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Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is generally considered to have a high risk of progression to Alzheimer's disease. Our study aimed to investigate the abnormal functional connectivity (FC) in prefrontal cortex (PFC) in patients with MCI and explore the relationship between the observed changes and cognitive function. Methods: Sixty-seven patients with MCI and 71 healthy individuals were recruited for this study. All participants underwent the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) examinations. Results: Compared with healthy controls (HC), the patients with MCI exhibited significantly lower MoCA scores (p < 0.001). Through FC analysis, an enhanced subnetwork was observed in the right prefrontal cortex of the MCI group, covering four pairs of channel connections: CH12-CH15, CH12-CH16, CH13-CH15, and CH13-CH16. Moreover, the FC values of these four channel pairs and the education duration were significantly correlated with MoCA scores. Subsequently, a multiple linear regression model was performed to observe the independent factors of cognition decline, serving the education duration and the average FC values of subnetwork as independent variables and the MoCA scores as the dependent variable. The regression model showed a total of 25.7% explanation power (adjusted R2 = 0.257, F = 24.723, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study suggested that the enhanced subnetwork within the right PFC may be involved in the pathophysiology of MCI and serve as a potential target for the treatment of MCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cognitive deficit is common in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Here, we aimed to investigate the modular architecture of functional networks associated with distinct cognitive states in TLE patients together with the role of the thalamus in modular networks. Methods: Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired from 53 TLE patients and 37 matched healthy controls. All patients received the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test and accordingly were divided into TLE patients with normal cognition (TLE‐CN, n = 35) and TLE patients with cognitive impairment (TLE‐CI, n = 18) groups. The modular properties of functional networks were calculated and compared including global modularity Q, modular segregation index, intramodular connections, and intermodular connections. Thalamic subdivisions corresponding to the modular networks were generated by applying a 'winner‐take‐all' strategy before analyzing the modular properties (participation coefficient and within‐module degree z‐score) of each thalamic subdivision to assess the contribution of the thalamus to modular functional networks. Relationships between network properties and cognitive performance were then further explored. Results: Both TLE‐CN and TLE‐CI patients showed lower global modularity, as well as lower modular segregation index values for the ventral attention network and the default mode network. However, different patterns of intramodular and intermodular connections existed for different cognitive states. In addition, both TLE‐CN and TLE‐CI patients exhibited anomalous modular properties of functional thalamic subdivisions, with TLE‐CI patients presenting a broader range of abnormalities. Cognitive performance in TLE‐CI patients was not related to the modular properties of functional network but rather to the modular properties of functional thalamic subdivisions. Conclusions: The thalamus plays a prominent role in modular networks and potentially represents a key neural mechanism underlying cognitive impairment in TLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Anti‐N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is characterized by a range of cognitive impairments, especially in executive function. Our study aims to identify the abnormal regional homogeneity (ReHo) in anti‐NMDAR encephalitis patients and its relationship with the executive function. Methods: Forty patients and 42 healthy volunteers undertook an Attention Network Test and a resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. ReHo analysis was performed to investigate the neuronal activity synchronization in all subjects. Based on ReHo analysis, a multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) was carried out to identify the brain regions that differed the most between the two groups. Results: Compared to controls, the patients had higher executive control scores (p < 0.05). The patients presented reduced ReHo values in the bilateral posterior cerebellar lobe, anterior cerebellar lobe, midbrain, bilateral caudate nucleus, right superior frontal gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, bilateral inferior parietal lobule and the left middle frontal gyrus. The ReHo values of the bilateral inferior parietal lobule in patients were found to be negatively associated with executive control scores. The classification of patients and controls using MVPA had an accuracy of 76.83%, a sensitivity of 82.50%, a specificity of 71.43% and the area under the curve was 0.83. Conclusions: Our study provides evidence of abnormal cerebral function in anti‐NMDAR encephalitis patients, which may contribute to unveiling the neuropathological mechanisms of anti‐NMDAR encephalitis and their influences on executive dysfunction. The MVPA classifier, based on ReHo, is helpful in identifying anti‐NMDAR encephalitis patients from healthy controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the self-made two-dimensional MoS2 nanosheets with five-layer thickness were attempted to be modified with oleic acid (OA) with a simple one-step route, denoted OA-MoS2. The OA-MoS2 nanosheets were confirmed by a series of characterizations. The results showed that OA molecules could chemically seal MoS2 nanosheets through C-S bonds, which significantly improved the dispersibility and stability of MoS2 nanosheets in base oil. The OA-MoS2 nanosheets possessed better dispersibility in base oil and could maintain the stability in oil up to 96 h. Furthermore, the tribological properties of OA-MoS2 nanosheets as an additive in base oil were completely studied through a ball-on-ball configuration four-ball testing machine. The experimental results showed that the average friction coefficient and average wear scar diameter of the 0.04 wt.