Decoding Micro-Electrocorticographic Signals by Using Explainable 3D Convolutional Neural Network to Predict Finger Movements.

BACKGROUND: Electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocorticography (ECoG) recordings have been used to decode finger movements by analyzing brain activity. Traditional methods focused on single bandpass power changes for movement decoding, utilizing machine learning models requiring manual feature extraction. NEW METHOD: This study introduces a 3D convolutional neural network (3D-CNN) model to decode finger movements using ECoG data. The model employs adaptive, explainable AI (xAI) techniques to interpret the physiological relevance of brain signals. ECoG signals from epilepsy patients during awake craniotomy were processed to extract power spectral density across multiple frequency bands. These data formed a 3D matrix used to train the 3D-CNN to predict finger trajectories. RESULTS: The 3D-CNN model showed significant accuracy in predicting finger movements, with root-mean-square error (RMSE) values of 0.26-0.38 for single finger movements and 0.20-0.24 for combined movements. Explainable AI techniques, Grad-CAM and SHAP, identified the high gamma (HG) band as crucial for movement prediction, showing specific cortical regions involved in different finger movements. These findings highlighted the physiological significance of the HG band in motor control. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: The 3D-CNN model outperformed traditional machine learning approaches by effectively capturing spatial and temporal patterns in ECoG data. The use of xAI techniques provided clearer insights into the model's decision-making process, unlike the "black box" nature of standard deep learning models. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed 3D-CNN model, combined with xAI methods, enhances the decoding accuracy of finger movements from ECoG data. This approach offers a more efficient and interpretable solution for brain-computer interface (BCI) applications, emphasizing the HG band's role in motor control.

The Quantitative Evaluation of Automatic Segmentation in Lumbar Magnetic Resonance Images.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to overcome challenges in lumbar spine imaging, particularly lumbar spinal stenosis, by developing an automated segmentation model using advanced techniques. Traditional manual measurement and lesion detection methods are limited by subjectivity and inefficiency. The objective is to create an accurate and automated segmentation model that identifies anatomical structures in lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging scans. METHODS: Leveraging a dataset of 539 lumbar spinal stenosis patients, the study utilizes the residual U-Net for semantic segmentation in sagittal and axial lumbar spine magnetic resonance images. The model, trained to recognize specific tissue categories, employs a geometry algorithm for anatomical structure quantification. Validation metrics, like Intersection over Union (IOU) and Dice coefficients, validate the residual U-Net's segmentation accuracy. A novel rotation matrix approach is introduced for detecting bulging discs, assessing dural sac compression, and measuring yellow ligament thickness. RESULTS: The residual U-Net achieves high precision in segmenting lumbar spine structures, with mean IOU values ranging from 0.82 to 0.93 across various tissue categories and views. The automated quantification system provides measurements for intervertebral disc dimensions, dural sac diameter, yellow ligament thickness, and disc hydration. Consistency between training and testing datasets assures the robustness of automated measurements. CONCLUSION: Automated lumbar spine segmentation with residual U-Net and deep learning exhibits high precision in identifying anatomical structures, facilitating efficient quantification in lumbar spinal stenosis cases. The introduction of a rotation matrix enhances lesion detection, promising improved diagnostic accuracy, and supporting treatment decisions for lumbar spinal stenosis patients.

Antimicrobial ion-imprinted chitosan-derived hydrogel with quaternary ammonium and thermoresponsive components for UO22+ adsorption.

