Dual-energy computed tomography in a multiparametric regression model for diagnosing lymph node metastases in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) quantitative parameters in the identification of regional lymph node metastasis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS: This retrospective diagnostic study assessed 145 patients with pathologically confirmed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma from August 2016-October 2020. Quantitative parameters for targeted lymph nodes were measured using DECT, and all parameters were compared between benign and metastatic lymph nodes to determine their diagnostic value. A logistic regression model was constructed; the receiver operator characteristics curve was plotted; the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of each energy DECT parameter; and the DeLong test was used to compare AUC differences. Model evaluation was used for correlation analysis of each DECT parameter. RESULTS: Statistical differences in benign and metastatic lymph nodes were found for several parameters. Venous phase iodine density had the highest diagnostic efficacy as a single parameter, with AUC 0.949 [95% confidence interval (CI):0.915-0.972, threshold: 3.95], sensitivity 79.80%, specificity 96.00%, and accuracy 87.44%. Regression models with multiple parameters had the highest diagnostic efficacy, with AUC 0.992 (95% CI: 0.967-0.999), sensitivity 95.96%, specificity 96%, and accuracy 94.97%, which was higher than that for a single DECT parameter, and the difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Among all DECT parameters for regional lymph node metastasis in PDAC, venous phase iodine density has the highest diagnostic efficacy as a single parameter, which is convenient for use in clinical settings, whereas a multiparametric regression model has higher diagnostic value compared with the single-parameter model.

The association between non-suicidal self-injury and negative life events in children and adolescents in underdeveloped regions of south-western China.

Background: The association between negative life events and Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in children and adolescents has been extensively discussed. Nevertheless, little is known about the relationship between negative life events and repetition and severity of NSSI. This survey aims to understand the association between NSSI prevalence, severity, repetition and the negative life events in children and adolescents in underdeveloped regions in south-western China. Methods: In this population-based cross-sectional study, 3,146 children and adolescents were included from underdeveloped regions of south-western China, and each of them requested to complete a self-assessment questionnaire. The Modified Version of Adolescents Self-Harm Scale (MASHS) and the Adolescent Self-rating negative Life Events Check-list were used to evaluate NSSI behaviors and negative life events, respectively. The statistical implementation of this study was carried out in the R statistical software, and the logistic regression analysis method was used to analyze the relationship between negative life events and adolescents' non-suicidal self-injury behaviors. Results: The average age of all included participants was 13.31 years old. The lifetime prevalence of NSSI was 47.0% (95% CI [36.3-58.0%]). Gender, grade level and ASLEC was positively associated with NSSI. Further analysis revealed that, for all five dimensions of ASLEC, only interpersonal relationship factor (IRF) (OR 1.77 (95% CI [1.06-2.97])), health adaptation factor (HAF) (OR 2.08 (95% CI [1.31-3.31])) showed prominent association with NSSI. Multivariate Logistic regression models revealed that, repetitive NSSI (OR 4.54 (95% CI [3.66-5.63])) and NSSI severity (OR 9.01 (95% CI [6.11-13.29])) were positively associated with ASLEC. Conclusion: NSSI is very common among children and adolescents in underdeveloped regions of south-western China. Negative life event are positively associated with NSSI, repeated NSSI, and severe NSSI. Negative life events centered intervention measures might be effective in reducing NSSI among school children and adolescents in underdeveloped regions of south-western China.

Deep learning radiomics of dual-energy computed tomography for predicting lymph node metastases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: Diagnosis of lymph node metastasis (LNM) is critical for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We aimed to build deep learning radiomics (DLR) models of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) to classify LNM status of PDAC and to stratify the overall survival before treatment. METHODS: From August 2016 to October 2020, 148 PDAC patients underwent regional lymph node dissection and scanned preoperatively DECT were enrolled. The virtual monoenergetic image at 40 keV was reconstructed from 100 and 150 keV of DECT. By setting January 1, 2021, as the cut-off date, 113 patients were assigned into the primary set, and 35 were in the test set. DLR models using VMI 40 keV, 100 keV, 150 keV, and 100 + 150 keV images were developed and compared. The best model was integrated with key clinical features selected by multivariate Cox regression analysis to achieve the most accurate prediction. RESULTS: DLR based on 100 + 150 keV DECT yields the best performance in predicting LNM status with the AUC of 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.85-0.89) in the test cohort. After integrating key clinical features (CT-reported T stage, LN status, glutamyl transpeptadase, and glucose), the AUC was improved to 0.92 (95% CI: 0.91-0.94). Patients at high risk of LNM portended significantly worse overall survival than those at low risk after surgery (P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: The DLR model showed outstanding performance for predicting LNM in PADC and hold promise of improving clinical decision-making.

