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Patterns of change in whole‐brain functional networks remain poorly understood in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis (HD). We conducted a prospective research to investigate the topological properties of whole‐brain functional networks in those patients using a graph‐based network analysis. Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 51 ESRD patients (25 HD and 26 nondialysis patients) and 36 healthy controls (HCs). We compared the topological properties of brain functional networks among the three groups, and analyzed the relationships between those significant parameters and clinical variables in ESRD patients. Progressively disrupted global topological organizations were observed from nondialysis patients to HD patients compared with HCs (all p < 0.05 after Bonferroni correction). HD patients, relative to HCs, showed significantly decreased nodal centralities in the left temporal pole: superior temporal gyrus, bilateral median cingulate and paracingulate gyri, bilateral hippocampus, bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, and bilateral amygdala, and showed increased nodal centralities in the orbital part of the bilateral middle frontal gyrus, left cuneus, and left superior occipital gyrus (all p < 0.05 after Bonferroni correction). Furthermore, nodal centralities in the bilateral hippocampus were significantly decreased in HD patients compared with nondialysis patients (p < 0.05 after Bonferroni correction). Dialysis duration negatively correlated with global efficiency in ESRD patients undergoing HD (r = −0.676, FDR q = 0.004). This study indicates that ESRD patients exhibit disruptions in brain functional networks, which are more severe in HD patients, and these alterations are correlated with cognitive performance and clinical markers.

Background: Background activity on fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is often used as a reference to assess a patient's response to tumor treatment. To produce a suitable background activity reference, we examined the variations in standardized uptake values (SUVs) in the blood pool and liver of a large multi-aged population.Methods: A total of 2,526 subjects underwent 18 F-FDG PET/CT examinations and were divided into 12 age groups. Pearson's partial correlation and multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between individual factors and SUVs of the blood pool and liver and to identify the factor that most influenced the SUVs. The mean SUVs across the age groups were also determined.Results: Positive correlations were found between individual factors and SUVs. Age appeared to be the most important predictor of SUVs and was significantly associated with the blood pool SUV max (ß=0.466, P=0.000), blood pool SUV mean (ß=0.393, P=0.000), liver SUV max (ß=0.347, P=0.000), and liver SUV mean (ß=0.354, P=0.000). Blood pool and liver SUVs rose rapidly until the age of 20 and then showed a slow upward trend without reaching a plateau. Conclusions:Age is an important factor that influences variations in the blood pool and liver SUVs. Our study clarified this understanding of age-related variations in SUVs and provided a normal range of blood pool and liver SUVs that may aid clinicians in evaluating tumors with greater accuracy.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disabling autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by demyelination and neurodegeneration. 1 It affects approximately 2.5 million people worldwide and poses a growing burden to society. 2,3 Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) is the most common initial course featuring alternate relapse and remission, and disability is aggravated gradually with illness development. 4 After approximately 20 years, around 90% of RRMS patients will develop secondary progressive MS (SPMS) characterized by progressive neurodegeneration without any definite remission periods. 5,6 In addition to SPMS, progressive MS (PMS) also includes

Although altered reward sensitivity has been observed in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD), the brain function findings related to reward processing remain unexplored and inconsistent. This meta-analysis aimed to identify brain activation alterations underlying reward anticipation in BD. A systematic literature research was conducted to identify fMRI studies of reward-relevant tasks performed by BD individuals. Using Anisotropic Effect Size Signed Differential Mapping, whole-brain and ROI of the ventral striatum (VS) coordinate-based meta-analyses were performed to explore brain regions showing anomalous activation in individuals with BD compared to healthy controls (HC), respectively. A total of 21 studies were identified in the meta-analysis, 15 of which were included in the whole-brain meta-analysis and 17 in the ROI meta-analysis. The whole-brain meta-analysis revealed hypoactivation in the bilateral angular gyrus and right inferior frontal gyrus during reward anticipation in individuals with BD compared to HC. No significant activation differences were observed in bilateral VS between two groups by whole-brain or ROI-based meta-analysis. Individuals with BD type I and individuals with euthymic BD showed altered activation in prefrontal, angular, fusiform, middle occipital gyrus, and striatum. Hypoactivation in the right angular gyrus was positively correlated with the illness duration of BD. The present study reveals the potential neural mechanism underlying impairment in reward anticipation in BD. Some clinical features such as clinical subtype, mood state, and duration of illness confound the underlying neurobiological abnormality reward anticipation in BD. These findings may have implications for identifying clinically relevant biomarkers to guide intervention strategies for BD.