Regional homogeneity alterations in multi-frequency bands in tension-type headache: a resting-state fMRI study.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to investigate the spontaneous neural activity in the conventional frequency band (0.01-0.08 Hz) and two sub-frequency bands (slow-4: 0.027-0.073 Hz, and slow-5: 0.01-0.027 Hz) in tension-type headache (TTH) patients with regional homogeneity (ReHo) analyses. METHODS: Thirty-eight TTH patients and thirty-eight healthy controls (HCs) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) scanning to investigate abnormal spontaneous neural activity using ReHo analysis in conventional frequency band (0.01-0.08 Hz) and two sub-frequency bands (slow-4: 0.027-0.073 Hz and slow-5: 0.01-0.027 Hz). RESULTS: In comparison with the HC group, patients with TTH exhibited ReHo increases in the right medial superior frontal gyrus in the conventional frequency band (0.01-0.08 Hz). The between group differences in the slow-5 band (0.01-0.027 Hz) highly resembled the differences in the conventional frequency band (0.01-0.08 Hz); even the voxels with increased ReHo were spatially more extensive, including the right medial superior frontal gyrus and the middle frontal gyrus. In contrast, no region showed significant between-group differences in the slow-4 band (0.027-0.073 Hz). The correlation analyses showed no correlation between the ReHo values in TTH patients and VAS scores, course of disease and number of seizures per month in conventional band (0.01-0.08 Hz), slow-4 band (0.027-0.073 Hz), as well as in slow-5 band (0.01-0.027 Hz). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the superior frontal gyrus and middle frontal gyrus were involved in the integration and processing of pain signals. In addition, the abnormal spontaneous neural activity in TTH patients was frequency-specific. Namely, slow-5 band (0.01-0.027 Hz) might contain additional useful information in comparison to slow-4 band (0.027-0.073 Hz). This preliminary exploration might provide an objective imaging basis for the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanism of TTH.

Alterations in degree centrality and functional connectivity in tension-type headache: a resting-state fMRI study.

Previous studies have provided evidence of structural and functional changes in the brains of patients with tension-type headache (TTH). However, investigations of functional connectivity alterations in TTH have been inconclusive. The present study aimed to investigate abnormal intrinsic functional connectivity patterns in patients with TTH through the voxel-wise degree centrality (DC) method as well as functional connectivity (FC) analysis. A total of 33 patients with TTH and 30 healthy controls (HCs) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scanning and were enrolled in the final study. The voxel-wise DC method was performed to quantify abnormalities in the local functional connectivity hubs. Nodes with abnormal DC were used as seeds for further FC analysis to evaluate alterations in functional connectivity patterns. In addition, correlational analyses were performed between abnormal DC and FC values and clinical features. Compared with HCs, patients with TTH had higher DC values in the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG.L) and lower DC values in the left anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri (ACG.L) (GRF, voxel-wise p < 0.05, cluster-wise p < 0.05, two-tailed). Seed-based FC analyses revealed that patients with TTH showed greater connections between ACG.L and the right cerebellum lobule IX (CR-IX.R), and smaller connections between ACG.L and ACG.L. The MTG.L showed increased FC with the ACG.L, and decreased FC with the right caudate nucleus (CAU.R) and left precuneus (PCUN.L) (GRF, voxel-wise p < 0.05, cluster-wise p < 0.05, two-tailed). Additionally, the DC value of the MTG.L was negatively correlated with the DASS-depression score (p = 0.046, r=-0.350). This preliminary study provides important insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of TTH.

The effects of scraping therapy on local temperature and blood perfusion volume in healthy subjects.

Objective. We aim to study the therapeutic effects of scraping by investigating the changes of temperature and local blood perfusion volume in healthy subjects after scraping stimulation, and to explore the mechanism of scraping stimulation from the points of microcirculation and energy metabolism. Methods. Twenty-three health subjects were included in this study. Local blood perfusion volume and body surface temperature was detected at 5 min before scraping stimulation, 0, 15, 30, 60 and 90 min after scraping using Laser Doppler imager and infrared thermograph. Results. Significant increase was noted in the blood perfusion volume in the scraping area within 90 minutes compared to the baseline level and non-scraping area (P < 0.001). Compared with non-scraping area, an increase of body temperature with an average of 1°C was observed after scraping stimulation (P < 0.01). Conclusion. Scraping can significantly improve the blood perfusion volume and increase the temperature in the scraping area, promoting the local blood circulation and energy metabolism.

LncRNA THAP9-AS1 highly expressed in tissues of hepatocellular carcinoma and accelerates tumor cell proliferation.