Prevalence of depressive disorders and treatment in China: a cross-sectional epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND: In China, depressive disorders have been estimated to be the second leading cause of years lived with disability. However, nationally representative epidemiological data for depressive disorders, in particular use of mental health services by adults with these disorders, are unavailable in China. The present study, part of the China Mental Health Survey, 2012-15, aims to describe the socioeconomic characteristics and the use of mental health services in people with depressive disorders in China. METHODS: The China Mental Health Survey was a cross-sectional epidemiological survey of mental disorders in a multistage clustered-area probability sample of adults of Chinese nationality (≥18 years) from 157 nationwide representative population-based disease surveillance points in 31 provinces across China. Trained investigators interviewed the participants with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 to ascertain the presence of lifetime and 12-month depressive disorders according to DSM-IV criteria, including major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and depressive disorder not otherwise specified. Participants with 12-month depressive disorders were asked whether they received any treatment for their emotional problems during the past 12 months and, if so, the specific types of treatment providers. The Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) was used to assess impairments associated with 12-month depressive symptoms. Data-quality control procedures included logic check by computers, sequential recording check, and phone-call check by the quality controllers, and reinterview check by the psychiatrists. Data were weighted according to the age-sex-residence distribution data from China's 2010 census population survey to adjust for differential probabilities of selection and differential response, as well as to post-stratify the sample to match the population distribution. FINDINGS: 28 140 respondents (12 537 [44·6%] men and 15 603 [55·4%] women) completed the survey between July 22, 2013, and March 5, 2015. Ethnicity data (Han or non-Han) were collected for only a subsample. Prevalence of any depressive disorders was higher in women than men (lifetime prevalence odds ratio [OR] 1·44 [95% CI 1·20-1·72] and 12-month prevalence OR 1·41 [1·12-1·78]), in unemployed people than employed people (lifetime OR 2·38 [95% CI 1·68-3·38] and 12-month OR 2·80 [95% CI 1·88-4·18]), and in people who were separated, widowed, or divorced compared with those who were married or cohabiting (lifetime OR 1·87 [95% CI 1·39-2·51] and 12-month OR 1·85 [95% CI 1·40-2·46]). Overall, 574 (weighted % 75·9%) of 744 people with 12-month depressive disorders had role impairment of any SDS domain: 439 (83·6%) of 534 respondents with major depressive disorder, 207 (79·8%) of 254 respondents with dysthymic disorder, and 122 (59·9%) of 189 respondents with depressive disorder not otherwise specified. Only an estimated 84 (weighted % 9·5%) of 1007 participants with 12-month depressive disorders were treated in any treatment sector: 38 (3·6%) in speciality mental health, 20 (1·5%) in general medical, two (0·3%) in human services, and 21 (2·7%) in complementary and alternative medicine. Only 12 (0·5%) of 1007 participants with depressive disorders were treated adequately. INTERPRETATION: Depressive disorders in China were more prevalent in women than men, unemployed people than employed, and those who were separated, widowed, or divorced than people who were married or cohabiting. Most people with depressive disorders reported social impairment. Treatment rates were very low, and few people received adequate treatment. National programmes are needed to remove barriers to availability, accessibility, and acceptability of care for depression in China. FUNDING: National Health Commission and Ministry of Science and Technology of People's Republic of China. TRANSLATION: For the Chinese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Elevated serum neurofilament levels in young first-episode and medication-naïve major depressive disorder patients with alterative white matter integrity.

