Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is associated with distinct resting-state neural patterns in patients with generalized anxiety disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) may be effective for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD); however, the neural mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, we examined the potential neural mechanisms through which MBCT may reduce anxiety in patients with mild-to-moderate GAD. METHODS: Eight weekly group MBCT sessions (2 h each) were conducted with 32 GAD patients. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used, along with clinical and mindfulness profiles. A regional homogeneity (ReHo) approach was applied, and resting-state functional connectivity in the default mode network (DMN) using the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) seed was examined. RESULTS: MBCT reduced the anxiety and increased the mindfulness abilities of patients. After MBCT, patients had reduced ReHo in broad regions of the limbic system, along with increased DMN functional connectivity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and bilateral insula. Overlapping regions of reduced ReHo and increased DMN functional connectivity were observed in the mid-cingulate cortex (MCC) and bilateral insula. The increased PCC-ACC and PCC-insula functional connectivity following MBCT were related to anxiety improvements, suggesting a potential therapeutic mechanism for mindfulness-based therapies. DISCUSSION: Group MBCT treatment appears to have effectively reduced anxiety symptoms in patients with mild-to-moderate GAD. Activation and functional connectivity appeared significantly different across some limbic regions after MBCT treatment. The salience network showed reduced ReHo and increased connectivity to the PCC. The DMN functional connectivity of the MCC may indicate reduced anxiety and improved mindfulness in GAD patients.

[Effect of parent training in combination with methylphenidate treatment on family relationships for children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of parent training combined with methylphenidate treatment on family relationships in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: Fifty-nine parents of children with ADHD under methylphenidate treatment participated in a modified 5-week training program. The intervention effect was evaluated using the Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire, ADHD Rating Scale-IV Home Version (ADHD-RS-IV Home Version), Caregiver Strain Questionnaire, Parent-Child Relationship Self-rating Scale and Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale. Parents also completed the training satisfaction survey before and after the intervention. RESULTS: After the 5-week parent training, compared with the baseline values, total scores of Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire and scores of conduct problems and anxiety significantly decreased, and scores of attention deficit, hyperactivity, impulsivity and oppositional defiant behaviors of ADHD-RS-IV Home Version, and Caregiver Strain Questionnaire total scores were all significantly decreased (P<0.05), while total scores of the Parent-Child Relationship Self-Rating Scale and Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale were significantly increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Modified 5-week parent training program may improve parent-child relationship and reduce parenting stress in ADHD families.

[Study on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging].

OBJECTIVE: To compare resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) findings of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and normal children, and to investigate the possible mechanism of brain dysfunction in children with ADHD. METHODS: Resting-state fMRI was performed on 18 children who met the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for ADHD (ADHD group) and 18 normal children (control group) matched for age, sex, IQ, degree of education and handedness. The two groups were compared in terms of amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo). RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the ADHD group had decreased ALFF in the bilateral posterior lobes of the cerebellum and the left side of the pons, increased ALFF in the right precentral gyrus, decreased ReHo in the left medial frontal gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus, and left precuneus, and increased ReHo in the left anterior lobe of the cerebellum, left caudate nucleus, right parahippocampal gyrus, left precentral gyrus, and right middle frontal gyrus. CONCLUSIONS: In resting state, children with ADHD have decreased brain activity in some regions, including the cerebellum and frontal cortex, compared with normal children, which supports the hypothesis of dysfunctional fronto-cerebellar circuits in ADHD.

[Influential factors for methylphenidate treatment compliance in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate influential factors for the tendency to medicate and medication compliance in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: A total of 188 children aged from 5 to 16 years, who were initially diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria, were included in the study. They underwent symptom assessment and cognitive function test. The compliance of methylphenidate treatment was evaluated. RESULTS: Patients with better emotional state, and fewer oppositional and hyperactive behaviors and those who had a family history of psychiatric diseases and who obtained lower scores in the number cancellation test (NCT), were more prone to medication and/or exhibited better medication compliance. Logistic regression analysis showed that fewer oppositional and hyperactive behaviors and lower NCT scores were the predictive factors for a higher tendency to medicate, and a better emotional state was the predictive factor for better medication compliance. Patients of predominantly inattentive type were more prone to medication and showed better medication compliance, as compared with those of combined type. Gender, age and symptom severity were not associated with the tendency to medicate and/or medication compliance. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to enhance medication compliance in children with ADHD who have hyperactive, impulsive and oppositional behaviors, and to improve their long-term social functions.

[Leaf morphological structure and physiological and biochemical characteristics of female and male Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. sinensis under different soil moisture condition].

A field experiment was conducted to study the leaf morphological structure and physiological and biochemical characteristics of female and male Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. sinensis under different soil moisture condition. When the soil moisture condition was poorer, the leaf structure of the plants displayed distinct xeromorphic characteristics, being more obvious for the female plants. Comparing with those of male plants, the leaf thickness, thickness of upper and lower epidermis, and the distance between lateral vein bundles of female plants were smaller, while the thickness and density of lower epidermis hairs and the ratio of palisade tissue thickness to sponge tissue thickness were in adverse, indicating that female plants had stronger drought adaptability and greater ecological plasticity. With the decrease of soil moisture content, the leaf dissociative proline, dissoluble sugar, and malonaldehyde (MDA) contents of both male and female plants all increased, but for female plants, the increment of their leaf dissociative proline and dissoluble sugar contents was larger, while that of MDA content was smaller than the male plants. With the changes of soil moisture content, the leaf superoxide dismutase and catalase activities of the plants varied greatly, but had no regular pattern. Under the stress of soil drought, the values of multivariate membership function of test parameters were larger for the female than the male plants, suggesting that the female plants of H. rhamnoides subsp. sinensis had stronger physiological regulation capability and greater adaptability to drought stress.

Control of diesel soot and NOx emissions with a particulate trap and EGR.

The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), coupled with a high-collection efficiency particulate trap to simultaneously control smoke and NOx emissions from diesel engines were studied. This ceramic trap developed previously provided the soot cleaning efficiency of 99%, the regeneration efficiency reaches 80% and the ratio of success reaches 97%, which make EGR used in diesel possible. At the presence of EGR, opening of the regeneration control valve of the trap was over again optimized to compensate for the decrease of the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas resulted from EGR. The results indicated the cleaning efficiency and regeneration performance of the trap were maintained at the same level except that the back pressure increased faster. A new EGR system was developed, which is based on a wide range oxygen (UEGO) sensor. Experiments were carried out under steady state conditions while maintaining the engine speed at 1600 r/min, setting the engine loads at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% respectively. Throughout each test the EGR rate was kept at nine different settings and data were taken with the gas analyzer and UEGO sensor. Then, the EGR rate and engine load maps, which showed the tendencies of NOx, CO and HC emissions from diesel engine, were made using the measured data. Using the maps, the author set up the EGR regulation, the relationship between the optimal amounts of EGR flow and the equivalence ratio, sigma, where sigma = 14.5/AFR.