Variation in brain connectivity during motor imagery and motor execution in stroke patients based on electroencephalography

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to analyze the changes in connectivity between motor imagery (MI) and motor execution (ME) in the premotor area (PMA) and primary motor cortex (MA) of the brain, aiming to explore suitable forms of treatment and potential therapeutic targets.MethodsTwenty-three inpatients with stroke were selected, and 21 right-handed healthy individuals were recruited. EEG signal during hand MI and ME (synergy and isolated movements) was recorded. Correlations between functional brain areas during MI and ME were compared.ResultsPMA and MA were significantly and positively correlated during hand MI in all participants. The power spectral density (PSD) values of PMA EEG signals were greater than those of MA during MI and ME in both groups. The functional connectivity correlation was higher in the stroke group than in healthy people during MI, especially during left-handed MI. During ME, functional connectivity correlation in the brain was more enhanced during synergy movements than during isolated movements. The regions with abnormal functional connectivity were in the 18th lead of the left PMA area.ConclusionLeft-handed MI may be crucial in MI therapy, and the 18th lead may serve as a target for non-invasive neuromodulation to promote further recovery of limb function in patients with stroke. This may provide support for the EEG theory of neuromodulation therapy for hemiplegic patients

Electroencephalography-based biological and functional characteristics of spinal cord injury patients with neuropathic pain and numbness

ObjectivesTo identify potential treatment targets for spinal cord injury (SCI)-related neuropathic pain (NP) by analysing the differences in electroencephalogram (EEG) and brain network connections among SCI patients with NP or numbness.Participants and methodsThe EEG signals during rest, as well as left- and right-hand and feet motor imagination (MI), were recorded. The power spectral density (PSD) of the θ (4–8 Hz), α (8–12 Hz), and β (13–30 Hz) bands was calculated by applying Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) and Modified S-transform (MST) to the data. We used 21 electrodes as network nodes and performed statistical measurements of the phase synchronisation between two brain regions using a phase-locking value, which captures nonlinear phase synchronisation.ResultsThe specificity of the MST algorithm was higher than that of the CWT. Widespread non-lateralised event-related synchronization was observed in both groups during the left- and right-hand MI. The PWP (patients with pain) group had lower θ and α bands PSD values in multiple channels of regions including the frontal, premotor, motor, and temporal regions compared with the PWN (patients with numbness) group (all p < 0.05), but higher β band PSD values in multiple channels of regions including the frontal, premotor, motor, and parietal region compared with the PWN group (all p < 0.05). During left-hand and feet MI, in the lower frequency bands (θ and α bands), the brain network connections of the PWP group were significantly weaker than the PWN group except for the frontal region. Conversely, in the higher frequency bands (β band), the brain network connections of the PWP group were significantly stronger in all regions than the PWN group.ConclusionThe differences in the power of EEG and network connectivity in the frontal, premotor, motor, and temporal regions are potential biological and functional characteristics that can be used to distinguish NP from numbness. The differences in brain network connections between the two groups suggest that the distinct mechanisms for pain and numbness

Allopachria yiae sp. n. from Chongqing, China (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae)

Bian, Dongju, Guo, Cheng, Ji, Lanzhu (2013): Allopachria yiae sp. n. from Chongqing, China (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae). Zootaxa 3681 (1): 85-88, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3681.1.

Ancyronyx yunju Bian & Guo & Ji 2012, sp. nov.

