterial resistance, recurrent infections, and impaired healing. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based strategies have shown promise in eradicating bacterial infections. However, the excess ROS in the infection site after treatments may cause irreversible damage to healthy tissues. To address this issue, we developed bovine serum albumin-iridium oxide nanoclusters (BSA-IrOx NCs) which enable photo-regulated ROS generation and scavenging using near infrared (NIR) laser. Upon NIR laser irradiation, BSA-IrOx NCs exhibit enhanced photodynamic therapy, destroying biofilms and killing bacteria. When the NIR laser is off, the nanoclusters' antioxidant enzyme-like activities prevent inflammation and repair damaged tissue through ROS clearance. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that BSA-IrOx NCs inhibit bacterial nitric oxide synthase, blocking bacterial growth and biofilm formation. Furthermore, the nanoclusters repair impaired skin by strengthening cell junctions and reducing mitochondrial damage in a fibroblast model. In vivo studies using rat infected wound models confirmed the efficacy of BSA-IrOx NCs. This study presents a promising strategy for treating biofilm-induced infected wounds by regulating the ROS microenvironment, addressing the challenges associated with current ROS-based antibacterial approaches.

The moderating role of information processing speed in the relationship between brain remodeling and episodic memory in amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

INTRODUCTION: The role of information processing speed (IPS) on relationships between episodic memory (EM) and central remodeling features in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) was investigated. METHODS: Neuropsychological evaluations and multimodal magnetic resonance imaging were performed on 48 patients diagnosed with aMCI and 50 healthy controls (HC). Moderation models explored the moderating effect of IPS on associations between EM and imaging features at single-region, connectivity, and network levels. RESULTS: IPS significantly enhanced the positive correlations between recall and cortical thickness of left inferior temporal gyrus. IPS also notably amplified negative correlations between recognition and functional connectivity (FC) of left inferior parietal lobe and right occipital, as well as between recall/recognition and nodal clustering coefficient of left anterior cingulate cortex. DISCUSSION: IPS functioned as a moderator of associations between recall and neuroimaging metrics at the "single region-connectivity-network" level, providing new insights for cognitive rehabilitation in aMCI patients. HIGHLIGHTS: aMCI patients exhibited brain functional and structural remodeling alterations. IPS moderated relations between episodic memory and brain remodeling metrics. Therapy targeted at IPS can be considered for improving episodic memory in aMCI.

Alterations of contralesional hippocampal subfield volumes and relations to cognitive functions in patients with unilateral stroke.

BACKGROUND: The volumes of the hippocampal subfields are related to poststroke cognitive dysfunctions. However, it remains unclear whether contralesional hippocampal subfield volume contributes to cognitive impairment. This study aimed to investigate the volumetric differences in the contralesional hippocampal subfields between patients with left and right hemisphere strokes (LHS/RHS). Additionally, correlations between contralesional hippocampal subfield volumes and clinical outcomes were explored. METHODS: Fourteen LHS (13 males, 52.57 ± 7.10 years), 13 RHS (11 males, 51.23 ± 15.23 years), and 18 healthy controls (11 males, 46.94 ± 12.74 years) were enrolled. Contralesional global and regional hippocampal volumes were obtained with T1-weighted images. Correlations between contralesional hippocampal subfield volumes and clinical outcomes, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), were analyzed. Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Significant reductions were found in contralesional hippocampal as a whole (adjusted p = .011) and its subfield volumes, including the hippocampal tail (adjusted p = .005), cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) (adjusted p = .002), molecular layer (ML) (adjusted p = .004), granule cell and ML of the dentate gyrus (GC-ML-DG) (adjusted p = .015), CA3 (adjusted p = .009), and CA4 (adjusted p = .014) in the RHS group compared to the LHS group. MoCA and MMSE had positive correlations with volumes of contralesional hippocampal tail (p = .015, r = .771; p = .017, r = .763) and fimbria (p = .020, r = .750; p = .019, r = .753) in the LHS group, and CA3 (p = .007, r = .857; p = .009, r = .838) in the RHS group, respectively. CONCLUSION: Unilateral stroke caused volumetric differences in different hippocampal subfields contralesionally, which correlated to cognitive impairment. RHS leads to greater volumetric reduction in the whole contralesional hippocampus and specific subfields (hippocampal tail, CA1, ML, GC-ML-DG, CA3, and CA4) compared to LHS. These changes are correlated with cognitive impairments, potentially due to disrupted neural pathways and interhemispheric communication.