The mechanism of white matter (WM) microstructure alteration in major depressive disorder (MDD) is unknown. Serum neurofilament (NF) levels have been identified as promising biomarkers for axonal damage and degeneration in neurological disorders. Furthermore, elevated plasma NF levels were also reported in depressive patients with treatment resistance. The current study investigated the serum NF levels of first-episode, medication-naïve patients with different severities of MDD and assessed their relationships with WM integrity. Diffusion tensor images and serum NF levels of 82 MDD patients and 72 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were taken. We found that serum NF levels were significantly higher in patients with MDD than those in HCs. Fractional anisotropy (FA) of six brain WM tracts (the body and genu of the corpus callosum, left superior and posterior corona radiata, and bilateral anterior corona radiata) in patients with MDD were lower than those in the HCs after family-wise error-correction for multiple comparisons. Negative correlations between serum NF levels in the severe group of MDD and the decreased FA of the left anterior corona radiata were found in MDD, which might contribute to an understanding of the pathophysiological mechanism of MDD.

Childhood maltreatment and suicidal ideation in Chinese children and adolescents: the mediation of resilience.

BACKGROUND: Childhood maltreatment could increase the risk of suicidal ideation (SI) in adolescents. However, the mediation of resilience in this association remains unclear. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study has been done among 3,146 Chinese adolescents. We collected relevant information from the study participants by using self-administered questionnaire. Chinese version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Resilience Scale for Chinese Adolescents (RSCA), and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI) were used to measure childhood maltreatment, resilience, and SI, respectively. Univariate and multivariate binary Logistic regression models were employed to estimate crude and adjusted associations between childhood maltreatment, resilience, and SI. Path analysis has subsequently been performed to measure the mediation of resilience in this association. RESULTS: Multivariate Logistic regression models revealed that compared to non-abused counterparts, adolescents who had ever experienced any type of childhood maltreatment was 1.74 times likely to report SI. Among the specific types of childhood maltreatment, emotional abuse showed the strongest association with SI (adjusted OR = 3.01, 95% CI [2.37-3.82]). Path model suggested that over one-third (39.8%) of the total association between childhood maltreatment and SI was mediated via resilience. Emotion regulation and interpersonal assistance were the most prominent mediators among all dimensions of resilience. CONCLUSIONS: Resilience played as a significant mediator in the association between childhood maltreatment and SI. Resilience-oriented intervention measures could be considered for suicidal risk prevention among abused Chinese adolescents.

Application Experience and Patient Feedback Analysis of 3D Printed AFO with Different Materials: A Random Crossover Study.

PURPOSE: This study is aimed at analyzing the application experience and feedback of the patients with poststroke ankle dorsiflexion disorders for 3D printed AFO with three different materials. METHODS: 15 patients were randomly divided into three groups; 3D printed AFO with 3 different materials (PA2200, Somos NeXt, and PA12) was used to each group, according to the crossover study design, in order to ask the three groups of patients to use three different materials of 3D printed AFO. Assessment was taken by the end of each test round. Through statistical processing, the patient feedback data of the three groups of materials of 3D printed AFO were obtained. RESULTS: In the material comfort assessment of the AFO, Somos NeXt was compared with PA2200, and the p value was <0.05; in the item of surface smoothness of the AFO, Somos NeXt was compared with PA2200, and the p value was <0.01; at the same time, PA12 was compared with PA2200, and the p value was <0.05. CONCLUSION: The 3 different materials of 3D printing AFO bring different experience, and we also have sufficient reason to believe that there will be differences in the auxiliary effect of this on patients, which leads the patient's selection too. The material Somos NeXt is much popular and has certain clinical advantages.

Cancer and stem cells.

Being the second leading cause of death globally, cancer has been a long-standing and rapidly evolving focus of biomedical research and practice in the world. A tremendous effort has been made to understand the origin of cancer cells, the formation of cancerous tissues, and the mechanism by which they spread and relapse, but the disease still remains mysterious. Here, we made an attempt to scrutinize evidences that indicate the role of stem cells in tumorigenesis and metastasis, and cancer relapse. We also looked into the influence of cancers on stem cells, which in turn represent a major constituent of tumor microenvironment. Based on current understandings of the properties of (cancer) stem cells and their relation to cancers, we can foresee that novel therapeutic approaches would become the next wave of cancer treatment.