Uranium recovery from wastewater or seawater is important for both pollution control and uranium supply. Due to the complexity of the water body, it requires that the adsorbent should not only be highly efficient for selective adsorption but also have good antimicrobial properties. In this study, an antimicrobial thermosensitive hydrogel (UITAC) for uranium adsorption was prepared by one-step ion-imprinted polymerization using chitosan as a substrate and allyl trimethylammonium chloride as the antimicrobial modifier. UITAC showed excellent antibacterial rate against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, being 98.8 % and 89.1 %, respectively. Endothermic and exothermic peaks respectively showed up at 36.3-38.5 °C and 30.5-34.1 °C in the DSC curves. UITAC quickly achieved its adsorption equilibrium in 30.0 min at 50 °C, pH 5.0 in the 0.8 mg/mL UO22+ solution, with an adsorption capacity of 81.2 mg/g. The adsorption capacity could remain at 80 % after 5 cycles of repeated use. UITAC showed better adsorption selectivity to UO22+ than vanadium and other metal ions, with selectivity coefficients α(UO22+/Mn+) being 1.4-10.3. The pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir adsorption model had a better fit for UO22+ adsorption by UITAC. The adsorption was a spontaneous process. The Gibbs Free Energy change, enthalpy change, and entropy change at 323.2 K were - 16.0 kJ/mol, 64.3 kJ/mol, and 248.4 J/mol·K, respectively. UITAC showed high potential in practical application environment.

Cigarette smoke-induced dysbiosis: comparative analysis of lung and intestinal microbiomes in COPD mice and patients.

BACKGROUND: The impact of cigarette smoke (CS) on lung diseases and the role of microbiome dysbiosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been previously reported; however, the relationships remain unclear. METHODS: Our research examined the effects of 20-week cigarette smoke (CS) exposure on the lung and intestinal microbiomes in C57BL/6JNarl mice, alongside a comparison with COPD patients' intestinal microbiome data from a public dataset. RESULTS: The study found that CS exposure significantly decreased forced vital capacity (FVC), thickened airway walls, and induced emphysema. Increased lung damage was observed along with higher lung keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC) levels by CS exposure. Lung microbiome analysis revealed a rise in Actinobacteriota, while intestinal microbiome showed significant diversity changes, indicating dysbiosis. Principal coordinate analysis highlighted distinct intestinal microbiome compositions between control and CS-exposed groups. In the intestinal microbiome, notable decreases in Patescibacteria, Campilobacterota, Defferibacterota, Actinobacteriota, and Desulfobacterota were observed. We also identified correlations between lung function and dysbiosis in both lung and intestinal microbiomes. Lung interleukins, interferon-É£, KC, and 8-isoprostane levels were linked to lung microbiome dysbiosis. Notably, dysbiosis patterns in CS-exposed mice were similar to those in COPD patients, particularly of Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage 4 patients. This suggests a systemic impact of CS exposure. CONCLUSION: In summary, CS exposure induces significant dysbiosis in lung and intestinal microbiomes, correlating with lung function decline and injury. These results align with changes in COPD patients, underscoring the important role of microbiome in smoke-related lung diseases.

Correlation of Disease Severity, Proinflammatory Cytokines, and Reduced Brain Gray Matter Volumes in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. However, few studies have investigated brain changes associated with chronic inflammation. We hypothesized that chronic inflammation might be related to brain structural alterations in patients with AD. Objectives: To investigate the association between disease severity (Eczema Area and Severity Index [EASI]), proinflammatory cytokines, and differences in brain gray matter (GM) volume in patients with AD. Methods: Nineteen patients with AD and 19 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were enrolled. All participants underwent clinical assessment and brain magnetic resonance imaging. Voxel-based morphometry was performed to analyze GM volume differences. Results: Patients with AD exhibited significantly decreased GM volume in many brain regions, such as bilateral precentral gyrus, right frontal pole, and right middle temporal gyrus (P < 0.001), compared with healthy subjects. Notably, in patients with AD, the GM volume in right middle temporal gyrus was negatively associated with both EASI score and proinflammatory cytokines (sIL-2R [soluble interleukin 2 receptor] and TNF-α receptor-1), whereas the GM volume in left precentral gyrus was negatively associated with both EASI score and proinflammatory cytokines (sIL-2R and CRP). Conclusion: Patients with AD demonstrated significant brain GM volume reduction in many brain regions, which is related to disease severity and proinflammatory cytokines.

