Disorganized resting-state functional connectivity between the dorsal attention network and intrinsic networks in Parkinson's disease with freezing of gait.

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a common and complex manifestation of Parkinson's disease (PD) and is associated with impairment of attention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional network connectivity (FNc) changes between the dorsal attention network (DAN) and the other seven intrinsic networks relevant to attention, visual-spatial, executive and motor functions in PD with or without FOG. Forty-three idiopathic PD patients (21 with FOG [FOG+] versus 22 without FOG [FOG-]) and 18 healthy controls (HC) were recruited in this study. The data-driven independent component analysis (ICA) method was used to extract and analyze the above-mentioned resting-state networks (RSNs). Compared with FOG-, FOG+ displayed decreased positive connectivity between the DAN and medial visual network (mVN) and sensory-motor network (SMN) and increased negative connectivity between the DAN and default mode network (DMN). The within-network connectivity in the SMN and visual networks were decreased, whereas the connectivity within DMN was increased significantly in FOG+. Correlation analysis showed that the clock drawing test (CDT) scores were positively correlated with the functional connectivity of mVN (r = 0.573, p = 0.008) and lateral visual network (lVN) (r = 0.510, p = 0.022), the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) duration were negatively correlated with the connectivity of SMN (r = -0.629, p = 0.003), and the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) scores were negatively correlated with the connectivity of DMN in FOG+. Functional connectivity was changed in multiple intra-networks in patients with FOG. Inordinate inter-network connectivity between the DAN and other intrinsic networks may partly contribute to the mechanism of freezing.

Illudin T, a new sesquiterpenoid from basidiomycete Agrocybe salicacola.

A new sesquiterpenoid (1), illudin T, was isolated from the culture of basidiomycete Agrocybe salicacola. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectral data.

Altered regional homogeneity and connectivity in cerebellum and visual-motor relevant cortex in Parkinson's disease with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) frequently occurs in Parkinson's disease (PD), however, the exact pathophysiological mechanism underlying its occurrence is not clear. In this study, we explored whether there is abnormal spontaneous neuronal activities and connectivity maps in some brain areas under resting-state in PD patients with RBD. METHODS: We recruited 38 PD patients (19 PD with RBD and 19 PD without RBD), and 20 age- and gender-matched normal controls. We used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) to analyze regional homogeneity (ReHo) and functional connectivity (FC), and further to reveal the neuronal activity in all subjects. RESULTS: Compared with the PD without RBD patients, the PD with RBD patients showed a significant increase in regional homogeneity in the left cerebellum, the right middle occipital region and the left middle temporal region, and decreased regional homogeneity in the left middle frontal region. The REM sleep behavioral disorders questionnaire scores were significantly positively correlated with the ReHo values of the left cerebellum. The functional connectivity analysis in which the four regions described above were used as regions of interest revealed increased functional activity between the left cerebellum and bilateral occipital regions, bilateral temporal regions and bilateral supplementary motor area. CONCLUSION: The pathophysiological mechanism of PD with RBD may be related to abnormal spontaneous neuronal activity patterns with strong synchronization of cerebellar and visual-motor relevant cortex, and the increased connectivity of the cerebellum with the occipital and motor regions.

Two new sesquiterpenoids from basidiomycete Agrocybe salicacola.

Two new aromadendrane-type sesquiterpenoids (1 and 2), together with a known aromadendrane sesquiterpenoid (3), were isolated from the culture of basidiomycete Agrocybe salicacola. The structures and relative configurations of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis.

A new compound from Hypericum reptans.

A new compound, 2,7,4a-trimethoxy-1,4,4a,8b-tetrahydrodibenzo-p-dioxin-4-one (1), was isolated from the aerial parts of the Hypericum reptans. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data and further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Two new cleistanthane diterpenes and a new isocoumarine from cultures of the basidiomycete Albatrellus confluens.