Childhood maltreatment with school bullying behaviors in Chinese adolescents: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Although childhood maltreatment and school bullying are common among Chinese adolescents, their possible connection remains severely under-discussed in this population. This study primarily aims to explore the association between childhood maltreatment experience and school bullying behaviors in a large sample of Chinese teenagers. METHOD: A school-based sampling survey was implemented with 2579 adolescents in southwest China. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect relevant information form the participants. Binary Logistic regression models were adopted to estimate the crude and adjusted associations between childhood maltreatment experience and school bullying involvement in general, as well as between different types of child maltreatment and school bullying. RESULTS: Multivariate Logistic regression models revealed that, for adolescents who had experienced any type of childhood maltreatment, their risk of implicating into school bullying significantly increased (OR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.41-2.16). Further analysis revealed that, for all types of childhood maltreatment and school bullying, only child abuse showed prominent association with bullying victimization: adolescents who reported a history of sexual abuse and emotional abuse were found 4.31 (95% CI: 2.79-6.68) and 2.11 (95% CI: 1.32-3.39) folds of odds for bullying victimization. However, the dose-response association was not apparent between the severity of child abuse and bullying victimization based on subgroup analysis of abused participants. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood maltreatment, especially sexual abuse and emotional abuse, were significantly associated with increased risk of school bullying victimization among Chinese adolescents. Targeted intervention measures should be designed and implemented to protect the abused adolescents from being bullied at school.

Association between parenting and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents in Yunnan, China: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents is prevalent and its rate has increased in recent years worldwide. Previous studies had investigated the association between parenting and childhood NSSI, but little is known about the relationship between parental rearing and repetition and severity of NSSI. The aim of this study was to investigate associations of parenting with NSSI and its repetition and severity in a representative adolescent sample from southwestern China. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 2,705 adolescents (F/M: 1,245/1,460; mean age: 13.4 ± 2.2 years) was recruited from 14 randomly selected schools in Lincang municipality, Yunnan province, China. A self-report questionnaire was used to collect data. The Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Function Assessment Scale and the short Chinese Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran (s-EMBU-C) were used to evaluate NSSI behaviors and parenting style, respectively. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were adopted to examine association between parenting and NSSI. RESULTS: Overall lifetime prevalence of NSSI was 47.1% (95% CI [36.2-58.0]), with self-cutting being the most common form (23.5% (95% CI [19.3-27.7])), followed by hitting hard objects (23.4% (95% CI [20.2-26.7])) and pulling hairs (20.9% (95% CI [18.8-22.6])). In multiple logistic regression analyses, NSSI was positively associated with high level of father's rejection (OR: 1.32 (95% CI [1.01-1.72])), high level of mother's rejection (OR: 1.76 (95% CI [1.46-2.13])), low level of mother's emotional warmth (OR: 1.42 (95% CI [1.15-1.75])), and high level of mother's overprotection (OR: 1.74 (95% CI [1.49-2.03])), repeated NSSI was positively associated with low level of father's emotional warmth (OR: 1.39 (95% CI [1.10-1.75])) and high level of mother's overprotection (OR: 1.79 (95% CI [1.33-2.41])), and severe NSSI was positively associated with low level of father's emotional warmth (OR: 1.64 (95% CI [1.11-2.43])) and high level of mother's rejection (OR: 2.16 (95% CI [1.71-2.71])). CONCLUSION: NSSI is common among adolescents in southwestern China. Negative parenting styles are associated with NSSI, repeated NSSI, and severe NSSI. The development of intervention measures for preventing or reducing NSSI among Chinese adolescents in school settings should consider parenting styles.

Resilience is inversely associated with self-harm behaviors among Chinese adolescents with childhood maltreatment.