Integrative rehabilitation in the treatment of lumbosacral muscle strain in elite trampoline athletes: a pilot study.

Background: Lumbosacral muscle strain (LMS) is common in Chinese elite trampoline athletes. Advanced lumbar muscle activation is necessary for postural control before upper extremity voluntary movements, called anticipatory postural adjustment to reduce internal postural interference (IPI). The potential of delayed lumbar muscle activation has been reported in patients with non-specific LBP (NLBP) in response to IPI. However, it remains unknown whether this effect exists in elite trampoline athletes. There is also limited literature reporting the rehabilitation of LMS in this population. This study first aimed to explore whether elite trampoline athletes with LMS experience delayed activation of lumbar muscles under IPI. The secondary aim was to preliminarily evaluate an integrative rehabilitation program's effectiveness. Materials and methods: Ten elite trampoline athletes with LMS were recruited and received 10 sessions of integrative rehabilitation, including extracorporeal shock wave therapy, acupuncture, Tui-na, and spine function exercises. At baseline and after all sessions, the relative activation time of the lumbar muscles under IPI in a modified rapid arm-rise test was used as a primary outcome measure. The secondary measures included a visual analog scale (VAS) and a questionnaire to assess low back pain (LBP) and athletic training performance. Results: The relative activation time of the lumbar muscles under IPI was delayed at baseline, but significantly decreased after the intervention (P < 0.05). The VAS was significantly decreased after the intervention (P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between the difference in VAS and in activation time of the lumbar muscles before and after the intervention (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Elite trampoline athletes with LMS had delayed activation in their lumbar muscles under IPI. Integrative rehabilitation was effective in LBP relief and neuromuscular control of the lumbar muscles, and impacted positively on training performance. Future studies with a larger sample size, a control group, and long-term follow-ups are needed to further examine the efficacy of integrative rehabilitation in elite trampoline athletes with LMS. Additionally, the application of this approach in athletes with LMS or LBP in other sports, particularly those involving IPI, should be explored.

Occlusion dysfunction and Alzheimer's disease: Mendelian randomization study.

Aim: Occlusion dysfunction (OD) is increasingly linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to elucidate the causal relationship between OD and AD using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Materials and methods: Genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis data obtained from FinnGen, IEU Open GWAS, and UK Biobank (UKBB) was represented as instrumental variables. We validated the causal relationship between periodontal disease (PD), loose teeth (PD & occlusion dysfunction), dentures restoration (occlusion recovery), and AD. Results: According to the MR analysis, PD and AD have no direct causal relationship (P = 0.395, IVW). However, loose teeth significantly increased the risk of AD progression (P = 0.017, IVW, OR = 187.3567, 95%CI = 2.54E+00-1.38E+04). These findings were further supported by the negative causal relationship between dentures restoration and AD (P = 0.015, IVW, OR = 0.0234, 95%CI = 1.13E-03-0.485). Conclusion: The occlusion dysfunction can ultimately induce Alzheimer's disease. Occlusion function was a potentially protective factor for maintaining neurological health.