Two new cleistanthane-type diterpenes, 3alpha,5alpha,8beta-trihydroxycleistanth-13(17),15-dien-18-oic acid (1) and 8beta-hydroxy-18-norcleistanth-4(5),13(17),15-trien-3-one (2), a new isocoumarine, 3R-(2R-hydroxypropyl)-8-hydroxyl-7-methyl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarine (3), along with three known aurovertins, aurovertins B (4), C (5) and E (6), four known polyesters, orbuticin (7), BK223A (8), BK223B (9) and 15G256alpha-2-me (10), and a known isocoumarine, 3R-6-hydroxymellein (11), were isolated from cultures of the basidiomycete Albatrellus confluens. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods.

Different Alterations of Cerebral Regional Homogeneity in Early-Onset and Late-Onset Parkinson's Disease.

UNLABELLED: HIGHLIGHTS Eighteen EOPD, 21 LOPD and 37 age-matched normal control subjects participated in the resting state fMRI scans.Age at onset of PD modulates the distribution of cerebral regional homogeneity during resting state.Disproportionate putamen alterations are more prominent in PD patients with a younger age of onset. OBJECTIVE: Early-onset Parkinson's disease (EOPD) is distinct from late-onset PD (LOPD) as it relates to the clinical profile and response to medication. The objective of current paper is to investigate whether characteristics of spontaneous brain activity in the resting state are associated with the age of disease onset. METHODS: We assessed the correlation between neural activity and age-at-onset in a sample of 39 PD patients (18 EOPD and 21 LOPD) and 37 age-matched normal control subjects. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) approaches were employed using ANOVA with two factors: PD and age. RESULTS: In the comparisons between LOPD and EOPD, EOPD revealed lower ReHo values in the right putamen and higher ReHo values in the left superior frontal gyrus. Compared with age-matched control subjects, EOPD exhibited lower ReHo values in the right putamen and higher ReHo values in the left inferior temporal gyrus; However, LOPD showed lower ReHo values in the right putamen and left insula. The ReHo values were negatively correlated with the UPDRS total scores in the right putamen in LOPD, but a correlation between the ReHo value and UPDRS score was not detected in EOPD. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the notion that age at onset is associated with the distribution of cerebral regional homogeneity in the resting state and suggest that disproportionate putamen alterations are more prominent in patients with a younger age of onset.

Alterations in the limbic/paralimbic cortices of Parkinson's disease patients with hyposmia under resting-state functional MRI by regional homogeneity and functional connectivity analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hyposmia is a cardinal early symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD), but the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying it remain unclear. Resting-state functional MRI (RS-fMRI) demonstrates spontaneous neuronal activity. We hypothesized that there would be alterations in the olfaction-related regions of the limbic/paralimbic cortices in PD patients with obvious hyposmia by RS-fMRI. METHODS: We used the "Five Odors for Olfactory Detection Arrays" to test the threshold of olfactory detection (TOD) for 54 PD patients and 22 age-matched controls. Using the mean TOD of the control group, patients were subdivided into two groups: PD with obvious hyposmia (OH-PD, n = 38) and PD with none/less obvious hyposmia (NOH-PD, n = 16). The regional brain activity of all subjects was investigated using RS-fMRI, in combination with regional homogeneity (ReHo) and functional connectivity (FC) analysis. RESULTS: There were different ReHo values in the limbic/paralimbic cortices between the OH-PD and NOH-PD groups. ReHo was significantly decreased in OH-PD patients in parts of the traditional olfactory regions (e.g. the amygdala, olfactory gyrus, orbital frontal cortex, parahippocampal gyrus and insula) and some non-traditional olfactory centers (e.g. the rectal gyrus and superior temporal pole), while increased in the left anterior/posterior cingulate cortex. FC analysis revealed decreased functional connectivity within the limbic/paralimbic cortices, especially in regions with reduced ReHo in the OH-PD group. CONCLUSIONS: PD with hyposmia is related to altered functional activity not only in the traditional olfactory center, but also in some non-traditional olfactory regions of the limbic/paralimbic cortices.