BACKGROUND: Abundant studies have identified the association between childhood maltreatment and self-harm (SH), but little has been discussed with regard to the role of resilience in SH behaviors of adolescents who had experienced childhood maltreatment. In this study, we investigated if resilience, as well as its five dimensions, could present negative associations with presence, repetition, and severity of SH among maltreated and neglected adolescents in China. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey including 2,084 maltreated teenagers aged from 10 to 17 years was conducted in southwest China Yunnan province. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), The Resilience Scale for Chinese Adolescents (RSCA), and the Modified version of Adolescents Self-Harm Scale (MASHS) were adopted to measure childhood maltreatment experiences, psychological resilience, and SH behaviors of the respondents, respectively. Binary univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to discuss the associations between resilience and occurrence, repetition, severity of SH. RESULTS: Among the participants who met the criteria of CTQ, the prevalence rates of SH were 63.83%, 73.94%, 71.50%, 55.53%, and 58.21% for physical abuse (PA), emotional abuse (EA), sexual abuse (SA), physical neglect (PN), and emotional neglect (EN). Final regression model demonstrated that resilience was in general inversely associated with SH, repeated SH, and severe SH for all types of childhood maltreatment, with adjusted odds ratios (aORs) ranging from 0.29 (95% CI: 0.19-0.44) to 0.46 (95% CI: 0.26-0.81). Of the five dimensions of resilience, emotion regulation served as the strongest associated factor of SH among abused youths, regardless of maltreatment types. Besides, compared with those who had lower level of goal concentration and interpersonal assistance, subjects with higher resilience level reported significantly decreased risks of SH occurrence, SH repetition, and more severe SH, in adolescents who had experienced EA and PN. CONCLUSIONS: Resilience showed inverse association with childhood maltreatment related SH in Chinese adolescents. These findings preliminarily indicated that interventions targeting on building up resilience, especially enhancing emotion regulation ability, improving goal concentration, and consolidating interpersonal assistance, could be effective in reducing SH risk, repetition, and severity in maltreated Chinese teenagers.

Resilience mediates the association between school bullying victimization and self-harm in Chinese adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: The association between school bullying and self-harm (SH) in adolescents has been extensively discussed. Nevertheless, little is known about the mechanism of this relationship, particularly the role of resilience. Our research aimed to explore and evaluate the potential moderation and mediation of resilience in the association between school bullying victimization and SH in a large sample of Chinese adolescents. METHOD: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional survey of 3146 adolescents in southwest China. The data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire. Multivariate Logistic regression which incorporated the product term of bullying victimization and resilience was used to estimate the moderation of resilience. Mediation of resilience in bullying victimization and SH were evaluated by path model. RESULTS: The prevalence of bullying involvement and SH were 13.13% (95% CI:9.31%-18.00%) and 47.0% (95% CI: 36.3%-58.0%), respectively. School bullying victimization was positively associated with SH. Resilience was a prominent mediator which accounted for 27.7% of the total association. Among all five dimensions of resilience, emotion regulation (30.90%), interpersonal assistance (24.78%), and family support (22.16%) showed the strongest mediation. Nevertheless, the moderation of resilience in this association was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study suggest that resilience strengthening measures, particularly those aimed at improving emotion regulation ability and building social support could be effective in reducing school bullying victimization related SH behaviors among Chinese teenagers.

Effects of hypertension on cerebral cortical thickness alterations in patients with type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: Although hypertension (HTN) is the high comorbidity of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and known to be a vascular risk factor for brain damage, the effects of HTN on brain function in T2DM patients are not well understood. Present study was performed to investigate whether HTN might accelerate the Cerebral cortical thickness (CT) alterations in patients with T2DM. METHODS: We enrolled 35 participants with only T2DM, 25 T2DM patients with HTN (HT2DM) and 28 healthy controls (HCs). The cognitive function was assessed and brain image data was collected then the CT was calculated for each participant. Partial correlations between the CT of each brain region and standard laboratory testing data and neuropsychological scale scores were also analyzed. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to evaluated the vascular risk factors and brain regions with different CT in HT2DM patients. RESULTS: Cognitive impairment is associated with thinning of the cerebral cortical thickness reduction in T2DM patients. CT thinning in the left inferior parietal lobe, left posterior cingulate and right precuneus were observed in HT2DM group relative to only T2DM group. Furthermore, the CT decreasing in the right precuneus was negatively correlated with duration of HTN. CONCLUSION: The current study revealed that coexistent HTN may accelerate the CT reduction in T2DM patients.

Tryptophan hydroxylase-2 polymorphism is associated with white matter integrity in first-episode, medication-naïve major depressive disorder patients.

Considerable evidence suggests that the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2) gene is associated with the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). In the present study, we investigated alterations of white matter (WM) integrity and the impact of TPH2 polymorphism on WM in a sample of 118 first-episode, medication-naïve, MDD patients and 118 well-matched healthy controls. Whole brain analyses of fractional anisotropy (FA) were performed using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). The results showed that the MDD group had significantly reduced FA values for the genu and body of the corpus callosum (CC) and the bilateral anterior corona radiate (ACR). In the MDD patient group, the GG homozygote subgroup exhibited a widespread reduction of FA (uncorrected) and significantly reduced FA in the left retrolenticular portion of the internal capsule and left superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) compared with those of the T carriers (GT/TT) (FWE corrected). No significant correlation was found between the FA values in any brain region and the patients' clinical variables. Our findings demonstrate the presence of abnormal white matter integrity in untreated patients with first-episode depression. TPH2-rs4570625 polymorphisms may be involved in the pathological mechanism of WM microarchitecture in patients.