Peripheral nerve transfers for dysfunctions in central nervous system injuries: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The review highlights recent advancements and innovative uses of nerve transfer surgery in treating dysfunctions caused by central nervous system (CNS) injuries, with a particular focus on spinal cord injury (SCI), stroke, traumatic brain injury, and cerebral palsy. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted regarding nerve transfer for restoring sensorimotor functions and bladder control following injuries of spinal cord and brain, across PubMed and Web of Science from January 1920 to May 2023. Two independent reviewers undertook article selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment with several appraisal tools, including the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist, and SYRCLE's ROB tool. The study protocol has been registered and reported following PRISMA and AMSTAR guidelines. RESULTS: Nine hundred six articles were retrieved, of which 35 studies were included (20 on SCI and 15 on brain injury), with 371 participants included in the surgery group and 192 in the control group. These articles were mostly low-risk, with methodological concerns in study types, highlighting the complexity and diversity. For SCI, the strength of target muscle increased by 3.13 of Medical Research Council grade, and the residual urine volume reduced by more than 100 ml in 15 of 20 patients. For unilateral brain injury, the Fugl-Myer motor assessment (FMA) improved 15.14-26 score in upper extremity compared to 2.35-26 in the control group. The overall reduction in Modified Ashworth score was 0.76-2 compared to 0-1 in the control group. Range of motion (ROM) increased 18.4-80° in elbow, 20.4-110° in wrist and 18.8-130° in forearm, while ROM changed -4.03°-20° in elbow, -2.08°-10° in wrist, -2.26°-20° in forearm in the control group. The improvement of FMA in lower extremity was 9 score compared to the presurgery. CONCLUSION: Nerve transfer generally improves sensorimotor functions in paralyzed limbs and bladder control following CNS injury. The technique effectively creates a 'bypass' for signals and facilitates functional recovery by leveraging neural plasticity. It suggested a future of surgery, neurorehabilitation and robotic-assistants converge to improve outcomes for CNS.

Cardiovascular disease therapeutics via engineered oral microbiota: Applications and perspective.

Engineering bacteria are considered as a potential treatment for cardiovascular diseases and related risk factors. Oral bacteria are closely related to the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases, and their engineering has broad prospects and potential in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Oral pathogenic bacteria undergo protein and genetic engineering, including the incorporation of exogenous plasmids to yield therapeutic effects; genetically engineered oral probiotics can be harnessed to secrete cytokines and reactive oxygen species, offering novel therapeutic avenues for cardiovascular diseases.

Tongue coating-dependent superior temporal sulcus remodeling in amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

Tongue coating affects cognition, and cognitive decline at early stage also showed relations to functional and structural remodeling of superior temporal sulcus (STS) in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). The potential correlation between disparate cognitive manifestations in aMCI patients with different tongue coatings, and corresponding mechanisms of STS remodeling remains uncharted. In this case-control study, aMCI patients were divided into thin coating (n = 18) and thick coating (n = 21) groups. All participants underwent neuropsychological evaluations and multimodal magnetic resonance imaging. Group comparisons were conducted in clinical assessments and neuroimaging measures of banks of the STS (bankssts). Generalized linear models were constructed to explore relationships between neuroimaging measures and cognition. aMCI patients in the thick coating group exhibited significantly poorer immediate and delayed recall and slower information processing speed (IPS) (P < 0.05), and decreased functional connectivity (FC) of bilateral bankssts with frontoparietal cortices (P < 0.05, AlphaSim corrected) compared to the thin coating group. It was found notable correlations between cognition encompassing recall and IPS, and FC of bilateral bankssts with frontoparietal cortices (P < 0.05, Bonferroni's correction), as well as interaction effects of group × regional homogeneity (ReHo) of right bankssts on the first immediate recall (P < 0.05, Bonferroni's correction). aMCI patients with thick coating exhibited poor cognitive performance, which might be attributed to decreased FC seeding from bankssts. Our findings strengthen the understanding of brain reorganization of STS via which tongue coating status impacts cognition in patients with aMCI.

Sports promote brain evolution: a resting-state fMRI study of volleyball athlete.