Amelioration of the brain structural connectivity is accompanied with changes of gut microbiota in a tuberous sclerosis complex mouse model.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disease that causes benign tumors and dysfunctions in many organs, including the brain. Aside from the brain malformations, many individuals with TSC exhibit neuropsychiatric symptoms. Among these symptoms, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the most common co-morbidities, affecting up to 60% of the population. Past neuroimaging studies strongly suggested that the impairments in brain connectivity contribute to ASD, whether or not TSC-related. Specifically, the tract-based diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analysis provides information on the fiber integrity and has been used to study the neuropathological changes in the white matter of TSC patients with ASD symptoms. In our previous study, curcumin, a diet-derived mTOR inhibitor has been shown to effectively mitigate learning and memory deficits and anxiety-like behavior in Tsc2+/- mice via inhibiting astroglial proliferation. Recently, gut microbiota, which is greatly influenced by the diet, has been considered to play an important role in regulating several components of the central nervous system, including glial functions. In this study, we showed that the abnormal social behavior in the Tsc2+/- mice can be ameliorated by the dietary curcumin treatment. Second, using tract-based DTI analysis, we found that the Tsc2+/- mice exhibited altered fractional anisotropy, axial and radial diffusivities of axonal bundles connecting the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, hypothalamus, and amygdala, indicating a decreased brain network. Third, the dietary curcumin treatment improved the DTI metrics, in accordance with changes in the gut microbiota composition. At the bacterial phylum level, we showed that the abundances of Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Tenericutes were significantly correlated with the DTI metrics FA, AD, and RD, respectively. Finally, we revealed that the expression of myelin-associated proteins, myelin bassic protein (MBP) and proteolipid protein (PLP) was increased after the treatment. Overall, we showed a strong correlation between structural connectivity alterations and social behavioral deficits, as well as the diet-dependent changes in gut microbiota composition.

Gold nanoparticle-directed autophagy intervention for antitumor immunotherapy via inhibiting tumor-associated macrophage M2 polarization

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), one of the dominating constituents of tumor microenvironment, are important contributors to cancer progression and treatment resistance. Therefore, regulation of TAMs polarization from M2 phenotype towards M1 phenotype has emerged as a new strategy for tumor immunotherapy. Herein, we successfully initiated antitumor immunotherapy by inhibiting TAMs M2 polarization via autophagy intervention with polyethylene glycol-conjugated gold nanoparticles (PEG-AuNPs). PEG-AuNPs suppressed TAMs M2 polarization in both in vitro and in vivo models, elicited antitumor immunotherapy and inhibited subcutaneous tumor growth in mice. As demonstrated by the mRFP-GFP-LC3 assay and analyzing the autophagy-related proteins (LC3, beclin1 and P62), PEG-AuNPs induced autophagic flux inhibition in TAMs, which is attributed to the PEG-AuNPs induced lysosome alkalization and membrane permeabilization. Besides, TAMs were prone to polarize towards M2 phenotype following autophagy activation, whereas inhibition of autophagic flux could reduce the M2 polarization of TAMs. Our results revealed a mechanism underlying PEG-AuNPs induced antitumor immunotherapy, where PEG-AuNPs reduce TAMs M2 polarization via induction of lysosome dysfunction and autophagic flux inhibition. This study elucidated the biological effects of nanomaterials on TAMs polarization and provided insight into harnessing the intrinsic immunomodulation capacity of nanomaterials for effective cancer treatment.

Clinical value of Aβ1-42, tau protein and thyroid hormone levels in predicting cognitive impairment after ischemic stroke / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum markers β amyloid (Aβ), tau and thyroid hormone levels and post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) in the acute phase of cerebral infarction. Methods A total of 214 patients with acute cerebral infarction were enrolled. The baseline data and serological indicators were collected and the cognitive function of patients was evaluated. All patients were divided into cognitive impairment group and normal group based on follow-up results. The differences of Aβ1-42, tau protein and thyroxine levels between the two groups and their relationship with disease progression were analyzed. The Cox regression analysis and ROC curve were used to compare the above parameters to predict the development of PSCI. Results The total protein level of Tau (210.6 ±98.9 pg/mL) was higher and Aβ1-42 (426.1 ±123.5 pg/mL) and triiodothyronine (T3) (1.43 ±0.57 nmol/L), free thyroxine (FT4) (13.15±2.23 pmol/L) was significantly lower in the cognitive impairment group than in the normal group (P<0.05). Tau protein (r=-0.457), Aβ1-42 (r=0.348), T3 (r=0.211), and FT4 (r=0.306) were all associated with disease progression (P<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that Aβ1-42 and T3 were important influencing factors in the occurrence of PSCI. The area under the curve of Aβ1-42 combined with T3 was 0.841. The specificity and the sensitivity were 74.8% and 85.3%, respectively, with a diagnostic cutoff value of 0.572. Conclusion Aβ1-42 and T3 levels in the acute phase of cerebral infarction may predict the progression of PSCI.