BACKGROUND: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as significant regulators of cancer development. The purposes of study were to analyze the expression levels of long noncoding RNA THAP9-AS1 (THAP9-AS1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue samples and cell lines, evaluate the clinical significance of THAP9-AS1 in predicting the survival prognosis of HCC patients, and explore the biological function of THAP9-AS1 in regulating tumor progression of HCC. METHODS: The expression of THAP9-AS1 was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. The determination of HCC cell proliferation was performed using cell counting kit-8 assay. Chi-square test was used to reveal the relationship between THAP9-AS1 and clinicopathological data of HCC patients. Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test were used to perform analyze the relationship between THAP9-AS1 and prognostic survival in HCC patients. Cox regression was used to evaluate the abilities of THAP9-AS1 to predict survival outcomes in HCC patients. RESULTS: The expression of THAP9-AS1 were markedly upregulated in HCC tissue and cells. THAP9-AS1 expression was correlated with tumor size, tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage. High THAP9-AS1 expression was associated with poor prognostic survival in HCC patients. THAP9-AS1 was an independent prognostic factor for HCC patients. Overexpression of THAP9-AS1 promoted HCC cell proliferation, silencing THAP9-AS1 inhibited HCC cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: Aberrantly highly expressed THAP9-AS1 in HCC tissues and cells was associated with tumor size, TNM stage and poor survival prognosis, and promoted HCC cell proliferation. THAP9-AS1 had the potential to serve as independent prognostic biomarker for HCC patients and provide a novel target for HCC patients' prognostic treatment.

Correlation Analysis between Retention of Gd-DTPA in the Cystic Area of Brain Metastasis and MRI Signs.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentacetate (Gd-DTPA) retention in the cystic area of brain metastasis and its correlation with MRI signs. Methods: Clinical and MRI data of 76 patients with brain metastasis in the cystic area were collected. The contrast signal intensity (CSI) of the cystic area and edema area in the plain scan, enhanced scan, and plain scan after enhancement within 1 month (hereafter referred to as "enhanced plain scan") were analyzed to determine whether Gd-DTPA was retained in these areas. The lesions with higher CSI values on the enhanced plain scan were classified as the Gd-DTPA retention group and the remaining lesions as the Gd-DTPA-free group. The two groups were compared to determine significant differences in primary lesion type, tumor size, tumor location, capsule wall thickness and morphology, peritumoral edema, and renal function. Results: A total of 123 lesions were detected. The CSI of the enhanced plain scan exceeded that of the plain scan and enhanced scan in the cystic area (P < 0.05). There were 54 lesions (43.9%) with Gd-DTPA retention in the cystic area and 69 lesions (56.1%) without Gd-DTPA retention. Significant differences were observed in tumor size and cystic wall thickness between the two groups (P < 0.05), while no significant differences in primary lesion type, cystic wall shape, peritumoral edema, or function were observed. Conclusion: The retention of Gd-DTPA was found in the cystic area of some brain metastases, which was correlated with tumor size and cystic wall thickness.

Upregulation of miR-1266-5p serves as a prognostic biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma and facilitates tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. This study aimed to analyze the prognostic value of microRNA-1266-5p (miR-1266-5p) in HCC patients and investigate its biological function in HCC progression. METHODS: The expression of miR-1266-5p in tissues and cells was measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to detect HCC cell proliferation. Transwell assay was performed to evaluate the migration and invasion of HCC cells. Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox regression analysis were used to assess the prognostic value of miR-1266-5p in HCC patients. The relationship between miR-1266-5p and DAB2IP was evaluated by luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: Relative expression of miR-1266-5p in tumor tissues, tissues from patients with advanced TNM stage (III-IV) and HCC cells was increased compared with that in corresponding control group. MiR-1266-5p expression was significantly associated with tumor size and TNM stage in HCC patients. Elevated expression of miR-1266-5p was associated with poor prognosis of HCC patients and served as an independent prognostic factor for HCC patients. Overexpression of miR-1266-5p significantly promoted, while miR-1266-5p knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. DAB2IP could directly bind to the miR-1266-5p. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that elevated expression of miR-1266-5p can predict the poor prognosis of HCC patients, and promotes the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. Therefore, we predict that miR-1266-5p may be a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.

Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells alleviated brain injury via down-regulation of interleukin-1ß in focal cerebral ischemic rats.

Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) plays an important role in brain injury after focal ischemia, and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are capable of reducing the expression of IL-1ß, we investigated the effects of BMSCs transplantation on brain edema and cerebral infarction as well as the underlying mechanisms via IL-1ß. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: Normal + phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) + PBS, Normal + BMSCs, MCAO + BMSCs and MCAO + IL-1ra (an antagonist of IL-1ß). BMSCs were transplanted 24 hours after MCAO, and brain edema was evaluated by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and brain water content method after BMSCs transplantation. The expression of NeuN and AQP4 was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. Protein level of AQP4 and IL-1ß was detected by western blot analysis 48 hours after transplantation. The results showed that BMSCs transplantation reduced brain edema by measurement of brain water content and ADC Value of MRI, as well as the expression of AQP4 and IL-1ß. It was also found that BMSCs transplantation could alleviate the cerebral infarction volume and neuronal damage. Both the brain edema and the cerebral infarction were associated with IL-1ß expression. In conclusion, BMSCs transplantation was capable of alleviating brain edema as well as reducing cerebral infarction via down-regulation of IL-1ß expression, thus repair the injured brain in focal cerebral ischemic rats.