Support Vector Machine Classification of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Based on Whole-Brain Volumetry and Diffusion Tensor Imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods have been used to detect cerebral anatomical distinction between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients and healthy controls (HC). Machine learning approach allows for the possibility of discriminating patients on the individual level. However, few studies have used this automatic technique based on multiple modalities to identify potential biomarkers of OCD. High-resolution structural MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data were acquired from 48 OCD patients and 45 well-matched HC. Gray matter volume (GMV), white matter volume (WMV), fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean diffusivity (MD) were extracted as four features were examined using support vector machine (SVM). Ten brain regions of each feature contributed most to the classification were also estimated. Using different algorithms, the classifier achieved accuracies of 72.08, 61.29, 80.65, and 77.42% for GMV, WMV, FA, and MD, respectively. The most discriminative gray matter regions that contributed to the classification were mainly distributed in the orbitofronto-striatal "affective" circuit, the dorsolateral, prefronto-striatal "executive" circuit and the cerebellum. For WMV feature and the two feature sets of DTI, the shared regions contributed the most to the discrimination mainly included the uncinate fasciculus, the cingulum in the hippocampus, corticospinal tract, as well as cerebellar peduncle. Based on whole-brain volumetry and DTI images, SVM algorithm revealed high accuracies for distinguishing OCD patients from healthy subjects at the individual level. Computer-aided method is capable of providing accurate diagnostic information and might provide a new perspective for clinical diagnosis of OCD.

Cortical thickness and white matter integrity abnormalities in obsessive-compulsive disorder: A combined multimodal surface-based morphometry and tract-based spatial statistics study.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral morphological abnormalities may play a key role in pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, few studies have used multimodal imaging strategies to investigate alterations of cortical morphometry and white matter (WM) integrity. This study aimed to evaluate cortical thickness, cortical and subcortical volume, and WM integrity characteristics in OCD patients comprehensively. METHODS: We acquired magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from 52 OCD patients and 46 well-matched healthy controls (HCs). Cortical thickness and cortical and subcortical volume were measured using the surface-based morphometry (SBM) approach. We also evaluated fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) derived from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). The disease severity was evaluated by score of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). For those brain regions exhibiting altered structure, correlations between alterations and clinical symptoms severity were analyzed in all patients and medication-naïve patients, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with controls, OCD patients exhibited cortical thinning in right posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), as well as significantly decreased FA values in the genu and body of corpus callosum (CC). In medication-naïve patients group, the total Y-BOCS score and obsession score were significantly negative correlated with right PCC cortical thickness. CONCLUSIONS: OCD patients demonstrated symptom-related reduced cortical thickness structural alteration of the right PCC, and altered WM integrity in the genu and body of CC. Medication seems could alleviate the alteration of cortical thickness but not WM integrity. Combined multimodal neuroimaging methods may provide a more comprehensive perspective to clarify the pathological mechanism of OCD.

Association between abnormal serum myelin-specific protein levels and white matter integrity in first-episode and drug-naïve patients with major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Although the structural abnormalities of white matter (WM) have been described in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), the neuropathological changes remain unclear. The current study aimed to investigate the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) levels and their correlations with WM integrity in first-episode, drug-naïve MDD patients. METHODS: We obtained diffusion tensor images of 102 first-episode, drug-naïve MDD patients and 81 age- and sex-matched controls. Serum MOG and MAG levels of all participants were measured and compared between the two groups. The correlations between WM integrity and MOG and MAG levels were examined. RESULTS: MOG and MAG serum levels were significantly higher in MDD patients than in controls. Patients with MDD also showed decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial diffusivity in the WM of the bilateral thalamus, right hippocampus, right temporal lobe, and left pulvinar. At the whole-brain level, no regions showed any correlations of diffusivity parameters with MOG or MAG levels in healthy subjects. However, we observed two-way correlations between the MOG and MAG levels and the FA and mean diffusivity values in the WM of the left middle frontal lobe, right inferior parietal lobe, and right supplementary motor area in MDD patients. LIMITATIONS: Further investigation with a larger sample size and longitudinal studies are required to better understand the neuropathology of WM integrity in MDD. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings represent the first evidence of a relationship between abnormal serum myelin-specific protein levels and impaired WM integrity, which may help to better understand the neurobiological mechanisms of MDD.

