Search

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is considered a major public health issue due to its high prevalence and severe consequences. Several published studies have revealed that electro-acupuncture may relieve OSAS symptoms. However, the mechanism of electro-acupuncture in the treatment of patients with OSAS remains unclear. We evaluated the efficacy and mechanism of electro-acupuncture in the treatment of patients with OSAS. This was a two-group parallel randomized controlled trial. Sixty patients with OSAS will be randomly divided into an electro-acupuncture or shallow acupuncture group in a proportion of 1:1, and the patients will be administered 36 sessions of electro/shallow acupuncture treatment (three times a week for 12 weeks, 20 min for each session). The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) will be used as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes will include polysomnography (PSG), sleep quality, emotional state, and cognitive function. In addition, patients will receive neuroimaging scanning before and after the entire acupuncture treatment to evaluate neuroplasticity changes, including gray matter density, white matter integrity, and functional connections. We believe that the use of electro-acupuncture will be more effective in patients with mild to moderate OSAS and that the cognitive and emotional status of patients will improve after acupuncture treatment. In addition, we aim to clarify which brain areas can be altered by acupuncture in patients with OSAS. This randomized clinical trial aims to explore the curative effect and central mechanism of acupuncture treatment for OSAS. We will explore gray matter density, white matter integrity, and functional connections of the brain using fMRI technology. The results of this study will be significant to the guidelines for clinical OSAS treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the difference in fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) of localized brain activities in the resting-state between bipolar depression and unipolar depression patients and to find biological markers that differentiate the two groups of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients with bipolar depression, 15 patients with unipolar depression, and 16 healthy control subjects that were matched in age and years of education were subjected to 3.0 T resting-state functional magnetic resonance scans. The values of whole brain fALFF were calculated and statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: The fALFF-values of the right inferior temporal gyrus, left cerebellar posterior lobe, right middle temporal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus/insula, right inferior frontal gyrus/insula, left lingual gyrus and right middle temporal gyrus of the three groups showed significant differences (p < 0.05). Compared with the healthy control (HC) group, the fALFF-values of the unipolar depression (UD) patient group significantly increased in the right superior temporal gyrus, left insula, left inferior frontal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, right supramarginal gyrus and right medial frontal gyrus but significantly decreased in the right medial occipital gyrus, left frontal lobe, right superior parietal lobule; the fALFF-values of the bipolar depression (BD) patient group significantly decreased in the left cerebellum posterior lobe, right lingual gyrus, left lingual gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, and left superior frontal gyrus and significantly increased in the right inferior frontal gyrus and left insula compared to those of the HC group; compared with those of the UD group, the fALFF-values of the BD group significantly decreased in the left middle occipital gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, and left medial frontal gyrus. CONCLUSIONS: The brain activities of BD and UD patients in the resting-state exhibit abnormalities, which differ between the two groups of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study that determined the extent to which neural responses to the visual information from an amblyopic eye are suppressed during binocular viewing. Event-related potentials (ERP) to foveal face stimuli in amlyopic patients, both in monocular and binocular viewing conditions were measured. Results showed no difference in the amplitude and latency of early components of ERP responses between the binocular and fellow eye stimulation.

Introduction: Classically, the morphologic study of the internal capsule (IC) is made by two cuts: the coronal of Charcot and the axial of Fleschig. Recent neuroradiologic studies and clinical investigations contribute to the observation in the non-invasive form of this region. Objective: The present work tries to complement the study of this important anatomical region, demonstrating it in integral and three-dimensional form. For that reason, the channeled soundings and instruments of manicurist and odontology were modified, and were conformed to a Seth of dissectors designed specifically to approach the IC. Each dissector presents particular characteristics, which allows the delicate dissections of the different anatomical structures to be made. Materials and methods: Twenty encephala of adult corpses were used for this investigation, fixed with a solution of formol to 10% in distilled water. They were approached at the external face of the cerebral hemisphere at level of the lateral fissure. The middle cerebral artery and the insula lobe were dissected and extirpated using the dissector no. 1, exposing the extreme capsule. The dissector no. 2 was used to dissect the fibers and the extreme capsule was extracted jointly with the claustrum, demonstrating the external capsule. The fibers were dissected using the dissector no. 3, thus exposing the lentiform nucleus. Then, the external face of the nucleus was delimited with the dissector no. 4 and then underwent exeresis, to allow for the entry of the genu of the IC. The genu constituted nervous fibers, laid out vertically and perpendicular to the greater axis the nucleus before mentioned. The fibers were dissected with the dissector no. 5, also appreciating the route of the lenticuloestriadas arteries that irrigate the region in the study. Using the dissector no. 6, nervous fibers of the corona radiata were dissected, as well as the short arciformes fibers and the endings in the cerebral cortex. Lastly, the dissector no. 7 was used to dissect the fibers of the pyramidal route and their route by the cerebral trunk, from above to below. Conclusion: With the use of the presented instruments, a selective boarding of the IC was obtained, and thanks to the specific characteristics of each dissector, the different anatomical structures related to the IC can be approached with facility. Also, the nervous fibers that compose it can be dissected, which expose the IC in an integral and three-dimensional way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]