Background The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) is one of the most commonly used instruments to assess mental disorders. However, research on its cross-cultural measurement invariance is not yet sufficient. This study examined the measurement invariance of the Chinese and German versions of the PHQ’s somatic symptom severity scale (PHQ-15), depressive symptom severity scale (PHQ-9) and seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale as a prerequisite for their use in cross-cultural comparisons. Methods We used online data collected from groups of Chinese students in China (n = 413) and German students in Germany (n = 416). Separate measurement models for each group were examined using confirmatory factor analysis and measurement invariance testing was conducted to test the cross-cultural equivalence. Results Findings demonstrated that the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 had partial scalar measurement invariance, but the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the PHQ-15 could not be confirmed. Comparisons of latent means did not indicate differences in the levels of depression and anxiety symptoms between Chinese and German samples. Conclusion The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 can be used in cross-cultural comparison of prevalence, but the intercultural use of PHQ-15 is more problematic. Findings are discussed from intercultural and methodological perspectives.

Objective The changes in resting-state functional networks and their correlations with clinical traits remain to be clarified in migraine. Here we aim to investigate the brain spatio-temporal dynamics of resting-state networks and their possible correlations with the clinical traits in migraine. Methods Twenty Four migraine patients without aura and 26 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. Each included subject underwent a resting-state EEG and echo planar imaging examination. The disability of migraine patients was evaluated by Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS). After data acquisition, EEG microstates (Ms) combining functional connectivity (FC) analysis based on Schafer 400-seven network atlas were performed. Then, the correlation between obtained parameters and clinical traits was investigated. Results Compared with HC group, the brain temporal dynamics depicted by microstates showed significantly increased activity in functional networks involving MsB and decreased activity in functional networks involving MsD; The spatial dynamics were featured by decreased intra-network FC within the executive control network( ECN) and inter-network FC between dorsal attention network (DAN) and ECN (P < 0.05); Moreover, correlation analysis showed that the MIDAS score was positively correlated with the coverage and duration of MsC, and negatively correlated with the occurrence of MsA; The FC within default mode network (DMN), and the inter-FC of ECN- visual network (VN), ECN- limbic network, VN-limbic network was negatively correlated with MIDAS. However, the FC of DMN-ECN was positively correlated with MIDAS; Furthermore, significant interactions between the temporal and spatial dynamics were also obtained. Conclusions Our study confirmed the notion that altered spatio-temporal dynamics exist in migraine patients during resting-state. And the temporal dynamics, the spatial changes and the clinical traits such as migraine disability interact with each other. The spatio-temporal dynamics obtained from EEG microstate and fMRI FC analyses may be potential biomarkers for migraine and with a huge potential to change future clinical practice in migraine.

There has been a growing interest in research on stigma and attitude toward psychotherapy, and these variables are expected to show cross-cultural variations. The Stigma Scale for Receiving Psychological Help (SSRPH), the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help (SSOSH) and the Inventory of Attitudes to Seeking Mental Health Services (IASMHS) are widely used and this study examined their measurement invariance as this is a prerequisite for use in cross-cultural studies. Data were collected online from groups of Chinese students in China ( n = 413) and German students in Germany ( n = 416). Confirmatory factor analyses in single samples and measurement invariance testing in a multi-group framework were conducted to test the cross-group equivalence. Findings demonstrate that the SSRPH and the modified model of IASMHS had partial scalar measurement invariance, but the SSOSH showed cultural variance in factor structure. Comparisons of latent means indicated no differences between the two groups with respect to the social stigma attached to professional psychological help, but a higher psychological openness of Chinese students toward help-seeking. Findings are discussed from intercultural and methodological perspectives. In the future, intercultural cooperation should be promoted in order to develop a cross-culturally valid concept of stigma against psychological help that could be used as the basis for intercultural comparison and developing interventions to reduce stigma.

Multiple staining of more than one gene/antigen on a single tissue section is an indispensable tool in cell and tissue research. However, most of the available multiple staining techniques have limitations, and there has been no technique to simultaneously visualize and distinguish tissue antigens, nucleotide sequences and other chemical compounds on the same slide. Here, we present a practical and economic multiple stain technique, with which multiple cellular components including mRNA (with in situ hybridization), antigen epitope (with immunohistochemistry) and chemical molecules (with histochemistry) can be stained on a single tissue section to study their relationship. In addition, this technique also offers the possibility to evaluate morphology with an H&E staining on the same sections. We used the placenta, pancreas, breast ductal carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, cerebellum, tonsil and heart tissue sections to evaluate the applicability of this new technique. The sensitivity and specificity of the technique have been tested, and an optimal protocol is recommended. Its applications in surgical pathology and research are discussed. This technique offers a novel tool to evaluate the relationship among multiple components at the same or adjacent locations to meet the needs of pathology diagnosis and research.

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Cerebellar hippocampal and basal nuclei transient edema with restricted diffusion (CHANTER) syndrome is a specific pattern of restricted diffusion in the hippocampi and cerebellum identified on brain imaging by clinicians in patients who present with altered mental status in the context of substance intoxication. These patients developed obstructive hydrocephalus a couple of days into their hospitalization that required therapy with osmotic agents and/or surgical interventions (i.e., drains and decompressive craniectomy). In prior cases published, many of the patients had good recovery. The case we present is of a woman who presented after polysubstance use and was found to have brain imaging findings supportive of CHANTER syndrome. Although she was treated with aggressive osmotic therapy and surgical interventions, she ultimately developed irreversible brain damage leading to an overall poor prognosis for recovery. Our case suggests variability in the progression of the syndrome and demonstrates the need for further studies to examine whether the substance of use and the patient's chronic medical conditions may contribute to the degree of recovery.

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BackgroundAutism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a neurodevelopment disorder. The cerebellum has been reported to be one of the key regions involved in ASD. However, the associations between the cerebellum and clinical traits remain unclear. MethodsHere we performed Amplitude of Low Frequency Fluctuations (ALFF) analysis to detect the alterations of brain spontaneous activity in ASDs and explore the associations between spontaneous brain activity and clinical traits. ResultsCompared with normal controls, cerebellum crus 2 showed significantly weaker average ALFF values. Other regions such as left cerebellum 6, cerebellum vermis 4 5, putamen, SMA and thalamus showed increased mean ALFF values. In ASD patients with SRS total score T above 59, the mean ALFF values of cerebellum vermis 4 5 was significantly correlated with SRS total score T (r=0.175, P=0.031), SRS cognition score T (r=0.169, P=0.036) and SRS motivation score T (r=0.176, P=0.028).ConclusionsThese findings were not observed in other brain regions and in normal controls. Our study suggests a role of cerebellum in cognitive impairments in ASD and supports a mechanistic basis for the targeted treatment of ASD disorders.Trial registrationNot applicable.