Knowledge Structure and Emerging Trends of Mild Cognitive Impairment with Dyssomnias in Recent 20 Years: A Bibliometric Analysis via CiteSpace and VOSviewer.

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an intermediate stage between normal aging and dementia, has emerged as a prominent research area in geriatric care due to its heightened propensity for progressing toward dementia. Sleep plays a pivotal role in cognitive function, with dyssomnias not only exacerbating cognitive and affective symptoms associated with neurodegenerative diseases but also contributing to disease progression. Aim: This bibliometric analysis investigates the global research on MCI with dyssomnias over the past two decades, aiming to discern key findings, research domains, and emerging trends in this field. Methods: In this study, a bibliometric analysis was conducted using the search terms "MCI" and "sleep". Data were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection database, and visualization and collaborative analysis were performed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer. Results: This study encompassed 546 publications from 2003 to 2023. The publication volume and citation rate consistently increased over time. Neurosciences, Clinical Neurology, and Geriatrics Gerontology emerged as the top three research fields. The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease had the highest publication count, while Sleep Medicine received the most citations. USA, China, and Italy led in publication output. Collaborative clusters among authors and institutions were identified, but cooperation between clusters was limited. Active cocited reference clusters included "obstructive sleep apnea", "possible mediating pathways", and "isolated rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder". The top frequently mentioned keywords, besides "MCI", were "Alzheimer's disease", "dementia", "risk factor", and "Parkinson's Disease". Notable keyword clusters spanned circadian rhythm, Parkinson's disease, MCI, dementia with Lewy body, subjective cognitive impairment, Lewy body disease, Alzheimer's disease, and dietary patterns. Conclusion: The field of MCI with dyssomnias is rapidly expanding, encompassing a wide range of neurodegenerative disorders and sleep disturbances. Current research endeavors are primarily focused on elucidating the underlying pathogenesis, predicting disease progression, and developing innovative treatment strategies for individuals affected by MCI with dyssomnias.

Utilizing fNIRS to investigate the impact of Baduanjin training on attentional function in post-stroke cognitive impairment patients: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a prevalent complication among stroke survivors. It not only directly impacts patients' cognitive abilities but also hampers their capacity to regain independence in daily activities, consequently diminishing their quality of life. Among the various cognitive deficits following stroke, impaired attention is the most frequently observed, influencing not only daily functioning but also higher cognitive functions like working memory, executive functioning, and language.Emerging evidence indicates that Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese exercise, may have a positive impact on enhancing attention in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and stroke survivors. However, the precise mechanisms behind this effect remain unclear. In this study, we employed Baduanjin training as an intervention to address attention decline in post-stroke cognitive impairment patients and to delve into the potential mechanisms through which Baduanjin training may enhance attention in individuals with PSCI. METHODS: In this prospective randomized controlled trial, we plan to recruit 72 participants diagnosed with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). These participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of three groups: Baduanjin training(left hemisphere stroke and right hemisphere stroke) and conventional treatment.The conventional treatment group will receive standard rehabilitation sessions. In addition to conventional treatment, participants in the octogenarian training groups will undergo octogenarian training sessions lasting 40 min, five times a week, over a total period of 12 weeks.The primary outcome measures will include the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale and the Attentional Lateralization Index. These assessments will be conducted by a trained evaluator before the start of the intervention and at weeks 6 and 12 after the intervention begins.Secondary outcome measures will be assessed using the baseline Mandarin version of the Oxford Cognitive Screening (OCS-P) scale, the simplified Fugl-Meyer Motor Function Assessment (FMA) scale, the Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Participation (PRPS) scale, and the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale before and after the intervention, respectively. DISCUSSION: This trial aims to examine the impact of Baduanjin training on attentional lateralization among patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). Functional brain imaging utilizing near-infrared spectroscopy will be employed to investigate how Baduanjin exercise influences the structural and functional connectivity of distinct brain regions or brain networks. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chictr.org.cn, ID: ChiCTR2300076533 . Registered on 11 October 2023.

Metabolic diversity shapes vegetation-enhanced methane oxidation in landfill covers: Multi-omics study of rhizosphere microorganisms.

