Hippocampal Subregions Volume and Texture for the Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment.

The aim was to examine the diagnostic efficacy of hippocampal subregions volume and texture in differentiating amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from normal aging changes. Ninety MCI subjects and eighty-eight well-matched healthy controls (HCs) were selected. Twelve hippocampal subregions volume and texture features were extracted using Freesurfer and MaZda based on T1 weighted MRI. Then, two-sample t-test and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression were developed to select a subset of the original features. Support vector machine (SVM) was used to perform the classification task and the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were calculated to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the model. The volume features with high discriminative power were mainly located in the bilateral CA1 and CA4, while texture feature were gray-level non-uniformity, run length non-uniformity and fraction. Our model based on hippocampal subregions volume and texture features achieved better classification performance with an AUC of 0.90. The volume and texture of hippocampal subregions can be utilized for the diagnosis of MCI. Moreover, we found that the features that contributed most to the model were mainly textural features, followed by volume. These results may guide future studies using structural scans to classify patients with MCI.

Virtual reality exergames for improving physical function, cognition and depression among older nursing home residents: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) exergames on physical function, cognition and depression among older nursing home residents. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. The PubMed, Ovid, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant studies from inception until June 1, 2023. The reviewers independently completed the study selection, data extraction and quality assessment. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore the sources of between-study heterogeneity and to determine whether participant or intervention characteristics influenced effect sizes. RESULTS: Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were selected for qualitative and quantitative synthesis. The overall methodological quality was relatively high, and the overall evidence grade was moderate. VR exergames had a large effect on physical function, including mobility [SMD=-0.66, P < 0.001], balance [SMD=0.95, P < 0.001], and lower limb strength [SMD=0.53, P = 0.0009]; and a moderate effect on cognition [SMD=0.48, P = 0.02] and depression [SMD=-0.72, P = 0.03]. Subgroup analyses revealed that a training frequency of 2 sessions per week and coordinating with physiotherapists yielded greater improvements in mobility (P = 0.009; P = 0.0001). VR exergames had especially beneficial effects on balance for physically fit participants (P = 0.03) and on cognition for participants with cognitive impairment (P = 0.01). Additionally, regarding the improvement of depression, commercial VR exergames were superior to self-made systems (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: VR exergames can provide a positive impact on physical function, cognition and depression among older nursing home residents. The study also demonstrated the different benefits of exergames between participants who were physically fit and those with cognitive impairment, which is considered as an innovative, cost-efficient and sustainable approach. Specifically, commercial VR exergame programs with a frequency of 2 sessions per week and coordinating with physiotherapists may be the most appropriate and effective option.

Viral Infections, Are They a Trigger and Risk Factor of Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a progressive and debilitating condition, is reported to be the most common type of dementia, with at least 55 million people believed to be currently affected. Many causation hypotheses of AD exist, yet the intriguing link between viral infection and its possible contribution to the known etiology of AD has become an attractive focal point of research for the field and a challenging study task. In this review, we will explore the historical perspective and milestones that led the field to investigate the viral connection to AD. Specifically, several viruses such as Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1), Zika virus (ZIKV), and severe cute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), along with several others mentioned, include the various viruses presently considered within the field. We delve into the strong evidence implicating these viruses in the development of AD such as the lytic replication and axonal transport of HSV-1, the various mechanisms of ZIKV neurotropism through the human protein Musashi-1 (MSI1), and the spread of SARS-CoV-2 through the transfer of the virus through the BBB endothelial cells to glial cells and then to neurons via transsynaptic transfer. We will also explore beyond these mere associations by carefully analyzing the potential mechanisms by which these viruses may contribute to AD pathology. This includes but is not limited to direct neuronal infections, the dysregulation of immune responses, and the impact on protein processing (Aß42 and hyperphosphorylated tau). Controversies and challenges of the virus-AD relationship emerge as we tease out these potential mechanisms. Looking forward, we emphasize future directions, such as distinct questions and proposed experimentations to explore, that the field should take to tackle the remaining unanswered questions and the glaring research gaps that persist. Overall, this review aims to provide a comprehensive survey of the past, present, and future of the potential link between viral infections and their association with AD development while encouraging further discussion.

DNA variants detected in primary and metastatic lung adenocarcinoma: a case report and review of the literature.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been found to have recurrent genetic abnormalities, and novel therapies targeting these aberrations have improved patient survival. In this study, specimens from benign tissue, primary tumors, and brain metastases were obtained at autopsy from a 55-year-old White female patient diagnosed with NSCLC and were examined using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and chromosomal microarray assay (CMA). No genetic aberrations were noted in the benign tissue; however, NGS identified a mutation in the KRAS proto-oncogene, GTPase (KRAS): KRAS exon 2 p.G12D in primary and metastatic tumor specimens. We observed 7 DNA copy number aberrations (CNAs) in primary and metastatic tumor specimens; an additional 7 CNAs were exclusively detected in the metastatic tumor specimens. These DNA alterations may be genetic drivers in the pathogenesis of the tumor specimen from our patient and may serve as biomarkers for the classification and prognosis of NSCLC.