Effects of Different Polar Parts of 5 Kinds of Alpinia on Function of Sympathetic-adrenal System in Gastric Ulcer Model Rats with Cold Syndrome / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of different polar parts of 5 kinds of Alpinia on the function of sympathetic-adrenal system in gastric ulcer model rats with cold syndrome， such as the root of Alpinia officinarum， the rhizome and fruit of Alpinia galangal， the seed of Alpinia katsumadai， and the fruit of Alpinia oxyphylla. METHODS： SD rats were given Anemarrhena asphodeloides decoction at 4 ℃ and Glacial acetic acid solution intragastrically to induce gastric ulcer model with cold syndrome； the model rats were randomly divided into model group， Fuzi lizhong pills group （positive control， 9.0 g/kg）， cimetidine group （positive control， 0.003 3 g/kg）， low-dose and high-dose groups of petroleum ether， ethyl acetate， n-butanol and water extraction parts from 5 medicinal materials （hereinafter referred to as “gaoshidi” “gaoshigao” “dashidi” “dashigao” “hongshidi” “hongshigao” “caoshidi” “caoshigao” “yishidi” “yishigao” “gaoyidi” “gaoyigao” “dayidi” “dayigao” “hongyidi” “hongyigao” “caoyidi” “caoyigao” “yiyidi” “yiyigao” “gaozhengdi” “gaozhenggao” “dazhengdi” “dazhenggao” “hongzhengdi” “hongzhenggao” “caozhengdi” “caozhenggao” “yizhengdi” “yizhenggao” “gaoshuidi” “gaoshuigao” “dashuidi” “dashuigao” “hongshuidi” “hongshuigao” “caoshuidi” “caoshuigao” “yishuidi” “yishuigao”， 0.064/0.256， 0.032/ 0.128， 0.008/0.032， 0.075/0.3， 0.1/0.4， 0.064/0.256， 0.108/0.432， 0.16/0.64， 0.064/0.25， 0.125/0.5， 0.056/0.224， 0.108/0.432， 0.08/0.32， 0.2/0.8， 0.3/1.2， 0.14/0.56， 0.032/0.128， 0.028/0.112， 0.05/0.2， 0.087/0.348 g/kg， by mass of extraction parts）， with 10 rats in each group； and the blank group （normal temperature water） was set up. Next day after modeling， blank group and model group were given constant volume of normal temperature water intragastrically； administration group was given relevant solution 2 mL/100 g intragastrically， q12 h， 4 times in total. After last medication， urine contents of 17-OHCS， CAs substances （A， NE， DA） and serum contents of ACTH and D-β-H were determined by ELISA. RESULTS： Compared with blank group， the contents of 17-OHCS， A， NE and DA in urine， the contents of ACTH and D-β-H in serum were decreased significantly in model group （P＜0.01）. Compared with model group， the contents of 17-OHCS （Fuzi lizhong pills group， cimetidine group， gaoshidi， gaoshigao， dashigao， hongshigao， caoshigao and yishigao groups， ethyl acetate part groups of 5 medicinal materials， dazhenggao， hongzhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups， gaoshuigao， dashuigao and hongshuigao groups）， A （Fuzi lizhong pills group， cimetidine group， gaoshigao， dashigao， hongshidi， hongshigao， caoshidi， caoshigao and yishigao groups， ethyl acetate part groups of 5 medicinal materials， gaozhenggao， dazhenggao， hongzhengdi， hongzhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups， hongshuigao group）， NE （Fuzi lizhong pills group， cimetidine group， petroleum ether part， ethyl acetate part and n-butanol part groups of 5 medicinal materials， gaoshuigao， dashuigao and hongshuigao groups）， DA [Fuzi lizhong pills group， cimetidine group， petroleum ether part （except for gaoshidi group） and ethyl acetate part groups of 5 medicinal materials， gaozhenggao， dazhenggao， hongzhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups， hongshuigao group] in urine， serum contents of ACTH [Fuzi lizhong pills group， petroleum ether part （except for gaoshidi， dashidi and caoshidi groups） and ethyl acetate part （except for dayidi and hongyidi groups） groups of 5 medicinal materials， hongzhenggao group， dashuigao group]， and D-β-H [Fuzi lizhong pills group， gaoshigao， dashigao， hongshidi， hongshigao and yishigao groups， ethyl acetate part groups of 5 medicinal materials （except for dayidi， hongyidi and yiyidi groups）， dazhenggao and hongzhenggao groups， hongshuigao group] were increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The contents of 17-OHCS and D-β-H in dashigao group， the contents of ACTH and D-β-H in caoshigao group and the contents of D-β-H in gaoshigao and yishigao groups were significantly lower than hongshigao group. The contents of DA in gaoyigao， caoyigao and yiyigao groups as well as the contents of D-β-H in gaoyigao， hongyigao， caoyigao and yiyigao groups were significantly lower than dayigao group； the contents of DA in gaoyigao and caoyigao groups were significantly lower than hongyigao group， the contents of ACTH in gaoyigao， dayigao， caoyigao and yiyigao groups were significantly higher than hongyigao group. The contents of 17-OHCS， DA and ACTH in gaozhenggao， dazhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups， the contents of A in dazhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups as well as the contents of D-β-H in gaozhenggao， caozhenggao and yizhenggao groups were significantly lower than hongzhenggao group. The contents of 17-OHCS and D-β-H in caoshuigao and yishuigao groups were significantly lower than dashuigao group. The contents of 17-OHCS， DA and D-β-H in caoshuigao and yishuigao groups as well as the contents of DA and D-β-H in gaoshuigao groups were significantly lower than hongshuigao group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS： Different polar parts of 5 kinds of Alpinia can improve gastric ulcer model rats with cold syndrome to different extents； among them， the fruit of A. galangal is the best， followed by the root of A. officinarum. Above medicinal materials can regulate the function of sympathetic-adrenal system by increasing the contents of 17-OHCS， CAs and D-β-H.