Vegetation root exudates have the ability to shape soil microbial community structures, thereby enhancing CH4 bio-oxidation capacity in landfill cover systems. In this study, the CH4 oxidation capacity of indigenous vegetation rhizosphere microorganisms within operational landfill covers in Chongqing, China, was investigated for the first time, with the objective of identifying suitable plant candidates for CH4 mitigation initiatives within landfill cover systems. Furthermore, a multi-omics methodology was employed to explore microbial community structures and metabolic variances within the rhizospheric environment of diverse vegetation types. The primary aim was to elucidate the fundamental factors contributing to divergent CH4 oxidation capacities observed in rhizosphere soils. The findings demonstrated that herbaceous vegetation predominated in landfill covers. Notably, Rumex acetosa exhibited the highest CH4 oxidation capacity in the rhizosphere soil, approximately 20 times greater than that in non-rhizosphere soil. Root exudates played a crucial role in inducing the colonization of CH4-oxidizing functional microorganisms in the rhizosphere, subsequently prompting the development of specific metabolic pathways. This process, in turn, enhanced the functional activity of the microorganisms while concurrently bolstering their tolerance to microbial pollutants. Consequently, the addition of substances like Limonexic acid strengthened the CH4 bio-oxidation process, thereby underscoring the suitability of Rumex acetosa and similar vegetation species as preferred choices for landfill cover vegetation restoration.

Quantitative analysis of TCE biodegradation pathway in landfill cover utilizing continuous monitoring, droplet digital PCR and multi-omics sequencing technology.

The remediation of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons in the quasi-vadose zone has become a significant challenge. We applied an integrated approach to assess the biodegradability of trichloroethylene to identify the biotransformation mechanism. The formation of the functional zone biochemical layer was assessed by analyzing the distribution of landfill gas, physical and chemical properties of cover soil, spatial-temporal variations of micro-ecology, biodegradability of landfill cover soil and distributional difference metabolic pathway. Real-time online monitoring showed that trichloroethylene continuously undergoes anaerobic dichlorination and simultaneous aerobic/anaerobic conversion-aerobic co-metabolic degradation on the vertical gradient of the landfill cover system and reduction in trans-1,2-dichloroethylene in the anoxic zone but not 1,1-dichloroethylene. PCR and diversity sequencing revealed the abundance and spatial distribution of known dichlorination-related genes within the landfill cover, with 6.61 ± 0.25 × 104-6.78 ± 0.09 × 106 and 1.17 ± 0.78 × 103-7.82 ± 0.07 × 105 copies per g/soil of pmoA and tceA, respectively. In addition, dominant bacteria and diversity were significantly linked with physicochemical factors, and Mesorhizobium, Pseudoxanthomonas and Gemmatimonas were responsible for biodegradation in the aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic zones. Metagenome sequencing identified 6 degradation pathways of trichloroethylene that may occur in the landfill cover; the main pathway was incomplete dechlorination accompanied by cometabolic degradation. These results indicate that the anoxic zone is important for trichloroethylene degradation.

Effect of a Baduanjin intervention on the risk of falls in the elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Falls are a global public problem and may be an important cause of death in older adults. However, older adults with mild cognitive impairment(MCI) are more likely to fall and suffer more damage than older adults with normal cognitive function, which shows the importance of preventing falls. More and more evidence shows that Baduanjin can improve the balance function of the elderly and reduce the risk of falls in the elderly with MCI, but the mechanism is still unclear. The main purpose of this study is to verify the intervention effect of Baduanjin training on the risk of falls in elderly people with MCI and to elucidate the underlying mechanism of Baduanjin training in reducing the risk of falls in MCI patients. METHODS: In this prospective study, outcome assessor-blind, three-arm randomized controlled trial, a total of 72 eligible participants will be randomly allocated (1:1:1) into the 12-week Baduanjin exercise intervention (60 min per session, three sessions per week), the 12-week brisk walking group(60 min per session, three sessions per week) or the 12-week health education group. Primary outcome is the Fall-Risk Self-Assessment Questionnaire(FRQ), and secondary outcomes are fall efficacy index, gait assessment, balance function, lower limb muscle strength, cognitive function, activities of daily living(ADL) and MRI scans. In addition to the MRI scans, which will be measured before and after the intervention,other primary and secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks (at the end of the intervention) and after an additional 12-week follow-up period. The mixed linear model will be conducted to observe the intervention effects. DISCUSSION: This trial will investigate the effect of Baduanjin exercise on the prevention of falls in elderly individuals with MCI, explore the imaging mechanism of Baduanjin exercise to reduce the risk of falls in elderly individuals with MCI from the perspective of vestibular neural network, and provide strong evidence for Baduanjin exercise to reduce the risk of falls in elderly individuals with MCI, as well as provide new ideas and approaches for the central mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TRC) rehabilitation methods to intervene in falls in elderly. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chictr.org.cn, ID: ChiCTR2200057520. Registered on 14 March 2022, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=146592 .