Ancyronyx yunju sp. nov. (Figs. 1–11) Type materials: Holotype, male: CHINA: Jiangxi Province, Jiujiang City, Yongxiu County, Yunju Mountains, 29°05.646’N 115°34.880’E, 576 m, 12. X. 2011, leg. Bian & Tong; paratypes: 51 exs., the same data as holotype; 1 ex.: male: CHINA: Jiangxi Province, Jiujiang City, Yongxiu County, Yunju Mountains, 29°05.883’N 115°34.362’E, 705 m, 23. IX. 2009, leg. Bian & Tong; 1 ex.: male: CHINA, Jiangxi Province, Yichun City, Yifeng County, Guanshan Natural Reserve, 28°33.022’N 114°33.689’E, 376 m, 27. IX. 2009, leg. Bian & Tong. Diagnosis. In general habitus and color pattern of legs (Figs. 1–2) this species somewhat resembles A. johanni Jäch, 1994, but it can be easily distinguished from the latter by (1) its color pattern of elytra (with X-shaped band on basal two thirds and two oblique bands inwards on about distal third); (2) hind angles of pronotum yellowish; (3) sides of median lobe not produced, almost parallel; (4) parameres more slender in ventral view, and elongated subtriangular in lateral view, not emarginated near distal third. Description. Body length 1.95–2.25 mm (including head). Predominately dark brown to black, the following parts yellowish: anterior margins of clypeus and labrum, mouth parts, antennomeres 1–10, anterior margin and hind angles of pronotum, an X-shaped band on elytra on basal two thirds, two oblique longitudinal bands inwards on about distal third (interstria 5) to subapical part (interstria 2) which connected to X-shaped band anteriorly, prosternum and mesoventrite, medial areas of metaventrite and ventrites I–III, ventrites IV–V, coxae, trochanters, basal 0.75 of femora, distal 0.4 of tibiae, and claws. Habitus and color pattern as in Figs. 1–2. Head 0.45–0.52 mm broad (HW), ID 0.25–0.30 mm. Labrum slightly pubescent, frons and clypeus finely punctuate, moderately densely pubescent; frontoclypeal suture almost straight, impressed. Eyes protruding. Antennae with 11 antennomeres, slender, first two and distal three antennomeres distinctly enlarged. Gula microreticulate, gular sutures narrowly separated, inconspicuous. Pronotum 0.60–0.75 mm long (PL), 0.75–0.85 mm broad (MW), distinctly narrower than elytra, widest at ca. posterior third; anterior attenuate, anterior margin a little arched, anterior transverse groove distinctly and deeply impressed, evenly arcuate, medially extended posteriorly; posterolateral oblique groove shallow or moderately impressed; surface of pronotum granularly punctuate and pubescent. Prosternum and prosternal process transverse, yellowish, punctuate, interstices granulose; posterior margin of prosternal process almost truncate, inconspicuously produced medially. Scutellum subtriangular, granulose. Elytra elongate, 1.25–1.50 mm long (EL), 0.90–1.10 mm broad (EW), almost parallel-sided in anterior 0.1–0.6, posteriorly convergent to apices, elytral apices conjointly rounded; with ten longitudinal, moderately regular, deeply impressed rows of punctures between suture and lateral margin, punctures large and deeply impressed; interstices and intervals convex, glabrous. Mesoventrite short, transverse, punctuate, distinctly depressed medially for reception of apex of prosternal process. Metaventrite prominent; with a short, longitudinal groove on midline, medioanteriorly almost glabrous, medially impressed, lateral parts covered with large punctures/granules. Five visible abdominal ventrites covered with short adpressed setae; ventrite I anteriorly covered with extremely large punctures; ventrite V almost covered with plastron, with short adpressed setae emerging from the granules (Fig. 6); punctures of ventrites I–III distinctly larger than those of ventrites IV and V. Legs distinctly longer than body; pro- and mesocoxae large, drop-shaped; metacoxae slightly protruding; femora distinctly setose, distal 0.25 black; tibiae inconspicuously setose, basal 0.6 black; tarsi dark brown, claws well developed, strongly curved, base of claws with two teeth, distal one much larger than the basal one. Tergite VIII in male (Fig. 7) broader than long, with a conspicuous median transverse complete ridge separating posterior and anterior portion, basal half with microstrial pattern, apical half with distinct reticulation; sternite VIII in male (Fig. 8) weakly sclerotized, without setae, median strut short, apically rounded; male sternite IX (Fig. 9) apical margin distinctly emarginated, lateroapically with a cluster of setae; paraprocts not reaching apical margin. Aedeagus (Figs. 3–5). ca. 494 µm long. Median lobe rather long and moderately broad, ending with a small rounded tip curved ventrad (lateral view), with numerous distinct microtube-like structures mainly ending lateroapically; ventral sac slightly plicate and weakly sclerotized, fibula well sclerotized, conspicuous in transillumination; corona well developed. Parameres distinctly shorter than median lobe, slender (ventral view), elongated subtriangular (lateral view), reaching ca. 0.6 of aedeagus. Phallobase asymmetrical, approximately as long as parameres, basal margin slightly emarginate (lateral view). Female. Ovipositor (Fig. 10) 455 µm. Stylus slender. Coxite short and stout; distal portion less elongate, with some short, peg-like setae, mostly densely set at apex, inner margin distinctly pubescent; basal portion a litter shorter than distal portion, also with short, peg-like setae, most densely set at lateral margin. Valvifer approximately as long as coxite and stylus together, fibula slender, cranially rounded. Distribution. China: Jiangxi. Etymology. The species name is a noun in apposition, derived from the type locality “Yunju Mountains”. Habitat. A small streamlet (Fig. 11), ca. 3–4 m wide, with dense grass and gravel, flowing through secondary forest and tea gardens. Most specimens of the new species were collected along the bank in sand and grass roots.Published as part of Bian, Dongju, Guo, Cheng & Ji, Lanzhu, 2012, Table 7, pp. 57-61 in Zootaxa 3255 on pages 58-61, DOI: 10.17182/hepdata.60018.v1/t7, http://zenodo.org/record/524924