Materiamedica literature study on medicinal properties and utility of four kinds of Alpinia Chinese medicines / 中国中药杂志

In order to explore the correlation between the medicinal properties，efficacy and application in the same genetic relationship，explain the scientific connotation of the medicinal properties and effects of traditional Chinese medicines(TCM)，promote the academic development of the theory of traditional Chinese medicines，and provide reference for the research and development of the traditional Chinese medicines of a same genus. In this paper, a literature study of ancient and modern works of Chinese herbal medicine was conducted to investigate the correlation between the properties, meridians tropism, efficacy and application of Alpinia officinarum， A. katsumadai， Galangae Fructus and Alpinae Oxyphyllae Fructus, four kinds of Alpinia Chinese medicines．The results showed that the similar properties of these four kinds of Alpinia Chinese medicines included that they were acrid, warm,and mainly getting into the spleen and stomach channels; the similar efficacies included that dispelling cold，relieving pain，warming stomach，anti-nausea，anti-diarrheal，reinforcing spleen to promote digestion and other effects; in application aspects, the similarities were that they were all mainly used in treatment of catching cold or spleen deficiency induced by abdominal pain，vomiting，diarrhea,diet indigestion, etc. indicating that phylogenetic relationship was closely related with the herbal properties, efficacy and application. It is an effective way to explore，collate and research traditional Chinese medicine by using plant phylogenetic relationships in exploring the internal relations and laws of TCM theories，material bases, pharmacological effects and clinical applications, also with a strong maneuverability to explain their scientific connotation.