Identify changes of brain regional homogeneity in early and later adult onset patients with first-episode depression using resting-state fMRI.

OBJECTIVE: Previous work exhibited different brain grey matter volume (GMV) changes between patients with early adult onset depression (EOD, age 18-29) and later adult onset depression (LOD, age 30-44) by using 30-year-old as the cut-off age. To identify whether regional homogeneity (ReHo) changes are also different between EOD and LOD by using same cut-off age, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to detect the abnormal ReHo between patients with EOD and LOD in the present study. METHODS: Resting-state fMRI scans of 58 patients with EOD, 62 patients with LOD, 60 young healthy controls (HC), and 52 old HC were obtained. The ReHo approach was used to analyze the images. RESULTS: The ANOVA analysis revealed that the ReHo values in the frontoparietal, occipital, and cerebellar regions were significantly different among the four groups. Relative to patients with LOD, patients with EOD displayed significantly increased ReHo in the left precuneus, and decreased ReHo in the right fusiform. The ReHo values in the left precuneus and the right fusiform had no significant correlation with the score of the depression rating scale or illness duration in both patient subgroups. Compared to young HC, patients with EOD showed significantly increased ReHo in the right frontoparietal regions and the right calcarine. Furthermore, the increased ReHo in the right frontoparietal regions, right insula and left hippocampus, and decreased ReHo in the left inferior occipital gyrus, right middle occipital gyrus, left calcarine, and left supplementary motor area were observed in patients with LOD when compared to old HC. CONCLUSIONS: The ReHo of brain areas that were related to mood regulation was changed in the first-episode, drug-naive adult patients with MDD. Adult patients with EOD and LOD exhibited different ReHo abnormalities relative to each age-matched comparison group, suggesting that depressed adult patients with different age-onset might have different pathological mechanism.

Childhood maltreatment is associated with gray matter volume abnormalities in patients with first-episode depression.

Previous neuroimaging studies suggest that childhood maltreatment (CM) can affect brain function and structure and constitutes a potent risk of developing depression. The present study attempts to differentiate the effect of CM from the impact of depression diagnosis on brain structure. Eighty-four patients with first-episode depression and 84 controls participated in this study. All subjects underwent a structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Voxel-based morphometric analysis of variance (ANOVA), between-group comparison, and regression analyses were performed on a whole-brain level to identify the unbiased effects of CM and depression on brain structure. Our data showed different main effects of CM and depression on brain structure separately: the significant main effect of CM on fronto-limbic areas, visual cortex and cerebellum, and the main effect of depression on orbitofrontal regions and bilateral temporal lobes. The maltreatment-by-diagnosis interaction effect was found located on the bilateral prefrontal cortex. The CM severity was negatively related with the inferior occipital volume and positively with volumes in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, right caudate, and left middle temporal gyrus. This study suggested that early life stress like CM is associated with structural abnormalities of the fronto-limbic regions that are commonly regarded as the psychopathological consequence of depression. The effect of CM on brain structure should be considered in future neuroimaging research of depression.

Spacer layer screening effect: a novel fluorescent film sensor for organic copper(II) salts.

A fluorescent film sensor was prepared by chemical assembly of pyrene on a glass plate surface via a long flexible spacer. It was found that the film is highly selective for some organic Cu2+ salts, such as copper acetate and copper propionate. The presence of inorganic Cu2+ salts and other metal(II) acetates, including Ni2+, Co2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, etc., had little effect upon the sensing behavior of the film for copper acetate or copper propionate. The observation was explained by employing a proposed "two-dimensional solution" model. The quenching by copper acetate of the emission of the film is static in nature due to complexation of the spacers to the metal ions. Furthermore, the response of the film sensor to copper acetate is fully reversible. To the best of our knowledge, this film sensor may be the first one that can differentiate greasy copper salts from inorganic copper salts.