Background: Long-term skill learning can lead to structure and function changes in the brain. Different sports can trigger neuroplasticity in distinct brain regions. Volleyball, as one of the most popular team sports, heavily relies on individual abilities such as perception and prediction for high-level athletes to excel. However, the specific brain mechanisms that contribute to the superior performance of volleyball athletes compared to non-athletes remain unclear. Method: We conducted a study involving the recruitment of ten female volleyball athletes and ten regular female college students, forming the athlete and novice groups, respectively. Comprehensive behavioral assessments, including Functional Movement Screen and audio-visual reaction time tests, were administered to both groups. Additionally, resting-state magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were acquired for both groups. Subsequently, we conducted in-depth analyses, focusing on the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and functional connectivity (FC) in the brain for both the athlete and novice groups. Results: No significant differences were observed in the behavioral data between the two groups. However, the athlete group exhibited noteworthy enhancements in both the ALFF and ReHo within the visual cortex compared to the novice group. Moreover, the functional connectivity between the visual cortex and key brain regions, including the left primary sensory cortex, left supplementary motor cortex, right insula, left superior temporal gyrus, and left inferior parietal lobule, was notably stronger in the athlete group than in the novice group. Conclusion: This study has unveiled the remarkable impact of volleyball athletes on various brain functions related to vision, movement, and cognition. It indicates that volleyball, as a team-based competitive activity, fosters the advancement of visual, cognitive, and motor skills. These findings lend additional support to the early cultivation of sports talents and the comprehensive development of adolescents. Furthermore, they offer fresh perspectives on preventing and treating movement-related disorders. Trial registration: Registration number: ChiCTR2400079602. Date of Registration: January 8, 2024.

Electroacupuncture modulates abnormal brain connectivity after ischemia reperfusion injury in rats: A graph theory-based approach.

BACKGROUND: Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to facilitate brain plasticity-related functional recovery following ischemic stroke. The functional magnetic resonance imaging technique can be used to determine the range and mode of brain activation. After stroke, EA has been shown to alter brain connectivity, whereas EA's effect on brain network topology properties remains unclear. An evaluation of EA's effects on global and nodal topological properties in rats with ischemia reperfusion was conducted in this study. METHODS AND RESULTS: There were three groups of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats: sham-operated group (sham group), middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) group, and MCAO/R plus EA (MCAO/R + EA) group. The differences in global and nodal topological properties, including shortest path length, global efficiency, local efficiency, small-worldness index, betweenness centrality (BC), and degree centrality (DC) were estimated. Graphical network analyses revealed that, as compared with the sham group, the MCAO/R group demonstrated a decrease in BC value in the right ventral hippocampus and increased BC in the right substantia nigra, accompanied by increased DC in the left nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh). The BC was increased in the right hippocampus ventral and decreased in the right substantia nigra after EA intervention, and MCAO/R + EA resulted in a decreased DC in left AcbSh compared to MCAO/R. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide a potential basis for EA to promote cognitive and motor function recovery after ischemic stroke.

MSC-Based Cell Therapy in Neurological Diseases: A Concise Review of the Literature in Pre-Clinical and Clinical Research.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stromal cells with the ability to self-renew and multi-directional differentiation potential. Exogenously administered MSCs can migrate to damaged tissue sites and participate in the repair of damaged tissues. A large number of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials have demonstrated that MSCs have the potential to treat the abnormalities of congenital nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, MSCs hold great promise in the treatment of neurological diseases. Here, we summarize and highlight current progress in the understanding of the underlying mechanisms and strategies of MSC application in neurological diseases.

Hemisphere lateralization of graph theoretical network in end-stage knee osteoarthritis patients.