Effect of acupuncture on episodic memory for amnesia-type mild cognitive impairment: study protocol of a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Amnesic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is the main subtype of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and has the highest risk of conversion to Alzheimer's disease (AD) among all MCI subtypes. Episodic memory impairment is the early cognitive impairment of aMCI, which has become an important target for AD prevention. Previous clinical evidence has shown that acupuncture can improve the cognitive ability of MCI patients. This experiment aimed to observe the efficacy and neural mechanism of TiaoshenYizhi acupuncture on the episodic memory of patients with aMCI. METHODS: In this multicenter, parallel-group, double-blind, randomized controlled trial, 360 aMCI participants will be recruited from six subcenters and randomly assigned to the acupuncture group, sham acupuncture group, and control group. The acupuncture group will receive TiaoshenYizhi (TSYZ) acupuncture, the sham acupuncture group will use streitberger sham acupuncture, and the control group will only receive free health education. Participants in the two acupuncture groups will receive real acupuncture treatment or placebo acupuncture three times per week, 24 sessions over 8 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome will be global cognitive ability. Secondary outcomes will be a specific cognitive domain, including episodic memory and execution ability, electroencephalogram, and functional magnetic resonance imaging data. Outcomes will be measured at baseline and the fourth and eighth weeks after randomization. Repeated measurement analysis of variance and a mixed linear model will be used to observe the intervention effect. DISCUSSION: The protocol will give a detailed procedure to the multicenter clinical trial to further evaluate the efficacy and neural mechanism of TiaoshenYizhi acupuncture on episodic memory in patients with aMCI. From this research, we expect to provide clinical evidence for early aMCI management. TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=142612&htm=4 , identifier: ChiCTR2100054009.

Microecological health assessment of water environment and sediment based on metagenomics: a case study of Guixi River in Chongqing, China.

River sediment is vital in containing water pollution and strengthening water remediation. This paper has conducted a study on the microecological health assessment of the sediment and water body of Guixi River in Dianjiang, Chongqing, China, using metagenomics sequencing and microbial biological integrity index (M-IBI) technology. The analysis of physical and chemical characteristics shows that the concentration of TN varies from 2.62 to 9.76 mg/L in each sampling section, and the eutrophication of the water body is relatively severe. The proportion of Cyanobacteria in the sampling section at the sink entrance is higher than that of other sites, where there are outbreaks of water blooms and potential hazards to human health. The dominant functions of each site include carbon metabolism, TCA cycle, and pyruvate metabolism. In addition, the main virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes in sediment are Type IV pili (VF0082), LOS (CVF494), MymA operon (CVF649), and macrolide resistance genes macB, tetracyclic tetA (58), and novA. Correlation analysis of environmental factors and microorganisms was also performed, and it was discovered that Thiothrix and Acidovorax had obvious gene expression in the nitrogen metabolism pathway, and the Guixi River Basin had a self-purification capacity. Finally, based on the microecological composition of sediment and physical and chemical characteristics of the water body, the health assessment was carried out, indicating that the main pollution area was Dianjiang Middle School and the watershed near the sewage treatment plant. The findings should theoretically support an in-depth assessment of the water environment's microecological health.

Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on Cognitive Function in Adults 60 Years or Older With Type 2 Diabetes and Mild Cognitive Impairment in China: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with the progression of cognitive dysfunction. Physical activity benefits cognition, but no evidence from randomized clinical trials has shown whether tai chi chuan has better long-term benefits than fitness walking in cognitive function for patients with T2D and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Objective: To compare the effectiveness of tai chi chuan, a mind-body exercise, for improving cognitive function in older adults with T2D and MCI, with fitness walking. Design, Setting, and Participants: This randomized clinical trial was conducted between June 1, 2020, and February 28, 2022, at 4 sites in China. Participants included 328 adults (aged ≥60 years) with a clinical diagnosis of T2D and MCI. Interventions: Participants were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to a tai chi chuan group, a fitness walking group, or a control group. The tai chi chuan group received 24-form simplified tai chi chuan. The fitness walking group received fitness walking training. Both exercise groups took the training for 60 min/session, 3 times/wk, for 24 weeks in a supervised setting. All 3 groups were provided with a 30-minute diabetes self-management education session, once every 4 weeks for 24 weeks. The participants were followed up for 36 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the global cognitive function measured at 36 weeks by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Secondary outcomes included MoCA at 24 weeks and other cognitive subdomain measures and blood metabolic indices at 24 and 36 weeks. Results: A total of 328 participants (mean [SD] age, 67.55 [5.02] years; mean [SD] T2D duration, 10.48 [6.81] years; 167 [50.9%] women) were randomized to the tai chi chuan group (n = 107), fitness walking group (n = 110), or control group (n = 111) and included in the intention-to-treat analysis. At 36 weeks, the tai chi chuan group showed improved MoCA scores compared with the fitness walking group (mean [SD], 24.67 [2.72] vs 23.84 [3.17]; between-group mean difference, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.02-1.66]; P = .046) in the intention-to-treat analysis. The per-protocol analysis data set and subgroup analysis at 36 weeks showed similar results. Based on the generalized linear models, the treatment effects were similar in each group after adjusting for self-reported dietary calories and physical activity. There were 37 nonserious adverse events (tai chi chuan group, 8; fitness walking group, 13; control group, 16) unrelated to the study with no statistically significant difference among the 3 groups (P = .26). Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial including older adults with T2D and MCI, tai chi chuan was more effective than fitness walking in improving global cognitive function. The findings support a long-term benefit, suggesting the potential clinical use of tai chi chuan as an exercise intervention to improve cognitive function for older adults with T2D and MCI. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04416841.

Effect of acupuncture on brain functional networks in patients with mild cognitive impairment: an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Prior research has shown that acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medical therapy, may have a certain therapeutic effect in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Furthermore, some studies have explored the effects of acupuncture on the brain functional networks of MCI patients to investigate the mechanism of action. Different studies have analysed the brain regions involved in acupuncture-induced changes, but (to our knowledge) these have not been summarized by a systematic review. METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, CNKI and other databases in Chinese and English to identify neuroimaging studies of acupuncture interventions in MCI patients. After two stages of literature screening, bias risk assessment and data extraction, brain regions with significant differences were input into GingerALE software. Based on the activation likelihood estimation algorithm, coordinate-based meta-analyses were conducted. RESULTS: The changes in functional activation of 95 different areas in 8 trials, including 212 MCI patients, were analysed. The three most commonly used traditional acupuncture point locations in acupuncture interventions for MCI were KI3 (Taixi), LR3 (Taichong) and LI4 (Hegu). The results of the ALE data analysis showed that, after acupuncture intervention, the degree of activation in the anterior cingulate, inferior frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus and cerebellar tonsil of MCI patients increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture intervention for MCI appears to change the plasticity of brain function and improve the cognitive function of patients. Due to the small number and low quality of the included studies, the conclusion of this meta-analysis should be treated with caution. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO reference CRD42022301056 (http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO).