Allopachria longyanensis sp. n. from China (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

Ji, Lanzhu, Guo, Cheng, Bian, Dongju (2014): Allopachria longyanensis sp. n. from China (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae). Zootaxa 3755 (2): 194-196, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3755.2.

Chemical Identity of Interaction of Protein with Reactive Metabolite of Diosbulbin B In Vitro and In Vivo

Diosbulbin B (DIOB), a hepatotoxic furan-containing compound, is a primary ingredient in Dioscorea bulbifera L., a common herbal medicine. Metabolic activation is required for DIOB-induced liver injury. Protein covalent binding of an electrophilic reactive intermediate of DIOB is considered to be one of the key mechanisms of cytotoxicity. A bromine-based analytical technique was developed to characterize the chemical identity of interaction of protein with reactive intermediate of DIOB. Cysteine (Cys) and lysine (Lys) residues were found to react with the reactive intermediate to form three types of protein modification, including Cys adduction, Schiff’s base, and Cys/Lys crosslink. The crosslink showed time- and dose-dependence in animals given DIOB. Ketoconazole pretreatment decreased the formation of the crosslink derived from DIOB, whereas pretreatment with dexamethasone or buthionine sulfoximine increased such protein modification. These data revealed that the levels of hepatic protein adductions were proportional to the severity of hepatotoxicity of DIOB

Low-dose pleiotropic radiosensitive nanoformulations for three-pronged radiochemotherapy of hypoxic brain glioblastoma under BOLD/DWI monitoring

Abstract Background Hypoxia-mediated radioresistance is the main obstacle to the successful treatment of glioblastoma (GBM). Enhancing hypoxic radiosensitivity and alleviating tumor hypoxia are both effective means to improve therapeutic efficacy, and the combination of the two is highly desirable and meaningful. Results Herein, we construct a low-dose pleiotropic radiosensitive nanoformulation consisting of a high-Z atomic nanocrystal core and mesoporous silica shell, surface-modified with angiopep-2 (ANG) peptide and loaded with nitric oxide (NO) donor and hypoxia-activated prodrug (AQ4N). Benefiting from ANG-mediated transcytosis, this nanoformulation can efficiently cross the BBB and accumulate preferentially in the brain. Low-dose radiation triggers this nanoformulation to exert a three-pronged synergistic therapeutic effect through high-Z-atom-dependent dose deposition enhancement, NO-mediated hypoxia relief, and AQ4N-induced hypoxia-selective killing, thereby significantly inhibiting GBM in situ growth while prolonging survival and maintaining stable body weight in the glioma-bearing mice. Meanwhile, the proposed in vivo 9.4 T BOLD/DWI can realize real-time dynamic assessment of local oxygen supply and radiosensitivity to monitor the therapeutic response of GBM. Conclusions This work provides a promising alternative for hypoxia-specific GBM-targeted comprehensive therapy, noninvasive monitoring, and precise prognosis. Graphical Abstrac