Hemisphere functional lateralization is a prominent feature of the human brain. However, it is not known whether hemispheric lateralization features are altered in end-stage knee osteoarthritis (esKOA). In this study, we performed resting-state functional magnetic imaging on 46 esKOA patients and 31 healthy controls (HCs) and compared with the global and inter-hemisphere network to clarify the hemispheric functional network lateralization characteristics of patients. A correlation analysis was performed to explore the relationship between the inter-hemispheric network parameters and clinical features of patients. The node attributes were analyzed to explore the factors changing in the hemisphere network function lateralization in patients. We found that patients and HCs exhibited "small-world" brain network topology. Clustering coefficient increased in patients compared with that in HCs. The hemisphere difference in inter-hemispheric parameters including assortativity, global efficiency, local efficiency, clustering coefficients, small-worldness, and shortest path length. The pain course and intensity of esKOA were positively correlated with the right hemispheric lateralization in local efficiency, clustering coefficients, and the small-worldness, respectively. The significant alterations of several nodal properties were demonstrated within group in pain-cognition, pain-emotion, and pain regulation circuits. The abnormal lateralization inter-hemisphere network may be caused by the destruction of regional network properties.

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. DESIGN: A 2010 Consolidated Standards for Test Reports (CONSORT)-compliant randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Forty-six eligible stroke patients with upper limb motor dysfunction participated in the study, six of whom dropped out. The patients were randomly divided into a BCI group and a control group. The BCI group received BCI therapy and conventional rehabilitation therapy, while the control group received conventional rehabilitation only. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) score was used as the primary outcome to evaluate upper extremity motor function. Additionally, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans were performed on all patients before and after treatment, in both the resting and task states. We measured the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), z conversion of ALFF (zALFF), and z conversion of ReHo (ReHo) in the resting state. The task state was divided into four tasks: left-hand grasping, right-hand grasping, imagining left-hand grasping, and imagining right-hand grasping. Finally, meaningful differences were assessed using correlation analysis of the clinical assessments and functional measures. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients completed the study, 20 in the BCI group and 20 in the control group. Task-related blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) analysis showed that when performing the motor grasping task with the affected hand, the BCI group exhibited significant activation in the ipsilateral middle cingulate gyrus, precuneus, inferior parietal gyrus, postcentral gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, and contralateral middle cingulate gyrus. When imagining a grasping task with the affected hand, the BCI group exhibited greater activation in the ipsilateral superior frontal gyrus (medial) and middle frontal gyrus after treatment. However, the activation of the contralateral superior frontal gyrus decreased in the BCI group relative to the control group. Resting-state fMRI revealed increased zALFF in multiple cerebral regions, including the contralateral precentral gyrus and calcarine and the ipsilateral middle occipital gyrus and cuneus, and decreased zALFF in the ipsilateral superior temporal gyrus in the BCI group relative to the control group. Increased zReHo in the ipsilateral cuneus and contralateral calcarine and decreased zReHo in the contralateral middle temporal gyrus, temporal pole, and superior temporal gyrus were observed post-intervention. According to the subsequent correlation analysis, the increase in the FMA-UE score showed a positive correlation with the mean zALFF of the contralateral precentral gyrus (r = 0.425, P < 0.05), the mean zReHo of the right cuneus (r = 0.399, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, BCI therapy is effective and safe for arm rehabilitation after severe poststroke hemiparesis. The correlation of the zALFF of the contralateral precentral gyrus and the zReHo of the ipsilateral cuneus with motor improvements suggested that these values can be used as prognostic measures for BCI-based stroke rehabilitation. We found that motor function was related to visual and spatial processing, suggesting potential avenues for refining treatment strategies for stroke patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (number ChiCTR2000034848, registered July 21, 2020).

GBP2 inhibits pathological angiogenesis in the retina via the AKT/mTOR/VEGFA axis.