% OA-MoS2-based oil were decreased by about 41.2% and 17.1% as compared to base oil, respectively. In addition, its extreme pressure performance increased by about 13.0%. These results indicated that OA-MoS2 nanosheets exhibited better antifriction, antiwear and extreme pressure abilities in oil due to the desirable solved dispersibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective In order to find out the cause of molar intrusion and how to avoid molar intrusion, we analyze the movement tendency of tooth by changing the angles of upper accentuated-curve and the height of free traction hook. Methods Spiral CT scanning and Mimics 10.0 software were employed in this study to construct the three dimensional finite element model of maxillary teeth, periodontal ligaments and alveolar bone as well as "the inch stainless steel upper accentuated-curve archwires with different angles (5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°) and the free traction hook with different height (2.1, 4.0, 5.5 mm). By exerting 1.5 N backward force to analysis the displacement trend of maxillary tooth. Results Upper accentuated-curve archwires made the incisors labially lip, intruse, distally upright and mesilabially torsion; made the canines labially tip, prolong, mesial-tipped and mesi-labially torsion; made the second premolars and the first molars buccal tip, intruse, distal upright and mesi-labially torsion. With the angle of upper accentuated-curve archwires increased, all tooth movement tendency increased; while with the height of free traction hook increased, all tooth movement tendency decreased. Conclusion When the angle of upper accentuated-curve archwires increased, the extent of molar intrusion increased, but when the height of free traction hook increased, the degree of molar intrusion decreased. The degree of. molar intrusion was minimum using 5° upper accentuated-curve archwires cooperated with 5.5 mm free traction hook. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a HeartGuardian app and explored its effects supporting people with CVD on lipid control and medication adherence. Fifty-seven patients were enrolled, 29 in the intervention group and 28 in the control group. The 12-week intervention resulted in a moderate improvement in lipid level and greater improvement in medication adherence (82.14% vs 37.93%, P = 0.001). These outcomes translate into significant differences in occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (28.75% vs 72.43%, P = 0.001).

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) has been proven to increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity, and diabetes. If people would like to know whether they are suffering from this sleep disorder, they need to go to particular hospital with which a sleep center that could perform polysomnography (PSG); however, for most people, this is not convenient. Consequently, the goal of this study is to develop a convenient, lower priced, and easy-to-use home-based sleep monitoring system. The researchers have developed the "Sleep Healthcare Management System" for OSA patients and healthcare providers. It combines smartphone and wearable devices that can perform real-time sleep monitoring. Healthcare providers could apply their professional knowledge to provide customized feedback via a web application. When the patient is diagnosed with an abnormal sleep health condition, healthcare providers may be able to provide appropriate and timely care.

Objective: In order to find out the cause of molar intrusion and how to avoid molar intrusion, we analyze the movement tendency of tooth by changing the angles of upper accentuated-curve and the height of free traction hook., Methods: Spiral CT scanning and Mimics 10.0 software were employed in this study to construct the three dimensional finite element model of maxillary teeth, periodontal ligaments and alveolar bone as well as the inch stainless steel upper accentuated-curve archwires with different angles (5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, 25 degrees) and the free traction hook with different height (2.1, 4.0, 5.5 mm). By exerting 1.5 N backward force to analysis the displacement trend of maxillary tooth., Results: Upper accentuated-curve archwires made the incisors labially tip, intruse, distally upright and mesilabially torsion; made the canines labially tip, prolong, mesial-tipped and mesi-labially torsion; made the second premolars and the first molars buccal tip, intruse, distal upright and mesi-labially torsion. With the angle of upper accentuated-curve archwires increased, all tooth movement tendency increased; while with the height of free traction hook increased, all tooth movement tendency decreased., Conclusion: When the angle of upper accentuated-curve archwires increased, the extent of molar intrusion increased, but when the height of free traction hook increased, the degree of molar intrusion decreased. The degree of molar intrusion was minimum using 5 degrees upper accentuated-curve archwires cooperated with 5.5 mm free traction hook.