Effect of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation under different intensities upon rehabilitation of chronic pelvic pain syndrome: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Nearly one in seven women worldwide suffers from chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) each year. Often, CPPS necessitates a combination of treatments. Studies have shown the good therapeutic effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) upon CPPS. We wish to undertake a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to observe the effect of high-frequency rTMS at different intensities upon CPPS. METHODS AND ANALYSES: In this prospective, double-blinded RCT, 63 female CPPS participants will be recruited and randomized (1:1:1) to high-intensity rTMS, low-intensity rTMS, or sham rTMS. The control group will receive a 10-day course of conventional pelvic floor (PF) rehabilitation (neuromuscular stimulation, magnetic therapy, or light therapy of the PF). On the basis of conventional treatment, participants in the high-intensity rTMS group will receive pulses of 10 Hz with a resting motor threshold (RMT) of 110% for a total of 15,000 pulses. Participants in the low-intensity rTMS group will receive pulses of 10 Hz with an RMT of 80% with 15,000 pulses. The sham rTMS group will be subjected to sham stimulation with the same sound as produced by the real magnetic stimulation coil. The primary outcome will be determined using a visual analog scale, the Genitourinary Pain Index, Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. The secondary outcome will be determined by electromyography of the surface of PF muscles at baseline and after treatment completion. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study is approved by the Ethics Committee of Bao'an People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province (approval number: BYL20211203). The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated at scientific conferences (Protocol version 1.0-20220709). TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chictr.org.cn, ID: ChiCTR2200055615. Registered on 14 January 2022, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=146720 . Protocol version 1.0-20220709.

Water microecology is affected by seasons but not sediments: A spatiotemporal dynamics survey of bacterial community composition in Lake Changshou-The largest artificial lake in southwest China.

This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between microecology of sediments and water as well as their spatial-temporal variations in Changshou Lake. The results demonstrated that microecology in the lake exhibits spatiotemporal heterogeneity, and microbial diversity of sediments was significantly higher than that of water body. Further, it was found that there was statistically insignificant positive correlation between microecology of sediments and that of water body. PCoA and community structure analysis revealed that the predominant phyla which exhibited significant spatial differences in sediments were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Planctomycetes. While, the distribution of dominant bacteria Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobia in water body showed significant seasonal differences. Microbial networks analysis indicated that there was a cooperative symbiotic relationship between lake microbial communities. Notably, the same bacterial genus had no significant positive correlation in sediment and water, which suggested that bacteria transport between sediment-water interface does not influence the microecological functions of lake water.

Effects of mind-body exercise Baduanjin on cognition in community-dwelling older people with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a 6-month traditional Chinese mind-body Baduanjin exercise intervention on cognitive ability in older people with Mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: A total of 135 community-dwelling seniors with MCI were randomized into either the Baduanjin group (BDJ), the brisk walking group (BWK) or the usual physical activity control group (UPA). Cognitive ability was assessed at baseline, 2, 4 and 6 months post-intervention, and 3 months after the intervention ended. RESULTS: After 6 months of intervention, the MoCA score of the BDJ group was significantly higher than that of the UPA group (P < 0.05), The Go/No-go correct numbers of the BDJ group and BWK group were significantly higher than those of the UPA group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in other outcomes, or there were only a tiny effect size. Three months after the intervention, there was no significant difference between the primary and secondary outcomes(P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The 6-month period of Baduanjin training has positive benefits on global cognitive function and attention function in community-dwelling elderly individuals with MCI. The effect seems to have been transient and needs to be confirmed by additional studies.

Phase Lag Index of Resting-State EEG for Identification of Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is one of the important comorbidities of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is critical to find appropriate methods for early diagnosis and objective assessment of mild cognitive impairment patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM-MCI). Our study aimed to investigate potential early alterations in phase lag index (PLI) and determine whether it can distinguish between T2DM-MCI and normal controls with T2DM (T2DM-NC). EEG was recorded in 30 T2DM-MCI patients and 30 T2DM-NC patients. The phase lag index was computed and used in a logistic regression model to discriminate between groups. The correlation between the phase lag index and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score was assessed. The α-band phase lag index was significantly decreased in the T2DM-MCI group compared with the T2DM-NC group and showed a moderate degree of classification accuracy. The MoCA score was positively correlated with the α-band phase lag index (r = 0.4812, moderate association, p = 0.015). This work shows that the functional connectivity analysis of EEG may offer an effective way to track the cortical dysfunction linked to the cognitive deterioration of T2DM patients, and the α-band phase lag index may have a role in guiding the diagnosis of T2DM-MCI.

Effect mechanism of individual and combined salinity on the nitrogen removal yield of heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification bacteria.