Pathological retinal angiogenesis is not only the hallmark of retinopathies, but also a major cause of blindness. Guanylate binding protein 2 (GBP2) has been reported to be associated with retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and hypoxic retinopathy. However, GBP2-mediated pathological retinal angiogenesis remains largely unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the role of GBP2 in pathological retinal angiogenesis and its underlying molecular mechanism. In this study, we established oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) mice model for in vivo study and hypoxia-induced angiogenesis in ARPE-19 cells for in vitro study. We demonstrated that GBP2 expression was markedly downregulated in the retina of mice with OIR and ARPE-19 cells treated with hypoxia, which was associated with pathological retinal angiogenesis. The regulatory mechanism of GBP2 in ARPE-19 cells was studied by GBP2 silencing and overexpression. The regulatory mechanism of GBP2 in the retina was investigated by overexpressing GBP2 in the retina of OIR mice. Mechanistically, GBP2 downregulated the expression and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA) in ARPE-19 cells and retina of OIR mice. Interestingly, overexpression of GBP2 significantly inhibited neovascularization in OIR mice, conditioned medium of GBP2 overexpressing ARPE-19 cells inhibited angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Furthermore, we confirmed that GBP2 downregulated VEGFA expression and angiogenesis by inhibiting the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Taken together, we concluded that GBP2 inhibited pathological retinal angiogenesis via the AKT/mTOR/VEGFA axis, thereby suggesting that GBP2 may be a therapeutic target for pathological retinal angiogenesis.

The promotion-like effect of the M1-STN hyperdirect pathway induced by ccPAS enhanced balance performances: From the perspective of brain connectivity.

AIMS: The present study aimed to explore the effect of cortico-cortical paired-associative stimulation (ccPAS) in modulating hyperdirect pathway and its influence on balance performance. METHODS: Forty healthy participants were randomly allocated to the active ccPAS group (n = 20) or the sham ccPAS group (n = 20). The primary motor cortex and subthalamic nucleus were stimulated sequentially with ccPAS. Unlike the active ccPAS group, one wing of coil was tilted to form a 90° angle with scalp of stimulation locations for the sham ccPAS group. Magnetic resonance imaging, functional reach test (FRT), timed up and go (TUG) test, and limit of stability (LOS) test were performed, and correlation between them was also analyzed. RESULTS: Three participants in the sham ccPAS group were excluded because of poor quality of NIfTI images. The active group had strengthened hyperdirect pathway, increased functional connectivity (FC) between orbital part of frontal cortex and bilateral precuneus, and decreased FC among basal ganglia (all p < 0.05). Regional network properties of triangular and orbital parts of IFG, middle cingulate cortex, and hippocampus increased. The active group performed better in FRT and LOS (all p < 0.05). FRT positively correlated with FC of the hyperdirect pathway (r = 0.439, p = 0.007) and FCs between orbital part of frontal cortex and bilateral precuneus (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The ccPAS enhanced balance performance by promotion-like plasticity mechanisms through the hyperdirect pathway.

A bibliometric analysis of brachial plexus injury from 1980 to 2022.

Background: Brachial plexus injury is a common severe peripheral nerve injury with high disability. At present, the bibliometric analysis of brachial plexus injury is basically unknown. Methods: This article analyzes the data retrieved to the web of science and uses the R language (version 4.2), Citespace (version 6.1.R3 Advanced), Vosviewer (Lei deng university) to make a scientific map. Specifically, we analyze the main publication countries, institutions, journals where the article is published, and the cooperative relationship between different institutions, the relationship between authors, main research directions in this field, and current research hotspots. Results: From 1980 to 2022, the total number of publications is 1542. In terms of countries where articles were published, 551 records were published in the United States, accounting for 35% of the total. With 74 articles, Fudan University ranks first in the world in terms of the number of articles issued by the institution, followed by 72 articles from Mayo Clinic. The magazine with the largest number of articles is JOURNAL OF HAND SURGERY-AMERICAN VOLUME, which has published 87 articles in total. GU YD (Gu Yu-Dong) team (Fudan University) and spinner RJ (Robert J Spinner) team (Mayo clinic) are in a leading position in this field. Nerve transfer and nerve reconstruction have been a hot topic of brachial plexus injury. "Spinal nerve root repair and reimplantation of avulsed ventral roots into the spinal cord after brachial plexus injury" has the strongest citation bursts. Conclusion: Research on brachial plexus injury shows a trend of increasing heat. At present, there is a lack of communication and cooperation between scholars from different countries. Nerve transfer and nerve reconstruction are the current and future research directions in the treatment of brachial plexus injury.