One of the biggest challenges of applying heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification (HN-AD) bacteria to treat high salt organic wastewater lies in the inhibitory effect exerted by salinity. To study the inhibition effect and underlying mechanism induced by different ion types and ion composition, the individual and combined effects of NaCl, KCl and Na2SO4 on HN-AD bacteria Acinetobacter sp. TAC-1 were systematically investigated by batch experiments. Results indicated that the ammonia nitrogen removal yield and TAC-1 activity decreased with increased salt concentration. NaCl, KCl and Na2SO4 exerted different degrees of inhibition on TAC-1, with half concentration inhibition constant values of 0.205, 0.238 and 0.110 M, respectively. A synergistic effect on TAC-1 was found with the combinations of NaCl + KCl, NaCl + Na2SO4 and NaCl + KCl + Na2SO4. The whole RNA resequencing suggested that transcripts of denitrification genes (nirB and nasA) were significantly downregulated with increased Na2SO4 concentration. Simultaneously, Na2SO4 stress disrupted cell respiration, DNA replication, transcription, translation, and induced oxidative stress. Finally, we proposed a conceptual model to summarize the inhibition mechanisms and possible response strategies of TAC-1 bacteria under Na2SO4 stress.

Effects of Moxa Cone Moxibustion Therapy on Cognitive Function and Brain Metabolic Changes in MCI Patients: A Pilot 1H-MRS Study.

Objective: To explore the effect of moxa cone moxibustion on N-acetyl aspartate/total creatinine (NAA/tCr) and choline/total creatinine (Cho/tCr) in the bilateral hippocampus (HIP) and bilateral posterior cingulate gyrus (PCG) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using hydrogen proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) and to provide imaging basis for moxa cone moxibustion treatment for MCI. Methods: One hundred eight patients with MCI were served as the MCI group, and 67 age-matched subjects were enrolled as the normal control group. The MCI group was randomized and allocated into acupoint group, drug group, and sham acupoint group, with 36 cases in each group. Some patients in each group withdrew. Finally, 25 cases were included in the acupoint group, 24 cases in the drug group, and 20 cases in the sham acupoint group. The drug group was treated with oral donepezil hydrochloride. The acupoint group and sham acupoint group received moxa cone moxibustion treatment. Mini-mental state exam (MMSE) and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) scores were recorded before intervention, at the end of the first and the second months of intervention, and in the 5th month of follow-up. The NAA/tCr and Cho/tCr ratios in the HIP and PCG were bilaterally measured by 1H-MRS before and after intervention. Results: Before intervention, compared with the normal control group, the MMSE and MoCA scores, the Cho/tCr ratio in the right HIP, the NAA/tCr ratio in the bilateral HIP, and the NAA/tCr ratio in the left PCG in the three treatment groups decreased significantly (both p < 0.01), and the NAA/tCr ratio in the right PCG significantly reduced in the acupoint and drug groups (p < 0.05). After two months of treatment, compared with the normal control group, there were no differences in the MoCA scores, the NAA/tCr, and Cho/tCr ratios in the bilateral PCG and bilateral HIP in the three treatment groups (p > 0.05). However, the MMSE scores in the drug group decreased when compared with the acupoint group and normal control group (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). The scores of MMSE and MoCA in the acupoint group and sham acupoint group at all time points were better than those in the drug group, which were similar to those in the normal control group. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that moxibustion could improve the cognitive function of patients with MCI. The mechanism may be related to the improvement of abnormal brain metabolism in HIP and PCG.

[Transformation mechanism of carbon tetrachloride and the associated micro-ecology in landfill cover, a typical functional layer zone].

Landfill is one of the important sources of carbon tetrachloride (CT) pollution, and it is important to understand the degradation mechanism of CT in landfill cover for better control. In this study, a simulated landfill cover system was set up, and the biotransformation mechanism of CT and the associated micro-ecology were investigated. The results showed that three stable functional zones along the depth, i.e., aerobic zone (0-15 cm), anoxic zone (15-45 cm) and anaerobic zone (> 45 cm), were generated because of long-term biological oxidation in landfill cover. There were significant differences in redox condition and microbial community structure in each zone, which provided microbial resources and favorable conditions for CT degradation. The results of biodegradation indicated that dechlorination of CT produced chloroform (CF), dichloromethane (DCM) and Cl- in anaerobic and anoxic zones. The highest concentration of dechlorination products occurred at 30 cm, which were degraded rapidly in aerobic zone. In addition, CT degradation rate was 13.2-103.6 µg/(m2·d), which decreased with the increase of landfill gas flux. The analysis of diversity sequencing revealed that Mesorhizobium, Thiobacillus and Intrasporangium were potential CT-degraders in aerobic, anaerobic and anoxic zone, respectively. Moreover, six species of dechlorination bacteria and eighteen species of methanotrophs were also responsible for anaerobic transformation of CT and aerobic degradation of CF and DCM, respectively. Interestingly, anaerobic dechlorination and aerobic transformation occurred simultaneously in the anoxic zone in landfill cover. Furthermore, analysis of degradation mechanism suggested that generation of stable anaerobic-anoxic-aerobic zone by regulation was very important for the harmless removal of full halogenated hydrocarbon in vadose zone, and the increase of anoxic zone scale enhanced their removal. These results provide theoretical guidance for the removal of chlorinated pollutants in landfills.

The effects and mechanisms of transcranial ultrasound stimulation combined with cognitive rehabilitation on post-stroke cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) could improve post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) and the potential mechanisms through which this can be achieved. METHOD: Sixty patients with PSCI were selected and randomly divided into a control and observation group, respectively, with 30 cases in each group. Conventional cognitive rehabilitation training combined with TUS intervention was conducted in the observation group, while conventional cognitive rehabilitation training and sham-TUS stimulation were given to patients in the control group. RESULTS: The Mini-Mental State Exam, Modified Barthel Index score, P300 latency, and wave amplitude, as well as the serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, were significantly higher in both groups after treatment compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05), and were significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the observation group had significantly higher scores in executive, nomination, attention, language, and delayed recall compared with the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Transcranial ultrasound stimulation combined with conventional cognitive rehabilitation therapy improved the PSCI condition with better efficacy than conventional cognitive rehabilitation therapy only. The mechanism involved may be correlated with the upregulation of BDNF and P300 induced by TUS.

Alterations in Corticocortical Vestibular Network Functional Connectivity Are Associated with Decreased Balance Ability in Elderly Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

The corticocortical vestibular network (CVN) plays an important role in maintaining balance and stability. In order to clarify the specific relationship between the CVN and the balance ability of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), we recruited 30 MCI patients in the community. According to age and sex, they were 1:1 matched to 30 older adults with normal cognitive function. We evaluated balance ability and performed MRI scanning in the two groups of participants. We analyzed functional connectivity within the CVN based on the region of interest. Then, we performed a Pearson correlation analysis between the functional connection and the Berg Balance Scale scores. The research results show that compared with the control group, there were three pairs of functional connections (hMST_R−Premotor_R, PFcm_R−SMA_L, and hMST_L−VIP_R) that were significantly decreased in the CVNs of the MCI group (p < 0.05). Further correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between hMST_R−Premotor_R functional connectivity and BBS score (r = 0.364, p = 0.004). The decline in balance ability and increase in fall risk in patients with MCI may be closely related to the change in the internal connection mode of the corticocortical vestibular network.

Effect of APOEε4 on Functional Brain Network in Patients with Subjective Cognitive Decline: A Resting State Functional MRI Study.

PURPOSE: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is the earliest symptom stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the APOEε4 allele is the strongest genetic risk factor for sporadic AD. Based on graph theory, the resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) in SCD patients with APOEε4 was studied to explore the effect of APOEε4 on the rsFC network properties of SCD patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included MRI image data from 19 SCD patients with APOEε4 (SCD+), 29 SCD patients without APOEε4 (SCD-), and 30 normal control (NC-) individuals without APOEε4. We generated a binary matrix based on anatomical automatic labeling (AAL) 90 atlas to construct the functional network. We then calculated the whole brain network characteristics and intracerebral node characteristics by graph theory. RESULTS: For the whole brain network characteristics, all three groups showed small-worldness. The SCD+ group had increased compensatory information transfer speed and enhanced integration capability. This group also had high heterogeneity for intracerebral node characteristics, mainly in the default mode network, left superior occipital gyrus, and bilateral putamen. CONCLUSION: APOEε4 effects the functional brain network in patients with SCD and may be a potential indicator for the identification of SCD.

Corrigendum: A Pilot Study on the Cutoff Value of Related Brain Metabolite in Chinese Elderly Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment Using MRS.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.617611.].